Izzy V

Everything feels very autumnal here already...the weather, leaves on the ground, son back at school, us back to our busy term-time jobs in education. Feels as if the hope of summer is gone in the blink of an eye. And while there are still some chinks of hope occasionally (some pay rise union disputes are now resolved, the odd glimmer of sunshine, the pension rises for April 2025), there are still some worrying signs of difficulties to come (the ongoing world conflicts, the next expensive holiday period - i.e. Christmas - and the cuts to winter fuel allowances for pensioners), even though some of us are still trying to buy school uniform (can't get trousers in son's size for love nor money at the moment) for the academic year ahead. Its seems as if we've segewayed all too easily into the shorter days, longer nights and preparation for celebrations many of us can ill afford. I wish that helping people for a living (i.e. working in Education, in the NHS, serving the public somehow) was better valued to allow keyworkers to meet the cost of living and some extra for the odd treat, to keep up with the fast pace of this rollercoaster we call life.