Farepak

[yola]

Parents, and teachers have very little rights here. I scolded Dominik today in the supermarket for running away from me (again) . He started howling at which point he got an even bigger telling off and was told he would not receive the expected jelly babies.

Do you know how many people (pensioners, parents, staff) walked passed me and actually tutted whilst I was telling him off???

What is the world coming to when you can't scold your own child. It is symptomitic of this daft country we live in. I really despair sometime at the stupidity of the UK. Sandy - it sounds as if Holland is somewhat saner both in terms of its attitude to money and its general common sense approach to dealing with most issues.

Rant over. Sorry, I'll get back on topic in a minute

[alexgirl73]

God, I know what you mean Yola. My Hayley had a major tantrum in a shop a few months ago (and she's 6), now I know that she has suspected aspergers, but people in the shops don't and the looks and scowls I got off of people were horrendous. I had to resort to dragging her through the town centre (and remember I have to walk with a walking stick) and you would have thought I was actually beating her up with the attitude from some people.

[sandy]

Originally Posted by alexgirl73

God, I know what you mean Yola. My Hayley had a major tantrum in a shop a few months ago (and she's 6), now I know that she has suspected aspergers, but people in the shops don't and the looks and scowls I got off of people were horrendous. I had to resort to dragging her through the town centre (and remember I have to walk with a walking stick) and you would have thought I was actually beating her up with the attitude from some people.

Alexgirl, if she has Aspergers, she may do very well indeed, with understanding at home and at school, and I'm sure she'll get the former.

I've had some wonderful pupils with Aspergers. many of them are gifted, extremely bright. They just have some odd quirks, like not understanding jokes and irony, taking everything literally. Adolescence is a difficult period for them, but it is an established fact that they nearly always do well in adulthood.

I had a darling a few years ago. he used to follow me around, lecturing me on English history. If I started rambling or telling funny stories during the lesson, he'd say, politely, "would you mind getting on with the lesson, please? " I once asked the class to remind me to finish a point I was making when the bell rang. Next day he was at my classroom door 10 minutes in advance of the lesson: he had taken my request very seriously and turned up early to make sure he reminded me to finish my point.

[sandy]

Originally Posted by Naomi

I've never actually come across a company in the UK which will accept COD maybe it's because they don't trust their delivery drivers with the money, I don't know.

Yes, Naomi, it is very puzzling, isn't it? I never give the delivery men cash: they bring a direct debit giro form with them, which I just have to sign. Or else they have a portable banking card machine. When I got my new computer, they just asked me to pop back to the shop to pay, which I did. Mind you, the shop knew me as a good customer.

The shops here are keen to get and to keep customers, and it's not as if they are taking any risk in "allowing" me to pay at the moment the goods actually change hands!

[sandy]

Originally Posted by EmmaG

No sandy I am sure you didn't, but most children (perhaps the bullies) know that they can run rings around are teachers and their parents will stick up for them, even if they know their children are in the wrong.

Unfortunately our teachers do have their hands pretty much tied when it comes to discipling children in our schools.

It wasn't like that in my days at school you were frightened of the teachers and if your parents found out that you did something wrong, then you really were in for it!!! lol

Emma, we aren't as bad as the UK, I know because I've talked to quite a few teachers there. But we are still very limited in what we can do discipline-wise. Kids are just kids, I don't think they are any worse than they ever were. But management and parents are dreadful these days. I'm glad I can retire in 3-5 years time.

[EmmaG]

Originally Posted by sandy

Yes, Naomi, it is very puzzling, isn't it? I never give the delivery men cash: they bring a direct debit giro form with them, which I just have to sign. Or else they have a portable banking card machine. When I got my new computer, they just asked me to pop back to the shop to pay, which I did. Mind you, the shop knew me as a good customer.

The shops here are keen to get and to keep customers, and it's not as if they are taking any risk in "allowing" me to pay at the moment the goods actually change hands!

Ok I think we should all move to holland, it seems like a far nicer place than the UK no wonder people want to leave the UK...

[Kim]

Sandy, I find some of the things you say in your posts patronising and self righteous.

You do not live in the UK and therefore do not buy goods here. If you buy a sofa here for example then you have to pay for it before it is delivered. You do not pay the driver upon delivery, most drivers do not, for safety reasons handle monetary transactions

I am one of the people who lost out to farepak. I lost £306. I don't have loads of money, but realise I am not as badly off as some of those who saved with them. My OH was made redundant 3 years ago and although he does have another job, he took a huge drop in salary. I have 2 jobs to make ends meet. Saving with farepak suited us well. I couldn't touch the money and knew that I didn't have to get in debt because of Christmas. Peer pressure is enormous and it actually gives me great pleasure to give my children nice presents. Myself and thousands of others were being sensible saving with farepak, the last thing we need is criticism. The company had been trading since 1969 and were well established. Nobody could have predicted what would happen. Of course I would never save with this type of scheme again, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Rant over!

With regard to bullying, I detest it too. I work in a school and teachers here have very little rights. Schools are criticised if they permanently exclude too many pupils. I come across too many unsupportive parents too. Teachers here are in a very difficult no-win situation.

[EmmaG]

Originally Posted by sandy

Emma, we aren't as bad as the UK, I know because I've talked to quite a few teachers there. But we are still very limited in what we can do discipline-wise. Kids are just kids, I don't think they are any worse than they ever were. But management and parents are dreadful these days. I'm glad I can retire in 3-5 years time.

I totally agree Sandy, the children haven't changed but it is the attitude that has changed, especially with some of the parents.

Although I don't have children, at 33 it does make me wonder if I do want to have them because the UK just seems to be getting worse and worse with the discipling of children.

[sandy]

Originally Posted by Kim

Sandy, I find some of the things you say in your posts patronising and righteous.

You do not live in the UK and therefore do not buy goods here. If you buy a sofa here for example then you have to pay for it before it is delivered. You do not pay the driver upon delivery, most drivers do not, for safety reasons handle monetary transactions

I am one of the people who lost out to farepak. I lost £306. I don't have loads of money, but realise I am not as badly off as some of those who saved with them. My OH was made redundant 3 years ago and although he does have another job, he took a huge drop in salary. I have 2 jobs to make ends meet. Saving with farepak suited us well. I couldn't touch the money and knew that I didn't have to get in debt because of Christmas. Peer pressure is enormous and it actually gives me great pleasure to give my children nice presents. Myself and thousands of others were being sensible saving with farepak, the last thing we need is criticism. The company had been trading since 1969 and were well established. Nobody could have predicted what would happen. Of course I would never save with this type of scheme again, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Rant over!

With regard to bullying, I detest it too. I work in a school and teachers here have very little rights. Schools are criticised if they permanently exclude too many pupils. I come across too many unsupportive parents too. Teachers here are in a very difficult no-win situation.

Then I won't address any more posts to you. I have a right to voice my opinion without being attacked personally and have not criticised anyone here personally. If people want to risk their money 'saving' it with companies instead of banks, then it's their own affair and their own loss.

We live in a hard world, not Disneyland, and people have to take some responsibility for their own financial decisions.

[sandy]

Originally Posted by EmmaG

Ok I think we should all move to holland, it seems like a far nicer place than the UK no wonder people want to leave the UK...

I thought of returning to the UK some years ago, but it made me take a long, sober look at the pros and cons, and I'm glad I decided to stay here. Pity we get taxed to hell though!