Monday 31 December 2012

Say Goodbye To The Old Year.....

I'll start by wishing each and everyone of you a very Happy New Year....may all your hopes and dreams come true in 2013! Have you made any Resolutions? I tend not to...it's all I can do to get through my day-to-day, plate-spinning excitement, without adding any more pressure by promising to try stuff, that I'm unlikely to manage for more than three and a half minutes!
But. I'm going to try and get more organised (well...a BIT) and sort out more storage in our tiny home. And maybe decorate. And I'm giving us the whole year to achieve this (The Partner WILL be delighted!) so..............Watch this space!
Now, I've just a few photos to show you, that I couldn't before....



....front and back of Jack Russell Loving Daughter No1`s hottie. I used a pattern from www.janetclare.co.uk for the dog. I made a pink, flowery one for Pink Flower Loving Daughter No2, however, I simply wasn't brave enough to face her bedroom, in order to find it, for a photo shoot!
And then I made these, also for Daughters Nos 1 and 2. I shall leave you to work out, which one is for which daughter....









Obviously, the photos show front, back and lined inside of i-phone holders, that I found at www.fairyfacedesigns.blogspot.com . The tutorial was very easy to follow, and each holder took me just an hour to make.
And finally, just to finish with a flourish....I made a cake! Date and walnut. AND IT'S EDIBLE!!!



Happy New Year! xx

Friday 28 December 2012

Christmas Day Quiet.....

I hope you had a lovely Christmas, surrounded by family, friends and good times. Christmas Day, in our house, was first kicked off at 6am by The Rather Excited Son. I managed to bustle him back to bed til 6.45am, and then successfully squeezed a further 10 minutes from him. But by now we're talking Caged Tiger Status, so stockings were unleashed....of the Christmas variety, I hasten to add!
The day progressed pretty much in the same way that Christmas Day does in our house, every year.....lots of lovely pressies (we were ALL spoilt rotten) and enough food consumed to keep a large army marching on it's proverbial stomach for the next two and a half decades!
The only deviation from our traditional day, was that we wussed out from our Morning Beach Walk.....heavy rain and supreme laziness won that particular round. But all was not lost, the afternoon brightened, and we ventured forth, armed with a bag of bread, to share our Christmas Cheer with the local Quacking Community, down on The Quay.
The High Street Was SSSOOOO quiet! Such a change from it's usual hustle and bustle, that I decided to take a photo. The first attempt was thwarted, as a car came along and I had to move out of the way, pronto....


.....but the second attempt was much better.....



Well, I'm going to love you and leave you now. In the immortal words of Winnie The Pooh, it's time for a little smackerel. Now, I know that he meant something honey based, but I'm sure he'd allow me a little poetic license as I hunt down some more chocolate.....
See you soon. xx

Monday 24 December 2012

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells......

It's still sssoooo exciting! Nearly 47 years old, and I still LOVE Christmas Eve! All those little rituals! We have a special key (we don't have a chimney) that only works for Father Christmas. It is The Son's job to hang that on the doorknob, just before he goes to bed. I'll have to hold my breath and say a little prayer, just in case this is the last year he wants to do it. That doesn't mean that he won't hang it up next year...just that it might be a Humouring Mother Moment, rather than a I Must Do This Moment!
Then there is the long debate as to what we're leaving for Father Christmas and Co, to snack on. Last year we plumped for apple juice and a cookie for The Man Himself, which was fine. But the bowl of oats for the reindeer was a Big Mistake. You wouldn't BELIEVE how much MESS those four-legged friends can make! I was hoovering up left-over oats for days! Think we'll stick to carrots this year...
And then there is "It's a Wonderful Life" to watch, which is The Law in my household, just before I play my traditional game of I Can't Remember Where I Put..... Such fun!
I've been asked to mention at this point in my blog, that The Partner is about to hoover. Please imagine drumrolls and fanfares, to your heart's content. I'm certainly making the most of this particular Partner Hoovering Moment, as Boxing Day will be the official end to the ban on me lifting heavy objects and doing heavy housework. I'm quietly and secretly amazed that there hasn't been some sort of Countdown Calendar going on, organised by The Partner! This will be his fourth Hoovering Session (always at my insistance!) which I suppose isn't TOO bad in six weeks.....(Please ignore the fact that I have children. And dogs. In the plural. For both.)
So, now I'm going to love you, and leave you, with the only two Christmas Pressie photos that are "safe"-I know their new owners don't follow my blog....
This one.....


.....I've used Janet Clare's fabulous book " Freya and Fred" to personalise a little friend's shop bought throw. You can (and should! SO worth a visit!) link to her here www.janetclare.co.uk . I hope my little friend loves it as much as I do!

And this one.....



....is a lap quilt, made with love for my Fairy Godmother.

I wish you all, all that you wish for yourselves. Merry Christmas! xx

Friday 21 December 2012

Time For Immersion....

Right. Just time for a short blog. All presents have been sorted and dispatched to Father Christmas (am I the only one still calling him Father Christmas, and not Santa??) ready for him to deliver them late Monday night.
Just need to buy potatoes and custard for Tuesday. And dog food for Sunday (I shall run out by then, leading to a disgruntled George.). And that's me DONE!! Well....not QUITE....a few faces to be embroidered onto a throw, but that doesn't count, because I'm looking forward to doing those later, snuggled on the sofa, in front of the Entertainment System we call a TV.
And that's what I mean by Immersion. The dvds are stacked up, ready to go....in fact Nanny McPhee is loaded and ready to play......Must dash! xx

Thursday 20 December 2012

Oh No! The Guilt.....

I've just discovered that The Son's Carol Concert is tomorrow morning at 10am, and not at 1pm, as I'd originally thought. And I've got Plans. It's not like I haven't turned up to the 485 other Carol Concerts that he's been part of, this Festive Season. I even managed to get to The Official Christmas School Lunch today....And I'm not that keen on turkey! But apparently at THIS Carol Concert, The Son is The Cow. Wait a minute, while my mind boggles.....
And so The Guilt begins. What to do for the best??? Forego shopping plans, go cracker-less (and most of the food-less) on Christmas Day? Or miss The Cow's rendition in Carol Concert 486? Explain to me again, why mums, the world over, are given second, and even triple helpings of guilt, that comes into it's own, whenever there is even the merest whiff of LettingYour Child Down??? Why aren't the Brownie Points, that we've collected on other occasions, allowed to balance out the deficit when Life's Timetable gets a bit tricky?? Or better yet, why aren't mums just simply cloned the instant we become mums for the first time?? Goodness! Wouldn't that make life simpler? No need to organise extra time off work...just send The Clone! Need to be at three differnt places with three different children.....what a doddle...send The Clones.
I could be onto something here! I'll leave you now. I need to put in a few phonecalls to Medical Science..........xx

Tuesday 18 December 2012

All Done!!

That's it!! After a MAMMOTH session with my very lovely sewing machine, that even saw me missing Holby City (outrageous!!), I have finished the last of The Christmas Presents!!! Hoo-flippin-ray!! (Still no photos though.)
I don't want to give the impression that I'm Bah Humbug at this time of year.....quite the opposite. It's just that I had SSSOOOO much to do! In typical me fashion, I'd probably bitten off far more than I could reasonably chew. (This is true in ALL walks of my life, EXCEPT chocolate. Obviously.)
Now all I've got to do is wrap, wrap, wrap.....always supposing that I can remember all my Squirreled-Away-Hiding-Places......
Catch you soon. xx

Monday 17 December 2012

The Elves Are On Strike....

...along with The Housework Fairies, which is why I haven't blogged for nearly a week-I've had to make some presents AND do the household chores. Well...not the hoovering, as that is temporarily The Partner's department.
And this is going to be a very dull blog (what's new??) as I can't even post photos of my present making efforts, in case their future owners happen to drop in for a peek.
However, I can now say, that I'm officially excited about Christmas! It was a long time coming this year....but I have now seen The Coke-Cola- Holidays-Are-Coming-Holidays-Are-Coming Advert, and that twinkly red lorry does it to me every time.! Hooray!! I can now break out The Christmas DVD's.....Polar Express, Sound of Music and Love Actually being my "Must-Sees". I wonder what your lists would include? Has anyone made a definitive list of what makes Compulsory Christmas Viewing? I think someone should get onto it!
But it won't be me......I've got to get back to my little present making factory.
See you soon. xx

Tuesday 11 December 2012

Note To Self.....

....NOT a good idea to catch local tummy bug shortly after tummy operation. OW flippin OW!! Still the good news is, that I WILL now be able to wear my black party dress to the Christmas Works Do! Every cloud and all that!!
Now for some piccies.....

This is my beautiful runner that Mari (ZewNice) sent me all the way from Norway, in the Christmas Runner Swap, now sitting in pride of place on my late Nan's sideboard....


....and if you knew what you were looking for, you'd just about spot the small snowman ornament that she sent me too. (Mari, that is, not Nan, bless her-even though I truly, truly believe that Heaven exists, I don't think they have access to Royal Mail!)
To save your eyesight, and to give Mr Snowman better justice, here's a close-up.....



...Isn't he just gorgeous? And Mari made him too! One talented lady!!

As for me, I've been busy too, and have finished the table runner that I showed you the start of, a few days ago.....



Here's a couple of close-ups of the front.....




And now for the back, which The Partner and Friend Jo prefer......



So, unbeknown to me, I've created a Reversible Runner! Who knew??

Right. That's me done for today. See you soon. xx

Thursday 6 December 2012

It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Christmas.....

I seem to be full of song titles at the moment. Makes a change from chocolate I suppose!! Goodness only knows which song will pop up next......but while I wait to find out, I'll show you this....


....It's the start of another Christmas Runner, and was an absolute joy to work on  (very quickly!!) to get it this far.
Close up of each end....




...I'm really loving it! Think I'll go all out and allow myself some hand quilting! Goodness, but this girl knows how to live life on the edge!!
Off to make myself a cuppa now (I refer back to my previous sentence!!) See you soon. xx

Wednesday 5 December 2012

Another One Done!

Yay!! Another Christmas present all done and dusted! Well perhaps not dusted, but definitely sewn, hand finished, pre-washed, folded and popped away for The Man In Red to deliver.
The Front....


....The Back.....



....and The Binding....



I'm quite pleased with it. It had been put on a back burner while I finished the Christmas Runner Swap, so it was nice to get back to it and finish it. Tick that box!
Thanks for popping by. See you soon. xx

Tuesday 4 December 2012

Brown Paper Packages......

....tied up with string..... (For those of you NOT brought up on The Sound Of Music, you won't have a CLUE what I'm talking about!) Well, these aren't quite brown paper and nor are they tied with string, but they ARE some of my favourite things at the moment...


I used a charm pack from creativequilting.co.uk (though I can't remember it's name) and made up 20 of these little packages. I saw the design somewhere and tweaked it just a fraction, and now all I have to do is add some borders, and before I know it, I'll have a quilt top. It will be small throw size, as I seem to be stuck in a bit of a rut....throw size seems to suit me. Anything bigger would result in a tussle with my sewing machine, and to be honest, I'm not entirely sure that I would win!
Anyway, hope you like the start of this particular quilt. See you soon. xx

Monday 3 December 2012

Back Into Routine

Hello! Yes, I've been dragged kicking and screaming (SLIGHT exaggeration as that would actually cause The Scar and me physical pain!) back into routine. So here I am....blogging again.
I went back to work today, after two and a half weeks off, post operation, so thought I'd better blog too. The problem with being off work and convalescing (putting aside my grievances with The Scar, and the Blind-Eye-Condition I developed towards The Partner's skills in the Hoovering Department....or lack thereof!) is that you lose all sense of proper time, and things slip a bit. Sorry!
Lots of nice things have been happening. There were a couple of proud moments when The Son announced he'd been shown how to cross-stitch at school by The Very Lovely Mrs Trant....and wanted to do some more.....


.....and I cleared my back log of Christmas Orders For Others, and have actually managed to make a start on making the presents that I shall be giving.
AND the cherry on the cake is that I receieved my runner from my Swap Partner! And I LOVE it! It's more of a centrepiece than a runner, but that's fine as it fits my table perfectly. Just look.....



...isn't it just gorgeous?? A lady called Mari (from ZewNice) made it for me, and sent it all the way from Norway! I couldn't be more delighted. Above is the front (obviously!) and below is the back....



.....lucky, LUCKY me!!
Thanks for popping by. See you soon. xx

Friday 23 November 2012

I can Still Learn A Thing or Two....

Well...two is probably pushing it.....but I can still learn a thing! After avidly watching Kirstie Allsopp's Vintage Homemade last night (sorry addiction!), look what I did this morning.....


Ms Allsopp demonstrated how to make these pretty lotus flower napkins, to add to table place settings. I was smitten! And she must have been a good teacher, because I only watched it the once!
In other news, I've finished the commissioned Christmas Runner and matching napkins (no lotus flowers this time), and safely delivered them to one happy lady. I was quite pleased with them, and really happy that I'd added a bunting style edge to the runner. I most firmly believe that bunting is the key ingredient for any celebration!




And so now onto the next Christmas order...Thank goodness there's still a month to go!!
Have a lovely (if somewhat soggy) weekend. xx

Wednesday 21 November 2012

Ooo's and Aaah's....

In these days of much stitching, I have discovered something about myself. Possibly not a very nice something.....I like praise!
Normally, when I'm working on some needlework, I'll take it into work with me and show it to my friends there. Normally, they'll ooo and aaah a little bit (I have them well trained),and then I can continue with the stitching, safe in the knowledge that I'm probably on the right track.
However, at the moment, I'm on sick-leave, recuperating after The Operation, so can't reach my support team, and all I have to rely on is The Partner.
Hmmm..... Now.....I adore the man. I truly, truly do. He has enriched my life in so many ways, BUT he has a singular lack of enthusiasm in The Ooo and Aaah Department, as I'm fast discovering in these days of stitching, stitching, stitching.....
Today, I was working on hand quilting my runner for the Christmas Runner Swap, and it was a case of one step forward, and three back. I'd unpicked the stitching from a snowflake twice already.....


..my fingers were sore, and I was fed up. I shared this with The Partner.....Nothing. No reaction. Not a murmur.....
There's something not right somewhere, when he can wax lyrical for HOURS over various football skills, (he can also wax lyrical for HOURS over sci-fi mumbo jumbo, but I'll save that for another day!) and I pay attention, discussing a few minor points with him (I EVEN understand the rudimentaries of the off-side rule, for goodness sake!), yet I try to explain a couple of needlework hiccups, and his eyes glaze over and he becomes mute....Hmmmm........
So, a little while later, I'd turned a corner,and I was much happier with the way things were going, and thought I'd share with him again.
Now. Bearing in mind I'd had a bit of a pop about him not getting enthusistic enough, when dealing with MY version of a foul, you'd have thought that the proverbial penny had dropped, and I was in for some SERIOUS enthusiasm. Not a word of it! I'm not even sure I was anything more than white noise humming away in the background. This man needs some serious education......
And while I'm dealing with that, I'll leave you with this......



Please remember to "Ooo" and "Aaah" in all the right places....I'm feeling deprived!

Thanks for looking in on me. See you soon. xx

Monday 19 November 2012

Bravery Personified!

The Dressing is off! (What?? You didn't think you WOULDN'T be getting a blow by blow account of my post operation state, did you?? Unlucky!!) And I can report that I didn't faint (!!!) and that the scar is about 1.5" long. Yuk-a-dee-doo-dah.
Other than that, nothing really to report....I DID witness The Partner do a spot (and I mean A SPOT) of hoovering today, for which I thanked him profusely.....praise the positive, ignore the negative! And obviously, I'm sewing my little heart out.
A Christmas order that I've been working on, is almost finished, as is my Christmas Runner 2012 Swap. I'm just about to start on the hand quilting....



...and I chose this fabric for the backing.....



I have to say that I'm thoroughly enjoying the whole Swap experience, and would most definitely love to do another. Part of the process is showing your progress (and watching others) on Flickr, and it's been fun watching various works take shape. The idea is that you post comments on others' work -and they post on yours-and little by little, you can work out what your partner would like, and also leave clues as to what you like, for the person who is making for you. (Remember-you know who is going to get your runner, but they don't know that you're making for them, and nor do you know who is making for you. It's a bit like a Secret Santa.) So, now I'm almost finished, with the posting date set for the 30th November, and am just a little butterfly-ie over whether my Swap Partner will like it or not.......that, or it's The Scar playing up!!
See you soon. xx

Saturday 17 November 2012

Convalescence!

Well, just goodness knows how anyone ever copes with major surgery! They all deserve medals!! I'm taking things VERY gently.....and still being a complete and UTTER wuss! My tummy is SSSOOOO sore. And tomorrow I'm supposed to take the dressing off. I can feel a lie down in a darkened room coming on!!
But I have been spoilt rotten by my friends.......


and this was once a rather yummy lasagne....



....not to mention more chocolate than you could shake a stick at! (No photo of those, I'm afraid....empty wrappers and boxes just aren't that photogenic!!)
And because my feebleness means I'm not really leaving the house much, I'm catching up on some needlework. Hooray! I've even finally made a start on my Christmas Runner Swap......



.....Double Hooray! Unless my Swap-Partner doesn't like them....then I'm in trouble. Can feel another lie-down coming on........
Thank you so very much, to all my friends (yes, PLURAL!) for all your kindnesses. You know who you are.
Hugs.xx

Thursday 15 November 2012

All Done!

I made it!! I lived to tell the tale!! Needless to say, this being me, yesterday was not without it's hiccups....
Firstly, there was this attractive new look to deal with...


....with the close up not looking much better....



I mean, REALLY??? Hospital gown, The Partner's dressing gown and surgical socks are never going to make one feel one's most attractive!! And then in toddled the surgeon, with Hiccup Number 1.......
He asked to examine my hernia, looked at it this way and that......and then announced that I had TWO! After a bit of discussion, it was decided that he would repair both while he was it. Oh good. The Partner remained relaxed throughout all of this........                                                                                           


And then the nurse came to collect me for surgery. GULP! GULP! GULP!
The next thing I knew, someone was insisting I woke up. And then insisted I actually kept my eyes open! How rude! It was as bad as being at the cinema with The Partner! He takes a dim view of me sleeping there, too!!
So, back to my room, feeling MUCH relieved, if a bit sore. All went swimmingly. A lovely lady brought me a ham sandwich and lovely cuppa. Yum. Nurses came and went, checking on me, and all was fine. Then it was time to get me up and dressed, and make sure that I could answer a call of nature. Again, all was fine....
Then came Hiccup Number 2...
The Nurse said she'd just remove the line from my hand, and I could leave. Now. I've never hidden my squeamishness from anyone. I'd regaled this particular Nurse with all manner of squeamish anecdotes. Obviously all this had fallen on deaf ears. Out came the line....And down went I....The Porter was postponed.....And The Partner started to twitch.....
Fear not, my friends, The Partner had not suddenly jumped out of character. No, no, no. Let me reassure you. He was merely becoming most concerned that the Sweden v England kick off was fast approaching, with no sign of a departure from hospital!
So, like the considerate person I am, I pulled myself together, The Porter was recalled, and we made it home...just in time! Phew...
And so now, although still sore and fragile, I have a minimum of two weeks ahead of me, with nothing on the agenda except sewing. Bliss.
Thanks for looking in on me. See you soon. xx

Tuesday 13 November 2012

The Butterflies Are Stampeding......

Oh. My. Goodness. Just one more sleep, and every time I think about it, my tummy lurches, wakes up the butterflies, and off they race again, all Harum-Scarum. And believe you me, I'm Scarummed enough, all on my own, without pesky butterflies thrown into the mix.
I ABSOLUTELY understand, in the broad light of day, that, in the great scheme of things, a small hernia repair is no big deal......but I am, after all, The Girl Who Passed Out When The Chiropodist Put Too Much Cream On A Verrucah......In my defence, she did use a SCALPEL to scrape off the excess.
Well, I can't think straight enough to be able to add anything of interest, so perhaps best if I sign off now.
Thank you so much for popping by. I'll see you soon......Hopefully.....xx

Monday 12 November 2012

Only two more sleeps......

Yes...only two more sleeps until my hernia repair, and as predicted, nothing is ready! There is no food cooked, ready and waiting in the freezer, the housework hasn't been done, the beds haven't been changed......And yet,I have been doing my Headless Chicken Impression for quite a few days now.Promise.
I've decided that I have the very rare talent (rare in females, at any rate!) of being able to busily do nothing. It's like that old song I once saw performed at the end of Cleethorpes pier, during a dance festival (I lead an exciting life!).."I'm busily doing nothing, working the whole day through, trying to find lots of things not to do.....". I can't remember any more...only an idea that they were wearing bumble bee costumes. The mind is now boggling....
BUT....I have made some progress....Christmas gifts are under way...


....Christmas orders are being filled.....



....so all is not lost!
Thanks for popping by. See you soon. xx

Wednesday 7 November 2012

Oooo...err!

Well! The date has been set. The pre-op has been done. This time next week, I shall be in hospital!! GULP!!! I've never had an operation before, and am ever so slightly nervous...
I'm thinking of writing letters to my nearest and dearest, in case I don't make it back from this latest adventure.....a little melodramatic????? I don't think so. I am, after all, the girl who passed out when ears were pierced....the same girl who passed out (20 minutes...with convulsions!) when a TENS machine was used on her dodgy knee during physio.....the same girl who threw up because "Casualty" on The Beeb was a little gory.....Need I say more?
I'm trying to concentrate on the positive. Apparently, I'll need a minimum of two weeks off work. Two weeks of extra sewing time! Just in the run up to Christmas! Yay!! And equally positive, I must not lift, or do anything strenuous for six weeks. I'm absolutely certain that The Consultant meant hoovering when he said that. And making the beds. And anything else remotely houseworky and tedious..... Ho Hum....
So this next week will be spent in: A) strict denial and B) trying to get everything in order, and the freezer stocked......Watch this space....You'll discover I'm excellent at A), and complete pants at B)....
See you soon. xx

Monday 5 November 2012

I'm Back!

Here I am! Did you miss me? Polite answers only, on a postcard, please!
So.....The Campervan Holiday.... Perfect, just perfect! I'm totally smitten (I always suspected I would be...now I KNOW!!)
This is our first cup of tea, just 5 minutes after we arrived at the campsite...

....and this is what our  Four-Wheeled-Abode looked like, as I made my way back from the shower block.....


Who could ask for anything toastier or cosier?? And even The Partner, who has been known to err on the slightly grumpy side, when it comes to anything remotely tight on space, had to admit that it was more comfortable than expected! Praise indeed!
And would you just look at these...


....nothing to do with The Camper, but as cute as old billy-o, don't you think? I found them in "NEXT", and they cost £12 for one of each. Hmmmm.....What are the chances of me being able to sneak them past The Partner, and settle them into a little corner chez nous?....You're right, of course.....a big fat billy-zero!
Great to see you again. Thanks for popping by. xx

Friday 26 October 2012

I'm So Excited!!!

I've just been for a test drive, and a Putting-Up-The-Roof lesson, and a Making-Up-The-Beds lesson on my friend Jane's campervan!!!!!
Glorious Jane (as she is to be known from here on in) has lent me her Beautiful Campervan for the Half-Term Hols!!!!! I have wanted a campervan since time began, so this is truly a dream come true.
So.....You won't be hearing from me next week, as The Partner, The Son and I shall be off. Travelling.
(I should mention at this point, that The Partner is less than keen, but, bless him, is trying to find his Spirit of Adventure, from wherever he left it last time. The Son has been kept in the dark, so he'll get a fabulous surprise. He knows that we're camping, but is presuming we're taking our tent. I can't wait to see his face, when he realises we have the much coveted camper!)
Now, I'll wish you all some lovely holidays, and I'll meet you back here in a week, with lots of stories about our latest adventures.
Glorious Jane....Thank You...xx

Thursday 25 October 2012

I Feel Another Soapbox Coming On....

Be warned......I'm preparing for a rant. Step away now....it might get ugly.
I have just spent the last two hours writing up reports, backing up with photographic evidence, for six children. These children are not preparing for GCSE's or A-Levels. That, I could perhaps accept more readily. No. The eldest amongst them is just 4 years old, the youngest 2.5 years old.
Two hours of my life, spent amongst my most loathed paperwork, that I'll never make back. And that doesn't even touch on the last 4 weeks of uploading data, and photos, onto a new whizz-bang-wallop computer programme, destined to callibrate every waking minute of the little poppets' lives, into categories such as "Expressive Art & Design" or "Communication & Language". Is it just me, or do they sound like course titles in an Adult Education Evening School brochure?
Please don't misunderstand me. I adore working with children. I love the children in my care. I enjoy the relationship I have with parents. I like and value my colleagues. I JUST DETEST THE PAPERWORK!
I absolutely understand the need to ensure that children are nutured, to grow with their enquiring minds, to feed their natural appetites to learn and experience life. I understand that it helps if notes are made and kept, so that you can support the child as he steps forward on his journey. I just completely disagree that we pigeon hole these precious little ones, pushing and pulling them to fit boxes and tick sheets. And believe me, that's precisely where our pre-school education is leading us.
What happened with getting down alongside the child and simply enjoying shared time together? What happened to allowing the child to lead, while you followed quietly in her footsteps? Perhaps a few Important People in Education Policy Making in Whitehall (who haven't been near an infant in the last 20 years) would do well to read some of Maria Montessori's work....Children haven't changed....Only the way we try and mould them.
There. I think that's pretty much me done now. Sorry! (Sort of!!)
Bet you're glad you popped by!! xx

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Problems Afoot....

There are, quite literally, problems afoot. Or should that be "a foot"??
Let me explain.....The Partner and I share a car. When I say "share", what I really mean, is that we both feed and care for it, but HE gets to drive it. But that's another story for another day......
Because of said "sharing", The Partner will often drive me to work, and once there, help me to set up for the day. But the day before yesterday, disaster happened. As he pulled a noticeboard from a cupboard, he managed to dislodge the large A-frame board, which flew out of the cupboard, triple somersaulted, before landing squarely on The Partner's Toe. Ouch!! (I have had to paraphrase just there.....suffice to say that the air went SEVERAL shades of unpleasant.)
Well, The Partner limped (not so) valiently through the remainder of the day, with much huffing, puffing and general groaning punctuating his hobbling, before deciding that the dawn would bring The X-Ray Department.
Morning duly arrived, I was dropped at work -no offer of help, when there's the possibility of proof that every bone known to man, in the general foot region, has been crushed to within an inch of it's life-and off raced The Partner to our local A&E.
A while later, the verdict was in.....With a prevailing wind, and a jolly good squint, there was a small glimmer of a chance (hope??) that there might, indeed, be a teensy crack.....and evidence of.....(please whisper now...The Partner is in denial...) arthritis. Poor old soul...
I, on the other hand, am in excellent (arthritis-free) health, and took the opportunity of a rare afternoon off to make up a couple more stars......


Almost there, I think....


........See you soon. xx