Mr and Mrs K's New Journey to a Debt Free Life.

Ali-OK

What about Saturday Music School? I used to go to one (paid for but county council subsidised).

It stopped 2 years ago due to funding, but DS's school has a fabulous music teacher who with the help of a visiting violin teacher has started one up - being held at the school and they've now got an orchestra out of it.

I think it's also worth remembering that even if the children's parents don't encourage continuing what you've started, the children themselves, when they grow up might take the experience you are giving them and take their music up again. You are giving them something valuable, just you might not see a return on that whilst they are still at school.

I had to give up clarinet and piano as my parents would not let me have the lessons at school as it took time out of 2 of my O level sujects, but I continued my music as an adult. OK, so DS bashed the hell out of the piano handed down from my grandmother and it was beyond fixing and my Boosey & Hawkes clarinet is gathering dust in the loft now, but I shall go back to both as a hobbie one day (not far in the future I hope either).

Keep up the great work.

AlexLK

littlegreenparrot wrote: »

Have you discussed it with anyone at the school? Is there other music provision available in the area, if not at that particular school?

It's difficult without knowing the context, but if it was a pilot project you were involved with they may have been holding off to see how much genuine interest there was. I know the peripatetic instrument teachers that I had have been cut, but there may be provision at other schools that can be linked into.
Could you offer group sessions to reduce the cost per learner?

I think it would be well worth having a chat with whoever manages the project, just to explain that there were a few very interested students, and see if there are any further avenues to explore. There are sometimes less obvious solutions to a problem

Thank you for the advice. As I've never done anything like this before, I had not discussed this with the school, nor had I thought about offering group sessions.

Ali-OK wrote: »

What about Saturday Music School? I used to go to one (paid for but county council subsidised).

It stopped 2 years ago due to funding, but DS's school has a fabulous music teacher who with the help of a visiting violin teacher has started one up - being held at the school and they've now got an orchestra out of it.

I think it's also worth remembering that even if the children's parents don't encourage continuing what you've started, the children themselves, when they grow up might take the experience you are giving them and take their music up again. You are giving them something valuable, just you might not see a return on that whilst they are still at school.

I had to give up clarinet and piano as my parents would not let me have the lessons at school as it took time out of 2 of my O level sujects, but I continued my music as an adult. OK, so DS bashed the hell out of the piano handed down from my grandmother and it was beyond fixing and my Boosey & Hawkes clarinet is gathering dust in the loft now, but I shall go back to both as a hobbie one day (not far in the future I hope either).

Keep up the great work.

Unfortunately, they to be around Grade 1 standard to start Saturday morning music school, which after one term of large group sessions would be (in my humble opinion) impossible to achieve.

I hope a few of them will perhaps start as adult beginners or perhaps even just begin to appreciate music other than "Ke$ha" or whoever else is currently in the charts.

AlexLK

Wednesday 16th April, 2014.

Dear Diary,

Apologies for my incoherence.

Usually, we make the most of the four days Mrs. K. gets off work at Easter and go away for at least a long weekend but this year we are staying at home which I have recently been rather sad about as I'm craving a few days away. Today, I have been confronted with the "what are you doing for Easter?" question and for perhaps the first time my answer was "nothing". Well, that was this morning...

This evening Mrs. K. came up with an idea that we'll have a "holiday at home" over the Easter break including a trip out to a local tourist attraction, a meal out as a family and, yes I've left the best until last, an Easter egg hunt in the garden. A year ago I would have scoffed at such a suggestion but without the promise of even a week in Spain I am really quite looking forward to it.

Though now I fear more austerity to come in the future; Mrs. K. has an interview for a job she would really love but not without a drop in salary and I've somehow told her to go for it with my blessing. In many ways I think I am much less worried about a potential drop in income than she is, as a consequence I sadly do not think she will take the job if offered it. Yet again I find myself wishing she and I could start again, from the beginning, for I would have done so many things, so very differently.

Summary:
Tuesday:
-£50.00 Diesel.
-£70.00 Petrol.
-£11.00 Groceries.
-£6.00 Mrs. K. Lunch.
Wednesday:
-£10.00 Groceries.

Yours Faithfully,
Alex.

maman

That sounds like a very productive evening Alex, obviously your excursion last weekend was a big hit and to be repeated! Little K will build up some lovely memories of spending a happy time with his parents. far better than a few days in Lanzarote!


I think if you keep your other spending minimal then a meal out is fine but what about a picnic on one of the other days?


Good for you encouraging MrsK to try for this new job. It might make her happier and perhaps even rein in her spending a little if she's not earning so much.

AlexLK

maman: She enjoyed last weekend much more than she thought she would.

A picnic and perhaps a BBQ are planned also.

Mrs. K. has a few interviews in the pipeline, one for a job that has a much higher salary but means quite a bit of travel abroad (I'm beginning to wonder if us spending some time away from each other on a regular basis may be a good thing) and this other one I have already spoken about. She doesn't dislike her current job but one contractor has seemingly made it his mission to make her professional life as miserable as possible.

Unfortunately, it appears she has taken my encouragement of the lower salaried job in a spiteful manner. In a way I see why - a few years ago I wouldn't have been able to face our current situation. Now, I just hate myself for my past.

Buffythedebtslayer

Alex,


Please don't hate yourself. that is such a negative awful thing to think of yourself. You aren't evil you haven't set out to hurt people, you got into debt and have stuffed things up a little. You are doing really very well with your mind change and new attitude.


Everything teaches us a lesson, all the lessons make us who we are.


I know all this sound trite and I do understand, I could absolutely kick myself over the mistakes and poor judgements of my recent past. However if I am already unhappy and feel incapable, going over the mistakes doesn't make me feel any better. I am guilty of using my diary as place to express such thoughts but I try day to day to focus on small things that cheer me up. Chocolate and my pets feature heavily! and paying off the debt. savings made. resisting the shops. small victories all add up.


Your weekend plans sound lovely, have fun with your family


XX

AlexLK

It's really not just my irresponsibility over money, unfortunately. I am starting to see why my in laws, parents and a lot of people I used to consider friends can't abide me.

maman

AlexLK wrote: »

It's really not just my irresponsibility over money, unfortunately. I am starting to see why my in laws, parents and a lot of people I used to consider friends can't abide me.

Obviously don't know the details of why you think this but nothing you've shared on here would explain that. There have been differences on the thread about how you seem a bit removed from how 'normal' people live (independent schools, cars, pens and gloves for example;)) but that's simply because it's set against a backdrop of your debts. When you're debt free I would defend your right to spend your money in any way you choose.


So you made a mess of your finances and now you're doing something about it. What's to hate in that? I doubt these people who 'can't abide you' have never made mistakes.


Shame that MrsK sees your encouragement as spiteful. All you can do is reassure her that you'll support her whichever job she chooses and that all you want is for her to be happy.

AlexLK

maman: The money problems factor into it but it's more to do with the way I behaved in the past toward others. I am not a very "nice" person and have been awfully selfish many times over. These days I only live to not upset my wife and to not mess my son up even more than he will be having been brought up by me.

Mara_uk7

The past is gone, push those negative people out of your life, find some new friends who dont give a scooby about whos shirts youre wearing or what car you drive. Most of us arent so materialistic.

And about not upsetting your wife ? Man up a bit, show her youre not a doormat, You made mistakes, Youre sorting them, She is not allowed to punish you forever. Thats just plain mean and she really needs to appreciate the goodness that youve found inside you now.