Is it a bird?

I thought it was a very kind offer. I borrowed Nic's trainers from the boot of her car (was wearing silly heels!) and pushed Samuel home from the Army in the hope that he would sleep.

Lovely.

What a kind Aunty?!

Lovely, apart from the fact that Mr Big Bird decided it's be a great idea to aim and fire, fortunately missing me, but leaving me, but leaving a horibble 'parcel' on Sam's pushchair.

Thanks Mr Bird.

Suppose I should be greatful he didn't hit me!

Untitled.

One of the Christmas presents I received this year was loaded with much more than what was in the box. And it's really caused me to ponder.

The present?

It's entitled 'Courage - bringing a triumphant spirit, inspiration and courage.'

The explanation of the figure goes on to explain that it was created to celebrate that which we call upon when facing challenges in our lives.

As I've looked at this figure and thought about the sentiment behind it, I understand why it was given. I more than appreciate the love, respect and understanding that wrapped it up, and yet, I'm not really sure I deserve that.

I love the way the figure is standing. It reminds me of the photograph we were shown in a meeting a while ago, whilst considering how we want/need to respond to the Holy spirit:

The openness of the arms stood as an invitation to the raining (reigning?) down of the rain/Holy Spirit.

Another image which came to mind was that of someone winning a race. The acknowledgement of effort, pain, tiredness, sacrifice, and the relief, joy, euphoria of emotion, expressed in those raised arms.

Yet the strongest image that this 'Courage' figure brought to mind, was that of an experience at Roots this year. An image that I think will remain my 2007 'logo' for a long time to come.

The photograph I've found to support my thoughts, doesn't do the event that happened any justice at all.

The image is simply that of one person, holding up another's hand in worship.

The word we would use at school is 'scaffolding' - helping someone to do something they can do/want to do/will be able to do, but needing a little support from someone else in the process.

That moment will stay with me forever. The strength of hold between two hands. And two hearts. The understanding of need. The willingness to be helped. The recognition from both parties, that praise is the only way forward, yet silently agreeing that alone is not yet the way.

I'm not sure that person will remember, if they do, I'm not sure they'll ever understand how much that meant to me and how vividly I remember that moment.

Courage.

Receiving of the Spirit.

Relief.

Worship.

The list could go on. I praise God for 2007 and wait with open arms for 2008.

Catch Up

Things are pretty manic at the moment. People always say how lovely in must be to spend the build up to Christmas in school...NoooooOOOOOOooo. Lovely couldn't be any further from the truth!

Last week was a mixture of rehearsing 'Bound for Christmastown', our Christmas production that myself and another teacher wrote, watching Key Stage 1 nativity, more production rehearsal, making costumes, practising songs, making up dances, practising dances ending in our production dress rehearsal.

Friday night saw our Christmas staff night out at a Medieval night in St Katherine Dock. Lots of wholesome, festive wenches, King Henry VIII, drinking soup out of bowls etc etc.

Saturday was a lovely, long overdue, day out with a friend (long over due being '1st one ever!') Lots of chatting and laughing, laughing and chatting. Lives sorted, problems shared etc etc etc.

Sunday - Queen's theatre Carol service.

Monday - Production rehearsals, card making, calendar making, production songs practised (you get the picture!)

Today the children got to practise making circuits as the equipment finally arrived. It was SO cool. After lots of practise, lots of lights being switched on and off, buzzers buzzing, the children had a challenge use a Christmas picture and a circuit to make Santa's/Rudolph's nose light up. Brilliant. Motivating. Creative. Where's OFSTED when you need them?!

Tonight I am out with the songsters, carolling. I don't find going into care homes the easiest of things to do and have thought of a million ways I could get out of it, but they'd all be lies so my uniform is in the car. I will be going. Deep breath.

Tomorrow we've dedicated 'DVD Day'. The children won't be up to much. No rehearsing. Finish cards and calendars. Go home. Children come back at 6pm for our evening performance THEN IT'S ALL OVER!

Thursday is our School Carol service, so we'll all troop to church for 10am. In the afternoon 'Alibon's Got Talent', no really, they have...well, the teachers have. Our annual appearance will take place as the highlight of the show at the end....wigs at the ready.

Thursday after school is our 'Three Choirs Concert - Upper school choir, Lower school choir (mine, ugh!), Staff Choir-interesting!)

Friday, finally, is Celebration Day. Non uniform. Disco. Games. Children home at 2pm.

THE END!!!

Saturday. Sleep in. Go Home.

Panto season is here.

He's behind you!

The (simple)x single life

A couple of weeks ago a friend from school got married. Lots of us went to the evening reception at Leez Priory. A beautiful setting (well, it was dark, so I'm kind of guessing!) right in the middle of, well, nowhere!

It certainly wasn't easy to find, but with an AA route map, a torch in my mouth, a drive past what I thought was the right road three times, I took the bull by the horns and drove, alone, down a very dark, windy track and thankfully reach my required destination.

A good time was had by all.

Except, all night, people were questioning "Where's Doris*?" "Was she invited?"

(*name has been changed to conceal identity.)

Noone knew.

Monday morning came. Doris was already at school when I arrived. She was telling another party-goer, that, after an hour of driving backwards and forwards, in the dark, on her own, in deepest, darkest, Essex, she couldn't find where she needed to be. She drove home, put her 'jamas on, had a stiff drink and a jolly good cry.

She really wanted to be there but simply couldn't find it. She was on her own and wasn't comfortable guessing about where she should go, feeling that her directions had left her lost.

I felt so sorry for her. Other people had struggled, but fortunately struggeld in the right direction and happened to find it, or had passengers who gave them security and confidence so were willing to give it a go.

In fact, I felt so sorry for her, I bought her a bunch of flowers during that week. She came and asked me why. I simply explained that I completely knew how she felt and I wanted to do something that acknowledged that.

Even if I just think of this year, there have been times I have been late because I didn't know where I was going and aloneness knocked my confidence to try. There times I have been very early simply because of going somewhere alone and wanting to get it right. There are parties I have avoided, made excuses so that I didn't have to go.

There is an occasion coming up that I was dreading. I'd already decided I'm going to hate it, partly because I'll be on my own but also because aloneness heightens memories and particularly those that you would rather forget.

But tonight, I received a text message, that will help all that. This message doesn't remove all fears and certainly not all memories, but it will help. It will get me out of a situation that I wasn't looking forward to facing alone.

It'll make me just like everyone else.

Can you believe...

....I am sitting here, during lunchtime, with four children who think it is acceptable to boo a teacher.

Apparently, they don't do it to me because I'm there teacher....I'm one of them. Lucky me.

There is a severe lack of respect going on. They simply don't get it.

Scattergories.

(This lily happens to be called Scatterbrain!)


Last night was our House Group Christmas party. We all met at Brian and Jill's for a meal, which incidently, was lovely. Following the eating, Jill and Brian decided it was game time.

Scattegories is the now, commercial name, for a very simple game that many people play/have played and call many different names. For my family is was 'Animal, Vegetable and Mineral'. Not that we ever had 'mineral' as a category (who knows enough of them?!), but the name stuck.

Jill gave out the paper, Brian the pencils. Jill called out the categories as we all wrote them down. The starting letter was chosen and off we went.

The rules were quite strict (or should I say, bizarre) - I wasn't allowed Dark blue for a 'D' colour, but I was allowed Dusky pink ???? !!!!!!

But it was so reminiscent of 'the old days'. Sunday afternoons at home with my Grandparents. Grandma Watson knowing every flower and tree under the sun - for every letter of the alphabet, Grandma Ord making them up! Grandad Watson 'resting his eyes', but then whispering answers if we'd managed to position ourselves close enough (then stealing our pen and paper to spell the latin names correctly!).

Oh those were the days. And I miss them.