Sunday, December 18, 2005

Dead chuffed!

This week I've had flu, the end of term, children's parties, fancy dress costumes to make ( twice), late nights, early mornings and no opportunity to train

AND THEN

I managed to run in the Langdale Christmas Pudding 10K Run in a PB time of 54mins and 18 seconds...in snow...having run the first mile far too fast and completely run out of steam about mile 4.


Very exciting day though, the bully in the previous post has rung and written to apologise to her victim...what's she after I wonder or has she heard that the Head is going to get involved?

Another friend has just announced she's pregnant and we're off to Centreparcs in Penrith tomorrow. The kids can't sleep and they are not even going ( well not till later in the week anyway!) May have something to do with Christmas, Darren winning Strictly come dancing or Shane winning TXF.

It's going to be a long week till Xmas!

OH YEAH AND CHELSEA BEAT ARSENAL!!!!!! 2-0

Saturday, December 17, 2005

And then there were tears!


Nuff said!

The joy of e numbers


Take a three hour children's party for 18 generally four year olds, add pirate costumes, multiply by a bouncy castle raise by a factor of birthday tea equals HYPER HELL ON EARTH!!!

E numbers should be banned! My energetic little boy is bouncing off the ceiling five hours after the party thanks to squash and party biscuits. Bedtime will be a trial unless the sugar high suddenly comes down.

Friday, December 16, 2005

Season of good will ...as if

I've already said I dislike Christmas but I have extra issues this year.

Because of my illness I have felt unable to get excited or organised this year, so cards have not been sent. I hope friends will understand when they get the email with a short clip of the children singing a carol instead.

School has been a large factor in my mood this term. A dear friend of mine has been on the receiving end of what can only be described as bare faced bullying which has gone undealt with by the senior management. I can't understand how someone can be downright foul to such a caring and professional person. I am distinctly worried about how the whole school will change as result of what eventually happens. We need strong leadership, a close knit team and to be as supportive as we have always been in the past, but I think times they could be a changin'

School has thankfully broken up ( the joy of working in a private school) so today was spent tidying up, putting up new displays and unwrapping the pile of choccies and other presents I'd been given. Why is there always one strangely compelling yet distinctly awful gift? No I won't divulge which one!

What has happened to Christmas?

I'm sure I can't be the only person to have noticed how many miserable faces there are around at the moment. So many people are complaining about Christmas. It seems so much worse than previous years.
The papers are full of articles about debts spiralling and how much expectation there is to provide all the must have presents, especially for children.
I have always disliked Christmas, from the days when, as the youngest, by far, of four daughters I watched my mum slave away for days and days to produce the perfect Christmas Day only for the rest of the family to consume everything without a word of thanks.
Now with children of my own I appreciate the pressures. So much so that this year I have insisted that hubby gets involved with the organisation of everything from pressies to food.
The highlight of Christmas has already happened for me. My little boy was a cute Joseph in the Nativity play, complete with tea towel and my daughter sang her heart out at her carol service. Everything else will be a disappointment.
We have Lists for Santa but on the understanding that he only brings some things and at least one present from him will be a game to share.
Why have we become so commercialised, so American and so tacky? When did the flashing lights, inflatable snowmen and fluorescent reindeer become de rigour?
I sound as though I want to bring back the tangerine and the sugar mouse, which incidently I don't remember! Perhaps I want to reestablish the sense of family togetherness and cosiness that was lacking when I was a child. So many arguments are due to too high expectations so let's lower them and enjoy being together and cuddling up in front of Doctor Who!

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Day One


This is what my Head teacher would call 'cutting edge' technology. It's what I call being a 'late adopter'. This is my first attempt at a blog although it's taken a while to get from planning stage to publishing. I'm hoping for at least a weekly posting, musings, thoughts and the blatantly obvious making up most of the ramblings!

So here's to a new blog