Graph paper

 (dress: vintage TRINA LEWIS & MARJON COUTURE from Number 24, Frinton; belt: Primark; shirt: White Stuff; Tights: Tescos; Shoes: Asda)

The last time I wore this dress was here. It's fun to wear things in different ways to make it seem like a whole new dress! I made a work colleague a pair of yellow multi-button earrings for Christmas as I'd given her a yellow cardigan of mine (it never made it onto the blog- I couldn't bear wearing yellow.  My tolerance only goes as far as mustard) and she said she could only wear them together and I discovered that she has set items that she always and only  wears together in certain combinations.  I tried to advise her (rather like a clothes version of Yoda) about the ways of the blog-remix and the trying of certain combinations together!

Here I took the tie-waist band of the dress and wore it in my hair as a headband and used the bow-belt instead and matched the shoes.  White patterned material shoes in the wetwinter time= BAD BAD move!  They were soggy and mud-encrusted on my way home!!

Blog title refers to the dress pattern.  How nice it would be to embroider lines on it and axes at various angles to make it really graph paper!

I've started a bit of a 'cartoon bag' epidemic at school.  One of my rather straight-laced colleagues really likes it and is determined to buy the orange satchel version for herself.  She then tried to convince the rest of the staff room that they all need one too. They all said it wasn't her (she is very stylish in a classic, safe way and doesn't really do quirky).  I said not to put her into a box, which she was grateful for!  Hee hee!

This afternoon I took Reception over to the library for their library session which involves reading them a story.  I chose one called Giddy the Goat.  I am always a bit OTT with reading stories to children- I will do regional accents, animal voices, gestures, actions, and all sorts of little explanations (we had Hairy McLary later with a Glaswegian accent that descended into some other accent a couple ot times).  At the end, one of the nursery-nurses asked me if I had worked in reception before (well, apart from cover, not really) and said I read it really well and had a really nice way with them which you could tell because they sat there enraptured for the whole 10 minutes!  How nice that was- I was so touched, really touched.  Because, it means so much to me when someone says something like that. I do spend a lot of time thinking the TAs must think I am completely off my rocker or not very good (a little case of paranoia!) so it means the world to me when someone says something off the cuff like that.  Which makes me think- it's totally worth making the effort to find something nice to say about someone- because it really does make their day.  So, I am going to ensure I share a little love each day like that! How about you?

There's a time for everything

Roawwwr!

This verse came up.  I do like the balance of it- it's really important to remember and be relieved that appreciating the good times is all the sweeter for having experienced difficult times.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.
I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away."

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 ESV)

Ever after

Random fact of the day:  it is exactly 200 years today since Pride and Prejudice was first published (thanks Mummykins, fount of all random trivia!)

How could I miss a chance to ramble on about my favourite film when I saw that Drew Barrymore was the muse for Inspiration Monday with the Two birds!!!! Oh HOW I adore that film, Ever After!!!!! So romantic, so beautiful, so inspiring and not too saccharin like many other 'Cinderella' stories can be. Those wings, that dress, those slippers, the beauty of the French scenery, the step-sister who wasn't awful! Sigh!!!  Another random fact (recently provided by CBC but already known to me!) Did you know that the real Cinderella didn't have glass-slippers but they were made out of squirrel fur (in the fairy-tale)? I found the video of this in a charity-shop and I bought 2 copies on DVD just in case one wore out!! (I can see CBC mentally culling in his mind!).


Anyway, back to the outfit.  Cotton checked shirt- check (Tescos).  Maxi-dress (well, skirt- Per Una) Check. Big necklace- check (present from J), .
Blue palette- check
oh and bird brooch- Primark,

Oh and I bought meeself a new bag!!! ;-)
CBC said I was such a child for buying this!!!  I did get some double-takes today so thus I am thinking up to Visible Monday as well, with the lovely Patti!

I had my first recorder club of the year today- what with INSET, snow and LSO courses, I haven't had it yet.  I decided to combine Junior and Senior groups and some new children joined but I didn't quite bargain for how hard it would be to keep 37 children under control playing 2 different parts on a new piece when half of them can't remember where the notes are! Oh well, we did the first half of Minuet in G by J.S. Bach which I always feel very nostalgic about as I played it for my 'Stage 2' recorder exam!

Swanlake

Has to be seen to be believed!!! How oh how oh how is this even possible?!!?!?!!?!!



From http://www.nzwide.com/swanlake.htm

Blanket

I am more of a summer person, but I do enjoy the luxurious fabrics of the winter- wool, cashmere, sheepskin, furry stuff! Nothing like being nestled in something thick and fluffy!

I wore this outfit to church on a previous Sunday and I did feel snug (and wore my hat throughout.  Because, you know, it's nice to wear a fancy hat).

This blanket skirt, as I affectionately call it, was a £5 find from Spitalfields market, a couple of years ago.  This old, scruffy looking man rocks up there with a huge messy pile of clothes, in which you can find some vintage items (what vintage this skirt is, I don't know, if indeed it has one) if you dare rummage! I did dare, and was pleased with it!



The scarf was a recent charity-shop find, found after the Doctor's appointment, it's so soft!
The cardie was a lucky Tescos cashmere find- last Christmas, they announced that all cashmere was £25 for a limited time and I snaffled this cardie (and a jumper for CBC).

Details:  Coat: Principles Petite, Scarf- Sue Ryder, Hat- Christmas present, Peter pan collar top- Matalan,
Cashmere cardie- Tescos, Boots- M&S, Belt- Primark, Skirt, Spitalfields market 2nd hand.

We went swimming this Saturday morning, for the second week running.  This is brilliant as CBC is not an advocate for swimming and usually I can't drag him to go with me.  However, he is atuned to what his friends do so when his flatmate and neighbour decided to go, he said, why didn't we go along? 
We had a nice time and felt very virtuous!!  Later, we managed to arrange provisionally booking our wedding reception venue and arranging a taste-test with a caterer. I do so hope CBC likes it as this caterer is much cheaper than another one we've got a quote for.  Me, I like most things.
Now, I am sifting through recordings of my children at school, ensuring they are all named accurately! Fun eh?   I really really hope we can address another resolution/wedding prep wish tomorow by going to a Lindy-hop class which I have been hoping we'll go to for a couple of weeks but CBC has mounds of work to do so it may just be me on my own.   I am also going to go lindy-hopping for my birthday celebration in March! It's great fun and I so want to learn it properly!!

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!

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

Jon Pertwee- Style inspiration

It seemed about time for another Who-spiration post!!!! Thus, here I am!

Jon Pertwee, the most suave and gentleman-like of all the doctors, was known as the Dandy Doctor due to his assortment of gentleman-like costumes,
Quoting the first Doctor, describing the second and third doctors:

"A dandy and a clown!"

He always had plush jackets, beautifully tailored shirts with ruffles and cravats or bowties in tasteful colour combinations.  I borrowed the collage from Mel at The Follybird, whose link and idea this was, in which you can see an assortment that I would gladly wear:
Fabrics seem thick- velvet, a particular favourite and of course, a cape! The trousers, by comparison, seem very plain and your eye is not really drawn to them.

I paid most homage to the outfit in the middle 2 images of the bottom row, where he sports a sort of olive-velvet jacket.


Everything, except the boots (not really visible) was thrifted over the years from various charity-shops.  The cordhuroy blazer and trousers originally Per Una at M&S and the frilly-shirt from Laura Ashley.

The jacket colour is pretty-much spot on though not really clear from this photo. I'd love a shirt with ruffly sleeves like his!


To add another layer of warmth I added my Wind-up bird cape (present from CBC) and added a tweed trilby from Primark (yeh, you haven't seen this hat before.  Keep quiet, let's not draw attention to another new hat)

Here's the Laura Ashley shirt a bit closer (sorry, it was creased after a day of school and of course, I wore a cardie underneath in this weather! I can't wait to iron this one. What a right pain it will be (that'll mean it shall lie dormant on my spare-bed for months)

I'd like to try another Jon Pertwee outfit at a later date, I have more ideas, but what do you rckon?  If you were to put together an outfit inspired by him with your current wardrobe, what would you wear???



Previous Who-spiration posts:
  
William Hartnell- 1st Doctor

Tom Baker- 4th Doctor

Dalek

Miserable Russian lady visits London's oldest wine bar

There is a reason I smile in all my blog photos (or virtually all of them).  This is because I look like this if I don't smile! Miserable!   CBC met me at Stratford on Sunday to go up to London to a friend's birthday.  We got on the central line and I sat down.  I was suddenly aware of being watched and saw CBC with his Smartphone up in 'photo position'.  I glowered at him sullenly aware that he was mocking my garb and the result is this (with some old-fashioned grainy filter on to make me look even more like an extra missing from a Chekhov film!
With the 'inclement weather' (I do love that phrase- it feels so contrived!) I brought out the big-guns in the hat department with my Joyce Anderson of Corbridge sheepskin cossack hat but decided that it needed cheering up so added the turquoise butterfly clip which CBC found rather incongruous!

We headed up to a place near Embankment tube station called Gordons Wine Bar which is apparently London's oldest Wine Bar, established 1890 (and possibly the oldest in the world)  If you want to go somewhere atmospheric and different to drink wine (and not much else I am afraid- the only other choices are orange juice or water but you can bring in your Starbucks coffee if you want, as one of our companions discovered).  It is located in a cellar- so you sit at Candle-lit (and lamplight) tables with the roof barely above your head (you have to stoop to stand if you are Giraffe-like).  It is surprisingly warm and cosy.  We sat in a cubby at the end and happily sat there for several hours.  The only downside of it being a snowstorm all day was there did end up being drips on our coats by the walls, since it is a cellar and the walls and roof are near you.

The wine and the food is served a bit higher up some steps with proper ceilings.  A cheery-kind man was serving the food.  It was buffet-style.  You could buy a roast-dinner plate, carvery style for around £10.95 but what we went for was the cheese platter.  For £12, you got to choose 3 large slabs of cheeses (and they were big and I tried 3 large chunks of cheeses before I chose) the equivalent of almost a whole baguette sliced and then you can help yourself to pickles, chutney, butter, gherkins etc from the 'cold buffet' (there's also cold meat platters and a pate platter with bread and pickles which we got for £5.95 I think).
The Corsican ghost's cheese was delicious as was Saint-Nectaire and something else!  I had a mulled-wine (£4) which is the only tolerable-way for me to drink wine.



If you're interested in the history-side, it really hasn't changed in the years it has been there and apparently, quoting the website, it has an impressive residential history:

...the building in which the bar is situated was home to Samuel Pepys in the 1680s and more recently (1820) by Minier & Fair, a firm of seedsmen who used it as a warehouse. This came to an abrupt end when, in 1864, the river was embanked and the warehouse landlocked, following which it was turned into accommodation and Gordon's wine bar began its life. Rudyard Kipling lived in the building in the 1890s as a tenant and famously wrote “The light that failed” in the parlour above the bar, the building is now named Kipling House. Angus Gordon who set up the bar in 1890 was one of the few remaining “free vintners” who were able to set up and sell wine anywhere without applying for a license as a result of Edward III’s Charter to them in 1364 – granted as a result of his financial embarrassment at being unable to repay a loan made by the Vintners to him some years earlier! The current Gordon family who own the bar are not actually related to Angus Gordon but it was a happy coincidence that Luis Gordon discovered the bar and took it over in 1975 so was able to maintain the Gordon name.

Taken from the website, quoted above.

I really recommend it, it was a really friendly place and I enjoyed the vibe in there, plus it's so convenient being located close to Embankment tube (Circle, District, Northern and Bakerloo lines) on Villier's street.


After we left, CBC and I with a friend, went to look at the river where we delighted in the virtues of waterproof gloves and made really satisfying snowballs without a hint of wet-frozen hand I am used to and attempted to throw snowballs onto the deck of a small rowing boat moored alongside the dock.  We almost managed it, but no, we were too rubbish!

You can see me modelling my new Christmas frilly umbrella and also my Yaxtrax snow-grips! Honestly, I really recommend them- you can attach them to any shoe, not only sturdy-walking boots like mine, you can attach them to any of your high-heeled fashionable boots, they have rubber construction at the edges so they wont mark your shoe. I bought mine from QVC last year

****
In other news- I caught a MOUSE!!!!! I spotted a little mickey run across my floor the other day and I bought a humane mousetrap which yielded fruit in under a day.  I came home to mickey trapped inside.  I took him along to the park and released him where he frantically scurried away.  Let's hope he doesn't come back, which everyone has ominously told me they do if you are kind to them! Anyone have mouse-experiences they can share?

52 weeks of happy (weeks 2 and 3)

Alas, I missed out on last week, so here's a 2x +2 post (i.e. two weeks worth of 4 plus a m=bonus 2).



1. Snow silliness! Yes, it can be scary walking and travelling, after my broken wrist and sprained wrist of 2 years ago, I am over-cautious, but it still puts a romantic, beautiful sheen on everything!

 
2. CBC’s experimental cookery-
Bear with me on this.  He'll be really cross I took and posted a photo but honestly, it was amazing!!!!!!!
Radishes, sugar-snap peas, tomatoes, red pointed peppers, chicory, pomegranate balsamic vinegar, olive oil with orange, goats yoghurt, coriander and a PieMinster Heidi-pie. It tasted absolutely wonderful!!!!!!!


3. Swimming:
I haven’t been for soo sooo long!!! It made me feel really relaxed, invigorated and it’s always fun to don a vintage-look polka dot swimsuit! I also love the fact that CBC enjoys the fun, silly games I do, like, see who can stay on the ledge the longest!



4. Healing- sometimes, you can be in receipt of a miracle! See previous post for why



5. Dressing like a mad old lady! I have been wearing the mad cat lady jumper, folk-fiddle t-shirt, and an old lady scarf-clip with a silk-scarf (vintage, via charity shop)


6. My snow-grips- they keep me upright and safe!!! If you've ever broken a limb slipping in the snow, you will know how it knocks your confidence in the snow, the worry of slipping- you can see from the footprints how these babies cut through the snow.


7. My church family. Old and young, I adore them- I really do- they are so kind, humble, funny, unique and caring. I sat in church on Thursday night and felt near to tears as I regarded these humble, loving people dancing in joy.



8. My new Tiffany Lamp. It prompted rearrangement of my front room to place it in a place of glory (and heck, not much would persuade me to move furniture!). I’ve wanted one for so long, ever since I saw Hale and Pace on a TV programme as a teenager where they had to try and create a catwalk collection- they used Tiffany Lamps as inspiration for their buttons in their collection. I’d never seen one before and I loved them. So pretty! CBC remembered this and bought me the perfect little one for Christmas.



9. Warm houses- I started to get a cold on Thursday and my house, as previously mentioned, has no central heating, so I have been without heat so it has been really comforting to be in CBC’s house with heating.




10. Warm hats and scarves:  So funny to get dressed up!  I love making people snigger and laugh on the Tube when I wear ridiculous hats and scarves! Oh by the way, this is a tea-cosy, not a hat! Though it would be fun to wear this on the Tube, just to see how people reacted! It's also fun to wear a tea-cosy on your hat. Essentially, that's what a beanie hat is anyway, isn't it?!



What has made you happy this week?

Ten green bottles

Hello there!  How are you this fine and chilly day?  I am well, despite a cold!  What is brilliant is that I did not have to go to school today- a total boon which I did not expect because of the snow. Yes, it was snowy, but I just assumed we'd have to go in.  What rejoicing (and prompt returning to sleep for 3.5 hours) there was when I received a text message stating as such!

Today is Monday and that can only mean my rifling in my wardrobe to find items to match the Inspiration outfit posted by the lovely Two birds, Megan and Nora. (click on the link to find out more!)
I looked delightedly on this outfit yesterday thinking, "Yes, I have green cords, yes, I have white shirt and vague boots of a similar-ish shade but did not count on my slatternly nature which found the shirt in a screwed up heap by my bedroom door, it obviously started crawling towards the laundry-basket itself, and the green cords covered in mud in the washing basket. Ah, so back to the drawing board.
Here's how I managed to interpret it eventually:

White tunic- Kush, white cable-knit jumper worn underneath - Time, Green leggings - Primark, Mink-coloured wedges- Clarks originals, Green bag- charity shop, earrings- school fair, bracelet- charity shop, Beret and gloves- Tescos, flower corsage- school fair, necklace- gift

Thank you for all your kind comments and wishes yesterday, it was really nice of you to read my long ramble and to care.  Oh, and I will get back to you re my link-guest post thingie- just finding my way back at the moment after the hiatus!

With much love,
xx

Healing

I am going to share something personal in here. Please read it in the hope that I can be of some comfort to you if you have been in a similar situation or you might be in the future. I don’t usually share this much, but I feel I should here.

 

I’ve been absent from Blogworld for just under two weeks. Apart from one of two of you who I have mentioned it to, you probably haven’t noticed since I scheduled a few posts to publish whilst I was away. It’s been a bit hard but refreshing. There were a few reasons for this. Firstly, my church, for the new year, was having a fortnight of prayer and fasting to prepare the church for the year and to pray about what is in store for us, especially in our centenary year.

 

The reasons for Christian fasting are numerous but often is for trying to hear God’s voice better, spending the time instead with him. It’s not always easy but it is a really good thing.

 

There are various fasts you can do, refraining from certain foods, missing one meal, one meal a day, refraining from food for one day or a longer period. and it does depend on you, your help and what’s right for you, your health etc. It’s not a competition and it’s between you and God. I have exercised various fasts during this period but one thing was, I did want to have a ‘fast’ as it were, from blogging. Because it has tended to take up a lot of my time in recent times and I did think it would be healthy to take time away from it.

 

One thing that I particularly needed to pray about was my health. It was with a shock on Christmas Eve after midnight service, that as I was about to go to sleep, that I discovered a lump in my chest, quite a large one. I was filled with horror at the time. I told and showed CBC. As I went to sleep, I prayed. If I am honest, my prayer has been very sporadic in recent times. It showed/shows, I do find I am lost if I don’t. I got out of pattern. It was Christmas day the next day, so I/we didn’t tell anyone but I was aware of it, all day, praying at any interval. On boxing-day, I continued to think and pray about it. I was worried but I had to trust in God. What else can I do in that situation, but trust. You immediately fear the worst, no matter what rational solutions come to mind. Finally in the evening, just before bed, I told my Stepmum who thankfully works in a Doctor’s surgery. She was off to work the next morning. She told me not to worry. The next day, she managed to get me an appointment for midday. Thank God that she worked there. I saw the Doctor who examined me. She said it was definitely there and it was big but that hopefully because of the size, it might not be so serious, hopefully being a cyst. Because of the time in my monthly cycle, she told me to make an appointment for 1.5 weeks time when I was back from Northumberland. I felt somewhat reassured by that, but again, I had to trust in God.

 

The thoughts came to mind, that what if it was something serious like cancer but I felt protected from worry though it came to my mind every so often. I am the type of person who naturally worries about ‘the worst’ so this is one reason why my faith is so important to me otherwise I would still be that perpetual worrier for everything.

 

When I went back to the Doctor, my family doctor, he examined me and said, he thought, hoped and prayed it was a cyst but of course, sent to the hospital for me to have an appointment. He thought from the size, that it was probably a cyst, apparently, cancerous lumps are usually very small.

 

So there I was, at the beginning of the prayer and fasting with the appointment coming up. In essence, it was the perfect time to pray. I felt fortunate that I had this. Not everyone is that fortunate. Apart from my sister and one or two friends, I didn’t tell anyone though. I thought, that it wasn’t worth telling them until I knew what exactly was what. In essence, it felt like there was more for people to worry about than something that ‘probably wasn’t anything’ and God was on the case through my prayer and it would be selfish to burden them with it. It felt like I’d be attention-seeking to share.

 

It wasn’t until the Thursday the first week, during the devotion at church that said, “By not sharing you deny others a chance to pray for you,” that I realised I needed to share with the small group I was with- 4 others, so I told them the situation. They prayed for me there and then, and subsequently.

 

The night before the appointment, this Tuesday, I did suddenly get worried, more than I had been since Christmas eve/day. I did cry, having read an article in a magazine about a doctor who had had breast cysts and then got cancer. I suddenly felt that I should share with my dear friends at church. I sent a text to them, asking them to pray around about half midnight. I expected others to turn off their phones at night like I do, but apparently not. A dozen loving messages saying they were praying followed. Before I fell asleep that night, as usual, I felt the lump, it was very much still there.

 

The next morning, as I got up and dressed, I felt like I had done every day, for the lump. I couldn’t find it. I felt around and around and it wasn’t there. I was puzzled and somewhat disbelieving. I made my way to school. Every moment, I was alone, I checked again, to see if I could find it. I felt something small that I thought it was, might have been but then I couldn’t find it again. As I walked, I sang with a light mind. I shared with 2 teaching assistant friends of mine who are Christian. The worry I had felt the night before was gone. I was happy, it felt like having been prayed for by all those people might have made it go away.

 

When I got to the hospital and saw the consultant, I told him that it felt like it wasn’t really still there because I couldn’t really find it! After I saw him and he examined me, he sent me for an ultra-sound (as an under-30 year old that’s what you get first.) When I saw the lady, she used the ultra-sound and told me that what was left was/had been a cyst. It looked black on the scan ( I think sinister lumps are coloured as it were). She used a syringe and literally, there before my eyes, sucked out what remained of the lump, the black vanished.

 

She said that breast-cysts may return but always to get checked out if I am not happy with what is there.

 

Regardless of what anyone else thinks, I am quite certain that the prayer of my friends helped- they saved me from much worry, that lump reduced overnight to virtually nothing. I felt in receipt of a real blessing.

 

If you are ever in this situation, please remember: 

• Always get it checked out. 
• Tell people/friends. Do not keep it to yourself. People care, they want to know, they may want to pray. Why miss the opportunity of a blessing- it can only help. You are important. Prayer can’t hurt you, it can only do good.
• Try to see the good in situation. I have learned a lot from this situation. A lot. It has helped me focus in a way I haven’t been able to for ages. I have found so much in the situation. I have seen love from those around me.

I’ve missed you all.

 

xxx

Memories of childhood guest post/link up

I love to reminisce about days of old, childhood memories, games, excursions and random events.  I do think I drive CBC mad with this sometimes, he hears the same story about 10 times (and I am not the most succinct person!), as he frequently reminds me! It is a family trait- we all do it! (again, CBC tells me)

But I thought I'd invite you to share some of your random childhood happy reminiscences with me- if you would like to do a guest post about it, that'd be great!!! Just leave your e-mail address in the comments box and I will contact you about it!   I thought it would be lovely to have a sort of 'oral history' (typed up in blogger) project relating to our childhood.  Perhaps we could put a decade/era etc.

For example, I was reading of Lakota's child-labour pursuits (children picking plums and this prompted slightly mortified memories of cow-manure amongst other things.)  We had an allotment during my childhood years which I helped on during many an evening and weekend.  My Mum was always keen on compost and extra nutrition for the plants.  So it was terribly-terribly embarassing on occasions where we had gone out for the day, perhaps with my dear grandparents, that a pile of manure (often farmers offer it free) was sited which mean free-nutrients for the plants but "Oh-my-Goodness,we-have-POO-in-the-car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" for me!  I totally understand NOW as an adult, that it was a good thing- but at the time- eeeeeeek!
I never forget the one time we saw a MASSIVE heap of horse manure and my Mum had some bin-bags in the boot which she duly filled- ahrgh!

Anyway, so if you would like to share some particular childhood memory, or something, do let me know!

I might also start a linkie thing for it too, if anyone can tell me how to add one of those funky inlinkz thingies?!

I'm probably going to be away from my computer for a couple of days, so do let me know and I will get back to you! Tell me if you'd like to guest post.
x

Please store your luggage in the compartments above your seats

Sometimes feel like you've dressed in role?  I looked at a shot of myself in this possibly vintage dress and was struck by how I could be:
a) one of those red-jerseyed extras in Star Trek who always got bumped off in the first five minutes
b) An air-stewardess
c) A hotel receptionist!

A couple of years ago, my Mum found our old bag of dancing headbands.  At our dancing school, you wore a headband to show what grade you were (turquoise for pre-primary, black for primary, blue for Grade 1, purple for Grade 2, pink for grade 3, royal blue for Grade 4...), I am modelling the Grade 5 headband here (sadly, I never reached this grade- this was my sister's who was actually good at dancing.  Unlike me, stuck in the back row!)

Perhaps it's because I am not aware of it being an adult now but I'm sure that everyone seemed to go to ballet and tap in the 80's and 90's when I was a child but I don't seem to hear of it so much nowadays- a lot seem to go to street-dance.  Any mums out there, what's your experience?  And am I wrong about that era?  Was it just me and my peers who all did ballet or did you too?  Did you enjoy it? Were you any good at it?  Or were you stuck in the back row like me?  Mind you, I had some impressive peers at my dance-school, heck, one of them is even now the star of Downton Abbey!

***

Dress- (possibly) vintage M&S.  Belt-from another dress, headband- dancing, shoes- Irregular choice, Cardie- Zara, Scarf- Amazon.

RIP RSVP?

When I was little, it was the done thing to send a message saying whether you could come to a party or not or some other function.  I always remember wondering what RSVP meant (and why is it we use the French? Is it because PR (please reply) is an already used acronym?).



When CBC, sent out written invitations (and Facebook and e-mails and text messages) for his robot party, he became increasingly frustrated that he could not yield replies to his party. People who he asked by word of mouth said at first, that yes, they would come.   Then, gradually, one by one, other things came up. One person, on the Friday said they couldn't come.  Several on the day said they couldn't come.  Others (due to family birth- could only drop in.  Yet, it took me sending a text message on the day, checking they were still actually coming, for them to say, they could only come for a half an hour.). 
He had spent a long while buying and creating decorations, planning food, ordering cakes from the French bakery.  A lot of money was spent on ingredients.  A lot.  Because CBC likes to cook nice dishes from scratch, find nice food, not just your Iceland frozen bits (which incidently, still add up!).  And yet he had no idea who was coming.

Why do we find it so hard to commit to things nowadays?  Why can we not decide, "I am going to do this, I want to do it.  Come hail or fire, I will be there. "

Even text message.  Frequently, I send text messages to friends (and e-mails) asking them if they'd like to come to a concert I am giving.  Invariably, I get one or two replies to the myriad messages I have sent and no other response (Incidently, usually in the negative)
Facebook- impersonal medium.  It can be easy to feel that because we have been invited by a computer, rather than a telephone call, that there's no need to reply.  However, if everyone thought that, then there would be no one at the party.    And it is a cheap way to contact your friends.  Phoning or posting each one can add up, I understand it is a useful way of contacting.
I don't talk her as someone who is righteous and always replies- the party has made me have a good look at my own conduct in the invitation stakes as I am as guilty as the next person at this.  I only say it to gain opinions and provoke thought and discussion.  For example, a wonderful singer friend recently sent me a text message asking me to come to a concert she was giving in Hackney.  I talked to CBC about it and fully intended to go to it if he was also free. (because Hackney is scary at night and I didn't want to go there alone!)  However, I didn't send her a message, JUST in case.  Why?  Because I was worried that I might feel exhausted and not want to go. Because- well, I wasn't sure?  Because, I was too lazy? Because I just didn't get around to it? Well, in retrospect, having analysed my conduct, I feel a shoddy friend.
As it turned out- right up to the last minute, we were planning to go, but CBC didn't get out of work till late so there was no way we could get there in time.  I didn't send her a message, because I hadn't said I was going.  Again, I should have.  It was rude of me, and I should have made the effort to.  It would be free, would make her know I had acknowledged it and was thinking of her. 

What changed? When did I start forgetting my manners and not replying to invitations? Being scatty and disorganised as I am is no excuse that I want to accept from myself

I will try to ensure that no matter HOW the invitation comes to me, that I will respond to it.  Even if I think that I am an afterthought, not important, I will treat it like I am a really integral part of the experience.  I won't worry about hurting someone's feeling saying I can't come.  Eitther, I must make a decision that yes I am going to come or I will say instantly or as soon as possible, that I am unable to come.

What's your opinion on the 'demise' of the RSVP?


(Post written ages ago, but still relevant, even though forgotten about) CBC's robot party had recently put the thought into my mind, the demise of the RSVP, replying to let someone know you are coming to something.

All present and correct!

I was fairly restrained in the sales in that I decided to buy one item (apart from a charity-shop jacket and gifts for other people) and I decided to buy a more practical pair of Toms shoes. I really like my ruby-slippers ones and after Rach's recommendation, I decided to buy and read Start something that matters by Blake Myconskie, the founder and 'chief-shoe-giver' of Toms shoes and I was really impressed by what he set up (I will do a post about it when I have located it and read the last 30 pages) with Toms, I love the idea of giving like for like- a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair you buy, so I bought this pair of turquoise cordhuroy Toms in the Schuh sale.  Very pleased with how comfy they are.  You've probably guessed by now from my blog, that I am all about comfort with my shoes, only rarely about style!


Aside from my turquoise gilet and purple coat, the former of which has reached the upper eschelons of my most popular post side-bar (why the Valentines one got into position Number 2, I don't know.  It wasn't that funny), I received lots of lovely presents this year.  WKWTTG and V, CBC's sibling bought me an absolutely darling black ruffly/frilly umbrella and a fantastic smart feathered hat pictured.  The funny thing was, that CBC's flatmate bought me exactly the same umbrella in white!  They are both so much fun and perfect for different occasions- I have posh neutral wedding/going-out umbrellas! 

I finally have a TRIPOD for my camera! WOMOTM gave me an old tripod of his when I said I'd like one so no longer does my dainty pink camera have to face the perils of swaying on a wonky stepladder in my garden or on my table/work in order to initiate the self-timer!! Hence the new inside-outfit location!

Also pictured are two funny cute gifts that CBC bought me- a jar of knickers from Whitestuff (he liked the jar) and number paperclips!!!!


I've pictured CBC in his smart new coat from the Reiss sale which I picked up for him (he paid) but the rest of his outfit comprises of some of the presents I bought him- Clarks originals dessert boots, F21 shirt, cashmere jumper (last year) and smart-tweed trousers! He looks very dandy! The photo was taken when we went to look at a wedding venue!!

If it makes you smile, laugh or giggle...

Reminder to self- do not plop your head on top of a sign with your hair stuck behind yourself, you look like Mr Potato-head!  I love this sign that came in my stocking from J and WOMOTM- it's really sweet!

Today was a GOOD.DAY.  It was.  I smiled through the day, I was calm, I didn't shout, get frustrated. I enjoyed. I laughed.  I praised. I got results.  I used to dread Wednesdays, but apart from the fact I don't get a break all day, the classes I have are doing well. Music with Year 3 is great fun and they really do listen and take my advice, they seem to love learning the recorder.  Orchestra is now not a battle but enjoyable- I have 4 percussionists instead of 12 naughty year 6's like last year and they all listen and actually have a great aptitude for it, I had great fun with Year 5 in the afternoon discussing sea-shanties, performing arrangements of What shall we do with the drunken sailor and all of us enjoying it.  I went to church which was lovely in the evening.  It helped that I didn't lie awake for hours last night- although I did go to bed very late (2ish)because I was so worried about lying there wide-awake, I slept!

Like Laura, I revelled in bright colours- I wore this jumper and skirt combo with yellow belt and felt cosy and bright.  I had to laugh when I thought about both the jumper and skirt. Both of them are purchases I made when CBC let me 'off the leash' when near/in shops (he always says that I don't buy anything with him and then like a bolt of lightning, I'll buy something when he takes his eye off me. The skirt was purchased in Monsoon when he went to pay in a cheque in the high-street as we were about to drive to Northumberland.  He looked staggered when he drew up in the car and I had 2 skirts in a bag! Same with the jumper- High Wycombe reccie into Sainsbury's to buy a torch and bam, I had a jumper!).  I

Speaking of giggles, just chatting to my big sister (the big bossy-boots one, as opposed to the small bossy one.  I am the only pushover) on the phone, she told me that her daughter had been sick in her bed (and hasn't been sick before in her conscious-toddler memory) and she laughed because she said (or so I misheard)

Child:  (in a distressed voice). Mummy, there's something in my bed.  It's sunny spit!"

There I was thinking, "Oh how poetic she is, she's a genius!!! We have a prodigy in the family!"
In fact, she said, "There's funny spit in my bed,".  Not as poetic, but still very descriptive for a 4-year old who hasn't been sick before!

How's you then?

Tart Tartan

Jacket- St Francis hospice, Victoriana  sweater- MaxC, Trousers- M&S, Hat- charity shop/thrifted, Shoes- Irregular choice, Belt-Peacocks.

Hands up who misses Vix?!  I certainly do!
I found the tartan jacket in a charity shop a while before Christmas- it seems to be a vintage one but it's far too big for me-but I like it- I attempted to belt it and cover up the over largeness with my scarf.  The question is:  what can I wear with it to make it look best and do you think it would be possible to have it made smaller without ruining it?  Any advice, gratefully received!

Today was an INSET at school and to make it different/fun, help us to be more creative in developing the school and thinking of creative solutions, giving us a taste of having to present, we were put in groups for an Apprentice-type task in order to relaunch a hyperthetical school that had closed and was being reopened with a new name.  We were given results, data, map/plan of the school and had to create a new name, logo, mission statement, vision, curriculum, teaching and learning policy, timetable, etc etc.  We had about 3.5 hours to do it.  We then had to present to a 'parents' panel' for 15minutes with questions etc and there would be a secret ballot to choose the school. Inwardly, my heart sank, as I have slept really badly for the last 2 nights (I was still lying there wide awake at 4.30 this morning and like Sophie, I too ignored four alarms and woke late) and all I wanted was to sit and make notes as someone gave me ideas for teaching/looked at our own policy.  To make it worse, groups had been pre-chosen (like The Apprentice) and so you don't necessarily end up with the people you'd work best with.  Equally, like the programme, at first, we kept going round and round with ideas and one person kept harping on about small insignificant details.  Similarly, it did feel like 2-3 of us out of the 5 were contributing ALL the ideas, and it seemed a little like one member (who is very confident), talked lots, said they knew all about it but didn't really help much with ideas, copied and pasted things from the internet, didn't do much of the typing up for our Prospectus , sat chatting and then, when we said she had to do the presentation, copied and pasted my logo and mission-statement onto her first page, and then said, "Look at this" everytime she found a picture to go on the other 2 pages of the 3-page presentation and was just going to read from the prospectus.  Perhaps I am being a little unfair here- she did say, does anyone have a laptop for her to use as three of us were at the three computers in her classroom, but then I went to another classroom to use a computer to free it up.  I expect I was feeling over-sensitive because of the tiredness and anxiety over the task? The presentation, which was a shambles, ended up being all of us talking about bits with me attempting to enlarge our Publisher-prospectus on the screen.  I was happy with my contributions but I found the whole task really difficult and felt rather out of my depth: I know for certain I am not SMT material-  I am a definite sheep, not shepherd!

 The funny thing is: at the end, everyone said they thought the ideas we'd come up with (particularly the new timetable, behaviour policy and way and ideas of ordering the curriculum) were really good, but the shabby presentation and lack of organisation let us down (the presentation was not practised)! In retrospect, it was a nice creative way to do it, and was a way to help us to experience the 'mantle of the expert' style of learning we are engendering in the curriculum but I really really know how frustrated Apprentice contestants feel and how out of their depth they can feel!  However, life is all about challenges and meeting them with good will, a sense of humour and trying your best, even if you are highly irritated!!! Honestly, Sir Alan Sugar should get the contestants to do this as one of their tasks and they will understand just how difficult it is to run a school!!

How was your day?

xx

Big hello to lovely new followers: Alex, Darlene, Mags, Louise, Fiona, Sandy, Comrade Von Pussycat and Lucy in the clouds!  Thank you, thank you, thankyou!!!!

52 weeks of happy (1 of 52)/10 things to be thankful for

The lovely Louise at Ramblings of a roachling has joined in a lovely challenge where you list 4 things a week that make you happy. I think this is lovely and links directly to my 10 things to be thankful for.
Now, it is obligatory for me to do this when I am feeling miserable about the return to school!
I love the Pollyanna quote: ""When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will."

Yes, thus, if you look for the good, you will always find it!

So here are my first of my 52:
1.  CBC:  I still struggle to believe that I found someone who wants to marry me who is so imaginative, fun, loving and unique!

2.  Walks: I cherish the ability to walk upon my own two feet and see the beauty of my surroundings- I am glad of the two lovely walks we had in Northumberland.

3.  The appreciation and joy of friends:  I was speaking to my dear friends C and J who live in the North Yorkshire moors and telling them that I was engaged - their whole-hearted sincere joy at my announcement fill my heart with joy!

4.  Holidays:  I count myself lucky, that despite the trials of teaching, that I do have these holidays to look forward to!


And to continue onto 10 for my things to be thankful for:

5. For the amazing brand-new drum I found in a charity-shop today- it was only £12 brand-new and will be brilliant for school! (Not to mention the soft furry black scarf which is currently nestled round my neck!)
6.  I am thankful for my family Doctor who I saw today- he has been my doctor for 31 years and I am going to really miss him when I have to move- he knows me well, he's kind, he's thoughtful, he's interested in me as a person and I appreciate the consistency of him being there in an age where so many things become impersonal.

7.  The fruits of my garden:  I just enjoyed a wonderful bowl of stewed apple that has been in my freezer for two years- I picked, cooked and prepared it- and it's so nice to enjoy it so far on!
8.  Vegetables:  I just cooked my first proper meal for over 2 weeks and I had the most wonderful tofu and vegetable stir-fry: I do crave vegetables! Also thankful that the veg in my fridge did not go off after 2 weeks so I could cook it!
9.  For my sister: despite the fact she is a total bossy-boots know-it-all (I hope you are reading this!;-)  ), she knows me better than anyone else and understands me!
10.  For the joy of the unknown- who knows what excitements and opportunities will meet me this term!!!!

What are you thankful for?

Ode to a turquoise gilet

Oh turquoise gilet, how many ways do I love thee?

Let me count the ways!

I love thy bright and beaming presence as I enter an abode

I love thy plush, soft sheep-like lining

I love how soft, kitten-like fur shrouds thy downy hood

I love how thou keepest me cosy when walking but none-too-hot as I enter roasting shops

I love how thou gleamest like a light-bulb in the eyes of yon beholders

I love how you were chosen by fair-knight, without hint or blantant direction!

I love how thou matchest my extensive wardrobe of turquoiseness!

Yes, I do thee love!


------

Heelo- excuse the above silliness!  CBC bought me this gilet for Christmas and has spent the intervening time telling me that I obviously don't love it if I don't wear it all the time- this has resulted in an overstuffed suitcase and of course, the above overload of varying shades of turquoise! It is my favourite colour, hence the assortment of similar coloured garments!

Tomorrow is the last day of my holidays before the return of school!
It is amazing how attractive tidying and sorting ones house becomes when one is faced with the task of school-work!  I have tidied out the medicine cupboard at home which was 3 shelves of chaos and out of date pills and concoctions with vintages dating from 1997 to 2016!  A large bag is waiting to go to the chemist to be disposed of!  Why on earth there were 16 boxes of paracetamol and 5 large tubs of dispersable aspirin, sulphadine in copious quantities I do not know, equally why there were so many packets of Lemsip! Not to mention a legion of plasters and latex gloves (shudder)! The surviving protagonists are dwelling on one shelf now! Many Christmas presents are also now safely packed away and some thank you cards written!

Hope you are well xx

Linking up to Patti's Visible Monday with this bright ensemble!

CGDN Photo Scavenger Hunt- December

I keep forgetting about the Photo-scavenger hunt- I think it has a lot to do with the fact that it is always dark when I have a camera to hand in the winter.  But, I realised, I actually had quite a few of the photos for the list for December, so here they are!If you used to take part in Kathy's hunt, do join in with Sophie who has kindly resurrected the hunt while Kathy has gone AWOL. 

Robins:

I have stacks of real robin photos but my little friends were elusive during this festive season, so you can see some Kezzie-Christmas card recycling in process on the 10th day of Christmas.
"On the 10th day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, 10 robins bobbing... "

Snow:

On the one day I saw snow, this is the path a car desperately tried to take up the hill to the station.  We were walking/slipping up the hill beside it, so it was quite scary walking beside him! He was revving like anything and sliding as the path shows!!

Mist:

Spectularly rubbish but this shows the conclusion of our circular walk around Bellister castle and estate.

Sunrise:

I spied this beautiful sight on the last day of term on the way to school- how gorgeous it was!

Lit-up:

The simple but effective lights above the local baptist church.


I know I've showed this one of Somerset House before, but I was quite proud of it!

Red:

Wedding cakes at my dear friend's wedding

Beverage:

You may be wondering why- CBC, guzzling water from his platypus!

Close-up:
Strangely, I didn't really take anything for this, so I thought I'd inverts and interpret it as up-close, as Batman is to the fire in this photo you've already seen!

Holly:

Rubbish I know, but here are a pair of my festive earrings!

Nativity:

I'm not sure where this came from but it was in our church for the first time this year- so simple, yet looked beautiful during the candle-lit service.

Gift:

A peek of the gifts under the tree.

Christmas Tree:

Southwark cathedral Christmas tree. Shame it's blurry

My local church's Christmas tree.  Shame it's also blurry!

Bonus shot:





On a walk around Haltwhistle burn, there are some amazing geographical features.  Check out the amazing rock-face, literally.  Here's one particular one I could see, but there are loads more. This always reminds me of the 'False alarms' in Labyrinth who speak in Northern accents warning Sarah to 'Go back before it is too late' (until one of them gets shut up by Hoggle to which it begs "Oh please, I haven't said it in SUCH a long time!"

Go and check out the other photos over at Sophie's link-up.x