Hoping for some support

satchmo1

Cutting up one or two tortilla wraps into small pieces and frying them makes great crisps - not necessary but yummy. Porridge is the cheapest breakfast that helps you not feel hungry until half way through the day. 2xwraps, rocket, a smear of salsa from Lidl (79p and last for a month) and a tiny bit of ham are both quick to make (1 minute, I've timed it...how sad) and great for lunch.

Hope that helps on a practical note.

Job wise, I've just escaped from a bullying boss, and managed to stay in the same organisation, same role, entirely different boss. It was like escaping from prison. I know that's not possible for you, but I do entirely understand how difficult things are for you right now ((hugs))

ERICS_MUM

First my Saturday evening rant: B*st*rds like your boss make me so angry. I had one similar for less than a year and I went from being a confident senior manager to a quivering mess on anti-depressants and ultimately having to take early retirement.

With hindsight I see that he was really insecure and saw me as a threat. I've fretted over this for years, annoyed with myself for not tackling him but realistically I wouldn't have been able to change the situation. I lived on my own (still do) and this made it worse, not having anyone to calm me down at home.

Now, I need some advice !. I've been thinking about trying quorn for a while now, only because it seems like a healthy option now that I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and also need to keep my cholesterol down. SO, how do I cook it, is it tasty or do I need to add strong flavours, is it low fat etc. Does it just come in chunks or can I get a "minced" version?

Another thing - has anyone tried to mow their lawn yet ? Mine is growing like mad and looks a real mess, but it's still a bit boggy and I don't want to risk tearing up bits of turf. Should I give it a go ?

Speak to you all tomorrow.


Linda xx

chrissie52

Hi Tugrin

Sorry your week's been a difficult one, try not to let the '!!!!!!' (as my son says ) grind you down. Know it's difficult, been through the same sort of scenario myself, you will win in the end!

Recipes... if you like rissotto try this one. Butternut squash and chilli!
Serves a good portion for one!
1 small onion chopped fine
1 clove garlic
1 small chilli, deseeded and chopped fine
6 ozs butternut squash diced small
5ozs risotto rice
4 or 5 mushrooms
Scant 1 pint stock, i use vegetable stock cubes to make this.

Mix stock.
Fry onion and garlic for a few minutes.
Add mushrooms and chilli cook for another couple of minutes.
Add squash and rice and starting adding stock. I add stock in two lots. Keep stirring so it doesn't stick until all liquid is absorbed, takes about 15 minutes altogether.
Serve with grated cheese (parmesan if I'm feeling rich:rotfl:, if not I use whatever I have in the fridge!)and plenty of black pepper.

If you haven't got squash or don't like it, I have used sweet potato instead or just extra mushrooms,it's very flexible...:)

I know it's too late for tea today but it's a quick and easy meal.
Look after yourself and keep your chin up!

sickasachip13

Hi EricsMum

I eat a fair bit of quorn type products although I usually get the supermarket own brand. I tend to buy vege mince (soya based) and use it to make spag bol, chilli etc etc - bascially anything you'd use beef mince for. Asda do pretty good vege chicken style chunks, these are good in stir frys etc. I usually use the vege stuff with sauces etc, on it's own it can be quite bland.

chrissie52

Hi Eric's mum

Another thing - has anyone tried to mow their lawn yet ? Mine is growing like mad and looks a real mess, but it's still a bit boggy

Mine's the same! I think if you have a hover mower you could perhaps cut on the highest cut if frost's not forecast, but my mower's a wheeled one so daren't risk it...:eek:

CH27

Hi Tugrin

You are taking small but sustsainable steps to sort yourself out. Well done:T

Omlettes are cheap, quick & easy to do. They're also good for using up whatever is in the fridge or freezer.

tugrin

Good morning everyone and thank you for all your replies. I was in bed having given up in disgust at about 9.15 - I have to plan this observation lesson for the end of the week with both the head and the 'girl' line manager doing the observation and I keep thinking whats the point It wont matter if its all singing and dancing the best I can hope for is satisfactory and the way things are at the moment they JUST might try to say my teaching is inadequate - although that might be a bit too obvious for them.
QUORN - Bolognese- I use supermarket own brand but always defrost first and fry for a little bit with the onions and garlic to give a bit more flavour. Always put in a small spoon of sugar to bring out the tomato taste and a slug of those specially for cooking wines (only because I dont drink so never have the real stuff) plus a half of a Kallo vegetarian stock cube. When it has all simmered for about 30 mins sometimes more I take about a quarter of it and liquidise it then put it back - I find it stops it being so watery which soy mince is prone to do , presumably because it just doest behave like meat. Hope that helps. It freezes well and if you make a big casserole on Sunday you will get at least 4 meals out of it.
Like the idea of the tortilla wraps fried and the quick wrap lunches - will get salsa next week!
Hey ho, back to the planning.

ERICS_MUM

tugrin wrote: »

Good morning everyone and thank you for all your replies. I was in bed having given up in disgust at about 9.15 - I have to plan this observation lesson for the end of the week with both the head and the 'girl' line manager doing the observation and I keep thinking whats the point It wont matter if its all singing and dancing the best I can hope for is satisfactory and the way things are at the moment they JUST might try to say my teaching is inadequate - although that might be a bit too obvious for them............Hey ho, back to the planning.

Some random thoughts on your observation/assessment.

1. Do you know what sort of thing they are looking for and the basis on which you will be assessed ?

2.What are the possible "outcomes" of this observation ? If dismissal/reprimand etc are possible then you should be allowed to have someone accompany you, and it should follow a formal and specific agenda which they must discuss with you ahead of the session.

3. could you "take control" of it by asking them specific questions about your performance - call it feedback. Prepare them beforehand and ensure you get proper answers

4. In my previous "life" (banking) I assessed and was assessed every 3 months for years and my company had a specific format for our questions/comments/improvements/targets. They had to be SMART:

Specific / Supportive
Measurable / Motivational
Appropriate / Achievable
Relevant / Respectful
Timely / Truthful

5. Obviously your session won't be run like this but the principles are sound - observations/assessments should not be vague nor sloppy. Sounds like your head and line manager are struggling in the man-management dept.

6. Remember you are a well-qualified and experienced professional with the confidence to stand up in front of a class and deliver lessons every day, and the commitment to research and prepare those lessons.

SORRY to go on and on - brevity is one of my weaknesses .

Fingers crossed for next week, let us know how you get on.

Linda xx

RAS

tugrin wrote: »

Hi RAS
I got a neighbour who is a builder in and yes the boiler is connected still with a sort of flap thing that pulls out and creates a bigger draught. He also said that there is a nice inset fireplace behind this just like the other cottages iin the row. He was then a bit depressing about chimney liners saying having one is a must but that they are expensive - am I going to open up a can of worms or is it doable in stages to keep cost down d'you think?

Burner info from another thread, stored for the future http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/search/cast-iron-stoves-2

chickilegirl

Just wanted to say good luck. My husband left me 3 years ago, at the time we were 23,000 in debt and had just moved to a bigger property with a mortgage of 1100 a month. He left me with half the debt to pay, then claimed he couldn't afford to pay the mortgage, any of it, and walked away. I had a choice of paying it all myself or defaulting, and on top of that had my share of the debts - amounting to 300 per month. Misery was my friend though. Too depressed to go out I focused on work, gaining promotion and a pay rise, and stayed in thus saving money!

But this isn't a story of misery, I cut back - lots of stretching the home cooking, not taking a holiday, being careful with the leccy and all the other things forum members advise. I put most of the pay rise to the debts, I have a good job so I was lucky in that respect, and put my annual bonus straight to the debts. 2 years after he left me I made the last payment on the loan 11k. Another year on and I even have an ISA!

Like you the overspending hid underlying unhappiness, on both mine and the ex-husbands side. I would spend to make him happy, to make sure he could keep up with the lifestyle he thought he should have - he'd given up his job to retrain as a teacher. But whilst he was a student and a newly qualified teacher he continued to spend as though he were earning far more, and I was complicit in this.

Looking back now though, despite the loss of the marriage, I am so much better off - not just financially. Nothing feels as good as being debt free (I still have a mortgage but dont feel this is a burden in the same way). The feeling of control when I wake up in the morning, the excitement of taking a holiday and knowing you haven't put it on a credit card, not having to worry about the essentials - weighing up if I could afford shampoo - all of that makes me so much happier than any of the compensating splurges I used to have.

Stick with, listen to the advice and follow the tips you find here to get a formula that works for you.

Good luck.