I'm really looking forward to getting even better!!
Living well on less and saving for early retirement
I'm really looking forward to getting even better!!
I've had so many lovely messages from my colleagues all wishing me well and saying I'm doing the right thing. They've seen me struggling for months and aren't in the least bit surprised. I've said I'm not hiding away and will be spending my time (once this fecking cough has gone!!) in my garden and at the allotment. And I'll take as long as it takes to feel properly well again.
The above quote is from a book called "The Teachers" by Alexandra Robbins. It's about the American school system but the findings apply to teachers worldwide. Teacher burnout post pandemic is very real and it's not their fault.
In other news I've not been well this week and took 3 days off work. I definitely had/have some sort of virus as I've had a pounding headache with a high temperature and been alternating being freezing cold and boiling hot!! I had a few days in bed and then stupidly went back to work on Thursday When will I learn?? 🙄
Folk at work were happy that the teacher's pay claim in Scotland has been resolved. It looks a good deal on paper, 13.5% but that's back dated to last April and spread out over 28 months. It's not 13.5% all at once. And in 2 years time teachers will be back to the same position of negotiating the next pay rise. I'm glad I'll be out of it.
Thankfully this week I was able to just pull something quick and nutritious out the freezer as cooking when you're not well is off the agenda. I took a photo of my tubs in the freezer as it was very satisfying to see them all 😊 Saved me time and money as no takeaways were required!
Today was a strike day. As a staff we decided not to man a picket line, mainly because we were tired/unwell and the thought of 2 long lies was irresistible! But we attended a local rally outside the council HQ later in the morning.
Afterwards I walked into town as I had M&S vouchers worth £11. I had thoughts of getting myself some treats but everything was so expensive. So I went yellow sticker hunting instead and saw a few good deals. As it was still before lunch time there weren't many. But I got a great deal on some ewe's milk cheese, reduced from £4.25 to £1.32 and some jumbo sausages (gluten free) that had almost £1 off.
But the main reason I went to M&S was because I wanted sushi for lunch. That wee box cost £5. It was a delicious but expensive treat. I really should learn to make my own! 🍣 Total was £12.52 so really I got free meat and cheese then got the sushi for £1.52 😋
So here we are at the end of the month already! My February spending was rather low 🎉
I didn't need to make soup this weekend for the week ahead (thanks to last week's mega soup batch cooking!) so I made a big veggie lasagne instead to use up the leftover veggies at the bottom of the fridge! That will do me and my DIL tonight and I'll have several portions leftover to freeze. I made a wee lasagne with some minced beef from the freezer (cooked and frozen weeks ago) for my son. And we're having a rhubarb crumble for dessert, using up rhubarb frozen last year. I think it's the last batch. There are a few bags of plums and just 1 tub of blackcurrants left. The fruit I froze last Summer has kept me going throughout the Winter!
This week we're on strike for 2 days, Tuesday and Wednesday. There's also a rally at the council HQ to protest the lack of action on resolving the issues. I was asked if I wanted to address the rally but I don't think I will. I might get carried away and be a bit too honest!!! I don't want to put pressure on myself by agreeing but I'll see how I feel on the day.