I *heart* Northumberland

... but I hate Easyjet!

Some photos for you to enjoy, off to France in 2 hours ~ we'll get bi-country post today! How FLASH is that?

A round up

So yesterday was my first day with the keys clutched in my fist! Hurrah! Jo, our nursery nurses and I went in to clean everything down and to do some tidying. What a mess ... when we left last night that is. But we had managed to get rid of a load of shoddy old resources and furniture that we didn't want or need. And by the end of the day we had got one room completely straight, furniture & resources clean* and in place for the start of September.

I imagine it'll take another whole day to get the second room; the "noisy" room ready and ship-shape. This is the room where all the loud activities will take place. All the crash, bang, wallop and attitude! Musical instruments, discovery table, water & sand trays, painting ... do you have any idea of the the fun I'm going to have in September? He he he :o)

Early Saturday morning Simon and I are off up north for a party. Right up north, further than when I went to see Fizzy last November. And we're flying. How decadent is that? We're off to Alnwick which is where Simon's brother lives. Alnwick is also home to a castle famously used as Hogwarts ... I think it's mentioned in some kids book/films or other. It would have taken us almost 7 hours to drive up and cost £50 each way for the fuel, so we made the decision to fly. 40 minutes flying time and only £120 including car hire whilst we are there ~ bargain! And the joy of a car to visit Alnwick Castle, Holy Isle and Seahouses.

And after that ... well, I'll be back before I slope off to France - honest I will!

* Sterilised for the first time in years I would imagine :o)

I'm awake!

.... so that would make it *waits for drum roll* the last day of school *ta-da!* Another year over ~ whoop! Can you believe that's a whole school year you have been with me for?

Dances with fans!

I don't know whether you are aware but the part of Kent I work in is where Pocahontas is buried. You know, Pocahontas, Native American princess, daughter of Powhatan, the powerful chief of the Algonquian Indians in the Tidewater region of Virginia.

This Pocahontas.



Not this Disneyfied one!

According to the wonderful Wiki, Pocahontas travelled to the UK in 1616 accompanied by her husband John Rolfe. In March 1617, they boarded a ship to return to Virginia. However, the ship had only gone as far as Gravesend when Pocahontas became ill. She was taken ashore and died. Her funeral took place in March 1617 in Gravesend. Her memory is recorded in Gravesend with a life-size bronze statue at St George's Church.

"So, where is she going with this?" I hear you ask. Well ... last week we had a visit from some of her decendants. A group of Native American dancers came and performed in the school yard. They sang and spoke for about an hour. They talked about their costumes, traditions, language and culture. And then they danced.

**Clicking on the photo should take you to a mini slideshow of photos**

The children were transfixed. The whirling colours, the rhythmic drum beat, the voices ~ fab! They watched spellbound for 40 minutes, silent except for applause and questions. However, it was so punishingly hot out there on the asphalt* that it was more a case of Dances with Fans than Dances with Wolves!

* WHAT??? The kids were completely bemused! I wish somebody would warn visitors that with children you have to speak English not American ... just like I'd speak American and not English in the same situation :o)

I did it!

Tired, nap now please!

Unconscious mutterings #181

I say ... and you think ... ?

Requirements :: needs, wants
Pizza :: from Domino's please
Dating :: thank goodness that's over, you know the sick feeling making, worried about what you're wearing, "will he ring?", is he bored bit of dating. I quite enjoyed the rest! *wink*
Issue :: I have an issue with one of the stinking TAs (teaching assistant) I have been given for September who spends all her time giggling and complaining about the children in her care. Trust me she wont last :o)
Sharp :: as a pin
Distinguish :: between homophones
Remote :: access
Felony :: theft
Exercise :: swim
Choose :: chicken or salmon for dinner tonight? Ummm ....

Race for Life

*REPUBLISHED FROM APRIL 2006*

Tomorrow, Simone and I will be taking part in the 2006 Race for Life to raise money for Cancer Research UK ... all donations gratefully received, go-on, click here to sponsor me!

Polishing my own halo until it is ready to fall down and choke me!

Which translates as ...

Dear Mrs Langthorne

I wish you were going to be my teacher in year 2 I will miss you and I think you will have good luck in the nursery and I will wave you at the fence.

Love from Gursharan


I swear to god I have taught her to use more full-stops than that but it should be noted that I'll miss her too!

Ah Friday!

Thank goodness! Not only is it the weekend (almost) but only 2 more official working days before the holidays ~ hurrah! Last night was "open night", a chance for pupils and parents to come into school, mingle, admire work, meet new teachers and chat! A lovely evening but boy oh boy is the build up to it all a nightmare! Extra work on walls & neat as a pin classrooms ... that's just not me for a start :o)

Anyway that's over, it was lovely to meet some of the new children for Spetember ... tiny little ones aged 3 who were overcome with the excitement of the nursery! Things were torn off shelves with abandon. Cupboards opened, drums banged, keyboards poked, tadpoles admired. I cannot wait! But until the goodbyes have started ~ cards from children, hugs, year 6 (those diappearing to the local comprehensive and grammar schools) tears! A sad time of the year but exciting for everyone all the same!

Have a great Friday / weekend guys :o)

Randomly speaking

I have a pile of washing a foot high in the kitchen, but not enough to put on any one wash.
My brother rang for a chat last night, always a nice surprise.
This weekend is the Race for Life ~ it's not too late to sponsor me :o)
Simon manages 25 minutes in the bathroom each morning ~ this seems a lot!
I am going to have to cancel my weekend away because of work. Boo!
The marinated chilli-garlic-chicken we had for dinner last night was the nicest chicken we've had in ages.
I have £14.00 in 5p pieces in my piggy bank!
Next door's sweet peas are strangling my garden subversively i.e. under the fence!
We live 150 metres from the river Medway and boy-oh-boy because of wind direction and excessive heat (36 on my car thermometer in the sun yesterday) you can really smell it!

And finally, in case anyone's listening, I've had enough of the heat!

Wordless Wednesday

The official site is here. View other participants here!

Admissions

Go on, put up your hand, everyone who's finding life and blogging a struggle! *stands with hand raised looking around expectantly* It's hard so hard right now ... and I'm not truly sure why! A bit down in the dumps when I should be bouncing about as I finish school a week tomorrow. For 5 weeks and 6 days.* That's not so bad and it must be a reason to be happy!! It's just that my lifeis boring and yes I remember saying stop the world a few weeks ago. Moan, moan, moan, moan! Sorry, gonna go to work and take the moaning there instead. I'll try hard to come back in a better humour tonight.

* Though why they didn't just make it 6 weeks I have no idea!!

Melt with me

So Thursday'll be lovely then!

Unconscious mutterings #180

I say ... and you think ... ?

Video :: Killed the radio star.
Fantasy :: Island
Homework :: = more marking for the teacher!
Crush :: Orange
Late :: Night last night so tired this morning
Husband :: Making me a cuppa as we speak hopefully *crosses fingers*
Soccer :: Enough already!
Wine :: Drank lots of it (red variety) last night so I hope paracetemol come with the cuppa!
Before :: I die because the little man using a hammer behind my left eyeball is becoming insistent!
Romantic :: Togetherness.

Come feast with me this Friday!

Appetizer
Name one thing nice that you could do for someone else today. I could go to the supermarket tonight and cook dinner for my husband eventhough it is not my turn! :o)

Soup
When was the last time you were frightened by the weather? Last Tuesday during the residential visit, but more than anything I was unerved by what I thought the weather was going to do. After an evening of hell ... trying to get 36 children to go to sleep, just as the last handful dropped off a thunder storm began and at 12.40am it was right over head. As an enormous clap of thunder finished a child screamed "Mummy, mummy, mummy!" I was so shocked as I was just drifting off to sleep that I jumped out of bed. BUT (and here's the chicken bit), I then had to wake up the male classroom assistant in the room next to me so I had the guts to go and wander around the big old house and see what was going on and if anyone was awake! I know, such a baby!

Salad
What would you say is the most useful website or blog that you visit? Useful? I find the BBC weather in your area website really useful. Not the most enjoyable I visit but very useful all the same!

Main Course
Who was your favorite singer/group when you were a child? No question about this at all. One simple answer ~ the Osmonds! Loved them! All that good-looking American Mormon-ness in one place, all those great teeth, all those great collars, those fab flares and then there's the music!

*wanders off humming "One bad apple"*

Dessert
Do you have any rituals? If so, what are they? Not really rituals, but mornings follow a certain pattern. On work days I get up go down and put the kettle on, then come upstairs shower, cleanse my face and put my lenses and then go down and drink 2 mugs of tea in front of the PC before I do ANYTHING else!

Wordless Wednesday

Be all Wordless on a Wednesday here!

Back!

I'm back! I had a week away at the beach, looking for minibeasts and rampaging at the castle.

And then there was the summer fete.

And I slept and slept.

And now I have exactly 2 weeks to sort out my bits and pieces before my move to my new job as the manager of the nursery. Did I tell you that yet? Where did the year go?

Byeeeeeeeeee!

See you all on Friday!

Unconscious mutterings #178

I say ... and you think ... ?

That :: Take That ... I would have loved tickets to their reunion tour!
Fishbowl :: usually full of dead gold fish when I was young.
Church :: goer? NO!
All about :: It's all about me, me, me, me, me!
Fist :: anger
Tagline :: my favourite from a movie ... Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water!
Agree :: nod
Leak :: homophone, leek.
Jessica :: Alba , I don't really know who she is but it was the first thing that popped into my mind! Off to Wiki her! I have to say ... still none the wiser!
Superman :: Christopher Reeve

Mr Va Va Voom does it again!

*sighs* I could quite like football!

Especially if I was Zidane at this exact moment!