Crazy Cat Lady Chapter 3 - A New Beginning

SpekySquarehead

Hey CCL. Hope you're doing ok now that you've had a teary release. Nobody can blame you.

Hope you continue having a good nights rest, because that can make all the difference.

I've not seen you mention it, but are you still using YNAB to give you peace of mind from a finance perspective?

crazy_cat_lady

Hello :hello:
Speky - I don't use YNAB any more. I cancelled in a huff after they double charged me and I couldn't afford it and I had to apply for a refund through my phone, and their customer services took days to reply to my emails. Brilliant product, shocking administration. It's a shame because it really worked for me as well.
So, I have survived the first day back! :T It was ok actually - exam results are still improving and the Head is pleased. We have lots of new staff because we have about an extra 250 kids compared to the beginning of last year and I think there are going to be lots of changes. Unfortunately the classes are still looking absolutely massive and I had really hoped that would change - I have a Year 7 class with 32 in which is an awful start. It's very difficult to keep a close eye on classes over 30 when they're doing practical... But I will talk to the Head about it again and see if there's a solution.
I've spent a lot of the day just pottering about and getting my classroom sorted, and books ready for my new classes. The kids aren't back until Wednesday but we'll need to be training on Safeguarding and behaviour stuff tomorrow as we did literally nothing related to that today.
Couple of nsd's in the bag for September thankfully - starting as I mean to go on.

crazy_cat_lady

Hello :wave:
Day 2 down - marginally less successful than day 1. Mainly because the whole IT system in the school decided that it wasn't going to work any more. Thankfully this was absolutely nothing to do with me and affected everyone, but less happily I haven't been able to access anything for tomorrow. No registers or resources or anything. Still plenty to be getting on with but I hope that this will be sorted out tomorrow. I might be struggling by 11am without a functioning laptop.
It was ds first day back today. He was quite nervous but we did a lot of our CBT last night, and he seemed to sleep really well. Forgot his dinner money but he has it in his bag for tomorrow (thank god they feed them anyway and just send a note home reminding us what bad parents we are for not sending cash in - even though he forgot it) When he got home tonight he told me that he's been asked to run for his school's House Captain. He's very anxious about it but me and dd have worked really hard to try and convince him to go for it. We've spent a bit of time writing a speech - dd was House Captain when she was in Year 6 so she's been helping him. He spent ages saying that he didn't want to do it but I think it's fear of failure rather than actually not wanting to do it.
DD is finally back tomorrow, and so are the kids at our place - complete with new behaviour system which I really hope works - both in terms of being online but also being effective. I feel ready to go...
Not much else to report. There really isn't lots happening when I'm so busy at work...

Baileys_Babe

My ds can also be reluctant to try new things in case of failure. We support him case by case, but I wish I could do more so it wasn't such a big issue in the first place.

I wish your son well in his campaign to be House Captain.

crazy_cat_lady

Hello :wave:
I am beyond tired. The first week back at work is always a killer, but I literally haven't stopped since the kids got into school on Wednesday. Sorting stuff, teaching, sorting stuff, teaching, no frees etc etc etc. However, I do get a free tomorrow and I'm quite excited about it :rotfl:
I couldn't even be bothered to switch the laptop on last night, but I need to lesson plan for tomorrow so I have to put the laptop on tonight to plan and work from home for a while
Anyway - there is news from ds in terms of house captain. He was elected vice captain. :T He is very disappointed that he didn't get captain, but I have reminded him that it's still second place in the whole school and I'm incredibly proud of him. He said that he was very nervous about giving his speech but he did it anyway, which was the more important thing as I was concerned. I'm so relieved that he got something out of it anyway
I haven't done much else and I'm feeling as though I'm starting to fall behind with stuff already. I'm so tired when I get home I'm just sitting in front of the telly until about 9pm and then going to bed. Not sleeping that well unfortunately... but that's just things like cats and needing to go to the toilet and then being a bit restless. DS anxiety seems to have settled a bit at night which is good news as well - very relieved.
Couple of nsd's, but not tonight. Had my top up shop from Mr S delivered and treated the kids to McD0nalds for their tea - celebrating ds success. I'm amazed to report that they substituted the deodorant I'd ordered for myself with a men's deodorant (?) No idea how they thought that was a good idea. Still, it was only just over £40 for the cheap delivery option - I am still working my way through leftovers and freezer food.
Like I say, nothing else much to report. Oh, I've had to buy another storage device for my work computer. I hear a little rumour that the school servers are on their last legs and I really don't want to lose everything there so I'm going to back it all up if I can. Better safe than sorry, and although it's cost another £25 I feel as though I'd rather be safe than sorry.
I foresee another early night tonight.

Baileys_Babe

CCL I think that was £25 well spent. It will save you a lot of stress and worry, as long as you use it and remember to update it regularly.
Could you imagine the time it would take to redo all that work:eek:

DawnW

Well done to your DS, CCL. I bet you are very proud of him

beanielou

Well done to your DS

crazy_cat_lady

Morning :wave: :coffee:
I am poorly. I don't know if it's a bug or stress and tired related but I have a really upset tummy. Been up for much of the night between that, cats (not even mine) and drunk people outside stressing ds out. Thank goodness it's Saturday - and I suspect a nap is definitely on the cards later. I've just had cup of tea as I think I'm dehydrated (head hurts) but my tummy is not happy with me at all.
I've survived the first week back, with just a little bit of work to do over the weekend and that is mostly reading (physics ) It was very good to get a free yesterday because I got a chance to catch up with planning. It's weird to have fallen so far behind already, but there's not anything more I could have done in advance without my class lists and timetable etc. It goes from literally nothing to completely full on after the hols. The kids are both still in bed - I think that they are wiped out as well.
Nothing much planned for today thankfully but I was really hoping to get into town this morning. I had planned to meet bestie for a posh coffee and a catch up as it's been weeks since I've seen her. I doubt I'll manage a posh coffee no matter how much I want one but I really want to try and see her if I can get out and about. I do need to do a few things in town actually - I have a couple of parcels I need to pick up from the post office, and I need to order cat litter and get some veggies from L1dl as well. Plus I keep telling myself a walk into town might help (although I bet I end up taking the car) and I would certainly feel lots better getting some stuff done.
The usual stuff remains - there's always washing, dishes, rubbish and recycling to sort out... so I will consider today a success if I get any of it done...

Eager_Elephant

Oh no CCL, hope you feel better soon, have a dodgy hug:grouphug:

Do what your body wants, if you need to rest then you must. Everything (apart from the physics which you can do sitting down anyway) can wait.
Maybe the kids could have a couple of jobs each?