Unit 16 ….. bagged baby

I have finally got round to completing my Scout training by finally validating Module 16 this evening.  Roll on my wood badge

Radical Me….

I cannot believe it I was on such a high today I came home and booked us a holiday for next Easter! Yes me, just like that, 4 nights away in Yorkshire.  How spontaneous of me.  I now feel like I need to go lie down for a while….hehe

OTL Grade 1 Outstanding

Well its over and I got a GRADE 1 with an OUTSTANDING mention.  I cannot believe it.  I just would not have awarded myself a Grade 1.  Maybe I am just too self critical.  I am grinning from ear to ear and buzzing inside now the fear and adrenaline are subsiding.  Oh my god!

Observation of Teaching and Learning (OTL)

Today is my LD&D curriculum area OTL.  Luckily I was given advance notice of the date, and have been able to plan a lot of it.  Although this has not stopped me feeling thoroughly stressed and sick.  I just want it to get here and over an done with.  Since achieving my Grade 1 at my last OTL I feel a degree of pressure nay expectation that I will retain it.  All I keep thinking is I can go no higher than a 1 and the only way then is down.  I would be mortified if I went down.  However, assessing myself right now I do feel like I am lacking in a few areas, particularly learning plans.  Oh well roll on!

Sqworl

Today I discovered http://sqworl.com/ go see its a fantastic resource for visually bookmarking websites and sharing them.

life changing….

A comment left on another bloggers blog, but worthy of sharing with everyone.

“As for the work angle, I can totally relate to your situation and issues. I was made redundant around 18 months ago. I held a very high paid job which took me all over the UK and overseas. The downside was extreme stress, anxiety and no time for the family. As a result I had become distanced from my wife and kids.

Over the first 3 months I was determined to find a similar job however I could not get a job despite having applied for hundreds, signed up with various recruitment agencies, and in excess of 25 interviews. However in this time the wife managed to land a full time job with just enough income to cover the bills.

So we trimmed our outgoings, unpluged was the SKY box, all uneccessary spending put on hold, all magazine subscriptions and online game subs canclled, expensive hair styling and colouring for the wife cancelled, fitting of energy saving bulbs throughout the whole house, changing habits of putting heating on to putting on another jumper instead, shopping habits changed from one store for everything to shopping around and using local markets. But to be honest when we stripped it all away, we could not believe how much money we were previously wasting with nothing to show for it.

Having failed to get a job, and having accepted my dented ego and male pride, I sat down and thought about what I would like to do. I became primary stay at home carer for the kids, doing the school runs, homework, school events etc.
and I took work as a factory cleaner to earn a few quid and get out of the house and started volunteering a morning a week as a classroom helper at the local primary school.

Over the next 6 months I then retrained and dabbled in all sorts, from health and safety, contracting to being a chocolatier. However I landed up on a teaching course having agreed to “just try it”. The end result has been I now teach on a sessional contract maintstream classes but also work with learners who are suffering from mental illness and severe learning difficulties (something I said I could and would never do). I have also become a Scout Leader and an active part of the parish groups in the community.

The result for me has been a more enriched life, full of rewards and challenges and loads of time now for the family especially my son who I had never really formed a relationship with. I no longer suffer the stress and strain of the rat race or social anxiety of having to keep up with the Jone’s.

So take heart there is light at the end of might appear to be a long tunnel.”

Oww, ouch, ooooo whimper

Feeling sad for myself today after a stupid accident last night which involved me ultimately having an argument with a large plastic bucket full of water, a kerb and a tarmac footpath.  The result is me battered and bruised from knee to neck with some cracking cuts to add to the pot.  One lesson I have learnt is not to try and carry a large bucket of water, by myself, whilst trying to step up a kerb as the water is sloshing around.  It was a painful epiphany but one nonetheless.

Scout Training

I am dead chuffed, in seven months I have completed and validated 17 of a total of 18 Scout training modules.  This take me ever closer to my target of obtaining my wood badge in 12 months.  The final hurdle is obtaining a nights away permit.

an update….

The last month has flown by and time to stop and reflect has been minimal.  Much has happened although no further forward with the house alterations.  The drawings are being produced as we speak, so with any luck in the next few weeks I might be able to reinvigorate the project.  Although in all fairness it has been the last thing on my mind of late.

Work has been hectic but enjoyable.  The end to two on my course is looming and I am already getting people dropping before the final assessment deadline.  I keep working myself up over the fact, as I want to get 100% through, however in reality I should take comfort in the fact many are giving it a go, and the ones I am losing are for reasons beyond my control.  However, still don’t make it easy to accept as I feel it reflects poorly on my teaching.

My work with learning difficulties and mental illness is developing nicely, and I have now been offered hours next year, both full time for 30 weeks which would secure me a modest income of £600 a month before deductions.  It would cover the main bills and give me a foundation for development next year.

Home life has been a bit stressful.  Her indoors is stressed has more work than she can handle and it shows.  Sometimes the best place to be is in another room, because like me she snaps and snarls when stressed.  I just hope it does not make her ill, having been there.  Sometimes I just don’t know how to make things better, and when she is off with everyone it makes everyone on edge.

Last weekend was fun on Beaver Scout Camp, although the severe weather (torrential rain, high winds and thunder storms) washed out the camp.  Although everyone was wet the laughter kept on coming and the innuendos grew and everyone huddled round in the cook tent happy to just be away from the mundane day to day crap.

The last month has flown by and time to stop and reflect has been minimal.  Much has happened although no further forward with the house alterations.  The drawings are being produced as we speak, so with any luck in the next few weeks I might be able to reinvigorate the project.  Although in all fairness it has been the last thing on my mind of late.

Work has been hectic but enjoyable.  The end to two on my course is looming and I am already getting people dropping before the final assessment deadline.  I keep working myself up over the fact, as I want to get 100% through, however in reality I should take comfort in the fact many are giving it a go, and the ones I am losing are for reasons beyond my control.  However, still don’t make it easy to accept as I feel it reflects poorly on my teaching.

My work with learning difficulties and mental illness is developing nicely, and I have now been offered hours next year, both full time for 30 weeks which would secure me a modest income of £600 a month before deductions.  It would cover the main bills and give me a foundation for development next year.

Home life has been a bit stressful.  Her indoors is stressed has more work than she can handle and it shows.  Sometimes the best place to be is in another room, because like me she snaps and snarls when stressed.  I just hope it does not make her ill, having been there.  Sometimes I just don’t know how to make things better, and when she is off with everyone it makes everyone on edge.

Last weekend was fun on Beaver Scout Camp, although the severe weather (torrential rain, high winds and thunder storms) washed out the camp.  Although everyone was wet the laughter kept on coming and the innuendos grew and everyone huddled round in the cook tent happy to just be away from the mundane day to day crap.

exciting day….

Well today has been so exciting, not only did it involve purchasing power tools (pwwwroar) but it involved a fire at the derelict upholstery factory. Also I have finally taken a risk and done something that needed doing.  I have secured money for house renovations! found and architect and a builder, told the neighbours whats going to happen and am now excited about the project ahead.  Think I am suffering from Capgras Syndrome! Please can I have me back whoever has abducted me. I think I have had some form of epiphany which I can only attribute to recently starting to work with adults with learning difficulties.  It sort of puts things in some form of perspective and makes you consider what you have and what is actually important and what is unnecessary bullshit and stress.