Woo - what a lot going on at the Benches! Definitly NO cooling off in the lake!!! Cackles, glad the counselling was helpful… interestingly, I had a play with some clay the other week, and made a “figure”. It was a she… (can’t do legs, so did a skirt!) I stuck arms on the figure… then shoulders… then the back of the shoulders,and finally tried the boobs. COULD I give her two??? No matter ho much extra clay I put on, she was lopsided! weird! I also did a “freestyle” painting - which turned out to be all BCC colours and shapes. doubly weird… Normal? Me? Yes! whatever that is! Good luck at school today JCJ - going to a Governor’s presentation at OFSTED at lunchtime!
take care ladies - no paddling… Paralympics bench is frustrating and inspiring by turns. Recording’s a good idea!
Half tidied Katy?! Well done! I thought you were on the CBA bench yet you managed to tidy half the house! - better than me - but I’m back at work today, so I’ve got an excuse.
We are staying at the Highland Hotel, Strathpeffer (if that’s how you spell it!) with Shearings - so if you see a Shearings coach pass you on 29th October or 2nd November, it could be us!! Two “Scenic Drive” trips out: Spey Valley and Black Isle.
School was fun - DT training. We had to make moving toys. Ours was naff in the extreme, but we had a laugh making it, and nobody severed any limbs or digits with the equipment!
I’m on the confused bench. Just got home to a letter from Warwickshire Pension fund: “Deferred Pension Yearly Benefit Statement 2012” in which it states “Date of Leaving: 30 August 2008”. This is a bit worrying, as on 30/8/08 I mererly changed schools within Warwickshire, so surely my pension should just have continued?? I don’t want to make an eejit of myself by ringing to correct it, if this is right and just refers to my pension from my old school (hence deferred?). However, don’t want to be paying over £100 a month to the pension fund and only getting £172 PER YEAR from 2025!! No wonder people were striking?!
Any Benchlanders work in pensions and can expalin it to my feeble brain (can’t even blame chemo!)? - before I set the alligators on the WCC!
JCJ - ring your Union office, they have experts on the Teachers Pension Scheme who will be able to tell you what’s what and waht you need to do.
grumpy
Im on the happy but aprehensive bench today , last rads today and no appointments until 16th oct , DX was feb and I have been on the bc rollercoaster ever since , and now , well now I just dont know !! I sort of feel in no mans land … Back to work on a phased return in 2 weeks time so I guess its enjoy what summer we have left as missed any sun we had in the chemo fog , but I heard through the grapevine we didnt have much this year
Very uplifting to read all posts from other Bcc members finishing their treatments etc , onwards and upwards and respect to each and everyone of us
Thanks Grumpy. I’m “non-teaching staff” (ha ha!) as I’m a High Level Teaching Assistant, and I’m not in a union. However, I have emailed the address given on the letter to ask for an explanation. If I don’t hear in the next couple of days, I’ll phone the number on the Warwickshire.gov pensions website.
I hope you are feeling a bit calmer now Grumps?
Well done Lottie for getting through treatment! (sorry, if that sounds too patronising!) Tiredness after rads peaks at two weeks after treatment finishes, (I was cream crackered until at least 3 weeks after!) so make sure you take your phased return at a pace you can handle and be honest with yourself and your employers about your energy levels.
JCJ - join the union NOW it’s painless and not expensive, I think it’s UNISON for non-teaching staff. The pension schemes are actually quite straightforward but you do need to know how to handle them to your own advanatge (voice of experience - I took the actuarily-reduce pension and could have lost a lot of cash without union guidance re forms to fill in etc)
Ladies - yes I am getting more sorted in my mind, and I am so grateful for your wisdom and encouraging comments. I know I want to look nicer for ME, and I know that is my entitlement… rather liberating!
Will be off-line for a few weeks for jollies in Fife and Co Durham, and Barley is going to the vet tomorrow about her crusty nose but please don’t look as she is a bit sensitive about it.
And next door’s builders are ‘knocking through’ so the noise is a bit grim…
nighty-night
Janice, wahoooooooooooo!!! No running about today use this time to rest wisely, if you feel tired have a nap, your body will let you know haha!!
grumpy glad you are getting the help you need, I see a pain psychologist and he has really helped, doesn’t take the pain away but somethings I see in a completely different mode now. Enjoy your time away.
FF hope you are not too tired, sending you some of those special spoons.
JCJ, union is a good idea, if your coach does pass through I WILL be waving!!
Well shot off the “CBA” bench this morning feather dusted, dusted, hoovered and even did a wee bit of the dreaded ironing, so am now sitting very smugly on the “smug” bench.
Keeping busy to stay off the “worry” bench, YD is not enjoying hol and was pretty upset yesterday, makes my stomach flip, I’m hoping she feels better today, really hoping.
One happy moment my GD (5) lost her first baby tooth, took lots and lots of pictures of her gummy mouth, she was soooooooooooo excited!!! When things don’t look too good she can always bring a big smile to my face. Showed her my new crown it’s gold (not real gold) and she was totally amazed, I’m def some super hero to her…xx
Thanks for your help girls! Got back home to an email from pensions saying my query had been forwarded to ____(name witheld) and she (I think! - unusual forename!) would be contacting me as soon as possible. AND an email from______ which was a reply to the forwarded email WITH NOTHING ON IT!! OMG! These are the people looking after MY money!
I replied a bit sharply, indicating my level of un-impressedness (yes, I know that’s not a word - and I was rather more articulate in my email!! - if somewhat more succinct!) and got an immediate reply telling me that the pension statement in question is JUST for SOME of the pension I accrued at my last school (I did several different jobs, simultaneously at times, during that time!!: TA, HLTA, Lunchtime Supervisor). I have now asked whether I will get separate benefit statements for the REST of my pension.
But at least I’m on the slightly relieved bench: that they’ve not lost track of all my pension payments for the last 4 years, and more than half from previous 2 years, and I won’t have to work FOREVER to amass enough to retire on!
2nd day at work completed. Another training day. Now I’m bracing myself for the children’s return tomorrow. Feeling exhausted just LOOKING at the timetable for the next 8 weeks!!
VROOOOM! What was that blue streak?? Oh Choccie! Keep the noise down I’ve got a headache!
Enjoy your jollies, Grumpy and I hope Barney behaves at the V.E.T.
Just dropping by with a new order of spoons, ladles (lots of ladles), hankies, calorie-free cupcakes and anything else I’m meant to be repsonsible for!
Clonidine for flushes not having much effect for me so far (breast clinic suggested I give it a go) so amybe I’ll just about hold on to my place in the synghro team for a while yet. Still nearly two weeks to wait for gynae app but thankfully it is not (yet) creating too much angst.
Enjoying the paralympics but not the ads; even the BT amabassdor bits are getting boring now! Some amazing and inspiriing people.
brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm whizz… what was that? Oh CM roaoring by on her mean machine.
Hugs to all, especially those with waits, worries and struggles. Back to work now…
On the ‘huh???’ bench… I’m packing to go on holiday tomorrow. Normally it’s easy - go somewhere hot, pack 2 bikinis, 7 clean pairs pants, factor 50 lotion and a baggy White t shirt. So, we’re going to northern France…don’t think I’ll need the bikinis. So far have packed the pants, spare non-bouncy sports bra for the new boob, strappy tops for when I have a hot moment, a cardi for when I don’t…and now I’m stuck. Any ideas gratefully received!
Sorry, ladies. Can’t help myself, it’s just so much fun! I even got the screwdriver out and adjusted the carburretor’s idle speed, after a bit of guidance from bike-expert OH.
Sadly, my feeble attempts to fix my washing machine a couple of weeks ago were fruitless. I ended up paying a bloke to come and look at it, as the part I’d bought and fitted still didn’t fix the problem. So it cost me £48 for him to tell me it was beyond repair. Bah! New one being delivered on Friday.
Ali - it’s no use asking me what to pack for a holiday as it’d be jumpers and wellies every time! Weather ALWAYS c**ps out every time I go on holiday.
Choccie - if you MUST try to ride around the kitchen on the washing machine what do you expect??
Just won back sopme brownie points at work by fixing t’internet - (after half an hour on phone to tech support!) - didn’t even need to thwack it with one of RevCat’s ladles (though it got close!) I am now everyone’s best friend. On kn***ered bench now though! Is it Friday yet??
Just a quick post, off to the theatre and wearing Real Clothes!!
Barley has got antibiotics to take, and Vaseline to rub on the scabby crusty bits of her nose - not pleased, and Millie is jealous so I have to rub a bit on her nose as well.
Seeing Talking Lady tomorrow, so hoping to be calm for jollies in whisky land on Friday - Edinburgh, Fife and Pitlochry.
HURRAY
grumpy (only a little bit)
Ali - just pack your whole wardrobe, that will cover everything!
JCJ - No, sorry it’s not Friday yet.
Grumpy - enjoy whisky land… but not too much.
Well, work (that well known four letter word.) I went off sick prior to my op on March16th and have worked as and when I’ve been able to since then. School holidays I’ve done flexitime. Now with the new term starting I have to go back to the old regime of every day at certain times…and I just can’t get my head round it…every day???
Suppose I’ll get used to it again.
Just want to say that my wooden floors look absolutely fantastic and they’ll be trashed inside three weeks!! Why do I bother? Oh yeah, I know - pride in my job.
Ali- trousers… spare t shirt… night attire? books… have to pack books (well, I do!) (or kindle0
glad you’re not SO grumpy Grumpy! Whisky sounds good (though I hate the stuff!) Still sounds like a good break… it IS Friday isn’t it? it ISN’T? Oh b **m…
