Death stuff

The vice-principal's mother-in-law died yesterday so he is off today. When I came in this morning all the teachers were putting money in black and white envelopes and giving them to the secretary. I asked if I should also give some money and it took about half an hour for them to decide. Eventually someone said that because it was only his mother-in-law who didn't live with him and not his own mother who lives in his house it wouldn't matter if I didn't give any money. But if his mum dies I am broke. It's heaps hard trying to keep up with what to give who and when. Last week the principal's daughter got married so she got some money too - but I wasn't approached about it. If someone has a kid, gets married or their parent or partner dies they get serious cash. But you are apparently supposed to buy a thank you-for-the-money gift that is about half the value of the cash you received. Which makes me think - let's cut all the fucking around out and just give them half the amount of cash we would normally give them rather than wait a few weeks to get a refund in the form of a ridiculously overpriced fruit basket.