It's Friday!

[sunnyday]

On 05/12/2025 at 07:21, Mouseketeer said:

Thanks Louby, ours has been embedded for a few years now so don’t really want to drop it, an hourly rate has worked for all that time but now all this being dictated to is driving me mad, I did consider charger for once off trips/experiences as they come up but if some don’t pay we wouldn’t exclude the child but then that isn’t fair on those paying, why we can’t just be allowed to charge a top up and parents take it or leave it is beyond me, we all make decisions about where to shop, which garage to take our car to, which hair salon to visit based on value for money and what we want to pay, why should Early Years businesses be any different 🤷‍♀️

Dear Mousie

I feel your pain - it's all so frustrating and frankly completely wrong.

I remember when funding was first introduced and it all seemed so wonderful as the hourly rate was more than I was charging - but it just didn't keep pace and then we were soon losing...and not only but also being dictated to about every aspect of provision in order to be able to claim the meagre funding...this would never happen in any other type of business.

I don't know what the answer is...xxx

 

[Froglet]

'Tis Friday (sorry - it just doesn't feel right if it doesn't get said!)

Mousie - I sympathise, there's more than once that I have tried to explain the vagaries of funding to people and have given up.

Mildly frustrating time this week trying to sort out a new bank account - I needed to add a mobile number but I could only do that via the app but couldn't set the app up without having a mobile number already registered! Many minutes on the phone to a lovely person who was confused at first and then understood the circularity of the problem and really went to trouble to help me solve it - I think it's done!

Apart from that I have done much clearing of the spare room which is now causing messy chaos all over the house and wrote Christmas cards which have gone in the post - does anyone else still write them? I feel like an old fashioned dinosaur but I love getting and sending things through the post - I have been writing my regular 'Sunday notes' for a while now - just a gentle splurge of what I'm up to sent to a different person each week. I have also planted some cyclamen in pots just outside my kitchen window with a few bulbs layered underneath. They are looking very cheerful just now and I'm hoping they will look lovely in spring too!

I haven't baked anything this week but have a feeling I'm about to be asked to do some themed festive baking for my old school's Winter fair which will be fun and I really need to sort Christmas presents for family.

[sunnyday]

On 05/12/2025 at 11:52, Froglet said:

'Tis Friday (sorry - it just doesn't feel right if it doesn't get said!)

Mousie - I sympathise, there's more than once that I have tried to explain the vagaries of funding to people and have given up.

Mildly frustrating time this week trying to sort out a new bank account - I needed to add a mobile number but I could only do that via the app but couldn't set the app up without having a mobile number already registered! Many minutes on the phone to a lovely person who was confused at first and then understood the circularity of the problem and really went to trouble to help me solve it - I think it's done!

Apart from that I have done much clearing of the spare room which is now causing messy chaos all over the house and wrote Christmas cards which have gone in the post - does anyone else still write them? I feel like an old fashioned dinosaur but I love getting and sending things through the post - I have been writing my regular 'Sunday notes' for a while now - just a gentle splurge of what I'm up to sent to a different person each week. I have also planted some cyclamen in pots just outside my kitchen window with a few bulbs layered underneath. They are looking very cheerful just now and I'm hoping they will look lovely in spring too!

I haven't baked anything this week but have a feeling I'm about to be asked to do some themed festive baking for my old school's Winter fair which will be fun and I really need to sort Christmas presents for family.

Hiya young Froglet you are quite right 'tis Friday - I was so saddened by Mousie's post that I wanted to answer her and forgot to say it!

I recall trying to explain 'funding' to my sister - to this day I swear she thinks 'poor thing she has got this all wrong' 🤣

Banking - arrghhhh - I had to visit my Bank in person this summer - we have banked with them for 50 years but for my mobile number to be added they needed to see me and I needed to take in photo id - my life! 🤦‍♀️ 

I still send Christmas Cards!

Your pots sound lovely - go you!

Take care xxx

[SueFinanceManager]

On 30/11/2025 at 17:54, Mouseketeer said:

let alone how I’m getting it onto the Tapestry invoices 🙈

Mousie have you looked at this tutorial below?  You may have to ensure the 'Detailed Breakdown Section' is enabled from the Management System > Config > Invoices

If you get stuck do email the team on customer.service@eyfs.info

 

[Mouseketeer]

On 05/12/2025 at 14:29, SueFinanceManager said:

Mousie have you looked at this tutorial below?  You may have to ensure the 'Detailed Breakdown Section' is enabled from the Management System > Config > Invoices

If you get stuck do email the team on customer.service@eyfs.info

Hi Sue, No I hadn’t but certainly will…..when I’ve figured how much to put in the boxes 🤣 

[Mouseketeer]

Don’t get me started on banks! I was getting concerned that a new card hadn’t arrived to replace the expiring one, contacted them 2 weeks ago to be told I had to wait to report when not arrived 7 days before expiry date, it still had’t arrived so contacted them again to be told it was sent out on 26.10, they’d cancel and send another but allow 10 days, if a replacement could take 10 days to arrive why can’t it be reported 10 days prior to expiring …..not rocket science is it 🤷‍♀️

[louby loo]

Morning all.

Had a nice trip away with the grandchildren, now I feel a little brain dead - possible need a few days in a darkend room...😂

That's all I can think of to add to this thread today 😳

xx

[zigzag]

Sorry I’m late again! Gosh reading your posts about work make me so glad that I’m not dealing with all that anymore. Sorry I know that is completely unhelpful but I really get anxious feelings when I read them.  Well the weather has been truly biblical down here this weekend! Friday we had a power cut from 2pm until 2am (that was fun) made us realise just how much we rely on electricity not just for the day to day but also entertainment. Quite a sad reflection actually.  Luckily my husband still managed to fly from Newquay to London to see Spurs play at their stadium. A bucket list item ticked off for him and our son. I had a very big house clean yesterday (have been dog sitting for two extra dogs) and my goodness they both shed! Then I put up the tree and a few decorations. Very early for me but it’s so dark and gloomy that I thought the fairy lights would be bright and cheerful!  Excited to watch the F1 finale this afternoon, very unpatriotic of me but I don’t actually want Norris to win, I want Max too.  Enjoy the rest of the weekend all. Xx

[louby loo]

On 07/12/2025 at 12:13, zigzag said:

Sorry I’m late again! Gosh reading your posts about work make me so glad that I’m not dealing with all that anymore. Sorry I know that is completely unhelpful but I really get anxious feelings when I read them.  Well the weather has been truly biblical down here this weekend! Friday we had a power cut from 2pm until 2am (that was fun) made us realise just how much we rely on electricity not just for the day to day but also entertainment. Quite a sad reflection actually.  Luckily my husband still managed to fly from Newquay to London to see Spurs play at their stadium. A bucket list item ticked off for him and our son. I had a very big house clean yesterday (have been dog sitting for two extra dogs) and my goodness they both shed! Then I put up the tree and a few decorations. Very early for me but it’s so dark and gloomy that I thought the fairy lights would be bright and cheerful!  Excited to watch the F1 finale this afternoon, very unpatriotic of me but I don’t actually want Norris to win, I want Max too.  Enjoy the rest of the weekend all. Xx

We were going to put our tree up this afternoon - but it's raining so hard we can't be bothered to go and buy one😮😂 

I do feel more human today I must say. 😊 

We went on the Polar Express Train ride (Norfolk one) and I have to say it was really good and not what I was expecting at all - was a little on the expensive side, and I think it's better for children ages about 5+ (the 2.9 yr old got a bit bored in the end)  

Zigzag and MouseketeerI know what yu mean about the funding issues-   I given up with it to be honest -we don't have a charge... we offer basic 🤷‍♀️ 

As I've have said before I now want out in July. If my daughter wants to run it, then I will have to stay until she's qualified otherwise I think we will just close down. I have suggested it to staff, but they just want to trun up and get paid, go home - and I have noticed since covid they seem to have lost interest in putting in any extra effort into their job roles which i find sad. 😢

[sunnyday]

Good morning - 'tis Friday

Such a busy week, my little feet haven't touched the ground!

Quieter today with just school run to do this afternoon for the two youngest grandchildren- that is always a real pleasure I love picking them up and bringing them here for their dinner ❤️ their maternal granny is moving house today so son and DIL are on hand to help her - keep everything crossed for her please that it all goes well

Tomorrow is free - phew - then Sunday we are off to watch youngest granddaughter's drama school performance - lovely!

Hope everyone is okay?

Have the best of weekends x

[zigzag]

Sounds lovely Sunnyday. I’ve unfortunately picked up some type of virus. Cough, temperature, chills etc. Am hoping that it is a short lived one and get back to normal ASAP. I thank my lucky stars it not the awful flu though. Hope everyone has a good weekend. 

[Froglet]

Hope you feel better soon Zigzag. Sunnyday - enjoy the performance - I'm sure you will!

I have had a 'foggy' sort of week and settled to very little although the last couple of days I have managed to focus on reading a book. I have been asked to bake a Christmas cake for a 'Guess the weight of the cake' competition  - it will just be a rich, moist fruitcake so the fruit is currently soaking. I made cheese and onion pasties yesterday for the first time ever - they're a good alternative to soup as a warm lunch.

Other than that I really must finalise Christmas presents and do some research for a vegetarian Christmas dinner option - we're going to my sister's for Christmas and her daughter has become vegetarian recently and I've been delegated to come up with something for her to have as a main.

Have a good weekend all.

[sunnyday]

On 12/12/2025 at 10:56, zigzag said:

Sounds lovely Sunnyday. I’ve unfortunately picked up some type of virus. Cough, temperature, chills etc. Am hoping that it is a short lived one and get back to normal ASAP. I thank my lucky stars it not the awful flu though. Hope everyone has a good weekend. 

Oh no you poor thing - sending lots of get well soon wishes to you dear zigzag xxx

[sunnyday]

On 12/12/2025 at 12:39, Froglet said:

Hope you feel better soon Zigzag. Sunnyday - enjoy the performance - I'm sure you will!

I have had a 'foggy' sort of week and settled to very little although the last couple of days I have managed to focus on reading a book. I have been asked to bake a Christmas cake for a 'Guess the weight of the cake' competition  - it will just be a rich, moist fruitcake so the fruit is currently soaking. I made cheese and onion pasties yesterday for the first time ever - they're a good alternative to soup as a warm lunch.

Other than that I really must finalise Christmas presents and do some research for a vegetarian Christmas dinner option - we're going to my sister's for Christmas and her daughter has become vegetarian recently and I've been delegated to come up with something for her to have as a main.

Have a good weekend all.

Fogginess - that happens sometimes - well it does to me!

Cake and pasties sound great - hmmm veggie Christmas dinner - no idea but I know you will come up with something delicious!

[louby loo]

Well, that's it finished for this year!  Just home from the party...now laying on sofa recovering, before off out for meal later.

Hope the fog lifts for you Frolet- best read a few more books to aid reccovery.

Zigzag, hope you're feeling better soon, Andy has been poorly with it this week- we even had to find an alternative Father Christmas. (Step Grandson (18) stepped in- and he did an amazing job, he really took on the role well.😊

Sunnyday - have a lovely time with the grandchildren tonight and over the weekend.

[Froglet]

On 12/12/2025 at 14:36, louby loo said:

Well, that's it finished for this year!  Just home from the party...now laying on sofa recovering, before off out for meal later.

Hope the fog lifts for you Frolet- best read a few more books to aid reccovery.

Zigzag, hope you're feeling better soon, Andy has been poorly with it this week- we even had to find an alternative Father Christmas. (Step Grandson (18) stepped in- and he did an amazing job, he really took on the role well.😊

Sunnyday - have a lovely time with the grandchildren tonight and over the weekend.

I had a message from someone at my old school yesterday asking if I knew a Father Christmas as theirs was unable to. If you were a little nearer I'd be volunteering your step grandson!

I shall enjoy researching recipes - I'm pretty sure that you can get the BBC Good food veggie magazine online through my library which should be a good source.

[zigzag]

Froglet that foggy feeling is awful isn’t it. I’ve suffered with this since being in peri-menopause and found that my attention span is stupidly short. I’ve decided to really cut my time on Instagram come the new year as I find myself scrolling endlessly these days, it’s really not healthy.  Louby loo how lovely that your step grandson stepped in, good for him. 

[Froglet]

Just wanted to say it's so nice to speak to people who get what I mean by foggy!

Slightly worried about my cake - it sunk a bit in the middle but I'm sure it's cooked. Marzipan and icing can cover a multitude of sins can't they?! I keep telling myself that it's highly unlikely that I'll know who wins it and even if I do, very unlikely that I'll see them soon and if it's a friend that wins then I won't mind if it's not great!