Dear Diary,

Another Crazy idea and another self indulgent post.

As well as me looking at houses we can't afford, I periodically look at what jobs are on offer. (Incidentally, there's only one of my 'perfect house' left for sale.  I worked out that if DH earned double his salary, we'd only get a mortgage for half the house.  And, if we miraculously could get a mortgage for that house, we'd need to pay over £3k per month! So it's not going to happen.) DH mentioned that there are vacancies at his company (he only started in Feb, and though he's not keen, it does seem they type of company I'd enjoy), so I had a look.  They have the job I would want, if I were to ever be employed again AND they say the main qualification (which I don't have) is desireable, rather than essential!  In fact, not being able to move into this role, was one of the reasons why I left my previous job to become SAHM in the first place.

Now, I like being a SAHM and part-time tutor.  I want to HE (though if I *had* to go back to work, I don't have a problem with school in general).  But, the reality is that if we want to ever move house (not even to one of my ridiculous houses) I will have to be working a significant amount or full time, to ever come close to saving enough money.

So, given that they have the job I'd want, I don't need the main qualification (I do have some experience, just not the qualification that most employers look for), and they ask for 'salary expectations' (so I could name my price), I'm very tempted to apply.  If I were to draw a tree diagram there are 3 routes, with 2 outcomes:
1. I don't apply, and things stay as they are.
2. I do apply, but don't get the job (at whatever stage), and things stay as they are.
3. I do apply, and they offer me the job.

As I said, I do enjoy my life atm, but having been brought up with 'get a good education and you can have whatever you want' and 'fulfil your potential', means I'm always looking for more.   These thoughts are specifically for working at DH's company, rather than generally looking for a job - which I don't want.

Pros of working:
*we could gain savings, to afford the lifestyle we want
*I could travel with DH so no need for extra transportation costs
*Travelling with DH would mean his day seemed shorter (which would help his enjoyment of the job)
*There would be less pressure on DH to be the main breadwinner (which unusually for a bloke, he doesn't like)
*I could start my career up again, as we're not planning any more children now.
*I *really* want to move house.

Cons of working:
*I like the freedom I currently have to do what I want (despite lack of money and lack of car as constraints)
*DDs 1&2 would immediately have to go into nursery full time (though we'd look for one in the town where DH's company is, rather than the town where we live)
*I would not be able to HE.  I not only like the philosphy of learning, but worry DD1 may be too clever for school (I don't mean that to sound big-headed).
*DD1 would have to stop gymnastics, as I wouldn't be able to take her.  She only started in April, and absolutely loves it.

Hmmm, I'll probably think of more pros/cons during the day, but the main incentive is money, but I'm nore sure if I'm willing to 'sell my soul'. ;-)

I am tempted to apply, with a high salary requirement, but say it's open to negotiation.  I've googled, and apparently the average salary for this job is £45k, but ranging from £35-60k.  I'm thinking, if I ask for £43k, being aware they are likely to offer a lower amount.  I'd need to work out what the lowest amount I'd accept is.  For example, when I stopped working before, I was on £25k (4days) and could only just afford nursery costs for 1 child, so I'd be looking for significantly more than that, to tempt me back to work. 

And yes, I realise that all this may be getting ahead of myself, because if I do apply, they'll probably reject me without interview.  And yet, if I don't apply, I'll always be wondering (and I hate that - I'd rather know and be rejected, itms).

Any thoughts at all?

Yours, LBP

Library Books

Our house is overflowing with library books at the moment.  Again, I'm using the library's online catalogue to generate this list, which means there's no authors or anything usefully identifiable.

• Puzzle Balloon Race
• Snow White
• You Choose!
• The planet of terror
• 1001 Animals to spot
• The winter cave
• Digger
• Rainbow fish finds his way
• Bears
• Ten little fingers and ten little toes
• Brer rabbit and the well
• playtime
• Winnie the pooh touch and feel
• Waybuloo touch and feel
•  Knights
• The Cat in the Hat comes Back
• That's not my dragon.

Hard Rock Calling

DH and I went to Hard Rock Calling on Saturday.  Bon Jovi is my favourite band, ever, and tickets to HRC were our Christmas presents to each other.  My mum came down to babysit (thank you) and look after DD1 & DD2.

The festival was really good.  We 'discovered' Vintage Trouble and really liked them and Bon Jovi was great as usual.  It was a tad expensive - £4 a pint! And we forgot to take suntan lotion, so I'm really burnt on my arms and shoulders, but it was worth it.  Oh, and my hips and legs are still aching today (Monday) because I was non-stop dancing throughout.

I'm very tired now, though, not helped by the train journey back.

We had tickets for the last train back, and thankfully had reserved seats.  The train was packed, and some people were in our seats, but they didn't put up a fight and moved.  As I said the train was packed, and then there was an announcement from the train manager: there were too many people on board and it was dangerous so he was refusing to move.  For people wanting the first 2 stops, they were advised to use a different train (which was on the adjacent platform). Good for him!  I have been on trains much more packed than that one (unless the carriages behind us were even more crammed in), but you know if an accident were to happen then people would be getting on his back.  anyway, I assume people did move, because the train finally departed 15min late.

Then, just as were were approaching Slough, the train manager was called to the buffet car.  Then, as we arrived in Slough, the train manager said they were trying to eject a passenger from the train because he has assaulted the buffet person and himself, and they were waiting for the police to arrive.  As while after that, there was another announcement. Sorry for the continued delay, the passenger left the train, and was now sitting on the track in front of the train preventing, not only us from moving, but also any other train from going through the station.  And, after a long time, other trains started to pass us, so there was yet another announcement.  The police had arrived, the person was removed from the track, but we had to wait until all the statements had been taken.  When the train finally started to move a cheer when through the carriages!  We finally arrived at our destination an hour late.

And then, we had planned to get a taxi home, but we walked past the start of a non-existent queue to get to the taxis (as everyone in front of us had done) but missed the last taxi.  Meanwhile the queue appeared and was massive, and a crazy woman was busy yelling at someone for "pushing in" even though they were in front of her (but behind us) and banging on the taxi.  We couldn't be arsed to fight our case or go to the back of the queue so, despite my legs aching, and DH's feet hurting, we walked home. 

Dear Diary,

I have sooo much to update you on: my sister's hen night, our recent holiday camping, gardening, weightloss (or lack of), our recent borrowings from the library, DD1's jump forwards by writing her name and spelling it correctly (even adults get the spelling wrong!), not to mention I think I still haven't written a book review of Playful Parenting, which I thought was really good.

Unfortunately, despite having a hectic 3 weeks, we're back home and life still seems full rush.  I'm trying to catch up on clothes washing, and ended up having 3 loads on the line this morning, only to get caught in a sudden downpour.  So, now I've brought most of it inside, and am trying to dry it between the clothes horses in front of the radiator (i turned them back on for 10min) and the tumble dryer.  The rest that is still on the line will have to stay out there until there is some space in the kitchen.  We still haven't unpacked everything from our hols, though finally got arround to moving the tent etc back to the shed last night.  The living room is a mess (not uncommon) but my mum is coming up tomorrow to babysit for us on Sat (we're going to see Bon Jovi at Hard Rock Calling - hurray!) and she *always* complains about the state of our house - especially because I'm at home all day.

I'm also debating whether to turn our upstairs box room into a room that I can tutor in (rather than me going to student's houses)?  I really want to move house, and whilst there are a few houses we could afford/get a mortgage on, we have zero deposit.  (By deposit, I'm including the negative equity difference on our current mortgage, and all lawyer/estate agent fees etc etc.) By tutoring at home, i'm hoping that we could get more people through the door on an evening, and therefore more money.

Have to go now, as DD1 is demanding I read You Choose to her, yet again!
Yours,
LBP.

Quote from Newquay Zoo about Naturism

Exclusive group visits are a big part of what we offer to the public and had no hesitation in agreeing to a visit from Nudefest guests - the majority of living creatures at Newquay Zoo never think of wearing clothes...it is about time some of our visitors did the same!

Carl Lamb at Newquay Zoo

Nudefest
Nudefest Press Release

Library Books

• Book! Book! Book!
• Amanda's Butterfly
• You Choose!
• The magic word
• Stick Man
• Three little pigs and a gingerbread man
• Bedtime
• Polar White
• Gruffalo's Opposites

Weird Kids: Is raising children unconventionally really bad parenting?

I came across this article today, and whist I don't think HE is weird, I know some people do.

I thought I'd let this article speak for itself.