School Costs how much?

A repost of an old post but I love recycling!

What price do you put on education if you go to a state school. There is the constant demands from an early age for trip money. If you do not pay your child will suffer blah blah. Now this is hard enough in this economic climate if you have one child but one if you have more the pressures are even greater. Now J my son is a truly able sportsman

Now its been a constant ask all through his school life so far for trips,charity , school PGL but I was not prepared for the shook of the cost of senior school. Now J does not go to private school just a academy school but it s like private school. For the off there was trip after trip  first skiing, then cricket , three lots of rugby, singing . Now I am pleased my son is talented I really am but I felt the need to draw the line somewhere so I said NO to the rugby tour. He was a little crestfallen but he got on with his life, We all have to make sacrifices in this world.

Then came the school sports award night. J had already won various certifaces for academic achievement being best in his class etc glowing report etc. Model child, etc not stereo typical of Only
child syndrome. Well on the night he picked up award after award culminating in the sports personality of the year. Basically the teacher said if there was a tiddlywinks team he's be in . Now faced which this pride how could I refuse to NOT send him on the rugby tour. So another cost for me so far these trips total up as £750 for skiing, £120 for cricket, £350 for rugby not to mention £50 for another rugby trip ,£25 for singing trip and another £25 for another rugby trip . I try not to  add it up, knowing it is such a scary amount. And all this is before spending money, clothes etc. This is where i cam e up with a plan to sell stuff on that internet auction site. Good opportunity to clear out etc and help pay for all these trips. First up was Mr T's organ he didn't use it any more , it was just there gathering dust. I know it was hard but I just had to let it go.....

There you've seen it Mr T's organ, also I started selling his train set as well. All little amounts help, the school were puzzled as I started paying off these little amounts and indeed ring to ask me was this right. You do what you have to do so your child has a better life etc, but at what cost.?

Salter Digital 3 Tier Steamer

Remember to put raw meats such as chicken at the bottom.

NEW Salter Digital 3 Tier Stainless Steel Steamer RRP £54.99

This Salter Digital 3 Tier Stainless Steel Steamer guarantees precision steaming with its seven programmed functions.  With a self-set countdown option, 60 minute timer and a delay start option simply set the controls, sit back and let the steamer do the cooking. The 11 litre large water tank capacity features 3 steam baskets for preparing individual dishes, including one with a removable base so you can steam a whole chicken and a special bowl for rice.  Additional elements include an external water level indicator and the easy to store stack able bowls are dishwasher safe.


I had previously tried a entry level steamer and it was adequate enough when it came to doing just one thing but can you cook a whole meal using a steamer? Well you can cook a whole chicken dinner in a Salter Steamer !!!

The steamer going to work.

The finished steamed dinner.

The DS-321D headphones from Digital Silence

DIGITAL SILENCE^TM UNVEILS ITS FIRST DIGITAL ACTIVE
NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES 

Unprecedented sound quality and ease of use on the go

Edinburgh, UK, 6 October 2011 –Digital Silence^TM has today launched the DS-321D, a state-of-the-art pair of stylish in-ear digital active ambient noise-cancelling stereo headphones with voice microphone, perfect for the busy professional on the go. Developed by audio and noise cancellation technology specialist Wolfson Microelectronics plc, the DS-321D combines Wolfson’s class-leading myZone^TM digital active Ambient Noise Cancellation (ANC) with HD-quality music playback for crystal-clear tunes and talk on the move. The DS-321D will be available from leading high street and online outlets late October priced at £69.99 and will be available in black or white.  

The DS-321D headphones have been designed specifically for mobile phone users, allowing for a hassle-free daily commute, business trip or lunchtime visit to the shops. Boasting Wolfson’s myZone™ digital ANC technology, the intrusive sounds of commuter trains, public address announcements or street traffic will be a thing of the past. With high quality speakers and microphones, music can be enjoyed just as the producer intended and calls will be a breeze for both the recipient and caller with the highly sensitive on-cord voice microphone. Since the DS-321D uses active ambient noise-cancelling technology, the user is spared the experience of “blocked ears”: reverberation of speech inside the head which is typically experienced in headphones with high levels of passive noise isolation. As such, the user experiences crystal-clear, natural-sounding telephone conversations. 

Phone calls and music handling are a walk in the park as the stylish DS-321D headphones have a small and lightweight in-line pod with rechargeable battery and an easily-located multifunction control button, enabling users to simply answer and end phone calls and control their music playback without getting tangled up in wires.

When that all-important phone call or text message does come in, music lovers need not worry about its effect on sound. Working buzz-free with the phone, the DS-321D’s won’t crackle and pop like some other headphones. And, if travelling to work really is a big part of your day, a behind-the-neck wearing style and soft ear buds, included in three sizes, will ensure maximum comfort and usability.

A truly fuss-free experience, a handy LED status indicator tells the user when the battery needs recharging. The ANC function can be switched on and off at the touch of a button, and if users do find that they’ve used all 14 hours of playback time, the headphones will still work in passive mode until the battery is recharged.  A useful Monitor function allows the user to mute the ANC and playback audio briefly if required.

A 3.5mm 4-pole audio connector makes the DS-321D ideal for maximum compatibility with devices from Apple, Motorola, HTC and Blackberry. An adaptor is also included to ensure compatibility with Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and other devices.

Kevin Carey, Business Development Manager at Wolfson Microelectronics, commented: “The launch of the new Digital Silence^TM DS-321D headphones is extremely exciting for Wolfson. The DS-321D delivers a great music and call experience, incorporating leading-edge digital ANC in a superb value package.  

“With the smartphone now becoming the one and only device for an array of commuter and business needs, the demand for multi-use headphones has increased. We are proud of our heritage in outstanding audio and excited to be providing a high-quality product that is ideal for both professionals and music lovers on the move.” 

These are prefect for anyone especially j who as the modern teen is always on some electronic device listening to music I don't understand.

So if J does get that all important call from the England squad calling him up after being selected for the Derbyshire County Rugby squad the muting facility is just great. We were sent the black headphones for review and they do come in white as well so you can match them to your appliance. A quality set of headphones that will stand the test of time. They also come with three sets of ear fittings just in case you really do have big ears!.


I think its so cool that  the rechargeable noise cancelling pod which is charged via USB and delivers 14 hours of blissfully uninterrupted music (just read above). There’s none of the popping, hissing and  whizzing , grrrring ,buzzing that can occur with noise cancelling technology; all in all producing a really natural sound that doesn’t sound in any way altered.  And a quarter of the price of Mr T noise cancelling OTHER MAKE headphones, I think they are good value. 

School PTA Run for the hills..................

Does the title of this blog post fill you with dread? Are your school PTA hunting you down in the playground. Are the other mums out doing you with fabulous cakes. Are the School PTA making your design a Christmas card again which you know is not going to win a Turner prize sadly. Why don't you join the PTA it can't be all that bad can it? I am sure some PTA are all singing and dancing. 


What makes a successful PTA I 'd love to know?

People and companies get fed up of you asking for donations , they really do. I have a Christmas fair coming up at my school not a problem you might think . But it is a necessity we need to help to raise £5,000 so we can get Charity status and then fundraising easier. We have raised some but just need that little bit more!.

I know that some PTA have those characters that hijack it and are wonder woman or man rolled into one and leaves the presenters skills on Blue Peter for dust.Offering to help before events or at other times during the year is so valuable – it really is a case of ‘many hands make light work’. It doest’t matter if you can’t help on a regular basis, or even if you can’t come into your child's school. There are always little jobs that can be done from home if you have half an hour to spare e.g. wrapping gifts, preparing raffle tickets etc. Your child's really couldn't’t achieve what they do without the unseen ‘army of help’ that exists in your child's school.


When it was the summer fair I had not problems getting people to help on twitter and other companies so what has happened between then and now. I am not expecting donations to drop in my lap, it is hard economic times after all. I had the odd offer of help but that is something lacking,I have not even had any replies to requests for thoughts on School PTA's.


Is your School PTA struggling? or is it all bells and whistles?


So I will hold my breath till I get a comment on this post ... 

Funny things that children say

I thought you might like to see this blog post again as it tickles me how funny children can be!

Please believe in Fairies

On my train journey down to London on a blogging mission me and J sat in a quiet coach or so we thought. There was the lovely fluffy granny with her two grandsons awwh. J was quietly playing his electronic device or reading . I was worrying about weather I would make it through dodge city =London. The little boy came starring over J's shoulder by standing behind him, this wound J up but he and I were too polite to say anything. And then it all cracked off Little boy to Granny

Little boy " If you say you there are no fairies then a fairy will die"

Granny " But you just said it"

Little Boy" I said IF you said it"

Granny"Oh'

Little boy "Also if you say, you believe in fairies then a fairy is born"

At this point the little boy's older brother jumped it and swearing my journey, couldn't get any worse he decided to chip in.

Older brother"I don't believe in fairies!"

Well that was it wasn't the little boy snapped ....

"Fairies are real . I believe in fairies"

So this continued for an hour with the two brother toing and froing believe me the mood I was in once I got off the train I would have sorted any rioters out!. The first half of our journey the little boy as you read earliar was staring over J's shouder.

(Photo courtesy of @Mummybarrow who blogs at http://mummybarrow.wordpress.com/ and this is proof fairies exist especially at the bottom of your garden because she has a door in her tree for them )

So please for love all things magical fairies do exist it may just save a rail passenger from losing the will to live.

Fairies are a very important of children's lives especially little girls so please read this lovely blog post from Inside the Wendyhouse

So if you are going on a long trip or on a train with little ones please please for the sanity of you and perhaps those around you please take the things they love with them and will keep them amused and not drive (me ) or you up the wall!