Apple muncher's number crunching

apple_muncher

I escaped early and am already home. Pip and dh went bouldering so I have the place to myself for a little while.

The other teacher is a delight and we got on very well. She's not stressy, likes to be organised and (drumroll needed here) has swapped a day with me so that I'm now doing Tues and Fri. Dep head agreed and I got that in writing. Timetable twerp then said it couldn't be done. So I went to see the Head himself and showed him the twerp's reply and he agreed with ME that it was clearly possible as it is simply a case of allocating different days, not changing the timetable and that I was to reply to twerp and say that dep head had agreed and to talk to her if necessary. So I did.

Other teacher and I only had time to grab short conversations today, and tomorrow we're at another school for the morning and have a CISC session for 2 hours (UGH) in the afternoon. But Friday should give us all day to plot and plan.

The day swap does mean that I am one period over my allocation, but I shall request no cover as a recompense...

Overall, today has gone much better than I expected and I even had a separate plate of g/f food for lunch.

f0xh0les

Wow! They actually remembered your lunch??

Fab you can get on with The Usurper, make her your acolyte and watch DepH's head explode

Karmacat

That sounds excellent!  And nice to get some time at home to yourself.

apple_muncher

I went out for a walk down to the nearby shops, to buy pip some strawberry bonbons. They only had 1 pack but I also got gf pretzels and some reduced items. I was quite tight chested by the time I got home, but it was a good thing to do, getting out in the sunshine.

I have mulled over the September challenge and come up with this:

NST September 2022
Picture Yourself On a Boat On a Canal
This month (because we like to mix it up) we will be taking a cruise. Not a fan of canal boats as I feel they go far too slowly. However, that may be why it will be good for me to go on one, and slow down…

Life on the water is simple, pretty basic. I like the idea of this but get swamped easily.

Space is limited on the boat and you will be more exposed to the elements, so think about warm clothing… Most of the conservation areas have been reclaimed from old pit workings and spoil heaps - it's never too late to turn your life around, live the life you have always wanted and give something old and ugly a total transformation. Think about the space you inhabit and if there are any low cost ways you could improve it, for yourself and your community. If you can manage on holiday with a bag of clothes, a small toiletries bag and minimal gadgets, why do you need …? Amen!

SIMPLIFY Many of you are decluttering converts but it may be time to look again at your possessions and assess whether they fit in with your life now or in the future. Are you hanging on to things that are sentimental, aspirational, just in case?  Oh yes, I am the reigning champion of just in cases.

ESSENTIALS Pay to your debt or savings first, live on what is left – With an extra £800 to pay out each month, I need to keep a tight rein on spending. And so does DH!!! 

Spend Free Days Aim for 15 Yep.

PLANNING and PREPARATION The seasons are changing, What needs to change in your life, your home, what challenges need addressing… Live in the spirit of the season and enjoy your life, whatever the weather. Big changes for us in that pip starts GCSEs and I reduce to 2 days work per week. No excuse not to rid myself of clutter, then.

THINK ABOUT EVERY PURCHASE Yep. 

EAT to nourish your MIND and BODY and support your IMMUNE SYSTEM. I find that sugar is not good for me (not a surprising fact!) and I’m recovering from a bad bout of covid. I generally eat too much so a focus on simple and healthy food is a very good thing.

MINDFULNESS I have very recently re-started using headspace. And I aim to get outside for a 30 min walk every day. Walking currently makes my chest tight and hurty, but I hope that will sod off soon.

BE KIND Yep

EXERCISE 4 times a week for at least 30 minutes I can still go to the gym, but I rest for longer.

REPORT DAILY Of course! 

REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, REPAIR, REPURPOSE, then RECYCLE.  Get your brain working on creative solutions, save money, reduce waste. Yes, yes, yes!!!

f0xh0les

Silly question first  - have you tried an anti-histamine?  Lots of people have suddenly  become more intolerant of pollen after C0vid.  one of those preventer inhalers make a huge difference if I am trying to run - the good thing is that it is a pretty immediate fix or non-fix. It will either help, or make no difference.   See what the Dr says.  Tight hurty chests are not to be ignored or endured.

Karmacat

apple_muncher said:

REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, REPAIR, REPURPOSE, then RECYCLE.  Get your brain working on creative solutions, save money, reduce waste. Yes, yes, yes!!!

I like all these!

apple_muncher

Haven't tried an antihistamine, so will ask GP about it.

CPD today. Safeguarding and child protection was superbly delivered but still rather harrowing. CISC was well over my head. She was lively, cheery, finished early and I have no idea what she was trying to tell us! I used her time to do some scribbles for planning, so maybe that is why I was lost...

The Usurper told me something interesting: she'd made it very clear that she was not going to /was not able to do any head of dept stuff. Dep head said to her that 'the other teacher' will do it. That's me, then. Sigh.

More CPD ish tomorrow. New y7+12 are in but I'm not involved with them so me + Usurper should have the day to finally sort ourselves and the muddle that is our timetable allocation...

f0xh0les

So ..... you are the new head of department then?.......with the pro rata pay that affords ...  n'est pas?

If The Usurper is not, then it must be you - voila!

Karmacat

apple_muncher said:

The Usurper told me something interesting: she'd made it very clear that she was not going to /was not able to do any head of dept stuff. Dep head said to her that 'the other teacher' will do it. That's me, then. Sigh.

Well, that's a negotiation, isn't it!  Remember your decisions, and the way they've treated you   I'm so angry on your behalf - please, please negotiate!

apple_muncher

Today's clarification was that Usurper was found via an agency. U told agency that they weren't doing HOD stuff. Agency emailed U back with 'the other teacher will do it' and copied in the dep head.

Sigh.

Today was an intense 7 hours of intensity. At least the carpet fitters finished fitting the carpet tiles. So U and I moved half the furniture in the French room back in its place- v useful as U now knows where things are. They start on Mon. I ain't there!