30th September - October 2nd October 2022 Post Comment Love

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Lifeat139a and I. 

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week and all we ask is that you leave a comment on either mine or Stephanie's post which you linked up through and at least one other post.

We'd also love it if you could RT us on Twitter when we tag you to help us reach a wider audience.

I received notification that I'd passed my probation at work and was now on a full time permeant contract, that is until Monday, when I start a new job, in the same school, still as a teaching assistant but with a slight pay rise and 1:1 with a student in the 6th form studying A level English Literature and Religious Studies, Philosophy and Ethics and on a temporary contract.

I'll be catching up with reading your posts from last week and this, sharing and commenting over the weekend.

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My English autumn garden

Despite the dry weather and change in temperatures the garden is still doing quite well. There are poppies and snapdragon in flower as well as the last gladioli. The lawn is growing fast and is a vibrant green and I suspect we have quite a few mows ahead of us.

There are still some tomatoes and chillis to ripen, a couple of sunflowers left to bloom and an abundance of weeding to be done.

The rhubarb will be picked, cooked and frozen soon.

Gladioli in bloom and a new wreath is in process.

Ripening chillis 

A few remaining tomatoes 

Bay tree off shoots to pot

The bougainvillea will need their roots protecting from the frost soon

The hydrangea showing new life after the dry/hot weather.

Lawns to mow and edging to do

Sunflowers drying for seeds next year

A few hidden flowers left to bloom

Thai basil

Snapdragon

We spent the weekend at the Malvern Autumn Show, I resisted the temptation to buy any new plants.

 

Week 38 One Daily Positive and Project 365

It’s been a very strange week with the Quuens funeral and a day off work. I’ve done a lot of thinking about my father and grandmother. The week really seems to have been very long then all of a sudden just ended.

259 Saturday Grand Childs birthday party with family and friends, home late, but had a lovely day. They helped make their own cake.

260 Sunday A lazy morning, coffee and food shop. Peter mowed the lawns and I signed into Google Classrooms to check out next weeks lessons, do some homework in preparation for homework club on Tuesday. I need to know what I'm doing before I start supporting. Peter went to bed in the afternoon, the time difference and travel has caught up with him. 

I'm drying this years sunflowers to collect the seeds for next year.

261 Monday A day of reflection and all day spent in front of the TV.

262 Tuesday Back to work and back on my bike. Day ended with a migraine and an early night. Some GCSE and A Level reading.

263 Wednesday All I can remember about the day is I was ready for bed at 8pm. Caught up with the soaps. 

264 Thursday Cycled to work and evening spent on the laptop. I applied for a new position in work, still as a TA but supporting a 6th form student with A level English and Religious studies. 

The 4 month old TV went all funny. a long call with Currys but they're collecting it on Saturday for repairs.

265 Friday I went swimming before work, did 40 lengths. Had my 6 month review in work, my line manager is worried I’ll get bored and leave. Promised him I’m not going anywhere, anytime soon. Evening spent with friend for chips and wine. 

I sorted through the toys. Top set fuzzy felt, circa 1970's from my old toys and bottom mid 1990's from the kids toy box.

On the blog this week:

Feeling left out at work.

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23rd-25th September 2022 - Post Comment Love

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Lifeat139a and I. 

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week and all we ask is that you leave a comment on either mine or Stephanie's post which you linked up through and at least one other post.

We'd also love it if you could RT us on Twitter when we tag you to help us reach a wider audience.

I've been reading a lot at the moment. As a Teaching Assistant in a secondary school I support students from year 7 up to sixth form in a variety of subjects, mainly Science, Religion Studies, English and Maths.  I've been helping with homework also, so I've been doing a variety of homework also and reading selected texts for GCSE and A Levels as well as re reading books I studied at O Level in school, many years ago.

I'll be catching up with reading your posts from last week and this, sharing and commenting over the weekend.

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Feeling left out in work.

Whilst I love the job I do as a Teaching Assistant, the students and the variety of things I do and the things I am learning, I don't enjoy the staff room and am also feeling undervalued on minimum wage, something I'm going to raise in a meeting later this week.

I opted not to return to teaching as I've always felt far too much is expected in terms of classroom prep, planning, meetings, markings etc within the working week and whilst school holidays are long, most of the work, such as marking and prep has to be done during term times.

Last week a new member of staff was invited to join the WhatsApp group 'oooh says I, I'm not in that' and it was met with silence, I then added 'well I've been here since March and don't feel I've missed out on anything' A few days later, in front of me, they were discussing a potential evening out in October. Everyone in work is nice, but a lot of them just aren't my type of people anyway, but excluding someone in the work place, particularly in education is unacceptable and verges on bullying IMO.

When I started the job I locked down my Facebook account, but still blog freely. I'm not bothered if anyone at work finds this as I'm not writing anything negative about anyone, just writing about how I feel as a result of their behaviour.

There is a group of staff who have allocated themselves seats in the staff room and in their absence their seats are left empty. I made a mistake of not realising one woman was in and went to sit in the seat, at the same time she walked past and dumped her bag, without a word, so I just walked off and sat in the base with the students to drink my tea. 

If I say anything I'm sure I'll just be told I'm over reacting, that there is no need to feel left out, it was an oversight and we'll add you to the whatsapp group now, but if I'm honest, I don't really want to go with the majority of them, I'm sure if they were neighbours or we were in the school playground I'd probably only pass a polite good morning anyway.

I don't know if it's because it's a group of women or because they started working there around the same time and as an individual new comer it feels like it's my responsibility to set up my own seating group with a few other staggered newcomers. I don't know if I'm a threat or they just don't realise what they're doing and the impact it has had on me? I suspect they are aware, I hope they're feeling embarrassed, but I for one will be finding my own tribe.

In the meantime it'll be 'table for one'. mug of tea and my book and I'll exclude myself in the hope they might just feel less embarrassed and not do the same to anyone else. In total it's only 30 minutes of my day, so not really a big deal, but it does hurt.

Post Comment Love 16th-18th September 2022

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Lifeat139a and I. 

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week and all we ask is that you leave a comment on either mine or Stephanie's post which you linked up through and at least one other post.

We'd also love it if you could RT us on Twitter when we tag you to help us reach a wider audience.

I'm travelling down to Gatwick tonight after work to collect Peter after his travels. I'm looking forward to having him home. He stayed in Australia an extra 2 weeks and then had a 6 day stop over in Dubai. I shall be taking my time with the journey and stopping for more than 1 coffee for sure.

Our eldest Grandchild turns 3 today also, party tomorrow and child 4 is also visiting by car, so we're sending him home with all the family Christmas Presents as we'll be flying over for Grandchild 2's First Birthday in November and won't have the allowance to take it all with us.

Sunday will be spent recovering and Monday we're planning to spend the day watching the Queen's funeral.

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Getting a coffee around the world.

In the UK all coffees are standardised, regardless of whether it's from a chain or an independent cafe. Trust me, I know. I drink a lot of coffee, my favourite being a latte. That's a single shot of espresso for me and filled with steamed milk. Hubby prefers a cappuccino which is a shot of espresso, then equal amounts of milk and froth.

Every coffee shop does vary with the way they take the order, the stupid names for cup sizes and almost all not understanding that 'regular' means the 'middle sized cup'.i

You'd think that ordering a latte and a cappuccino would be an easy thing. You'd think it would be a standard drink and the only thing you need to think about would be the size, whether it was a take away or drink in order and the size of the cup/mug.....but you'd be wrong.

In South Africa when you order a cappuccino you get asked 'do you want cream or foam' It's foam, always foam. And then randomly when you order a latte they will add a shot of honey or cinnamon powder and automatically put chocolate sprinkles on the cappuccino.

In Dubai it's completely pot luck if you get what you think you ordered. But you have to agree the views are nice, even if you are sat by the side of a road.

In Canada every drink comes with chocolate sprinkles.

In America when I've asked for a latte, its been served iced, unless I've asked for a hot one. One I asked for a 'hot latte' in other countries, they've looked at me as if that's the only way it's served.

In Australia you have to ask for the sugar when you place the order or you get told off if you ask for sugar after they've made your coffee.

Almost every barista greets you with 'can I help?'

So I reply with '1 large latte and a small cappuccino to take away, no chocolate on top'

Which is followed with and this bit annoys me everywhere:

Them: Which drink would you like? Me: 1 large latte and a small cappuccino to take away, no chocolate on top

Them: What size? Me: (I've said twice) Large

Them: Drink in/take away? (sighs) Take away

(repeats process for 2nd drink, says 3 times 'NO CHOCOLATE'

Me:I said NO CHOCOLATE

Them: Goes to scrap chocolate off

Me: Please remake drink

Them: Huffs

Me: .....

Except for Starbucks, they greet you by asking your name, except they don't say ' Can I get your name?' they just state NAME, then spell and pronounce it wrong regardless.

Week 36 One Daily Positive and Project 365. Back to School

Such a privilege to witness this change in history. So sad to hear of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the end of an era and all I've ever known. It's triggered many memories of my Father and Grandparents and recalls of their memories of King George VI reign, his death and the Queens Coronation. 

I've been very moved by King Charles III composure and the rest of the Royal family as they've talked so openly about their Mother, so soon after her death.

245 Saturday Early morning walk into town with Bob for a coffee then afternoon spent cleaning the conservatory and watching movies.

246 Sunday Up early, off to Monmouth to drop off the spare keys for the flat to the new owner, took Bob with me for a walk and had a coffee. Visited the Twins for an hour, then on to see the Things with a birthday cake, then off to see our grandchild for the afternoon. I called in at my old neighbours for a cuppa, the whole family were there, lovely to see everyone. Home at 7pm and watched Disney+

247 Monday Back to work, went swimming on the way in. 3 days of training and admin this week. I'm working with year 8 and 9 this year, following last years students for continuity which is nice. Afternoon and evening spent watching TV. Massive thunder and lightening storm disturbed the cat and dog, so bed late and a bonus call with Peter.

248 Tuesday Decided to take the car due to the predicted storms rather than cycling. Stopped at the shops on the way home to pick up a birthday gift. Spent the evening blogging and watching TV.

249 Wednesday Went swimming on the way to work. I've taken out an annual membership, so as long as I swim twice a week I'm saving about £10 a month. Started sorting out the loft room with piles for selling, donating and recycling/binning.

250 Thursday A longer day at work and a food shop on the way home. Afternoon and evening spent glued to the TV. There were lots of tears.

251 Friday Sorted a bit more of the loft room and did the ironing, all with the TV on. Decorated the living room and blew up balloons to celebrate my Friday night chips and wine friend. Peter started his journey home and is spending the next week in Dubai.

On the blog this week:

Have you ever met or seen the Queen?

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9th-11th September 2022 Post Comment Love. Back to school.

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Lifeat139a and I. 

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week and all we ask is that you leave a comment on either mine or Stephanie's post which you linked up through and at least one other post.

We'd also love it if you could RT us on Twitter when we tag you to help us reach a wider audience.

It's been. busy week, back to work and school, I work in a school. I've taken out membership at the local pool as I swim twice a week and after 6 swims the membership pays for itself. I've been 4 times this week.

It was my late fathers birthday this week, I totally forgot about it until a Facebook memory popped up, it's been 5 years since he died, I found the anniversary of his death in July particularly hard still, so in a way I was glad not to have remembered his birthday.

Yesterday of course in the UK was a sad day, hearing about the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Having a King will be a strange thing for most of us to get used to, I personally at the age of 51 have never known anything else other than The Queen. 

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Did you ever meet or see the Queen?

A sad day, glued to the TV when I got home from work, expecting to hear the announcement of the death of the Queen. When it came, I cried.

I've never known anyone else on the throne, as do most people. My mother at 78 recalls the Queens Jubilee, but she was only 8 at the time and was more in awe at watching a TV at her Uncles house, than the actual event and told me that my Grandmother took my father down to London for the Coronation. My grandchildren will only ever know Kings on the throne.

I'm a Royalist as in I believe in the Royal family, but I'm not a Royalist in the sense of all things Royal.

Back in 2016, child 4 and I were in London on the day the Queen gave Theresa May permission to form a new government. We watched the Royal Standard being raised then stood back swiftly as the Queen drove  into the Palace.

Apart rom seeing the Queen on the TV, this was the only time I ever saw her up close, less than 6ft away.

I saw King Charles after his wedding to Diana at York Rugby Ground on a school trip. And I was at an event that Prince Edward attended a couple of years ago, but I've never met a Royal. Have you?

Post Comment Love - 2nd-4th September 2022

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Lifeat139a and I.

A big thank you to everyone who takes the time to leave a comment each week, it is appreciated.

I'm back in the UK, jet lagged and sad my 3 week trip to Australia had to come to an end. We had an amazing time, flying into Sydney then up to Cairns, down to Brisbane and back to Sydney before I flew home on Monday. Peter is staying out until September 10th then he has 6 days stop over in Dubai before he gets home. Sadly I have to to return to work after this weekend. I've switched back to a normal eating routine having proper meals in local time, but I’m struggling with my sleep and only getting a few hours a night despite feeling absolutely exhausted. 

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Jet Lagged? You got any tips?

Time at airport:  check in, security, boarding, transfer, getting off the plane, passport and baggage claim approximately 7 hours.

Flying time: 21 hours (In economy)

Travel to and from airport: To: 1 hour. From: 3 hours, train and walk. 

Time of flight: (from Sydney at airport 18.00) Sunday 21.10. Arrival  Monday 12.25 (to Birmingham home 16.00) 

Journey time according to watch 24 hours.

Total time door to door: 32 hours. 

Breakfasts: Sunday x 1, Monday x 2

Lunch Sunday x 1, Monday x 2

Dinner Monday x 1

Alcohol consumed: Sunday Night, breakfast wine on Monday.

Sleep: No idea

Time zones crossed: No idea

No idea of time other than in Sydney, UK or Dubai - grateful for Apple Watch and iPhone updating when I had wifi/3g to help with connecting flights.

I had quite a few cat naps on the flight, but I lost 9 hours, travelling East. The NHS website advises to drink plenty of water, eat at local time and avoid sleeping during the day.

After 2 very long days, on getting home, I stayed awake till 8pm, by taking the dog for a walk and unpacking my case to keep myself busy, I slept for 3 hours.

On Tuesday I had 2 hours sleep.

Wednesday 4 hours, early evening and 2 hours early morning.

I've slept for 11 hours in total. I've also had hospital appointments, had the car serviced, mowed the lawn, cooked, read and cleaned. I'm trying to keep active, to stay awake during the day, but I'm losing focus, my head hurts and every bone in my body aches.

If you have any tips that would help, please do feel free to share them. I believe it takes 1 day per hour to recover, so I should be ok by Wednesday next week, but I go back to work on Monday.