Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

milann wrote: »

Hope it went ok at step dads and you managed to sort some of your mums stuff out.
Have a lovely Sunday :beer:

beanielou wrote: »

Hope you have had a good day

Thank you Milann and Beanie .

HairyHandofDartmoor

Yesterday went better than I expected.

We met stepdad, fiance, niece and boyfriend at Mum's house and I asked for a few things of Mum's that I'm pleased to have and niece had a few things too. It's nice to see her belongings stay in the family. Then we went to a garden centre for lunch. Stepdad insisted on paying for our lunch but we bought stepdad and fiance a coffee. It gets easier each time I see them and I do miss family get togethers so it was nice to have one, even without my Mum being there (how she would have enjoyed it).

Afterwards DH and I went to Mr T on the way home and got some things we forgot on our online order, like laundry powder, fabric softener, bleach, soap, icecream and multivitamins. Then we got lots of vegetables and fruit to try and raise our energy levels. We bought some yellow and red cherry tomatoes, spinach, two bags of frozen mediterranean veg, a bag of frozen crunchy veg, a pack of sweet potatoes, onions, two bags of chopped greens, baby carrots and baby sweetcorn to roast, bananas and satsumas. This lot came to £30.10 :eek: but at least we'll be full of vitamins .

When we got home I re-arranged a load of family photos so they fitted on one wall and this made room to hang up two more of my Mum's paintings. After that I felt tired and was running out of day so relaxed. DH cooked a very healthy meal with brown pasta, onions, baby mushrooms, tomatoes, sweet peppers and greens cooked in olive oil.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Today DH and I have been hanging up some more paintings and other things that I got from my Mum's house. We had plenty of unused wall space and now I have lots of lovely reminders of Mum and her home . Whilst we were at it we rearranged some other pictures that didn't line up properly. This took all morning believe it or not!

Since then I've put two loads of laundry on and the first lot is drying in the garden, emptied all the bins and sorted three rubbish bags that have been sitting in the garden into recycling and trash.

Now I'm sitting down relaxing as I feel tired. It's a lovely sunny day and would have been perfect for an autumn walk, but we were out most of yesterday and there was too much that needed doing at home.

I need to iron some trousers for work (ideally two pairs as that will last me all week then) but I'm hoping I can persuade DH to do one pair . I can't face doing any tops but I have enough in the wardrobe to last me the week I think.

It's DS3's birthday today and I'm feeling guilty . We posted him a card, a big bar of chocolate and a chocolate orange, and transferred £50 into his account. But I feel like we should have done more to make his birthday special. The trouble is he said he wanted money and when I said it would be nice to get him a present as well he said maybe some books. Then later on he said he didn't have room for any books and just wanted money. But I still feel guilty as I feel we should have thought of a nice present and posted it to him (to go with the money), but we've been so tired and busy that I just didn't manage to organise it.

The weather forcast is for heavy rain all day tomorrow which means wet playtime :eek::eek::eek: so I'm already planning activities for the children. I think if I plan it all in advance in my mind then it will be more calm and orderly on the day. I'm going to let them get some toys out before they eat but allow ten minutes for them to pack them away and line up. Then after they've eaten, if it's still raining, I'll get them doing a little exercise routine and then I'll read them a story. That way there won't be a second lot of toys to pack away and the classroom will stay nice and tidy for afternoon lessons. I thought that might be a good wet playtime routine that I could perfect with practise. I'm also going to take in some stickers from home (school won't give us stickers any more ) to reward the children who are tidying up well and being well behaved. Occasionally I could shake up the routine by playing some games before they eat, like Blink Murder or Head down Thumbs up. I'll report back on how well my plan works :rotfl:.

I hope everyone is having a good Sunday .

teafor2

Hi HHD Really glad you found lunch with your Dad and his fiance a little easier this time.

Regarding the comment at school please try not to overthink it. You don't know who it was said to or even how it was said. The 'complaint' could have just been a passing comment from the member of staff to another along the lines of 'that class is noisy today'. Maybe the TA has taken it completely out of context. I know you feel grateful it was mentioned but there could be a reason behind that as well. The one-upmanship I've seen in your profession is unbelievable at times. I find it hard to imagine any member of staff being overly interested in how noisy children are in line unless they're running riot, which I doubt very much you let happen.

Hope the extra veg boost the energy levels but I agree with everybody else about going to the GP. It could be something that's easily remedied to make you feel much better. xx

HairyHandofDartmoor

teafor2 wrote: »

Hi HHD Really glad you found lunch with your Dad and his fiance a little easier this time.

Regarding the comment at school please try not to overthink it. You don't know who it was said to or even how it was said. The 'complaint' could have just been a passing comment from the member of staff to another along the lines of 'that class is noisy today'. Maybe the TA has taken it completely out of context. I know you feel grateful it was mentioned but there could be a reason behind that as well. The one-upmanship I've seen in your profession is unbelievable at times. I find it hard to imagine any member of staff being overly interested in how noisy children are in line unless they're running riot, which I doubt very much you let happen.

Hope the extra veg boost the energy levels but I agree with everybody else about going to the GP. It could be something that's easily remedied to make you feel much better. xx

Thank you TF2 . The children certainly weren't running riot, they were sitting down in a line in pairs. But were probably talking a bit noisily and a few individuals may have been messing around whilst I talked to an individual child (I need eyes all around my head like a spider ).

You're right that I don't know whether it was a passing comment, an official complaint, or what. I guess I'll find out tomorrow if it was an official complaint :eek:. All I can do is try to make the children quieter when they line up and not get distracted by individual children.

I know there is a lot of politics that go on at school and a lot of undercurrents that I probably don't know about as I've only been allowed in the staffroom since becoming an MTA. Sometimes I think I'm a bit naive when it comes to workplace politics as I'm a very straightforward and simple person . I just try to do my job as well as I know how to and be friendly and helpful to everyone.

Yes I will go to my GP at half term (if I can get an appointment) and ask them to check my bloods.

teafor2

I sincerely hope it's not an official complaint although it may get mentioned to your lunchtime supervisor. However, I'm sure they'll be fully aware of how hard it is to keep a class of children quiet at lunchtime

You'll find your own way with school politics. I always found the teachers OK but the TA's were a disgrace at times. I'd say you're on the right track with being as friendly and helpful to people as possible. Oh and keep your own counsel, you'll be better thought of for it in the long run. xx

beanielou

I am sure that your DS will be thrilled with his present

HairyHandofDartmoor

teafor2 wrote: »

I sincerely hope it's not an official complaint although it may get mentioned to your lunchtime supervisor. However, I'm sure they'll be fully aware of how hard it is to keep a class of children quiet at lunchtime

You'll find your own way with school politics. I always found the teachers OK but the TA's were a disgrace at times. I'd say you're on the right track with being as friendly and helpful to people as possible. Oh and keep your own counsel, you'll be better thought of for it in the long run. xx

Thank you TF2 . Oh dear I feel worried now . I hope I don't get sacked tomorrow . They'll lose my volunteering services if they fire me.

HairyHandofDartmoor

beanielou wrote: »

I am sure that your DS will be thrilled with his present

Thank you Beanie . I wish he was at home for his birthday but it can't be helped, he was away at uni for his 21st last year.

teafor2

Oh bless you, you're not going to get sacked. Why would you even think that? What I was trying to say was if somebody even feels the need to mention it I'm sure it'll go in one ear and out the other. Plus it's been weekend and I'm sure nobody has given it a second thought. It's just a shame it's been on your mind. xx