'supporting each other through really tough times'

Popperwell

Forced myself out to the SM(I could've attempted to make one)but was out of bread and three times I forgot yesterday. I was going to but a cheapish loaf but treated myself to a soft Farmhouse(same amount as the other loaf)and just 35p more. It will last me best part of a week...what an exciting life I lead...

Managed to fall asleep(that's the effects of yesterday still I suspect)and getting older:pplus the miserable weather outside.

Thinking of making some sourdough bread...and keeping it going...will have to buy a big glass jar to keep the dough in...if I go away for a holiday and it dies I'll just start again...

kidcat

seakay - this wasnt interviews - every student there has a place (assuming they achieve the grades of their offer) - parents were supposed to attend as there was finance etc to arrange, and of course accommodation was being prebooked yesterday too.

There were taster sessions of what they could expect when they arrived - I spoke to someone this morning (it turns out she works there) who says that there is a chance a few will get the offer reduced if they have impressed - thankfully I know my DD impressed as every tutor spoke to me about it, so there is a chance she will receive a better offer as a result.

The tutors were not happy with the attitudes they saw either apparently and questions have been asked how these kids got offers in the first place. It seemed odd to me, and the tutors all seemed phased by it, they had done the same sessions in the morning and had much bigger numbers but a better response.

VJsmum - I dont envy you at all, its a nightmare, I originally arranged to drop her off for interviews etc and leave her there and then hastily had to re-arrange when I discovered parents had to stay all day too - then one Uni took the kids off and left parents sat around all day - no idea of the point. Its all so different from when I went


Its been a quiet day here, took kids out this morning and then we did a half an hour blast of tidy up, leaving me able to sit down this afternoon.
Made the hairy bikers fish stew today and it was lovely, definitely one I would do again - not planned at all but I got cod fillets reduced in Ald! yesterday so decided to use them up.

Still very windy here - my dad called earlier and announced he is coming Wednesday to build the bike shed - as OH says its sat there since Oct and he has shown no interest but now when he wants to come round he is searching for excuses.
I have said that is fine, I am out but OH is here - that was met with stoney silence, OH says the weather isnt going to be great this week though so I cant see it happening.
I wont be impressed though as my group friends have offered to help us get the garden sorted - digging out the old gravel path and laying it to lawn, which is a massive job, we were trying to get a gardener to do it but its going to cost a fortune, so I wont be able to arrange it for this week just in case he does decide he is coming.

My local Ald! has raised beds in for £6.99 each - they are only one plank high, but slot together, I am thinking I may buy three and stack them on top of each other to make a better raised bed size.

savingqueen

thanks Lyn, you know the scholarship idea had never occured to me. We also have some private schools in the areas outlying ours - the posh areas, none in ours its so deprived. It is certainly worth looking into. Again it would be a journey but doable. I am more immediately concerned about DS1 - more I think if we encourage/tutor him for the better schools and he doesn't get in, will it affect his self esteem - actually that goes for both of them - but then if they go to a carp school that may also have the same effect. Sorry thinking aloud, answered my own question!

I am going to do more research this year in prep for next year (year 5) and see if I can get hold of copies of past entrance papers etc to see what we are up against, check intake numbers outside catchment etc. Think I might be up for doing extra tutoring myself, if I can't we will find the money somehow for a tutor. Boys are at a primary outside catchment as it has a good name and they were brilliant supporting them both through speech therapy for several years (unlike the nursery at our nearest primary we started DS8 at for the first year). I did a massive amount of research etc for primary school so more than prepared to do the same for secondary.

thanks again Lynn.

sq

maryb

SQ when you do your research, don't be put off if you find that scholarships are limited to 30% of the fees. Lots of private schools have limited the size of their academic scholarships in order to increase the size of their means tested bursaries - which don't depend on excelling in the entrance exam. Depending on your circumstances it's not unusual for 95% of the fees to be covered and with most private schools, if you are in receipt of a bursary you get the cost of school trips etc or a massive contribution.

The older the school, the bigger its endowments usually, and the more generous the bursaries. Certainly where boys' schools are concerned

[Deleted User]

Bless you SQ I'm a mum and I know just how much you want the very best for them, sometimes you just have to play the system, nothing illegal, but being persuasive and straight sometimes has its rewards. The best weapon in our arsenal was stretching the girls by doing 'different' things with them to give them a wider experience which made them both a bit out of the ordinary and therefore memorable and getting them involved in anything they felt they'd like to do, it gave them the knowledge of what they were good at and gave them confidence. Always here if you want to bounce ideas, will always help if I can, Cheers Lyn xxx.

BitterAndTwisted

Thank you for your interesting and valuable contribution

alltrustgone

OMG. Hide. Nursie's back.

Molly41

kidcat wrote: »

Still very windy here - my dad called earlier and announced he is coming Wednesday to build the bike shed - as OH says its sat there since Oct and he has shown no interest but now when he wants to come round he is searching for excuses.
I have said that is fine, I am out but OH is here - that was met with stoney silence, OH says the weather isnt going to be great this week though so I cant see it happening.

Well I guess if you had built the bike shed yourselves then he would have no excuse to come over !

kidcat

Molly - its not ours to build - there was a big issue with DS and his bike that I wanted to solve one way however he made a series of promises to DS behind my back and then when I pointed out I couldnt store this super bike safely he purchased DS a bike shed of his own. When it arrived we had already bought one that we put up for all the littlies bikes etc and this one was rather a nasty shock - we really dont have space - but we were issued with instructions that it is not ours and that he wanted to build it himself - he took away all the fixings and instructions, not to mention the roof and felt too. So its been a bone of contention for months - I have one playhouse, two sheds and a bike shed now in the garden - another bike shed which is huge is going to be an issue but as he had promised DS I am stuck with it.

Its so stupidly complicated and if I had been more in control and firmer way back then I really wouldnt be in this mess now.:)

Its like the wardrobe they bought DD7 last month for her birthday - I opened it all today to build to discover all fixings and instructions gone - DD18 anounced yes he took it the day it arrived! Its all so silly and about exerting control and power - I am now going to be much more careful.

ginnyknit

Oh Kidcat, thats awful, manipulative and sly. Sorry but its really annoyed me that he would take away all the fixings. This of course must also impact on your OH's feelings too when he could do the jobs himself if he has time but is prevented from it. I know he may not want to do them but its the principle of it.



Have been wandering round the t'interweb and am going to switch off the pc and back away before I find another pintrest page :eek:

goddnight all x