Daydream fund challenge part 4

alfie_1

lucielle wrote: »

Poor Ds2 didn't get enough Cs to get into sixth form. They are sending back one of his papers to be re-marked as he was 1 mark off a C which if changed would mean he can go into sixth form. Trouble is we haven't got a lot of time before school starts and need to have a plan B.


Why are things never simple?


L

fingers crossed xx

Davesnave

After a week of the kitchen co doing everything exactly as they said they would, we're back on 'Dreckly Time' again!

Plumber was supposed to be with us on Tuesday, but when he was still AWOL today, it became obvious that this week was looking flaky. So, maybe next week? No, and then there's a holiday, so maybe September......:eek:

Well, it will give me time to get the tank in, but we shall need that heating by October at the latest. I mean, it's cold enough now some nights. :undecided

choille

Sorry to hear about DS Lucielle. The education system is different down South = I think, but it does sound very stressful for you all. It seems that there is so much pressure & stress placed on exams & such-like when really they are still so young & can have an off day an off moth or three.
Hope that the plan B comes along with ease. College? To gain the grades...I don't know if that would work.

Well another stonker of a day weather wise. I think the sun must not get up over the border these days as it's so idle.

Spent the best part of the day with my late Mum's cousin who is just such a lovely person & a full time carer to his wife. She was at day care & we took G to lunch & really caught up with all the stuff that's happened over the past few years. You know when you meet up with someone & you pick up from where you left off- it was like that. Wonderful. We met M when she came back from day care & we cuddled & she still laughs like there is such joy as she always did & she seems so very content, but is so not there with Alzheimer's as was my Mum. It's such a damnable disease. It robs everyone. Just as well we know not was is to come. I don't know if I would take the Dementia test - I feel that with having both Grandmum's & my own mum having it I probably will. Feeling all old suddenly......

On the way back we stopped at the local which we hadn't been in & an ambulance appeared & paramedics - we thought it was a first aid display or some such practice night, but a poor holiday maker had been taken unwell. I'd cracked a joke about was it safe to eat the food as I placed my order not realising that it was genuine. But was informed that the lady had taken ill when presented with the bill,so there was much hilarity at the poor women's expense- in a way.

Sorry to hear the house woes Dave. It's such a stressful thing is this building lark. I'm not doing it again. It was the only way we could get a house in the countryside at that time after a mad house price leap a few years back when houses tripled in price over a 9 month period. I'd sold somewhere with agri ties & didn't get the money for that time scale until it was okayed by the authorities that dealt with that at that time. So by the time they paid, I could not afford to buy a house. It was a nightmare. We could only afford land really.

It's all a fickle thing is housing & so unfair in so many ways. I don't know how it will get any better. It's so artifical & slanted. People spending lives slaving to pay outragious mortgages & debts off. Kids are getting strapped with massive debt before they've got a job.

I haven't been to a hairdresser in 20 years & we do live pretty frugally, but it's a costly world & I just don't know how some folks manage - I'm rambling & overly emotional. It's been that sort of day.

alfie_1

Choille... it sounds like you are recharging your batteries both emotionally and physically. Looking how others 'do' can often make one gratefull with what they have however big or small.
You have both battled on to achieve your daydream and ''still standing''... good on ya gal :-)

Davesnave

lucielle wrote: »

Poor Ds2 didn't get enough Cs to get into sixth form. They are sending back one of his papers to be re-marked as he was 1 mark off a C which if changed would mean he can go into sixth form. Trouble is we haven't got a lot of time before school starts and need to have a plan B.

Why are things never simple?

L

One measly mark? Hopefully, they will see sense and let him start.

I can identify with DS. When I was a year younger than him, we had a 'special' 5th form class, made up from ordinary 5th formers who were seen to have no hope of 5 GCE's (as they were then) and those a year older, who hadn't made it to 6th Form. We called it the 'Dustbin Class.'

I can only tell you this without a hint of embarrassment, because I found myself in there. :( I was one of the 5th formers written-off at 15 and, by God, did it hurt!

For me, the rejection at 15 worked. I was catapulted out of mid-teenage slobhood overnight., incensed that the school had already written me off, but at the same time knowing I deserved no better. I reformed. It was a horrible year, when I was bullied mercilessly by people who expected me to be much more fun, but by the end of it I'd sorted things.....more or less.

I do hope, whatever happens, your DS draws something positive from the experience, even if it's the "I'll show 'em!" response that motivated me.

Mind you, even then, I only just scraped into the 6th form!

Davesnave

choille wrote: »

Sorry to hear the house woes Dave. It's such a stressful thing is this building lark. I'm not doing it again. It was the only way we could get a house in the countryside at that time after a mad house price leap a few years back when houses tripled in price over a 9 month period. I'd sold somewhere with agri ties & didn't get the money for that time scale until it was okayed by the authorities that dealt with that at that time. So by the time they paid, I could not afford to buy a house. It was a nightmare. We could only afford land really.

It's all a fickle thing is housing & so unfair in so many ways. I don't know how it will get any better. It's so artifical & slanted. People spending lives slaving to pay outragious mortgages & debts off. Kids are getting strapped with massive debt before they've got a job.

Oh, our woes are nothing here; I just roll with the whole slow pace of things now, knowing the local way is frustrating, but it's cheap.

All the same, like you, I'll pass on doing another!:rotfl: We're only here doing so much to this one because it was all we could find in this neck of the woods Cheaper Wales was scuppered by difficult family members, who shouldn't have interfered. Mind you, I shouldn't have listened either!

We've tried hard not to interfere with our own kids' decisions, and I think we've succeeded, but you're right that the current housing situation is bleak for many youngsters.

DD2 and her young man are still struggling to find anywhere to rent in Bristol, despite making regular forays up there. Properties are let in hours and the rents are eye-watering, but they must go there to get the best uni place for a higher degree.

I know they will get there and it's important they do this on their own terms, but it's hard to stand back and watch. On the other hand, what can we do anyway? We've spent the inheritance!

choille

Alfie - It's been a real eye opener has this holiday. We hadn't really been away for a long while. We got offered a stay in a wonderful area by a very wonderful lady.

I do think it is healthy to step back especially if you've been caught up in stuff & living in a very remote location. It puts a wider view on things - which you do need. Also DH will get his op very soon - hopefully & it has set him up for that.

I do think we got very reclusive & entrenched because of stuff that was happening & we seemed to just have to go with it, but we do feel able to see clearer - well some times you just get too close that you do need to step back to see the whole picture - to drag out that ole chestnut.

Well - to nick my relative's saying.......I was innoculated with a gramophone needle & I've never recovered' ........so I'd better sign off before I bore the balls off the buffalo. I take the credit for the last bit!

choille

I think you are very wise indeed & also very restrained not to interfere in your kids lives. It's far easier to preach than not, but the far wiser route.

I often think on what I learnt when I did a smattering of social policy & housing has always been a deep interest for me. But a sign of a poor country (poor having multiple meanings here) is the levels of home ownership - India being a prime example: many own a cardboard box, a shak a hovel in a slum with massive overcrowding and no drainage system, no safe water, no safe power supply, but there is high home ownership.

Counties such as Sweden have high rented home occupancy. The apartments often have energy included in the rent & basements with communal areas with laundry facilities & other services.

I do think that if there was the will to house everyone then that would have occurred, but it would not have led to an inflated housing market which does really benefit the few priviledged & that includes quite a few politicians. I was quite shocked to hear that more council housing is to be flogged off. I do not know if that will include Scotland or not, but what is that really about?

Our lovely handy man has a 3 bed council house due to a drastic change in circumstance. He has a very fair minded spirit & said to the council I feel that I should give this up for a family to get the benefit of. He was offered a terrible one bed flat where he cannot take his pets & cannot get his car to the door & he would only be £6 @week better off & he's been harassed constantly since HE contacted them. He's getting very stressed at the situation. He also reckons that someone from out with the area will get this house & if they bring in again the right to buy they will & sell it at a massive profit - so he lies awake at night stressed about that.

I do think that if there was the will then before granting planning for massive developments such as new supermarkets we should make these billionaire co provide dwellings in the roof space for individuals, possibly youngsters that require only single bed accommodation & with communal spaces where they can be a community & have access to facilities such as shared laundry space, cheap cafes & just social interaction. But I'm a Utopianist........a dreamer...............

lucielle

I have never managed to get a hoof on the property ladder and it does stick in my craw paying rent. It wouldn't be quite so bad if the landlords would do some basic property repairs, alas they don't feel inclined to.


At mine and my OHs age I doubt very much we ever will.


Last day of holibobs, it has gone so quickly. It's a nice day, a bit windy but that'll keep the midgies away.
L

lostinrates

Just checking in again.

Terrible Internet problems and having an engineer out next week.

I'm sorry I cannot keep up with everyone's news and happenings