Forget me not

What do you think about having a lasting legacy? 

Do you feel that you must leave a mark upon this world? Do you want people to remember you long past your demise?  Do you feel that we must leave a legacy or are you happy to have led a contented, quiet life?   I was contemplating this thought  and whilst I like the idea of having made an impact in this world in some way, big or small, I would never want it to become some sort of ego trip about me but rather doing some good and being contented by this.  Some people have children to leave a legacy,others like to leave lasting concrete memento that people remember them by.  

This thought came about because of the rather beautiful Forget-me-nots I saw growing last week at camp.  Thanks for those of you that asked about it.  Actually it was arctic in terms of temperatures up there and in the flute section, we spent most of the six hours of rehearsals on Saturday shivering in about 5 jumpers, passing a hot water bottle between the 3 of us and shuddering every so often as it seemed like the temperature was interminably dropping. Musically, it was a delight. Apologies, I digress!

Amidst all that cold, rain and cloud, a haze of almost ethereal blue flanked the bed outside the main barn and was a delightful distraction from the bitter cold as one went to pay a call of nature (yes, you had to make a walk along a path to reach the facilities)

I wonder why such a small and fairly innocuous-looking flower received the name, Forget me not. In terms of the hierarchy of flowers I've seen, they are perhaps not the most memorable compared to other more ebullient and vibrant specimens that are regularly seen. Surely, you might forget them?

But perhaps their fairly benign appearance is a lesson in life.  That perhaps, what makes something or someone memorable is not their being the most flamboyant or gregarious of individuals but rather, the small, less showy, consistent one will be the one who is remembered.  Why? Because they are constant, loyal and in their way, will always remain in hearts and minds because of being humble but always present.  True beauty can be found in the most humble, self-effacing people those who don't dance in our faces making their presence know but those who quietly, contentedly plod along the path with us, ready to illuminate and lighten our paths when we need it.

Wishing you a memorable weekend.

xx

10 Things I wonder about...

1.  Why are fish fingers so orange?

2.  Why are they called fish fingers?  Fish don't have fingers, nor are fingers cuboid shaped!

3.  Why do I have SUCH an aversion to mops!

4.  Speaking of mops- why do Rollmops look so disgusting? Why are they called rollmops also?

5.  Why does ONE sock slide off (AKA get eaten by my boot) but not the other one?

6.  Why do people with long legs inevitably have to end up opposite each other on long train journeys?

7.  Why does my rail replacement bus (at peak times) not go down the back road to the station it needs to reach instead of doggedly going along the main road when it gets rammed in traffic for half an hour and consistently makes me late for work?

8. What IS it that I dislike about parsnips?

9.  Where do all the socks go????

10. Why is this in my living room?  Where has it come from and what is it doing????

If you have answers to any of the above, I'd be grateful to know.

What do you wonder about?

xx

Stop the world, I want it to go slower!

I have come to a realisation in recent times. I like a steady pace. I like things that don't change, things that plod along and don't need to cause anxiety.  I like walking to work because I can take it at my own pace. Lovely CBC taught me to cycle when we first started going out- he succeeded where others had failed.  I experienced many delightful miles of cycling with him and friends building up to cycling the London to Brighton cycle race in 2010, all 52 miles of it, a year after I started cycling. Yet in all that time, in all the subsequent cycling expeditions, not once have I enjoyed the fast downhill ride.  I adore the flat, the sailing along on a country road. But when I have to go fast, I feel out of control and want to put the brakes on.   It does drive CBC a bit mad at times when he has to wait for me to catch up because I've been cautious going downhill. I've probably irritated a myriad drivers who have had to hover behind my pace or rage around me.

I've not learnt to drive and I worry that if I did, I would find it really hard to go fast, make those split second decisions needed, not to panic and to be able to make those calls.

In the picture above, my two sisters and I had taken my niece to the Adventure playground in Southend. We each took it in turns to accompany her on a ride.  You can see how I felt about that up and north fast ride from the genuine disgruntled expression on my face.

I wonder: is it wrong to want to be in the slow lane?  Should I aim to be brave and try and take things on, metaphorically and literally that need me to go fast?  Should I aspire to escape my scaredy cat ways. I have tried through my life to do this- outdoor pursuits courses, I was always scared by things that you had to go fast in- didn't really enjoy absailing, climbing, pony-trekking.  But pot-holing, going slowly through dark caves, not being able to see in front of me, not having to face great heights, I felt safe, calm, you can't speed when potholing, you have to go safely and surely. I'd love to go again.


I don't know where I'm going with this, but I'd love your perspectives on this, if you can see through all the mire of my waffle to the point I'm trying to make. Are you a slow scaredy cat like me or are you the fearless, intrepid adrenalin junkie? Or something in between.

Now this sedate car was more my thing...

xxx

Spray flowers

Hello there!

I hope you are well.

I love the summer holiday. It is the one holiday where I can truly get away from teaching for a while. I love my job but it really is all consuming. I talk about it, think about it, worry about it all the time, agonize over little details, worry about lessons which don't go well or things I may have said.  Even in the holidays, there is still the stress and anxiety and the overwhelming feeling of misery at returning.  As I said, I love my job but it can be really hard to ever escape it or feel you've done everything.

Is your job like that? Do you find yourself constantly thinking or talking about it. 

Whilst both being teachers is useful in terms of holidays with CBC and having shared interests, it's not always healthy or conducive for us both to have this sense of all-consuming work.  This holiday, we can escape from it more.  Of course, we are doing work and preparation and more will be done towards the end of the holiday, but just for a little while, we can forget.

I like having relaxing mornings, not having to rush, eating breakfast, taking time to dress. On the sunnier days, CBC and I have sat in the garden drinking tea for a little while. A slower pace of life is something I am grateful for.

Today,we went to a designer outlet village and a town for CBC to get a new suit for work and to get his smashed phone fixed.  I contemplated buying a Yumi dress that I've admired for about  year but knew I did not need a new dress. In the end I bought a new black cardigan from there as most of mine have got holes in (bizarelly only in my black cardigans) and a new fox purse as my purse inexplicably also has a hole in it!

I thought I'd share an outfit from last week. I finally wore this Cath Kidston spray flowers dress that I found in a charity shop a while back.  I'm pleased I bought it as I definitely think I could get away with wearing this for 40's themed Swing dance evenings

Kept it simple with a flower in my hair, a pink belt, my Nan's necklace and I debuted my ice-cream brooch I made a short while back.  Also paired it with my Rieker sandals.  I decided to buy a pair in Haltwhistle as I want to support the local shops in such a small place as Haltwhistle and those Rieker shoes I bought last summer have been invaluable and lasted so well! I figure these ones will last a good few years!

I've not paid many specific plans for this week except my Mum is coming to help me with my tomato plants tomorrow and I've been doing some fun craft- making lots of cards,started making a cool headband and some other bits. I've also been typing up some compositions into Sibelius music software. It's good to have time.

xx

"Don't talk to strangers!"

It's funny isn't it. When we were children, we were told to not talk to strangers. And yet, as life goes on, we frequently do.  Yet, one feature of the south, perhaps, that is not so in smaller places is the lack of communication between all of us folks- busy on our phones, nose in a book, terrified less we make eye-contact with someone or have to be talked to by the drunk on the train. Why is it that drunks always make a beeline for me and feel the need to chat, ESPECIALLY if you have your nose in a book- "Nice book, love?", "Ah, she's trying to ignore me!", "It's getting to the juicy bit!",  "Oh she's gonna smile,"  . Honestly, you want to thump them sometimes, since they seem to take umbrage to anyone who has something to occupy them and make it their life's mission to detach you from your book.

Yet, on the other hand, talking to strangers is something that can be great, I know relationships have begun for some people there and every so often, you have a lovely moment and you are glad that you talked.

I waiting yesterday on the platform in the nearby town to school. I got off the train in search of a white plumed feather for my World Book day costume.  There was a powercut at the station so it had only just reopened to the public (healthy and safety). As I sat on the bench,an old fellow with a limp asked the platform staff where he could get the train to Southend. I intercepted and told him that it was this platform and he needed to change at Shenfield and I could show him as I was getting the same train.  He grumbled at the station staff but somehow, from his limp and face and slight accent, I knew he was 'safe'.  We ended up standing talking and then we sat opposite each other and chatted all the way to Shenfield. We changed trains and continued to chat. And I thought, had I decided just to ignore him once I'd helped him and read my book, I would have missed the delightful opportunity to talk to someone interesting.  He was a fascinating old man, from Rome in Italy and it always strikes me that I want to let older people talk- I often worry about those who are lonely and never get the opportunity to talk- older people who are so interesting and yet us younger people don't have the time to listen to them and their experiences. We make assumptions and assume that our lives are so much more interesting and important.  I know I may not be talking about YOU, the reader, as a young person, but I know there are many people, myself included who might not take that time. I regret deeply all the missed opportunities I could have found out more about my Grandad's life.

We got looks from all the commuters on the Southend train talking as they obviously realised we were strangers by the fact I asked his name, as if to say, "What you are talking to a STRANGER?????" and "Urgh, how could you???"  but I hope that maybe someone might have lost some inhibition and fear by observation and I hope I remember not to get so wrapped up in myself that I don't allow someone to feel interesting and like they have something to say that people would be interested in.

Over to you- talking to strangers, what's your take?

xxx

Blogging connections

One of the many delightful things I have noticed about blogging is the fact that the 'e-stereotype'/myth  - that online friends will never become real friends and we are avoiding real relationships and living in a fantasy world - is simply not true.

Through observation and personal experience, bloggers seek friendships beyond the superficial screen in manifold delightful ways.   We seek community in person.
I've heard tell of a bloggers holiday to a rather beautiful Manor by the name of Norbury, where a group of like-minded bloggers got together and had a jolly time despite some of them being more shy  and reserved types.  The supportive posts and comments that Vix's friend Krista received when she went through bereavement were touching. Moreover, I've read of raucous meetups between this bunch of wonderful, colourful ladies with a love of a good chazzer.  All those blogger network events and meetups are not only a chance to grow their blogs but a chance for like-minded ladies to share, such as events like Blognix and the Great Northern Blog meetup.   There's a whole set of sewing bloggers who regularly meet to stitch and material shop and Roisin even had a hen-party organised by the Spoolettes.  Weddings have been attended,  Wind in the willow characters, yellow skirts and pink boxing gloves have been posted.  A whole host of swaps and exchanges have excited many a blogger. It's that personal dimension that appeals and keeps evolving.  Even giveaways are a brief way of connecting even if the only intention was to originally garner more followers (you know it happens).  All these as an onlooker and occasionally a small participant are good to see.

And I? Where do I fit in to this mass digital love in?  Rather like I've been most of my life: on the periphery of many things and friends and people but never subscribed to any particular set. Just enjoying the individual friendships, yes, friendships I have built through blogging, which are incredibly important to me though I don't belong to any particular set of bloggers. As well as valuing each and everyone of you that visits here,   my own connections have been to form penpals with some super people - again, that additional dimension to blogging: Tasha, Char, Sophie and now the lovely Katie and Gem. Char even found my wedding shoes for me! I've exchanged lovely items with Helen, Ang and Millicent, all thoughtful and occasionally sent items to bloggers I thought of when I saw something.  I've met only three bloggers, and very brief encounters but ones I treasure: Sharon at the traffic lights at 8am in the morning on my way to work, the much-missed blogging Clare who came to my opera performance and the beautiful Denise who came to watch my orchestra in London.  Recently, I've had some nice e-mails from bloggers, Alison Dormouse sent me a beautiful Zentangle, Katie sent me a gorgeous musical door hook, Char sent me some ICs she was getting rid of, Ang sent me a bottle top snake kit and this week I am meeting an American blog friend of long standing. I must admit, that that I am more comfortable forming friendships with girls than guys, never been quite comfortable amongst the mainstream male population and there's always a slight underlying wariness in that regard.

 Ultimately, I appreciate those interactions and they are proof that the internet doesn't kill ALL interactions.  The personal and the bloom of friendship is within all of us and no amount of screen seperation will quell it.  Friendship beyond the screen is most definitely not dead. It blooms in new and dynamic ways.

Thoughts on The Doctor

I must say, I am really enjoying Peter Capaldi's interpretation of The Doctor in Doctor Who so far. I'm also enjoying it because CBC has voluntarily watched it with me each week, the day after on i-player. I woke up this morning to find him watching the previous night's episode on i-Player in bed on his phone!! CBC usually disses Doctor Who. And yet, though he denies it, I think he's starting to like it.

I'm trying to think what it is I am enjoying:

• I love the accent- nothing like a good old Scottish accent to cheer me up (I love any accent north of Birmingham! I often bemoan my boring accent and confess to saying the Lord's prayer at church aloud with slight northern twang on certain words- and the life ever-laaaasting).
• The fact that there is no Doctor-Assistant love-triangle,will-they-wont-they relationship. Honestly, with new Who, I was really tired of that. I know that with Donna, there wasn't any of that, but I was getting a bit bored with it.
• The fact that he is bossy, grumpy and sarcastic with Clara.  It's funny and sets a different mood.
• He's so different to the others, yet there is that Doctor magic that stays despite the change of personnel.
• He does, for me, hark back to Old-Who a bit more. This is good.
• He's a super actor and he's a bit insane! He reminds me of my old Scottish flute teacher! Also insane.

On the subject, I really do like Clara as an assistant. Great actress, she's clever, has a good job (aha, we teachers are all secretly travelling with The Doctor), wears nice clothes (sorry, superficial, but it's nice to be able to think, "Oooh, I can dress up secretly as Doctor Who and know one except super geeky-fans like me will know!"  I love surreptitious costuming! I think it's known as Cosplay. Can't wait till my Collar clips arrive. I ordered them a month ago!) and as I said, I like an accent.

The outfit is wrong but the dress was bought because it looks a tiny bit like Clara's dress from Journey to the centre of the TARDIS a bit.

This is brighter in real life/other photos....

It's not like I can subtly wear this for work...

This is a bit more obvious. But more get-away-able with than the Dalek...

If there are a few things that annoy me with New Who, they are this:

• New Who is SO centered on Earth. Why can we not visit different planets more, with different locations,see more. I tend to find that most episodes are either,on Earth, hovered in a space-ship above Earth, in Earth in an alternative dimension. Seriously??????? You could go anywhere!?!?!?!!
• Why is everything ALWAYS apocalyptic?  The world doesn't have to ALWAYS be in imminent danger of being totally blown up forever. Some old Who had danger, intrigue, suspense but it could be more localised. Everything is always SO extreme. Can we just have something that is focused on the one place getting destroyed or something going wrong?
• I know the overarching theme wraps things up in terms of a series but I wouldn't mind if there wasn't one? Why does everything have to be linked up all across the time and space. I just don't like the coincidence. It's just too convenient! 

What I'd like:

• Can the Doctor please go back to the Eye of Orion? I always wanted him to go back to that place.I even began my own Doctor Who novel based on the Eye of Orion when Paul McGann became the Doctor.  Never got very far with it because, well, it's hard writing a novel!
• Some old classic monsters to come back.
• For the Doctor to find and meet up with old assistant, Romana, or Ace or indeed any of them! It happened to Sarah Jane Smith, so why not anyone else?
• More historical stories.

Other than that, I am loving it!  I really hope that Capaldi sticks at the role longer than Matt Smith and co and gets many series under his belt and doesn't decide to move on and make the Doctor run out of regenerations!

What do you think of Doctor Who?  Old Who? New Who? Assistants? Capaldi? Monsters? 

You name it, I'm happy to listen!!!

xx

Cat's eye

Here was what I wore during the day to the Swing dance festival.  CBC was faffing around in the morning so I managed to sneak some shots. I finally have a mustard hair ribbon to match the bows on this Wind-up Bird dress CBC bought me a few years ago! He chooses clothes well!


This week has been a funny one. Extremely positive in many ways and shattering, exhausting and sad in others.  A friend who plays oboe in my orchestra, who has been a dear friend for 15 years has told me this is his last concert and he is giving up the oboe as he is getting too old and can't do it anymore (he had a heart attack last year).  I felt unspeakably sad as he told me this. He is a sweet man and he's ALWAYS been in this orchestra with me, he's always been kind and sweet to me and I will miss him and his lovely slow solo oboe-playing. Who knows how often I will see him.  Then during the same rehearsal, one of the players informed us that a lady who used to run the orchestra for many years had died on Friday after 3 years of suffering with Motor Neurone disease. She was an extraordinary lady and she was so talented in many ways. I felt tears in my eyes as I heard both pieces of news.  Earlier, I spoke to my sister and we were talking (as many and most of our conversations) centered around Grandad.  She was saying that my Uncle had said that my Grandad had been crawling around on the floor the night before he went into hospital, through the window (which we'd known) but he'd seen him resting his head on the chair like he had given up (which he hadn't mentioned before). And yet, though my Uncle went round to see him every night for months before that, and saying he'd seen him do this, he always refused help and became abrupt and firm like he was whenever you wanted to help. Oh the futility of pride or not wanting to bother people!!  If you are old and live alone, don't turn away the help of those who love you, don't be proud, accept the love and concern. Ask for help, ask for people to come and see you! I hope that we, who see these things, will learn from them and be different ourselves when we are older and accept help- not shut people out when you have difficulties because you don't want to burden them. LET them help, don't let them worry about you. And that goes for younger people who need help too!  Don't think you should do it alone. You shouldn't, if you have the opportunity for help.

But I don't want to end this post in a negative way, it has had many positives.  Today, (Thursday when I write), I had a morning of really positive lessons- I created a lesson based on fanfares for my year 5 children. I originally was going to ask one of our SMT to observe it for my Performance Management for this term but never got around to asking my observer. Of course, it turned out to be a super lesson in terms of outcomes. Everything worked really well, the children really enjoyed watching and discussing the fanfare videos (and came out with super vocab and understanding), they understood and could read and play triplets and dotted quaver rhythms and played this fanfare really well together. And this was universal. In the first class, there is a little girl who struggles with lessons. She is a real trier, and she has a lovely singing voice but really struggles with playing melodies and reading the music. Well, she totally and utterly nailed it! My heart sang as I saw her triumph each and every time we played it with reading and playing this melody perfectly. She was delighted with herself! The rest of the class were delighted with themselves too and asked why I couldn't teach them every day as we scooted off to assembly. Not all lessons are like this but when they are, it's JOY!

I held my first KS1 choir today too and the children were super excited and learnt 3 songs very quickly which they seemed to enjoy. How can I not beam when I hear 31 excited young 7 year olds sing the Teddy Bear Rock n roll!

The afternoon, I made a big list of things I wanted to achieve in my time out of class and I managed to get many of them done- including discovering that the two instruments that seemed to be missing and were causing me undue headaches were actually all accounted for (nice of parent no.1 not to tell me it was at home all along after I sent out countless parentmails, texts, chased children to see who had taken the wrong violin).  Drumming club went really well- they weren't as hyper as usual and we already have two concert-ready pieces.  More work after school and then I went out to dinner with my Canadian friend and another lovely work colleague. We had a really fun time and I was shocked to discover it was 9 o'clock as we were finishing dinner!

I've come home and read of unicorn bags, Mortmain dresses, tours of opera houses, vintage hat trying on, yellow frocks, Norfolk Boutiques, funky Aztec shorts, visits to Bath and more and all these are something to put a smile on your face!

In life there is a time for everything- good and bad.  One makes you appreciate the other all the more.

Once insecure, always insecure?

On Saturday, CBC and I travelled to Watford for a day and night of Swing-dance courtesy of JiveSwing, our dance class, which is a big organisation of classes, ours being just one. It was a great day, we had some super classes- the day was held in honour of Frankie Manning's 100th birthday (if he was still alive)- the Father of bringing Swing dance back to the UK in the '80's.

We had two lindy-hop classes, learning a Frankie lindy-stroll and then a dips and tricks workshop. CBC decided he wanted to do some authentic jazz instead so I had to find another partner to dance with and managed to dance with a fun, young guy I met in the queue- it was hilarious as we learned to do these dips. I got the giggles as I had to spend a long time hugging him as we learnt a dip and then a move where I had to swing under his arm. I am suffering today though as my quads are really aching as the move involved rotating in a squat position!

In the evening, I wore the above outfit. I didn't take any photos-crazy for me! CBC just got this slightly blurry one of me- I wore the dress I picked up a while back, worn with my birthday petticoat and a wired headband- I really like these!

Anyway, in the evening, apart from many enjoyable dances together,  CBC was asked to dance lots by lots of ladies. I was asked to dance a few times by some guys although not as many and felt a wallflower at times. It's so silly but the pair of us are so insecure about asking people to dance just in case they think we are rubbish! Everyone else seems perfectly happy to ask other people to dance (it's the way your dancing improves). It's silly because I did spend a some time standing at the edge wishing someone would ask me to dance but like my teenage-self, in my stupid subconscious, didn't want anyone to think that I really wanted to dance, so I didn't get disappointed if they didn't dance.  I am an idiot- I am 33 and should just get on with it.  It's funny though, sometimes I feel much more confident.  Last night, I found myself thinking that the reason is because I always want to do something well and never want to be thought to be bad at something and I am not an expert at lindy and probably never will be, I just love it.

Yet, this morning, I played in my new church for the first time (9am rehearsal after getting to bed at 2am!!!!! I was KNACKERED!).  I KNOW that I am a a capable flautist and I know I play well and I know that when I am in the spirit at church, I will play and worship with my heart and soul. I know from 10 years of playing at my old church that my playing really helps people to worship.  And yet, I was worrying to myself that people would be judging me and didn't want people to say nice things to me just in case they were just being nice, not meaning it! Of all the ridiculous things to think!?!???!!?! Of course they're not, it's just my stupid mind.  Of course, once I started playing, I felt myself fill with the spirit and felt the insecurities fly away.

It's interesting that Stuart, a guy was being baptised today and he talked about how he had faced anxiety in his life and couldn't seem to snap out of it until he gave his life to God. And it struck me, when I feel most insecure and lacking confidence is when I stop praying, speaking to God and reading the Bible, when I've left tiredness and laziness get in the way, just let slip and then all my insecurities come back.  So today, I will reclaim my confidence and be strong in the knowledge that I do have talents that God has given me and I can do well and be strengthened by him in my prayers.  And there may be things that I am not talented at, but they are things I should enjoy because they are God-given and I've been given the freedom to enjoy these! Be the best that I can be but accept that I will not always be the best but I can have the most fun!

Linking to Visible Mondays with dear Patti

Yellow peril

I love the film Summer Magic-  I totally adored Hayley Mills when growing up- she was so sweet and lovely and English!  When I found this Topshop dress in the St Francis Hospice charity shop, it made me think of the yellow dress she wears to the Halloween ball, or maybe some other Hayley Mills film (she seems to wear yellow in Pollyanna too) but I'm not sure which.  I've never been a fan of yellow clothing, although I do have a mustard vintage blouse and beret which I now really like, but when I saw this dress, somehow, I thought it too pretty to leave and bought it! CBC was really surprised when he saw it was yellow but when he saw it on, he said it was really pretty and I looked nice in lemon!

Yes that is my hand. But it doesn't look like it!

I teamed it with gold sandals, white cardie, Balinese shell necklace and a panama from Tiger plus these cute, cute heart sunglasses I found in Tiger when we were hurrying down Tottenham Court Road to meet friends for dinner.


It put me in mind of that saying in Pollyanna, another of Mills' famous films:

"When you look for the bad in mankind, expecting to find it, you surely will."  

It's attributed to Abraham Lincoln in the film although I believe that wasn't exactly what he said.

Now, I take this sentence in two ways.  I love looking for the good in a situation, in a person, trying to see the best in a situation, I love this for encouraging you to have a positive outlook on life.  But at the same time, seeing the bad, offers an opportunity to pray for it- for the situation.  At church today, the talk to the kids before the sermon was about remembering the wrong that we might have done this week, the things we are ashamed of and want to change.  Obviously, as  Christian, I think this is a good thing to do, because I believe that if I confess it and truly try to change, God forgives it. But it's no bad thing for any of us to do even if we aren't Christians- acknowledge and consciously think about changing that.  I put my hand up and said "Gossiping and talking about people,".  I was guilty of that this week- I've been discussing people leaving at work and people being poached to other jobs.  I didn't even think about it being wrong until it came into my mind today- but by talking about it and other's business, I am not giving people a chance to share it themselves, to talk, I might put pre-conceived ideas in people's mind. I wasn't being bitchy or negative, but then I wasn't being helpful.   I was really glad that it had come to my mind. I won't be gossiping at it. It's not my business- it's those people's business- when and what and who they want to tell. He said a saying someone said once: God doesn't rub these things in, he rubs it out.

Later, in the prayers, he asked for people and children to put their hands up and name situations in the world they wanted prayer for.  Now, I don't have a TV and I don't listen to radio and don't really read the newspapers, so I have very little idea of what is going on in the world except for what others tell me and in some ways, I prefer it this way.  Because my life is relatively free of the worries of the world.  But when I considered all the awful things in the world at the moment, such as the situation in the Ukraine, Syria, Nigeria (kidnapped girls), mining disaster,  it's really hard not to feel anxious and worried about all these terrible things that are happening.  But no, I will choose to be calm and pray until something happens! Because worrying doesn't help- it achieves nothing. But praying can do something. And this is a comfort.

Finally, one last thought: is there anything I can pray for you?  No matter how small or trivial it may seem, I would be glad and honoured to.

Linking up to:

Visible Mondays with the gorgeous Patti


What I wore to church with Carolyn McAfee



and Creative Mondays with Claire Justine

oooh and

with my Cath Kidston-recycled cards from last week!!!


*** The title is a quote from Summer Magic

The bells of London

This was my Sunday outfit- I admired this River Island dress on Alex Odd socks and Pink-haired Princess Gemma for a long time before I found some kind soul selling their size 6 on EBay for the princely sum of £3 a little while back- it's the perfect size and it now just needs a petticoat and these sunny days to wear it! Enough about it- I do like the London landmarks print. Shame the lighting was terrible for photos!

I overheard part of a really interesting, kind and profound conversation between a busker and a station staff member today as I went to catch my train.  I'm not sure as to the living/financial status of this busker but he appeared at our local stations around about a year ago and every so often, I put some money in his guitar case- he plays Bob Marley a lot of the time and he sings his heart out.  He's got quite a nice voice and he's always got a lovely cheerful face/smile and always says thank you when you put money in.

Anyway, as I approached the ticket machines, he was singing was singing this well known song that 'she goes..' (can't remember any more of it!).  Inwardly, I smiled as I heard him and in my mind, wondered how many girls hear him sing that and feel like he's talking to them or singing about them or something like that (weird thought, but that's what came into my head).  I felt a warm bead of sunshine in my heart as I heard his music. Which was weird as at that moment, he stopped singing and said to the ticket man, like he was continuing a conversation they had been having,

"I just do one little thing.  BUT, I might just change one person's life in a small way and they might then change someone else's life and that person might change someone else's life or day and you never know, they might end up changing my life.  Then it's worth doing, that little thing I do."

and I thought how true, beautiful and profound that is.  We may feel insignificant and feel that the small things we can do for someone don't mean much or couldn't possibly affect someone. But they do. They can impact someone in some amazing way we may never know about.  It's like those random acts of kindness- they could mean something to someone-change their outlook, change a decision they might have taken. It's not always the great big acts that are life-changing: all the small ones can too. Don't ever fail to do something because you think it won't achieve anything- there are many things in heaven and on Earth and we cannot possibly fathom them and know their impact.  "Many drops make an ocean," is one of the many things that Jesus said that I always think about- the small things add up. The small things can have an impact.  Do that one small good thing, try to make that tiny difference.  I did have a random thought of sending a text message to someone totally random- telling them that or something like that.. I haven't yet, but maybe I will.

It was something to think about on the train and it was something lovely.

x

Celebrating Shiny T Tuesday with Jane at Flight Platform living with my happy London dress!

Sick Day

I was off school for the past two days and felt dreadful. A cough sprang from literally no where on Sunday night (you know you usually get a gradual unwell feeling that grows- not in this case).  I didn’t sleep and then it pervaded all through Monday- a real hacking, squeaking cough that wouldn’t leave me alone. Tuesday, I gradually felt worse, the cough rendering speaking, shouting and singing really difficult.  When I didn’t sleep on Tuesday night, I woke up on Wednesday feeling so dreadful, nose now completely bunged up, splitting headache from the coughing and blocked synuses so  that I phoned my Deputy head to say I wasn’t going to come in.   All day Wednesday, I slept most of the day, waking occasionally and then sleeping.  But in those waking moments, I felt really guilty, worried about the lessons I was missing, worrying about the implications of cover and then those feelings of worrying people thinking, “Why’s she being so pathetic over a cough?”, “She should have dragged herself in.” especially after I was sent home last week (over some other health issue).  CBC came home later and I felt guilty that I’d had the day off, I hadn’t done anything useful but slept and rested- but why?

And I always feel like this, whenever I don’t make it in.  To be fair, I’m usually only off for 1-3 days a year, which is perhaps too much, but in my job, I really do seem to pick up all the bugs, especially at this time of year and if I don’t take a day, then I struggle on for months.  The vicar’s wife always used to comment on this, how things seem to linger with me through the early months of a year.  Most of the time I battle on through them, but sometimes it’s just too much and I know my body.  Primary music teaching is really physical, (well any teaching is) – I need my voice ALL the time and singing is the WORST thing you can do on a sore throat – I worry that I have nodules on my vocal chords after the battering I have given them. 30 children need lots of encouragement, constant impetus and leading, keeping on track (when doing whole class and group work),leading at the piano, leading vocally, modelling, supporting.  The sound level with a headache, is usually horrendous- you can’t have a quiet music lesson, apart from a listening lesson and you can’t make primary pupils do that for an entire hour!

When my deputy phoned to ask if I’d be in on Thursday, I said to her that I really still didn’t feel well and I apologised profusely, at which point she said, “You know, it’s ok to be ill and to take the time to get better.”  And it struck me- these feelings of guilt, inadequacy and worries of people doubting me- they’re all completely stupid and hinder getting better. I think in these times, we are all afraid to admit we’re ill, afraid to take the time to get better that we need.  Somehow, it’s been drafted into us that we aren’t allowed to be ill, aren’t allowed to show weakness or take the time to get better. Society dictates that we must be well and deal with things in our own time.  We are doubted – is she/he really ill?

A blogger I really like lots was recently off work for a while with a horrid health issue.  And some horrid anonymous commenter left a couple of comments basically doubting that she was actually sick and hinting that her boss should look at her blog which I thought was typical of this approach to thinking about illness nowadays- doubting someone and wondering why they are not at work.  Ladies and gentlemen, people need recovery time- they might not always ‘look’ physically ill, but they can be and generally are!!

Anyway, I went in on Friday.  Yep, I don’t feel better but I sure feel better than I would have done had I struggled through work for the past 2 days.

What about you?  How do you feel about being ill and having to take time off?  Do you feel the guilt and worry about it?  

Checkered history

Hello there!  I had a lovely post planned about the gorgeous flower festival I went to today, but sadly, time has run away from me and it's late!  So, it's just a quick post to say hi!



How gorgeous the weather has been today- SO lovely and hot and bright!  What a difference!
I went with my niece and mum to the festival, where we listened to a recital, looked at flowers and ate cake! I have some lovely photos to share in another post soon!

Today's outfit is nearly entirely thrifted.  In Maldon yesterday, whilst renting wedding waistcoats (Coes- very nice traditional, established place, excellent service!), I nipped into the Salvation army and found this chequered Miss Selfridge dress and a matching red floral necklace.  A dress with pockets is a great find as is anything chequered for me personally and empire line! It does make me look a bit wide but who cares!  The hat is a past thrifted purchase.  The accessories weren't- shoes- local shoe shop, earrings- Cath Kidston, ruby slippers brooch (just visible)- imported, bracelet- Javanese batik market!

I shouldn't have bought the dress- wedding saving is crucial, but somehow I did.

A thought for the day- don't let the sun go down on your anger.  It's a biblical proverb and it holds true.
I got really annoyed with CBC over something really trivial last night and stropped around for ages. It's amazing how at the time, something can seem really important. But with hindsight, it's a really stupid thing!  I was heartily ashamed of myself but falling asleep, I didn't get the chance to apologise till the next day.  Always make peace as soon as possible!  We're supposed to be enjoying the wedding process and I need to remember to try and enjoy it, no matter how anxious I feel, no matter how I am worrying about budgets or time-wasting on tasks and I need to stop being so uptight and chill!! I really don't know why I stress so much sometimes!

xx

Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos

This evening, I learnt about and thought about something  really interesting I'd not realised or thought about before.  It is Maundy Thursday.  I've attended a church service this evening for several years.  I always thought it was just (I say 'just' as in, without the other things I've discovered tonight) about Jesus sharing the last supper with his disciples and setting the example of how he wanted them to remember his sacrifice. 
But today, I've discovered it means so much more than that.

The name (which I didn't know) came from the latin mandatum which means commandment.  The middle English equivalent of that was Maundy.

It comes from the phrase from the gospel: "A new Commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you."

It was the passover and Jesus had shared the Passover with his disciples, the old institution, the lamb sacrificed to rescue Israel from Egypt.  That linked to the original 10 commandments.  And the same night, he instituted the new commandment and the new meal (holy communion)- so it was a combination of the two meals in one evening: the old and the new.  The eve after which he would give up his life, the final sacrifice, the lamb to be slain for the wrongdoing.  Tonight, we arrived at church to find the Passover meal set up on a long table in the chancel.  We shared that passover meal:

Source here:  The lamb, unleavened bread, salt water, bitter herbs (horse radish, chicory, lettuce, horehound), Charoseth (a paste mixture of apples, dates, pomegranates, nuts) and wine.

It was really nice and unusual.

We shared holy communion (passed around between each of us) and then stripped the altar.  All was left bare and sparse.  It never fails to move me.
At the last supper, as well as sharing and instituting the first holy communion, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. He said 'Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.  I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

The talk, which our music leader gave talked about why Jesus did this.  The fundamental fact was that He said that Peter (and indeed I) cannot be part of him without letting him wash my feet.  It was necessary for Jesus, the author of Creation, he who all authority had been given to,  to wash my feet.  He who did no wrong, to wash my feet: to cleasne me from all  I have done or failed to do.  And I should do likewise, wash the feet of those around me, give lovingly, caringly, being servant-like.

It was lovely and very powerful and left me thoughtful for the rest of the evening

Were you aware of its meaning or were you like me?


xx

Change: a pause for advent

I came to a recent realisation over the last couple of weeks.  I am not keen on change.  So many aspects of my personality and life are based on that.  I have lived in the same place for nearly all my life apart from 2 individual years elsewhere.  My best friend at senior-school and I stopped being friends for a couple of years and in retrospect, I realise it was because she was changing, growing up, and I didn't want to- she wanted to be popular and the such-like, she wanted to be grown-up and I didn't.  I have been in the same teaching job since I began my career and I like it there.  But I know that I may have to move at some point if CBC gets a job elsewhere, or that it's healthy to move on at some point.  But the thought is scary for me.   The same with getting married- I've got used to living alone.  It took a long time to get used to it- when living alone in Bali and when my Mum moved out- I missed her like crazy when she wasn't there, even though she spent a lot of time in her room, wanting to escape me (our house is small, it can feel claustrophobic) but now I've done it for a long time. It'll take a long time for me to get used to it.  Part of me still wants to be young- I am still that 12 year old in my head but whilst I still can and need to 'be like a child', I do need to grow.

When talking to our former vicar about getting married and saying marriage seemed scary and grown-up, in the kindest and gentlest possible way, he said to me, "But, Alexander the Great conquered the world when he was 23- you are much older and you have to grow up at some point." It made me think.

I've been thinking about change all week, having made this realisation.  So it was rather funny that the sermon that our vicar gave today was about change.   He said
The Christian life is all about change.  You can't stay the same always.  No Christian life does that. God says, My grace is sufficient for you. That will be the one thing that doesn't change. His grace is, was, will be.

Lent is a time to change- to reflect, to look forward, to be anew and it is important to realise that- it's not just about giving up the crisps (in my case!) or the moaning (I have been failing with this one this week.  I have not enjoying being with me).  Lent is a great thing because it causes us to reflect. When was it ever a bad thing to reflect on your life, conduct, behaviour and usefulness if you do it in  a positive way? God cannot use you if you constantly look back.  One cannot afford to keep looking back on the past.  Paul endured beatings, pain, torture and more during his ministry- if he had kept looking back at the past, he wouldn't have been of use to anyone.  It's more important to live a life that is a blessing to others.

When facing change, there's alwasy enough Grace to sustain us through it- He will give us strength, courage and wisdom.  I wish I could say that I will always remember that as I go through, I might not, I might panic, get stressed, tired, anxious and not react well to change, be a complete grump and stress-ball like I have been this week, but I know He is there, if I trust in him and spend time with him, finding what is his will, then I will make it through the change.

If you click through on the picture, you will find your way to see the other pauses in Lent!
God bless and hugs to you
xx

Again

I'm linking to 5-minute Friday on the subject of 'again'.


http://lisajobaker.com/2013/01/five-minute-friday-again/

Several thoughts come to mind when I think about 'again'.  Firstly, what came first to mind was the thought of repeating the same mistakes, again.  Doing something at it and failing several times.  And yet, by doing it, again and again, there is always hope and usually success, of getting it right.  It brings to mind perseverance.  As a music teacher, doing something again and again is crucial to the success of my young learners.  Yes, there are those who get something instantly  But for a large majority, the need to try, retry and do it again and again is a necessity.  Some children get this.  They patiently try it again and again until they succeed.  Perhaps it's in their mentality- nature or because they have a background of being encouraged to persevere and try, try, try again-  nurture? Others find it hard.  They instantly state, "I can't do it!" and don't want to try again. They want it instantly and aren't willing to feel those feelings of 'failing' at something in the attempt. One thing that I have to teach at all ages is the modelling of 'practice techniques'.  HOW to practice, how to improve, how to break it down and the need to try, try, try again.  All the time I say to groups who say: "We've done it!".  "Practice it again and again- seeing how you can improve it." 

This week, one child decided to leave all my after school clubs she's been in. (she was currently in choir and drumming).  She did them for one term.  She did orchestra for one term, she did recorders for one term, but she's not willing to persevere and improve at something by doing it again or get good.  She enjoyed all of them but won't do things again.  I had her last year in class, and she was like that with everything. Not willing to do things again, didn't like the effort of having to try things again and again.  I do hope that she will learn to persevere and give something a try and do it again to see how she can progress.  I guess it's my job to try and reiterate THAT to her, again and again. 
*****
The rules of the link:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.


2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!

-----------

And if you missed it- check out my gentleman doctor style inspiration from yesterday!xx

Live life to the full! (and 10 thanks)



Sunset in Florence.  I didn't manage to complete the Scavenger hunt in time for Sophie's Scavenger hunt, but thought I'd share this one.

 Did you read the Metro today.  Apparently there was an article about children who live in a remote area who, in order to get to school, have to climb a tight-rope walk style rope bridge in order to reach their school.  One false move and they will fall to their peril.  Yet they face the challenge daily, not even batting an eyelid, with alacrity even. It is their life and they accept the challenge and continue to strive to get where they need to.  They want to live their life to the full.

How can I live my life to the full?  This doesn't mean busying myself with all sorts of busyness and activities, but looking for what is the right way to live my life.  For me, it is important, that as a Christian, I try to live life, accepting that it IS hard, and it IS tiring and difficult and messy, and yet facing it, trying to be loving, trying to show the love that my Lord has for me and living the way he wants me to live my life.  I am not doing a very good job of that.  Yet, I will not give up, I know that what it is that God wants and I know that if I did things his way, I'd probably be living it life to the full and I want some of that action!  For when I put my mind looking at it in God's way, I should read his word and see it really is living life to the full- I attain a mere 10th of what I could be and what I do live is   Now that, if you are not a Christian, you may think big-deal.  That's fine.  But when I actually look at how God wants me to live my life in the Bible, when I read it, think on the words within, it really is simple.  It is different from the way the world looks at how to live our life and what it tells us should be the way to live our life.  I just wanted to put my stream of consciousness here- I felt because I've said it here, I think about it- it's weird, sharing it with other people makes me think about it more!  I just wanted to put this out there, I felt compelled to write it, does it make any sense or am I waffling?

This leads nicely onto one of my favourite things, finding things I am thankful for:

1.  My CBC- I am smiling and remembering Florence! (Not the Canadian version of the BBC Emily ;-)  )
2.  The joy of knowing that though you made have done something 6 times before, and felt it was hard work, you wondered why you were doing it- the 7th and 8th times can be brilliant!  Case in point- teaching recorder to year 3 for a year:  This is the 4th time I've done it and it's fab this year- it really is.  Same with orchestra- sooo much better!
3.  The beauty of messages- a few words from someone who knows you, in a text, can make your heart soar and be so thankful! 
4.  I am thankful for last night's hot water bottle.  Not only did it keep my feet warm, bbut byy leaking and leaving me with a damp puddle under my feet, it also woke me up when my alarm clock failed!
5. For my little sister managing to get a Christmas job- she's very happy!
6. For the beauty of enthusiasm!  You'd think teaching 9 year olds about Medieval plainchant in Latin, it might turn them off a bit- not a bit of it- I distinctly heard "Yesssssssssss!" from some of the boys in choir when they heard we were singing a song in Latin (Gaudete FYI) after we'd listened to some in our prior music lesson!
7. For the joy that your own joy can bring to other people when you share it!
8. For my church friends- I cannot say how much I love them dearly! All ages, it matters not!
9.  For YOU- it's like coming home to an unexpected parcel finding your kind comments!
10.  For the inventor of the Duvet. Mr Duvet, whereever you are, thank you!

What are you thankful for?

Scalloped edged thoughts.

 

Let's play Spot the difference with these two pictures!  How many differences can you spot?

Hello! How are you? Welcome to new mysterious follower whose Google friend picture appears to be a plant!  Since It's now getting cold, I've been wearing more of my hats to keep the heat in (and well- because we all know I like a hat!)

Let me tell you, this hat is SERIOUSLY annoying in the wind!  Unlike my other big felt hats which fit my head snuggly, this one is a little loose and it kept making an escape bid all on the way to school.  Then it started raining so I crossly shoved it in my bag...

It is hard to believe I am already wearing knitted tights and knitted dresses! (Dress:  charity shop purchase from a couple of years ago, tights, Tescos, belt: Mum, hat: Asos, Necklace: gift from Sophie with upcycled addition)

 I decided to add that flower pendant I made out of a broken earring to this teapot necklace that Sophie gave me to pick out the tights detail.

I made a bit of a horrible discovery at school today which upset me (and others) alot.  I'm really glad that I discovered it and brought it to attention but it still disgusted me how cruel children can be.  It made me worry about the type of things that children do get up to.  If you are in the habit of praying (and even if not, please think about it), please pray that the anger, cruelness and lack of empathy that some children to seem to have will be dissapated and they will aim for GOOD!

The day was hard- children were very lacklustre today. Year 3 were good but Year 5 and 6 were HARD work as was choir.  (That said- orchestra, which used to be the bane of my life is really good!)

 The nutty brown details in this outfit (i.e. hat, belt, bag) were inspired by this acorn I found in Frinton the other week (it has a really pleasing rattle). I reflected on the shades of brown,   Certain shoes and bags and items of clothing look really nice in this sort of acorn shade because of the texture and reflections of the material.  It wouldn't look so nice in every type of material like wool.  It's like life.  Everything has a way of being beautiful if viewed in a certain light, or used in a certain way, or fulfilling its purpose. Everything has beauty and goodness, you just have to find the way it works best or find it's best purpose.  Like me, like you.  What is the purpose for you?  In which way do you work best?  For me, reflecting on my homegroup study, I need to find what is God's purpose for me. Am I looking for different doors because I see closed doors because I am not pushing hard enough, am I lacking the knowledge?  Am I seeking purpose in the wrong places? Interesting things to meditate on.

And sometimes you just need green food.  I felt in need of GREEN!  A little bit of summer grass coloured magic!  This bowl of goodness included:
Soya beans, peas, sweetcorn, green cabbage, chicory, spinach, oodles of butter.  (I also ate 3 slices of bread with epoisses cheese earlier!)



Share some of your random thoughts with me, do!

The O.K Coral



Dress:  Shop in Marmande, R2D2 bag- Miss Selfridge 1996, Indian shoes- Kush, Mini hat fascinator:   Prize from Florrie's floral festivities.  Bunting necklace:  Dorothy Perkins, Shell flower earrings:  Market in Monsegur. Cardie:  Primark



It is the last day before I return to school.  It is the return to normality.  It's so silly to feel gloomy so I have tried not to!   I have lots and lots and lots to do still so will need to get on.  Again, trying not to panic! I am used to this though- this holiday is the one in which you just want to cling to the holidays like a baby monkey clinging to its mother. I recognise what a lovely privelege I have to have this long holiday though.  Like Eccesiastes, I appreciate that there's a time for each thing and the appreciation of holidays is made more so by the having to work hard in between! It's all ok.

It's also weird cooking for one and being alone.  For a lot of the holiday I have spent it with other people, so it seemed strange to be alone.  Quiet, reflective. But it's ok.

I went to church this morning. I played the piano for the service:  always a scary prospect, always includes one or two dodgy notes. I saw friends; it was lovely to see them.  The sermon spoke to me a lot, it showed me a lot about my flaws and bad decisions I have made in the way I deal with things, go about them.  It showed me how I need to think, think, think.  Anger is not a good thing, it doesn't achieve anything. It's really important to think and listen and think before I speak. 

I came home and made a lovely tofu stir-fry.  I took some lovely photos of it to show with this but Blogger has reverted back to not letting me upload any more photos above a certain size, so France will have to wait- luckily, it uploaded this first collage.  It was nice to be able to eat lots and lots of different vegetables in one dish (ingredients:  tofu, courgette, carrot, red pepper, onion, buckwheat noodles, szechuan sauce, soy sauce).  I found in France, when you eat out, vegetables are a bit of a rarity!!   But it's ok to not have them in a while.

I'm really happy to be wearing coral, I've been admiring the colour for a while but not found anything in it, I really liked enough.  These photos don't show how bright this dress is but it is! I found it for 5 euros in a shop when we visited Marmande on Thursday.  I found one or two old favourites to wear with it- these shoes were a favourite of mine about 6-7 years ago, I'd forgotten about them totally.    My R2D2 bag seemed fitting to use again, I've had it since the movies were rereleased in about 1996 or 1997. May seem a little teenage but it's ok.

I hope that you are well and happy.

xx

Dot to (polka) dot

 I went to the Year 6 leavers disco tonight.  I've never been before, but I felt a real affection for this year's Year 6's, so I wanted to show my face there. A lot of them have been involved in music and particulary this year's lot were really good at and enthusiastic about music.  It was a strange experience seeing them all dolled up and dressed up.  Some of them looked like women in girl's bodies, wearing the latest fashions, coiffed hair, glamorous.  Some of them looked like beautiful little girls and boys- I thought all of them looked lovely but I prefer it when they dress their age.  Childhood seems all so precious now, it seems so much shorter and I just wish they could be 'younger' for longer if you know what I mean?! Anyway, I felt quite sad to be seeing them go and seeing them all so excited and being natural made me feel sorry for all the times I have been horrible to them (you know, telling them off and getting cross)- they are only little kids. (I know it has to be done though).

The PTA had made it really lovely for them.  They were given special invitations.  As they came in, there were 2 inflatable palm trees with a ' _____(name of school) star of the year' and one of the parents taking digital pictures of them in their outfits'.  Once all were taken, the parent went off to the local Tescos photobooth to develop them and then at the end of the evening they were all given a photo in a clipframe (I helped take off all the clips).  The hall was decorated nicely.  Class photos from the start of their school journey were up (Including a hilarious one with my class and me in Year 5, with me wearing  a very short dress-oops!)

They then had a photo board where they had been asked to bring in baby and toddler photos of themselves so there was a 'Guess who' competition! They were given Glow-sticks, drinks with fancy cocktail stirrers and umbrellas were served. There were lots of snacks and a chocolate fountain, plus a DJ, lights, smoke machine etc  It was a really nice event and I think it's lovely that the PTA put such a lovely effort into making it memorable for them.

 I seem to be wearing polka-dots again.  This was another charity-shop lucky Primark find, last summer.  I like the 50's feel of it (sorry Rach, I will definitely look out for one for you, what size and style?! though it does need a top underneath.  Worn with Cherry earrings (school fete), Cherry necklace (Peacocks) and Red or dead shoes.
I managed to borrow the class camera to take these under the genuine premise of having to upload (we've lost the camera lead) all the photos from the last term using my card-reader before the cameras have to be returned tomorrrow, so I sneaked one or two shots!

These are my lovely flowers gifted to me by the Headmistress after the school concert. 

This afternoon we had the school talent show which was brilliant! Some children sang some great songs (Adele, Don Moen, Justin Bieber), a great Dhol drummer, a recorder player, a hilarious but genius but slightly cringy Michael Jackson Billy Jean dancer (He kept grabbing his bits!),  a great Dance routine from about 9 boys in my class- they were really impressive. A poetry reading.  I am so pleased about the girl that won- she's often had a rough time of it in terms of relationships with other children, but she's really shone this year with some things- she's been in choir and drumming, but her singing was obviously something she has worked on herself at home.   I managed to keep my class calm apart from that by getting them to fill out their self-assessment grids for French for the year (they seemed very confident) and by getting them to read French kids books with their partners.  One other teacher came in and thought me cruel for making them work, but I do think they need to be kept at it till the last day or they get (have already got) all bolshy and they seemed to enjoy reading the French books and feel pleased with themselves over the assessment grid and what they realised they'd learnt.  We'll watch a DVD tomorrow afternoon!

How's you?!