A new royal start

QueenJess

TallGirl said:

Morning they do seem to ask for a lot more interviews these days but sounds like you are interested. I do not think I could commute again and do make sure you do not take on too much especially at the beginning. Hopefully your other half can carry a bit of load and also your kids are getting older which might help. Good luck I am sure you will smash the next stage. 

Thanks - it is a bit of a concern, but I can't not have a job and it's unlikely I'll get something completely remote, so we'll have to be organised and make it work.  The good thing about contracting is that if it doesn't work, I am definitely not adverse to quitting and it can be done quickly The process is dragging out, but that's fine with me as I'm not anxious for a job too soon

Absolutely nothing else happening at the moment and all I seem to do is round around doing kids stuff for never ending activities that the school think it's ok to give you 1-2 days notice for...  DD did her play at school hour this week and absolutely loved it because 3 of her friends were there and she got to sit down and colour for the whole time.  She now wants to go back!  I'm so tired from everything that I am having my second lazy day at home not doing much, although I will make some chocolate ice cream later, will do some tidying and some light decluttering.

I've spent a fair bit (second hand) sorting out my wardrobe as I've discovered I've got some major gaps now it's quite hot.  I'm a fan of covering up for the summer when it's just too hot as I am bright white (and have reddish hair), so I burn far too easily.  I only had one lightweight pair of trousers for the summer, so I've ordered a couple more.  I already have 2 long dresses and 2 long skirts, so that should be plenty.  I've also ordered 1 more pair of shorts (already got 2).  Overall cheap given it's all £2-4 each plus postage, but it adds up.  Saying that, I've probably cut my own spending back to the bone over the years and I do want to live, so I've allowed myself £100 a month frittering money going forwards.

I also spent a fair bit in the yellow and blue shop on Monday, but my house is 100% better for it already and fixed lots of annoying things.  I also overspent on ys items in the food shop this week - £124 in sm, £30 Riverford and £15 zero waste, so next week needs to be a top up shop only.  I now need to stop spending money before our holiday in a few weeks.  I've booked the kids into after school club for next term so I'm prepared for if I get a job and thankfully they've changed the system so I can pay in monthly installments rather than the scary amount upfront!  I've also saved up £550 of credits for the times I cancelled due to not working, so that's really helped.

Lunch today will be spiced green lentils with poached eggs (the green lentils need using up - not sure why I bought them as I never use them in anything).  Not told DH yet as I am sure there will be moaning (he's not a fan of lentils or pulses)...  Dinner is pesto pasta as it needs to be fast around DS's cub drop off/pick up.  Dessert is seed cake for me from the freezer (no one else likes it) and choc chip banana loaf or 2 different hm ice creams for everyone else.

Better go before I lose this post (I already got distracted and clicked on something else, then was amazed when my writing was still here when I clicked back!).

edinburgher

I can never use the green lentils either, not sure how Greying uses them by the case

South_coast

Send them my way, I use them!

themadvix

South_coast said:

Send them my way, I use them!

Me too!! 😊

QueenJess

Recipes are cheerfully accepted! Technically they are out of date, but still fine. Still got about 300g left to use up!

QueenJess

Not much happening here I'm afraid - I've mainly been trying to sort loads of stuff out in the house that never otherwise gets done as we don't have time.  Pictures to go up on the wall, tip runs, recycling to be taken to approximately 1,682 different places (margin of error +/- 1,677  ), decluttering to be done, kids clothes to be checked to see if they still fit, kids school clothes to be checked and purchased, odd cleaning jobs (bin, fridge, cutlery drawer etc).  I've mainly been doing this whilst it was too hot to garden or do lots of baking.

I'm currently running up to holiday and so trying to eat up all the fresh food before we go, although flapjacks and muffins will be made for snacks/treats to take with us (we are holidaying in the UK).  I have absolutely no idea where I am with the food budget this month and will have to work it out a bit later when I do the last order for Riverford for the month.  Sadly I've spent a fair bit of money on house stuff as I needed a few bits and I bought some containers for DS to organise his tat rather than being strewn absolutely everywhere.  I now need to curtail the spending and be a bit more sensible as the house/garden category has taken a big hit and I already stole from that category in the budget for the increase in nursery fees that came in May.  Thankfully just one more month of nursery to pay for now and then we can start refilling the joint account pots.

The job stuff is still ongoing.  I had decided not to look for anything for a bit and take the summer off with DS.  I had my 3rd interview with the people that originally contacted me and I don't think I did myself justice at all and immediately had a large slice of hm plum crumble cake (tastes amazing btw... a Mary Berry recipe https://maryberryrecipes.co.uk/mary-berry-plum-crumble-cake/ ).  Apparently that worked as I had a call from them and they want to proceed to the 4th and final interview and I am waiting on hearing on that today.  If that all goes through it should be a slightly longer contract with a potential for a permanent position, although I'm guessing it would start in August at some point.

Better go and make lunch now as DS comes out of school very early today for the last day.  Lunch will be poached eggs with mushrooms, kale, garlic and toast.  Dinner tonight is pizza with whatever I can scrabble together from the fridge plus a side salad.  Dessert is choc chip muffins or more of the amazing plum cake.

TallGirl

Great news about the job but yuck to 4th interview at least you can do it from the comfort of your own home rather than travel to all of them. Hope you get the whole Summer off though. 

Enjoy your holidays always envious of your baking. 

CCW007

Four interviews! As someone who works in the public sector where it's one and done that astounds me.

QueenJess

CCW007 said:

Four interviews! As someone who works in the public sector where it's one and done that astounds me.

I've never had more than 2 before.  They keep thinking of more people I would need to work with so they sign me up for "a chat".  They are absolutely not chats and are interviews as I am being grilled at each stage!  On the plus side, I'm getting pretty relaxed about interviews now

CCW007

Definitely good practice then!