The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

End of day 2 back at school for me.  As suspected yesterday was a very long day and I went to bed feeling like my body was broken.  I ached all over which is mad as I only sat and listened and did a bit of walking, but no more really than a normal day.  Felt like I had the flu.  Thankfully today was better and not so long.  We were able to start planning for the return of the children with a few new procedures to learn.

DD1 had a good first day at her new job.  She like me was just sitting and listening but did make a friend so was happy.  Today she text me at lunch to say she is working with the friend learning to do so more bits which was more exciting.  She admitted that it isn't as easy as she thought admin would be.  Seems very odd her not being home at end of school time.

We had an easy dinner yesterday as it was band, and another easy one today.  I will be getting some meals out of the freezer in the morning  ready for tomorrow evening.  No clubs tonight or tomorrow so might do a load of washing just to ease myself back into things.  Still not started my blanket either so would like to do some of that too.  It will be another early night after showers especially as I will need to get DS out of the door as well tomorrow.  DD2 still has 1 more day left to relax.

DS has been told that his english literature paper could have been undermarked in the eyes of the teachers at his old school, so they will remark that one.  They reckon the language paper was marked ok / generously though so wont be sending that one off for remarking.  If we can get those 3 extra marks it will give him the magic grade 4.  It would also mean that he would not technically need to resit the language paper, which he would be thrilled about.  I just don't know if it will limit his chances later on and if he should just retake it anyway - if the college allow him to, which they may not if he doesn't have to for government purposes.  I guess we wait to see if they award him a 4 or keep it at a 3, and then see what college say.

slm6002

So tired, and had a little nap on the sofa when I got home.  I was only woken by my own snoring 20 minutes later.  Still tired now so will head up to bed before long.  Evenings have a really autumn feel already.

Glad I took our meals out of the freezer this morning.  It meant that they only needed warming in the oven / microwave for a while.

Found a new series to watch that is suitable for us all to watch so put a few episodes of that on while I did some crocheting.  Earlier I was listening to my audio book too as it seems crocheting along with it works too

No money spent again - I nearly caved at lunch time but there was no where to park near the shop, so I came home and made some soup instead.  

I had another message from the child maint people saying that XH will be paying £10.51 a week now rather than £111 ish.  I guess he has finally got round to telling them that he is not working.  Not huge amounts coming in to support his children but better than nothing I guess.  He will still have to pay the back pay from before I believe so at little amounts per week it may take quite some time.

Ok its gone 9 so think it's time for bed once I get the cat in

slm6002

Another day done and achieved some good bits and bobs at work today.  Finally feel like I am getting somewhere with the mountain of summer holidays emails as well as the new term stuff that is on my list of things to do.  DD2 finally went back to school today and after an initial moan about teachers it sounds like she had a good time.  Dinner was jacket potatoes, so nice and easy dinner

Sorted DS's bus pass out today after several calls to the help centre.  Turns out they had given him spring term rather than autumn terms pass, which is why it wouldn't work.  Hopefully on Monday it will be better.  Bad news on his english remark though, they sent it back saying that there was no change.  So he will need to retake.  He had his first lesson today (3 hours long! - he will never take in anything past the first hour).  He said that the room was jam packed and there were not enough chairs.  There were several classes and then the back up class which was also full to the brim.  They were saying they may make a 2nd back up class.  So many people just didn't get the pass this year.

Still tired but only 1 day to go before the weekend and I am hoping to meet with a friend for lunch tomorrow which I am really looking forward to.  Youngest two had club tonight so I took my crocheting with me so got a good few rounds done while waiting for them

It is going to be time for a shower and bed before long.  

slm6002

Yay it is Saturday, forgot however to turn alarms off, but did drift off to sleep for a little longer.  Monday seems such a long time ago now.  Lots of work done and some lovely praise from a couple of high up members of staff for something I made up yesterday which was nice.  This is my 4th school year there and I still find it strange people say thank you or well done for things I do.

Plans for today are the usual washing (first load already in the machine) and clearing up as the house has been neglected this week.  I have a book at the library that I need to collect as well as some clothes to return, which hopefully I can do in town.  May leave it until tomorrow as it will be free parking.  No money should be spent as I think we have everything that we need,

I think I will need to do a supermarket order for tomorrow or Monday, but it shouldn't be a big one this time.  We still have 1 holiday voucher left so this should cover the shop easily.

DD1 stayed at BF house last night, so I am expecting her to turn up around midday as she has nothing to do at weekends now.  Seems quite strange having nothing in the diary.  Tomorrow DS has his work but that is it.  Maybe we will go somewhere just us girls, especially as DS doesn't like joining in with things out of the house.

slm6002

Another early start just because I have woken early, in fact I woke up quite a few times last night for no real reason.  I am waiting for the water to heat up before I jump in the shower.

I started looking at christmas bits and bobs yesterday.  We have several birthdays before this but I think that we are all sorted with those.  I may swap my neices bday gift for her christmas gift if she happens to come up with something that she would like, if not she is getting a voucher for the local cinema with a bag of haribo, some pringles and some popcorn.  I sent texts to family members asking if there is anything on their lists and if not to have a think.

We plan on dropping DS off at work and then DD2 and me are off to a local town for a look around and a visit to the supermarket.  I didn't get round to doing the online shop yesterday so will go in person today.  I need to make a list as there are a few bits like bin bags that I am likely to forget if not.  I will also be having a little look at their christmas selection of goodies just to get some ideas.  I will soon start buying a few bits each week so I am not left until the end doing a mad dash round the supermarket on christmas eve - cant think of anything worse lol.

DD1 was out again last night and I got a text saying she HATES clubbing - I didn't reply with 'I told you so' but told her to stay there until her friends were ready to go - safety in numbers.  She forgets I know her.  I just wish she had found this out in the local town and not 20 miles away.  

Right time to wake DS up and get him ready for work, and DD2 to come shopping.

Lauraebrad

I love the idea of a cinema voucher and snacks for a teen gift - thanks!!

slm6002

Thank you @Lauraebrad, I have used this a few times now for various people.  My niece is an only child and wants for nothing, so is very difficult to buy for and so I try to think of things to do rather than objects unless her mum comes up with some ideas.  Only problem is that her birthday and Christmas as fairly close together like my children, so I have to come up with 2 ideas at this time of year.  Today we bought some Christmas Haribo and some popcorn to go in with the voucher.  Might try to find some small pringles but if I cant then I will just pop those bits in.

DD2 has decided to make chocolate slabs for her friends.  We have a mould with a Christmas design on it.  We will use the cheapish (but tastes good) lidl chocolate melted, and then we will decorate the top with festive sweets and sprinkles.  Wrap them up in cellophane and that is that - cheap and cheerful as she normally has a large friend group.  I said perhaps this year it could be reduced a little.  So for the next few months we will be on the look out for reasonably priced decorations and keeping an eye on the lidl app in case the chocolate goes on offer.

Our trip to the supermarket wasn't as successful as had hoped as I was not used to the shop and kept finding bits to look at but not buy, and then managed to come out with hardly anything.  At least the cost was low, but I will need to book a mid week slot I think.

I could have a little nap right now, but I need to keep an eye out for text from DS letting me know he has finished for the day

slm6002

Right back to work this morning, seems like we have been back so much longer than a week.  Got a list in my head that I need to get sorted and finished this morning.  Glad it is only a half day though as still tired.

This afternoon I need to clear up around the house and do DS washing as he bought it down at last minute and this morning informed me that he didn't have any clean tops.  It might teach him to bring things down earlier, but I doubt it.  Dinners are out of the freezer defrosting for later.  This evening DD2 has band but will just need to drop her off and pick up again.

I best get moving as need to make sure DD1 is awake and then leave shortly, looks like it might rain all day

slm6002

Work day is done, and DS's washing has been sorted!

DD1 is unhappy at work as is really bored.  I have been telling her it will get more interesting for her when she is allowed to do things on her own.  But she has been like this before and just quit.  Will speak to her when she gets home as it would not look good on her work record, but I have also been in the same situation of hating my job.  Either way she cant just stop.  She will need to look for something more suited to her goals.  She still has the idea of being a paramedic (even though I just cant see it) but doesn't have the qualifications that she needs to do the course.  I wonder is healthcare is the way for her to go, as there are always jobs around here.  She doesn't like old people or children or people in general so not sure how that would work.  I was really hoping that she would / had settled in this job, especially as she knows that it is only a years apprenticeship.  Maybe she needs a higher apprenticeship to get her teeth into.  Either way I think we may be back to the drawing board again.

Contacted the college for DS to make sure they assess him before he does his next english exam - which looks like it will be in Nov.  I think it is going to be harder to get him to revise as he is enjoying his course more and this is just a niggle on the side that he doesn't want to do.  Guess we better get the books out again and start going over things and hopefully it will be sorted and over by Christmas.  At least he has a comfy chair in his room now for me to sit on.

slm6002

Well the weather has changed a little and I am sat here in pjs and a hoodie snuggled up under the blanket.  Pasta bake is in the oven for some good comfort food. 

Another long day including 2 hours of training after work.  I have now locked the doors and am trying to get DD1 to say she is having a quiet night at home, to BF.  He is lovely but I just want to slob on sofa in my own house without visitors.

She applied for a new job today as really isn't happy.  I have been in that position before so completely understand, but it is very early on to change, but then I think if she knows it is not the right place for her why wait?  Who knows.

No money spent other than to get a loaf of bread for lunches.  Hopefully an early night as we are all starting to flag a little.