Back to school for all of us today. Flo was sick last night at around 1am, all in the bed. Lovely! The joys of parenthood. Poor thing though, not a nice experience for anyone. She was fine this morning thankfully, so off she went. It was all a bit chaotic but I managed to get everything ready, only for the rest of them to leave after me and forget most things! Such is life.
My school day was fun. Thank heavens I'm not just teaching maths by itself anymore. I love teaching maths, but I like a bit of variety too.
Today I taught phonics to reception children. My three weeks worth of plans were a little ambitious ha ha! I'll be lucky to get past week 1 in the three weeks left. It's difficult to pitch a first lesson when you haven't observed the group previously though and I wasn't that far off the mark. I did describe it like trying to keep thousands of ants in a box which I shall hopefully address tomorrow with some more active learning.
The spelling research has started off well. I'm just going to look at planning for progress/next steps in writing at word level. This week i'll do some general research accross all three year groups. The I'll see who looks interesting and pursue 2-3 children in the following 2 weeks in more detail. I've never done research before so I need to read that book! How to do your research project (and finish it lol). Anyway, I've made some headway tonight but not enough (as usual). I'm prepared for phonics tomorrow which is the main thing. It's freezing and the heating has gone off so I need to head for my snuggly bed.

Crumbs it's been a long time!

I'd forgotten my password and can't remember how to do this. It's been a heck of a busy and manic and bizarre time. I'm now almost half way through my PGCE and it's every bit as tough as everyone told me it would be. I'm trying to work out how to do a small scale research based project at the moment. My class teacher has asked that I do something to do with spelling, which at first I thought would be really boring, but actually, having done some reading on the subject, I think it could be quite interesting, and could definitely be a useful learning experience for my future career as a teacher. That's if I can actually ever find a job in the wonderful county of Devon. I'm intrigued as to what will eventually happen to me. I really hope I'll get a job and be able to do all these things that I'm growing more and more passionate about every day. My friend from Uni is visiting tonight, she's just got a place at Newcastle Uni to study to be a psychiatric nurse. How bloody amazing! I can't wait to see her. She's really scared but I know she'll be fantastic.

Due home in 2 days. It's been a fantastic and busy couple of weeks and we are all ready to return now. Flo has her best friends Salome and Alize coming over this afternoon and Joe had a friend sleepover last night. I spent the evening at the Fontaine with my best friend last night which was really lovely. The house is getting in order, Stu has taken most of the contents of the shed to the dump this morning and I am ploughing through lots of washing....

I'm picking up free wifi at the house in France but its intermittent. Life here stands still, it's quite strange. There has been a warm welcome but we have all revisited old emotions which has been tough. Things have been really good for Joe, and it's really clear that both kids have matured a lot. The weather is amazing and I am looking forward to Mas Patoxas in Spain this weekend.

We are back in France in Prats de Mollo, and we are having a wonderful time. Stu especially is loving being back, and has felt really welcome. My children astound me. They are so plucky and clever and Joe has such integrity and strength. They are an inspiration. They have both been to the newly opened cinema twice, on their own. They are out more than we are!

Passports have been printed and are now just sitting there waiting to be collected by DX. It's torture! We have been into town to do some jobs and lots of stuff is packed. I am gradually ticking things off the list. The doggies are loving their new dog flap. It didn't take them any time at all to get the hang of it. The poor things are going to be awfully lonely. Especially in the evenings when they usually get lots of love and cuddles. I hope they don't hate us for abandoning them when we get back.
I'm really nervous about going to the house. I hope it isn't in a dreadful state. I have no recollection of what clothes I have left there, and I have very little room to take many with me. Or footwear. That makes me anxious lol. I can't really fit in much reading material for my course either. Just 2 letts revise science and maths books but I guess that will keep me going. I'll have to get stuck in when we return. We have Lucinda from Taiwan arriving on the 20th. She's a 33 year old lady on a workaway scheme. Her placement fell through for 10 days, so she is coming to us for board and lodging until 30th, in return for 24hours work a week. I am hoping she is a good cook and loves kids! (and dogs). Either that or she is into DIY!

Sorry for the blogging hiatus, on Thursday I received letters from the passport office, saying the children's passports couldn't be issued because the counter signatory appeared to be a relative....ahhhhhgggggggg!!! It has been stressful since then. I filled in new forms and got a friend to sign them and another photo, then sent them off recorded delivery, guaranteed next day. They weren't processed until the afternoon, which meant they couldn't be fast tracked until the next working day, today, Monday. Talk about cutting it fine. I have called this morning and made payment, a further £120, and in 4 hours they will be ready, in Peterborough. They will then go into the hands of DX the courier company, at the end of business today, when I shall be able to track them using my postcode. They SHOULD arrive between 9am and 5pm on Tuesday. We fly at 7.55am on Wednesday.
I haven't slept properly and there is loads to do. I can't wait until we get there and I can stop worrying!

Yes yes yes! Got my placements for my course. First is at Colyton Promary, 5 mins away, second is Feniton Primary, 28 mins away according to google maps, and that's through the lanes so no traffic jams I reckon. Feniton is ofsted outstanding, and I'll be teaching reception. At Colyton I'll be teaching yr1/2. I'm so excited.

Summer days.......

Slept like a log after taking night nurse. Day 2 of filling the trolley for the beach and it seemed a bit more arduous than yesterday, even though I actually feel less ill. I burnt my back where I couldn't reach to get the cream on, and now it feels like I've been whacked across the back with a bat! The children have had the time of their lives though. Flo is with all the bigger girls which she loves. They all went to the sweet shop today, each with a pound to spend, and she went along holding hands with everyone under strict instruction to keep her safe. Joe is a real water boy. He took his body board down today, and Dad came down after work and brought the fishing stuff, although they didn't catch anything. I lugged the trollies home and cooked up my birthday haggis, it was really yum, much to everyone's surprise. We had it with neeps and mash. All the kiddies are arriving at 10 in the morning to watch a film, before we head off for day 3 at the beach. STILL no passports ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

What a lovely day! Just goes to show, that even when you really can't be arsed, and feel like poo, you should always make that little bit of effort, because invariably, the effort really pays off.
I filled the shopping trolley for the beach, and we headed off at around 1pm. We took the doggies for a walk to the marshes first, then knocked for friends and headed down to the beach. It was gloriously sunny, and a lovely day was had by all. The forecast is good until Friday, so we plan to do the same all week. I still feel poo and full of cold, but I feel good for the sun on my skin, and the fresh air and good company.

Proud, him and me.....

Sorry, got a bit upset and emotional yesterday. Some people can be so hurtful and thoughtless. It was the last day of school today, and I swerved it completely. My husband is off on Friday's, so he did the school run, and came home with cards, photo's and wine as thank yous from my daughters' teacher. There was a class picture signed by all the children, so sweet and it got me all teary again. Flo took in a number 1 teacher pen for the teacher, and some fairy dust, in a bottle on a necklace, for the teachers assistant, as well as cards. Joe took cards and malteesers. I sent in cards for all the KS1 teachers and assistants, with some choccies and a birthday card book for Flo's lovely teacher. It's such a lovely school, just in general, but by comparison with France, well, there is no comparison.
This afternoon, Joe has gutted and filleted the mackerel he caught, then lightly seasoned them and drizzled them with olive oil, before putting a slice of lemon on top and grilling them to perfection. He made himself a salad and then served us up the mackerel, as he's unfortunately not keen on it himself.
He went along to the science roadshow at the town hall, which he really enjoyed, then they watched the Lorax, which they both loved. Joe's tooth came out in a toffee, Flo is having a sleepover in his room, to be near to the fairies when they come. All is well and good. Except me, I have a stinker of a cold. Just what I need at the start of the holidays.
The passports haven't come. We now have 3 nights booked in a ready tent at a lovely site in Pals on the Costa Brava, as well as flights and car parking, everything is crossed that they come soon.
I've had some really sad news today, two people in my family are splitting up, after being together for almost 25 years. I am totally shocked. It's such a shame. It's early days and not public knowledge, so I can't say anymore, other than how very sad I am.

Today's assembly.
1.
One more step along the world I go,
one more step along the world I go;
from the old things to the new
keep me traveling along with you:

Refrain:
And it's from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.

2.
Round the corner of the world I turn,
more and more about the world I learn;
all the new things that I see
you'll be looking at along with me:

3.
As I travel through the bad and good,
keep me traveling the way I should;
where I see no way to go
you'll be telling me the way, I know:

4.
Give me courage when the world is rough,
keep me loving though the world is tough;
leap and sing in all I do,
keep me traveling along with you:

5.
You are older than the world can be,
you are younger than the life in me;
ever old and ever new,
keep me traveling along with you:

Judge me, go ahead. We judge people all the time. But know this, I am conscientious and I really care. I do my best, all the time. I get it wrong sometimes and I mess up occasionally but I try really hard to afford people the benefit of the doubt. Grant me the same....... I love deeply and with all my heart, and as a consequence I hurt deeply when you ridicule and slight me.... aren't we all the same? Don't we all feel such hurt? Today, as a grown woman, an unkindly comment from a  thoughtless person made me cry.... I was and am really upset. Good friends gave me kind words and cheer. For that I am grateful xxxxxx

Just testing my blogging skills from my new phone. It's a wee bit tricky but I'm getting the hang of it. Uninvited birthday critters on my sons head! I can do without that. That's what my son said too, bless him. Today was long, busy and exhausting but nice. Shame no card from Mum, just a call but she says she doesn't "do" cards. Helping at school again tomoz, plus son's celebration assembly and then collapse. Overwhelmed by all my lovely birthday wishes, a big thank you to everyone. I can't keep my eyes open, so I must sleep now x

I should just ignore my hair, then I wouldn't get so fed up about it. I know I shouldn't, I know it's only hair, but it's horrible! I should console myself with the fact that even when it's longer it doesn't look nice, but I can at least hide behind it a bit when it's longer. I feel terrible stressing about hair when there are people with real things to stress about. Maybe I need a good hat?
It's not sunny, hubby is at work and I am trying to smile and be cheerful. I am taking the children to Pecorama (gardens, train ride and play areas in Beer) at 1pm. It's free entry today, and we've never been. We're meeting some of the children's friends there so I can't back out, I can't back out anyway because the children are expecting to go. I don't feel like it at all. Never mind, I'm sure it will be OK once we get there. This week is hectic with a capital H. Son has a walk from Beer to Branscombe on Monday, daughter has class party and needs party clothes, Tuesday I am helping in year 2, Wednesday is my daughters celebration assembly and I'm helping all day with year 5/6 fun day, then it's Rainbows Olympic event and Scouts fishing trip. Thursday is my son's celebration assembly, and friday is the last day and toy day. Parents are also invited on Tuesday or Thursday to watch a powerpoint of year 1's highlights at 3pm. Oh, and my son has swimming on Tuesday and Thursday. I think that's most things school related covered. It's the Marshes on Monday for the last Junior Rangers and we are all invited there to see a presentation too.... I'm bound to forget something!

The World Of Country Life was lovely, and I am whacked. Totally worn out! I think it's the coach travel that does me in. I hate it. There was one puke up, it came without warning and didn't make it to the bucket. Poor Miss Whitworth, the student who has been on my course this year, got the clean up job. I tried to help with my supply of wet wipes and perfume, so that we weren't gagging as much as we might have been.
The children had a brilliant day. There wasn't enough time to do everything, we could have stayed another few hours and still not got the most out of it. The weather was shocking, and my daughter felt icky on the way back, and was in tears when we arrived. I think she was just physically and emotionally drained. She puts so much into everything, that she's just wiped out after an event. I feel the same, so I can see where she's coming from. What a fantastic school though. The teachers and teaching assistants are amazing.
My husband's had a busy day, he's prepared our dinner and boarded some of the loft. He's repainted the bathroom floor and collected and put up the trellis to take the strain of the jasmine over the gate. He's a star! My daughter now has second wind, I, on the other hand, do not.

Swimming this morning was lovely, nice to see the pool with it's roof on finally, so the torrential rain didn't matter. It matters here though! Water plopping off the light bulb in the kitchen, and splashing in a pan on the window sill. Glad the flights are booked, they had gone up a further £50 but nowt can be done but to grin and bear it. Since the time we arrived at the airport a day late for our flights, I am totally paranoid about making reservations. Car park is also booked, and Mrs Tomlin is all set to take on the dogs. Pheweeeee. Just awaiting passports now.
Mac cheese is prepared, so I spose I'll be heading back to school to collect the 4 kiddies shortly. IN THE BLOODY RAIN YUK!!!!! Just learned that some friends attempted to get to Lyme to see the Olympic torch on it's journey and aborted the mission, so I don't feel so bad now about deciding not to bother.
My course leader for next year has reviewed my assignment, and her comments were favourable. I'm chuffed. She also informed me that we shall be spending the night camping on the 5th October, and now has me down as the 'outdoorsy type' from my assignment. Lol, she's barking up the wrong tree there. One night should be OK. She said there are 10 places in a yurt, but the rest would have to be in tents, and that actually it would be nice if we were all in tents. I could hardly say, book me a place in the yurt please could I? I'm rather disappointed, I've always wanted to have a go in a yurt. Camping without alcohol is no fun at all! This is where we're going.
http://www.embercombe.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76&Itemid=160

Today has been exhausting! If ever I was thinking I'd like another baby, today was a great point in time to refer to and remind me what it's like having a baby, and that I 'm probably not up to the challenge. Three children under the age of 2 came to visit today. The toys in my playroom where not all entirely suitable, and mostly ended up tipped out in a heap on the floor, and then bashed very hard against the floor until they were practically smashed to pieces. As they reached for something I would see in my mind what was going to happen to it, then dash to get there first and try and sneak it away and offer an alternative. The crane ended up in the cupboard under the stairs and the china tea set just about managed to get put up high in time. There were a few casualties, and my daughter was furious when she got home tonight. She thought the play room was a real mess, I said 'now you know how I feel when I look in there after you've finished playing', she was not amused.
Year 1 are swimming tomorrow, so I am there all morning, then it's a trip to the World Of Country Life on Friday. Next week it's my daughters celebration assembly on Wednesday, and then I've been asked to help with the year 5/6 fun day for the rest of the day. That suits me, it's my Birthday, but I don't have other plans.
It's then Rainbows Olympic evening. Daughter came home tonight from Rainbows with a paper plate that I must fill with cheese and pineapple for her to take next week. Each child has a plate marked with a food. It was the Scouts AGM and BBQ tonight, so the boys have been there for the evening. My son is now in the bath getting rid of the bonfire smell that is customary after Scouts. Both children have a brother and sister friend over tomorrow for tea so it's macaroni cheese on the menu. Everything is just a blur at the moment and I'm sure to forget something major. I need to clear up the dinner things still and get my son off to bed. I won't be far behind if I'm lucky. I've painted another bit of floor today. Slow and steady wins the race!