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Flat Land Andy's Goffer

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  1. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    I spoke to a friend today who told me that her 10yr old son, who is a close friend of Little mans and who spends a lot of time with us as a family(holidays included), had had his head smashed against a fence twice, punched in the face and then kicked in the stomach. He, being a strong boy both physically and emotionally, actually dealt with it very well and laughed at his attacker and ran away. His attacker is also 10 and has been in the same class at school with her son since they started school. I know both boys very well as my little man also used to go to the same school and was in the same class until very recently when he changed schools for the final year (Yr6)
    It then transpired that my friend received a phone call from another child telling her what had happened and that her son had run from the scene, but that the other boy was looking for him and he had a knife. She obviously went out looking for her son, but met up with the other boy before catching up with her son. I think she handled it better than I would have done in the circumstances and basically told the boy that if he had problems with her son, that fighting was not the answer and to calm down and sorting out was the best way to go.
    The following day she had a word with the teacher of the boys, basically just advising that there had been a problem, she was not sure what had caused it, but she would appreciate it if they could keep their eyes open for anything and keep them apart for a short while until they had managed to sort themselves out.
    It then transpires that the "attacker" was suspended for a week because he had taken the knife into school that day, for what reason we are unsure but that he had taken it in intentionally and he had said that he was going to "hurt" someone.
    This child is 10. What on earth is going on! My little mans friend is okay about it all, but I am not so sure that I feel that calm about it and our family were not involved in it.
    I'm just in shock to be honest that a child of 10 could do this?!?
  2. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    Lots of things have happened since my last blog. We eventually decided on the 3 choices for little mans secondary school, not withstanding a lot of stress and trying to fight our way through the mindfield of which school would be best for him as an individual. <_< We wont be told until 1.3.07 which school he has been allocated by the LEA, but regardless I hope that the 3 choices are the "best" ones for him. He did so very very well in his 11+ that the choice was made slightly harder as it was obvious that we needed to make sure they were going to stretch him, but he is such a deep child that we needed to make sure that it also had the right pastoral care for him.
    As we have moved we are having to change GP's surgery and I hate having to go through the family history of cancer, my medical history including the cancer, the genetics testing etc etc. Some doctors just look at you so matter of fact as though it is absolutely normal and others seem to understand the pressure that nursing all of your family members until their deaths of cancer and having cancer yourself can have on you. Still waiting our genetic results, believe it ir not. It's only 3 years now! We did receive a letter from the hospital saying that we could pay $3000.00 to have them tested in the USA nad we would have the results in 3 months! :unsure:
    Is anyone else out there into Strictly come dancing. I have to say I am hooked, especially after the fireworks last week! It is complete escapisam for me from the stress of work, things have been so difficult that I needed to find something that I could switch off with.
    Little man is on steriods at the moment as he had a bad asthma attack on Friday 27.10.06 and despite nebulisers and inhalers at least 4 times a day, he was still struggling a little. Amazing isn't it. He has walked 290 miles, climbed the 3 peaks in 22 hours, almost weekly swims 1000 metres and nothing..... no problems at all. He stay's at a friends for the night and they land up having to take him to hospital! Well at least he is on the mend now. I have to say I was really really worried about him , but as always he has bounced back as quick as he became ill.
  3. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    We actually got little mans official pass mark today for his 11+. The required mark to reach was 220 and needless to say when we were told that his was "phenominal in comparison to his peers" I was obviously proud. :unsure: Having phoned the grammar school where he actually sat the exam and got his mark I wasn;t just proud I was ABSOLUTLEY BLOWN AWAY!
    I have always known that he had the potential to do well, but this was "phenominal" as described by his new headmaster. We have decided not to tell him what his actual score was just that he has done VERY WELL <_<
  4. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    Well we have just come back from our favourite chinese restaurant. Little mans Nanny and Great Nanny and Uncle Chris came with us. It was his nannies birthday on 12th so we had booked the restaurant initially for that, but also for the fact that we were expecting to get Little Mans 11+ results today and we were hoping that he would have passed.
    Well I am not sure who was on more tender hooks waiting for the postman this morning, me, Andy or Little Man. We received a phone call first thing this morning, from one of Little Mans friends. His Mum was absolutely beside herself with pride and decided that she could phone and tell us he had passed without worrying about whether we had received our results or not because she was absolutely sure in her own mind that our Little Man would have passed! I wish we had had the same confidence. We eventually received our post this morning at about 10:30am, over 2 hours earlier than last week thank goodness, and despite the letter being addressed to Andy and I we obvioulsy allowed Little Man to open it.
    Needless to say he PASSED!!!!! <_< :unsure:
    We are so very very proud of him and are going to treat him to something nice. I know it is only an exam, but what the heck I am allowed to be proud. This exam was not easy.

  5. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    I have been suffering with a bad cold for a while now and am feeling somewhat under the weather. Can't taste, smell or hear anything and I am still on a no fat diet because of the pancreatitis and the pain that I get if I eat anything remotely fatty. :lol:
    Have been on this low fat diet now for 7 months and I cant see the end in site. At one point I couldn't tolerate too much sugar either because my pancreas was struggling to control my insulin levels. Have you ever tried shopping for "treats" with no fat or sugar in them? Hmm
    Little man is trying my patience as well because he wants more independence, but I am not prepared to allow him to go up to the park on his own for example. It's mainly a safety thing, but it is causing real tension between us as he sees all of his classmates being allowed to do these type of things.
    We are supposed to get his 11+ results next weekend(14th) so we are still doing the rounds of school hunting. I never realised that choosing a secondary school could be so stressful. :o
    The headmaster of his new school spoke to me the other day and said that although Little Man had only been with them two weeks it was very evident that he processed information differently to any of the other children and he was "not a normal boy" :lol:
    I wasn't sure how to respond to this and am making a note of things ready to tackle him with them. He did say that he would get Little Man's file photocopied for me to help me with some information in trying to choose the correct secondary school for him.
    Anyway we'll just have to wait and see.......................
  6. Flat Land Andy's Goffer

    Its over!

    By Flat Land Andy's Goffer,

    Can't believe it has been so long since my last entry. I have been reading everyone elses blogs but have not done anything on my own. :o
    Really this is just a quick note to say that Little Man has finished his 11+ examinations and now we can all relax a little while.
    He has changed Primary schools as well and started at the local primary school on 6.9.06, so its all change! Quite stressful as I am not sure that changing for the final year of Primary school was a good idea, but he seems to be ok and within 3 days of being there gained a school award for being an "absolute asset to the school". Time will tell and we will have to wait and see what parents evening brings. I am going to the PTA meeting tonight as I am a firm believer of helping the school that my child attends.
    We went to a family wedding on 15.7.06, Sport Relief day. The bride is a triatholon athelete and the groom rows, so we half expected then to run the mile for Sports Relief to the church, but alas it was all very "normal" however I have to say it was a beautiful wedding and absolutely lovely. Everything was perfect. :lol:
    Little man made a friend, the bridesmaid and since 15.7.06 they have phoned each other on a regular basis, written to one another and texted one another. During the summer holidays we picked her up twice so that they could spend the day together doing something that they wanted to(Bowling, pizza, Big Sky etc etc). On 2 other occasions we all went out for a meal and we took her out for the day on another occasion on a Sunday. She has also been here for a weekend and had a sleep over and they are now planning a trip to Woburn Safari park this month to celebrate the end of their 11+ exams! Isn't young love special. . . . . . . only joking they have just hit it off and have become friends. She also invited him to her brothers christening and we spent the day with her family and they went up the park aswell. When I turned to see where they were and what they were doing, they were both lying down on the roundabout, whilst it was going round, looking up at the clouds in the sky!
    The funniest part was the fact that Little Man was embarrased to ask when he initially wanted to phone her and asked if I could speak to her Mum first as he didn't think it was polite if he just phoned and asked to speak to Danielle . He said that it would be better if he got her Mums permission first and then her Mum would know who she was talking to, that it was safe and that he was being sensible in asking for permission first. :lol:
    Anyway got to go. Still waiting Genetic testing results. Should be December now.
  7. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    Well he did it! But what I am more proud of is how he did it. Little man was just so focused on what he had set in his own mind was required of him to complete this challenge.
    His schedule was as follows: 5 hours to climb Ben Nevis, 4 for Scarfell Pike and 5 for Snowdon with 10 hours drive time.
    Little Man climbed Ben Nevis in 4hrs 41 mins & 24secs, he came down and stretched off his muscles( without be told to), got in the car, took his boots and socks off, ate a pot noodle and some other snacky bits, had a drink and then it was like he just pressed a button and he went to sleep.
    At 3am I woke him and I thought I was going to get "Oh just a view more minutes mum" but nothing of the sort. He just sat up, asked where we were and how much longer before we got to Scarfell Pike so that he knew how long he had to have something else to eat and drink and check that his back pack was ok for the next mountain.
    We arrived at Scarfell Pike, he got out of the car, stretched and warmed up his muscles and was off! He climbed this mountain in 3hrs 19 mins & 30 secs and then went through exactly the same routine again when he got back to the car, with no prompting or questions.
    I woke him at 11am when were near Snowdon and he did exactly the same, without any hesitation, questions or moans and climbed in 3hrs 47 mins & 15secs making a total challenge time of 22 hrs 3 mins & 30 secs as this drive time was 10hrs 15 mins 21 secs.
    I am just amazed at the focus he showed and the fact that without any input from us he knew exactly what he needed to do and when. If he can show this mind set and attitude as he matures and on into his career then I am sure he will achieve whatever it is he wants. I just cannot believe that my little man could be so convincingly "grown up".
    I asked him if he had any thoughts about what his next challenge might be and he said either the 4 peaks in 48hrs, but he would love to do Kilimanjaro. All I can say is WOW and I don't care if I sound like the over proud Mum because I am and if you had been there I am sure you would understand why.
  8. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    Little Man has been in training for his 3 Peaks challenge and climbed Snowdon twice at Easter and Scarfell Pike on 28.5.06.
    This week it is all preparation for his Carbohydrate intake, sleep and general relaxation and retaining as much energy as possible. He his also sitting his practice 11+ exams and in general has an awful lot on.
    I am really concerned that the sponsorship for the 3 peaks is basically non existent and I am annoyed that people are just so complaicent about his efforts. I don't know how to articulate how big a challenge this is and therefore that he should be recognised for his efforts for other families.
    The local paper ran a story on 2.6.06 and Adam went into BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on 3.6.06 and did a live interview, but so far we have only had 6 hits on the website, no emails of encouragement or acknowledgement and no sponsorship. I really don't know what else to do.
    Maybe if people had lost all of their family to this disease and had the disease themselves and had had to use the services of Macmillan Cancer Relief to be able to cope with caring and supporting dying family members or for your own support and understanding of the effects and consequences of the disease ,then maybe they would appreciate why Adam is doing what he is doing.
    It's not as though he is just doing a sponsored silence or something, not that I think any kind of sponsorhip event or support of any charity is unworthy, it is just that he is undertaking another enormous challenge as he hopes that this would hilite the charity more because of the enormity of his challenges, but this does not seem to be working.
    Anyway enough of my moaning, its just that I don't wnat him to be disappointed and his confidence and enthusiasm knocked.
  9. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    A little while since my last blog and I am not sure I can remember everything that has happened, but the most recent and disruptive is that on Friday 5.5.06 I received a phone call from an estate agents asking when they could come and take photographs and measurements as the landlord was selling the house.
    The letting agents had not advised us and to be honest I was a little annoyed! We have been here 5 years and they didn't even have the decency to tell us! It was the estate agents that told us they had it on their records that we had to be out by 4th July.
    Consequently both I and the estate agents tried to get some response from the lettings agent and eventually, after numerous phone calls and emails, I received a phone call 5 hours after the estate agents phone call, confirming that we have to be out by 4.7.06?!?
    Considering the fact that little man has had exams this week and next I didin't want to tell him until these were over because he is quite sensitive about these things, but hubby told him and so I have had the constant round of questions about where we are going, why and when. Little man also has his prcatice 11+ papers in June and climbing the 3 peaks in 24hrs on 10.6.06.
    We appear to have found another house which we viewed on 11.5.06,(the only one we looked at) just waiting for confirmation of a date to move in and the exit inventory/exit inspection/deposit transfer etc etc. The house is in a nice area, walking distance of the local primary and secondary schools, the local shops and swimming pool, but it is in another county, near hubby's work, but it could be a problem with Little Mans school.
    Hubby and Little Man have both said it would be easier if he changes school for his final year at Primary school, but I am concerned that all of this change will be too much too close together as he would start in the 6th year on 6.9.06, have to sit his 11+ exams on 9.9.06 and 16.9.06 whilst settling into a new school with no friends. Also he will then have to sit his most important SATS in May 2007 only having been at the school a few months and then have to change schools again.
    Little Man finds it hard to form relationships with children his own age and after 6 years(incl reception class) at his current school has only just formed a couple of good friendships with 2 boys. Hubby believs that Little Man is good whenyou give him a challenge, which I don't dispute if it is "climb that in 4housr" or "do that for your cubs badge" but I am not so sure about this sort of challenge. I just want to make sure that we make the right decision with regard to Little Man. Little Man is not recognised as having Aspergers Syndrome, but it is believed that if I got a formal "diagnosis" that he does show these tendancies and that it is a possibility.
    Amongst all this I am waiting for important test results regarding cancer and awaiting dates for 2 major operations. I really could do without having to move from a large 3 bedroom house to a house that would fit into my current home, twice over but hey ho here we go!
  10. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    Got home at 5.45pm yesterday after spending the weekend in Wales where little man and hubby climbed Snowdon on Saturday and Sunday as a training excercise for the 3 peaks challenge.
    On Saturday they began climbing at 1.15pm and reached the summit at 3.45pm and had descended by 5.25pm a total of 4hrs 10mins accent and descent. This was partially up the watkins path and then along the ridge with a descent down the path next to the railway. The summit was extremely busy and they had no opportunity to take a photo at the triangulation point, but did take one near the cafe at the top( which wasn't open). On the descent they found a cafe open half way down and treated themselves to some chocolate. Both were really impressed with this days walking and pleased that they had completed such a difficult route up in good time. It was a beautiful day but both had got quite hot and sweaty and so I had to make sure that they took enough fluids on board otherwise they would struggle on the next days climb, being dehydrated.
    On Sunday they began at 7.46am and descended at 12.06pm a total of 4hrs 20minutes. This was along the miners track at Llanberis. Both were disappointed with this effort but considering that they had to keep stopping to take waterproofs on and off etc and the conditions were changeable, it wasn't that bad to be honest. They started in cloud, the conditions got steadily worse and then on the descent the sun came out, so they had a bit of everything. There was only 3 other people at te summit so this time they had the opportunity to take a photo at the summit.
    Little Man held up well but I need to force more high energy food into him for the 3 peaks as I am concerned that on the second days climbing he said he felt that he had no energy. Hubby was fine except for the fact that he had a crease in the tongue of his boot and this caused some discomfort in his foot on the descent. Also after this second climb he was ok walking up hill but struggled down hill, he has said that he has got to loose some weight and get fitter because he doesn't want to struggle.
    The journey home led to an argument about navigation as the journey there had so this is something that I need to address because if I am driving between the summits I need to ensure that I have a defined and clear route to each mountain.
    Anyway now today I have a couple of Little Man's friends here and I am trying to catch up on all the washing form the weekend. The campsite was ok, we had stayed there before but again it begs the fact that we need to amke sure that we have accommodation at the start and end of the 3 peaks challenge so that we can all be well rested before the start of the challenge and have somewhere comfortable to collapse afterwards.
  11. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    It is a beautiful day oustide and hubby and little man have gone for a bike ride to try to keep little man's fitness levels up ready for doing the 3 peaks in 24hrs, despite his injured foot. :unsure:
    He has been ok with his foot, but has been reacting somewhat inappropriately to certain things at school. I say inappropriately, but to be honest I feel that he has just reacted as any frustrated, angry 10yr old would, but parents have felt the need to comment on it, without listening to his reasons, even calling him nasty, which I was somewhat affronted by.
    If he was nasty why did he walk 290 miles for other people and why did he give up his easter egg that he won to try to make amends. Why for the last 2 weekends has he given up part of his pocket money to buy a book for one of the few people he believes is his friend(Before this particular incident happened so this was not trying to make up for something)! Why has he tried to help with other problems that children have had. I am fed up with the better than thou attitude.
    Yes he originally denied what he did which is wrong and as this parent pointed out that is lying, but then little man admitted it me, said he was sorry for lying and tried to do something about it, but no he is NASTY according to them and this was an inappropriate reaction by a 10yr old I am not even sure that they had the all of the facts as why he had done it, but they were not willing to hear anything I had to say and haven't spoken to Littla Man directly so.............. :unsure:
    What child doesn't deny things and then thinks Umm maybe I had better confess because I am bound to be found out. Don't get me wrong I know he should have admitted what he did and not lied and that is unforgivable but I wouldn't say it warrants the reaction from this parent that it received.
    What little man did was a reaction to him paying for a game, him allowing certain people to have access to this game as guests, someone or more than one of his guests changing his part of the game, so that their game/character could benefit and then boasting about it! Then saying that there was nothing wrong with his foot and that he was putting it on..... they are doctors now are they!
    I know he should have approached them all and told them that if they continued to change his profile he would delete them from his guest list and given them the opportunity to stop this, but he didn't, he overeacted to this and being told there was nothing wrong with his foot. He deleted all of his guests but left one open that they could all use.
    In my opinion he is startaing to react to the constant bullying that he has received since he started school at the age of 5. He is reacting to being called, dumb, pathetic, stupid, thick, 4 eyes, useless, stupid g*t, weird, not normal, geek, swat, whimp and some things that I won't repeat because they are swear words and inappropriate. He is reacting to growing up, but in this instance reacted inappropriately.
    I do not condone him lying, but in my opinion I can understand why he reacted how he did, not that I agree with it. I have taken certain privledges away and his pocket money. What do you think? Do you think it is a normal reaction for a 10yr old, or was it so inappropriate that I am being the over protective mother? Please give me your honest opinion because right now I am so stressed with this, waiting for results from the hospital, not knowing whether the landlord is going to be selling the house we rent and feeling under the weather health wise that I am concerned I am being over protective and therefore using what I call "rose coloured glasses" which is something I would hate to do.
    I feel that he has always been a round peg in a square hole and struggles to form relationships. In year 3 he had to be taken out of his English SATS test, because he got so upset and said that he couldn't do it and this is a child that in yr4 got level 4a's, but he had been taunted and taunted about not being as good as a couple of others and little man is a very deep child and believes it. We have even had a child here for a sleep over and they have stood on our stairs, said that no-one likes little man, that no-one is his friend and that he is thick, dumb and stupid!
    Little man was talking about Heaven and Hell the other day, he had religious studies that day and he said "Your life is your heaven and your hell. You are sent here by god to help other people or to learn a lesson yourself" I really didn't know what to say to him. He's 10! How deep is that!
    I am concerned that little man is going to continue to struggle with his social skills and this is despite me ensuring that he takes part in group activities and trying to help him with how to deal with certain situations.
    I suppose the truth is I am concerned that people are pointing the finger and saying that I am a bad parent and as such Little man is turning into a bad person.
    Please give me any honest opinions that you have or comments about experiences you have had with children and how you have dealt with this because I am trying to do what is best for Little Man.
    Please help if you can
  12. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    Just seem to be either waiting for results from hospitals or visiting hospitals at the moment. Had to take little man on Saturday to have an x-ray on his foot as after his collision/accident at football training on Thursday his foot wasn't getting any better. Whilst waiting to be called in Nanna was rushed in, in an Ambulance as an emergency, as she had had a fall and they were worried about her heart rate. Considering she is over 84 and has had 3 strokes and a couple of heart attacks I was really concerned, but thankfully she is ok.
    Am getting a little anxious about getting my latest results, but I should be used to this by now. Am feeling pretty low as I have a bad cold and am in a lot of pain with other concerns as well, so I think this is a detrimental effect on my positive attitude and if I can shift this cold and get on top of the pain I am sure that I will be ok!
  13. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    The police have kept a high profile in the village again today and forensics are still around as well. Police are on "guard" at the property and there is still no sign of her. What must her poor family be going through.
    Please please please all of you out there take care of yourselves.
  14. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    After dropping Little Man off at school this morning and calling into the post office and then the newsagents, I noticed that the police had an unusually high presence in the village.
    Then when I went to school later in the day I noticed the forensics team. At this point I just thought that there might have been a burglary or something, but then this evening they continued with door to door enquiries throught the village as a 46 year old woman appears to have gone missing under suspicious circumstances. The police are sufficiently concerned that they have started all of their investigations immediately upon notification. Her husband last saw her at 5.30am and he reported her missing at 8.45pm, she hadn't even been missing 24hrs, so they must be concerned.
    Her and her husband only moved into the village at christmas time.
    It has made me a little uneasy and yet again I won't be letting little man out of my sight. In the past we have had flashers, an attempted child abduction and strange people hanging around the school when the children have been leaving school and no-one seemed to know who they were or who they were supposedly coming to collect. And this is all in a village, albeit only 7 miles from a city, but when I was a child we used to go to the park in groups or arrange to meet at the park etc etc and never thought anything of it and we lived in the city.
    I just pray that she is ok, wherever she is
  15. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    Have had a strange week this week. Eventually got to the boiler working again on Thursday evening and therefore had hot water and heating for the first time in 7 days! The young gentleman, who I have to say was extremely pleasant and knowledgeable, advised that the boiler had been leaking water and gas into the area where the electrics were and apparently LPG is heavier than natural gas and would therefore have sat at the bottom of the hearth where the electrics and pilot light are. :unsure: You can imagine my "concern" that the previous plumber had advised that it wasn't dangerous and that the letting agents had left it 3 months before doing anything about it.
    When I approached them with what they were going to do about the previous plumber/heating engineer I received no comment. I advised that they were not to know that it was DANGEROUS as they were not to expected to understand the extent of the problem,after all they are not heting and plumbing engineers, but had they communicated the fault fully to this new company that they were using, that they would have immediately told them it was Dangerous. This i am sure of because when they phoned me and made the appointment to come and have a look, as the letting agents had advised that there was a problem with the it, I told them exactly what the previous engineer had advised on the gas safety certifcate and they said that they need to come immediately because it was of extreme concern and I was not to use it! <_< I have still received no reply and am unsure what to do next because this engineer could be putting other peoples property and lives at risk!!! I think I will give Citizens advice a ring, because after all surely the letting agents shouldn't be using him anymore either because if they are other owners properties and the tenants could be at risk! I know this probably sounds a bit melodramatic but it doesn't bear thinking about what could have happened.
    Anyway onto more cheerful subjects, the local paper phoned me on Thursday and asked if they could come and present little man with a Pride of Peterborough T-Shirt for his fundraising efforts on behalf of cancer charities. This was a lovely surprise and they came and took some photos on Thursday evening, but I am still trying to find out who suggested that he should be presented with this T-Shirt so that I can thank them for their support of little man efforts as we really do appreciate all the postive encouragement he receives because to be honest he has received so little from his immediate acquaintance or from his school that every bit is gratefully received.
    Anyway got to sign off. Hope everyone is well.
  16. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    Have been busy washing doing housework etc, but took time out to take Little Man to the cinema this afternoon. We went to see the Chronicles of Narnia and all thoroughly enjoyed it! I had forgotten how enthralling CS Lewis was as an author, mental note to myself . . . . must borrow little mans books and re-read them(After I have finished Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Next to You and Darcy's story!)
    With Little Man having finished the walk I am not reading as much as I was. Whilst they were walking I was at the next pick-up point waiting and reading and now that we are at home there is always so much to do. Must make more time to read. I find it thoroughly relaxing and enjoyable and I love drifting into other "worlds" or people's experiences.
    Little Man and I are competing his schedule for the next couple of months this evening as he wants to try to incorporate all of his committments as well as preparing/training for the 3 peaks in 24hrs challenge. He has asked if we can sit down and diarise what he is doing when so that he can make sure he gets all his homework done in good time, prepare for his sats, complete his football training and play in the league on Saturdays, help the new members in his 6 at cubs and complete another couple of badges, his chefs, home help, animal carers and scientists badges! Mental note to myself I will have to read up on what he needs to do for these badges becuase he knows and I don't!
    What will next week bring with regard to work? Stress and more stress as I know there are a couple of BIG quotes that I have got to do aswell as everything else and trying to motivate everyone to actually think for themselves is always on the cards. It is so much easier to ask someonelse and then get them to do it for you, don't you find!?!
    What will next week bring with regard to home? Well an estate agent contacted us on Friday and is coming midweek to do a valuation and we have been advised that the boiler should be repaired on Thursday so we should have hot water and heating by Thursday evening!
    What will next week bring with regard to the letting agents actually telling us what his happening? You can bet nothing will happen! It was the company that came and disconnected the boiler on Friday that told us it should be completed by Thursday, not the letting agents. . . . . . still no communication from them either about the boiler or the valuations so why should next week be any different!
  17. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    Have been sooooo stressed this week. Really busy at work and trying to motivate men that act like children is becoming very trying and tiring! Have also received an email from our letting agents advising that the owner of the property is sending estate agents around to value the property. We went through this in October and now here we go again, but no-one will actually say "Yes he is thinking of selling" or is going to sell. The owner is abroad.
    In December we had our annual gas safety check for the Landlords safety certificate and the engineer advised that the boiler was leaking but that it wasn't dangerous and he would let the letting agency know. He did say that if it didn't get sorted the owner would land up having to pay for a new boiler because eventually it would just do too much damage to be viable to repair and so would cost the owner more money if he did not get it resolved. I also asked him to look at 2 of the 3 radiators upstairs because they do not work and we are feed up with being cold and 1 in the lounge that does not work. We consequently have 2 radiators downstairs and 1 upstairs trying to heat a 3 bedroom north facing house with open staircase and our bedroom and little mans is getting damp!
    The letting agents response, to say the least has been ineffectual, no recognition of the problem, no inspection, no nothing. . . . until today when I received a phone call from a company that I had never heard. They advised that they had been asked to contact me about the leaking boiler. The letting agents had not advised that this company would be contacting me but what's new, their comunication skills leave a lot to be desired.
    The gentleman duly arrived at the time we agreed and declared that the boiler was completely unsafe and in fact dangerous and should never have been left on or left as it was <_< :unsure: He disconnected our gas and said that he couldn't do anything else without the authority from the letting agents who needed to get permission from the owner. So we now have no heating and no hot water on the coldest weekend of the year and of course the letting agents finish at 1pm on a Friday and they didn't tell this company to contact me until 1pm and so I cannot get hold of the letting agents and we are yet again left in the dark as to what is happening or what should or will be happening and when we will get hot water and heat back. I am fed up to say the least!
  18. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    Been quite a while since my last blog, so thought I should just post a quickie.
    As I am sure anyone who has been following little mans efforts to complete the Macmillan Way, we finished last week. We have a very relaxing weekend this weekend as I know that there is plenty to do with actually collecting monies in now that he has finished, but to be honest I just wanted to chill for a short while. Little man is going on a Geography field trip this week with school. This is the first time that a year 5 will have been on this trip, so I hope they don't squash the faith that their teacher has shown in them, by letting him and themselves down.
    Anyway, the are learning all about Rivers, so I think little man will enjoy it but I am concerned that the behaviour of the class will deteriorate, especially as they are sleeping over for 2 nights. Having helped with Cub camp, I know what it is like trying to get them to go to sleep. I think last cub camp the last tent to go to sleep was 2am and the first tent up was 4pm so...... we will have to wait and see, but I am not holding my breath. <_<
    To be honest I am really concerned about Little man at the moment, I think he feels a bit lost now that he has finished his first challenge and it is a while before his next. I also think he is feeling a bit out of sorts at school as well, but he hasn't actually said this and normally he feels that he can talk to me. I will just ahve to watch and keep an eye as he has been quite badly bullied in the past and so I can see the signs all over again, but it might just be he is stretching his wings and seeing how much he can get away with.
    Anyway better go as it is late and Mr D has just emerged from the bath and I need to make sure I have got the car all set for any emergency if we do get bad weather next week.
    Take Care all
  19. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    Been a little while since I posted so thought I would do a quick update. Little Man received his Chief Silver Scout award a couple of weeks ago and last week got his 4 years badge for being in the scouting movement. This year is the 90th year of cubs so he got a badge for that aswell. He recently got his book readers badge and art badge so all I seem to do at the moment is sew badges onto his cubs uniform!
    We have got a weekend at home this week and I planned on doing so much around the house but we have all been so chilled that to be honest nothing is getting done so I must make a real effort today! Hubby will have to help whether he likes it or not I am not wasting a whole weekend at home and then trying to get everything done in the evenings during the week when we are planning for the final push to finish the Macmillan Way next week.
    Little Man has his school assembly on Friday. They auditioned for their parts on on Friday and he came home on Friday night saying that he had got 17 speech's to learn. He is really chuffed that he was successful in getting a substantial part. At the moment I don't seem to be able to get his head out of a book, not that I am complaining. He has started reading the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz and is thoroughly enjoying them. He read Ark Angel first( which apparently is the last one in the series), he read that in a week, so we then had to go and buy Storm Breaker and he has read that in a week so now he is on Point Blanc.
    With regard to me I am absolutely exhausted! It just seems to be a round of work(stress tress and more stress), housework, helping at the school, fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Relief, getting Little Man to and from his various activities and never seeming to get everything done. I think that is why this weekend we are all so chilled, because we are all trying to recharge the batteries ready for the final push for completing the Macmillan Way next week.
    The trouble is I know that then the push will be to start getting the fiundraising organised for the 3 peaks in 24hrs at the end of May beginning of June! Our second driver for this challenge has let us down, AGAIN! We were supposed to do this challenge last year and he then came along and said that he couldn't get the time off work. Luckily we had only just started the fundraising organisation so we postponed it until this year. (Little Man was still adamant that he wanted to do it, so begged us to arrange it for another time). He, the second driver, has had a year of knowing the dates that he needed to book for this years holiday and a couple of weeks ago he came for Sunday dinner, as usual, and said that he couldn't have the time off because his boss was off. He hadn't booked the holiday and had let everyone else book theirs first! The trouble is this time the dates have all been publicised and again we are trying to do it in the school holidays because I do not agree with Little Man having time out of school. Makes me thing that he never really wanted to do it and should have just said that at the beginning rather than waiting till now!
    Hubby has just told me off for writing a novel, AGAIN so I had better sign off. Have got to get the dates sorted for 3 operations with 3 different consultants next week. Am tired of having to deal with cancer in one way or another. Just wish that someone could say it was all just a bad dream.
  20. Flat Land Andy's Goffer

    Media

    By Flat Land Andy's Goffer,

    Just a quick update. Little mans story of his endeavours for Macmillan Cancer Relief was in the local paper this evening. It is a young reporter that ran the original story and then did this follow up. I have to say he has been really great and very supportive of Little Mans challenge, so that is really nice.
    As I said in my previous blog it is nothing put stress at work and when I get home I am just exhausted.
    Little Man has got a "job" at the after school club. He has agreed with the leader to run a "story club" from 4.00pm to 5.30pm where he is reading stories(that the leader has previously chosen) to the younger children in an effort to keep them calm and because he is so good with the younger children.
    Proud Mum? Yes! <_< I am so pleased that he thinks of the younger ones not being able to interact with the older ones as easily and has found a way to try to get then involved.
  21. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    Happy New Year everyone. Have had family over for big family meal today, which little man thoroughly enjoyed. Great nanny always manages to eat more here than anywhere else so that is a good indication of the fact that she enjoys coming and the company.
    I hope that 2006 will be a better year, but I know that I am going to be having a least one operation this year and probably more. But I must not complain as they are doing these to try to increase my chances of survival from certain cancers and I am one of the lucky ones.
    It is year end at work, so I know that it is going to be even more stressfull than normal. Hey ho how I would love to just be able to get away from stress for a short while. I have managed to switch off the last few days, especially when walking around the picturesque villages in Oxfordshire/Warwickshire/Gloucestershire, but know that come Tuesday morning at 7.30am it will be back with a vengence. I will have to try to sort out all the problems at work as well as keep my boss positive and on the right track and not chasing his tail and basically doing nothing to actually move things forward. I shouldn't complain or maon, but I just want to start 2006 with the view that it IS going to be better than 2005!
  22. Flat Land Andy's Goffer

    Hmm

    By Flat Land Andy's Goffer,

    Didn't realise it was so long since my last blog. Managed to finish the scout christmas post on 22.12.05 and so wasn't delivering cards on christmas eve as in previous years. Will make a note for the future that collecting in the boxes on 20.12.05 was a GOOD idea.
    Well for the first time ever Adam was up and down the stairs on christmas eve and we had real trouble getting him to go to sleep. In all the years passed he has been in bed by 8.30pm and asleep straight away, but not this year for some reason. Mr D decided that he would teach him a lesson and the stocking that he had left under the tree was left empty, as Santa couldn't get to it because he was up and down the stairs so much!
    Adam came down stairs at 4.30pm & then came back up to bed. He came into us at 6.30pm & we eventually got up at 7.15am. He came into the kitchen to me with misty eyes & said that Santa hadn't been and that he thought that Santa couldn't see his stocking as it was hidden under the tree near the chair. He said he didn't mind not having anything, but somehow I didn't believe him. I suggested that he might have taken them to his Uncle Chris' instead and so he started texting Chris to find out if they were there.
    In the end, when Chris had arrived and he had no pressies for Adam, Mr D encouraged Adam to look elsewhere in the house as Santa couldn't get to the stocking in the lounge as he was up and down stairs so much. Adam eventally found his "other" stocking in the conservatory near the patio doors. Bless him he was so relieved!
    He went to see his grandad on 26.12 as he refused to come on christmas day because he is "upset" with Mr D. I am a little concerned about this because it is little man that didn't get to see his only granddad on christmas day because they haven't sorted it out between themselves. Never mind Adam didn't seem too concerned because as far as he's concerned he had his most important relative with him and that is his Uncle Chris, so that is all that really matters.
    27.12 and a 2hour journey to the next stage of Adam's walk. He was absolutelt full of cold and I was really concerned that he should even be attempting any distance at all, but he said "It's for charity Mum, I'm not dying it's just a cold". So he did 10 miles and then 7.5miles on 28.12.05. We came home on eve of 28.12.05 as it was his birthday on 29.12.05. We went to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and for pizza for lunch and then set off at 8.00am on 30.12.05 for another two days of walking. He did really well on both days and has now reached just over half way 146 miles A proud mum or what!
  23. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    Well the christmas performances are over and little man did really well. Some of the others froze and couldn't get their lines out and so others had to improvise, others walked off stage, but little man just got on with it and that was that.
    On Monday we have got their christmas parties at school and so we have finished making the decorations for the hall for their discos in the afternoon. I will decorate the hall in the morning after their assembly. On Wednesday it is the christingle service at the Abbey, by then I think they will all be so hypo that goodness knows what will happen. At least the bypass has been opened (well ahead of schedule I might add) and so walking from the school to the Abbey will not be so traumatic, espcecially with the little ones. To be honest it is Year 6 that I I have concerns about more than Reception class or years 1 and 2. I thought they were supposed to be more aware of dangers, decorum and manners as they got older, well some of our Year 6 seem to be 10 times worse than even year 5! Hey ho, they will all be off to secondary school in September. Will our now year 5, which will become year 6, be as bad. I hope not! There are the famous 5 in year 5 that are the top of the class that you just cannot put together. It is a recipe for disaster, you just don't get the best out of any of them. Why is that? Anyway off to deliver approx 300 cards for the scouts and want to get it done before it gets dark.
  24. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    It is little mans first night of his christmas performance tonight so everything is a bit of a rush to make sure that he has had something to eat before we leave, for hubby to actually get home at a reasonable time so that he can get showered etc ready to leave and for me to get back their as soon as possible to help with the setting up of things for the PTA. By the end of the evening I think I will be going ga ga from all of the rushing around and trying to get things done and of course there is still the scouts christmas post to keep on top of. I enlisted a couple of helpers to actually deliver the cards and guess what, the first one I called upon for the very first time couldn't do it becuase they thought they had a cold coming. Never mind, at least it will keep me fit and on the street so to speak!
  25. Flat Land Andy's Goffer
    Nothing much to report today, other than I have a terrible cold coming and we are supposed to be going to hubby xmas dinner dance on Friday. Typical, I bet I will look like death warmed up and feel even worse!
    Am busy sorting the scouts xmas post and arranging and organising the PTA fund raising events for the nativity performances tomorrow and Thursday. Am busy sorting out the festivities for the childrens parties on the 19th and generally wishing that there were more hours in the day.
    Had better sign off as I have 600 christmas cards to sort into streets and then numeriacl order and I would like to go to bed before midnight if poss!
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