22 Foxhole East 12 August 2016 at 12:55PM edited 30 November -1 at 12:00AM in Mortgage-Free Wannabe 3K replies 356.2K views

f0xh0les

The thought is lovely of her, but honestly, it is like she is validating herself through a ridiculously expensive gift.  I do have the feeling they feel sorry for me because I chose to stay home and look after the kids, but I adore my kids (even if they drive me nuts) and I am happy with my choices, and I can go and earn a living when DS4 goes to secondary school next year.  It is a time limited thing.  Or so I tell myself anyway.  I would rather have them, and no 'professional career' than not have them and have a high paid job but nobody to talk to.   A job to me is something that pays for the things you want to do.  It is a means to an end, I mean, that is why they have to pay you to turn up.   I don't know.  I just thought I had the situation nailed this year.  Seems I was wrong. 

kerri_gt

I suggested one year when we were cutting back a bit that we stop presents with aunt and uncle, one set were doing this anyway but my other aunt bless her said she looks forward to our gift and enjoys shopping for us too ❤ knowing its appreciated I've kept it going. 

f0xh0les

Last night was horrific.  Night sweats and palpitations, and  random stabbing pains in odd places - like feet and wrists- not Skegness.  I do not like waking up in the morning with a wet head of hair.  No idea what set it off, I have not had 'peri-menopause' symptoms like that for months.  TOTM is whenever it fancies it really.  Little rhyme or reason to it, I am looking for patterns, but finding none. Oh well!

37 days til the C-word.  DS3 just wandered past tonight and asked when we can put the tree up.  I said 11 days.  He will ask again tomorrow.  I will say 10 days, and so it will go on, for at least 10 days

Tomorrow should be a ridiculously easy day. I have made a huge Eve's pudding with gifted bramleys, and it is in the fridge, and I am planning on doing a stir fry noodles for supper.  Only lunch to think about.  2 more classes in yr 13 were sent home in the last 7 days.   3 forms off in yr 8 and 2 more in year 11 off .  DS2 is back in school on Friday.

DH's car failed his MOT due to a broken spring,  and something to do with the underside coming away(!), and his headlights needing to be stripped and scrubbed.  So we have one car until next week.  Good job he does not use it.

Planter #2 completed.

Time for bed.

greent

I love Eve's pudding - sadly it's only DS1 and I that do, so I shall have to wait until he is home for the Xmas break to make a (small-ish) one, as it's waaaay too many calories for me otherwise! (and I lack self restraint around certain things!)

I, too, choose to stay mainly at home - I used to have a 'career' and at one point (rather sadly, looking back) was chuffed by some colleagues not realising I was a mum (guess who was first in, last out and took work home most nights.....) - those days are long gone and I am happy invigilating on a very part time basis and have no major desire to have a 'proper'/ regular job even though DS3 is now at secondary Those who wish to judge me can if it pleases them - I'm not particularly materialistic and neither are my children and DD and I are very low maintenance when it comes to hair and beauty   Each to their own I'd be very happy to know you in RL, f0xh0les - you sound like my kind of person (and could show me how to use a drill!) - we could hide from the sunshine in the Summer months together

f0xh0les

greent said:

I love Eve's pudding - sadly it's only DS1 and I that do

What is the matter with some people?  I mean, it is apples and sponge - what's not to like??  I am always bemused by some of my friends who do not eat cooked apples,  raw apples (pomme au naturelle!) are fine but somehow cooked they are deemed Satan fodder.  As my kids say 'Oh well, more for me then!'.  They had some when they got home from school, they will decimate the rest after supper,  9 more Bramleys gone, 7 left.  One  of my little old men volunteers (he is over 80) at the f/b has a garage full of apples (so he says) and he brought me a carrier bag  full as he is sick to death of them.  He will be delighted I have used them so quickly.

Why is it  all the people I know with a huge apple trees in their garden don't like apples? 

That and many other questions will not be answered next week.

I am sure we would get on well IRL greent,   after all,  I am extremely likeable.

Baileys_Babe

We grow apples both eaters & cookers and never have enough. I made an apple cake, Mary Berry recipe, yesterday, it is so delicious. We enjoy cookers both cooked and raw.

f0xh0les

Just had an email. There are not enough non-isolating teachers to teach all the year groups, so they have made the decision to cancel year 9 for the next 10 days as they are deemed old enough to not need an adult present with them at home (they actually stated that as the reason!)  and they will do everything they can to keep year 10 + 11 (GCSE) and 12+13 (A Level) in school.   DS3 (yr 8) is gutted he still has to go in. There are now less than 50% of the kids in his year at school anyway.  Leicester has risen back up to 6th in the Covid League again.  Ooops.   Today is one calendar month until the schools break up.  If we make it that far.

I really hope the charity shops open up again this year!!  They are the only shops that I miss. Says a lot about me, eh?

apple_muncher

We were talking about the worst situation being not having enough teachers in school to cover the isolators. Basically, if we have to isolate (and aren't ill), then we will be teaching our classes via t'interweb. However, someone would still need to be in the classroom... Teaching via z00m/Meet /Teams just makes me think of Holly/Hollie from Red Dwarf....

So will the y9s have their lessons at home? Or are they on 'gardening leave'?

I also really want the ch shops to open asap. Miss them a lot!

f0xh0les

DS2 has only had the homework and a few power points, not one single z00m or T3ams meeting in 13 days.  It is awful  how his school is dealing with this.   He has just been abandoned.

When I see how dh has put all his resources online with no real help from the tech squad, does his lectures and tutorials, makes sure all the readings go online in good time, then makes himself available to all his students, and covers for people who are off ill or are recovering from the death of their parents, or have their kids at home,  he has even done interviews!  Poor old DS2 is getting the er... shirty .... end of the learning experience.   But then if half the teachers are off, and they are in the building, they are going to get co-opted into covering other lessons aren't they? and there are already teaching staff who have had to shield, so they are probably running on fumes right now.  Watching the number of kids drop off daily. It must be like clocking in to plague central in the morning.  I know I am nervous being in the car with all mine in the morning and afternoon.  I am like Lady Macbeth - wash your hands!, have you washed your hands? When did you last wash your hands? Don't eat that until you wash your hands! Hands out of your mouth!

I am annoyed at the situation, not at the staff members themselves. It just sucks.

kerri_gt

I miss Primarni being open...i couldn't tell you the last time i went in, Jan i think in the sales, and even then it might have been in Boston (MA not UK) and i can't face the queues or having to return stuff that doesn't fit. But if just like the option at least to go and get a little high on the smell of glue holding all those shoes together....
F0xh0les - i finally got a coveted survey invite, just started this week and not really sure what to expect but looking forward to my payment via little sticky portraits of HRH.