5000 Watt Lightbulb Moment - Determined to Clear Debts

Buffythedebtslayer

Fingers crossed here, all intereviews are good practice and your feedback sounds good


Good luck


Buffy xx

QOTD

Thanks Buffy

I started reading "The Secret" last night. Positive thoughts now all the way... actually that was easier enough to do this morning, when I woke up the sun was flooding in through the curtains. When I walked the dog the sky was blue and you could feel the warmth just starting to warm everything up. I am very lucky where I live in that I have the countryside practically on my doorstep - I walk the dog down a bridlepath and this morning the birds were tweeting away and coming down on the path in front of us (can't understand why they weren't scared of the dog!) so it started a lovely, beautiful morning and it will continue that way.

Best go now to get ready for yet another interview, just popped in whilst having my breakfast.

:D:D *Positive Thoughts* :D:D

QOTD

:mad::mad: Well despite the postive thoughts this morning, unfortunately I received a phone call just before I went in to my interview that has turned the last few hours on its head.... I'm determined to say it hasn't affected the whole day.

A bit of background... My DS is 14 years old and has Asbergers Syndrome which is a form of Autism. The way that it affects him is that despite being extremely intelligent he has social and behavioural issues - and he in particular has anger problems. The easiest way to describe it is that he missed out on the social gene so he doesn't know how to behave in company and doesn't communicate very well unless he is talking about one of his specific interests (games, films, whatever happens to be it at the time).

Due to his anger issues (which includes lashing out and destroying things) he was expelled from his primary school in his very last year. He had a slow and monitored introduction into high school - a *normal* one - and despite being at the end of his third year he has had numerous suspensions and warnings about "this will be the last time".

Finally today I think I received the "this is the last time..." conversation. Whilst I was waiting in the car park before my interview (I always get there early to make sure I can find the place) I received a phone call from the school saying that he had been disruptive in class and swore at the teachers. Please could I come an pick him up. Unfortunately I am only too used to this type of call. I explained that I was about to go into an interview and that I had no definite time but the earliest time I would be able to collect him would be about 12:30. They understood - or at least they said they did but I knew that they wanted me to drive all the way back just to collect him!

When I came out of the interview I had a voice messaage from the school to say that he had left the school premises and therefore he was no longer in their care, but could I please come to school for a meeting with the deputy head. Firstly worry came to mind but then I realised that despite everything he is a sensible boy and really all he would do would be to walk home and then start playing on his games so I put hte worry out of my head (only ot replace it if, heaven forbid, he wasn't at home).

I was in two minds whether to check he was at home or go to school first - school being on the way home and decided that he would definitely be at home so just get school out of the way.

Whilst at school they "gave me the talk" and although nothing concrete has been decided since the deputy needs to speak to the head, I now need to get a plan of action in place as to what to do with my DS - try and get him into another *normal* school or a *special* school. Time is obviously against me since schools break up next week...... Oh and all this alongside getting another job in order to keep the roof over our heads!!!

Well I'm now at home and very pleased to report that DS is safely upstairs playing on his games. I've had a talk to him and explained the situation and that it is incredibly likely that he may not be going back to his old school. I've asked him how he feels and what he wants to do, but as I explained earlier, feelings and decisions come under his - unable to talk about remit so I didn't get much/anything from him.

I had a little cry and asked him (in a jovial way) if he didn't think I had enough to worry out in getting a job but now needed to sort out a new school for him.

I best go now as I have a number of phone calls to make. More than I had anticipated but it will definitely keep me busy this afternoon.

Thanks for listening, now I just need to get back to the positive thoughts: Hopefully a change in school will be a fresh start for him with new friends and new opportunities and no baggage weighing him down

QOTD

Ok, using this post as an information gathering exercise:

Parents completing the survey frequently reported cases where they were
asked to remove their child from school before the end of the school day
without any formal procedure being followed. This practice is known as
informal or unofficial exclusion and is illegal.

Source: Page 2, http://www.talkaboutautism.org.uk/files/treehouse-corp/files/documents/psp_exclusion_report_FINAL.pdf

The report also notes familiar feelings:

1) Dreading the phone ringing
2) Issues at work regarding reliability - it was previously a 3 hour trip to drive to school, have a meeting at school, collect son and take home, ensure son happy at home, drive back to work
3) Feeling that school think it is easy to pick up phone and ask parent to collect - parents CAN collect at the drop of a hat....!!

QOTD

Oh it's all go. I've just spoken to the Education Officer (who has always been really helpful in the past and fortunately continues to be so).

She says that from the *offence* that I described, it doesn't warrant enough of a seriousness to suffer a permanent exclusion. She suggests that what they should do is offer a fixed term exclusion (probably to the end of term) and then have a review at the beginning of the next school term. But that is only what they should do, not what they will do.

She did of course, remind me that my DS has a statement and this prevents school from permanently excluding him until a review has taken place. Ultimately they need to contact the monitoring and assessment team to see where they go from here. The education officer is going to email someone now on the team to inform them so that they can get on to the school (to ensure that the school contact them).

Feeling a lot happier. I also told the education officer that whenever I speak to her, she always puts my mind at rest.

:j Passing on the love :j

burntfingers_2

Hi

thought I would drop by and say hello, wow you sound to have been so busy in such a short space of time I am sure that you will be able to find work soon.

You sound so organised too as to what you need to do and when. It is scary when you first sit down and work out the debt total but at least you know how much it is and can now tackle it head on.

Good luck for the interviews, and long may your diary reign.

bf xx

QOTD

Thanks Burntfingers. Yes looking at the entirety of my debt was scarey, but if I am really, really honest, it was actually scary not knowing.

:beer: Good News :beer:. Not *absolutely fantastic news*, but good news nonetheless. I have had feedback from my interview this morning and despite the hiccup just beforehand I obviously didn't let this impact my positiveness and I am the top candidate for the job. Hoping to make a decision by Monday. Now this is for a temporary job of 3 months and it will not be any longer - it is definitely fixed term with no prospect of being taken on BUT it would be 3 months where I would have time to take a slightly more relaxed approach to getting a permanent job.

Having said that, the interview that I went to yesterday afternoon was for hte job that I *really really really* want. I have made it to second interview stage which is on Monday morning. It sounds really bizarre now but not really, ok that just sounds mad.... anyway, now I don't actually want to hear if I got the temporary job now until Monday, which would be after my interview. The agency was on the phone earlier discussing salary and all that and I was thinking - but I don't want to do this yet, I want to do it on Monday - I want to have had the second interview for the permanent job and THEN be offered a temporary job at which point I can then *speed up* the decision (hopefully) on the permanent job.

Woaw, that was a lot of temps and perm's going on there, but obviously I want a perm job over a temp job and it just so happens that the perm job is a REALLY good one that I would want even if I didn't NEED a job, if you see what I mean.

Of course, all this is hypothetical..... :rotfl:

*Positive Thoughts*

Still, I treated myself to a bottle of red wine with some of the £10 that I found the other day. My treat for getting to second interview which I promised myself if it happened. So glad it did, I haven't drink any wine for 3 weeks and it tastes S O G O O D....:beer:

QOTD

:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

Super fantastic brilliant news. I've just had a job offer.
:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

It is only for a short term contract of 3 months but 3 months salary is 3 months salary. I have been extremely open with the agency that the job is through and said that I have a second interview on Monday for a permanent job which if offered I would have to take over the 3 month job. The agency was was understanding, thankfully as I was dreading saying it but knew that I needed to be open about it. At present I am starting on Wednesday unless I inform them otherwise on Monday/Tuesday.

Just tried the agency that the permanent job is through to be open about the situation and also to ensure they bestow on the company that if they want me they need to make a decision quickly.

I hope this plan comes together.....
Sorry, I have tried hard so this plan will come together :j

*Positive Thoughts*

Footiemad_2

Hi there

I have just come across your diary. Brilliant news on both counts re the jobs. Well done for staying so positive and not resting on your laurels in the hope that a job would come winging its way to you without you having to do anything. Give yourself a huge pat on the back. I am very impressed.

Wishing you lots of luck for the interiew on Monday and I also hope you manage to sort out the problems with your sons school and I hope that you dont have to start looking for a new one for him.
You sound alike a very strong and determined lady. You go for it. With your attitude I am sure you will be out of debt in no time.

Take care hun and I will keep on popping by to see how your getting on and raise a cheer. or a glass of red or two

QOTD

In the tone of Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear.... "Some might say...." that The Secret (the book) is working already....

I've only read a couple of chapters and already I have turnaround in that now have a job!