How much to live on

helensbiggestfan

Some really great posts recently, not just about money but on the wider issues of work/life balance and enjoying the present whilst trying to prepare for the future.  

One of my favourite songs on this topic is Harry Chapins "Cats in the Cradle". Sorry can't do links but it's easy to find on "t'interweb". This was my dads classic mistake. He worked so hard he "lost" himself in the process, isolated himself from his parents and siblings, had no time for friends or hobbies and if I'm honest he was, at times, very difficult to live with.  He was always tired, irritable and short tempered. 

Such a shame because he missed out on life.  By the time he realised, it was too late. His parents and most of his siblings were dead and he had never established a close bond with his grandchildren.  So sad.  

Jimbobdibob

@helensbiggestfan
God's speed
You have got more than one book in you

helensbiggestfan

Jimbobdibob said:

@helensbiggestfan
God's speed
You have got more than one book in you

Thank you.  That's so sweet. 

  I am hoping my for clear skies tonight so I can sit out with a glass of wine and watch the meteor shower.  Unfortunately there's a lot of cloud cover at the moment. 🤞🤞

I'm a cheap date. 😂🤣

LL_USS

Almost time for us to go to sleep in the Far East :-). I have had 7 days on a row NOT turning on my laptop. Digital detox indeed. Feeling wonderful. Quite bad of me jumping to this forum before opening any work emails ;-).

Life could be hard, but it could also be full of wonders - we just live it and enjoy what we can.

My children's father passed away unexpectedly when they were very little, one a mere toddler. The boy was close to his dad, and it was a few very difficult years for him as a child, even more difficult than for me. I just steered the ship without thinking, as I had no time to stop to feel bad for ourselves.

Today it is A-levels exam results day in England. Some of those children of my colleagues at university did not do as well as they hoped. I've just been upstairs to tell my children I am so proud of them. My boy did brilliantly a year ago; and the younger sibling seems to be wanting to do well too. 

We are having a holiday in the Far East and they are happy to pause the holiday to do some short internships here as the opportunities arise...

I am far from being successful in my career but I have never looked back and regreted. Life means many things and certainly not just money and career.

jackieblack

LL_USS said:

Life could be hard, but it could also be full of wonders - we just live it and enjoy what we can.

Life means many things and certainly not just money and career.

I couldn't agree more 👏🏻

Organgrinder

LL_USS said:

Almost time for us to go to sleep in the Far East :-). I have had 7 days on a row NOT turning on my laptop. Digital detox indeed. Feeling wonderful. Quite bad of me jumping to this forum before opening any work emails ;-).

Life could be hard, but it could also be full of wonders - we just live it and enjoy what we can.

My children's father passed away unexpectedly when they were very little, one a mere toddler. The boy was close to his dad, and it was a few very difficult years for him as a child, even more difficult than for me. I just steered the ship without thinking, as I had no time to stop to feel bad for ourselves.

Today it is A-levels exam results day in England. Some of those children of my colleagues at university did not do as well as they hoped. I've just been upstairs to tell my children I am so proud of them. My boy did brilliantly a year ago; and the younger sibling seems to be wanting to do well too. 

We are having a holiday in the Far East and they are happy to pause the holiday to do some short internships here as the opportunities arise...

I am far from being successful in my career but I have never looked back and regreted. Life means many things and certainly not just money and career.

As a teacher I find A level results day a strange beast. There are the students who have invested in their studies and those who haven't. 

Today, I'm pleased to report that those who invested in their studies nearly all got A and A*. One of them got a C which was disappointing for them but sometimes the pressure of exams can be tough.

Of those who didn't invest, none failed, but Ds and Es as predicted. Well, as predicted by me. They still thought that natural ability would see them through.

It always reminds me of the quote by Oscar Wilde I believe. "I am no longer young enough to think I know everything".

QrizB

I have a relative who got their results today. I don't know exactly what grades but they were good enough to get into their first choice of university

louby40

@Organgrinder congratulations on getting your students through, and achieving great results. 

middlewife

Organgrinder said:

As a teacher I find A level results day a strange beast. There are the students who have invested in their studies and those who haven't. 

Today, I'm pleased to report that those who invested in their studies nearly all got A and A*. One of them got a C which was disappointing for them but sometimes the pressure of exams can be tough.

I well remember my identical twins A level results, one got straight As with a lot of stress and work, the other scraped 2Cs and a D. When I asked him how he felt about his grades he had the honesty to admit his "CBA" attitude and lack of work was why.
Their older sister got predicted grades but in the wrong subjects and for 2 hours thought her life was over. I persuaded her to ring her first and second choice university and they both offered her a place. Ironically the CBA twin studied accountancy whilst working having been kicked off an apprenticeship and finally grew up around the age of 25. No amount of nagging or lectures would have made any difference, sometimes you have to let them get on with it and be there if they need you to pick up the pieces.

Organgrinder

middlewife said:

Organgrinder said:

As a teacher I find A level results day a strange beast. There are the students who have invested in their studies and those who haven't. 

Today, I'm pleased to report that those who invested in their studies nearly all got A and A*. One of them got a C which was disappointing for them but sometimes the pressure of exams can be tough.

I well remember my identical twins A level results, one got straight As with a lot of stress and work, the other scraped 2Cs and a D. When I asked him how he felt about his grades he had the honesty to admit his "CBA" attitude and lack of work was why.
Their older sister got predicted grades but in the wrong subjects and for 2 hours thought her life was over. I persuaded her to ring her first and second choice university and they both offered her a place. Ironically the CBA twin studied accountancy whilst working having been kicked off an apprenticeship and finally grew up around the age of 25. No amount of nagging or lectures would have made any difference, sometimes you have to let them get on with it and be there if they need you to pick up the pieces.

Very true.

I also tutored two students after they contacted me following their mock exams. Both got a U in their mocks. One turned up diligently and did the work. At Easter I told him he was ready and just needed to practice. He got his best result in the paper I had tutored him.

The other did only four sessions with me. Work. Family holidays. Birthdays. Mother's Day. You name it, there was an excuse. He got a U. What a waste of time and money 

My subject, maths, is i believe a skill. To perfect it takes practice. 

When you see people take advice and work towards their goals it really is a pleasure. I'm always immensely proud to see it happen. Equally it's disappointing to see students throw opportunities away. I speak from experience having never made the most of my abilities earlier in life. Fortunately I found a career I love.