Living richly; simply and debt-freely

Upsidedown_Bear

Smilie of the day.

Upsidedown_Bear

7_week_wonder

GP and others – I would just like to say that this thread saved my sanity this morning. Ok I may be exaggerating slightly, but it certainly restored my equanimity and poise :rotfl:

I was a very dischuffed bunny first thing, DB had been coughing and snuffling all night (keeping me awake into the bargain) and I eventually persuaded him that staying at home was the right thing to do. So I was left to struggle up the road to the bus in the howling wind and rain on my own. When I missed my bus connection in town sense of humour failure followed and I was about to throw all my toys out of my pram. Instead I settled down to read this thread and ended up giggling gently to myself at the thought of green dragon pies and using a palette knife to create scales on the said pie!

Alas my mindfulness session yesterday didn’t materialize: the website didn’t match real life, and when I went along to the venue there was a very apologetic lady explaining that the classes don’t resume until next week. I too listened to the Radio 4 article and agree it was a shame that the presenter almost seemed on a mission not to “get” mindfulness. The course I’m planning to follow is run by a Buddhist monk, but it very much follows Mark Williams thoughts/practice. GP – the reason I’m having to wait so long is I’m being fussy about which day of the week I can attend. Weekends are out as we are up and down the road to my mum’s – otherwise I could have started sooner.

I’m loving the philosophy chat: I did try and track down the book you recommended hopefuljoy – but alas it is out of print. I’ll give the local library a go and see if they can come up trumps.

Oops – that was more of a witter than I was planning.

I hope everyone survived Monday ok, and have a good evening everyone.

Hopefuljoy

Hello friends! I hope you have all had a marvellous Monday.... I heard the radio four report on mindfulness and am going to investigate. I'm also thinking about the Rule St Benedict which has a slightly different focus and is Christian rather than Buddhist but also entails peaceful contemplation and listening rather than questing and searching. I think all these different ways to find peace can only help and love hearing about what other people find useful. One of the reasons I so love this thread... you are all interesting and gorgeous people!

Decluttering and getting rid of debt last year has been so beneficial to me and my relationships with DD and DS. The sole thing which really causes me stress now is my job. Teaching is wonderful in so many ways but I've got to a stage now where I am pondering my longevity in such a demanding job. There's no way I will get to 65 full time and I ideally would have retired at 55 but that is not financially viable.

So I've done my sums and prayed and pondered and today spoke to my Head of Department, who knows about the depression and trauma related issues, and asked tentatively about four days per week from next September. I have taken a big risk and aired it and he has been incredible! He himself has no objections and totally understands. I've said I'm nt relying on a yes and I won't take it badly if they accomodate me but that I am thinking of long term success at the school and that I dearly want to work there; which I most certainly do.

I have realised that I need to adapt to my limitations for now and try to make real changes to my life. This means health and stress mainly. I guess some of you may identify with that. If they say no I will definitely stay for at least the next three years and then once DD is at university look again at my options. I reckon I can keep going that long at the most full time!

If as I hope they say yes then I will still be able to make overpayments to pay down the mortgage but will just cut back more than I am now. I shall have a respectable buffer each week so won't then be stressing about money instead of the job!

Sorry for rambling folks but it's taken me a lot of guts to do this, especially as at the tender age of 48 I am still sadly treated like a naughty and irresponsible child by my parents and frankly dread their reaction once they know next Sept. Pathetic I know but some families are like this!

Am trying desperately not to panic now about the conversation but I do judge that my manager is a thoroughly decent man and all will be well.

Speak to you all later. xx

in_need_of_direction

Hopeful joy I went down to 90% of hours over 4 days approx 3 years ago. I still haven't told my mum and siblings as they'd see that as irresponsible as I still have a mortgage but none of them do. Also, I frequently end up working my day off so just try to manage your expectations.

in_need_of_direction

Ps. I'm 46. My brother still asks what I'm going to do when I grow up.

Fortune_Smiles

If you get to 50 and you haven't grown up - you don't have to. That's the law


Fortune x

Upsidedown_Bear

Fortune_Smiles wrote: »

If you get to 50 and you haven't grown up - you don't have to. That's the law


Fortune x

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

Mmmmmmm, I have to say, I've not had a brilliant day. However, in the grand scheme of things, it's been a synch and I'm still here. So all is well.

I was going to have an early night, as I managed to compound my grump by ordering something online from Arg0$....... which will take 7 weeks to be delivered...... 7 bl00dy weeks!!!!! *sigh*. However, I popped in here and saw all your posts, which lightened my mood immensely, so here I am to say THANK YOU.

All I have to say about today is, Why do people turn up to work and be awkward? Not necessarily in retaliation/response to something, but as a default position - possibly without even seeing their actions as 'awkward'. I witnessed something today that has been done to me in the past, and it annoys me, as there is no need for it, and if the person was doing their job 'as per' they wouldn't do it. If nothing else, today proved that it is nothing 'personal' - the employee/organisation treated someone else with the same distain. Their action - and they really went out of their way to be awkward - wasn't life threatening, or with a financial cost or anything. But do you know what, it was mean. It demonstrated 'no thought' and just about sums up how too many people go about their jobs. Why be mean, when you can be efficient, methodical or proficient? Why be a doctor/solicitor/roadsweeper/social worker/or sales assistant if you don't like doing what the work entails? Or if you're not prepared to do it to the best of your ability?

So, I've been anything but mindful today. My mind has been full and I'm bl00dy fed up of meself!

mrsinvisible - lovely to see ya - what was the verdict on the Dragon's Colcannon? Did Merlin's ancient - handed down through the mists of time - recipe, hit the spot with your DGS?????

mcculloch - :T Brains it was Rev. James in my case - a very nice pint Bought from B&m I might add............ I was thinking of you the other day actually when I was in FF. I never know whether to comment if someone hasn't popped in for a while. After all, you've lives outside of this thread, and other matters to attend to. I don't expect anyone to pop in - although I am awfully glad that y'all do

7 week wonder - glad that my 'falsies' (dragon scales ) gave you a giggle. You've got to have a bit of fun with food eh? By the way, do you remember our chatting about yoghurt on the other thread? It wasn't you was it, that had experience of making yoghurt with UHT milk? I'm wondering whether during the cold weather, I would be better off making it that way - too much time in a cold kitchen, waiting for milk to heat up and then cool down is not my idea of fun

Hopefuljoy - again, what an uplifting post. Whilst I can see that you have a dilemma regarding your future, I think you have summed up your current position; So I've done my sums and prayed and pondered and today spoke to my Head of Department, who knows about the depression and trauma related issues, and asked tentatively about four days per week from next September.

You've seen if it's realistic; pondered on it; prayed on it and discussed it with the next layer of management to see what, if anything can be done. If we're being stoic; you've done your bit. Now sit back and relax.

Which is easier said than done Greying!!!!!!

I know, but you've set a ball in motion, so let it go and see what comes up. We'll be here to make you laugh, whatever Btw - how's Pirin?

Dinner this evening could so easily have been a takeaway, but thankfully, our takeaways are so dire that this never pops into my head as an option really :rotfl:

Instead, I stuck to the planner :j and made Polenta e fagioli Borlotti al forno(well, shall we say I was influenced by???) from the 2 greedy Italians cookbook. Mine was done on the stove top and I used black-eyed beans and red kidney beans; and passata rather than fresh tomatoes and didn't have any Fontina cheese..... but apart from that! :rotfl: It was wintry fare, served with the bitty broccoli (mrM savers). Picture here;



Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

that crAp service was the height of my 'worries' today -

that 7 weeks will fly by if we give ourselves other things to accomplish before the delivery date

that you all posting lifted my spirit (along with DP being supportive ) - THANK YOU

Right, I'm away to Bedfordshire.

See y'all in the morning.

Greying

liltdiddylilt

Night Greying. Sleep tight flower...

P.S why does your Polenta always look way way nicer than the stodgy so not creamy, lumpy malarkey I end up with hmm?

I too could have had a takeaway so easily, and have been known to be tempted on a sometimes weekly basis in the past. But instead I dug out the ripe for chucking salad (Christmas shop!) from the fridge, washed it down and ate it in a perfectly delightful wrap. Still working my way through, wasting nowt!!