It was getting tough in 2006 and the workhouse still threatens us in 2011

Katkin_2

Delurking to say thanks to everyone for providing some much needed amusement. I follow this thread and love to read everyones comments. DH was under threat of redundancy at the end of last year and took another job at half the pay he was on. We have had to cut down on lots of things and I am now the main earner. This thread has kept my spirits up. I feel like you are all practically family.

On the subject of 'joining up', my stepds (15) has decided that he wants to join the royal engineers He decided this two years ago and has taken an engineering diploma rather than the traditional GCSE's so that he can do so. He will do a further diploma for twelve months and sign up at 17. So proud of him. Just hope his Mother will let him as we think she has been trying to talk him out of it.

Slinking back to my corner now at work (totally illegal to come on here in works time but am terribly bored).................

suzid

Hi everyone :wave:

Been up since 5.30am with the return of the barking cough so now on another course of antibiotics , oh well at least I sound worse than I feel, although I'm getting rather bored with it all now, to put it politely!

Interesting to read about kids joining the army as it's something I never wanted any of my kids to do and ended up with two boys applying. The first one was turned down on health grounds, but a few years later joined the RAF and has been very happy with his choice. The other one never heard back from them and changed his mind in the meantime. It's been going on for generations, mothers not wanting their children to join up. My great Grandmother hauled my Grandpa home after he'd joined up at the beginning of WW1 as he was under age, and if she hadn't I doubt I'd be here now. He then joined the RFC, still under age, but this time she let him get on with it and he served in Egypt before being invalided out after and accident involving a propeller :eek:.

Katieowl it's so hard for our kids isn't it. The news is full of the huge number of young unemployed kids, yet the government want everyone to work longer so not freeing up jobs for the next generation. I don't know where all these mythical jobs are supposed to come from. At least it'll be a few years yet before DS4 has to start looking so I'm hoping there may be some improvement by then. We were lucky that the college was almost on our doorstep as he's almost 21 and so we had to support him with no benefits. He'd started a course after leaving school then just before the second year said he didn't want to continue. The only other course with vacancies was a 1yr level 2. He'd never considered this subject before, loved it and went on to do the level 3 which got him into uni. None of my kids have gone from GSCE to A level to Uni without all sorts of false starts and changes in direction. At least they'll be adaptable and it's amazing how things often turn out for the best. I sincerely hope all goes well for your DS and you can find a way to get extra travel funding.

I also have several saving accounts where I try and squirrel away money. So far I have Asda cards for Christmas, a car maintennance account, another for boiler breakdowns, another for healthcare ie glasses, vet fees not covered by insurance, and a Rainy day account used for insurance etc. HOWEVER what with one thing after another breaking down, falling apart and unexpected expences such a buying a freezer the uni had promised, all but the Asda cards are empty and Suzid is not a happy bunny. Another, HOWEVER, I will not be beaten and belts will be tightened, lists made and no deviation when shopping, and any links to great looking items avoided with a will of iron. Well that's the plan anyway :rotfl::D

Have a good day folks.

HariboJunkie

redlady_1 wrote: »

HJ - Woman, empty your box!!!

I BEG your pardon? :eek::p:D If my box is full message me on FB hon and it pops up on my phone.

katieowl wrote: »

I meant no offence to anyone with family in the forces. Kate

Your post wasn't remotely offensive Kate. I do understand what you're saying about your area and desperation is an awful reason to take any job that should be a true vocation. I really hope you get the money sorted out for your son's travel and hope you feel better soon. xxx

Painting again. Bleurgh. Stuff the money saving. Next time I'm getting a man in. :cool:;):D

I see Kittie has changed the original post in this thread. Great to see some positivity at the start of the thread.

GreyQueen

The New Fingy survived a close workplace encounter of the GQ kind and I'm much happier that I was this morning (had a bit of a sleepless night tbh worrying about it).

Raining heavily here and I am grinning from ear-to-ear at the mental images of Mardatha's hens trying to keep their poor little tootsies dry. Haven't they got their own wellies......:rotfl:

Hope everyone has a good aft and eve, GQ x

shegar

mardatha wrote: »

I agree with whoever said the army recruits hardest in the bad areas - seen it all my life. The Borders are jobless at the best of times and the KOSB regiment is always on recruiting drives. I wouldn't have liked mine to join up.
Wish to god this bloody rain would give it a rest. Days and days of the stuff. I had to upend a milkcrate in the hen run for them to walk on, they were at the back door all the time complaining that their feet were wet & they were tired walking on tiptoe to keep their tummies dry. I also put in a bit of broken ladder to let them walk on, they can pretend they're Kate Moss on the catwalk. Erm chickenwalk.
I see the weather's to turn colder next week - best check that you've got water, heat and light sorted out in case of snow/burst water mains/powercuts. We supposed to get the new fire in next week, will take 3 days and they need to knock half the wall down

We would like a little of your rain if poss, all weve got is a little drizzle, and thats the first in weeks, the ground is rock solid hard, I cant get my bulbs in........................

In winter I put some palletts down to walk on in the hen run , and stand them up in the spring, its better than walking on mud, plus your hens wont lay if they get wet and muddy feet............

Mrs_Chip

Mardartha - you've got the wrong sort - here's the chickens you need - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-igSP6-EN8 !

Well we got a big tick from the Enviromental Health lady, so we can start trading whenever we want. Just got to get the trading consent minefield sorted out, and we can start making a bit of money - it's all going one way (out) at the moment which is a bit unnerving.

One huge pile of brush down and two to go - quite satisfying in an odd sort of way. The view from the garden across the harbour is now amazing, and that helps make the hard work seem easier.

Going to chill with a pizza tonight - £1.99 from Aldi and does two of us, and it is delicious. Might even kick out the jams and have a glass of wine with it!

EDIT : Well done GQ for not breaking the Fingy, tricky fellas, Fingys!

EstherH

We went to a jobs fayre with our son when he was 16. He just wanted to stay on in his schools sixth form and then go on to Uni but just in case he didn't get the GCSEs he needed we were looking at alternatives. He went to the army stall and came away really enthusiastic. They told him all about learning a trade, travelling the world etc., they also told him that going in the army didn't mean that you would have to fight. He believed them. We laughed. We were already in Afganistan at the time and within four or five months we were in Iraq. Our son did go on to uni, got his degree and is now among other things an associate lecturer at a uni, so definitely not thick. But he believed what he was told at the time. Two or three years later I would have tears streaming down my face as I watched the reports on the news of young men his age being blown up and coming back here in body bags. For those who want to go in the army that's their choice, but that's not the only time I have heard of such recruiting methods.

EstherH

Does anyone have a link to the previous tough threads. I looked at the beginning of this one yesterday and there didn't seem to be one like there has in the past. I noticed that Kittie had updated the beginning but she hasn't posted on here since the other day. Are you alright Kittie?

Pink.

Hi everyone,

As this thread has now grown very long it's time to start a new one.

Kittie, the original founder of the thread, hasn't been posting for the last few days however she has changed the first post (which had links to all the other threads in the series) and also deleted many of her other posts in this thread.

Would Kittie or one of the regulars like to start the new thread? I would be happy to do it myself but following remarks last time I don't feel able to.

Whoever begins the new thread, would you please link to the previous threads in this series or let me know (either in your post or by pm) and I will link to them.

Many thanks,

Pink

katieowl_2

Before you start a new thread I have an update! DS went to the office with all his bits of paper and it was a mistake! :j When he origianally signed onto the course he was to apply for the Assembly learning grant, and if he was still doing that he WOULD have had to pay - he also would have been paid at the beginning of each term. But they transferred him to 'Pathways' without switching the paperwork in the office, and on Pathways he doesn't have to pay for the bus. I am so relieved!!! (So is he!)

Unfortunately we are not out of the woods yet, as he got a letter tonight from the Student Loans lot saying he'd not signed a Learning Agreement yet, which he did right at the beginning of term...so back to the office for him tomorrow!

Kate