"Simply not solvent!

bandraoi

Maybe getting a degree or some teaching qualification is something your husband should look at. Something, anything vaguely academic and related is likely to be a good thing to have on his CV.

Even a Tefl course, or he could see what the OU has to offer?

Seaxwyn

Hi all. My OH has looked into getting a PGCE but the fact he doesn't have a degree seems to be a barrier. However the college he is working at now did say that in principle they would be prepared to assist him in getting some on-the-job training, though that does not seem to have happened yet but I will encourage him to follow it up.

Another thing which may go against him is that he is now 58.

Anyway, he is working at the college up to the Easter Hols, and I hope they will book him again next term. They do seem to be relying on him heavily to mark essays, cover for absent staff etc so he is becoming indispensible. But they only book the sessional staff a term in advance.

During the long summer break, I hope he will be able to go back to the driving and sandwich delivery jobs he was doing before.

hypno06

Don't know if it helps, but I am doing the cert ed and I don't have a degree - the cert ed allows you to teach 16+

Seaxwyn

Phew, have got to the end of an exhausting weekend, and am so glad I don't have to go to London at all next week.

I had a surprising bolt of good fortune today when a friend rang up and invited me and my DD3 to go skiing with them in March. The travel and accommodation will all be free and she even offered to pay for our food, as she knows how skint I am. So I just need to pay for the equipment hire and lift pass.

The offer made me feel a bit creepy, like I was somehow was copying Hypno. I'm not even a skiing person - only been once, 20 years ago, and this came right out of the blue. But it seems like too good an offer to turn down so I'll find the money somehow. I've been doing well on Amazon lately so I'll list more books for a start.

I've realised I have to take the part-time job I was offered, so I'll try to sort that out tomorrow.

taxi73

WOW..what great news and the break will do you good and free..how goods that

chevalier

Hi Seax
Well done on OH being indispensible. You never know if he has to do marking, then maybe some of that will spill over into the summer hols, and he will get a bit of money for doing the marking?

I too would take the 3 months, apart from anything else, you may be able to throw some of the money earnt into your tax saving pot. And the good thing will be that next financial year, you will have some of the year on PAYE, which will make things easier?

Ref the oil tank. Well it is weird. The contractor is still coming to do the work, because they have agreement from the loss adjuster to proceed. So it is no skin of their nose? So last week they came and laid the concrete for the path down the side of the house, and measured up for where the base for the new tank is going to go.

As regards the letter and all, we have been in such a state of disarray, that we have only just finished the complaint letter. I know I know procrastinating since October is taking the whatit a bit!!

Still think it is pretty good now.

Ref the house (ie yours), is it the house that needs to go or the clutter that needs to go to make it a home?

chev

Seaxwyn

Hi chev - how strange about the oil tank, but great that the work is being done. I can't believe they will actually make you pay.

The house.... the clutter needs to go, but also I would like another bedroom so each child can have their own. I know lots of people share, but I also know my youngest two would be happier with their own space. The rooms in our house are all very small and I think it would do us good to be less cramped. I feel better for having set a target date for moving.

chevalier

And it isn't better to extend what you have?
chev

Seaxwyn

Hi chev, it's all extended I promise! A tiny working man's cottage with two rooms in the loft and another on top of the kitchen. Not possible to extend any more. But on the upside, it's a period house with a wonderful (ahem) garden office, and in a popular area, so quite possibly we could get a bigger house for the same money by moving a few miles and getting something newer.

Are you any nearer to fixing a date for your big move?

chevalier

I take it you want to move within the same area? Not sure where you are, so can't advise. But maybe you can find a 4 bed house (you only have 3 children?), with room to extend, and then you might get it cheaper.

Ref our move. Well we are trying (not very well, cos OH HAS to do money stuff, ie they are his shares HE has to sell them. I can't do any of it - BIG SIGH), to at least have the house on the rental market by the end of March! Yes I know.

BUT
OH doesn't have a job to go to yet
We have no accomodation lined up in Auckland, and you have to be living in rental (ie NOT in a hotel), for the kids to be able to go to school.
We still don't know how to get me into the country, as OH and children go in as Australian, but I am only British, and it seems (yes really), as if this has never come up before (NZ high commission are pants). So there seems to be real confusion their end about what visa I should apply for. Thing is if we !!!! it up, I would have to return to UK and not go back to NZ for 9 MONTHS! Gulp.
We also have no container booked for our stuff
House needs a lick of paint to get it up to snuff for renting, plus carpets done, oven cleaned, garden prettied etc etc
Need to find a home for a 3 piece suite (is ginormous though), so fingers crossed freecycle comes through (haven't for the last 3 things I have listed on there), washing machine and tumble dryer as have been advised to just leave the plumbing for same, not the appliances.

and on and on and on......:eek: :eek: :eek: :mad:

I would really just like to go to one company throw some money at them and say sort the lot. So we can just swan off! Sigh.

chev