Spent hours putting together one of those black compost storing things. We are actually quite good at flat pack stuff but this one was cheap and warped. Anyway we got it together, carried to the right spot in the garden and - guess what - it fell apart and the four little sliding doors all came out! Spent hours putting it back together - tied it up with wire in the end - but the doors wouldn't fit. We spent ages trying every thing we could think of. Finally we cut the clips off three of them and decided to wire them on and just keep one for opening. So then my partner decided to try sliding the door in the other way round. It worked, but we had already sawn the clips off the others!!!

Concert tomorrow evening. Two soloists whom I am accompanying failed to turn up Friday lunchtime for our first practice. Didn't turn up today either! Managed to catch the singer, although we didn't get a run-through because she's still unsure about her part: 'tricky rhythms in the Falla singing against the piano part, to which she's never sung!

Haven't seen the flautist. Won't until 6pm or so tomorrow (Concert starts 7pm). So I'm highly likely to find myself sightreading in the concert itself - she's grade 8 flute!

Oh joy!

Sounds like you have been given the run around. rehearsals are needed if a good performance is to be given on the night.

You'd think that would be obvious but evidently not so. I have found the problem more often to have been with those students in high grades though, oddly. I had a trumpeter decide on Flight of the Bumblebee once, just a day or so before the school House Music Competition. Those with lower grades tend to seek me out with weeks to spare; I suppose they are all the more concerned about their ability to come up to the mark.

I could easily have sought out these two today, for peace of mind, but thought rather a piece of my mind might be better - they are Sixth Form, after all. Somehow they have to be made aware. OK, perhaps the concert itself is not an ideal place for it to happen but then they will remember it if it all falls apart!

I don't worry so much about myself, because my musical contribution is held in reasonable esteem by the powers that be. I don't want to highjack a performance and I shan't deliberately bodge it up, but either I sightread or we pull the item from the programme - in which case I won't hide the reason for it.

I agree totally. At our school, if we don't show up for rehearsals without an exceptionally good reason, our piece is pulled from the show, no arguments. I feel really sorry for you, clavicembalo, you're the one "doing them a favour", as it were, and you shouldn't be getting treated like that, particularly from sixth formers-I bet they wouldn't be impressed if you didn't bother showing up!

********* BA have just cancelled one of the 4 flights I had booked this weekend, thereby rendering the other 3 and the car hire completely useless, but non refundable (probably).

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rubbish! My friend can't go to Venice because of it, she's been talking about that holiday for the entire term!

Oh poor you, that is completely out of order. And the piece isn't easy either is it?

I can't even do the Chanson!



Don't blame you, was it pleasure or business? My husband is tied up in these flights at the weekend for business, I must find out if his has been cancelled.



Ih that is such a shame, can you fly with anyone else?

Let's hope the two sides in the dispute can sort out their differences before all these cancellations kick in...

Aaaaaaaaaaargh. When I got to the office this morning having come over the M62 as usual from the Wirral, I went into the car boot for my briefcase and laptop, and realised I had left my small suitcase in the hall at home !. So I have just the clothes I am wearing for three days. Looks like I'll have to go out and buy a few things at lunchtime .Otherwise I'l be a bit niffy by Thursday

My turn,

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dont think I feel any better though..
Lib

I was always doing that sort of thing until my partner told me of a fool proof remedy. You don't remember what you have to take. You just remember how many items you have to carry or put in the boot etc. It works for me because when I have registered three items to carry and have only two in my hands i know something is missing. Only trouble is, you do have to remember to keep counting!! Anyway, buy yourself some nice new things!!

This week, so far, I have set myself a new personal best in the number of job application rejection letters I've received. In the last few days, it's been 5 rejection letters and 3 that didn't bother to get back to me.

I'm trying not to take it personally but it's hard not to and right at this moment I am feeling completely defeated.

I feel the same as you right now.

I have bought a couple of shirts, and some 'pants' and socks at M & S Pudsey now. Good job I had some birthday money to spend. ! (I am not going to tell you the colour, particularly the pants ! )

Commiserations to you both.

Don't take it personally, though; you are lovely people and somewhere out there is just the job for you. Try to stay positive, though it must be really tough.

tbh.

I can assure you they are not that colour,nor do they have hearts on them Are they yours Sol ???

Nope. In that case, I think that Stetenorve must have mislaid them!

Thank you BerkshireMum for your lovely support. I'm trying to stay positive, I've been looking for a job for 14 months now and although I try not to let it get to me, the constant rejections are getting me down. I know things are tough out there at the moment, but I'll keep hoping someone will give me a chance soon.

Violin Hero - I'm sorry to hear you're in the same situation, am sending you positive vibes in the hope that your perfect job finds its way to you really soon.

I may have a second diabetic dog His brother was diagnosed last year and we finally have his insulin sorted and I checked the other's blood sugar as I noticed a few mild symptoms.

It's just so unfair, they have never been overweight or overfed, it can apparently just be hereditary

Oh no I guess at least, if your dog is diabetic, at least you know and you can take steps to keep his blood sugar under control

Thanks yeah I guess so. I wonder if I can get bulk discount on insulin and needles

Has someone been feeding your dogs chocolate or something? I've never heard of a diabetic dog! Hope they cope ok

Thanks It's reasonably common as I've found out since Scamp's diagnosis, there are forums on it and everything, some breeds are more prone to it (like westies )

Awwh, are you dogs westies? I'm terrified of dogs, but there was a gorgeous little Westie who belonged to the gentleman who lived opposite my grandparents when I was little-to this day Westies are the only dogs I don't run screaming from

They'll be glad They're westie crosses and both very daft and loving.

Awww..

Awwh, that looks exactly like gentleman-across-the-road's dog-she was the definition of adorable!

Nah, what you really want is one of these...

Aw they are both gorgeous I love all dogs

[edit] I wanted to put a photos of my dogs but I don't know how

That's kind of cute, in a full of anger sort of way I still wouldn't fancy meeting it down a dark alleyway mind!

If you've got pics stored in your computer you should be able to transfer the 'address' of the picture to the forum reply box (click on the tree).

If not (or it's proving troublesome), transfer them to a photo sharing site (ImageShack and Flickr are good), and get the URL addresses from there to share with us (again, click on the tree, type the address there).

They sound like very good dogs, Juniper!

Sorry to hear you've been out of work for 14 months. Keep trying and I'm sure something will come along. Don't give up hope. I know it can be demoralising, but you have to stay positive! I've got friends who are recent graduates and they're having problems finding work as well. One of my friend graduated in 2007 and had problems finding his dream job, he ended up doing admin work, working in Tescos, pubs etc just to earn some money but last month he finally found a job in finance. Keep trying and good luck!

Off skool today with a bad chest and coff .

And upset on behalf of a very old friend whose father was murdered 8 years ago - and they've just quashed the killer's conviction and ordered a re-trial...

Umm 2 things: First, my sympathies to your friend Lucky 045 but what was rubbish about what I wrote? (Except that I will get some of it back, just not ?150)

Second, too late: The flights have been cancelled, that was my point.

And no, I cannot get any other flights, I've tried. So have 30,000 other people.

I read the rubbish bit as being the situation was rubbish, and all sorts of other words not allowed on a polite forum :-( so sorry for all of you affected by the strikes

No, I mean it's rubbish that your flights have been cancelled, not that you're talking rubbish! Sorry, I didn't realise what that looked like, I obviously need to think about what I write a lot more!
But the situation is rubbish. My friend's basically wasted a whole load of money on insurance, carbon offsetting etc for a holiday she can't go on, and I'm sure you're in the same position.

Oh I thought that there was the possibility of flights being reinstated if there was no strike - sorry if my post wound you up.

Moon - thank you for your supportive comments.

Today, I am fuming I went for an interview yesterday, spent money on the train fare getting to the destination, got to the interview in good time. It turns out, I was never in contention and that they just wanted the novelty value of meeting the person who had applied with a PhD. They then said they would contact me that afternoon, I waited in for the phone call and nothing.

This is the second time this has happened to me now and I just find it really disrespectful that they waste my time when they have absolutely no intention of considering me, especially when they don't even have the courtesy to contact me afterwards.

Sorry, rant over, going off now for a good cry

How completely thoughtless and arrogant. Crying is better than what I did in similar circumstances back in the Jurassic [I wasn't suitable but they thought they ought to interview someone from my company because so many of us had applied - duhhh, we were all being made redundant]. The hangover was truly awful.

My scream is minor by comparison. Daughter has just phoned to say her viledin bow has broken - the screw has been clicking for a few weeks now, I now gather, but she was hoping it would be all right... BUT IT WASN'T LAST TIME IT DID THAT, WAS IT. She has her A-level recital on Tuesday. I am more-or-less housebound with an ill person and my time is SO pressured as a result. I asked her a few weeks back if her bow needed anything doing to it, and whether she had spare strings (she STILL doesn't have...). Almost the worst thing is that I can just sort it, if my sick person is a bit better tomorrow, if I don't do groceries, if I instead go to the violin shop. (I shall miss her next year, I keep telling myself)

I'm absolutely furious
One of the little girls I co-teach at my dance school had gone to an audition for a two week ballet course in the summer for under-elevens (she's nine). Her audition apparently didn't go as well as she'd hoped, but she was given some useful constructive critiscism from one of the two examiners in a manner that was entirely appropriate and really quite helpful. However, the other examiner apparently told her "Try again next year, but I don't think you're exactly the right shape for ballet". Being the bold, inquisitive nine year old that she is, she enquired what he meant by this, only to be told "Well, you're never going to ballerina shape, are you? You're a little...heavy for that."
I'm fuming, she's not in THE LEAST BIT on the "heavy side", if anything I think she's slightly underweight! Even if this was in fact the case, what sort of a responsible adult says that to a nine year old girl?! Things like this make me wonder about the state of people these days

Sorry about your flights Robodoc, such a shame. My hubbies firm managed to get him on a flight with a Swedish airline, I was secretly hoping that they couldn't and then he wouldn't have to go away - but alas there you have it.

My daughter is due to take a cello exam some time before mid-April. (This is France, French system, one exam session only and one exam approximately every four years). Her "normal" cello teacher has been on maternity leave and then parental leave for 18 months and was due to come back on March 1st. She changed her mind a month before hand (which she is legally perfectly entitled to do) and has decided to extend her leave for a further sixth months. Meanwhile, the replacement teacher had found another (permanent) job and has left. The pupils had three weeks without lessons while the school tried to find another teacher. When they eventually found one, she can only work on Saturday afternoons (the other teacher taught on Wednesday afternoon when there is no school here).

My daughter was asked to join a brass group about a month ago which meets once a month on Saturday afternoons. I arranged for her to have the last slot, thinking there would just be time to take her from the brass rehearsal to her lesson only to discover that this month's rehearsal has been moved to a different town 40 minutes drive away.

I don't think I can decently cancel the cello lesson but daughter is not pleased at having to miss half the rehearsal

I'm not surprised you're fuming and agree it was totally irresponsible and unnecessary. I believe it's true that there is particular shape that is looked for in dancers, and a particular build, and I believe all sorts of measuring goes on - but that's not relevant here. If she ever got to the stage where she was applying to the Royal Ballet School for a full-time place then her build and her growth potential would no doubt, rightly or wrongly, come into play - but in this particular situation I don't think there needed to be even a hint of that and I hope to goodness that such a comment hasn't 1) given her a complex about her body shape at 9, or 2) spoiled her love of ballet. Silly man

I am so sorry Blackbird, that is awful for you, you are entitled to have a good rant and I hope it made you feel a little better.

Sending you hugs and just remember something will turn up soon, the jobs just haven't been the right ones for you.

ET

PS from penitent parent. Daughter said she would go herself - just possible in 'frees' by train/tube - as it was her bow, her exam, her fault. Ahhhhhh. Patient was somewhat brighter so I went, of course - she has less time than I do - and I did grocery shopping at supermarket round the corner while the bow was being repaired.

Aaaaaarrgggghhhh!

Term ended yesterday, so I though "perfect chance to go to the library to get the books I need for next term so I can start my research over the vacation." I trudged through heavy rain and mud, got to the library, got to the lift to find a note that said 'third floor is CLOSED today. Sorry for any inconvenience.' The third floor is the floor with the music section on, so could I get the books I wanted? No. And I am going home tonight so I won't even get another chance, unless I come back specially during the holidays just to go to the library. Aaaargh, now unless I come back specially, I am going to have to cram all the research and preparation into the first 2 weeks of next term because I am giving a seminar in the third week.