Pay Off Before Lay Off!

Habibiboo

:wave:

apple_muncher wrote: »

Hope your work crisis resolves. Did the ponderment produce any solutions?

Still pondering I'm afraid, has so far produced a headache, but not a solution!

Boo hiss to lairy louts (whispered from a distance to ensure they don't hear me!). Maybe they are the ones who picked the tree of all its fruit??

I suspect they aren't the fruit pickets, there's no fruit type evidence scattered around the bench, apart from empty cans from the fermented variety and a selection of Mc D and KFC cartons (even though they are based right next to the bin) .... perhaps their rottie doesn't let them use it either!

Are you sleeping any better now? Take care x

Thanks A*M, new med makes me dozy which is a bit unfortunate as supposed to take it a.m. Still overall effect of that and the night time meds has meant I've been out for the count over the past 2 evenings! Hope you're Ok? X

Habibiboo

Alchemilla wrote: »

Habi. Quiet word with the dog warden?

I thought sloes were supposed to be left on the bush until first frost?

:wave:

Hi Al ... have spoken to the park warden who changes the bins and he has told them off for littering (but to no effect). Have also spoken to a community support officer who was walking up a nearby road when we were on our way back. He said they did a drugs raid a couple of weeks ago to move the dope smokers / dealers on and that the park is being monitored! So I guess we'll see!

:think: I don't know about that for the sloes Al, to be honest if we waited around here they'll all be gone! We wash ours then freeze them to bring the flavour on, which I guess is the equivalent of them being frosted?

Hope your hump day was OK? x

Alchemilla

Thanks. It was quite productive.x

Habibiboo

:wave:

Hope it was a good day for all concerned?

MFW actions:

* NSD (2 in row, but by skin of teeth!)
* A little frugality went a long way ... fluorescent tube in garage has gone phut. So, Mr Hbbb has recycled tube from utility area into garage and we are using light from dining area off kitchen to light the utility area as it's not really necessary to have one in there ... the light from the kitchen area is sufficient, we just never thought of changing it before because it's just how it's always been. Without a bulb there, that's one less light to pay the bill for! Mini result in the scheme of things.

AA day 19 / 100 = £ 480 / £ 2,000

Grey Clouds:

Sorry, there's a few ... I think hump day has given me the hump!

Mr Hbbb has sussed that he's being "watched" at work. Not in a good way. New broom has brought in plenty of minions and previously high ranking staff are now finding themselves without positions of responsibility. It's not looking too bright really. He's already biting his lip over things and I know he doesn't do that for long.

I forgot to phone chimney sweep so he's also testy with me for that.

I have the hospital tomorrow (miles away) and Mr Hbbb is now being grumpy about taking me even though he originally said he'd be home in time and no problem ... his change of heart is all part of the pressure of this extra scrutiny I think, he still wants to be seen there at 4.30 instead of leaving to come to hospital. I feel bad for both of us about that.

Silver lining:

We are still doing well for garden produce and I found a nice recipe in one of my old books for stuffed marrow so I'm having fun letting one of my courgettes grow into a marrow. Yes, I know, I have fun in that sentence, sad but true!

Daily declutter:

Not today, too distracted with worky malarkey, health shenanigans and Mr Hbbb. Total still 285 / 365.

Simple pleasures:

* What a lovely moon!
* Meal plan is definitely stopping Mr Hbbb popping out for top ups, which is in turn aiding austerity measures.

Hope you're all ok, hugs as needed (for you all) x

apple_muncher

Hugs to you too Hbbb.

It's tough for your Mr - being watched makes you think management have already made decisions and are simply looking for the proof that they were 'right'. I sincerely hope they see him for the great teacher he is.

I had to ask for leave to take dd to the hosp, as I made the appointment 6 months ago, and can;t change it now. In fact, the clinic she is going to doesn't run on the days I'm not at work this year. I got permission to go, but with a little note that they were sure I'd make sure it was not in school time next time. D'uh! I TOLD them that the clinic only runs when I'm working...!

And then dd gets shingles and my lovely dh jumps in to take a day off to look after her, so that I can still be at work. I'm lucky!

I guess your title for the thread is ever more relevant. Have you read ant Mr Money Mustache? I'm loving his blog at the mo, as it provides much food for thought. But your Mr might like to be looking around at other work possibilities.... To at least see what there is, and push a few doors. If you went down the road of more students throughout the year, would that bring in enough money for him to cut back hours, or move over to tutoring?

Hmm, not phrased that last para very well - coffee not yet kicked in!

Habibiboo

:wave:

apple_muncher wrote: »

Hugs to you too Hbbb.

Ta muchly, needed that!

It's tough for your Mr - being watched makes you think management have already made decisions and are simply looking for the proof that they were 'right'. I sincerely hope they see him for the great teacher he is.

Thanks A*M, he is good at what he does but being as far up as he can go without being management (minions have put paid to that even for those that did have positions of responsibility before) makes him an older, experienced but expensive teacher ... and NQTs are a lot cheaper. He's now one of the eldest teachers in the school (but still in his 50s) and thinks that age is the issue. His compatriot of the same age is already now off with a medical condition which is exacerbated by the stress of it.

I had to ask for leave to take dd to the hosp, as I made the appointment 6 months ago, and can;t change it now. In fact, the clinic she is going to doesn't run on the days I'm not at work this year. I got permission to go, but with a little note that they were sure I'd make sure it was not in school time next time. D'uh! I TOLD them that the clinic only runs when I'm working...!

And then dd gets shingles and my lovely dh jumps in to take a day off to look after her, so that I can still be at work. I'm lucky!

Glad that one worked out ok! What a pain, they must realise how immovable the NHS are! He said this morning that he will be home in time to take me, but we both feel glum about it. Stoooopid hospital appointments. Hope DD is feeling a little better though.

I guess your title for the thread is ever more relevant.

Yes, it's felt like that for a long while TBH and there's still just over £100,000 to go. All of which adds to my own work ponderment.

Have you read ant Mr Money Mustache? I'm loving his blog at the mo, as it provides much food for thought. But your Mr might like to be looking around at other work possibilities.... To at least see what there is, and push a few doors. If you went down the road of more students throughout the year, would that bring in enough money for him to cut back hours, or move over to tutoring?

Hmm, not phrased that last para very well - coffee not yet kicked in!

No worries, I made sense of the para so must be on your wavelength! I was reading some MMM at the weekend and thinking about things. We're not going to push for more students now as there are few about and the schools concerned only host with those families who have had them all year, not latecomers like us (quite rightly). So, next Feb we'll get our gas checked and get a gas safety cert (most want this now) and get signed up with the right schools from the off.

In between I'll do what I can to bring in more, try to pay out less generally for things and pay off more of the mortgage and help keep Mr. Hbbb's chin up! For his part he's forging positive links with the local FE establishments around here (only slight prob with that is that his ex wife works in one of them and their relationship is very strained)! TEFL is our other alternative between us.

Phew, ta for the chance to off load! Have a good one A*M x

tootallulah

I can think of few things more stressful than new management at work and that knowledge that you have to prove yourself again, and that whatever your skills your face just may not fit - horrible. The only really positive action is to look for another job.

Your plan looks like a good one as you will know by Christmas how the job lies and can plan accordingly.

Good luck.

pink_poppy

tootallulah wrote: »

The only really positive action is to look for another job.

You're right of course, tootallulah, & that's exactly what they want :mad:

My DH's last employer was the same. DH wasn't 'on the radar', as it was called, but he knew colleagues who were & was disgusted at their treatment.

Huge hugs to you Habi, I know how difficult it must be for you & Mr Habi.

Habibiboo

tootallulah wrote: »

I can think of few things more stressful than new management at work and that knowledge that you have to prove yourself again, and that whatever your skills your face just may not fit - horrible. The only really positive action is to look for another job.

Your plan looks like a good one as you will know by Christmas how the job lies and can plan accordingly.

Good luck.

pink_poppy wrote: »

You're right of course, tootallulah, & that's exactly what they want :mad:

My DH's last employer was the same. DH wasn't 'on the radar', as it was called, but he knew colleagues who were & was disgusted at their treatment.

Huge hugs to you Habi, I know how difficult it must be for you & Mr Habi.

:wave:

Thanks to you both, Toots and Pink Poppy for kind words and understanding. Mr Hbbb will definitely not look for another job, he's adamant about that but he'll quietly network in the FE circles.

So, apart from that wE can't do anything apart from keep on prioritising paying things off, much in the manner of the thread title really, so that we're in the best possible position if anything does come to a head. Oooh and try to be a little gentle with each other when the stress gets a bit much!

Hope Mr PP"s situation is now settled PP and you're right Toots, Christmas seems to offer the perfect timeline for knowing a bit more about how the land lies, professionally and financially for both of us. Thanks again x

apple_muncher

Cmas can only be a little over 100 days away, so you could do a 'relax the shoulders, breathe deeply, cudfle a dog/MrHbbb, smile every day' challenge. Be kind to yourselves x