Struisbaai Holiday Day 2 Back on the Run, Agulhas and Delicious Fish

2012-12-16 | puppy1952

Before I left for Struisbaai my Personal Torturer and I parted company with a final workout for the holidays. “I won’t be seeing you for some weeks so I’ll leave you something to remember me by,” he said and proceeded to work my ass off with a an excessive work out! I promised to keep up the training as much as possible on my own – but how to do that. In the not so distant past, before I hurt my back, my exercise of choice was doing a brisk 5 to 8 km run – no travelling to a gym, no-one telling you what to do and very little brain power involved. In fact a productive way to chill out and gather your thoughts away from the dependants nagging for your attention. How many years ago now since I actually did a run? At least 4.

Waking to a perfect day today I just had that urge to get out on the beach and what better place than to resume the running ritual again. I had doubts that I would be able to do 5km but – so what – I would see how far I could get. I donned my bathing costume and short, drove to the beach so that I didn’t have to wear takkies and set off barefoot down the longest beach in Africa! The tide was going out and the beach mud was cool and firm beneath my feet, a gentle sea-breeze blew from across my face and the sea wooshed loudly in my ears. After five minutes I was right back in that old rhythm – slowly at first and then I lengthened my stride and I am sure was almost up to my former pace – and I just kept going – the muscles certainly have a memory. My intention was to try and make it to the signboard with the Big B on it – (a marker for the fishing boats to line up to, I think) which is about 2.5km down the beach and then to walk back. But I was feeling good so turned around and continued running. This kind of endurance exercise is not what I have been doing for the past several years – its been more interval and strength training – far more challenging than running I can assure you – and all the stationery cycling, skipping and jumping burpies most have kept my aerobic fitness up because I managed the run with ease. The best part was stripping off my shorts and throwing myself into the cooling waves when I got back. The water was deliciously refreshing – not at all cold! Frolicking in the southern most waves is a great reward after a beautiful run in the morning sunshine.

Yes – I am back – I will be beach running for the rest of the holidays and perhaps get back on the road when I get home.

I am supposed to be doing my kettle bell training too – but didn’t get round to that today – definitely tomorryow!

Lolz was still in bed when I got back. I did the household chores then roused her to come with me to Agulhas. We had coffee and muffins at Potpourri – browsed round the gift shop then drove back home again. Lolz lay and tanned – but I just can’t do that any more so I sat in the shade and did a Sudoku – a brutal one which I finally vanquished.

Me at Potpourri

Agulhas Lighthouse

Lolz at the entrance of Potpourri

Lolz waiting for muffins

Earl and Greg had been out at sea since some immorally early hour and had returned just before we left. They brought back a lovely catch of red fish – lunch!

He catches, cleans and cooks it.

From the sea into the frying pan

Greg and Lolz enjoying fresh fried fish

Struisbaai Holiday Day 1 Getting There

2012-12-15 | puppy1952

Oh what joy when the weather is good and it is holiday time! For the first time ever we are spending Christmas at our holiday home in Struisbaai. By 6:30 pm yesterday I had all my present shopping completed and my newly painted classroom set up and ready for next year. Earl had a midday staff function which I managed to fit in too!
Both cars were packed and ready for an early departure this morning. Earl in his fully loaded car and boat left at 6:30 am. Lolz and I in an equally loaded Caravelle left at 7. We had Jay and two other boys with us and we dropped them in Somerset West where they met up with a Girl Scout friend and her family. They are now enjoying a camping/fishing/skiing weekend at Theewatersvlei until Monday afternoon. Lifts back to Sun Valley are organised with the mom of one of the other boys.
Once the boys were safely on their way Lolz and I dropped in at Kettle Bells for Africa where I purchased two – my intentions to exercise during the holidays are good!

I love driving to a destination when there is no pressure on time. Lolz and I did it at our leisure, stopping at Orchard for breakfast and then Bredasdorp where she did her Christmas shopping. And yes – she did manage to get exactly what she wanted well within her budget! She also managed to replenish her wardrobe with items that were most satisfactory. Mr Price, Bredasdorp is not bad at all!

We travelled through all weather – chilly and cloudy in Cape Town, hot and sunny in Somerset West then intermittent rain all the way to Bredasdorp. Struisbaai was overcast but hot and no rain here yet.

The old thorny grass in our front garden has gone and is now replaced with fresh roll lawn. There is an automatic sprinkler system in place but one or two failed to pop up and so we are now watering the dry patches. The birds are very pleased and have been bathing all day long.
There is a new fridge in the kitchen – twice the size of the precious one – very necessary when 9 more guests are expected!

My beautiful daughter

Earl has been busy all day doing odd chores. Lolz and I went for a lovely walk to the harbour, along the board walk and a little way down the beach. I was horrified to see the storm damage to Notra restaurant. How many times haven’t I enjoyed a coffee and snack on that deck.

The Late Nostra

Boats in Struisbaai Harbour

Lolz walking on the long beach

On our way back we popped into ‘Nanna’s Boutique’ which we were surprised to find is packed with some quite nice clothes and jewellery. We might pop back again before the weekend is over.

Greg had arrived when we got back and was helping Earl with some of the chores. He will take Lolz back on Monday afternoon.

Right now we are just chilling, listening to music and watching the garden birds. How nice not to have anything pressing to do!

Back in the Classroom – End of Year Function

2012-12-10 | puppy1952

Something I have learnt teaching at my school is this. ‘Don’t expect anything to be the same as it was before – there is always change and there are always surprises’ This applies to the curriculum as well as the end of year treat! This year we were simply told – the buses will be here at 11 – be ready! Now some people just don’t like surprises and had to be reassured that we would not be doing anything strenuous, uncomfortable or dangerous. Others had to know ‘what to wear’ while others were concerned about the expected time of return. But I was just thrilled that I didn’t have to think about it, didn’t have to pay for it and didn’t even have to drive myself there! I was just delighted to be getting a treat at all!

The secret almost slipped out of the organiser’s mouth this morning at our Keep in Touch meeting – but still I was in the dark until the bus turned toward the Waterfront and with a little thrill of Oh Boy – I realised it was to The One and Only – Cape Town we were going.

As we disembarked from the bus, one of our staff said, “If anyone asks, tell them we’re from ……..”and she mentioned the name of a neighbouring school. – Let them get the bad reputation for bad behaviour! Ha ha – no of course we didn’t misbehave!

We felt so special being welcomed by staff in smart livery, and shown to a lounge with comfortable chairs and couches arranged around coffee tables set with cups, saucers and cutlery. A waitress appeared and invited us to help ourselves to the delicious savoury and sweet confectionery on a buffet table. We needed no second invitation. We tucked in to the delicate sandwiches, quiches, savoury tarts and pies and returned for the tiny iced cup cakes, cheese cakes, scones and the like and drank excellent coffees and teas. A pianist played and sang beautiful music that was not intrusive on the conversation but added to the ambience of the luxurious setting. The view out to the harbour added to the perfection of the afternoon.

I seldom leave home without my camera but today I forgot and so had to rely on my new BlackBerry to take some snaps. I do not blame the phone – only my lack of experience in using its camera function – for the poor quality of the photos below.

A lovely spread

What a treat

After we’d all enjoyed our tea/coffee and delectable goodies, some of us went for a walk and some enjoyed cocktails on the stoep – or both.

A lifestyle we could get used to

Couldn’t wish for a nicer setting

The One and Only Spa has springbuck drinking at the fountain

How about a leisure cruise

This is The One and Only – Cape Town

Enjoying the view

A wonderful place to chill

All too soon it was time to say a few sad farewells to colleagues who for various reasons will not be returning next year. And then it was back onto the buses and a return to our normal plebeian lives. But we bonded with colleagues and morale was up – a lovely way to end the school year! Thanks to Leadership for surprising us with a fun way to end a busy but rewarding year!

Back in the Classroom – Ending the year with a Teddy Bear’s Picnic

2012-12-07 | puppy1952

Wow – what a year! I have always loved my job. I know there are some people who drag themselves to work every morning but I always wake up quite happy that I am going to have a day that will be different to the one before. I may sometimes get frustrated, tear my hear out when I don’t get the response I want from certain children, cry tears and sweat blood to get through the work that needs to be done – but I still love every minute and wouldn’t change what I do for anything. I have taught all the grades from pre-school to grade 7, either full time or in a temporary capacity. When people ask – “What is your favourite grade?’ I always reply with – the one that I’m in.

I am in Grade 1 now and it’s awesome. And it has really been one of the best years of my long and chequered career. I have had an amazing group of little girls and the most wonderful parental support.

On Wednesday morning, I celebrated each of my little ones at our Awards Ceremony. Before the certificates were presented we had a few musical items. I being the sentimental old teacher that I am had tears in my eyes when the only two Grade 1 musicians were from my class. When my pianist played “The Russian Dance” I nudged my colleagues and said, “She’s one of mine!” And boy did she play beautifully. I did the same when my violinist was in the centre of her trio playing “Twinkle Twinkle” She looked straight at me when she came down from the stage and I just wanted to jump up and hug her in front of all those people but had to contain myself with a thumbs up.

After the principal’s wonderful speech on Irresistible Schooling for 2013 it was time for the Grade 1 teachers to go up onto the stage to present the certificates to their classes. I was so proud of their beautiful behaviour as they filed onto the stage, shook my hand and stood proudly in neat rows on the benches displaying their certificates for all to see. Each child in our school is celebrated and receives a pack of at least 2 certificates highlighting their special achievements. The high achievers are singled out briefly for academic achievement, academic progress, neatness and emotional intelligence. These children each receive a badge as well as their certificates.

Because today was our last day of the year we celebrated in a different way – We had a Teddy Bear’s Picnic.

Paddington Bear is an old friend of my daughter who followed me an many occasions to the various schools at which I’ve taught. Today was no exception.

But before we started I was presented with a myriad of gifts and had to open every one before we could start our party. I was spoilt with Christmas cakes and chocolates, beautiful jewellery, shower gels, perfumes and creams, a plant in a cute little pot guarded by a Christmas clad animal and a lovely wild life calendar. The cards were full of precious little messages and the opening of them caused great excitement and joy.

The girls were supposed to bring just one little treat each but some kind moms sent delicious eats to share too. So off to the Lapas in the quad we went with blankets and teddies and what a fun time we had. (Thanks Aunty Carol (my neighbour and volunteer rooom mom although she has no kids at the school) for running home for my memory card which I foolishly forgot to put back in the camera after downloading pics to the computer!

Not only did it look stunning – it was delicious too.

Carol cutting and serving the delicious chocolate cake

Come join us on the jungle gym

Don’t even think of separating us from our bears

A teddy bears’ picnic is fun with Paddington

Paddington – please come and play – I’m lonely

Aren’t our bears just the best! And they just loved the party!

010 Paddington and friends eating pop cakes

Sorry Paddington – no marmalade sandwiches – Have a Pop Cake

011 Having a good time with our bears and friends

Hey Paddington – Isn’t this a fun party!

And a lovely time was had by all

The classroom was not a great place to be today as it was being prepared for a fresh coat of paint and everything was off the walls and stacked where space could be found. So we played for ages before finally going back to clean up and pack up.

I gathered all the girls on the mat and just for ‘ou-laas’, we rapped the alphabet. When we got to zed zed zed, I said, “and that is the end of the alphabet and the end of your Grade 1 year! A couple of the room moms had just walked in and one said, Please may we interrupt – we have a surprise for you.

I couldn’t imagine what it could be as I’d already opened so many little gifts. She presented me with a box. I dipped inside and found a some Ferrero Rocher chocolates, a very generous gift voucher for our local mall and the dearest little wire bound book. On the cover was 1F 2012 – Inside on the first page a photo of me and then each child had a page with their photograph and a message and drawing done by themselves. There were also pages of photographs of the class events of 2012. How these two moms managed to get this all done without my knowledge I have no idea. Grade 1 girls are not good at keeping secrets – but they kept this one! Well it was hard to keep the tears in check. My girls were already emotional but seeing the teacher teary really set them off – so we parted with many hugs and I love yous and I’m going to miss you and I don’t want to go to Grade 2!

I have never been given such a lovely farewell gift from a class before. It has been a very special year and I feel so rewarded.

Thank you to all my special little princesses – and a very big thank you to your wonderfully supportive parents.

Back in the Classroom – Pet Day at School

2012-12-05 | puppy1952

There was great excitement in Grade 1 on Friday. The children were allowed to bring their pets to school – as long as they were in a cage or basket with a lid! If they did not have caged pets they could bring a photograph.

My class have been looking forward to this promised day all term. I have to confess that I was a little anxious about it. My tiny classroom struggles to contain 32 active, chatty little girls – so I could not imagine sharing our space with a menagerie of creatures too – what if they escaped? would I be able to contain the girls excitement? What if in their enthusiasm they hurt someone’ beloved pet?

Well I need not have worried because it turned out to be one of the nicest days we’ve had this year. The girls were considerate and did not make sudden loud noises and were careful not to frighten the pets. They were gentle when they handled them and the delight on their faces was worth all the fuss.

We did have tears. One young lass forgot to bring her pet and begged to be allowed to bring it on Monday – but unfortunately that is just not possible as we have an impossible week planned for next week. She had to make do with telling us about her hamster in his absence.

A special moment was when the quietest, shyest little girl in my class was called up to pet the bunny. She broke into an enormous smile and was clearly awed by the experience. Some children don’t get to keep pets so having pet day at school gave them the opportunity to cuddle a fluffy creature, feel its tickly claws on their skin and share in their unconditional love.

Children who have pets learn caring skills and to know what it is like to have another creature depend on you. They also experience that unconditional love a pet has for you and learn to love in return.

Each little girl got to tell us about her pet – what it was – how she took care of it and how much pleasure they got from sharing their lives with an animal. Our visitors included a whistling cockatiel, a soft, cuddly bunny, several hamsters and twin rats belonging to twin sisters.

After discussing each pet and looking at photographs of the ones left at home, the children took their animals to their tables and drew and wrote all about them.

Cuddling a bunny

Twin Rats for Twin sisters

My kitty sleeps in this basket

Introducing a pet to a friend

Telling all about the much loved cats

My kitty in the Christmas Tree

My dog spreads out his ears and tries to fly

That wolf whistling must stop!

014 Getting ready to write about Ramster

Don’t let him escape

Now where did he go?

Phew – found him!

What a fun day it was. I loved reading what the girls wrote about their pets. They clearly are a class of animal lovers and having to be responsible for the care of their pets is teaching them good life skills for the future.

My Naughty Dog

A Name is very important

My cats have some interesting habits

My dog the trampoline champion

Caring for a pet requires hard work and love

Enough already!

Celebrating 60 Years of Me

2012-11-27 | puppy1952

When you teach small girls its hard to get away with neglecting to confessing when your birthday is and also how old you are! At my school birthdays are celebrated anyway – and its hard to keep it a secret. There are three members of staff with birthdays on the same day as mine and we each received a gift voucher at an early morning staff meeting last Monday morning. Isn’t that amazing? My little girls also spoilt me with little gifts and cards and I think they were more excited than me. Two of them wished me a Happy 40th birthday! I don’t think I’ve taught them their numbers very well!

I was in the middle of opening presents on Thursday morning when the school secretary arrived at the classroom door. “There is someone here with a special delivery,”she said. I’d ordered cup cakes from Cake Creations so said, ”Oh I was expecting them at 10 ——Omigosh” And there was one of the moms with an enormous cake – iced with a picture of me on top and all the kids around the edge. Wow!

The Surprise Cake

I was spoilt with choccies and smellies, pretty necklaces and bangles and a dozen other special little things. Most of them had chosen their gifts and made their cards themselves – and that is what made it so precious.

I decided not to have a huge celebration of my coming of aged. The guest list would just grow to a proportion that was unmanageable – so instead I settled for a dinner at a restaurant with close family and friends. There were 14 of us and it was lovely.

Lovely Setting

My sister and brother-in-law – Tana and Brain

Sharon and Tony

Peter and Heather

: Chantal and me

Chantal and Jeremy

Lisa and The Lads

A toast

Jay – It’s only sparkling water!

Josh

My darling husband and me

On Saturday my breakfast friends helped me celebrate at Bistro Sixteen82. What a stunning venue. The food was excellent and service good. It was also Cheryl’s birthday – but she’s not as old as me!

Breakfast Friends

So now I am a senior citizen. And do I feel any different? No – just the same as always and long may that last!

I’m upside down at 60!

2012-11-21 | puppy1952

Not so long ago, when I was a sweet young thing, I thought 60 was old. All the 60 year-olds I knew complained of sore knees, backs and shoulders. They discussed their ailments and operations at every social gathering and groaned when they got up from a sitting or lying position. They all had grey hair, were pleasantly plump and seemed content that the end of their days were drawing nigh. Conversations with them were always interesting as they reminisced about the ‘good old days’ None of them jogged, rode bicycles or went to gym. Few worked, all had grandchildren and nobody’s kids still lived at home.

I think that somewhere along the line I’ve lost count of the years. I know that I’m turning 60 tomorrow because I was born in 1952 – but how did 1992 to 2012 flash by so quickly? I till feel like I’m 40 and I think still live my life like a 40 year old.

I should start acting my age – but instead what do I do? Kicking and screaming I drag myself off to a personal trainer twice a week. The idea is to keep my back from caving in and ensuring the joints and muscles don’t seize up. Gentle exercise is what I expected. It all started innocently enough and was nothing like the variety of activities that I’d tried before – from Jane Fonda aerobics and feeling the burn to gym circuits, cycling and jogging. None of these hectic activities can compare to what I put myself through now with a personal trainer who has worked miracles with me – no more back pain, no aches in my joints – which is why I keep going. But really isn’t it a little inelegant for a girl my age to be hanging upside down on unstable rings, doing pikes on a stability ball and playing slam dunk with a ball that doesn’t bounce. Should I be skipping rope like a 7 year-old, exhausting myself doing burpies and straining my aging brain with manoeuvres that require a dancer’s co-ordination?

How inelegant is this

Is this even safe?

I’m being brainwashed that it is all good for me. All this exercise – as weird as it is and honestly I never know what crazy thing I’m going to be required to do next – is supposed to prevent Alzheimer’s, increase bone density and prevent all sort of other things that make you old.

Well maybe it is working because once a young man – a very young man – said he couldn’t believe I was older than his mother. “You have a personal trainer, don’t you?” he guessed.

So tomorrow I will proudly turn 60, grateful that I still have the energy to help raise a family, have a career that I love and indulge in my outdoor passions.

Thanks to my excellent hairdresser for preventing my hair from revealing my true age, my personal trainer for keeping me fit and my family and friends for giving me emotional stability because really its that, which really keeps me feeling young.

A good weekend after a busy week

2012-11-18 | puppy1952

The past week at school was a busy one. The intermediate phase wrote their assessment papers and all the staff, including the foundation phase gathered in the hall to assist with the marking. There was a great spirit of camaraderie,laughter at the exam howlers and of course we got lunch. I have never before taught at a school that fed the staff so regularly – I was told that they did this because you couldn’t complain if your mouth was full:-) When all the marking was done and dusted between 4 and 5 each afternoon – the foundation phase still had their regular marking to do and of course we didn’t complain!

On Friday, there were no assessments, and it was lovely to have a one o’clock closing time with no marking. I stayed at school to finish off my week’s marking and then treated myself to a visit to the hairdresser, as I could not longer hide the grey, and my true age was beginning to show. It was bliss – Johann must have gone to an excellent hairdressing school where they learn how to say the right things to their clients. I don’t care how extravagant his prices are – I will pay as long as keeps telling me how gorgeous I am. He lies with such sincerity and his head massage is the best in the world.

It’s a long time since I was a student at the best college ever founded – sadly it closed down in 1975 – but it’s graduates still live on and there is a GTC Old Girls’ Guild in many cities and towns all over the world. The Cape Town branch meets each November to commemorate our founder, Mother Cecil. We invite a priest who knew Grahamstown Training College or whose wife is an Old Girl and have the same Founder’s Service as we did each year when were students. We sing the two college hymns and play a recording of a college choir from 50 years ago sing the Te Deum. And the nostalgia is amazing. Afterwards we have a scrumptious tea and catch up with old friends. This we did this past Saturday afternoon and once again I am so grateful that I had the privilege of attending this amazing college with an incredible tradition which instilled in me the passion for teaching that I have to this day.

I have many passions but gardening is not one of them. However, in suburbia you do from time to time have to pay attention to that part of your home. I am lucky in that I have a good friend who loves to be in the garden and in return for fish and computer lessons helps me to sort mine out from time to time. This morning we had a date at 9:00 a.m. and I decided that the time had come for my two teen-aged grandsons to get interested in the joys of garden work. Josh was already up and a bit shocked when I asked him to come and help. Jay’s muscular body had to be coaxed out of bed and into manual labour. In the end they both complied with good grace and were an enormous help as there was lots of digging, pulling and chopping to be done. After a couple of hours the transformation was rewarding in itself. Margy and I then took them off to the nursery to buy a few new plants and we allowed them to choose one each which they loved and would not be persuaded to change their minds about. We then indulged in scones, jam and cream, coffees for Margy and me and fizzy drinks for the lads.

Back home they joyfully planted the new flowers and shrubs and were proud of the results. They promised that in future they would help more regularly with the gardening. Oh and Grandpa? He made a brief appearance – said ‘what the heck are you doing?’ – saw that everything was under control and left us to it!

Margy supervising

Jay planting

Planting their flowers

Margy mentoring Jay

Watering

Back in the Classroom – Mind Moves Course

2012-11-04 | puppy1952

I consider myself privileged to have been in and out of the classroom all my adult life. During my long and varied career I have taught in different schools and different grades. When people ask – What grade have you enjoyed the most – I almost always reply with the one I am presently teaching! So of course right now my answer to that question is “Grade 1” I don’t ever want to teach any other grade! The privilege has been to have experience in all the primary school grades.

The great at thing about teaching is that you never stop learning. At this school I am getting my head around ‘brain-based’ teaching and this weekend I attended a “Mind Moves” course, facilitated by Melodie De Jager which equipped me with simple exercises to wake up the brain before beginning a new lesson because movement is so important to get the brain working. Of course, I had already been doing some of these exercises with my girls but not enough, as relatively new to the school I had not done the course and had only picked up tips from my colleagues. I now feel more equipped and ready to have fun doing ‘mind moves’ with my girls.

It was a really fun, inspiring and informative course. Not only did I find new ways to help my pupils learn, I learned a lot about myself too. I knew I was right hand, right foot and right ear dominant. I knew too that I was left eye dominant. And this is the reason I was slow to learn to read – my natural tendency being that I wanted to read from right to left instead of the other way round. It also explains why I make mistakes doing admin work! I have an excuse!

There is a left side and a right side to the brain. I am not artistic so I thought I must be left brain dominant then. Not so – after doing a simple test I discover that I am in fact right brain dominant! I didn’t believe it so did a more comprehensive test on the net – and yes, there is no doubt – I am right brained. It’s just that the left brained people are the ones who achieve better in the current school system. My previous perception was that I was not a very bright left brained person. Now I discover that I am a not very creative right-brained person. I am going to do those mind moves to see what develops next!

Spring has Sprung at Spier

2012-10-27 | puppy1952

Spring at Spier

Parents laze on picnic rugs,

Watching children abandon themselves to play

on the wide green lawn of freedom.

White clouds sail in a pale blue sky.

Trees stand tall in shades of green

from yellow-lime to deep olive.

Taste the spring colours.

Smell the vibrant music.

Bongos sound a rhythmic beat.

Wagtails pipe a jumble of sweet notes.

Geese hiss and honk.

Weavers twitter to their mates,

Spring has sprung at Spier

Spring has sprung at Spier,

Weavers twitter to their mates.

Egyptians hiss and honk.

Wagtails pipe a jumble of sweet notes,

Bongos sound a rhythmic beat.

Smell the vibrant music.

Taste the spring colours.

From yellow lime to deep olive

trees stand tall in shades of green.

White clouds sail in a pale blue sky.

On the wide green lawn of freedom

Children abandon themselves to play

Parents laze on Picnic rugs, watching.

Back in the Classroom – Plunging into the Fourth Term

2012-10-27 | puppy1952

I can barely believe that the final term of 2012 is already upon us. What a busy year it has been including a fantastic musical under the belt. My little girls excelled themselves at cuteness when they did their “Your feet are too big,”dance in the foundation phase production of Cinderella and Rockefeller. Yes there were some tiny mistakes with the bossy ones instructing the others what to do but oh boy it was adorable with the princesses dressed in their ever so cut blue and white checked parlour maid pinafores over red puff sleeved blouses and bright red ribbons in their hair. The Grade 7 girls expertly did their makeup –their little lips in red heart-shapes, cheeks all rosy and bright eyes shadowed beautifully. While waiting in the classroom I had constantly to reassure them that nothing had smudged and that they all looked gorgeous (which of course they did!)

The show was only over by 10:00 p.m. and each cast had to perform two evening and one matinée show. They were exhausted, and indeed with all the rehearsals and performances I wondered if we would ever get back to normal again – but we did, I was worn out so you can just imagine how they felt!

That all ended on Tuesday 16^th and we have just completed a regular school week! And wow – am I delighted with my girls. Looking back over the year I am freshly amazed at how much they have grown from that first, fresh new day of Blasting Off to Big School. Thirty-two nervous, excited, brand new learners unable to read, write or do arithmetic have become competent, confident readers, writers and calculators and I swear I don’t know how! Did I really teach them so much in such a short time? I asked them, “”How did you learn to read all these words?” These are some of the replies – “I just know them!“ “I taught myself” “I’m clever!”

I cannot explain how rewarding it is to teach the first year of school to fresh, eager young children so ready to absorb whatever you throw at them. It is a challenge, a responsibility, a privilege to be entrusted with these young minds. I don’t have to fill them – I have to create an environment in which they discover for themselves – and when I hear their answers to how they got there I know I have succeeded. Nobody responded with “You taught me Ma’m” And that makes me proud – they have learnt simply by being in my class and they’re as mystified as me as to how it all just happened,

I am excited and thrilled that my girls are doing what they’re doing. It blows my mind and I am humbled. No two have the same learning style – each has her own individual way of getting there Each has her own individual problem, talent and drive and I am proud that each one is making progress at her own pace – in spite of me.

If I have provided a learning environment in which they feel confident enough to strive for their own perfection then I have succeeded as a teacher and that is what it is all about – that is the reward and right now I am feeling so fulfilled.

When the kids leave home and the dog dies ………

2012-10-14 | puppy1952

I have heard it said that life begins when the kids leave home and the dog dies. A little harsh, I think. Over the past 20 years our kids have left home and returned several times. Our eldest scared me silly one day when she declared at the age of 15 that she would never leave home – “When I get married, I’m bringing my husband to live here” Well soon after her 21st birthday she was gone – then she got married and did in fact bring her husband to live with us but only for a few months before they went to live in the UK. (I breathed a sigh of relief but those words would come back to haunt me!)

Our second daughter left early – first to live in res at her college and then to live in another town after graduation – she didn’t come back. Instead she settled down in a text book manner, married and had a family of her own.

Just as our youngest was nearing the end of her education we thought to ourselves – two down, one to go and the dog is getting old. Then wham – the oldest returned with two babies in tow, the youngest graduated left home, came back, went overseas, came back again, left and then returned once more when things went pear-shaped at her digs. But now after a few years of living in the “Princess Suite” at home she’s cut the apron strings and moved out again!

So now we have the oldest, the teen-aged grandsons and two cats – yes the dog finally died. And life might not yet have begun (whatever that means) but it certainly hasn’t been boring!

The youngest left two weeks ago and today her dad and I went to see how she has settled in. She is sharing with a friend – a tiny flat not quite up to the standard of our princess but the stunning view, the proximity to work, friends and fabulous places makes up for it. And she is ecstatically happy to finally have some independence.

And how do I feel about it all – well – I miss her already – but now that I have seen her flat, I know she will be happy there. It’s a good move on the other side of the peninsular but a great place to visit and the shopping nearby is stunning – great for mother and daughter bonding:-) And I have a spare room!