Stop feeling guilty, small rant (BENCHLAND) (Part 1)

[katytc]

Woo hoo FF, you did it:smileyhappy:!! Soooooooooo organised haha!!

What colour is your ballgown?

Hope Fayre went well JCJ and you raised lots of pennies.

Very cold here, no snow, ED is off on an adventure and it’s snowing there, brrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Was very organised this morning, texted my cousin to wish her Happy Birthday, had forgotten to post her card, so apologised and blah blahed…she sent me a text back saying her birthday is 2 days from now:smileyembarrassed:, oops…

Soooooooooo can I please have some help finding my missing marbles?? think the crocodiles have eaten them xx

 

[JCJ]

Fayre went well. Turkey, stuffing & cranberry roll was delicious. Free cupatea and mince pie also very acceptable! :) 

 

There were lots of people there and a lovely atmosphere, though I did feel a bit bah humbug after 3 hours sitting too close to the loud CD player playing naff Christmas music on loop (it went right round at least 5 times…arggghh!) and a screaming, overtired toddler on the next stall. I made £42.45 selling my knitted stuff and some plum jam and some surplus-to-requirements school books. £21 to school and £21 to Macmillan Cancer Care. Not bad.

 

On the kn****ed bench now. Snzzzzzzzzzzzz

[foxyferret]

Glad your fayre went well JCJ.  That’s a good amount of money raised for good causes. The roll sounds yummy and a free cuppatea and mince pie!   Thinking of buying myself a tablet for Xmas , I have remembered that you said Samsung at Norecambe. So I have looked at them, £100 to £600, any other advice would be welcome.

 

I’ve had a good clean up around Benchland today, prior to putting up the decorations. Ladies, would you please put your rubbish in the bins, tut tut. Three bin liners filled!  Anything I thought might be lost property I have put in the shed, many marbles of different colours.  Katy go and have a look, some of them might be yours. Tomorrow I will be putting up the decorations, any help appreciated.

 

The alligators are getting quite large, so the alliburgers for JCJ’s reception will be yummy.  I wrangled a couple while I was there and they’re in the freezer ready for the celebration.

 

Took my vouchers off to the store and couldn’t find anything clotheswise that I liked enough to buy so I went to the kitchenware part looked around and bought (got for free!) 10 teaspoons :smileyhappy:  Where do teaspoons go?  I used to have teaspoons but they seem to disappear…

 

No snow here, but it’s cold.  Supposed to be warmer tomorrow but we have a weather warning for wind. I’m not going out.  Staying on the reading bench.

 

[katytc]

Ooh that’s really good JCJ:smileyhappy:!!

Bet songs were twirling around your head all night long:smileyfrustrated:

FF, you are on a roll…

Am going to put lights in all the trees, will be borrowing broomstick for the tallest trees, lalala soooooo pretty.

Benchland is sooooooooooo tidy. Did notice the shed had been a bit messy?? All that food cakes etc.

Have been looking through marbles and have found a couple that maybe mine…

Noticed in my earlier post I was talking about crocodiles, WHAT???

Told you my marbles had gone.

Ali-sausages and freshly baked rolls are now in sparkly shed, yum yum.

What is for dinner tonight please?

Do you now have snow??

We are superly cold -9, brrrrrrrrrrr, waterway completely frozen so ducks are now walking/skating xx

[JCJ]

Didn’t even notice the crocodiles error, KTC! Perhaps we’ll be having crocoburgers as well as alliburgers at the celebrations?

 

I’ll have you know *I* don’t drop litter, in Benchland or anywhere (brushing mince pie crumbs off chest) Are you sure they weren’t “Christmas decorations” made by children? You should see some of the sh** they were trying to sell as part of the “House Enterprise Challenge”. Made my knitted stuff look so much better next to that!!

 

Heavy snow over night, 4" settled by this morning and it’s carried on snowing all day. I’ve not braved it out of the door - too scared of falling on my a***!  Decided to use the time I’d normally go for a walk to tidy a bit, write the Christmas card “round robin” ( not done one for 5 years, it seems!) and maybe get the tree & decs up. I normally do that on 11th, was going to do it tomorrow, after school, but an ex colleague has arranged for 4 of us to go out for a meal (to our usual steak night pub, but for the Festive menu! ) I took much longer composing the letter than I thought, messing with photos, reading past missives etc,  so I’ve been dashing about trying to get decs sorted and dinner at the same time (roast lamb, roasties, Yorkshires, carrots, sprouts, crispy kale & gravy, followed by blackberry & apple crumble and custard, since you asked!) 

 

Weather forecast is for freezing temperatures over night, meaning the roads will be hideous tomorrow so I have been extremely anxious about driving to work. Watching the School Closures coming up on Twitter - lots of them, but not ours Then I get a text from colleague. We’re closed!! Yeh!! Can sit down, stop chasing around like a loon, and put up the decs at my leisure tomorrow - on 11th - as per tradition. Win. Win.

 

Hopefully, by 8pm tomorrow, the roads will be clear enough for me to get to the pub for the meal. Fingers crossed. I’m planning the last pre Christmas supermarket shop on Tuesday (and dinner in café, of course!) and it’s our staff Christmas shindig on Friday at a Beefeater (other steak pubs are available) in nearby town, so once the kids have had 2 days to play in it, and we’ve all admired how pretty it is, I need to snow to b***** off pretty quickly. As I say, I hate driving - and, nowadays, even walking - in it! Used to love a snowy walk. Too much of a nervous wreck about falling these days. Will definitely be on the FB bench next weekend?

[JCJ]

I’m just about to DM you about your tablet question, FF!

[foxyferret]

Thanks JCJ, I’ve replied. Thanks also for the dinner, delicious as always.  School closed? Day off? Lucky you!

Seriously though, I hope they get the roads safe enough for everyone to drive on.  I watched the news and it didn’t look good.

 

Rain, rain, rain and more rain down here, thank goodness. It’s caused a few minor floods but nothing to bother anyone really.  Just gives the car tyres a wash!  Taking my car to the garage tomorrow, if it will start!  It has had difficulty starting on and off for a couple off weeks but Saturday I went out and it had trouble starting every time.  Something is not right so I need to get it looked at pronto. 

[JCJ]

Tree up. Decs up (except for front door wreath - I’ll leave that until it 's a bit less frosty!) 6" of snow removed from my car and the drive. Horrible icy patches left on the drive, which seemed to get worse the more I tried to remove them, and the temperatures are set to plummet as soon as the sun does down. Beautiful blue sky and sunshine at the moment. -10° forecast! 

 

Tonight’s meal has been cancelled and re-booked for next Monday, which is a relief. Our road is slushy at the moment but will soon be icy again. I’m trying to pluck up the courage to walk to the local shop for bread and milk and an onion for tonight’s pork stir fry. It may not happen. We may just have to make do!

[katytc]

Gosh 6 inches?? Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, we are very cold but no snow.

Our tree is up too, YD does it, I just hand her the baubles etc, she really makes it look beautiful. I unfortunately cannot do the same, no creative talent whatsoever:smileyfrustrated:

Really good you don’t have to worry about driving tonight, would just make do and not even venture out.

Dinner was lovely, thank you:smileyhappy:

Does that mean you are out Fri and Mon now?

Hope your car is fine FF.

I know nothing about tablets so cannot help in anyway, only know GD had an inexpensive one that took hours to download things…

Spent a long time wrapping gifts yesterday, just can’t pop them in gift bags, old fashioned I know haha.

Have one thing to wrap now, unless YD decides she wants gifts, she is the worst person in the world to buy for, have been asking her for weeks if there is anything she wants (usually give her pennies), she hums and dithers about, then says no can’t think of anything…thing is she loves opening presents…

May not have tradional prawn cocktail this year, have been thinking about mussels, yum yum, we all love them:smileyhappy:

Been out for muggachoc and a look around shops nearby, bought a couple of things I forgot to get yesterday, even with list xx

[JCJ]

As they’re in aid of this wonderful charity, I suppose it’s OK to say I’ve got these listings going on Mr Futon’s site, if anyone’s interested. Things that didn’t sell on Saturday (pity the monkey went, I’d have happily kept him!) and I don’t want to store until next Christmas Fair. 

 

Giraffe

 

Lion

 

Pig

 

Cushion

 

[foxyferret]

Purdie discovered last night that she can jump onto the kitchen shelf and play with the things I keep up there!  Nooo!  A favourite photo got knocked off…About a 4’6" drop, that survived…ok.  I keep my rings up there too when I’m not wearing them and they disappeared, Found the cheap imitation diamond quite quickly but where is my expensive sapphire and diamond one?  That took longer to find but they’re both in a very safe, kitten proof, place now.

 

I’ve been thinking about starting to wrap the presents I’ve got…but it’s not going to be easy, Purdie is going to want to help.  I’m putting it off.

 

Managed to get the car started this morning and took it to the Garage, they tested the battery and it was dying.  They put a new one in and I’m good to go, although a few (a lot!) pounds poorer. As the car is booked in next week for new tyres, it seems I will be spending more on the car this Xmas than the family :smileytongue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[katytc]

Oh dear FF, suppose car needs a xmas gift too?? Obviously didn’t want to be left out of the celebrations.

Is Purdie having a Santa visit? Have you gone mad and bought lots of treats?

Fingers crossed your animals etc find a new home, JCJ.

 

Have been chasing my tail today, faffed about in the morning then went into town, seemed to be wandering around for ages, just as I was coming home it started to rain and pavements turned into ice rinks, scary stuff!!

Only a few yards and safely home, can’t even think what it will be like tomorrow. Waterway is still frozen, that’s been 4 days now…no snow, just superly frosty.

GD phoned me and told me two secrets today, am laughing just thinking about them, what’s she like??

They won’t stay secret for long as she will tell her Mum, Dad, even little brother haha.

 

Wait till you hear this, have forgotten about flu jab AGAIN so after speaking to friend yesterday (she made me promise) phoned docs, lady said oh hum aah, can you phone back nearer the end of the week as there are no clinics just now??? Ok we can’t get any normal doc appts cause they are always fully booked, and now there are no clinics and at least a 30 week wait for hospital appts, what’s going on??? xx

 

[JCJ]

Another snow day today! One benefit of the school being at the back of beyond? Ungritted ice rinks - sorry, “roads” - mean access to the school was almost impossible today. Last night we were first told it would be open today, then later, we got another message to say exec. HT had driven to the school and declared the whole village unsafe! Another unexpected lie in. makes up for breaking up so late. I’ve managed to get some Christmas chores done so the last 2 weekends won’t be so manic.

 

Christmas cake marzipanned today - possibly the earliest it’s ever been done! Presents for kids in my class wrapped and their cards written. Lots more cards made. 

 

Supermarket shop done. Just got to hide the savoury nibbles and chocs away so I don’t eat them before the big day(s).!! All that’s left to buy is the turkey (already ordered), the fresh fruit &veg and the cream - all from farm shop on Christmas Eve Eve! Anything I’ve not got that can’t either be bought at that farm shop or in the village, we’ll do without!

 

I have been dreading driving down our road all day, watching cars getting stuck if they had to stop when coming up the road. I walked to a little store that’s about 200 yards from our house, yesterday, and it seemed like miles because the packed snow was so slippery. Crossing the roads were the worst part because the icy snow had been polished smooth by the cars!  In the end driving was, as usual, nothing like as bad as I feared. WHY do I work myself up so much about these things? All the main roads were clear. Supermarket carpark was slushy but not too slippery and outside the store was completely clear. It was starting to rain as we drove back, and it’s forecast to freeze again tonight but not as bad as last night. Fingers crossed it won’t be too slippery in the morning.

 

I’ve got an observation in the morning. That’ll be great fun? Christmas Fayre prep last Thursday & Friday, the excitement of the Fayre itself and then 2 snow days, so the kids have done no real work for a week. I hope they take that into account when I’m judged on their attitude to learning!!

 

We were supposed to have the FIRST rehearsal for the Christmas performance - next Wednesday! - on Monday, but, obviously, that didn’t happen. I suspect we’ll be mostly rehearsing for the next 5 school days??!! The parents have already ordered their tickets! 

 

 

[JCJ]

PS forgot to say, FF, a new battery feels like a huge expense, but if it’s a good one it will last years and you’ll have no more starting problems! Could’ve been something far trickier to fix. My battery died on me in Sainsbury’s carpark, several years ago now. Car full of food, including frozen stuff, and it was going nowhere! The good old breakdown company (not the one that gets confused with Alcoholics Anonymous - the other big one!) came and rescued me. Fitted a new battery on the spot and it’s been fine (grabs wooden arm of chair) ever since. 

 

kTC, NHS are struggling for cash, probably even more so in Scotland where you ALL have free prescriptions? Maybe that’s why it’s so hard to get an appointment? Some of our pharmacies offer flu jabs, eg “footwear” could you get one there? 

[foxyferret]

I’m with JCJ there… go to your local chemist and get a flu jab, that’s what I did,  No appt., no waiting , just walked in said “I’d like a flu jab,please”. Filled in a form and was out again in 10 minutes!  Purdie is not having a Santa visit, my family do not buy presents for our pets.  Not to say others shouldn’t, just we don’t,

 

I was really glad it was only the battery and not something else that might have been horrendously expensive.  Think I got off lightly and I now have a four year guarantee!  New tyres are an expense that I plan for, I am not driving on icy roads with anything less than good tyres.  Just a little bit late getting them fitted this year!

 

Another snow day? Lucky you.  Glad the roads wern;t as bad as you feared.  I’m the same, anyone so much as mentions ice I go into panic mode.  Good luck for your observation.

 

I’ve accidently made a mess in the office at school today.  Dregs of tea/coffee in the bins…a hole in the bin liner…equals a line of tea/coffee stain on the floor of the offices as I carried the bin liner out to the bin!  OMG!

I texted ST and apologised, she replied “Don’t worry” but she hasn’t seen it yet!  I’m off to school early tomorrow, digging out the carpet cleaner and just hope it looks better afterwards. I couldn’t do it tonight as I had other plans and couldn’t stay late.  Overtime will be done tomorrow but hey ho, it’s those swings and roundabouts.

 

Tomorrow forecast to be 10 degrees. I’ll take that

[JCJ]

Came out of my observation well. Observer turned up 20 minutes late, for a half hour session, profusely apologetic: she had “put the wrong time” in her diary - she was the one who wrote the *****y timetable! Pathetic! Having missed most of my best bits, she claimed the ten minutes she saw was enough to grade me as a “strong good”. Well, after messing up so badly herself, she could hardly criticise me?

 

I’m afraid I may have “blotted my copy book” though, because I laughed out loud when she told me one of my greatest strengths was my behaviour management! Oh the irony?!! Anyway this “good” is recorded, in writing, on my performance management file. So onward and upward!

[katytc]

Hurrah for you:smileyhappy:, soooooooooo glad things went well for you, laughed out loud regarding your strengths, what a difference a year makes…just so pleased for you.

Today we had snow, (been and gone) pavements are lethal though, hopefully will be better tomorrow, ducks still can still only skate down waterway.

Up here we can only have free flu jabs in docs, you can go to certain chemists but even though you are an NHS patient and qualify you still have to pay, will phone tomorrow morning to see whats happening.

Had GS today he’s managed to bash me twice, once full force back header right into my cheekbone and the other my eye, ouch, honestly if he had hit my nose I think it would have been broken, ouchy. It was purely accidental, will just have to make sure I am well out of the way when he’s playing fire trucks etc. He’s making me sing stupid songs and make lots of crazy car noises at the moment, he gets so excited and you know how badly I sing…

House is not turning into a grotto, YD likes Xmas Tree as it is, woo hoo!! xx

 

 

[foxyferret]

Oh, really!  Of course behaviour management is one of your strengths…look how you manage Katy and I at Norecambe.  We’d be totally out of control without you :smileyhappy:   Glad it went well for the 10 minutes she was there!  Nice to have that on record now.

 

Also been hit in the eye during a game with my GD, it flippin’ hurts doesn’t it?

 

I’m starting to think about putting up Xmas decorations this weekend.  My usual way won’t work…Purdie and tinsel is not a good idea, my two Xmas trees should be ok, only about a foot high and made of wood.  Usual hanging bells on the mantlepiece…just no… some inventiveness needed here I think. 

 

Event on at school tonight, it was chaos trying to clean up whilst they were trying to get ready but we all managed it.  I gave ST a very polite “stern” talking to about making sure all the fairy lights were turned off.  I had a friend in the London Fire Brigade and he told horror stories about fires caused by fairy lights and I’ve had a “thing” about them ever since. Please everyone, if you have them, turn them off when you go to bed or are out.

 

I have managed to catch a cold (thanks GD!) not feeling too bad but runny nose, sneezing, bunged up, woolly headed.  I have the emergency antibiotics and steroids in the cupboard in case but so far all I’ve had is two paracetamol. 

[JCJ]

Gosh! Didn’t realise you needed danger money to look after GC! Or one of those padded helmets that boxers wear?

 

Swimming was a much better temperature tonight, but it was really strange because I got into a completely empty pool and had it all to myself for the first 20 minutes. It felt like I shouldn’t be there! No having to dodge the dawdlers though! The two ladies who swim in the fast lane joined me for half an hour or so, then I was on my own again for the last 5 minutes. Only 50 lengths left. Still on target for next week. 

 

It snowed again overnight so our road was horrible this morning, and the road outside school, but all the busier roads were clear. All melted tonight. Let’s hope that’s the last of the severe weather for a while.

[JCJ]

Oh good grief! So much for “the last of the severe weather for a while”!! Heard it raining heavily in the night and thought “Oh good. The roads will be fine in the morning!” Got up. Opened the curtains. White over!! ARGGH! Don’t panic. It’ll be just this road.

Drove down the hill and round the block to approach the hill up a road that’s usually gritted because it’s the bus route. It wasn’t gritted. Mile long sheet of ice! Ok. Take it steady, don’t stop and you’ll make it up. Doing fine until I got to the steepest part. Parked car in my way. Car coming other way. Had to stop. Couldn’t restart. Lots of engine revving and wheel spinning later, I decide to stick my hazards on and sit tight for a bit to gather my wits. Bus comes up behind and mounts opposite pavement to try to get past me. Draws level and gets stuck! We’re now completely blocking the road and there’s a queue of cars behind and in front. I can’t pull forward, so I try and reverse out of the way. On a steep icy road. Between a bus and a parked car! The inevitable happened and I scraped the back wheel arch on the back of the bus. But I got past and managed to pull in - sliding backwards - and get off the road. Felt a proper pathetic fool, but I sat and watched the bus get going, slew across the road and crunch into the parked car!! Road blocked again. I saw 2 other Fiestas come up and do exactly what I did! Which made me feel a bit less of an eejit. Also a driving school car. He managed to turn round and slide back down.

 

I sat in the car, too scared to try and drive it ANYWHERE and too scared to get out and risk falling over! The police arrived and the bus rescue vehicle and they closed the road and extricated the bus. I was getting cold so I remembered my walking boots in the boot of my car ready for just such an eventuality. I teetered around to get them. Managed to swap footwear without falling over. Quite a feat in itself! And very carefully tottered the few hundred yards back dwn the hill to home. Slipped several times but managed not to fall over. Phew! Kettle on. Calm down.

 

I contacted school, said I’d be in later, but my teacher has ordered me not to bother trying to get there. The road outside school is a sheet of ice too. They’re rehearsing all day anyway. It feels really odd to be at home again. 3rd time this week! I know I should sit back, relax and enjoy it but I can’t. I feel guilty.

 

Christmas cards written. May attempt to post them when I go to retrieve my car. Depends how slippery the pavements are. Not sure I’ll be going to the staff meal tonight either, as it’s forecast to freeze again. Time to start wrapping some presents maybe.

 

What a very odd week!