The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

OK a half day here but no early finishes probably for the remainder of term.  These next few weeks are going to fly by and there is a lot to fit into it.  I am organising a big event at the beginning of the new term, so we need to make sure we have everything worked out and set up ready for that before we finish.  Organising Christmas dinners, staff parties and secret Santa also fall into my role somehow alongside the normal day to day roles that I have.  Not quite sure why I am sitting at home on my sofa right now to be honest lol.

I am still adding baubles on the tree and hope I might get that finished tonight as we don't have any clubs.  As soon as I have collected DD2 from her extra maths class it will be straight into comfy warm house clothes and hoping no one comes to the door.

Next week the cats have their annual jabs.  We pay a fee each month which makes them free but the price has now gone up by quite a lot.  I am going to let the vet know that we will no longer be paying that and will save for the jabs ourself and buy our own flee and worming things.  I also pay for the insurance so will carry on with that just in case the cats need urgent treatment - one of our cats has a strange paw and as they are getting older I want to make sure we are covered.  

No house news, and in fact I haven't heard from the estate agent for quite some time.  Since the budget didn't thrown up anything really house related the number of houses coming onto the market has increased considerably.  Fingers crossed we get some interest soon and that the one we would like is still on the market by then.  We still have the 1 previous viewer who should return to the uk in mid January so maybe if nothing happens before then we might be lucky.

DS has an interview on Saturday so we need to prep him as on paper he is a good candidate but he is not great at answering the questions in an interview.  Practice required.  He is very keen to get this particular job and has been waiting for them to advertise for some time now.  We also need to find him something suitable to wear and find his last P60 to prove his identity.

Right my next job is to reconnect my laptop to the printer as it has decided not to link.

slm6002

Yay it is the weekend, and quite scary but there are only 2 weeks left until we finish for the holidays.  Not quite sure how to fit everything in but I will do my best.  Lots of long lists are needed ready to start ticking things off.

I have just put the heating on as it is freezing in the house today.  Hopefully it will soon feel warmer as I will need a shower later and do not fancy getting in it in the cold.

Tomorrow I have a wreath making and the DD2 has a Christmas concert on Sunday evening that we had forgotten about (to be fair I had been concentrating one day at a time this week and hadn't even looked past Friday on the calendar).  We have homework, clothes washing and house cleaning to sort along side this too as well as trying to finish the Christmas shopping, wrapping, food planning and shopping, and hopefully maybe a little relaxing too.

I have booked my ticket this evening for DD2's school musical in Feb.  They were released to families today so thought I should do now before I forget.  Money will come out of the personal funds pot.  Bit disappointed that I haven't managed many surveys this year and must try harder next year.

Anyway it has taken all evening to write this as mum has been calling me to talk through things and the house is now warmer so I am off for a shower and then bed.

slm6002

My kids are not helping my festive mood today.  They are currently complaining the house is a mess while at the same time refusing to take their turn unloading the dishwasher (the only thing I ask them to do and as there are 3 of them it is only every 3rd time!).  Frustrating is what it has been today.

All washing completed, and a food shop done with hopefully enough meals that are easy and quick to prepare after clubs and busy days. I've also made my wreath for the door and started wrapping more bits.  I still need to look at stocking bits as I am lacking here I think.

slm6002

Well DD1 went out to work before I woke and has still not returned.  No words were uttered last night over dinner so guessing she is still grumpy with me.  I expect she will go to the BF's house tonight. The other 2 are back to normal and at least half attempting to do as I ask.

I have filled the car with petrol and bought DD2 a headboard in the hope we can get her bedroom looking a bit better and a bit more usable, so not a no spend day, although it comes from pots so not unplanned.  I am a little down about the house sale or lack of.  I am in 2 minds if we will ever sell and if we do the 1 house out there that is suitable will likely be gone.  Looking round the current house wondering how I can learn to love it again and make it work.  It is the location rather than the house that I don't love so not sure if there is much that I can do.

In better news DS has just been offered the job after his interview yesterday.  Really pleased for him.

Right time for a Christmas concert with DD2.  Will need to eat dinner on our return as we have run out of time.

Jessy103

Congrats to DS 🎉

Regarding house sale, it is near Christmas, so it will pick up after that and you'll get your buyer! The estate agent I saw this weekend said boxing day was when rightmove has the most views 🙂

slm6002

Thank you Jessy, I think I was just having a little bit of a down.  You are right there will an influx of new houses that appear very soon after Christmas.  In a way that is good as more choice hopefully for us but it does also mean more competition, so probably evens itself out.  I think it was the fact the agent is insisting on comparing our house to a 3 bed when while it has 1 small room it is still a 4 bed with everything you need in it.  He is also saying it wont sell as the kitchen is higher than the back garden.  We live on a hill so yes there are 3 steps down to the garden.  Not much I can do about that.  Anyway we will see what happens when our 1 viewer comes back to the UK in mid January, and then we can decide.  After that maybe a new agent as this one doesn't seem to believe it will sell so not the best.  The one we want is still there but for how long who knows.

Today I had a day off today so popped to town to get the trophy engraved that DD2 won last Christmas ready for it to be handed back.  I didn't notice until I got home that the surname is spelt wrong.  No point in taking it back as I doubt they can do a lot. I also got a few more stocking bits and once home laid everything out to see who is missing bits while no one else was at home.  Looks like Santa needs a few more bits for DS and I need something for DD1.  That is then the children all sorted.  I didn't need to pay for parking as some lovely lady was just leaving and handed me her ticket.  When I was done I still had an hour left on it so passed it on again.

The electrician came along this afternoon and fitted my new hob. The old one just crumbled in his hands.  He has often done little odd electrical jobs for me and only charges a little fee.  Today was £25 cash.  Can't say no to that.  I also had a good tidy of DD2's bedroom and replaced her ill fitting headboard with one that sticks to the wall.  I would have preferred it to have been a little thicker but it is mainly for show so should work better hopefully, and not keep falling just after we put it back each time.

Club tonight and then burgers for dinner.  Tomorrow is slightly less hectic so once home that will be it.  I think I will put the beef stew in the slow cooker in the morning so we can have that when we get home.  I might need to drop DS off to new job to prove he is allowed to work in the UK, then he can get a start date.  

Right I better move as not long before we will need to leave.

joedenise

It might be better to describe your house as a 3/4 bed house or as a 3 bed with box room/office.  We bought our bungalow as a 3/4 bed but quite honestly it wouldn't work for most people as a 4 bed as you have to go through one room into the next (which was previously a garage!).  DH and I use those 2 rooms as our workrooms (mine for sewing and was an office before I retired.  DH's room is more of a junk room!

Sound to me that you definitely need a new agent if your current one doesn't think it will sell!

slm6002

Thank you @joedenise that is a possibility going forward.  I will wait until viewer comes back and then if he is not interested I will remarket with a new agent I think.

I only did a half day today but one of the bits of my work may be increasing soon, but the ladies work that will be handed over to me pointed out that I already have too much work to do in the hours I have so I may suggest again that I do more hours, so that I can fit everything in.  While on paper I am still doing the same role mostly, role that I have has grown over the years as the school has improved.  Not sure if there is really any more money in the budget but they can at least look, and they know that I am willing.

At work I am hosting an event on the 2nd day back (I am not someone who is great in social settings so not sure why I am leading this).  It is the first that the school has done so it is very much a see how it goes.  We are hoping it is something we can do every other year maybe.  I looked round the hall today that is will be held in and it has put my mind at rest about the feel of it.  We now just have to hope that people and parents turn up.  Fingers crossed

No clubs tonight thankfully so we have been able to get some bits and pieces done.  Just helped DD2 take pictures of 22 objects for her art homework.  She has another science test next week which I am trying to encourage her to revise for but it is currently falling on deaf ears. She knows she does better with tests if she revises but cant bring herself to do the work.  She also hates the feeling of not doing well when others around her have much better scores than her.  I am hoping the light bulb moment re revising happens sooner rather than later for her.

Right next job in emptying the washing machine, then an early ish night

slm6002

Made it to the weekend again.  How are we so close to Christmas?  1 more week at school then it will be full steam ahead to Christmas day.  It is flying by.  As organiser of most of the festive activities at work I am pleased to report that Thursdays whole school Christmas dinner was successful without too many children roaming around where they shouldn't be, which is a success in our school.  The staff Christmas meal yesterday was also very good and went well.  Even the clicky group were very appreciative of what I organised and personally thanked me, which shocked me.  One more event - Secret Santa to finish this week and then I am done for this year anyway.

Today we have had a very slow morning.  Got up late and had a shower and been catching up on diaries this morning.  DD1 had a little clean of the house yesterday so not too much is needing to be done.  DD2 went off to her friends house while I did a little food shop.  DD1 is with BF but already fed up with him and has called me several times telling me how he is being an idiot - was a fun yet relaxing day lol.

All 3 children requested homemade pizza for dinner so just finished eating that.  Tomorrow we have a Christmas fete for DD2 to play with the band at, which will be festive.

slm6002

How early in the day is too early for a chocolate orange?   Just asking for a friend lol.

Dad has asked me to pop by on way past from dropping DS off at work. He had bought me a little pressie from his travels - a little Christmas tree broach.   I have written DS's resignation letter so that he finishes the year at current place (today plus 2 more weeks) which I think is more than generous.  Never had a formal contract so never given an idea of notice period, but think over the festive period it would be good to not leave them without staff.  I think they are actually shut the last week of the year anyway so probably works out only 1 week more.  He has been signed off at college so no need to go in again until the new term, apart from a gaming final.

Today will be trying to get DD2 to do her revision ready for her test as well as the other homework, some washing and maybe wrapping a few things.

DD1 is in charge of making the sausage rolls for her class do tomorrow so I have been round the shops looking for gluten free pastry for those.  Just found some and really glad I don't go to Tescos on the weekend very often!