In pursuit of Health, Wealth and Happiness

Tete_en_l'Air

Well, what a difference three days make! From being utterly dejected on Monday, thinking I'd never be able to get one week's work experience let alone two, I am now pretty much all set up! Head of School A has been in more or less constant touch about my placement on the 8th and I'll be popping in to see him early next week, and I went back in to School P (the friend's cousin's school) and met the bursar this morning and went through my CRB form - we had quite a nice chat actually and it turns out I've looked after some of their staff on my courses at work, and she made a phonecall and it turns out they don't need a CRB check at all (which is what I'd tried to tell them all along ), just a lesser-check that she can do within a day. So she said just to let her know what dates I'd like and we'll get me booked in :j So I'm pretty pleased all in all - really need to knuckle down in work though to make things less stressful for myself with all the time off I'm having!

Kitty I'm so pleased you're enjoying it so much - what sort of things do they have you doing?

Re. NYC spends - I'm going for four nights, land at midday on the Thurs, fly home at 8pm on the Mon. Might try and take £1000 and then I'll also have my cards as a back up. Thanks for the tips Dinah on the meds and also Century 21 - I LOVE TK Maxx so it'll be right up my street! I love a good rummage for bargains, it's the thrill of the chase for me!

On a non-bargainous note, the four(!) jackets I ordered arrived yesterday and I've narrowed it down to this and this - I know I've been banging on about the second one for a while, but it is quite tight-fitting around the old shoulders and the sleeves need to be rolled up, but I want to keep it anyway just because I love it! The first one was a whim but I actually love it loads, however it IS very slouchy... anyone who knows about fashion, are they meant to look a size too big?

Augh, Birdie don't ask about the weightloss! I've been stress-eating Really do need to kick myself up the bum though because NY is four weeks away ... maybe another stint on the old Shred. Hopefully all the exercise you've been doing will speed up your metabolism though so even if it feels like you're eating a lot your body can probably process it better?

Also had my first acupuncture this morning Had it in my hip and down my leg and in my feet, and also in my wrists for stress. I got some weird sensations all over - like the tingly feeling when you hit your funny bone. Now that it's over I have sort of a dull ache in my hip where I didn't before (could only feel it when I moved) so I'm hoping that's a sign that all the toxins or whatever are on the move now.

Sorry for the mammoth post, feels like the first chance I've had to sit and gather my thoughts all week!

Kittikins

I've been painting, reading with individual children and making notes, taking photos, leading a sing-song, helping with maths lessons, helping with writing notes on Henry VIII's wives, avoiding doing too much during PE lessons, loads of stuff. It's amazing, and I can't stop talking (probably boring the pants off) to everyone and anyone about how great it is!

I have, however, come down with the mother, father, great-grandmother and everyone else in the extended family of colds/cough/feeling grottyness, which is probably caused by being around so many snotty little ones.....so have spent most of the day in bed today, in fact DD put me back to bed this morning and tucked me in (she's 7!) so I could rest a bit more and she could watch CBBC

I can't wait for Monday

I've now got my redundancy notice and details of the pay off, so that all feels bit odd. I am praying that I do get on the course, and need to hurry up and feel better and rested so that I can do some more reading and preparing for the application. I'm not going to submit it until after I've been to a few more schools, as I'm hoping that one of the Heads will be my academic referee.

Tete_en_l'Air

Well I was supposed to be going for a run tonight but got annoyed at work then took a wrong turn on the way to my run and ended up in a big town centre one-way system and ended up having a bit of a meltdown and just coming home, via the shop for two big bags of Kettle Chips, two big bars of Dairy Milk and a bottle of Shiraz

I actually think I might be a bit bipolar in that I'm all happy and positive and then the smallest knock will make me despair and think what's the point?

It's essentially a little thing at work, but I just feel like I'm being walked all over and I hate that, and at the same time everyone else is happy as Larry and doing whatever they please.

In good news though I'm meeting the head of School A on Friday morning to discuss my placement next week and meet the staff and then meeting SuperHead P for lunch for what I hope will turn out to be a bit of a mentoring sesh. Guess I need to just keep my goal in mind and stop letting little things drag me down.

Tete_en_l'Air

Gosh I can be such a moan can't I? Fully recovered from my episode the other day now - this is what I mean about feeling like I might be bipolar, I'm so up and down! Or maybe I'm just a moody cow

Popped into School A this morning to meet the teacher I'll be working with next week, it was so lovely - pictures of Viking longboats on the wall, kids running about being chaotic and noisy and a man in a suit of armour clanking around the reception area! So fun and lively and much more 'me' than awful corporate breakfast meetings and schmoozing clients!

(I was going to use spreadsheets as an example of something boring and businessy there, but actually I LOVE spreadsheets )

Birdie85

I wonder if there are any techniques out there for helping you get out of your funks when you get down about things? Something like cognitive behavioural therapy? I don't know much about it, but when I was having a dodgy time with my anxiety my GP mentioned it as something to look into if I didn't get any better.

The placement school sounds great, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time! I expect that updates will be few and far between though as I'm sure it'll be very tiring!

Kittikins

Yay to placement school, it sounds like you're going to have a brilliant time Can't wait to hear all about it. One week of work and then I'm back in a school, bring it on!

I went to my second choice uni yesterday for their PGCE open day and had a great time and feel very enthusiastic about it all again

Tete_en_l'Air

Hello! Birdie I'm sure there are techniques - mindfulness psychological anchors and whatnot, I think it was just magnified last week as Dad was away and I was just stewing rather than venting.

Two days in the school under my belt and it feels like much longer!! I guess because it's all so new and there's so much to take in - I'm pooped! I was with Y3 on Monday, they're gorgeous - so enthusiastic about school! Had a fab day, felt really involved and it helped that there was another 'assistant' in the class who just did the PGCE last year (and is currently looking for a job - eep!) - she was explaining the reasoning behind certain teaching techniques and that really helped.

Wasn't quite as happy with today's classes, I was in Y6 but was a lot more observey then take-party - perhaps it's just the nature of the age group or maybe the teachers I was with aren't as inclusive as the Y3 one. I preferred the content of the Y6 lessons but it's plain to see how much more paperwork is involved ...

I'm enjoying it overall though and certainly feel like it's something I could do well - as long as I can get a place on a course and then get a job at the end! Year 1 tomorrow - jeepers!!

Had a really good meeting with the SuperHead on Friday, she's such a lovely lady and basically gave me an expensive coaching session for free, came away with so much to think about.

I'm really quite torn now between a SCITT and a uni-based PGCE - the SCITT would be a bit closer to home so more practical and cheaper on the petrol but there are advantages and disadvantages for both.

Phew, will stop waffling now! Are you decided on your two choices now then Kitty?

Kittikins

A friend of mine who did the GTP 3 years ago says that she feels disadvantaged and discriminated against when she looks for jobs, as PGCE is apparently seen as more 'elite'. No idea if that's just her with a chip on her shoulder, but for me, PGCE is the only option as with childcare issues, I couldn't do Teach Direct.

I'm 99% certain of the order of my 2 unis now, R first, even though the other place were friendlier. Just need to get another week or so's helping out under my belt and my language course, then I'll apply. Oh and ask at DD's school if someone will be a referee for me!!! Minor issue My boss has agreed as well, but I would rather a teacher do it if possible.

Hope Year 1 are lovely tomorrow. I probably also enjoyed Year 3 the most, but that's DD's year, so I guess for me it all made 'sense'. Year 6 is also great, and I'm hoping that my school next week will let me get stuck in and help with lessons as much as DD's school did.

It's all sooooooo exciting

Tete_en_l'Air

Day 4 of working in a primary school and I wake up with a sore throat

Kittikins

Darn it, it hit you a day earlier than it did me, lol. Eat lots of kiwi fruit, packed full of vit c, I think 10x more than an orange! Hope you're enjoying it, despite the lurgy descending.....