Madeline

We had 'Dress up as grownups day' on a Friday where our children had to come in dressed as what they want to be when they are grownup and where the teachers had to come dressed as kids. I chose to utilise my own wardrobe as usual to create an outfit- I was thinking of the Angela Brazil school books as I did it and was called Madeline by the other teachers all day. Apparently some French book character or other- I'm presuming it's one of these pictures.

The outfit consisted of: H&M beret, Monsoon tartan wool dress, white blouse- Racing Green, Tie- CBC's reject, White tights- ancient ballet tights, long socks- Primark, Red shoes- Red or dead, hair ribbons- Primark.

I have to say- though this was a costume. I'd gladly wear this outfit again, without the white socks and tights and maybe different shoes and different hair!! It was comfortable and neat!

Before the day, two girls have come up to me independently beforehand to say they were dressing up as me!!! I was rather touched, particularly as they are such sweet girls. The one in Year 6 has already got a headstart as for Jubilee picnic last year, she came in a 70's get up that made all the kids call her Miss A all day! PLus she loves hats too! It's moments like those that make you really love this job. It was really lovely to see what the children want to be as grownups. They are an ambitious lot and I was pleased to see lots of varied professions rather than the feared 'X-factor' clones that one speculated over! Artists, scientists, computer programmers, doctors, surgeons, teachers, ballerinas, dancers...

Children have the most wonderful way of saying things to you sometimes that really touch you. Like those two girls. Like the year 4 girl today who told me she had written her own Christmas carol after I said I was composing them a new one every year. She then said how much she loves music lessons with me. Another child yesterday, in year 2, after learning 3 new Christmas songs for their nativity said "I realllly love that song!". He's not usually at all enthusiastic in music and is usually a right pain but sat there singing his heart out for an hour!. Another child who told me she was going to rewrite her own version of the story of Harriet Smithson and Hector Berlioz with role reversals and a twist on the story after I've been studying 'Symphony Fantastique' with them. Like the army of boys and girls that begged to come and audition to sing the solo for the service-despite being young and never having done it, not least in front of 240 other children! The gleeful 'Yessssssssssssss' when they asked if they had music and I confirmed yes. The zeal they have for singing the Christmas songs and how they broke into spontaneous applause after they'd sung a new song well. The way I can throw really hard songs at them in Singing assembly and they are totally up for it. The letter I had from a parent yesterday saying that she was so glad I had chosen her boy for a special Christmas choir and how much she values the fact the school has a music teacher 'like me'.

I really want to treasure and write down these moments. Small passing comments, fleeting moments that it is so easy to forget but I want to treasure and hold deep in my heart when I am overworked, tired, depressed, daunted by OFSTED, daunted by demands and overwrought. I cherish these moments and I count my blessings it is my privilege to hear kind, sincere words from these small people I teach.

And that's a resounding "Yes!"

BEDN prompt for today:

Yes Moments are those tiny moments when life has complete clarity, meaning or certainty. Yes Moments can be life-changing or life-affirming. Yes Moments are about celebrating the little daily victories. Yes Moments are about recognising just how far you've come. Tell us what Yes Moments mean to you.

Well, that's a bit of a deep question after no-break-Wednesday!

One particular 'Yes' moment in my life was the day I decided to become a teacher. This was a huge moment because 2-3 years prior, I had adamantly stated that I would not become a teacher. I had come back from my study in Indonesia realising I now faced that age old perennial question that students the world over must face when that final essay is handed in for their degree and the results go up on the wall: "WHAT DO I DO WITH MY LIFE?". Up until that point, the world and the path is mapped out. I had managed to postpone the horrid moment due to my extra scholarship year in Bali. But now, it was crunch time. I was advised to 'Do a PGCE to get it under your belt' on several fronts but I was horrified. My words were something along the lines of: "I definitely don't want to be a teacher. You should only do a PGCE and be a teacher if you really want to do it. Otherwise, I would make an awful teacher and I don't want to do that!". I was always quite firm on the subject. I was offered some teaching opportunities but still I declined though I did do some deputising for my old University lecturer/teacher of Gamelan.

About that time in my life, another big yes (and no) moment arose. I broke up with my then, long-term boyfriend (the no) and became a Christian (the yes). It was a HUGE deal for me becoming a Christian and it changed my life. The world suddenly seemed to have hope, new possibilities, clarity, hope, an aim and a great love!

I spent those first few post-Bali months temping and applying for music-admin jobs. It was around February of 2004 that I got my job at the Royal Academy of Music. Life was great! I was so happy to be working at such a world-renowned institution. For all my life, it had been held in high-esteem as the very best place to study music and to think that I had a job there!!

It was in the summer, having moved into a new job at the Academy (I was covering Maternity leave originally) that I first started gaining exposure to working with children. In my job, I helped organise educational projects, learning music animateur skills and taking part in some projects. At the same time, I was invited at church, to help take a kids club for 7-10 year olds. Somehow, I had changed and I wasn't so afraid to have anything to do with children. Before, it had been quite the opposite. Sometime then, I started to think about primary teaching. It came upon me so gradually, that I hardly know when it began.

Suddenly, that vehment "No!" was becoming a "Yes!" all by itself and it was strange but curiously liberating and exciting. It was also extremely daunting but I somehow knew it was right! All those bricks were coming together. Simultaneously, two friends, blog friend Rach and my friend Kathy were also training at the time I started to think about it and they were enormously helpful in my decisions and deliberating and preparing. Even getting school experience was one of those amazing bricks that came at the right time. My Mum happened to see a teacher at my current school, who she knew and mentioned I was thinking about teaching and wanted some experience. She offered to speak to her head-teacher and was as good as her word. The head phoned and said that of course I was welcome to come for a week and so it began.

I spent a wonderful week at my school and was inspired and particularly was impressed by two teachers (one of whom is our Maths Coordinator and the one who helped me move so many of my belongings recently). The head kindly said to stay in touch and indeed, I went back to play for their Christmas production in the adult band. I spent another week there just before applying for the PGCE. Somehow, I was accepted at the Institute of Education, a really great place to study and gave up my admin job to become a teacher. And as luck would have it, I managed to get a job at that school I had grown so fond of in the space of a week despite receiving 2 other job offers and having 2 other heads phone me up after accepting. The way all those bricks fell into place was truly astounding and if, in 2003, you had told me I would be a teacher, I would have laughed in your face. I have spent 6 happy years at my school and though there are hard moments, I couldn't feel more lucky and priveleged to be where I am, in the situation I am in. It just took saying yes, bit by bit, to each of those thoughts, steps and questions.

I'd love to know about any monumentous 'Yes' decision you'd made?

SIA Moustachioes

Jen is a new host for Style imitating art and her first choice was this brilliant Movemberish painting Colonel Frederick Gustavus Barnaby, painted by James Tissot in 1870.

I thought this painting was great fun and I loved the Colonel's dapper niform. Obviously, I took the colours as my inspiration though reversing the ratios with more red than black and tried two different jackets. I also couldn't resist taking the mickey out of the pose a bit!!

Outfit: Red and black dress, black velvet jacket, black and red tartan jacket- all vintage thrifted/charity shop. SHoes- Clarks. Hat- hand-crocheted by Mum.

Once again, I am home hideously late from orchestra so this is a rather taciturn post for me. If anyone lives in Dulwich or in South London and has kids, come to my orchestra's annual kids' concert on Saturday. The programme includes Peter and the wolf and some other classics. There will be cake and tea and a chance to join in 'The drunken sailor'. Details on www.kco.org.uk (Thanks Ang, link is now corrected)

Hugs to ye xx

Interpreting the animal!

It's that time of the week again and we have Inspiration Monday with Megan and Nora, Two Birds and Sienna Miller this week!

I like lots of patterns and clothing items, however, for some reason, I find it hard to like animal print (not animals print, because I love a good bit of #wardrobe zoo) unless it's in reallly small doses but I figured I could get away with interpretting Sienna's dress as 'Autum leaf' pattern! I'm not really sure that this grey fur jacket goes with it (ok, I'm certain ofthis fact) but I thought I'd give it a go.

I've given a nod to the animal print with this mock snake-skin binocular bag! Does anyone remember how the Famous Five called Binoculars 'Field glasses' that always perplexed me as a child!

The BEDN topic for today is Christmas countdown:

Only 1 month until Christmas. Favourite Christmas traditions? Or favourite Christmas presents? Favourite Christmas songs? The best bit of Christmas is? What are you planning this year?

We're off north to Northumberland this year which I am really looking forward to as we've not spent long there this year. As always, I am hoping for some board games action (I love Boardgames but get little opportunity to play. CBC is not keen, especially Scrabble as he leads all the way and then I steal victory from him just as he's celebrating! I know I should let him win sometime, just so he'll play with me but if there's a good word option, I just HAVE to play it!

I also hope to visit my various family and invite my parents -both sides- over for dinner. We always go to them and it would be nice, now we have a larger home and one we share, to invite them over. Hmmm, should get around to doing that!

There'll be plenty of singing and music. Carol services at Church here and in Northumberland. In my specific profession, there's no getting away from it- Christmas songs galore. Tomorrow, I have to spend the afternoon teaching Year their solos for the Christmas production! The build up at church is exciting, lighting the advent wreath, thinking of Jesus...

Favourite Christmas songs?

I love O Holy night probably more than any other song. There is something beautiful about the soaring lines of this one. I have sung it at midnight services and carol services and there is something quite magical about singing it lit by candles! I always love Ding dong merrily on high (doing it at school this year) and all the traditional ones. I adore Bethlehem Down. Not that bothered by all the poppy Christmas songs though I love classics like 'Let it snow', 'Have yourself a merry little Christmas', 'WHite Christmas' and 'The Christmas song' ("Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...". My favourite Christmas Music: The Hely Hutchinson Carol symphony is SO beautiful. If you can, listen to it- it's basically orchestra variations on well known Christmas carols. Anyone of my age or older might remember 'The Box of Delights' TV OR radio-serial- one of the movements from the Symphony formed the theme tune.

There's nothing I am particularly longing to receive for Christmas and though I love presents (Ok, I really love presents!!!!!), it's not the main reason for Christmas for me- it's that baby boy that was born!. I am aware of how much I have and am conscious of this fact plus it's been an expensive year though I always love a good hat (cloches,berets, sheepskin products!). I'd love a sheepskin gilet, though they are very expensive so it's unlikely I'd buy one or expect to receive one, but it's nice to dream! I always love getting a pair of pajamas- Primark will do but has to be cotton!! Pretty 50's style things are always something I like and a proper raincoat! But, this year, I have more than I could need in a lifetime so I'm not going to be issuing any wishlist!

What about you?

Shiver me timberrrrrrrrrrrrs!!!

It's been a busy couple of days. After the train debacle and then late orchestra on Thursday, I got home just before midnight on Friday after a concert and then on Saturday, we were out at a pirate party!

A friend of CBC's, who he met through the Olympic drumming, was celebrating his 40th birthday aboard the Golden Hinde in London. We were all asked to dress as pirates!

For anyone who doesn't know, the Golden Hinde is a carefully built replica of the ship that Sir Francis Drake used to circumnavigate the Globe during Queen Elizabeth's reign. The journey and the adventures that he and his crew had is truly an astounding one, and well worth reading about. I had some knowledge of it due to a book I read at school with my Year 4's. The lady who was the manager for the evening told us SO much information about the voyages. She was fascinating and it was a real privilege to sit on a large chest by a canon and imagine you were living 500 years ago! We learnt all about Thomas Doubtey, the captain of one of the other ships who was part of that voyage and how Sir Francis had him killed for mutiny and treason, about the incredible way Drake was able to out-think all the other captains and people he met on the journey, the incredible risks and near-death moments they experienced, and just how hard life would have been on a Tudor ship!

We were allowed to walk all over the boat and visit the different places. The bar and the majority of the action happened in the hold and indeed was the warmest place aboard the ship- it was a particularly arctic night yesterday!

CBC wore his trusty white Darcy shirt from the Vintage Shirt company that has been used in so many costumes, along with my navy velvet jacket, red trousers and he bought a tricorn, eye-patch and earring and a super fake parrot!

As usual, I bought nothing new and sourced items from my wardrobe! I wore a 10-year old white cotton shirt from Mango that has all sorts of ties to it and looked rather piratey with a La-redoute waistcoat, ruffled black skirt, knee-high boots, Primark horrible gold-coin necklace, single earring, and vintage red polka dot headscarf plus my pocket watch (obviously stolen from a gentleman sailor whose ship I pillaged. Alas, I had left my very piratey black velvet jacket at St John's, Smith Square the night before so I couldn't wear that!

I also used it as an opportunity to wear some of the many rings I own. I don't wear them at all nowadays, except on rare occasions, so I wore them as signs of my looting! (featuring left to right: wedding ring, Balinese silver and abalone shell ring, Primark 'sapphire' ring, Primark 'moonstone' ring, silver Unicorn ring, Russian wedding ring, jet ring, silver childhood ring)

The ship was pretty incredible. You had to keep your head low at all times as the ceilings were so low and the thought of spending THREE years on a ship like this fills me with absolute dread- poor sailors! I banged my head at least 4 times! When everyone had arrived, the hold was pretty warm!

Entertainment came in the form of a two-man pirate-themed comedy band called 'Jolly Boat' who sang us some absolutely hilarious songs and had the pirate jokes going all the time! The birthday boy ordered 24 pizzas and we enjoyed eating those in the cabins!

The costumes were impressive. There were at least 40 people there I reckon and all wore different costumes. From the birthday boy in impressive Johnny Depp costume, to the pirate CD necklace round one girl's neck, buxom wench and THE most hilarious enormous parrot. Sorry to blonde-girl featured, but this was only shot I could get of the parrot!!

If you're in London at all, go and visit the Golden Hinde- it's SUCH an interesting place to visit and the woman really knew alot about it! We had a fab time by all accounts.

Have you visited it?

What's on the box?

I'm sorry I didn't blog yesterday but I left work at 6 to arrive at my local station 10 mins later as a suicide attempt was dragged out from underneath the train. Miraculously, she was alive and was lying there groaning. They'd got her out pretty quick. The police, fire and ambulance people all arrived and were dealing with the situation but I stood on the platform for 45mins before it became clear that the trains were going nowhere. A guy who worked for the train company suggested I go somewhere and come back later as they had no idea when the line would reopen. I walked to a friend's I don't know if she lived (the police were saying she was conscious) but I pray that she is ok. It's a pretty horrendous way to try to kill yourself. I am SO fortunate that I decided not to run for 6.10 train (feeling exhausted) otherwise I would have seen and heard the whole thing. I was talking to a girl this morning who had been there as well and she barely slept last night as she was so traumatised by it and was feeling nervous about catching a train in case anyone jumped. Anyway, trains were cancelled for ages so I eventually got home after 9 and I was so tired that I just zonked out on the rug and then woke up and crawled to bed rather than any schoolwork or my daily blogging.

The BEDN prompt today (or rather yesterday as it's past midnight-I just got back from orchestra) is about World Television Day and indeed TV! Nowadays, I don't have a TV as when the digital switchover happened, I still had an analogue TV. I got used to not watching TV and even though my sister gave me a digibox, somehow I didn't ever bother trying to work out how to connect it. If I am desperate to watch something, I can watch on Catchup on the internet. What I do watch, if I am going to watch on Catchup is Downton Abbey. I love a good historical drama. Likewise, I will watch the Apprentice when it's on and Doctor Who. And that's about it!

Doctor Who is possibly one of those programmes I love the best. Which is funny as it was a programme which caused me much trauma and fear from the age of 7-11. There was an episode in the Sylvester McCoy era called 'The curse of Fenric' which [dinosaur]* featured these 'monsters' called Haemovores. They were like vampires with pale faces and long talons and I was UTTERLY terrified of them for those 4 long years. My rational mind told me they didn't exist but somehow,my brain believed they were coming out of my Mum's bedroom to get me when she wasn't in there. I would have to go to the bathroom with the door open so I could keep my eyes fixed on her door in case they suddenly came out. I slept with cuddlytoys in a ring round my head to protect me. Nowadays, if I am camping and I don't have a torch and I have to walk through the dark, somehow the thoughts of them come into my mind and I have a little shiver. It's ridiculous really! It was when I was about 14 that Paul McGann became the Doctor and I was smitten by him. I started getting interested in it and I bought lots of videos of past episodes and books and the suchlike. That first Christmas, my sister bought me 'A trial of a timelord' (Colin Baker) in a TARDIS tin. I was really happy.

The Good Life is another classic I have always adored. I was fascinated by the self-sufficient lifestyle that Tom and Barbara Good left, was always amused by Margo and Jerry and enjoyed all that 70's fashion. I would gladly watch an episode when it appeared on TV.

The Crystal Maze was a programme that we all longed to go on in the 80's/90's. In case you don't know it, a team of mullet-haired sporty-types would follow Richard O'Brien through 4 zones (Medieval, Futuristic, Aztec Industrial- later Oceanic) to try a series of challenges- physical, mental, skill in order to win crystals that each secured 5 seconds in the Crystal dome where you had to collect as many gold tokens as possible whilst a big electric fan blew them and silver ones (which deducted a point) all around the dome. It was so exciting and gripping and I adored it. It's often on Challenge TV on Sky on a Saturday morning (or at least it was when CBC lived in his old house!) My ultimate favourite kids programme was the cartoon 'The Ewoks'-based on the Star Wars characters. To say I was obsessed is an understatement. I lived for the weekly episode, begged for a video for my birthday and wrote two novels worth of my own stories of their adventures. I spent hours drawing Princess Kneessaa and had a peach coloured dressing gown so I could be like her (she had a peach-cape).

I won't go into anymore nostalgia as we all know I can waffle for hours but I'm intrigued which classics do you love and still love despite the stampede of time?

* CBC just came and asked if he could type a spontaneous word. I said yes and Dinosaur was his choice

Charity shop bargains

A Thrifty Mrs recently did a post about charity shopping and said that 'A bargain isn't a bargain unless you can afford it' or something like that. Whatever it was, it was a good point and I have been thinking about this, particularly as I need to really save some money. I've been trying not to buy things just because I really like them so much in charity shops (except for the awesome magenta and orange Monsoon skirt!) but on Saturday, whilst waiting for CBC to finish at the hairdressers, I mooched the high street charity shops of my local town and found three things I wanted and needed- Result.

CBC bought a large bag of nuts at the COOP last week but unfornately, all trace of Nutcrackers (excluding Tschaikovsky CDs) seem to have been lost in the big move so they sat uneaten, unloved, unfulfilled in their nutty destiny. I had perused the array of hideous and too large ballgowns in Oxfam (some were not nice) and then spied a good solid pair of nutcrackers for £1.49 which I grabbed gleefully. Good thing too as the toddler twins who came to our dinner party* on Saturday night were kept entertained by CBC for a good long time by cracking nuts.

We only appear to have about 7 bowls in our house aside from those used to serve food (all assorted and different shapes and sizes) and 9 guests and so it was great that I found two lovely white bowls with blue boat patterns for £2 in the Sue Ryder. CBC liked them which was lucky as he's uber fussy.

Finally, this may seem to you, a rather extravagant and expensive buy to you but for a while, I have been really wanting to buy myself a spare flute for school and for general use. I don't always want to take my proper flute to places so it would be useful for that. However, I didn't want to buy a flute in a cash converters as it's more than likely stolen and I wanted a good make and good model of flute, so definitely didn't want to buy some shoddy, substandard, strange make on Ebay (they have flutes in all colours!) BUT I didn't want to spend too much. I was really happy to find a silver-plated Pearl PF501 flute in a display cabinet in British Heart Foundation Shop. Pearl is a well-known maker, the same as my piccolo. I asked to try it and got it out. It was in super condition, had a lovely solid case, the pads were in good state of repair and it made a nice sound when I tried it in the shop. The best thing was it was £55. I've checked and the equivalent Pearl FLute new would be around £479 new and I've seen a few second hand in flute shops for around £350. Usually, you are looking at at least £300 for any sort of good quality basic student flute, secondhand. So I am really happy that not only do I have a spare flute now, but I got to give a nice fat chunk of money to the BHF in exchange for something I really wanted!

Oooh, and I forgot this one! I have wanted a copy of The Three Musketeers for a while as CBC has lost his and mine is the abridged, child-friendly version and found one in the BHF along with a Meerkat book for my work colleague.

So, not my usual charity-shop fayre but I'm really happy about all my purchases. All useful, most of them used instantly and nothing frivolous that I could feel too guilty about!

Have you found anything useful that was on your wishlist in the charityshop recently?

* makes it sound grander than it was! But it was nice.

Not blogging on a BEDN topic today, because I just need to get this written and go to bed, but just a little post I wanted to do! Hope your day was lovely. Mine was ok except for a 4 year old being sick all over my boots. AND over himself. And the carpet...

Anti-bullying resource

I felt like I really wanted to join in with Inspiration Monday this week as I haven't managed to recently, I've sometimes dressed up in my version of the outfit, but felt like they looked terrible and it was too dark to take photos and well, I've been blogging lots on a theme! However, today was an outfit worn by Miranda Kerr here (that blip that means I can't seem to copy and paste images at the moment!) . She wears a rather more sophisticated version of this outfit, but here's my more unironed, creased, immaturechilled take on a pale jumper, black jacket, denim skirt and boots! Head over to the Two Birds blog for more versions of this outfit.

Anyway, to continue with the theme for BEDN today, the theme is bullying. I have been remarkably lucky in my life not to have been bullied in my life, considering I am rather eccentric at times and have always been very individual in what I do. I feel for the many children who have experienced it, it must be awful. There was one horrid boy in my GCSE drama class who was mean to me and picked on me, and that was bad enough, but I was mercifully only in his group a handful of times, so he didn't get too much opportunity. He was always a complete twit, he reminds me of Jim Davidson and his terrible and downright offensive sense of humour.

When writing about my hobbies on Saturday, I forgot to include writing- I love writing small poems and texts, ones I have often used for school, modelling texts and for comprehension. Thanks Abigail-Ann for reminding me that this is something I like doing!! In recent times, I've done this FOR school but I have always loved writing. I recently offered to write a whole batch of modelled texts for my work colleague at school. This week is Anti-bullying week and I wrote this poem and comprehension questions for a homework task a while back but I feel like it could generate a whole lot of discussion with a class or for Guided reading (I've included the Assessment Foci). If you are a teacher, or someone with children, I hope that you might be able to make use of it. Any constructive criticism or comments would be gratefully received

(Oh and G. Killannera is my pen name for texts I write for the children so they don't clock it's me!)

Fall and Phoenix by G. Killannerra

They push me and shove me
They make me feel a fool.
How I wish I was a giant tower
Instead of rodent small.

Each day in the playground,
They snuffle for their prey.
They’re baying hounds a-seeking me,
Determined to get their way.

Yet I too now am determined
To stand up for my rights,
To show I don’t care, am strong within
I WILL win this mental fight!

We each are special, unique, with worth,
Each have our special skills.
Beware how you treat now, today,
For one day I might cure your ills.

That which makes me different to you
Is no excuse to tease.
Beauty is variety, God made it so,
Just like snowflakes upon the breeze.

*****

1. What is happening to the author at the beginning of the poem? (AF2 and 3)

2. Do you think the author feels confident about herself? Use the text to justify your answer. (AF3 & 6)

3. Why do you think the author wishes that she were a ‘giant tower’? (AF5)

4. What metaphor does the Author use to describe the other people in the poem? (AF2 and AF5). Why does she use this metaphor?

5. Why does the writer write WILL in capitals, bold, and underlined? (AF4)

6. What does the author mean by ‘One day I might cure your ills?”? (AF3)

7. What is the main message/moral of this poem?

8. What does the author think is not an acceptable reason to tease them?

9. (a)Have you experienced anything like this poem? Talk/write about it (b) How did it make you feel? (c) How did you deal with it? (d) what advice would you give to anyone in this situation? (AF7)

10. Write a poem as if you were a victim. Try to use some imagery.

Relax

The brief for BEDN today is wondering about how you relax. Though I lead a very busy life, especially with teaching, I do like to relax.

When I first come home from school, the first thing I do is put the kettle on and have a pot of tea. Yes, a pot. I've always thought that I might as well make full use of that one tea-bag, since I love tea!!!! I've continued this trend with CBC except now I share that pot (He gets one cup, I get the rest). CBC and I might chat or if I have a good book to read, I will read that with my cup of tea. It's a nice calm moment of bliss before making dinner or getting on with work. I have a fairly long walk from the station so it's a much needed brief hiatus from everything. It might occasionally usually also be accompanied by a bag of crisps! BAD, I know, but crisps are my naughty treat! CBC used to moan about it but now he's been sucked into the crisp thing!

If it's a cold day, this might all take place sitting on our sheepskin rug by the real-flame gas fire!

Apart from this and reading, I do tend to be occupied by something all the time, be it work, activities such as in my previous post, tidying, pottering, cooking dinner or washing up. I do like a good walk though, if there is time off. This counts for relaxation for me and some of happiest times of relaxation in the holidays are spent having a nice walk. Or, I always enjoy a day of relaxation making a big batch of cards whilst watching DVDs on my laptop. I'll happily watch an entire season of Ugly Betty, Lost or any Jane Austen film or TV series whilst doing it!

Relaxation today has been getting up late. I have been feeling not too well over the last two days and I haven't seemed to be able to get up. I've tended to just lie there very still! It's nice to do that in the holiday! Sundays are pretty much always a quiet day for me aside from church

What about you? What does relaxation mean in your world?

P.S: Thanks for taking the November journey with me. It's been great in many respects blogging every day. Despite the dates the posts are listed, I have managed to keep it up, it's just sometimes they've been published just after midnight. Which suggests I should be getting to bed then! xx

Hobbies

I'm pretty sure that people who've read my blog for a while know my hobbies but I'll share them again for today's BEDN prompt.

Card-making: I have been making my own cards since I was very young, starting from drawing cartoon cards for my family and then photocopying a Christmas design I'd make. In my 20's when I was really on a kick to recycle and reuse as much as possible, I started to make more collage cards, using old packaging- costa coffee cups and violin strings and it all sprang from there. From that time, I've made hundreds of cards, many of which can be found on the 'cards tag!

Swing Dancing: In recent times, swing-dancing has been my most loved hobby. I absolutely love the whole thing- the steps, the music, the atmosphere, the dressing up, the swishy skirts, the whole scene is brilliant. I have realllly missed my swing classes since I've moved and I need to get going again, it's just hard from where I live! Swing dance consists of loads of styles: the main one I learn is lindy-hop but there is East Coast Swing, Hollywood swing, Balboa, Shag, Charleston, Blues and more I've probably forgotten. I really want to aim to get better at swing dance to get to advanced level and be really at home with all the moves and to become a better follower. Through my lessons with Simon, I learnt to be better at the connection but I've got a lot to learn. I'd really like to learn some more Shag - it's so fun! If you are in London and want to Swing dance, go to the London Swing Dance Society website

Orchestra and music in general: I play in an orchestra in London and I have played in orchestras all my life. I adore playing flute in the centre of a wonderful group of musicians. There is no feeling like it. I feel my heart soaring as I play my flute and my orchestra is known as the friendliest amateur orchestra in London! Musicians are really sociable and it's by playing my flute that I met CBC, so I am glad of all the concerts I have said Yes to in the past. Nowadays, I don't do as much playing, just my regular orchestra, church and occasional one-offs but in my early 20's, I was out every night! I have also enjoyed being in musicals and I looooooong to do this again!!! SOOOO much fun!!!

Composing music: This is something I have done since I was about 11, composing music has always been a joy for me. I shared this in my first blog 'award' but I had a piece published when I was 12. Nowadays, the pieces I write are mostly songs for school and for church, but though I don't do so much, the ones I write for school are always popular with the children and I sometimes think I should try and send them off to see if I could get them published. I tend to write one every Christmas in the hope I will eventually have a complete Nativity musical. Not because I think they're overly good or anyone would accept them(because my piano-parts are pretty simplistic and badly written- I write for MY piano skills!) but since the children really enjoy them and I just guess, it would be nice to have something to aim for! This Christmas, my song is called The inn keepers' rant and I had better get on and finish it!!! I also owe my Grandad a piece for Orchestra that he commissioned me to write over 15 years ago. I have a lot of materials and parts written (including the main theme) but getting a piece for full orchestra completed is time-consuming!! I also started writing a Magnificat for solo voice which I would love to sing for our carol service but I need to finish it off! Oh dear, it appears I have the musical equivalent of a dozen unfinished knitting projects!

Reading: If you've read my book reviews (look under the tag 'books'), you'll know I love reading and I am a voracious reader. As a child/teen, my Dad and Step-Mum would always wonder where I was when I'd come to their house and they would inevitably find me curled up in a corner (more often than not by a radiator- I'm like a cat), reading a book. Hours would go by and I would be content. A child yesterday said to me that he hated reading and how sad I found that. In the 3 minutes I was waiting for his Mum to come and pick him up, I earnestly tried to share with him my joy of reading. Hope that changes.

Coin-collecting: This isn't a current hobby but something I did as a teenager but every now and again, I love to look at my album. I managed to collect together a large amount of foreign coins, courtesy of various friends on holiday and my own travels. I was also lucky to be given several First Day covers of new Royal Mint coins and have a few old Victorian coins etc. I always think I must take them into school to show the kids as I quite like old hobbies like this and it would be nice to show some of the more unoriginal boys (you wouldn't think it at primary level) that there are other hobbies to football and computers.

WHat I would like to take up: I have always wanted to learn to fence. And do you know, it all stems from a really silly memory from childhood. You've all watched Downton Abbey right? Well, when I was a child and teen, my dance school used to have a yearly Choreography competition in which we had to make up our own dances and enter. Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary, used to go to my dance school and Senior School and one year, she and her friend Amanda made up a dance to the music from Hook and she was Hook and at the beginning, she did some fencing style movements which loooked really cool (I don't think she did fencing but she was just really good at dancing, drama and movement in general) and stylish and I thought- that looks so elegant and genteel, I want to learn how to fence! I signed up to the Fencing Society at University but it was on a Tuesday night when I had a part-time job, so I never got around to going. One day, one day...

Folk tales

The BEDN brief for today was The people that make your world a better place.. I count myself as fortunate that I know lots of people who make my world a better place.
Obviously my family and husband are very important to me and they make my world a better place for me, but I thought I'd highlight a few I might not have mentioned too.

The older male friend:

I have a friend called David who leads the singing and worship at church who I've known about 10 years this Christmas. He takes our choir practices and does an awful lot. He's also an ex-teacher and fellow Musicals singer. He always has us in absolute stitches during choir practice, he's so funny but then he can conversely talk sensitively and seriously on a subject. He and his lovely wife and daughter are all such kind and genuinely lovely people, always willing to help, patient and dilligent and I am so glad I know them.

The younger friend:

Though she sadly doesn't live near me now and I don't see her very often, someone who made my life a better place was the daughter of our old vicar. In fact, I wrote about this in a comment on Lucy's blog the other day in her post on procrastination. I am the epitomy of procrastination. During my PGCE, it was actually this vicar's daughter, aged 17 year old at the time, who helped me. At half term When I.had lesson plans and essays to write, she invited me to come and study with her. We'd do one hour's work then have a 15min break, then another hour and break. At lunch we'd take an hour and go for a jog around the park or do 100 skips with a skipping rope. It worked really well for me having the routines including breaks. And having company to work with worked well for me. She has always been so gracious, patient, lovely, always thinking before she spoke and being genuinely kind and loving to everyone she meets. She was a perfect young lady in so many ways. She was a very wise girl, far wiser than I was at 8 years her senior and has always been a calming influence on me. I wish she lived near me now! In fact, I need to write her a letter and phone her. Thanks for the reminder.

The couple.

Actually, linked to the above daughter, when I joined my church, the Vicar and his wife were so wonderfully welcoming of me. They treated me like part of their family and during my PGCE when I was so utterly stressed and alone in the house, I could turn up at their door in tears of panic and they would just let me BE with them and their family. On other occasions, they would offer advice and help but on these times, they knew that I needed normality and calm time. I joined them when all their relatives were round once and they were all watching the rugby and being with that calm, loving family was the remedy I needed. It enabled me to think straight. They have always been, since I've known them, the model of a truly loving family and that which I'd strive to be like. They have welcomed me on so many occasions to their retirement home in the Yorkshire moors and I love them dearly from the very bottom of my heart. One of my happiest Christmas memories was Boxing Day where I joined them and another family for a countryside walk and then an entire day of board games and a lovely dinner. I cherish the memory of it.

The work colleague

When I first joined my school as a newly qualified teacher, I was joined, in my horrendous class (they were reaaaaaally challenging behaviour-wise- about 7 children who had to be kept seperated from each other otherwise they would argue/brew trouble), by a lovely new Teaching Assistant. She was a lady in her forties and new to being a TA. Instantly, we hit it off. I have not know a more genuine and kind lady. She is funny, sweet, so hardworking- she gives up her lunchtimes to do things for the children, she would know just want I wanted her to do,she would go beyond and she always did/does it with the most wonderful sunny smile. She has been someone I can talk to about things I haven't been able to with other people, particularly relationship-wise (she's been my TA since I was single) and she is always giving me lifts if I need to go and buy 60 recorders or get to a meeting straight after school. We worked together for 5 years before I became full-time music and now we don't work together in the same classes, we still find it strange! She still takes the time to pray for me and offer encouragement despite her own life.

The relative:

My sister knows me better than any other person and she is the one person who knows exactly where I've come from as she's been there every step of the way with me. She has always protected me and shown me love and care. Even when she was a busy teenager, she would play with her little sister. I can pretty much tell her anything without embarassment and that is difficult for me!

I had better stop there, but I could go on very easily. However, it's your turn. Who lights up your world and makes it a better place?

Pink peacock

BEDN for today is on workspaces which I forgot to photograph and got home late, so forgive a draft post I already had.
I wonder if I could ask you a question please? If you have a wedding to go to, do you go out and buy an outfit specially for it or do you go to your wardrobe and find something. I ask this because it came up in a conversation with a friend. She said that she always buys a special outfit for a wedding- usually buying the whole outfit for said occasion. In my response, I realised, that apart from my Mum's wedding, I usually choose something from my wardrobe already. This is probably/usually because I tend to see a dress in the sale or a charity shop and think, "Oooh, that would be good for a wedding!"
I attended the wedding of a new member of my family almost a month ago. It was up Northumberland at the most amazing place called Newton Hall. I hadn't really thought much about what I was going to wear because as mentioned above, I tend to buy things and then wear them for something.

I decided on this occasion, to wear a Pearl Lowe dress at Peacocks which I bought in the sale a couple of years ago which I've not worn many times. It has touches of grey on the intricately beaded waistband so I teamed it with a grey fascinator (Monsoon 70% off) and a little grey cardigan. Shoe-wise, I'd bought these pink flat shoes with pearl and silver strands and couldn't believe what a good match they are! My wardrobe tends to have moments of serendipity like this! It actually ended up being the perfect outfit for going from day to evening and I liked the fact it was different to everyone else with its flippy curly hem which had an ex-architecture student fascinated and someone said it was what she wanted for her bridesmaids at her forthcoming wedding! I matched it with my wedding jewellery and wore a pale pink Urban Decay eye-shadow.

We had such fun going to explore the outside and the actual venue. Though it was a cold Autumnal day (which was pretty much in Scotland it was that far north!). Newton Hall at Newton-on-the-sea is a remarkably quirky but beautiful venue with stunning views all around. Grasslands from the windows, the main Georgian building, vintage beachhuts, lawn games, and intiguing wall-hangings.

The wedding itself was absolutely beautiful and the bride and groom SHONE!!! They'd put so much thought into the day from the beautiful flowers to the large bars of Thorntons chocolates for Dessert, and we even got to sing "You've got a friend in me" for the ceremony. J. looked utterly beautiful in her wedding dress.

My husband scrubbed up well in his wedding suit! I kept thinking how handsome he looked all day!

Newton Hall itself was an absolutely genius venue. It's an old Georgian hotel by the sea and it has all sorts of crazy decor. The rooms (though very expensive) are one of a kind and everyone's room had a theme. Our one seemed to be luxury Chinoserie with carpet on the walls, opulent dark shades, enormous shower and a GOLDEN sink!!! Others had baths in the middle of the room rather like in vintage French films! (or so CBC informs me!).

The exterior was beautiful with vintage beachhuts dotted around, outdoor fireplaces, a hill with armchairs, lawn games and you could walk down to the beach.

CBC, myself, and his Mum and brother provided the music for the ceremony and drinks reception playing a number of well known pieces including Northumbian folk tunes which were good fun!

The next day, we ate a substantial breakfast (all were themed on the Farne islands) and had a final explore of the hotel and finally went for a gorgeous walk on the beach with lots of the wedding party Northumbrian beaches are vast and spacious and I spent quite a happy hour breathing in the salty air for my headache and revelling being at home by the sea. We adjourned afterwards for dinner in the local pub (run by the same company as the hotel!) before heading back to our 'cottage' (more later on that) for the rest of the weekend!