Holidays with kids......

I just filled in a job application form yesterday for an online tutoring agency, got interviewed nd had the references taken up. Hopefully will get a few hours a week tutoring online. £20 an hour - not brilliant but it's work and money so can't sniff at it. If I can get 15 hours a week that will put me on working tax credits which might help. Nothing from agencies but not really expecting anything as schools are off.

Have the kids full time at the moment for three weeks. Been on a long walk round Hest Bank which we all enjoyed including the three dogs, especially the lunch at the cafe afterwards.

Tara And me in Lancaster

Adam, thinking about eating pigeons?

The dogs at Hest Bank.

Wandered round Lancaster and did some shopping at ASDA / Walmart; such attractive - not! - people there. Mind you they probably think the same of us. I remember the first time we went to ASDA was when we lived in Croydon - late 80s - and my sister came to visit. They used to do a £1 breakfast available all day. We were totally amazed and talking about it in the cafeteria, saying it was a good deal for people when they needed somewhere to go to if they didn't have a job etc....... Think we embarrassed a couple of guys near us; they gave us dirty looks as they left!  Chilled at home a lot - too lazy / too broke to do much. Kids getting up t 1 pm doesn't actually help with going out. Got a lot of gardening done. The weeds have been decimated. We can see the beds..... lol.

Watched Chelsea play Hull at the pub - and tried hard not to fall asleep after 30 minutes. It was sooooo boring. God, I hope Mourinho does not bring his old style back, much as I like having him back. Not sure it's a particularly good idea him coming back a second time. Coming back does not seem to be a positive move for many managers. Keep wondering how long before Uncle Roman gets pissed off and fires him. Sorry, I obviously meant - before they part company through mutual agreement...... Kids had fun at the pub, just messing around with their phones and taking silly pictures. Talking about football to a Liverpool supporter.

Celebrated Hari's birthday at Pizza Hut with Robert. Kids had a mad time Talked a lot. Made rude jokes...... Adam tried to act mature. "Can we please stop telling Uranus jokes..../" Spoiled it  bit a few minutes later by asking Robert when he came back from the toilet> "Did you have fun with Uranus....?!"

Started packing for Leeds. Wish I hadn't left it till the last minute. Think I left half the gear at M's place. Oh well..... Just have to cope. Hope it doesn't rain. We are gonna try to cook one meal and eat out for one meal. Have an alcohol stove. Loads of snacky things and easy cook stuff. Not looking forward to the loos or the showers. Was almost tempted to get a ready set tent with hot showers and security etc but they charge £320..... :(

Would like to go somewhere after we get back... See what I can afford. Camping in Garstang?

Jill's getting old. Seemed very infirm the other day, perked up yesterday and was bouncing around. Still, she is very shaky, almost blind and a deaf. Can't be long..... :( Not looking forward to it. We have had her for 16 years almost. Hari, then 4, named her after his baby sitter and Tara was nearly one when she came. Kids want a replacement but .......

Stuff stuff

Tara had a good time at the Prom. Lots of happy pix on her FB.

Tara - all dressed to kill!

Life's difficult at the moment. Lots of things need sorting.

I need a new job but there isn't much going now, especially in teaching. I suppose one good thing that happened was that I got an interview at Haverigg even tho I didn't get a job. They were so disorganised. They didn't seem to know what I should have brought with me. Left me at the gate for 20 minutes before fetching me. Not even a drink of water. As for feedback, I am still waiting.

The JobCentre have put me with this company called A4E who are supposed to help me get the skills required to get back to work. The woman looked at my CV and basically said there's not much I can do to help you and I don't know why you haven't got  job yet. Still, she offered to make an appointment for me with the enterprise manager who might get me funding for my proofreading website.

Think I will need to move out soon. Running out of money. Not sure there is anything much cheaper for a 3 bedroom house. Bit depressing.

The BBQ was great. Beautiful day. Everybody who came along had fun and ate lots. So relaxed. R said it was the most relaxed BBQ she had ever been to. C helped get the BBQ going and then Hari took over. Robert arrived an hour or two later and the two of them sat there nattering and cooking with their drinks and lots of food. Most of the food was cooked already and just needed a bit on the BBQ for the charred look - and taste! People brought along salads and I had lots of soft drinks. Two of Tara's friends turned up on bikes and another was brought by her mum. They just chilled on the blankets...... Adam had a couple of friends too. They played football, swingball and boules (!). They did disappear into the house to play computer games for a while (quelle surprise, as they say....) but mostly ran around having fun. Just a very pleasant afternoon.

Me......

Tara and friends......

Boys doing man stuff....

oh well, why not?

Time for a natter......

My neighbour, R and Farmer J

Landlord wrote asking to visit, but I said I was busy and suggested another couple of dates. However he turned up anyway and looked around the outside. Then he wrote a stinking letter through the letting agents, saying I had denied access and there was rubbish everywhere. Not sure how he made out that I denied access and the rubbish was recycling and all bagged up to be taken away so..... I was a little annoyed. Considering that they ignore my comments and suggestions about what needs to be done and the lack of action when things need to be done, I think he has a nerve.

Kids came to see me before setting of for three weeks with their mother. Adam was ill Wednesday night and Thursday - gastroenteritis the doctor said - but feeling happier today. They both looked as miserable as I felt. Hopefully we can keep in touch via phone and maybe they will have some internet access.

Hari and I will be looking after the dogs over the next 3 weeks. Get the garden tidy and maybe get rid of stuff to tip or charity. Make it easier to move. Hmm, August or September?

Looking forward to Leeds Music Festival but the dates clash a bit with Tara's results, though she may come with friends. Should try some sightseeing too. Any ideas?

Last ten days

Life seems to be all about forms at the moment. Forms for the DWP, tax credits, School forms, job application forms etc. Then waiting for people to get back to me. Most people do, just the employers don't - the ones I could do with replying. Need a job before I finally run out of money - or a tenant. Don't think the letting agents want to reduce the rent so I am going to have to move in the next month or two. Bit of good news - got some money from the JSA, having accepted that I did not have any savings hidden away. I could have used that for...... lots of different things. Will just spend it on kids, now.

Feeling fitter, soccer twice a week is good. Long walks with the dog help. House is reasonably tidy. Garden needs work. Tomorrow, maybe - lol.

Tara has finished her exams. Seems happier. Got her prom coming up - 20 June. Her first full day at home as a lady of leisure. Got up late, long, leisurely shower and a hard afternoon of social activity on the PC. Came into the sitting room with a huge grin on her face, saying she was learning Chinese...... I suppose I should start saving money for a trip to China.

Hari has a job at the Library. Well, it's work experience for his University Course. He doesn't get paid for it and has to spend 20 a week on transport. So every morning, we iron his shirt, trousers at the start of the week, Has to do shelving, reservations, packing / unpacking the books...... Sounds boring. Sets off at 7.15, having made his sandwiches and gets back at 6.15. Long day, I suppose. Good experience for the future?

Went through the laundry basket. Pile of sheets at the bottom. :( Made me miserable just remembering who used them last. Seemed like the start of something good but....... Had to make that decision. It's done.

Went shopping and got a brush and scissors for grooming Jill. Poor old lady. She is getting old. Had an accident a couple of days ago. Hope it was because we forgot to let her out when we got up, rather than the pills and drops stopping working. Don't really want to think of having to put her down, though it seems likely to happen in the near future.

Jill on a walk

Life's full of good - and sad.

Update on my life......

I thought I would do an update about life so far since my last bog about family related stuff.

Melissa and I are officially divorced. She married Charles, who was a family friend. He had had a stroke a few months earlier. He died a few weeks later, leaving her a house and money. His daughter Lauren set up a memorial thing for him. http://www.justgiving.com/remember/28179/Charles-Brocki ... if you feel like giving.

Hari is in his second year at Aberystwyth University, enjoying life - a bit too much, if his results are anything to go by... Seems to be heading for a lower second at best.

Tara has had a tough time but she is improving and coping better now. She is just about to finish her GCSEs, which should be a mixture from A* - C, nothing spectacular. That's fine. A levels next. She's off to Germany for a week or ten days, staying with friends. She seems to have a facility with languages. Wonder who she gets that from then?

Adam has had a good first year at QES. Got into a few scrapes but basically seems to have settled in well and is enjoying it. He played for Craven Wanderers' U-12 football team.

I haven't got a job yet. I have applied for 12 or 15 teaching jobs, 5 or 6 teaching agencies ( see post about them) but no luck. Nothing for proofreading or tutoring either. No response even for minor things. I am too old and well qualified.

I am doing voluntary work at the Looking Well. Thinking about doing stuff at the Library.

Might have some marking to do - MA assignments. Also, doing some work with my sister.

The JobCentre / Benefits people are giving me a hard time, claiming I have savings. Lol. Then in the next breath, they say I may have used them up for expenses. When I tried to reason, they told me, in varying tones and volumes (like that would make a difference) "We must be vigilant". I was accused of delaying sending in financial stuff, which I had already sent in twice and been visited by a Compliance Officer to check it out, cos I was hiding something... The Housing Benefit people don't want to hear I have more than one child I need to house. "You only get child benefit for one..."

Anyway, I need a job soon.

Met a really nice woman but she lives in the US... I like doing things the easy way obviously.

Sometimes I feel really angry about everything. Then I kind of think I love my kids and I should be grateful for that. I am still in a better place than a lot of other people.  It will get better. I will get a job soon. :)