WHO had the time to create these pictures???

My dear Mother sends me lots of silly forwards. But today, I was amazed by these. Amazing how art can be made out of anything!

I LOVE the cauliflower sheep the best of all!!!!

Egg cottage- so sweet! Appropriate really for a yoke! Flutterby!

If you are the artist- SHOW YOURSELF!

Harking back to younger times.

11. Ted Hughes The Iron woman

Reading this sent me right back to primary school. Aged 7, Year 3, watching Year 6's class assembly about Ted Hughes's The Iron Man original book. I was terrifiedly transfixed! It sticks with me in my mind. Truly, I can picture it now! Whenever someone mentions the Iron man, it sends a slight shudder down my spine. I never did read it. However, I covered Year 3 sometime last term which involved reading a chapter of it. I still haven't read it, but this sequel was in my class library, so I decided to give it a read- him being some sort of Children's Laureate in the past. As a literacy teacher, I OUGHT to be able to express an opinion on him, NOT based on fear. Anyway, it proved an interesting book with a very powerful message relating to pollution of water and the effect on our beautiful Earth- where the Iron woman comes to reak revenge on humans for their continual pollution. The change is helped by a young girl who helps to find a more peaceful solution. The blurb on the back describes it as a modern fable. It is a very imaginative book and I enjoyed the message and really hope that it has an impact on any children that read it. I probably wouldn't read it again, but I do think this comes from the association with his previously mentioned.
12.

Joseph Galliano (editor) and various famous types. Dear Me: A Letter to My Sixteen-Year-Old Self

I borrowed this book from CBC a while back. The basic premise is- you have a page to write a letter to your 16 year old self. What would you write. As you can imagine, there is lots of 'don't do this, have no regrets, don't worry about x blah blah' but it offers marvellous insights into the younger selves of some wellknown personalities, someone of whom are extremely engaging. Others are extremely irritating. Those I particularly enjoyed included: Jane Fonda, Yoko Ono, Nitin Sawhney and Nadia Sawalha. A nice book to just be able to pick up and read from any point since the letters are autonomous. Worthwhile owning if you are not a habitual reader who would like to peruse something from time to time.

I intend to write a letter to MY sixteen year old self. What would YOU write if you had the opportunity to visit your former self?

As always, thanks to Amazon for images. If you would like to purchase any of these books, they are available from Amazon.

10 things to be thankful for...

These aren't in any particular order, just random.

1. CBC- love spending time with him (you CBC if you are reading! Stop looking embarassed), especially when falling asleep on your shoulder during crucial parts of the plot of gritty contemporary plays!
2. When a rehearsal goes very well! My recorder group were great today. I had one that wanted to leave because he has no time to practice, but the majority were there, really enjoyed it, played the piece well and are going to perform in singing assembly.
3. A really great song and those who compose such pieces. I taught the kids THE PEANUT VENDOR (El Manisero) last week, by Don Azpiazu which is a great cuban song (I think) and they just GOT it, despite the difficult latin rhythms, enjoyed it and sang it really well! Am looking forward to it tomorrow.
4. Lovely supportive friends who help, uphold, support, encourage, empathise and share lunch!
5. Sleep- oh doesn't it feel much better when you've replenished your energy?!?
6. Sunshine- oh the delicious feel of caressing sunbeams when (don't even mind the 10 sneezes that it was accompanied by!) you manage to chance upon a little fresh air.
7. Fish fingers!!! Oh the joy of nostalgia!
8. Dancing to classical music with chiffon scarves with 30 4-5 year olds! Love it!

9. Evenings.

10. The promise of a holiday in less than 3 weeks!

What are you thankful for this week?

Tights gripes

• Why aren't these cloud tights available in adult sizes? How cute are they??? (Available at www.cloudappreciationsociety.org)
• Why indeed are all the cool kiddies' knitted tights not available in adults sizes?
• Why do adult versions of knitted tights (including lovely Tescos rose and polka dot tights) not have a pattern that goes up to the top but stops just above the knee. For us long-legged girlies, this is just plain silly as you end up with a plain band on show if your dress is shorter. If you're going to make tights in our leg-length manufacturers, please ensure that this terrible error is rectified.

Thank you.

Does anyone else have this problem?

I always knew it was true!!!!

Take the Quiz here!

I went to see Chalet Girl on Saturday (in the middle of the blazing hot sun! Whyyyy????) mainly because of my admiration of Felicity Jones (See above!!! My favourite heroine is Catherine Morland who she played in Northanger Abbey so I am especially pleased that I came out in this quiz as her! FYI, I am watching it right now!!!!!!!!!).

CBC was a little sceptical about it, thinking it seemed a bit of a cliqued rom com. Felicity Jones was on top form as ever, although I think I prefer her with an upper class accent rather than Essex sarcasm which could've been a bit annoying if it were anyone else. She was a sweet heroine and I enjoyed some of the beautiful snowy views in the film and the snow boarding was very exciting. I thought the development between her and her love interest (the son of the Chalet's owner) was a bit sudden and a bit unrealistic and he wasn't really my idea of a hero (I much prefer JJ Feild as Mr Tillney). I also thought he was a bit of a wuss and a cad for his dumping of his fiance and a coward for getting to that place in the first place. Bill Nighy was great as the chalet owner, if a little underused. Bill Bailey was fairly insipid as Kim (Felicity Jones's) father. I quite liked all the Jack Wills clothing that most of the other cast members were wearing. On the whole, it wasn't the most exciting movie ever but it was an entertaining diversion.

Cloudy day?

I forgot how much I love this website devoted to clouds in their crowning glory! I'm on cloud nine remembering it (ho ho ho!)

Hydra novella: the first day! Waffle waffle

At risk of incurring the wrath of CBC and not delivering on what I pledged, I include the first day's worth of waffle from my trip to Hydra! Disclaimer: You may wish to find some matches for your eyes! :-)

21/2/2011
We are currently hurtling towards Piraeus Port on the coast of Athens, trying to reach there in time to catch the Flying Dolphin, speedy boat to Hydra. Tension surrounds us like a mine-field full of trip-wires whilst we both anxiously play the dreaded scenario of missing the boat in our fretful minds. The time is 3:35pm, local time, and we have to be at Piraeus by 4 to pick up tickets and catch the boat. Will we make it, will we make it? The hated refrain plays itself in our minds. It seems doubtful right now. We’ve just reach Panourmo on Line 1 of the Athens metro with 12 stops to go including a change to Line 2! Pray like mad, even in retrospect that we wont have to find some dingy hotel by the port, since it’s the last boat of the day. I’ve spent the entire plane journey learning vocab which magically Houdinied its way out of my mind when I needed to use it!

The flight was pleasant enough though we’re exceedingly weary since we had to rise at 4.10am in order to catch the 4:59 train to London! We almost missed it by literally a second! We raced from home dragging the very heavy Yellow Peril suitcase and a pink-mink trolley plus rucksack! We’ve been exceedingly lucky so far, perhaps it will hold out! Got to go- just got to get up in order to alight (love this word on busstops!) and change trains!
Time is running out. Disaster! Cautious CBC didn’t run into train at Monastres- it’s past 4pm but at least I saw an orange tree!

I write this from the boat!! Luckily, the website was the equivalent of an over-cautious mother sending off her first born to Scout-camp and the Hellenic Seaways office told us we were early for our 5pm boat and seemed bemused at the mere suggestion that we were expected to arrive an hour before! PHEW! A wild goose-chase ensued trying to find the actual boat- the Flying dolphin. CBC headed towards impossibly large looking boats with car-ports (HELLO CBC? We’re going to an island horeece (Greek for ‘without’) cars on something called The flying dolphin not Stonking great whale!!!!!) I attempted asking in Greek for directions which headed us towards smaller-looking boats at the other end of the watery mass (What do I call it? The port still?)

Eventually, several paltry-attempts at Greek later (“Poo eneh ee karavi yia Idhra parakalo?”), we found ourselves boarding a moderately-sized red and white Flying dolphin. After being relocated to our proper seats, in what we had originally avoided as we’d assumed was the 1st class section due to its being smaller and having a door, not white-paper seat-covers alla Britain (Strange no one else was in this area: why did they put us here? AHA, I know your game! Let’s laugh at the silly English tourists sitting in the bumpy bit of the boat!) the hydra-foil departed at a hasty lick. This was not enough, despite, loud vibrations, to stop me from falling immediately into a slumber upon CBC’s shoulder.

Awakening one hour hence amidst blue sunset-illuminated sea, the boat arrived at Poros, the more popular touristy island (not as exclusive as Hydra), where virtually all in sundry alighted noisily (cue usual Kezzie-style paranoic ponderings of Have we missed Hydra????). All was fine on the seaward front and the ½ an hour left to reach Hydra continued with my continual sleep and CBC eagerly guzzling the Saronic sea-sights.

Arrival in darkness!!! Dismay at having to find accommodation, rueing the fact that we had not bothered to print a map, locate the street name our hotel might be on or print our confirmation.
First impressions of gentle-lapping waves at the habour, tavernas with outdoor heating lamps, stony-cobbled walkways. With the aid of a friendly ubiquitous ‘old smily gent’ and a couple of none-too-helpful “It’s far. Go that way and then ask someone else,” comments, we made our way up steep cobbled, labyrinthine passages, finding ourselves in worrying-dark, windy passages (cue more paranoic Kezzie, “Robbers, robbers, they’re after for us!!!”) Eventually, by magnificent luck, we ended up at Piteouessa, our guesthouse recognising it from the photos, meeting Yiannis, our 'landlord' who showed us a choice of rooms.


This photo of Piteoussa Guest House is courtesy of TripAdvisor

This photo of Piteoussa Guest House is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Choice number 1 was large and white with red accents and a romantic-style canopy over the bed. White with subtle grey-Ikea showroom style.

Choice number 2 was up a windy staircase slightly smaller, white with prominent green accents, prominent apple accessories and 70’s style swirling lamps (plus balcony). Indecision reigned supreme until CBC stated that we should go for downstairs wherein I subtly tried to indicate that there had been a rather strong aroma of ‘cat’ downstairs and maybe we should stay upstairs. CBC in his innocently-ignorant-to-the-ways-of-cats and polite questioning, misinterpreted my comments and unsubtly asked “Do you have cats?” pointedly (inwardly I cringed and glared at CBC). Landlord, bemused at this strange turn in the conversation, wasn’t sure if this was a rhetorical question; Who DIDN’T have cats? (a feature of Hydra!) Eventually, I triumphed (somewhat regretfully, since who DOESN’T want to imagine they are Princess Jasmine under a white canopy!) but I cannot stand eau-de-cat-wee (this was OUTSIDE the room I am sure, but I could still smell it!). CBC made numerous references to over-greeness which suggested he wasn’t so happy, which parried irritation on my part.

Yiannis provided us with maps and cards for restaurants and some minutes later, we set off down further twisting passages eventually finding Ostria, a restaurant boasting fresh-seafood caught and cooked by the sea-faring proprietor himself! Herein, we experienced our first experience of yet another key-feature of Hydra- waiters/waitresses who enjoyed lengthly conversations with friends, not doing a lot of work!

Our food was local red small shrimps (SMALL? These were gargantuan!)- very generous portions and a whole fresh, sweet Kalamari, an abundance of Greek salad and rose wine. Our hostess was very helpful and friendly (not all were like this).

Finally, we traipsed homewards to Pitouessa, full of fare and calmly contented to sleep in the green boudoir!

Swish swish!!!

"Wheeeeeee!"
"Please try to take a picture of it swishing Mummy!"

"Ahrgh, I'm being attacked by my hair!"

"Look how it swishes..."

"Flaaaaaameeeeenco!"

"Edelweeeeeeis, Edelweeeeeis!"

"Why can I not think what to do with my hands?"

"Are your petticoats as big as mine?"

I had a great time on Saturday night celebrating my 30th with some friends at the Firefly bar, learning more swing dance!

Everyone made a real effort at dressing vintage, and despite some initial anxious reservations on behalf of some of my friends, everyone loved the dancing, especially the Lindyhop! I am soooo hooked on it! I just want to learn to do it well!!! We're going again next month!

Amazingly, I was asked to dance by two really great dancers who span me around the floor like a spinning-top, one of whom must have been about 70! He was very sprightly upon his feet!

We attended 2 lindy classes, 1 cake-walk and one Collegiate Shag! I still love the Lindy best! Sadly, we had to leave before the Tango class!

Also, I wish I'd had a chance to take photos, but cameras and I don't go to evenings out together sadly! However, when my mum came round, she insisted on me putting my dress and petticoat on for her, so I thought I would share them with you!!!! Swish-swish-swishety-swish!

Robin red breast

Your melody so melodious, your feathers so fine.

How is it that you stand up on legs this slender?

You trill proud and dandy, as you bob round the bushes,

Eyes gleaming black and wise; there's no tricking you.

Proud and capable, the model husband protector

You make me beam, dear little fellow with your suit of red and brown!

Images (c) R.Gibbs 2011

Wistful reminiscences of furry friends

CBC and I have frequently discussed a longing for a cat! The feline variety in Hydra only served to accentuate that longing! There's nothing quite as lovely as a purry furry affectionately milling around your ankles as you try to achieve some particular task or other as I delightedly show in my guise of Pied Piper of Hamelin in Hydra on the left (or mad cat lady as CBC described it at the time!)

My lovely mother came round this morning to come to cut the grass (I've not yet mastered the art of 'Lawnmower' yet, nor, I suspect, does she trust me in this particular role due to a slight propensity towards clumsiness!). We have a mutual love of the birds in our garden, some of whom love her more than they like me! A particular tame robin loves to be around her whenever she arrives. She took some beautiful photos of him, which I shall post later.

Anyway, as we tried to upload the pictures to my laptop earlier, we went to look at her facebook profile so she could find some other pictures and I came across all these delightful shots of previous pets. I spent the majority of my early life surrounded by pets, particularly cats but also chickens, hamsters, fish, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rabbits, rats, mice (but sadly never a gerbil. I want a gerbil! Gerbils can move house when I need to. CBC says a vehment "No!" to gerbils) so it does sometimes feel strange to be without them (my last cat died just under 2 years ago). However, these are so cute and made me feel so happy (combined with a slight nostalgic and wistful feeling), that I thought I'd share them to share the furry love!

A Solstice sandwich: Solstice in the middle with her adopted babies- Harmony and Mewsici!

Katy pins Minstrel, a darling little gent with feline celebral palsy, to the minging patterned carpet!

Old gent Noddy looks confused as a gremlin-like baby Solstice straddles his back! Pushkin, ever the affectionate maternal-figure, looks on with the indulgence of a proud matriarch

The three bantum hens, Polly (and ahrgh, I cannot remember the names of the other two!!!!!) fight over reading My Weekly magazine!

Eeeeeeek!!!!

I think I've just done something a bit silly!

I just applied to ride the London to Brighton British Heart Foundation Cycle ride!

Considering that I have only been riding a year and I have not been out since my gears went kaputt in October, this is a trifle daunting! My longest ride to date has been the South Tyne trail in Haltwhistle in August, a mere 10miles!

As long as my application is accepted, I'd better get into that lycra sharpish and start building the stamina! And learn to cope with large hills! It's great to have a cycling challenge to get me back into the saddle though!

Let them eat cake!

Look how clever my dear and kind mummsy is! She made me these beautiful cakes for my birthday! The chocolate fondant covered one was just for me (and CBC)- chocolate covered in chocolate. Beautiful detailing, care and attention.

The second one was my group birthday cake, encompassing many of the things I like best: turquoise, daisies, music, white-cotton effect and of course, chocolate.

A week or so before my birthday, she texted CBC to ask whether I'd prefer chocolate or orange. He didn't realise I wasn't supposed to see (I assumed she was making cupcakes so that's ok). At my reaction, "Chocolate, chocolate, always chocolate! All my kingdom for a chocolate cake!" , he replied "Does your mother know you?". When I saw her last week (at my birthday), I admit I did say, "Mummsy dearest, why did you ask such a question?"

Anyway, she's a darling and I love her very much!

10 things to be thankful for.

1. The gifts and skills that I have been given which I was able to use today: thank God that my wrist was able to function!

2. Having a warm house.

3. Cosy duffle jumper a dear friend knitted for me which I am snuggled up in (over the lace dress!)

4. Having loving friends and family.

5. Having at least backed up my work in November so at least I haven't lost EVERYTHING! Plus, the reminder that losing my memory stick means I MUST back it up regularly! (trying to see the positive!)

6. The fact that I didn't have a HORRENDOUS amount of marking to do this weekend, so it wasn't too arduous! Especially since I haven't worked very efficiently!

7. Chocolate buttons!

8. How lovely hugs are! Especially when administered by CBC!

9. The lovely picture I took above of delicious oranges: How it makes me smile, reminds me of how lovely Hydra was, that I finally got to see oranges growing on a tree, how bright and joyous they look, how it reminds me that we always have a holiday to look forward to as teachers even if we have lots of work to do during them, and in between, for the rest that I gained on that holiday.

10. The fact that I managed to get up on a Sunday morning in time, that I actually slept quite well last night, that I managed to have a substantial breakfast on a Sunday morning, for the lovely CBC who cooked the breakfast, that I wasn't late for church and I checked with the station guard where the train was going so I didn't discover too late, that the train was NOT calling at my station!

What are you thankful for this week?

How many parcels in the picture???

Yes, there are indeed three!!!!





The courier turned up today with my Peacocks orders- all three of them!


The sweetie that she was, she felt bad when I phoned the other day to try and arrange redelivery of the first parcel. So she phoned up her depot to see if they still had it or had sent it on to Peacocks, to try and help me. It transpired that they DID have it, but she didn't have my mobile number, so they kept it. But she didn't have my mobile number to call me, so somehow she came with 3 today! Yep, I have 3 sets of daisy earrings, and a polka-dot dress and a navy blue Kate Middleton-style dress. But MOST IMPORTANTLY...





I have the lace-necked dress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


There now remains the issue of what to do with 2 extremely large parcels worth of items, equivalent to the weight of a small child, especially since you have to pay for your own postage
but it's quite funny really!!!!

Yay, we had Women's world day of prayer today at church, for which I was playing the piano (ahrgh!) but praise God, apart from one of two Les Dawson moments, I didn't play too badly!!!

A tale of annoyances with a moral!

Oops forgot to actually post this! (written Friday)

Oh the saga of mistakes! I have encountered several irritations this week:

The peacock who refused to play nicely

Namely, Sooooo not happy with Peacocks!

I really wanted their Pearl Lowe lace collar dress from September, but only saw it in Look magazine by chance, so by that time, the madness of bagging one was long over, the booty had been bagged, the victors returning home with their spoils. Nonetheless, I endeavoured to trawl E-bay and look in stores on the off-chance I could get one (no Paypal, do not trust myself so limited). It was futile!

So when I read the post by Pink-haired Fashion-Princess, citing the new Peacocks items, I was pretty excited to see the black lace collared dress, which was as close as I was going to get to the Pearl Lowe dress. So dutifully, I ordered it (with some ahem, other items).

Now, the courier tried to deliver it when I was in Greece, and tried to redeliver (apparently, although I only had 2 cards-fishy...) 3 times. When I called on Tuesday, I found out that they had sent the parcel back to Peacocks ("We aren't allowed to try delivering more than 3 times").

Decidedly, vexed (but nevertheless polite), I phoned customer to see if I could get the parcel sent back. The response was that they don't know where the parcel has gone and I needed to reorder the items. I asked if she could do this over the phone as I wasn't sure what the items were exactly. Next point of grievance was, that 6 items were NOW SOLD OUT! INCLUDING... the lace-collar dress! (WHO are you, the person who has MY dress???????)

Inwardly incensed, but maintaining a slightly distressed but always polite phone-manner, I tried another dress instead to add to the other items. Just I had given my details and she tried to place the order, the computer refused to let her place the order. So she kindly (it's not her fault!It's the SYSTEM!) said, that she was afraid I would just have to go and reorder the items myself on the website. So I did. End of story or so I thought...

The next morning, my mobile-phone let me know there was voicemessage. It was a message, left 5 minutes (I hate my phone-WHY withhold this CRUCIAL information from me you foul piece of evil, despicable,egregious technology????) after I had hung up from that call last night, saying that the system HAD actually worked and the order was placed.

When I managed to finally call Customer-services again after work (I'm not going to go into the 3 times my evil phone (not the already maligned mobile, but my 'I'm-so-sweet-and-innocent' landline'- traitor!) cut me off mid-conversation!), they said that unfortunately (again nice workers) they couldn't cancel any of the orders as they had gone to dispatch and what I needed to do was to obtain the tracking parcel number from my e-mail when it arrived the next day, and phone them with it, so they could recall it. (I also discovered that on the phone order, that bizarrely, 4 duplicate items of a bra had been added! AHRGH! Why do I want 4 bras?!)

However, school being what it is, I couldn't check till late and so when I called Customer-services with the number, THE WRETCHED LINE WAS CLOSED!!!! There was ranting.

No time today to try and make a last-ditch call to send back the exasperated and surplus parcel. Although it didn't actually arrive. Where is it? I am a NIGHTMARE at getting to the post-office in opening hours, so this is going to be awkward!

How come lovely shop, Joy used a courier who left their parcel with a neighbour whilst I was away, and yet Peacocks' courier caused me a myriad of grief!

I acknowledge my part in going on holiday for 6 days when a parcel was due wasn't helpful (There were 4 days between my order and going but I did put a note on the order saying to leave with 2 specified neighbours if needed) but how IRKSOME! I really hope the items fit!

I think the moral of this tale is:

Stop buying clothes online Kezzie!

A shorter tale: A tale of two missings:

My memory stick has gone AWOL, left the building, playing hide and seek, gone on shore-leave, off with the fairies: since Wednesday! Thus, much time was spent after school trying to locate its secret lair, so I could force it to come home with me so I could make it work for its supper. To no avail. As I packed up a hoard of books to take home, I thought to check the ICT room for it. No luck. Crestfallen, I ended up walking home.

10minutes into my journey, I reached downwards for my mobile phone and discovered my handbag was not with me!!!! (Mental recollection of slinging it onto the desk in my excitement at the idea of checking the ICT room at this moment) EEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!! Fervently wishing for school to still be open, I charged as fast as I could, back to school.

The gates were locked and barred, no sign of the caretaker, since the closing-time had passed. No phone, no keys, no purse, other items needed! Trying to keep in mind our lesson from homegroup study, I tried to remain positive and see this as an opportunity for prayer (actually worked quite well at the time), I then began the treasure hunt of walking to various friends' homes to find my spare key! Thank God, that my Godmother was in (sans key sadly) and was able to drive me to another friend's house for that elusive item!

The moral: Hmmmm... stop being so infuriatingly ditsy!!!

Furry books

10. Aleksandr Orlov A simples life.

I am a big fan of the Compare-the-meerkat.com adverts. I have compared meerkats, it's great fun. However, I hadn't considered reading the novel, until amusingly, the person for whom I bought it for Christmas, bought it for me also! The book has lots of funny pictures and tells the epic history of how the Compare-the-meerkat business came about, from dusty roots of ancestors in the Kalahari desert, up to modern-day entrepeneur and self-confessed genius in many disciplines. It is rather silly, with the broken-English spoken by the character in the adverts but has a charm to it. Children will take it literally, adults can laugh at it! I thought it was cute! Not for you if you want to read something serious, great-story-telling that will change the world, but an amusing diversion.

Grecian chic or over-the-top geek?

PHOTOS AHOY!
It was World Book day today! So, being the enthusiastic teacher I am, I went full gusto into the dressing up as a book character element. Being inspired by my role in The Boys from Syracuse(Based on Shakespeare's Comedy of errors), and the accessories I had procured for that and being in Greece last week, I decided to go for a character from my English GCSE study, The Iliad. Namely, the owner of the face that launched a thousand ships- Helen of Troy.




So, my costume consisted of:


Photo 1: Wreath head-dress.

A plain gold headband (Primark current), to which I attached gold leaves and gold flowers wedding-favour decorations (Hobbycraft), They wrapped around the headband with craft-wire.





Photo 3: An under layer of gold and white braid (Hobbycraft) which formed a head-layer.

Hair plaited and pinned up.





Photo 2: Gold gladiator-style sandals (Primark- July 2010)


white cotton skirt, worn under dress (Topshop 2002)





Photo 4&5: (Ignore the messy desk): from the top:


Eye shadow: Urban Decay Midnight cowboy rides again


Gold coin and bead earrings: Craft fair-donated by friend Ellie last summer for TBfS


White scarf/sash over the shoulder (Primark current)


Gold coin necklace (Primark July 2010)


White Grecian dress (bought in Hydra tourist shop last week from grumpiest shop-keeper ever!)


Cream leaf belt (Primark current)


Gold bangles and bracelets (Primark July 2010)



So thank you to high-street stores (and one Greek miser) for providing me with a lovely costume which......

*DRUMROLL*

...caused the children to vote me as having the best costume and therefore winning what was in photo 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!

Hurrah for world book day! Last year Elizabeth Bennett, this year Helen of Troy. Roll on next year!!!!!!!!

Triennarytoday-eek!

Oh dear! It suddenly hit me today, how old 30 seems!! (Sorry to those of you who passed that signpost a while back, it's just taking me a while to register!)

So I turned 30 today! I have had a lovely day!

After manic dash to Tescos to buy the obligatory goodies for the staffroom (oooh an excuse to buy vast quantities of cakes etc- what a hardship!), I arrived at school to set up! In the staff meeting, I was sung to and presented with a beautiful purple patent mock-croc, ultra-chic Jasper Conran trolley-bag. I am renowned for my large, scruffy, broken-zipped trolley which I cart to school each day, piled high with books! This is the new swish Kezzie-version! Very thoughtful of them! I'll post when I have batteries! Cards found their way to me throughout the day including some lovely musical champagne flutes from a lovely colleague!

Lovely reception classes in the morning, lessons based on Walking in the jungle which I wrote a song for and we created a composition (well animal sounds!) for! Singing assembly with KS1 was lovely as usual although very embarassingly sweet since one of the year1 teachers (kind soul that she is!) got the darlings to sing happy birthday to me (all 120 of them!) which they did with gusto, followed by impromptu Hiphip hurrahs!

Year 1 singing and playing all linked to raindrops in the afternoon was great fun!

Afterschool, Louise and I planned our secret agent book week plan and then came over to CBC's where we cooked Breton chicken, potato Dauphinoise, savoy cabbage, spinach, with Greek salad and then Mummy's delightful birthday cake she made for me!

We lacked any enthusiasm to get on with work but here I am at 1am, having just finished typing up plans, action plans for subjects, etc and waiting for CBC to finish his work too! Oh well, we were planning to go dancing but instead realised that we should really get some work done for school!

Yesterday was delightful- after a grumpy start, including fleeting visit into Hobbycraft and primark in order to gather accessories and materials to make my greek headpiece for my World book day costume (Friday)- guess who I am going to be? I arrived at my mother's, flanked by dear CBC who rescued me from Essex traffic fumes and we travelled to country carvery, where to my surprise, were gathered family and close family friends, all there to celebrate my birthday with me! It was lovely to have them all together, and for me. I've never had a celebration like that in my life- or a surprise one like that, where people have been there for me, for a meal like that! It was delightful as was the food! My mummy had not only made me a massive cake covered in turquoise flowers, musical notes and daisies, but she also made me a 'death by chocolate' artisan-style chocolate cake just for me- they must have taken ages to make!!!

Pretty things were given to me also!!!!

It made trying to get on with work when I got back later, that much more bearable!

So maybe 30 isn't so bad?