Still here.

Hellooooooooooooo!

I am still here. Been a bit busy lately, er, watching the Rocky series of films on ITV4 over the last week. Up to Rocky V. They are quite good films, aren't they? I enjoyed watching them back-to-back. It was like watching one long, continuous story. OK, so, as Hubby puts it, Rocky 4 (the Dolph Lungren one) did turn into a bit of a pop video. And he didn't like Rocky V at all! But I enjoyed the saga. It's quite old fashioned really. Maybe not quite 'Little House', but the family values are there and the message about material wealth not being the be all and end all. I was surprised that Rocky didn't win back his fortune at the end, being Hollywood 'n all. But there it is. A bit more like real life, I suppose. I haven't seen '6' yet. Maybe he gets it all back then. I find the sport of Boxing a bit shocking though. I don't know how accurate the boxing scenes are, but belting someone around the head so violently seems a bit, er, bad, innit???!!!

Now ITV4 have run out of Rocky films to show, they are playing other Stallone films. 'Demolition Man' is on tonight. Now that's totally made-up, isn't it? Funny!

I've also been watching 'Jamie's Dream School'. Very entertaining. Jamie Oliver (the chef) has set up a school for 20 pupils who left school without the recommended 5+ GCSE's, grade C and above. (50% of pupils leave schol in this position!) They are particularly challenging pupils and Jamie has hired famous, inspirational figures such as Rolf Harris to teach art, Prof. Robert Winston to teach science and actor Simon Callow to teach drama. I think it highlights how difficult teaching has become because of the effects of (to quote Al Murray) 'broken Britain' . And it shows that teaching is a profession and requires a special type of person with special skills to do it. These 'teachers' are excellent in their fields, but they aren't necessarily equipped to educate children; not with ease, anyhow.

It is Hope's 2nd birthday on Saturday and when I can tear myself away from the TV, I must get something organised!

'Be well!'

A bit of a moan

Apologies to anyone who may actually read this blog and may be wondering where I've got to. (Got your message ACP!) Just having a few problems. The main one being that my 'puter appears to have picked up another virus and so haven't been able to blog or pick up emails or anything! Computers are great when they work but it doesn't do to be reliant on them. Hubby has been away in South Africa too so he couldn't help with this problem, or the big hole in the kitchen ceiling caused by a leaky pipe in the bathroom or with the kids after my back gave way last Monday! He is back now and stressing over my laptop while I borrow his to catch up on a few things. He has made the bathroom look nice, too.

I have a few pics to post when I eventually get sorted out. Hopefully soon.

Salsa, baby, yeah!

Maybe it is because I'm nearly 40 that I'm prompted to try out new things like crochet and, er, salsa dancing. Or maybe it is because I'm just jolly good fun!

Last week I spotted an ad for a beginners salsa class in the local paper. Hubby and I had been looking for something like this for a while... a kind of date night that we can also keep fit at the same time. (Oh, behave!)

So there it was.

I got Grandma to babysit and we drove off, stopping at Tesco for some milk along the way. When we got back in the car we considered driving straight back home again. But these opportunities don't come along often, so we went for it. Just one parking space left on the road. There were no more excuses to turn back.

We thought we were quite safe, comfortable, having each other as dance partners. But after the first practise, we were ordered to move around and so had to dance in the end with, er, everyone!

I found learning the routines a bit difficult. I don't think the routines were difficult. I think it was just me and having to dance with strange men was, I'll be honest, a bit scary! Hubby looked a bit terrified, too!!!

It is not a dance for the womens' libbers. It is all about the man leading the lady, at least that is what they told us. She has to follow his movements and he gets to, well, push her about a bit! I think, though, that we enjoyed it and may go back again...

Tidy up

I've just had a little tidy up of the links in my sidebar. Some of my well-loved blog sites have changed, moved or given up completely.

The Sarah Sellers site has been replaced by Tranquil, Peaceful, Calm but is by the same author. I have also added a link to her Wise Little Owls homeschool site which has excellent ideas, links and resources for education.

The link to my daughter Honor's blog is still there, even though she hasn't done anything on it for 9 months! But she says she wants to get it going again so we shall see.

And the rest of the week.

A bit of outdoor practical maths practice for Honor. Here she is describing the directions for getting from point X to point Y. It is an end of Key Stage 2 maths skill as is calculating the area of a composite shape. We tried this out on our patio which was perfect. Our patio is composed of a large rectangle measuring 12 x 7 slabs and a smaller square measuring 4 x 4 slabs. Then we added the two areas together to find the total area.

We had some messy fun washing the cars...
... and then we went to Church where I sat worrying about and praying for the future for our children. The Gospel message was, coincidentally (that always happens!), 'don't worry'!
So then we went to see my friend Lisa's new house. It's great. And then she took us out for a meal.

We had a lovely time.
Until someone (me) mentioned the Government and Dave's promises to support marriage, the family and people who work for a living. Ha! Oh well.

Overall, a great week and it is back to school tomorrow.

Thursday

Today, Honor and I were very brave and tried out a crochet workshop at the library. We were both on exactly the same level... complete beginners and it was a lovely experience to be learning something new alongside my daughter. We both found it very difficult. Fortunately, the volunteer teacher Celia was extremely patient and as the group was very small, we got plenty of help and by the end of the session we had made a little bracelet. About half way through, Honor got frustrated and wanted to give up, but we encouraged each other through it and were pleased with what we achieved.

I'm slightly distracted now as Hubby is watching the Wedding Crashers on TV. But I intend to do more crochet in the future!

Wednesday

Wednesday was the day of the science fair. I picked this outing because years ago, when I was a science coordinator in a real school, I attended one of these and was blown away! Well. I thought it was pretty exciting. So I thought this would be good for the kids to visit this half term. Now. They did seem to enjoy it. Especially the hands-on activities. We could not get them out of the 'mad materials' room where they had fun making playdough, gloop and slime.
But the shows were, for me, a big disappointment. I've seen some very entertaining science shows for the kids in the past. The Science Centre at Herstmonceux, Hastings know how to do them. And the ones I had seen here before years ago were very good too. But the presenters didn't seem able to relate to young children and the rooms were hugely ovecrowded even though people kept getting up and walking out and no whizz bang special effects. No. I was very disappointed by this years' fair.

The kids did have fun. But they could have done it at home with a packet of cornflower and some alka seltzers for less than half the price. Oooohhh. I'm a harsh critic, aren't I?