2018 Benbenandme's Next Battle

beanielou

The CSA are so dire.

Good news for DS.
Hope it goes well.

benbenandme

So yesterdays event was okay - I broke even in terms of stall fee / sales, but I did give out several brochures to people, one of which was a lady who used to buy Phoenix cards so fingers crossed she will become a regular

Last night ds and I had a Chinese takeaway which was a naughty treat but very enjoyable. Today I'm lounging in the conservatory in my pj's, tesco shopping should be here in an hour or so and I have a very chilled day planned. Ds needs to do some revision, I need to potter a bit, I only need another 20 swagbucks to get to goal today,other than that there isn't much going on here today

benbenandme

And today was another of those days ...

Ds went to his assessment - after lots of nerves, and a near bolt for the exit, he managed to go ahead and do it. He did pass the assessment but they said they couldn't put him through for interview as he's only 15 (he did put his age on the original application :cool:), but as he's passed the assessments he won't have to do them again for another 3 years, so any jobs that come up (once he's 16) then he can fast-track to interview I'm super proud of him for going through the process and getting that far. There were 6 of them in there and the other 5 were all aged 25-45. For him it was a huge, huge stressy but he did it and I'm super-proud

Unfortunately while he was in there I got a call from work to say a student in his year group had died unexpectedly last night. I had to tell him when he came out. Just puts everything into perspective really, far, far too much pressure on young people these days

dangers

Well done ds!

But what shocking news about the student in his year group. X

beanielou

Well done to DS
Sad to read the news about the student.

benbenandme

So pleased to have got this week over with, it has truly been the most horrific week, one that I hope I never have to relive

This weekend will be spent watching football tonight, maybe with a nice drink, tomorrow I'm having a day out with ds, then a card selling event on Sunday. The main aim this weekend is just to have some downtime, some nice time with ds and generally to reflect and recoup.

beanielou

Sounds like a tough week.
Enjoy your weekend.

benbenandme

Another weekend

Ds has gone to his Dads, I am doing the end of month banking then an afternoon of footie. A Tesco food order needs doing, other than that there is nothing huge on the agenda. First load of washing is out on the line, second load is in the machine. Windows are open, coffee is on, life's good

£5 from ebay this week and another £5 Amazon voucher from Swagbucks claimed.

benbenandme

So this week has seen yet more additions to the CSA saga - they have written to me to confirm he should be paying £377 a month. Just to recap, it was £480 a month, he had decided to just pay £132 in Jan, Feb and March, they have re-assessed and decided that since December it should be £377, so he owes me £735 in arrears currently. We'll see what happens in April but I'm not holding my breath ....

Anyway, ds has come back from his house today (with no mothers day card despite him buying one for his daughter to give to her Mum, but that's nothing new ...). Anyhow, ds is going on holiday for a week with him in the Easter holidays (was meant to go in August as per agreement but he couldn't afford it then so asked to take him at Easter instead). Ds has just told me that his Dad has asked him to bring his own spending money if he wants to spend any money while they're away :eek: :eek:

Am I being totally unreasonable here?? He's his parent, he's having him for a week and expects me to provide money for him, despite him owing me three months arrears??! :mad: :mad:

If I say no it will upset ds, he hates causing friction between us (his Dad refuses to communicate with me at all, not even by text, and instead relays everything through ds) :mad:

beanielou

Blimey, I think that is very unreasonable.