Renovations and Repayments.

daisy_1571

AlexLK wrote: »

Hi Gally,

We are planning to renovate the kitchen and other rooms. The other rooms shouldn't take too much effort but the kitchen will. I don't have a timescale at the moment as we are OK for the moment. Would be nice to have the money there, ready to go when we decide.

I don't really know what to do re. teaching at the moment. I've spent the last few weeks counting down to half term and nothing about it is inspiring me. That's not how I wish to live. There is a part of me saying finish the qualification and try it for a year but another part saying leave without having to pay for the course (£9,250) but use the knowledge I've gained (mainly about myself) to make a better go of the business.

I wasn't trying to be "superior" to anybody. I thought it would be a nice thing to do. Clearly not.



Thank you, maman. See above re. house.

I wasn't trying to cause any sort of friction between myself and the staff at the school. Clearly they had other ideas and didn't wish to get to know me.

You're right about not being able to do everything needed in 40 hours. At the moment, I have no other time. I didn't think I'd be the one saying this as I believe I did my research and volunteered. However, I wasn't prepared for the environment I've entered into and am not sure I want to gain QTS and work in the school environment. I'm struggling to even get along with pupils.



I don't know, Red Squirrel. However, I don't think it's a bad thing even if I am. Without meaning to be vulgar about it, I could work 25 hours per week and easily clear more than twice a teaching salary just making an effort with the property business. I suppose my attitude of not caring about the money leading up to the course has been thwarted by the realisation of potentially being paid c.£23,000 before tax to work 50+ hours with slow progression to about £32,000 p/a before tax. I hadn't expected this but it seems an insult for the amount of work put in, then that isn't good enough so far as the profession / employer is concerned. I'm sure I'd feel differently if I were enjoying the work but I'm not.

I think that's been the slightly frustrating thing about your attitude to the business - its a job a lot of people would love to have and you could have made a real go of it yet you seemed to persist in faffing about, not putting effort into and consequently feeling you shouldn't take a proper wage. You were so lucky having this job, a job your can do and could be good at yet seemed to not want to take seriously. At least now you can see that and hopefully will appreciate the opportunities it can give you and you can just get on with the house and make it nice for you all. At some point you might look back and wonder why on earth it took you so long and why you were 'happy' (cos we know by reading your diary you weren't happy at all with the house) to live in it in the state it was in. ��

Red-Squirrel_2

AlexLK wrote: »

use the knowledge I've gained (mainly about myself) to make a better go of the business.

Don't feel you have to answer if you don't want to, but what do you feel this month in a school has taught you about yourself?

maman

AlexLK wrote: »

Without meaning to be vulgar about it, I could work 25 hours per week and easily clear more than twice a teaching salary just making an effort with the property business. I suppose my attitude of not caring about the money leading up to the course has been thwarted by the realisation of potentially being paid c.£23,000 before tax to work 50+ hours with slow progression to about £32,000 p/a before tax. I hadn't expected this but it seems an insult for the amount of work put in, then that isn't good enough so far as the profession / employer is concerned. I'm sure I'd feel differently if I were enjoying the work but I'm not.

I agree it's a disgrace that teachers (along with the vast majority of people in the public sector) are not more highly valued. I think, for years, teachers have mostly put up with it because they've enjoyed the work, had the mindset that it was important to make a difference, liked the children etc. It's no coincidence that as working conditions have deteriorated, salary has fallen in relative terms and government ministers like Mr Gove have denigrated teachers that protest by calling them 'The Blob' then they are voting with their feet.

AlexLK wrote: »

So much for the food target. :rotfl: My mother went shopping for us and we come home to a bill for £120.

I hate to say 'We told you so' but we did;). It's kind of your mother to offer support with the shopping as you're busy in the day but it really isn't necessary. With a meal plan and shopping list you or MrsK could be in and out of a supermarket (preferably Aldi:D) in half an hour and it would all be sorted for a week. How do you imagine other working parents manage?

newgirly

Morning Alex, how is at all going?

Red-Squirrel_2

Hope you're doing ok Alex. x

AlexLK

daisy_1571 wrote: »

I think that's been the slightly frustrating thing about your attitude to the business - its a job a lot of people would love to have and you could have made a real go of it yet you seemed to persist in faffing about, not putting effort into and consequently feeling you shouldn't take a proper wage. You were so lucky having this job, a job your can do and could be good at yet seemed to not want to take seriously. At least now you can see that and hopefully will appreciate the opportunities it can give you and you can just get on with the house and make it nice for you all. At some point you might look back and wonder why on earth it took you so long and why you were 'happy' (cos we know by reading your diary you weren't happy at all with the house) to live in it in the state it was in. ��

Hi Daisy,

I don't think I've been happy for any length of time and I've been punishing myself because if I'm honest, I know I don't deserve to be in the position I am. I also cannot really do a lot about my past.

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Don't feel you have to answer if you don't want to, but what do you feel this month in a school has taught you about yourself?

Positive: I can cope with full time working hours, manage my time effectively and sleep for a reasonable amount of hours for the majority of nights.

Negative: I have an ability to wind people up without hardly saying a word (already realised this to an extent but not quite to this extent).

maman wrote: »

I agree it's a disgrace that teachers (along with the vast majority of people in the public sector) are not more highly valued. I think, for years, teachers have mostly put up with it because they've enjoyed the work, had the mindset that it was important to make a difference, liked the children etc. It's no coincidence that as working conditions have deteriorated, salary has fallen in relative terms and government ministers like Mr Gove have denigrated teachers that protest by calling them 'The Blob' then they are voting with their feet.

I hate to say 'We told you so' but we did;). It's kind of your mother to offer support with the shopping as you're busy in the day but it really isn't necessary. With a meal plan and shopping list you or MrsK could be in and out of a supermarket (preferably Aldi:D) in half an hour and it would all be sorted for a week. How do you imagine other working parents manage?

Unfortunately, the putting up with unreasonable terms seems to be part of the culture which I cannot say I understand.

At the moment getting my mother doing things and keeping herself occupied is important as my father isn't well. I understand other working parents manage and I know the supermarkets are an option, even though it is not an option we particularly want to take.

AlexLK

newgirly wrote: »

Morning Alex, how is at all going?

I'm not really sure, NG. :rotfl:

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Hope you're doing ok Alex. x

Thank you, Red Squirrel.

maman

Thanks for posting Alex .

Hope it's half term for you. You shouldn't be up this late on a school night!

Suffolk_lass

maman wrote: »

Thanks for posting Alex .

Hope it's half term for you. You shouldn't be up this late on a school night!

Just like to echo that (says the mad woman who has been up for two hours on a non-working day at 06.30 :eek: )

AlexLK

I have today and the coming week off but am not sure whether I will be going back. I’m not doing very well in observations or tasks set. At the moment I’ve no intention to apply for a teaching job and have potential work in property lined up with an old school friend. If nothing else it has given me the confidence to know I can do full time work without it bringing undue stress and to make the most of the connections and knowledge I do have. Upon reflection, teaching has also made me realise it wasn’t the work which was a problem but the culture of an organisation (and profession) which contributed to making me ill.

On a different note, we are keeping good records of our finances and I’m starting to get some real advice about my business / family finances for the future rather than just playing at it. I suppose it’s really starting to sink in that my parents aren’t going to be here forever and there’s a potential for some of their last years to render them not really the people they were.