22 Foxhole East

f0xh0les

Tis Gr(ew)by indeed, and Blaby is Blaybee dontch'a know.

kerri_gt

I was pretty academic at school and didn't find GCSEs too hard, however the jump to A levels was something I struggled with (teen hormones aside).

 First thing was our form teacher telling us each our prediced A level grades based on some algorithm she got from goodness knows where...i got an A* for history at GCSE, she told me I was predicated a B-C for  A level....how on earth an A was thus supposed to be achieved i don't know, blackmailing the exam board? Anyway, rather than taking the mature f*ck you I'll work my socks off and prove you wrong approach, I took the less mature,  f*ck this and spent a fabulous two years getting to know the London Underground very well and following lots of bands and boys in bands (or who wanted to be in bands). 🙈

But...the other thing that I really felt lacked was actually taking time to educate us in the different teaching style of A levels. Much GCSE work was structured, copy from the board and bitesized learning. For A levels it was 'make your own notes' and much more discussion based. It sounds silly / simple but I didn't really know the best, or different techniques for making notes. It was like someone had removed the stabilisers without warning.

Granted I'd cracked it by Uni, but I do think a pastoral session with our form teacher outlining how A Levels differed and what was expected/appropriate learning techniques right at the start would have been enormously helpful. 
Is this anything DS2 is struggling with?

f0xh0les

I suppose that, combined with lack of teaching, lack of exam writing practise, and revision note taking would impact anyone.  But it has not stopped the school contacting all the parents with (for biology, chemistry and criminology) over £150 worth of study guides that need to be bought, and that is at the reduced rate through the school.

apple_muncher

They are practising what they preach - criminology at that price!!!

f0xh0les

Tomorrow will involve 3 charity shops that specialise solely in books.  If that does not work fully, then I will buy some unused book tokens off the kids (£15 folding for a £20 book token is reasonable I feel) and go to StoneyWaters and buy as much as I can there.  I have put out feelers on social media recycling sites too. 

Going to make menu plans for the next few days, bought some 'interesting' pasta in Herr L's shopping emporium, one like ears or buttons, and one like little twists but more like a spaetzle than a  fusilli. 

So far the ideas are (without needing to go shopping at all)

fishless cakes and chips and peas for tonight;

2 x pasta dishes - one tomato and meatless balls,  one broccoli and cheese based;

potato, sweetcorn and butterbean chowder;

Tomato and red pepper soup;

Paprika potatoes, broccoli and kale;

Beans on wholemeal toast;

Potato and spinach curry;

and something to do with courgettes, we still have 3 large almost cour-marrows that need to go this weekend, if they stay any longer I will seriously consider making them pay rent - nearly 3 weeks they have been resident now.

 I made a stew last night, and it was so lovely to have autumn food again, as the rain smashed against the windows.  DH put the heating on because he was cold.  I think my testing it out the day before has reminded him where the heating controls are.

joedenise

Love the sound of your potato, sweetcorn and butterbean chowder - recipe please!

badmemory

Well I would be putting courgettes in a lot of those dishes including last nights stew.  But then I replaced a lot of the meat (about half) with usually courgettes & mushrooms a few years ago.

f0xh0les

Dead easy, onions and garlic cooked until translucent, celery and green peppers if liked thrown in, the  tinned corn and butterbeans go in with the liquid from the cans + 1 can worth of boiling water, a stock cube, and sliced/diced potatoes, cook 10 minutes, take off heat and add 1/3 pint milk.  You can blend 1/3rd if you like a thicker heartier chowder and add it back in. Proper 20 minute meal from thinking of it to eating it.  You can also fry some sage leaves until crispy and float them like little boats on the top.  Proper lush with wholemeal bread too.

joedenise

Thanks so much @f0xh0les for the recipe.  Will definitely be giving that a try.

kerri_gt

Ohhh I'm loving the sound of that chowder too. 

I too made a vegetable stew (well casserole) last night, using some free veg from Olio and HM chicken stock (roast a chicken for the cat...don't even say it! But she loves it) and a tin of lentil soup DM gave me ages ago that was already past its BB date and has been lurking in the kitchen ever since.

Had some of the stew with tiny pasta for dinner...like a soupy stew.

I am resisting putting the heating on esp as our supplier went bust last week so I'm mid move before i can choose my own supplier again.

Good luck with the charity shops tomorrow!