No, it's all changed this year. Thanks to Tamsin's suggestion, I got in touch with our LEA, and they weren't going to post us anything. They told us we are past the deadline (24th April) because the assessment is based on financial details given last year; the 22 May deadline seems to be for new applications, or people whose income has altered a lot.

BerkshireSon has now applied online and we've supported the application, again online. Just have to wait and see now. My colleague at work, who has a son at university, says he's been told he can borrow less than last year - not what he wanted to hear - so I'm wondering what they are doing with last year's financial data to cause that to happen? Shrouded in mystery, as usual!

I just heard back from a job I'd applied for that I'd failed to get even an interview. I'm pretty upset about it, because it was a job I really, really wanted. My current contract ends in a few months and now I don't know what to do because this job I applied for had loads of vacancies and there really aren't many jobs about in the sector I work in at the moment, and the job I applied for was the particular area of the sector I've wanted to work in since I was nine years old.

I'm sorry to hear about your disappointment. Its important to pick yourself up as quickly as possible and carry on applying for other positions though, else it can be difficult to keep up the momentum.

Maybe also have a look over your application form / covering letter / CV, and get a few other opinions on them too. Make sure that there definitely isn't anything there to stop you getting past the first hurdle.

Good luck with the search.

My sleeping problems are really getting out of control I don't know what to do, and I'm just feeling fed up.

Everyone at school is being REALLY stupid and annoying. I've been finding that I come home from school feeling like I just want to curl up on my bed and cry. It's as if they have nothing better to do than pick on people - they find it funny, but it's not.

Oh madbassoonist that sounds horrible I know that feeling
Do you have a trusted friend you could talk to about the way you are feeling for at the very least a bit of silent moral support?

I have just booked by ticket for the Leeds concert and I specifically asked for an off-peak return, which I knew was the cheapest option (I'd checked before I went to the station). They have sold me two singles which they insisted was the cheapest option (I was told that the off-peak didn't exist), but I have checked again and there is definitely an off peak return which is cheaper than what they sold me. I couldn't see what they'd given me until after I'd paid, and now I'm stuck with the more expensive advanced ticket which they won't refund.

are they allowed to do that?

Well, I've just been all the way back to the station (left imidiately after I posted above and have literally just got back). It was a real rush and I arived at the station about a minute and a half before the ticket office closes! I told the man on the desk (who recognised me even though he hadn't served me before) that his mate had sold me the wrong ticket. The man who sold me the ticket was just round the corner and came back. I explained to him that I'd asked for an off-peak return and that I'd been away and checked and it was definitely cheaper than what he'd sold me, and that I'd checked with national rail enquires who had confirmed that what I'd asked for should have been available. His response was "but you can't use an off-peak ticket at that time in the morning" and I just said "Aye, but it's a Saturday" - and you could suddenly see the realisation spread accross his face. At this point he admitted that it was his mistake and refunded the 'non-refundable' ticket plus the other single he'd sold me, and I have the cheaper return which I'd asked for in the first place.

I have spent a whole two hours walking to and from the station today.

Well, looking on the bright side, the exercise will have done you good.

And the outcome could have been a lot worse - at least he admitted his mistake and rectified it. Shows you were right to go back to the station.

Glad it all got sorted for you Flossie!!

A few days ago I posted on the "Happy" thread because our little cat "Carlo"who had been so ill seemed to be on the mend.

He has had two relapses since and is currently at the vet's under perfusion - saline solution and cortisone - in an attempt to get his temperature down.

I felt absolutely awful leaving him there. He has only been with us since March and is so thankful to have a home - you can see how he loves it here. I felt he would feel abandoned again. I don't know what news the vet will have for us tomorrow. We won't give up hope but he is very ill indeed. I really do want to scream at the injustice of it - he is such a loving little animal.

Sorry to hear this

We've all got our fingers and paws crossed for him.

Poor Carlo, poor Aquarelle.



I'm not sure whether to say hope he gets better quickly or hope he has a peaceful and painfree end. What I do hope is that things decide themselves one way or the other quickly, because all the uncertainty must be really hard on both you and him, and that if he does get better that he will stay well this time.

Poor Carlo. And you, Aquarelle. It's horrible being in a situation like that.

He's in the right place though, and if anyone can make him better it's the vets. And he sounds as if he's fighting - he made it through last time. I'm not going to give up hope either. I hope Carlo gets to come back to the lovely home you have given him.

hope he's feeling better soon

Oh, dear, Aquarelle - so very sorry to hear this - like lottie, we all have our fingers and paws crossed here..

Arrgh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finals are coming up and I'm still suffering a cold (all because of a stupid fire alarm that went off for like three times between 4am to 6am towards the weekend, we all had to go out in the cold air!!!!). Very stressed out with learning for written exams-wagner and the ring cycle. Not to mention my recital, really want to get a first for that.

Poor Carlo... fingers crossed here for him too...

Thank you every one for all those fingers and paws so kindly crossed. I am afraid our little cat has lost the battle. We had to leave him at the vet's yesterday under perfusion. This morning we rang to ask how he was and the vet said there was absolutely no hope. Carlo was FIV positive which meant he had no immunity at all. He had not responded to any of the antibiotics and the perfusion didn't work either. It was impossible to get his temperature down and the vet said that he could not recover. So we had no alternative but to consent to that final act of love which all those who have animal companions dread. We are very sad indeed.

my sympathies go to you Aquarelle...

So sorry to hear that, Aquarelle

Aquarelle - I'm so sorry - I have only just caught up with this thread late in the day.

Am so sad for you.

Oh, dear, I'm so, so sorry Aquarelle . It is heartbreaking to lose a loved animal - and all the more so because of your so sad and tragic loss of two previous cats who went missing...

It was obviously the only thing that you could do and at least he isn't suffering any more - but it's still heartbreaking to go through.

Huge hugs..

Oh I'm sorry Aquarelle. *hugs*

Thank you again everyone - it does help to have your kind words.

Yes, as Cyrilla remembers we have already lost two cats. When we moved here from London we brought five cats with us. Until recently we always kept our animals many years. But over the last two years we have lost four. It seems to be a run of bad luck. We are very careful with them but fate seems to be against us at the moment.

However, though we are now down to two cats I am not ready to change my signature. Somehow it would be like rubbing out the memories - and in any case they do have that habit of turning up so I daresay we will be back to four eventually.

But the house seems very empty this morning.

Thank you again everyone - it does help to have your kind words.

Yes, as Cyrilla remembers we have already lost two cats. When we moved here from London we brought five cats with us. Until recently we always kept our animals many years. But over the last two years we have lost four. It seems to be a run of bad luck. We are very careful with them but fate seems to be against us at the moment.

However, though we are now down to two cats I am not ready to change my signature. Somehow it would be like rubbing out the memories - and in any case they do have that habit of turning up so I daresay we will be back to four eventually.

But the house seems very empty this morning.

PS Sorry - got posted twice in error - forums very slow this morning.

Am so sorry to hear about your cat Aquarelle. I know what it's like to have to leave a cat with the vet for the last time so I know how you're feeling.

I know what you mean. I have the most adorable kitten who will soon be a year old, yet I can't bring myself to change the pic on my profile of my last cat who died 18 months ago.

Oh, I am so sorry Aquarelle.*hugs*

My own argh is being stuck in hospital, and it's sunny outside.

Hospital? Are you ok Miss Ross?

What's up Floss? PM or email if you want to talk.

Hope you're ok Floss xx

Hope you're feeling better soon, Floss xxx





*Sorry to hear your news Aquarelle. *

Hope you'rw ok Miss Ross.....


I've had a really AARRRGGGGHHHH week- been named as an informant in a complaint to the National Body of a youth organisation , I think incorrectly, but noone is allowed to tell me what I've supposed to have said and to whom..... I have just been asked for the source of my information (complaint isn't about me but I don't know who it is about)..... It's kind of frustrating and worrying..... and I can't explain where I got my information from as I have no idea what they are talking about......
I've had someone else off load loads of other stuff to me about my husband's businesses that I'll have to deal with now......, ABRSM is trying to get hold of me but we keep missing......... (probably about a standard visit at my house).....Just loads of stuff going around my head.... on top of teaching, cooking tea and running my own kids around, trying to get my daughters to practise (they are successfully avoiding it at the moment) and getting my son to do his homework/ doing his homework (he has dyspraxia and we have just been making a collage for his art homework!!!).

ARGH... good job I'm going on holiday in half term.

best wishes for a speedy recovery Floss.

Poor Floss...hope you're ok...

My slight ARGH is that the Passport Service have just sent me a letter telling me that my face is too big as I was too near the camera on the passport photos I sent the other week - means having to go and sit in that darned booth outside Sainsbury's again tomorrow *DEEP JOY*

Thank you for the hug. Do hope you will be better very soon. Take care.

Thats awful news about your cat, Aquarelle I have 2 cats who I love to bits, and I can't imagine losing them, they become part of your family.

I hope you're ok, Miss Ross! Get well soon

I've had an OK week, just rather stressful with GCSEs and revision and feeling rather ill for 2 weeks.

Jacob.

Sympathies to everyone who's having a rough time.

Argggggg I've just finished all the Uni work I need to hand in tomorrow and it all looks like rubbish.... I'm going to faaaaiiiiiilllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!



Well maybe not but it doesn't look like six months worth of work now I've tidied it all up.



And it's TWO weeks before I find out if I've passed.



Actually I know what they're going to say.... "You're obsessed with music....!"



They might just be right.




I can't sleep though... what am I going to do tonight until..zzzzzz

It's really not that bad, I'm sure!

You could make a viola out of cheese if you haven't done so already.

Good luck for your results.

Grrrr...just had to cancel tonight's lessons. Wretched back...

Can't find a massage emoticon

Thanks anyway. Good old tramadol should sort it..

Baileys is a good remedy too

Don't have any Baileys...but I can feel a nice glass of medium dry white coming on later.

White wine tastes better when taken with some white chocolate cake

White wine should be served by someone handsome.



Found your fire fighter.

Feeling better??

He looks as if he needs to put those braces back on!

Much better thank you ladies!