Crazy Cat Lady Chapter 4 - The Aftermath

Buffythedebtslayer

Hey up xx 
No news from my school. Substitutes are hilarious in this house, Lemon scented Dish washer cleaner for Lemons.....Good times. So we don't have them any more. 

Big love XXXX 

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all  
I'm enjoying a little giggle at people's supermarket subs. I had a lovely chat with the lady at Mr S last night when I went to pick up my shopping. I asked her if it would be possible to leave my subs before she even brought the shopping, and she said of course, and then she told me that if something is out of stock in the shop the computer suggests an alternative and then it's up to your picker if they go for that or not. She says some of them are ridiculous, like subbing dog food with cat food or soap powder for washing up liquid, but at the minute there are so many temporary staff that just haven't been trained. She had a little laugh at my chopped pork with 12 hot dog rolls. And golden chicken foxgloves, is anything that's battered or breadcrumbed, I don't think it's a widely used term, just me and mine I think. Anyway, we have the basics back in stock and I treated the three of us to some half price luxury peanut butter ice lollies - which felt like a real treat as we hadn't had anything nice like that for ages.
Anyway, another rough night last night - it was quite warm so both me and ds were awake numerous times. I gave up at 6am but have since been back to sleep on the sofa. It's bright outside today but blowing a hooley! I've been out and pegged my washing in the hope of getting it dried but I have to keep going out every 10 mins or so as things keep blowing off the line. They'll probably need washing again once they're dry knowing my luck.
Was just thinking last night that I should be in London now, being all senior and important for the first time with the exam board. I'm a bit sad about this to be honest, I think almost as sad as not seeing my family and friends. Although exam season is mad busy I love my time in London, and I love catching up with people and making a difference with the exams and marking them, and of course I'd been promoted as well. Although the Chief Examiner has reassured me that this will continue in future. The final decisions were given to us yesterday about payments (or not) for those of us that rely on exam money at this time of year. The other (not main) exam board that I mark just one paper a year for are not paying their examiners anything. Which is what I originally expected when the exams were cancelled, but they are the only exam board not offering any sort of payment to their markers, and I don't think it will do them any favours longer term. I know that my mind is already made up because I can pick up enough work from my usual exam board not to need to mark for them again in future. Anyway, the people at school I work with that are doing the supervisor roles got an email saying that they are going to be paid from the company direct, based on 20% of their earnings over the exam period last year. However, my recent promotion has been incredibly lucky for me - I'm getting 80% of my earnings over the exam period last year as a senior examiner. I can't believe how lucky I've been! I did feel a bit guilty that I've done so much better than the people I work at school with, but when I think about it I actually do work a lot harder for the exam board than they do. I do a lot of work all year for them so it's nice that they've recognised how important the summer of the exam season is to us financially. It takes a massive amount of pressure off me in terms of surviving the summer and prepping the kids for going back to school as well.
Last day of the half term and I have a deadline to meet, so I'm going to get on and finish that school work - I'll check in again later and see how everyone is getting on, catch up properly.

Chrystal

That is fantastic news about the Exam money Cat (happy dance)  and must make such a difference to your state of mind. 

And yes you do deserve it.  I've been amazed at how much Exam marking you do over the year.  (((hugs)))

PurpleFairy26

That is good news cat. Both on the substitutions and the exam cash. 

f0xh0les

Whoop Whoop!!! Congratulations on the confirmation of exam furlough pay.   If it takes the stress off you for a bit, then it is all to the good. If you were told you were getting 20% you would have been grateful for it, the 80% is just a lucky bonus. No guilt allowed. Keep it under your hat if they will not be happy for you, you all just got a 'reduced payment' due to non marking.

Does it make a big difference to the day to day family finances? 

How is it looking on the holiday front? If they do lift the travel ban on July 4th will that mean the hols go ahead?

crazy_cat_lady

Hey again  
Deadline met, and I am officially off work for half term. School is closed so I'm not on rota until Tuesday the week after next. Still have to get ds through his rationing project though and he is not motivated today. Not sure if I can get out for a walk today - its really, really windy. Trees are blowing over and all sorts. I think I might just have to see if I can get a bit of time in the garden later - or check the weather forecast and see if the wind looks like it might die down later. 
I haven't been furloughed f0xh0les. I think it's very admirable of the exam board actually, but they said in their email they felt that furlough had been offered in order to keep small and medium businesses afloat rather than huge companies like them. And besides which they want their senior team available for exam work over the summer. There's grading to oversee, and potentially autumn exams to put together and administer. I've already done 3 days for the exam board since lockdown (which gets paid on top of my 'goodwill' payment). They're not always the quickest off the mark getting stuff done but I am very impressed at what they have done for us that don't work for them full time. And yes f0xh0les - it will make a massive difference to my finances - I earned over £5000 last summer during exam season.
Right. Time to think about the rest of the day. I need to hoover through, wash up, get ds working, get ds to empty his stuff out of the car, get outdoors if possible, read and crochet. After I've caught up on here.

beanielou

Fantastic news 

Baileys_Babe

Fantastic news about the goodwill payment. Have you planned how you are going to use it?

f0xh0les

Well money like that deserves a G&T in the garden even if it is blowing a hooley.

Might even warrant a cat-dance afterward.

dawnybabes

That’s brilliant news 😍😍😍

my worse substitution was a pack of sanitary towels when I’d ordered nappies.  I was sleep deprived and not my normal self, I cried hysterically down the phone to the store manager, who appeared at my door an hour later with 2 boxes of nappies, bunch of flowers and a box of chics.