The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Yes this one had only been on the market for a week or so.  I am slightly worried of selling my house really quickly (although don't want it hanging around as long as last time) and then us not having anywhere to move into to as nothing is suitable.

slm6002

Nothing much happening here.  Applied for another job today.  Its working from home and would fit around my current job as well as the children.  Could work and would keep my work coach off my back.  It would mean during school holidays or future lockdowns i would still have money coming in.  
Seen lots of houses go up for sale and then disappear as they have sold in a day or so.  Also lots of those are ones that have come back on the market from a few months ago.  Still no word from the mortgage lady so i have no idea if i am able to sell or not.  I also came home to another planning application for the land to the back of the house.  The builder is trying again with adjusted plans and as only 1 house compare to the 3 will probably go through, but still cause chaos for months on end.  It certainly wont help mine to sell.

Honeysucklelou2

Well done for applying for the job. Does the work coach cause a lot of pressure?

Hope you hear from the mortgage lady soon.

slm6002

Yes she does put on the pressure.  The last lady i had was great and totally understood my situation.  This one however.....While lockdown was happening and i was off work due to home-schooling (i still worked about 10 hours a month so not much) she wanted me to search and apply for jobs for 35 hours a week.  I told her i still had a job and was effectively furloughed although i couldn't be paid furlough so worked very minimal hours.  This made no difference and the fact there were few jobs out there as everyone now out of work was looking.  If she sends me a job to apply for i have to apply.  Because of where i work she assumed i was in childcare (even after telling her i wasn't) and kept sending me jobs in that field even though i am admin and have no qualifications in childcare.  i have to be willing to travel 90 min each way to work and back, even though it will mean i can work less hours as still allowed to look within school times - made no sense.  Apparently i was available for interviews at the drop of a hat as i don't work (i have a job silly woman).  I told her i could not look for work for 35 hours a week as well as home-school and do my current job.  She didn't seem to care and because she has no children she didn't know they were off school - really unsure where she had been living the past year and a half?  Once i was back at work I pointed out the rules say i only need to be working 25 hours a week as DD2 is only 10 (her bad apparently), but will rise to 35 hours when she turns 12.  Still the same pressure to find a job.  I need an extra 7 hours currently.  If i don't do as i am supposed to do, it will stop the benefits, which i cant live without.

Even if i get the extra hours my total money for the month doesn't really go up i just have less benefits and more wages.  I also have to pay full council tax again where i have been saving around £70 a month.

I get i need to work and am happy to but in a job i can do, in my field of work, and if possible one that i like, that suits me and the kids.  My next phone meeting with her is on Thursday so that's something to look forward to....not.

This job I applied for today would work well as i can still be here for the kids in holidays and if i go to 15 hours at preschool i will also meet the 35 hours ready for when DD2 is 12

slm6002

Sorry that was a bit of a rant - stupid work coach

Honeysucklelou2

I had no idea that minimum working hours were required depending on the age of your child...as for a 90 minute commute - that’s really tough for anyone, especially a single parent. I struggle with a 30 minute commute some days!

Hope  the next work coach meeting goes well.

slm6002

Thank you Honeysuckle.  It went well.  They can see that i am now working - the fact i told them i went back to work almost 2 months ago and have a job obviously fell on deaf ears.  Anyway she will not be contacting me every 2 weeks for an update and i can go back to looking for work as i was before in a much more relaxed way.  I'm sure as i don't get paid for holidays i will hear from her in sept after the 6 week holiday, but maybe by then i will have found something else.  I knew it was getting to me but the weight that has been lifted is great.  I feel so much better already and am baking a nice iced sponge for after school snack - as i have the time lol.
Off to opticians later to collect DD2 glasses - will cost a bit as i will need to pay for her tints on them - she wears them all of the time so i dont mind as it saves on getting a second pair as sunglasses, plus she has proved she can look after them well.  I need to book my appointment too as night times when i am tired my eyes struggle more.  I also booked my haircut for next tuesday.  Dropped the school laptop back with instructions as to what needs to be done for DS to get the best use out of it.  Also sorted out their new system of contacting parents as their was a glitch with my account.  I feel i have been quite productive already today.  Might contact the mortgage lady if she hasnt called me soon

slm6002

Rang mortgage lady and left a message for her to call back.  Its very unusual that she hasn't responded to any of my emails etc.  She is normally very prompt.  Another few houses new to market today.  Lovely big house but in the wrong place and one in an ok place but too small for what we need.  An old house also popped back up today.  There are a couple that i would like to see pop back up - never know at the moment

slm6002

Got home last night and went downhill.  I ache all over.  Not a great night sleep, but taken some tablets and plan a fairly easy laid back day with the kids as its been raining on and off anyway so not exactly great weather to go outside.  They are happy listening to music and creating things with hammer beads.  Got some fancy hot chocs for later.
Whilst they were busy i have entered a few competitions.  One was for an escape room mystery box.  It got me thinking maybe this would be something nice for one of the holidays coming up.  Has anyone had any experience of these ones you can buy for home.   The prices seem to vary quite a lot (hopefully i will win the one i entered).  I'm not sure if the cheaper end of the scale would be worth it?  I also thought that they might be good for a few of the families we buy xmas gifts for. That plus a small selection of nibbles and that would be them sorted.
I am definitely thinking of the summer holidays that are not that far away.  As i didn't manage to get a Sun voucher holiday this year it will have to be day trips out and maybe we can get a room for a night near the seaside.  The rest of the time will be another stay at home holiday.  I imagine we will find plenty to do and even a day trip to the beach will be good after all this time of not being able to go anywhere.  I have got my pot of money for holidays and will be at around £500 by August.  We might not need all of this but it will allow us a few nice treats.  My pintrest board is filling up nicely with ideas - have to please 2 teenagers and a tween now.  Their ideal would be computers almost all of the time with just a little interaction with other people.  I will have them out of their rooms and dressed and having non computer time.  I am not mean and will allow some computer time, just not 6 weeks worth lol

slm6002

Just booked a night away in a travel lodge near the seaside in the summer holidays.  Was just under £50 for the night, which was the cheapest i could find.  I have also booked the dinner table at the local carvery which we love so i know the kids will be happy.  I will use some of my survey money to fund the dinner gift card (can work out how much it will cost as i know what the kids are likely to eat lol).  We can get to the seaside and play on the beach for the day, book into the lodge from 3pm.  Have a shower and get dressed in clean clothes ready for walk along the prom to the restaurant for 6.   Eat then another walk.  Thinking next day 2p machines and mini golf before the journey home (less sandy).  Only thing i cant plan on is the weather, that will be a surprise lol