Waste difficulties

From last Summer.

I've alluded to my wanting to avoid as much waste as I can, particularly of the plastic type.  This, in some ways, is going very well- I've become a lot more organised in preparing for the situations that might need me to use something disposable and manage to avoid having ALL the packaging.
Here are three situations where this has worked.
1.  Macdonalds last week- I asked them to put my chips and burger (I have the one in the paper) in my Lock n Lock box.  I also did the same in Macdonalds at a service station at New Year and KFC after school too (I have to eat on the go on my way to orchestra so I have to grab something takeaway)
2  Taken 3 enamel mugs to my orchestra rehearsals in January which meant CBC, myself and my friend Izzie have not had to use the polystyrene cups the orchestra provide.
3.  Carrying my spork, stainless steel straw, insulated mug, plastic container and paper bag around in my rucksack means I haven't had to take take any disposable items - my friend Izzie took her left-over chips and mushy peas from the chipshop restaurant home in my plastic container so she could eat them today.
But, I had a moment today which I don't think I dealt with well and I wonder what you might have done as me.

We went to Wagamamas for dinner and I had ordered a raw juice. When I saw them serving someone else's, I saw they had straws in so I quickly went up to the bar and asked them if it would be possible to have my drink without a straw. She said they were paper,if I was worried, but I still asked if I could have the drink without one.  The girl behind the bar said that was fine. 
When our waitress turned up with our drinks, there were straws in the drinks.  I said, "But I asked not to have a straw.".  She said she was sorry she didn't know - she said she could take it away and I said yes please. CBC said to me that I should just take it now since they have put it in the drink and said I was being obsessive over it.    But that's not the first time it has happened- I've asked for no straw before and been bought one in my drink.   When the waitress came back, I said to her, I wasn't annoyed with her, but it was just that I had asked at the bar, for them not to give me straws. 

The point is, I wondered what you would have done in the situation?  Would you have kept quiet and just used the straw? I'm still not sure- I feel like I wanted to say something but perhaps I need to develop a way to say it where my anxiety over it doesn't make me come across in a way I don't want to come across (if you know what I mean?)

xx

Somewhat prim and proper

...but the length of the skirt makes it less so.

I wore this today - the top is vintage and I bought it from the lovely Vix at the Vintage fair I met her at.  The skirt is from Henry Holland, shoes from Clarks with Poms by me and old school cardie with holes in!

 It was a comfortable outfit for a rather lazy Sunday.

 I confess to a real fatigue at the moment.  I am constantly tired and feeling a bit gloomy. This isn't an obvious thing but just a little undercurrent. Somehow, in two areas of my life that I have been happy and proud of, my school choir and my flute playing with my orchestra, I've just felt a bit of a lack of confidence.  I won't go into more details but I somehow feel blue. Trying not to let it get me down but ah, that's Autumn for you. Some things take on a greater dimension or emotion than they might do at other times.

I'm very confused on the house-buying front. There are 3 houses we quite like and are considering putting another offer on, but it is such a big decision.

House no. 1 is the most expensive 

Positive:  Very new (only 2 years or so) so the Energy performance is excellent- has solar panels for heating water.  It is immaculate, lovely en-suite, living room is a good size. Room for sofa area and a table area too. Has a nice outdoor area with a covered Pagoda so we can sit out there and put washing out if it is raining.  Has air-con!

More expensive so less likely to get a bargain.

Negative:  Not necessarily negative, but is a bit Essex-bling for us.  Over a mile from the station so yet more walking for me which kind of got me down at my old house.  Also my train journey will now be another 5 minutes extra compared to now so my journey is likely to be at least another 10-15 mins which makes all the difference when your journey is already an hour.

The 3 bedrooms aren't huge and none have any fitted cupboards. Not much storage, no linen cupboard as it is full of the solar-heater.

Garden is small and overlooked by other houses and it is very zen at the moment with shale, no grass. 

House no. 2 

Is the cheapest if it goes for asking price. £40k less than other one.

Positive:  Fairly modern- was built at the end of the 90's. Lovely and light as it is a corner plot has really nice light windows- good for playing music as living room is away from neighbours side.  Small but nice grassy garden.  Front garden with parking space.  Has linen cupboard. Does have en-suite (as well as main bathroom and downstairs toilet) but is ridiculously small.

Negative: Living room is fairly small- not really room for piano and books plus a table. Dining area is in the kitchen rather than separate.   Bedrooms aren't huge. Still quite far from the station- over a mile still.  Not relishing that walk.

House no.3

Positives:  Is very, very close to the station and to town so I wouldn't have a long dark walk in the winter. Really nicely decorated inside.  Living room is a better size than the previous one, Has dining area in the living room and would have room for piano and bookcases.  Really attractive kitchen.

Main bedroom is a good size.  Has big linen cupboard and wardrobe in the box room.
Back garden although small and north facing is quite private
Nice view out of front window to garden- could have raised beds.

Negatives: at present,has no parking space.  Single yellow lines all down the road so can't park between 10-12 each day- CBC doesn't drive to work. Would have to pay to have kerb dropped and have part of front garden paved- not sure if definitely allowed as Essex county council have certain criteria. Could be an extra £1000 or more.

Only has the one bathroom BUT we are not bothered about a second one or separate toilet.
Garden is a bit of a mess with overhanging trees (which could be hacked back)
Same price as 1st house BUT a sale recently fell through and because of the kerb-dropping issues and mess of garden might be able to get it for lower.

It is SUCH a big decision. It makes me so nervous to get it wrong. Or put in an offer an then something perfect comes up. Or don't put in an offer and then someone else gets in first.  There's a lady going for a second viewing of the last one on Tuesday night as she thinks her husband will like it. Do we put in an offer or do we not and then lose it.
Ahrghj!!!!


xx

Teaching dilemmas...

I had an interview for a local authority pool on Friday. This is a thing where you get interviewed by some headteachers from the borough and based on this and their observations of you, you will either be recommended for teaching in the borough (and your details made available to all heads who are recruiting) or not. After what I felt was a rather disasterous interview with 2 lovely heads in the morning, I resigned myself rather pessimistically to being in the latter party. After all, I do feel a bit of a nightmare. But to my surprise, not one but two headteachers asked me if I would like to go and visit their schools with them. I was rather surprised but quite pleased (though a bit scared). So I went to the first one, a large 3-form entry school with a great music tradition, and enjoyed a school lunch with head and children, was shown around by the head and then had a short chat with the SMT. And after 5 mins, they called me back and offered me a job!! I asked for time to contemplate (I have till tomorrow, though I did ask if I could have until Tuesday). Then the Head dropped me to see the other school. And I had a look round, watched a fab class assembly, and after a 5-minute conversation, I was offered a job there as well! I liked both of them, and they seem to be well set up for supporting NQT's, but I dont really know what I should be looking for. There was a school that I really wanted to teach at, so I briefly went to see the Head there, to tell her my dilemma (and to remind her that I was interested in her school).
Now I dont know what to do. Which one do I accept? Do I accept either of them, or do I hold out for the school I originally liked, or do I like it because I know it and because they liked me? Do I take a chance and wait? I didn't really get a gut instinct thing at either of them, but then I did like them, and I hadnt seen a huge amount! What do I do? Am praying, but still as yet, not got an answer!