O/S Daily Sunday 15th December 2013

nmlc

O/S Daily Sunday 15th December 2013 This is an “over the garden fence” type thread where we chat about everything Old Style and maybe a little bit more. It’s a great, inspiring and motivating thread we start each day to discuss what Old Style things we’re going to do today or what we’ve achieved already. Everyone’s welcome, please do come in, put your feet up (although check the fence hasn’t just been painted first!) and join us for an Old Style natter. The more the merrier!

As this is the Old Style Board, it would be appreciated if posts could include some Old Style content. Please be aware that many people may have small screens, or slow internet connections, so please don’t post large pictures, or clip art – links are preferred. When you make a post, if you feel like giving it a title, that will help others that don’t have the time to read everything skim through the thread quickly but if not it's not a problem. Please do not start a new daily thread before you go to bed at night because this often leaves things confusing with two daily threads live at the same time. The idea is that a member would start each new daily thread after they get up in the morning.

Some people who chat here like to try to answer everyone. Don’t feel you have to though, a general “hi everyone, hope everyone’s well” is fine.

nmlc

Morning everyone

Hugs to all those that are feeling sad/poorly x

Still very dark here, but a bit blustery.

DH and I are up enjoying the peace and a cuppa. Boys still in their pits. We're awake and up as boys have a Rally Driving Experience today - and it's a 2 hour drive away - so we need to be away good time. DH has organised a people carrier so we can take mum and dad so they can come to watch - motorsport both cars and motorbikes have always been part of life for our family! My bro and SIL bought the experience for the boys for last Xmas so they are meeting us there and I've booked a table at a pub for lunch afterwards - so hoping plans all go ok. Have my camera all charged and ready to go - hoping to get some good photos.

Was up and about yesterday early too, so got to the SM really early - it was excellent and empty, with shelves stacked full - got what I needed and then went to the cemeteries, 1 out in a village about 10 miles away, that's where mum and dads parents are buried and then to the big one near our town where my dad's parents and his sister (she passed away last year) are buried. The sun was shining and it seemed quite pleasant, but the wind was bitter and so cold. Needed to sit in the car with the engine and heat on full blast for a few minutes as I couldn't feel my feet or hands after visiting the 2nd cemetery - but the graves are near the bottom end and it's a bit of a walk, so that's why I was cold. When I got back I decided as we're going to be watching the boys today at the racetrack I'm going to wear tights under my jeans and a sun top under my jumper - if I'm then too hot when we go for lunch - I'll go to the loos and take the suntop and tights off and put them in my handbag!

Did do some more ironing - so basket now only has a few bits in - not enough to make a load as yet. Won't really be anything being done here today except later when we get back - I'll be prepping/organising tomorrow's packed lunches - but not going to be doing much else.

Have a peaceful Sunday everyone x

Keep safe and well x

nmlc x

tru

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun :xmassmile[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Morning :santa2:
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]What happened with your appraisal, Hester?[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Master tru swanned off to Birmingham on friday night with his GF, won't be back til tonight. He had some MDF sheets delivered yesterday, I had no idea they were so huge – 8' x 4'. I managed to get three of them stood on their ends, they're stood in the hall and go up between the side of the stairs and landing. One had to stay down, in the way of everything, til mr tru came home from work. It was thicker than the others and so heavy, and in my way all day. I'll be having words about his timing [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Coins are on the tree. I had a slight malfunction at one point, me and miss tru had to eat a couple each due to a thread mishap. Oh well, these things happen [/FONT]

I've got a pile of invoices and receipts to sort out, I want them filed away today. I don't want to be faffing with paperwork over Christmas. Any that come in from now on will be shoved in a box til January It's mostly master tru's, mine are cash sales so I'll scribble them in a book. I'm not planning on ordering anything til Jan so will have no paperwork :T

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]We're off to the leisure centre at 6pm for a carol concert, if the last two years are anything to go by, it'll be fab :rudolf:

:xmastree:
[/FONT]

JulieGeorgiana

Morning everyone,

I decorated the tree yesterday, it's a huge tree! The children love it and I got a photo of them next to it last night

We're off to our old church today (hour away), and then buying photo frames for gifts, DS had a birthday party and DH is helping out a friend. So I'll be home alone this afternoon enjoying the girls

Dinner tonight is... Nothing! DS is eating out, DH is out late, so it's just me and DD1, so I might make her eggs and I'll fend for myself.

The last few days have been so busy we are all shattered! We'll be glad once it's next Sunday, it's when Christmas starts and planning, prepping and working stops.

Hope everyone has a great day x



Merry Christmas x

Hard_Up_Hester

Morning all
Up at silly o'clock today, 1st load of washing is on the maiden & a 2nd load is chugging away.
NMLC, have a lovely time at the rally day.
Tru, your Christmas song is the one guaranteed high spot of my day.
For the first 4 years at work I had great feedback & good appraisals, then we changed heads, now every appraisal is the same 'I make far too many mistakes' last year I asked for a list or some proof of these alleged mistakes, nothing was forthcoming. This year, same thing only now I'm not proactive & I make too many mistakes. I again have asked for a list of these mistakes, so from now on 'High volume users' will be given a feedback form to list my mistakes on, I'm really feeling such joy in the work place. I am asking for advice on how to be more proactive, maybe my line manager will be able to make some suggestions.
Anyway today I shall concentrate on happier things & defrost my freezer.
LW I hope you have fun with Bailey & Cassie
Hugs to Molly & Hilstep.
Have a great day everyone.
Hugs Hester

Time_to_face_the_music

Good morning everyone


JulieGeorgiana - that's a lovely tree and a beautiful photo, your children are simply gorgeous.


Hester - I think you and my DH sing from the same hymn sheet. Who on earth appoints these people to these positions and lets them do this to people's lives :mad:


nmlc - I hope you have a great day. Wrap up extra warm!


tru - I love your Christmas song messages, they really cheer me up. I hope you enjoy the carol service.


LW - is it today the two doggy arrivals come? They sound like great fun.


Not much going on here today, am still in full CBA mode but need to get some laundry sorted and have a tidy around and do a little top up shop. Freezer is looking a bit better, have some mince out for tonight and some chicken thighs which can go in slow cooker for tomorrow. There are huge bags of frozen cauliflower, peas and broad beans in the bottom drawer so need to decide how to use those. I can feel some soup coming on.


Well wishes to all sick people and pets and hugs for anyone who needs or just wants them. Keep well, warm and safe and have a super day

glitterkitty

Morning everyone! Happily tucked up in bed at the Premier Inn in Sheffield with my laptop and their wifi! Last night was amazing. I thought I would never get to see Black Sabbath (especially not with Ozzy Osbourne!) but now i've seen them twice!
Should be starting to get ready to head home in a bit. Its only just over 2 hour drive so not bad at all. Going to BF's mums for tea so dont need to think about cooking when we get home, and we are both off work tomorrow!
Hope everyone has a good sunday!

ETA: Hester - your appraisal sounds just like mine... I really feel like I have been broken down from the person I used to be - always wanting to develop, putting my name forward for various things etc to now just wanting to go in, do my job and go home.

Bitsy_Beans

Morning everyone

Busy day yesterday, more Christmas shopping, took DD to see the new Frozen movie, mountains of washing etc.
DS wanted to try a cheeseburger (this is progress as he's resistant to new foods) he didn't like it but hey he tried a bite and that's all I ask
Today will no doubt be ironing the sad mountain of washing. Hoping for a quieter day as all this week I've been busy rushing about. I was knackered when I went to bed last night, not much company for H when I fall asleep within minutes.

The usual roast chicken for tea here, I quite like cooking and eating at lunchtime on a Sunday but DS performs too much so I don't bother

Hugs and spoons all round xx

Hester why am I not surprised they have no evidence of these supposed mistakes......these wouldn't be the mistakes the other staff make that you get blamed for now would it.......

LW enjoy your canine visitors

camelot1001

Morning All

It seems a bit lighter this morning than previous mornings, still quite blowy though.

Got up early yesterday and went to Glasgow with DD, she went to work and I got all the bits I needed for presents, think I am pretty much there now. Had to go back to Glasgow later on to pick DD up, the weather was pretty bad and there were no trains. Still, it was an excuse for a chippy on the way home!!

Friends coming for tea tonight, chicken something or other. They are off to Thailand for Christmas and New Year lucky ducks. Need to go food shopping today, will use the Ald! voucher from the paper this week. I bought 2 papers as the vouchers are valid till Christmas eve so that will help with the shopping next week too.

Built one of the wardrobes on Friday evening before I went for a night out, Ike@ stuff is good but doesn't like being taken apart and rebuilt. Still, it's good enough for new, need to tackle the other one for me some time - it is in pieces in our friends garage across the road! Going to fill the car with rubbish from the cellar today so I can clear some of our stuff out of the conservatory into it which will free up some more space.
Feel like I am getting there but very slowly!

HH - These folk are always full of their own importance, there should be a part of the appraisal form that asks you to sign to say you agree with everything. The same kind of thing happened to me last year and I ended up leaving and being transferred to another school, the Heads of today seem to be being trained as bullying managers.
LW - Enjoy having the hairy hooligans!
nmlc - Have fun today and wrap up warm.
Bitsy - Yay to DS.
Hugs to everyone in need.

Enjoy your Sundays, take care. XX

donny-gal

Morning All
Had a nice day yesterday. The Lamb crown and date & orange stuffing turned out great, unfortunately not cut properly by the butcher, so could not slice it into chops, so while tasting great the meat didn't look attractive on the plate. I have half the crown left . I love lamb . I think DGNephew 4 was the star. Every year when I get any crackers left (yes I know) I use then to help decorate the tree, he spotted them, and I think DH sent him to ask me, every so nicely if they could pull one. I was have a talk to his Dad, and his delight was a joy, and then came back and said may they pull another so his big sister could have one too. They went home clutching paper hats and novelties (his was a hair slide) thinking he had got the world. Oh to be 4 again. DIL2B didn't want to open all their presents, so they just opened a couple of heavy or breakable, or awkward shape ones. They will take the others back home. They were delighted with a slate cheeseboard & set of Multi coloured cheese knives from Aldi, as they love cheese after a meal, and many cheese boards are too small, and a water jug from IKEA, and a shaker to make Yorkshires easily, from 99pStores. I know how to throw the boat out!!

I tried to make a chocolate & Orange Panettone in the BM. I put the orange bits I the mix, but put the chocolate chips in the seed tray, they did not drop . Now we need to have a slice spread with chocolate spread!! :D

Hester on a more serious note, you must go back in writing to your appraisal, and challenge any down points, i.e. How can I be more proactive, I cannot start to reproduce copies until I receive the originals, and yes ask for a list of mistakes in writing too. Maybe also ask for feedback at the time of any supposed mistakes, as you had not been advised of any during the year.
TTFTM. As you hubby teaches advanced maths, I wonder if the second one, could keep up with the pupils, so it was unsatisfactory to him!! :eek:
I have had to give, and had many appraisals during my career, mainly good I am happy to say, and if I had to give anyone a less than positive one, you could have guaranteed, they would have known it was to be as we would have had many a discussion, all through the year, and always found some good points to praise if at all possible.
I think the problem is the roles have changed over the years, and teachers going on to Dept. Heads, Deputy, and Heads, were only trained as teachers, not in man management only that of children, and do not know how to manage adults.

Not sure on the exact state of play here today, could do with a small army arriving to eat some of the food! We may be heading over Barnsley way for them to see a friend who has just had a baby, only guaranteed point is they will be on a train by 16.30
BB hope your toe is OK.
((Hugs)), spoons, hi5's and positive vibes all round. Take care everybody. DG

snoozer

Hi everyone,

Hester - ask for a copy of the form so that you can report the mistakes you spot! What a way to generate harmony in the work place, I'm really glad I'm out of it now. I applied recently for a part time job, in my field but for which I've got the highets qualifications you can get and worked in the position full time previously. I got a rejection letter saying that they didn't interview me because the standard of candidates was so high! DH wants me to follow it up but I just feel sneakily relieved.

Anyway, onward and upward. I'm starting to bore myself by saying that I'm going to blitz the house and then not doing it but I will today (maybe). I have got incentive though, DS and GF are coming for roast dinner as it's our last opportunity to see her before Christmas to give her our presents.

Also need to deliver the local cards and if I get chance a little sewing.

NPM I hope you are all ok.