Christmas!! My favourite holiday.
Finished for work by 23rd December, 5pm. Let the chaos commence! I always seem to do too many things at once when a busy time arrives. I am currently trying to write my piece for Association of Breastfeeding Mothers in order to complete training with them to become a Breastfeeding Counsellor.
Also reestablished a connection with natural immunity and looking more in depth into vaccinations and the queries that are arising of late. Back 17 years ago, research was very different, using books and associates in the medical profession to get hold of scientific reports and data. Then more recently 6 years ago using the Internet to trawl through the mountains of evidence for and against Big Pharma.
Maybe in the New Year I will find time to do things for me, enjoy research again and keep on top of personal goals and deadlines :-)
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Looking up?
Two jobs for Steven through November. Until today. He's handed his notice in as other job has better prospects financially and is guaranteed until feb, which his first job was at risk of redudancy in February too. No more 7 day weeks Hurray!! Christmas should be a good one :-)
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Christmas Thinking
Christmas. The most expensive month of the year. When to put the tree up? I've bee putting the tree up directly after the Halloween decorations are packed away for the past 5 years. Halloween wasn't a feature this year due to financial constraints and I decided to concentrate on Christmas over October festive fun.
The kids love Christmas. They still believe in Santa. They have their letters written all ready to go to the post box on 1st December. I need to organize my office before even thinking about decorating the house for the festive season ahead. More cleaning and organising to complete. :-(
The kids love Christmas. They still believe in Santa. They have their letters written all ready to go to the post box on 1st December. I need to organize my office before even thinking about decorating the house for the festive season ahead. More cleaning and organising to complete. :-(
Sleep!!!
I feel like I've gone back 4.5 years. Sleep deprivation is the worst possible torture I can suffer. Awake for 3 hours worrying, thinking, mulling, shouting and smoking. Teenagers aren't all they cracked up to be.
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Cake....nom nom nom!!
Well, day 4 of no eating crap, and I have succeeded in eating cake everyday, albeit a LIMITED amount of cake. My excuse.....I have had two Halloween Parties to attend where the general rule of thumb is eat crap. A carb-fest. So now I feel and look yuck due to the lack of vitamins and minerals in the past 4 days. MUST EAT VEG!
So, despite me moaning about this excessive intake of carbs, I am looking at ways to increase activities with the kids, one of those things thathappen to be on my list is....Baking. I must be mad. Certified bonkers. So I am now on a quest to replenish my baking cupboard with colouring paste, dried fruit and glitter. First on the list.....Christmas cake and Perfect Buttercream!!!!!!!!
So, despite me moaning about this excessive intake of carbs, I am looking at ways to increase activities with the kids, one of those things thathappen to be on my list is....Baking. I must be mad. Certified bonkers. So I am now on a quest to replenish my baking cupboard with colouring paste, dried fruit and glitter. First on the list.....Christmas cake and Perfect Buttercream!!!!!!!!
Monday, 24 October 2011
British Sign Language
Currently learning British Sign Language at Level 1.
First few weeks reminded me of learning French in school; Name, where you live, your job, colours, numbers. Little did I know how difficult it was going to be and how much my confidence would be tested during my time learning.
I currently work with people who have a combined sight and hearing loss and manyof my colleagues are Deaf. With a big D. I am slowly learning that there is a difference between being deaf and being Deaf.
It is such an amazing language and I am priveleged to be learning it. I have been enabled with my hands, face and body to communicate with people I would usually try and avoid. I know actively seek out people at work who are BSL users, most I come across with BSL as their First Language.
I have learnt a lot from my classes and exams, but have found that I am learning more and more from the people I meet, and I appreciate the help I get when I fingerspell a word I do not know the sign for and they give me the correct sign, with a smile alongside it. I have also developed Deafblind Manual skills and been able to have a conversation with people who uses 'Hands On BSL' where the person places their hands over yours to 'feel' the signs where eyesight has deteriorated.
Deaf culture is a minority all of its own, and the people within that culture very proud to say they are part of that culture. Through my current job it has opened my eyes to the fact that more hearing people should make the effort to communicate with people who use different communication methods than ourselves; if only more effort was put in at home as it is for journeys to foreign countries, learning basics like 'Hello' and How are you?' or 'Do you want sugar with your coffee?' seem to be the done thing when going abroad, but a Deaf person is avoided in todays society to avoid awkwardness and confrontation.
If only we were taught as youngsters.
First few weeks reminded me of learning French in school; Name, where you live, your job, colours, numbers. Little did I know how difficult it was going to be and how much my confidence would be tested during my time learning.
I currently work with people who have a combined sight and hearing loss and manyof my colleagues are Deaf. With a big D. I am slowly learning that there is a difference between being deaf and being Deaf.
It is such an amazing language and I am priveleged to be learning it. I have been enabled with my hands, face and body to communicate with people I would usually try and avoid. I know actively seek out people at work who are BSL users, most I come across with BSL as their First Language.
I have learnt a lot from my classes and exams, but have found that I am learning more and more from the people I meet, and I appreciate the help I get when I fingerspell a word I do not know the sign for and they give me the correct sign, with a smile alongside it. I have also developed Deafblind Manual skills and been able to have a conversation with people who uses 'Hands On BSL' where the person places their hands over yours to 'feel' the signs where eyesight has deteriorated.
Deaf culture is a minority all of its own, and the people within that culture very proud to say they are part of that culture. Through my current job it has opened my eyes to the fact that more hearing people should make the effort to communicate with people who use different communication methods than ourselves; if only more effort was put in at home as it is for journeys to foreign countries, learning basics like 'Hello' and How are you?' or 'Do you want sugar with your coffee?' seem to be the done thing when going abroad, but a Deaf person is avoided in todays society to avoid awkwardness and confrontation.
If only we were taught as youngsters.
New Job
The other half has started a temp job for around a month today. Just a few hours as and when. But at least it gets him a few extra hours than he has at his current job. No paying tax....not through choice but through the fact he doesn't even earn enough money to pay tax. Job hunting currently for New Year so hopefully something will come up.
But why do HMRC make things so bloody complicated!! Need to inform them within a month, which I wil be doing. But also need to call them so they split his Personal Allowance across both jobs, or he will then be the situation of paying too much tax. They do not make it easy!! But at least he has had a good day and it keeps him out of trouble :-)
But why do HMRC make things so bloody complicated!! Need to inform them within a month, which I wil be doing. But also need to call them so they split his Personal Allowance across both jobs, or he will then be the situation of paying too much tax. They do not make it easy!! But at least he has had a good day and it keeps him out of trouble :-)
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