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It's odd discussing him with my friend really, as the questions can be uncomfortable. That's when he says sorry and hugs me! However, he can't get over how The Git doesn't see the children or stay in touch with them. He has always seen his children and would have moved heaven and earth if things had ever been different.
I will be thinking of you this morning Louise.
WTC - strangely enough this is what it was before the missing week. I will have to write a letter as I can't really afford not to have the £200 - sorry if that makes me sound like a scrounger.
Arthritis in my back is now affecting the strength in my left arm, with a lot of pain in my forearm. Physio thinks that maybe the rowing machine is too much - AGGGGHHH - that's my favourite apparatus. She's great thouhg, and has given me some exercises to do at home which my free up my back a bit.
Still on a downer I'm afraid. And no right to be, I know.
I hope everyone is ok.
Morning,
Sorry you're still feeling down Sparkling, its horrible when you just can't shake it. Big hug for you x
The issue at school with A is 2 fold. Firstly she has been getting bullied by some boys in her class which her form teacher and head of year are dealing with. Secondly she has been having a run in with her french teacher, who then called the deputy head in to help her deal with it, whcih resulted in A being excluded from french class and me getting a phone call from the deputy telling me how her behaviour and attitude wont be tolerated! When I talked to A over the weekend it turns out this french teacher hasn't been very nice to her and has said a few things to her in front of the class which these boys have picked up on and are using to taunt her with! Its all a bit of a mess. I rang the school on Monday to speak to the deputy head and was told he would call me back but I'm still waiting.... Then to top it all off I told my ex what had happened with A at school and he used it to point out my failings as a parent 
....give me strength!!
Typical, PQ, you tried to share it with A's dad and he was not at all helpful. You may need to be VERY assertive with the school as (wrongly) schools are sometimes very good at just letting the dust settle. Can you email the school? something along the lines of "I tried to speak with you on Monday and was assured that you would phone me back but have not received a call. This matter is now urgent as A has been targeted by this group of boys who are imitating critical comments made by one of your teachers to her. I hope that you will speak with me before Thursday 6pm (or whatever deadline you think) otherwise I will have to assume there is no appropriate level of concern at the school over this matter and I will take the matter further" Ok that sounds stroppy but it is likely to get a result. Good luck, hope you don't need to do this.
Sparkling, thank you for thinking of me, it was not the best of appointments as I appear to have some sort of internal U-bend, to use a plumbing analogy, so I need the flexibility of Beth Tweddle for them to get a sample.
Your friend's attitude towards his children is a true mark of his character. You would never turn your back on your kids either and it's nice to meet someone else who thinks that too. Glad the physio has given you some alternative exercises, you do need to work with the right framework and if they help your back, even better.
Dare I suggest the Victor Meldrew letter then, sparkling? I will help you, the offer is still there...
Mind you, none of us will have time to write any of these letters and emails as we will be too busy putting the £80 cream on our faces 
Thank you Louise, I will need a Victor Meldrew letter. I'll try and get this done tomorrow between the gym and opticians...
I am sorry things aren't so easy with the school pq. Teachers can be so out of order with comments they make. While I appreciate they're human, they do need to learn to shut up. When my oldest was in Year 5, the teacher was VERY sarcastic to him, which has had quite a bearing on his life really. I complained to the head at the time, but there was little he could do to turn the clock back. I'm sorry your ex is being predictably unsupportive...
I have a migraine. Migraine and a panto this evening - not a good combination.
Hiya
I sympathise on the migraine and having to go to a panto sparkling either on there own is bad enough. Hope you get the tax credits sorted. Your friends sounds like a decent sort of a bloke.
PQ the school sound like they are being slack in there concern for A, Louise's suggestion is a great idea. Assertive is the way forward otherwise you will get brushed off, i had made a complaint once as a teacher had called and shouted at me down the phone (think old school) like i was a naughty child and before i could say anything he put the phone down, the Heads reply was "oh that's just his way he always talks like that" and continued to defended the teachers actions
I know what you mean about being a contortionist Louise i have what they call a "wondering cervix" which usually makes for an interesting visit. Advent calender favourite this year is the Snowman, K did not want one this year funnily he did try to get me to buy a load of chocolate instead.
Whats everyone doing tonight?
Singing tonight, i have the ear plugs ready 
Enjoy the singing Sally. I think perhaps I should have thought of earplugs...
Ooh hope the panto wasn't too exuberant, sparkling, how is your head?
Snowman calendar, that's lovely, Sally. Ah K sounds like my youngest, just wants the choccy. Youngest said to me yesterday I wish I still had a stocking, I felt guilty then it turned out he meant wish I could wake up in the night on Christmas Eve and have some chocolate. (Well, take a Kit-Kat to bed then, my son!)
I talked to my eldest about the TA yesterday and was more honest about my feelings, saying I was scared that something would happen to him but I would never want to wrap him in cotton wool (actually, part of me wants him just to stay at home wrapped in a blanket, consuming only strained vegetables and filtered water but that's ridiculous ) and that I would totally respect and support what decision he makes,but that I was glad I had expressed my feelings.
Went out with some friends last night which was lovely. What's everyone doing today?
Morning,
Thanks for the support with A and the school. I've still not heard back from the deputy head. I will ring again today and register my disatisfaction and see what happens. A's head of year has always been very good so I may just go through her and see what she can do. I don't know why I still feel disappionted about the way my ex behaves...I enter into these conversations with him thinking "this time it will be different" but it never is....a leopard can't change his spots eh?
Smear tests are yuk, listening to your stories about wandering cervix and 'u-bends' makes me want to cross my legs!!
Glad you had a good chat with your son Louise, at least he knows how you feel now.
Hope the singing went well Sally.
Good luck with the school pq.
I'm glad you had a good evening Louise. And I'm glad you've spoke to your son. x
Gym this morning, but this achilles tendon is a real pain, and I pulled it again, even after trying to have a serious warm up.
Opticians this afternoon, and out again this evening.
The panto was challenging. We have one Scout who really can be a panto all on his own (as per other leader's son). I had to give him a good talking to in the interval.
How is everyone this evening?
How did you get on with the school today PQ?
Ouch sparkling, i hope it does'nt hold you back to much, enjoy your evening.
Had a laugh at your kit kat remark Louise as you could not be closer to the truth, have found many a chocolate wrapper under the pillow or bed. Glad you got things off your chest with eldest, what was his response?
Singing went well they can pretty much do it know without the books, sorted them all out with costumes which they thought hilarious. Planning on a relaxing night tonight.
Hello everyone and how are you this morning?
PQ good for you with the school. I don't mean to put anyone off with my smear test tales, in fact had I not gone in 2003 then I would have developed full-blown cervical cancer shortly afterwards so it is really important to go. As for your ex, I guess it is a case of acknowledging that he is unlikely to be supportive, and use your own resources and your support system (friends, family, us) to shore this up.
Sparkling your remarks about the panto made me shudder and brought back memories of the group I used to take every year to our local show. I managed to wangle free tickets (in return for some publicity) The families I took had never been to the theatre before. I felt so responsible for them all. One time, a lady behind complained about us all and I "Had Words" However I am sure that some of today's grey hairs come from the panto days. So sorry to hear about your tendon. Hope it is a bit less painful for you this morning.
Sally oh yes the choccy wrappers, my son's room is a total Chamber of Horrors. He does it out once a week and today is the day so I will watch with interest.
My eldest said to me, I totally understand the way you feel, Mum, but this is something I really want to do, I said I appreciated that and would respect and support his decision but it would be wrong if I had not expressed my feelings.
This evening there is a big do at the counselling place where I volunteer, everyone is rushing around today, my job is to get lots of boxes of glasses which the local Waitrose are kindly lending us and deliver them to the venue. Will be glad when the whole thing is over, to be honest. Meeting a friend for coffee this morning, and this afternoon making some cinnamon biscuits, having a Mexican meal with college friends tomorrow, I had to do the dessert, am a pretty unenthusiastic cook, luckily I discovered that they eat cinnamon cookies at Mexican weddings so that feels like an easy option!
Hope everyone is Ok.
Skyflower how are you?
Hi Louise, you didn't put me off the smear, it just makes me shudder as its not on my list of top 10 favourite things to do!
The deputy head finally called me back last night at 8pm!! I told him everything I had found out, and asked him to link up with the head of year too, and also to look more into the way the french teacher interacts with A, as I'm sure that hasn't helped much. He was very keen to listen and apologised for the amount of time it took him to return my call, so lets see what he does now.
We're all very virally in our house. I've kept A off school, H wanted to go in as she has football and I'm only working a half day....we're falling like flies!! I think a suggly weekend is in order.
Hope the 'do' goes well louise.
Sounds like a really busy weekend for you Louise, hope you enjoy it.
Glad you have heard back from the head PQ, Hopefully you will all be feeling better after your snuggly weekend.
Have been wrapping presents today which got me a bit excited, off to ballet tonight and to friends for coffee, shopping tomorrow and church on Sunday and have extra singing rehearsals.
How is everyone else, hope your not down with PQ's lurgy!!
Enjoy your weekends xx
Louise it seems you always have something on ! I hope the cookies will work out.
Just came back from donating blood. Good excuse not lifting or cleaning today :) putting my feet up and watch a nice movie, I love my television they could call me square eyes. Hope your test went alright Louise.
Hope you all get better Pancakequeen, horrible way to spend the weekend.
Christmas present, good for you Sally, I have done my shopping, but the wrapping
gets always postponed !
Good morning one and all,
Skyflower nice to see you, I am a square eyes too, well done for being a blood donor, not enough people do. My cookies.... I rolled the mixture into balls and put them in little bun cases, makes them look better, heh heh. Son liked the leftovers 
What are you doing today?
Sally you are very organised with the wrapping, I was thinking that I needed to get a couple of cards posted off that need to go to the USA. I made a list yesterday of what else I need, not much thank goodness.
PQ how is everyone this morning? Glad the Deputy Head finally got back to you, I am thinking you feel that at least something is happening now!
Will be back later.....have a good day everyone 
Ooh it's been quiet in here, hope you are all busy doing nice things.
I went to York today to see some old college frieds, had a really good laugh.
Sparkling, I thought of you today when I drove past a house that had a bird table in the garden, covered in Christmas lights. I wondered if it was for your Christmas robin? heh heh.
Strictly and X Factor and Jungle tonight, too much excitement!
Ah yes, that Christmas robin... He still comes up to the back door to check up on us.
I went with a friend to Beaumaris this afternoon. They had a Victorian Christmas there. I cling on to her as we walk around, so I did get about, with a rest on a bench in the middle of the town.
It was really nice, and it has been a very long time since I've had a stroll around somewhere.
Living room is tidy and of an acceptable level to shove the tree up.
I hope everyone is ok.
Hello one and all
A quiet day off for me yesterday and only had one counselling client, as the other one did not turn up, I think she may decide not to come anymore.Went to Morrisons yesterday and got some Christmas bits, I think that is me more or less done now, need to spread it all out on the bed and check I have everything.
Sparkling, was it strange discussing the children's dad with your friend? Do you feel less achey now?
Sally, Temple Spa is a make of skincare etc, it was beautiful but some of the stuff was so expensive, a pot of wonderful skin cream that you could SEE giving you a face lift, it is "the most popular skin care item in Harrods", apparently, and it costs £80 a pot. Oh right, I will have half a dozen then. I was just left wondering WHO on earth buys it? What type of Advent calendars do the children like? My youngest had a little tree in his room until very recent years and would have a little chocolate hung on each branch for each morning. One year (I think he was about 15) he did not put the tree up and he just guzzled all the chocolates and I thought right that's it, time to stop.
PQ sorry to hear you have had some problems with A and school, is it these same people that you mentioned before?
Bet you are all really jealous of me this morning, it is my annual smear test. Last time she was muttering about an extra-long speculum, I got through it by imagining her in the corridor brandishing a snooker cue!!