ebay bookshop

Well the final count down is on. I've been buying books off ebay like there's going to be a shortage of paper, even managed to buy the same book twice, but then sold the duplicate for £1.10 more than I paid for it....
The GTTR website says I've officially got a place and Jacob is in his settling in period at nursery, so, slowly but surely it's all becoming a reality. This whole nursery business is a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Not only do you have to cope with the never ending anxiety of wondering if you've chosen the right nursery, not exactly helped when GMTV do a piece on how 1400 nursery's across the country are unsatisfactory. Then just when you've convinced yourself that they'll be OK there's a spanner thrown in the works. This particular spanner was in the form of Jacob having hysterics when his carer gave his a bottle and he then bit her. I arrived to find his crying and inconsolable, end result I end up blubbing as well, great!! Oh well, stay positive and tomorrows another day. On a nicer note and to alleviate my guilt Jacob went swimming. Had a great time and he definitely enjoyed himself, must resolve to do things like this at the weekend!

P45

So just over a week to go until I'm officially a student. In the last few days I've received my reading list and spent hours on ebay acquiring the recommended texts. Also have back my CRB check certificate a.k.a. police check to ensure I'm OK to work with children. Today I received my P45 and final pay statement from Harrods, very odd to think that the next pay slip I'll received will (fingers crossed) be as a qualified teacher. Thankfully I have received a couple of weeks accrued holiday pay which will come in extremely handy as we have to pay 2 weeks nursery fees up front, not to mention that the car desperately needs servicing!! The student loans forms are also through, would have been helpful to have got more of a grant but unless you're a complete benefits scrounger then you have to try and survive on peanuts. Seems a bit unfair that you can't get more help with childcare but it's a case of like it or lump it.
Will be sad to see less of the Southwark Babes in the coming months but I guess I'll have to make more of a effort to keep in touch with "Jacobs Posse" as slowing but surely all the mums are drifting back to the work of work and rediscovering that they do indeed still have an identity in their own right.
So here's to a successful settling in period at nursery next week, watch this space..........

Blue Lights

Just when I thought things were settling down............................... Young Jacob decides to give his parents a scare. He'd had a cold for about a week and even though I had taken him to the G.P. at the end of last week, I really thought he was on the mend, 95% back to his usual self. However, there we were on Tuesday evening, dozing off when we hear Jacob rasping and sounding like he smokes 100 a day. He sounded really dreadful and whilst Aaron was sitting holding him on our bed poor little Jacob started being quite sick, looking very pale and totally listless. Then Aaron started reaching and had to make a dash for the bathroom! Great that's all I needed. Called the emergency GP service and they told me to call an ambulance. So before we knew it we had a fast response veichle pulling up in the driveway. Next an ambulance turned up and all together we had 4 people from the London ambulance service. Jacob was still being sick but seemed to have perked up a bit. I went with him in the back of the ambulance where he proceeded to vomit over me and nearly got the paramedic. We go to A & E and the Dr. tried to get a line in but couldn't. His temperature was quite high and so we were told he'd be admitted for the night and that the registrar would come and see him in A & E. Thank God that after about an hour and a half he really started to perk up and his temperature was back to normal, so we were back home by 3.30am. He's made steady progress but I'd forgotten what the disturbed nights were like already! Had some straight talking with Jacob and told him I don't want to be going back to St. Thomas' for a quite a while!
Friday night was the "Southwark Babes", mums night out. Went to a local pub for drinks and dinner al fresco. Hardly recognised some people, looking very different from how we look in our day time mummy uniform with pushchair to accessorise. Had a good evening and even though I was in bed by 11.30pm, I was still knackered the next morning. Oh what a party animal! So definitely a weekend for crashing out and catching up on much needed zzzzzzzzzzzzz's

Oh my God, I'm in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I got "the call" on Thursday! So happy and of course immediately had to get on the phone to the rest of the family. Aaron was at home that morning as he was babysitting Jacob, I was just about to leave for my dentist appointment when the phone rang and I got the news I've been waiting to hear. So very excited!!!! Sally came for the day and lowered herself to be seen with a student teacher. Later that day I checked on the premium bond draw and discovered I'd won £50, so definitely my lucky day. Thank goodness Jacob is all now confirmed for nursery, so roll on September. Just waiting to hear on the student grant situation and fingers crossed that will be some more good news!

Will I be a student in 5 weeks?

So we made it to Gloucestershire and had a lovely day on Saturday. About 30 relatives on the Elgie side all made it to sunny Glos. and a good time was had by all. Mum's now in a bit of a funny situation, having been asked for the recipe for the lemon tart that she cheekily passed off as her own. Luckily her computers broken so I guess she's got some time on her side to try and come up with a plausible recipe. Jacob seemed to have got jet lag after such a long day so got a bit of a lie in on Sunday. Today Jacob and I went for lunch in Notting Hill, for the first time ever we were turned away from a bar/restaurant, thought Notting Hill was supposed to be full of Bugaboos and A-list mummy's, no wonder the place was empty. Anyway ended up having a nice lunch outside at Nandos. Was catching up with Liz who has just returned from a two year stint for the VSO in India and she's off to Nicaragua next month for another two years. Makes me think that my career change is a bit small fry compared to doing that!!!!
Unfortunately still no confirmation of a definite place at ULF so have no choice but to remain patient. It's getting close now................ just wish I knew what was happening for sure............... Another bug bear is the fact that I've been chasing up Jacobs prospective nursery to try and firm up on arrangements. They haven't contacted me and even though I went round there and left a message for the supervisor to call me I've still not heard anything, hope it's not a bad omen. So rather annoying I'm still keeping everything crossed but not a happy bunny this week with all the uncertainty and severe lack of finances. Oh well things can only get better, or atleast I hope they will!

Half way to 70!

Yesterday was my 35th birthday, my first birthday as a mummy, don't know where the time has gone, a cliche I know but it's true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Might seem bizarre to some but I spent most of the day in Harrods with mum, dad and of course Jacob. A good time was had by all and I'm pleased that m & d got some bargains. Got clothes and £300 of vouchers by way of pressies, so well chuffed. Looking forward to buying nice clothes and probably a pair of boots, once the shops have got new stock in.
Today has been a typical day but sadly I am on the home run in terms of maternity leave. Jacob got weighed and is now 8.83kg and so is tracking very nicely just above the 50th percentile. Aaron and I measured him at the weekend and at 74cm he is still above the 90th percentile for height which I'm delighted about. The best thing is that he has been extremely consistent with his height and weight percentiles since birth, so I must be still doing something right.
This weekend we are off to Gloucestershire to Uncle Richard apple farm for a family get together. Hope we get there ok as there has been terrible flooding in that part of the country, where's the summer gone?

One Step Closer

Have had a good couple of weeks. Spent some time at Riverside Primary and enjoyed every minute. Mum has mainly been looking after Jacob whilst I've been "at school" and everything seemed to work out really well. Got a phone call from the ULF to say that one person has dropped out and so I've now moved up to be 1st reserve. So looking more hopeful for a place this September, so long as someone else can not take up their place, for whatever reason! Starting to think that this may actually happen but don't want to get my hopes up too much in case the plan goes belly up. However, need to remain optimistic and prepare for September. That would mean that Jacob would be starting nursery in about 5 weeks, traumatic or what, jut hope tesco have got tissues on a bogof! I've also been trying to sort out the complex subject that is 'mature student grants'. So loads of form filling in the hope of getting a student grant, help towards the tuition fees and I'm even hoping for some financial help towards Jacobs' nursery fees. So as is my habit these days I'm keeping everything crossed.

Still on Tenterhooks

Well the interview was almost a week ago. All went fairly well and I was told the day after that I am second on the reserve list, so keeping fingers very tightly crossed that two people with firm places drop out. In the mean time the ULF have sent me the occupational health forms and police checking forms to fill in, so at least I'm ready for action if and when a place becomes available. This week I've been doing some more work experience at Riverside Primary. Having a really good time so hope it's not all in vain. Mum has come to the rescue and is looking after Jacob. Can't imagine what it will be like when I have to leave him at nursery but will cross that bridge when I come to it.

Interview week!

Well it's interview week. Final prep underway, have swotted up on the possible topics for the group discussion, presentation is pretty much put to bed and hopefully the maths and english test won't be too hard!!! Jacob continues to be a model baby, still gobbling up three meals a day and sleeping through the night. Oh I'm sooooooooooo lucky, long may it continue. Aaron noticed yesterday that Jacobs 1st tooth is well and truly on the way and so another mile stone beckons, just hope the teeth don't start playing up the night before my interview. Aaron is away for the week on his management course so at least I'll get some peace for a few days and will be able to get my head together for this vital interview, got a bit fed up of him stressing about this course and his job. What about my career..................................
So here's to a stress free week and fingers crossed for Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On a separate issue the UK is once again focused on terrorism. Two foiled London car bombings and a car laden with gas(?) driven into the terminal at Glasgow airport, all happening in the last three days. Gordon Brown only took over as PM last Wednesday, talk about in at the deep in. Just hoping that nothing else happens and that the Government gets really tough on the small minority that are ruining it for everyone else.

A Glimmer of Hope

Well, quite an eventful day yesterday. Firstly, went to Sevenoaks to have a look at the photos of Jacob that we'd got done. They weren't fantastic but the one I got for the promo price of £4.99 was worth it. Had I gone for the whole set of 6 scenes then the promo price was £125!!!!! Can't imagine many people buy anything other that the £4.99 promo photo, so how do these baby photo people make their money?
The other event was an email back from the ULF to say that they hadn't been receiving my emails and that they were now reconsidering their decision and would be offering me an interview!!! yippee. Having spoken to them today and also the GTTR my application with the London Diocese is still live but I can also go for the interview at ULF. So that's the good news. As always there's the inevitable bad news, this being that there are 26 people ahead of me on the interview list and only 3 places up for grabs. So keeping everything crossed and hoping for a minor miracle.
Was supposed to have been out on the road with Aaron today, ultimately heading to Bristol to stay with Sarah but pulled out. So hoping for a relaxing weekend at home................

Spoke too soon

Not amused as today found out I was unsuccessful in my application to the ULF. So the wait was fruitless. Anxiety creeping up on me as places still available for September '07 entry are few and far between. Spoke to UEL and London Met and both basically said it would be a waste of time applying as they don't really have any places and already have quite long waiting lists of people who were successful at interview!!!!!!!!!!!! So the only other available option would appear to be the London Diocese SCITT course. So have applied to them as well as emailing back the ULF to ask for feedback.

Bored waiting................

Having had an email from the ULF PGCE course tutor last Wednesday asking me to detail my (albeit limited!) primary school experience, I was hoping to have heard something else from either the ULF or the GTTR. Surely the decision as to whether to reject me or call me for interview can't be that difficult. So although in fairness to the ULF it's only been a few days since their email I am getting a tad impatient and just want to know what's going on. Having a boring week and after the dramas of last week am feeling a bit knackered. Aaron seems a bit stressed with work and now wants to give up his course, so we'll see what happens there. He's also started talking about moving to Reading and renting out our house in Bermondsey, tried to tactfully tell him it was a bit of a pipe dream on the dosh front but treading carefully as don't want to put the kibosh of a move to Reading next summer or 2008.
Having (touch wood) sucessfully got rid of mickey and mini we now seem to have a foxes playground in our backgarden, am soooooooooooo not impressed. They've dug 2 holes so god knows what is going on underground and since the garden is still an overgrown mess down one side it's a bit of a no go area as far as Jacob and I are concerned. So much for idealic dreams of sitting on a rug in the garden with my baby enjoying the english summer.

Jacob's Drama

What a dramatic 48 hours. There we were on Tuesday afternoon chilling in Potters Field with Jacobs baby friends enjoying some sunshine. Fast forward 6 hours and we're at St. Thomas's A & E dept. The poor little sausage had a raging temperature, a raised fontanelle, and was vomiting. So he had to be treated as having suspected meningitis. This involved a lumbar puncture, blood tests and i.v. antibiotics. Fortunately, just a few hours later all the initial tests had come back negative and it was looking like he just had a virus that he was fighting off. So he was admitted for 48 hours until the final lumbar puncture tests were available. The next 24 hours saw a marked improvement and Jacob came home on "day release" at lunchtime on Thursday. I'm sure he's gutted at not having all the nurses to flirt with but at least he can get some kippage in peace. He had a good night and on Friday lunch time was discharged and his i.v. line removed. So back home chilling now, thank goodness!

Ducks

Sunday 10th June was a auspicious day as Jacob went to his 1st cricket match, Kent v Hampshire at the Neville ground in Tunbridge Wells, with the legendary "Warney" aka Shane Warne captaining the Hawks. If you're going to see Warney, might as well see him in a memorable match ........... out for a duck but redeemed himself with 3 spectacular wickets and a great catch, there's life in old blondie yet! Had a fab day and even got a bit of a tan. Today has been another memorable day as I spent the day at Claycots School, getting a bit of classroom experience under the watchful eye of Miss Elgie. So a taster to life as a teacher, had a really good day, so crossing those fingers even tighter to get an interview a.s.a.p. Granny was in action today and spent all day with Jacob, it was reported that he behaved like an angel and upon my return I was most perturbed to note that he didn't appear to have missed me one bit. Oh yes and a lawn update, turf appears to have rooted well and Aaron has bought a Flymo so was out strutting his stuff this evening.

Say Cheese!

No, not another reference to the invasion of mice (well all 2 of them), thank goodness. Instead, yesterday Jacob has his photos professionally taken. Of course he looked gorgeous and was as smiley as ever, so looking forward to seeing the actual photographs later this month. No news yet on the PGCE application but no news is good news, right??? Today received the forms to apply for family tax credits, hope to get the grand total of £20 a week, whoopee doooo but hey it's better than diddly squat. Jacob was weighed today and is now 8kg, he has exactly doubled his birth weight with just 10 days to go until his half year birthday, so I must be doing something right. He's still sleeping like a dream at night and wolfing down my ever increasing repertoire of purees. He sits up really well now, loves standing up if being supported and has developed a technique to crawl on his back......... Adores his baths, especially with daddy and lots of bubble bath, oh if only life remained that simple.................

Sleep and Lawn

What a successful weekend. Jacob took up residence in his own bedroom on Friday night and only woke up once during the night for about 5 minutes!!! Last night he must have only been awake for one minute during the night, yippee!!!!!!!!!! Aaron laid down some turf at the front of the house, only a few metres but we now have a lawn, just hope it isn't all dead by this time next week. The good news continues as no further sightings of mickey or mini and I even plucked up the courage to look behind the fridge and under the sink. Have now fully submitted my application to do my PGCE primary, so fingers crossed for an interview date soon. Popped into Harrods yesterday with mum and dad, pleased they had a successful outing. Was strange being there and I actually quite miss the place and am strangely drawn to return but I need to focus on my new direction and take off those rose tinted glasses, why on earth do I want to go back and be at work until 9pm, do stock takes and come in at all hours in order to get the sale set up??????

A New Beginning

As my gorgeous baby son Jacob approaches his half year birthday (not to mention that my 35th is just a few weeks away) I realise that my life has changed inconceivably in the last six months, albeit for the better! It's time to rewrite the rules, re-evaluate where I'm at and where I'm going. So, today not only have I started a blog but I will also be writing my personal statement to accompany my application to do a PGCE in order to become a primary school teacher. It's been a funny old week what with Jacob now woofing down my homemade veggie purees and my hysteria at discovering a small mouse in the house. Yesterday, poor Aaron was given no choice but to stay at home to stop me going over the edge (or getting a mega bucks bill from Rentokil) and instead of doing his work he found himself clearing the overgrown garden, laying mouse baits etc. all in the hope of getting rid of mickey and mini and curing my hysterical sobbing. Today no sightings of our unwanted house guests and Aaron was able to go to work. So now I need to crack on and write this personal statement, the beginning has begun.