zigzag

Sorry to hear about your week Sunnyday. 
Louby loo, how do you feel about going back? Am I right in thinking it’s your last year? 

Sunnyday how lovely that the older dog now has a new lease of life.  Dogs are so very special aren’t they.  It’s become a joke in my family that I am turning into the mad dog women! (Proud to be) 

Hope everyone gets some cooler temperatures soon. Enjoy the weekend. 

On 13/08/2025 at 20:45, Cait said:

True story!

Cait that must be very very difficult going through and parting with your late husbands treasures. Sounds like you are doing well though. How fantastic that the museums and railway associations have taken some, lovely to think they have moved onto good homes. I’m sure your husband would approve.  What is it with men and the whole this useless bit of rubbish might come in handy one day? My husband does this with bits of steel and wood. The thing he has most of though is rags! He can’t suffer to see me chuck an old duvet, pillow case, t-shirt etc. He has to have them! Even though he has bags and bags of them! And he really does not love decorating that much that he needs all those dust sheets! He’s just finished repainting the front porch and put new carpet tiles down BUT he’s been talking about doing that for FIVE YEARS!  

Hoping to get a swim in sometime over the weekend if the weather stays nice. Work in the morning then going to the Cornish gig (rowing) event at our local beach, hopefully to sit in the sunshine and enjoy! Have a fab weekend all.

On 04/07/2025 at 21:19, sunnyday said:

That is so special - go zigzag's mum!

Most of our nearest beaches are flying 'brown flags' - awful situation 

We are incredibly lucky with our three local beaches. Stunning water, so clear. Obviously we do get some sewage discharged in storm weather but not very much and thankfully rarely.

I know we haven’t had it as hot here as you guys have up country, but it’s way too hot for my peri menopausal body! Hot flushes In this weather are not fun! 
I did go for a swim in the sea yesterday which was blissful. First time I have sea swam in  a decade (im ashamed to admit that living within half a mile of the sea) then today 89 year old Mum joined me! Was so lovely.

Hope the Granddog was ok Sunnyday! And how lovely for that Mum to email you!  This reminded me of something that happened a couple of weeks ago. Whilst out walking the dogs I walked past a house and some of my old pre-school children (now giant teenagers were sat in the garden) as I went past I just said “Hello boys”.  As I walked away I heard one of them ask who I was. One of the other lads said “she was our teacher at pre-school” They then started discussing their memories of a craft activity we had done! I walked away with the biggest smile on my face! 
The weather here is so humid (not used to that down here) flipping boiling doing my changeover today! Hoping it’s more bearable for the weekend as have a few changeovers to get through. 
Well I had the most beautiful bouquet delivered today, such a lovely surprise. A thank you present from one of my clients. So kind, made me a bit emotional!

Have a great weekend all. 

Louby I miss absolutely NOTHING about it! And I still cannot believe I am saying that. I am totally running my life in year starting in January and have no clue of half terms etc! I love it! I just wish my Dad could have seen me leave and enjoy having left so much. He knew I had handed my notice in but died before I actually left. He said to me one day “you won’t go back will you?” I think he would have been so happy to see me stress free.  
I honestly think that you naturally know when the time is right to finally leave. It certainly was my time. And so glad that the pre-school has gone on to expand into full days and now takes babies! Which is what needed to happen, but I just didn’t have the commitment or energy to do it. 

This weather just makes life so much better doesn't it!  Sunnyday I completely agree with you, once my job is done by mid morning the rest of the day is mine! I absolutely love it. Have done early dogs walks this week and have enjoyed a few paddles in the sea. Got a busy weekend of changeovers which is going to be hot but hopefully they will be reasonably quick! Have a lovely weekend all.

Sorry late to the chat this week.  We had torrential weather on Friday! It seemed to be one of those days when you were constantly soggy! Think we were the only place in the country to be like that. It was lovely yesterday but bit overcast today. Think next week is going to be good though!  The only good thing about it is it saves watering the veg garden!  Glad everyone is ok.

I only come on here for the Friday catch ups! 

On 23/05/2025 at 20:53, Mouseketeer said:

Hello all, I don’t seem to make it in much lately, but like to catch up on what you’re all up to.

I’m currently 56 hrs a week staffing down (including the recently appointed deputy) which as you can imagine in a small team is hell, I am far to old for this full time practitioner malarky, not sure how I’ve made it to half term,I think the committee think the admin fairies rock up and do my job overnight 😵‍💫…..if anyone fancies a bit of bank staffing 😉 

Have a great week all x

 

 

Oh Mousie, that sounds like a nightmare. Try and enjoy some relaxing time at half term.  Take care of yourself. Xx

Sunnyday I’m so sorry to hear your news. It’s a horrible decision to have to make but the kindest. 
Louby Lou hope you are not feeling poorly with the shingles and it soon goes. 
What amazing weather it’s been, sadly changing this weekend I think. The garden will be happy though.  Well my son is back from honeymoon, they had an amazing time. They had their 20 week scan today and everything is looking as it should be, which is wonderful news. 
I had no idea it was half term! Guess I would have realised when it gets busier down here next week. Funny how my life used to run in terms now I don’t even know when the term times start and finish! 
Have a lovely weekend all.

What a glorious week weather wise! Would actually be very grateful for some overnight rain for my garden! Think we may be getting some rain on Sunday.  It’s that time of year when I am chomping at the bit to get my seedlings out of the greenhouse into the garden but just know that would tempt fate and a cold spell!  Currently looking after my Grand dog as son is away in America/Canada on honeymoon. I think my dog may be going to pack her bags and go to my Mums for a break from her! 
Last night we went to the theatre to see the only fools and horses musical. It was really good and the actor playing Delboy was so like David Jason it was uncanny. 
Sunnyday I hope you feel ok after your jab. Froglet what did you use in your tea loaf instead of your dried fruit? I love tea loaf and make it quite regularly. 
Enjoy the beautiful weather everyone and have a super weekend. 

Congratulations Mousie. Lovely news hope Mum and baby are doing well. Xx

Goodness Froglet that is a huge decision.  Good for you for making such a huge decision, I’m sure you will not regret it. Sometimes there just comes a point when you have to prioritise.  I haven’t regretted leaving for one second and I really think that you instinctively know when that time comes. I wish you all the luck in the world for whatever the future brings. 
It’s been so great this week to have been able to do loads of jobs in the garden, feel like I have caught up a bit, and now the rain is here again!  Sunnyday hope the performance was good.  Happy weekend all. 

On 05/04/2025 at 11:31, Mouseketeer said:

First off they’ve updated funding guidance on how parents can use it, basically it’s all in favour of parents with no thought to providers sustainability….we can still ‘ask’ for a consumable fee but we have to drive home that’s it’s voluntary and give the option to bring all that we cover with it …..we all know parents won’t turn up with half the stuff requested, providers can no longer break the hours up e.g. charge a lunch time fee and have to be able to use only funded hours if that’s what they want, settings can no longer say they offer x amount of funded spaces and charge for the rest, all have to be available as funded, this all had to be in place by 1st Apr with no consultation and hardly any time to rework business models.

Then they announced financial help for the rise in NI but only for school based settings, they already get a higher funding rate, the PVI sector isn’t included in this support 😠 

Then they’ve announced their plan to open 300 nurseries in schools, actually putting in print that it will give ‘better standards of early years education for your little ones’ , another kick in the teeth for all the providers out there giving our little ones a great education 😡 

Oh blimey, it just gets worse!  Huge respect to anyone still battling on!  Very glad to be out of it all.

On 04/04/2025 at 19:53, Mouseketeer said:

Thanks Zigzag 🙌

If any of you are keeping up with the PVI sector bashing by the government this week you must be super pleased to be out of it all.

What’s going on? I’ve completely and intentionally lost touch! 

Benn beautiful weather down here except the vicious East wind! But at least it’s dried up all the mud!  Am hoping to get some seeds planted this weekend, am chomping at the bit to get the veg garden  ready for the season!

I had to laugh today when I had to ask someone when the schools break up for Easter! It’s funny how quickly you get out of tune with the term times!  Have a great break those of you that do get a break.

Have a lovely weekend all. 

I agree Sunnyday the relief is huge! Sounds silly but you don’t realise until afterwards just how much the worry has been crushing you. Literally felt two stone lighter when I walked out (I wish).

Been a good week weather wise here as well. Long may it continue. Just need it to warm up so can start sowing some seeds and digging the allotment over. Can’t wait.

Am a very thankful lady today. I had to attend a breast cancer centre yesterday for some tests which was scary but thanking my lucky stars that it’s only cysts and nothing sinister. Been a worrying two week wait (grateful that the wedding was a distraction)   But how privileged  are we to have such an amazing NHS service.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. 

It’s just the Cornish tartan. They hired them. When they first told me that’s what they were doing  I was not convinced but they all looked fantastic. 

Me and my two boys. Such a proud Mum moment!

You are all so kind to remember. It was the most perfect day. The weather was amazing and literally everything was amazing. My goodness I didn’t expect to get so emotional! What a proud day. They are so very much in love it’s just gorgeous.