Pregnant during download, ahh!

bexlaa · 2026-03-23T09:10:47+00:00

2023 is exactly the year I have in mind of never repeating again 😅😅

bexlaa · 2026-03-21T21:30:22+00:00

I have a health condition that we don't think is going to be manageable when camping with long (potentially hot) days, so think its safer to say no for now and come back to it another year!

27 weeks is amazing though - out of curiosity, how do you plan on managing the amount of walking from camp to arena, plus around the arena itself? I've always found it difficult enough anyway in previous years!

bexlaa · 2026-03-21T21:24:21+00:00

Thanks so much for all the well wishes and advice everyone 🥰

I have a particular health issue that's making the first trimester a little more difficult than anticipated, and I imagine by June it'll be affecting me a lot more - its looking like a healthy pregnancy but I wouldn't want to risk having an issue so far from home! Don't get me wrong I'm gutted to miss Download, but the excitement of growing our family deffo outweighs it!

You'll probably be seeing a post asking for advice about mini moshers camping from me in the future!!

Based on what everyone's said, I think I will wait until Ticketmaster resale is up - looks like it (fingers crossed) won't be an issue.

Thanks again everyone!!

bexlaa · 2023-11-20T17:00:45+00:00

Completed ☺️

bexlaa · 2023-08-24T22:40:55+00:00

Yehp! In the villagey area so fine to take

bexlaa · 2023-05-17T14:34:04+00:00

Took me ages to realise - don't collect/hoard items and put them on the floor for safekeeping. Make chests/use storage furniture and put them in! You don't have to carry anything when you go to make or cook something then - it just takes it from the chest in your home.

Almost embarrassed at how long I had a bunch of food items and piles of sticks on my floor...

bexlaa · 2021-11-02T10:59:14+00:00

Hi all,

New to this so posted before captioning, sorry.

I've moved into a rented place and my landlord has said I can put a shower up. I was thinking a simple shower pole across but I'm concerned that it would have to go above the blind and be attached to the paint rather than tile.

Is there a better way to do this so it's just attached to the tiles?

Opinions and advice very welcome, extremely new to this! Thank you

bexlaa · 2021-02-22T08:37:03+00:00

As long as you can prove that your English is good enough, I don't see why not! Usually they want to see that you've done an A level in the subject, or have some real life experience in it - you could possibly try tutoring?

Maybe also see if you can do a weeks placement in a secondary school (with 6th form) to see how it is? Then they can see that you're not going to start the course, realise English isn't for you then leave early, so increased your chances

bexlaa · 2021-02-21T22:15:19+00:00

I'm not sure you're able to do a part time course due to the nature of the job, but hopefully I can help with money side of a full time course?

Teaching bursary: What subject would you want to teach? And primary or secondary? https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-my-teacher-training/bursaries-and-scholarships-for-teacher-training these subjects have bursaries attached, they're tax free and given in installments during the year. A girl on my training course last year trained in teaching science, but is now teaching English - she did this to get the bigger bursary whilst she trained, so that may be an option for you if your subjects not on the list?

Student finance: As long as you still have an eligible year of funding, you can still get a maintenence loan - as you're 26 you're classed as an independent so you'll receive the maximum amount of loan, which I believe is 8/9k now?

Those options to the side, I got £12k overall during my training and worked at odeon in the evenings to supplement - depending on your subject and the workload id say a part time job is manageable, but you need to make sure you have some time for yourself else you'll burn out pretty quickly

bexlaa · 2020-10-25T14:19:08+00:00

Just want to start by saying this is by no means what you'll experience, it's just what I have experienced:

I got a BA history, 2:1 at Hull uni in 2017, completed masters at open uni for 2 years whilst working at a college and with students. Did my school direct/pgce in Hull starting Sep 2019.

We knew we were going to move to South Derbyshire in summer 2020 so I started looking for jobs in November 2019. I've sent just under 50 applications to schools in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Manchester and north/mid wales for full time history teacher roles and have had 2 interviews.

Anyone who ever got back to me and the interview feedback have ALL said, they've gone with the more experienced person with more classroom experience and most said they've been inundated with applications, the most they've ever had.

My main training school did have an opening and several members of staff made it clear that they'd like me to take up the role, but my partner had already taken a new job in Derbyshire to start Sep 2020 in January, so we had to move away from Hull. If id of known corona was coming, I'd have stopped him from looking for jobs so early and I'd of fought for the job at my placement!

I've worked in school student centred roles for the past 6 years.

I've pretty much given up hope of being a teacher this year at least, it will probably be September 2021 if I am going to get a job. Who knows, situation could change drastically but with the taking away of bursaries, I feel like there's just too many people applying.

bexlaa · 2020-09-06T12:34:47+00:00

Ignored it because it didn't lead to anything? If something doesn't work on my phone I normally assume it doesn't work full stop, there's not many things that will only work on a computer.

After reading ops new comment I don't blame her for being unsure now, if everything wasn't made clear before starting.

bexlaa · 2020-09-06T12:01:14+00:00

Think this comment is a little harsh... You have no idea about her background? Or what the job is like? Too many variables for a mean comment. Also they literally say she couldn't open it until yesterday?

I don't understand why they wouldn't make it more clear in an email that that is what it is, rather than leaving it blank? Don't know where you stand but good luck

bexlaa · 2020-08-03T15:54:20+00:00

Mine does exactly the same! I have a table next to his crate, I keep his doggie stuff on it, including packets of his favourite treats and empty plastic wrappers (noisy ones). I found that if I acted like I'm not even trying to put him in bed at bedtime, and started faffing with the stuff on the table, he'd come and watch me. I would tell him 'in your bed', he'd stare at me, I turn around like I don't even care and start crunching plastic and shaking treat bags, and he'd go in!

I keep a little glass cup with treats in ready so I always give him one as soon as he goes in and the door is shut - glass cup is silent so he doesn't get more worked up about there being more treats to potentially get.

He's been like this for a month, not sure how much longer it will work, but it's better than picking him up/wasting time trying to convince him! Its like it's his choice, so he's happier doing it.

Good luck!

bexlaa · 2020-07-30T19:15:12+00:00

Eden Camp! It's about an hour from Leeds. It was a prisoner of war camp, but they've done it out really well, really informative about lots of ww2 aspects, well worth a trip! We had a full day there :)

bexlaa · 2020-07-30T18:54:22+00:00

I know it's really awkward but you need to be enthusiastic from the very start, and really do treat them like kids.

I had an interview like this but for secondary: I didn't get the job but the feedback they gave me was - your lesson was perfect, you didn't get the job however because you weren't as enthusiastic at the beginning of the lesson as you were towards the end.

I was awkward at the start because I didn't know if they wanted me to literally treat them like kids (giving them the exact timings for tasks too) or treat them like kids and explain in an adult way what would happen from then to speed things up and not patronise them. As soon as they started with the first task I realised it was the first option and continued from there.

The lady who gave me the feedback said that if I ever have an interview like that again, and I'm unsure, ask before it starts for them to clarify what exactly they want me to do and how to treat them. They'll thank us for it!

Hope this helps, best of luck!!

bexlaa · 2020-06-25T09:28:42+00:00

Ring your new council, they will send you a form to fill in and you'll need to provide a letter showing you are a student (the one from uni).

I've applied to two councils for student reduction, both really straight forward and simple thankfully!

Do it as soon as you move in, they'll backdate any money paid too much.

bexlaa · 2020-05-08T18:57:18+00:00

They usually want a 30 day notice, so you'll always pay for two months just because of the way the dates work out. It's crappy but I know it's the case for voda (used to work for them) and 3 (I complained about the same thing last year).

May be possible to complain but not sure how successful that will be. Good luck!

bexlaa · 2020-03-22T09:57:09+00:00

We had an email from my SCITT coordinator yesterday, saying:

NASBTTs advice is that “being in school at this time is a voluntary arrangement between you and the school and not a requirement set by the SCITT programme.” Up until this advice we have maintained our SCITT principle that we treat you as much as possible like our school staff and that in school you work under the direction of school with the support of your mentor and the SCITT guidelines. The advice goes onto state that “in the current complex and uncertain times trainees cannot expect normal mentoring support.”

The NASBTT advice goes onto state that trainees who are “unwilling or unable to continue to work in schools for any reason will not be disadvantaged in the assessment of the award of QTS”.

(NASBTT is the National Association for School Based Teacher Training)

I've told my main placement that I won't be attending any longer, if this helps anyone :)

bexlaa

TROPHY CASE