Tuesday 5 July 2016

STRRRRRIKE!

School's shut. The NUT are on strike. My Union isn't, so technically I'm working from home. It's SATs results day. I expect a really low set of results countrywide. I was still going to take a cherub to their High School to experience the full on lunch canteen and then at home time,  going on the school bus ( kill me now!). However, a phone call yesterday stopped play and I have an unexpected day of freedom. 

So, naturally I've been awake since 4am mulling over everything and anything. I got up as normal and did the normal morning normals. Packed lunch/washer/dishwasher/etc/etc 

I've picked out a pattern for a tunic top. I measured my self ( ugh that was BRUTAL ) and will cut out the pattern. I may then actually get some material and pretend I'm on the sewing bee!! I fell asleep in it last night but I do know who won. Congratulations to her, but she was my least favourite of the finalists. < far too smug early on >  I've not 'felt' this series as much as the others. Also 9.30pm was TOO late!! I do love the new lady judge. I think the makes have been a bit 'trying too hard' this year. 

Next,  I've a  knitted waistcoat to knit the bands on. I will do this in front of some trashy TV.

 I've Asda coming with a huge online delivery betwixt 1 and 3. I might make a start on the baking for the cake stall onThursday. 


My friend at work has insisted we go all posh on the cake stall this year, so nice crisp new paper tablecloths. Cake stands - the cardboard ones I bought( £1.20 Home Bargains)  as extras to all our pot n slate n wire ones we are using. I must look mine out actually. Have you seen it anyone?? Hmmmm. I'll have to add 'hunt out the cupcake stand' to my list. Bunting, doilies, cake bags and boxes! We'll have to put the prices up!! 
I've a Lakeland order being delivered sometime too. But most of all, I'm looking forward to....

Going into school and getting the Y6 Leaver's display up in the peace and quiet! It'll only take me an hour in a childless school. When the children are in, it could take anything up to three days!!! I will also work on the video I do, which is guaranteed to make all the mum's, dad's and grandparents cry! 
I use photos right the way from reception to Y6 but this year I have a genius plan!! I've had the unsuspecting Y6s recreate some of the photos I've picked out hehehe can't wait for them to see it!! 
I choose poignant songs for maximum blubbfactor too!! 
Reach by S club to start it all off, nice and jolly. 
A bit of something Take Thatty upbeat 
Then I move in for the jugular
Run by Snow Patrol or Leona Lewis and then mega tissue moment 
Somewhere over the rainbow - either Eva Cassidy or the calypso version that they used on ER when Dr Mark Greene sadly died.



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Sorry, it's still raw. I needed a moment to gather myself!!


Ahem. 

 I'm open to any ideas for the soundtrack. I usually think - oh that's a good one, in the middle of the night and then I've forgotten by the morning!!! I also add very witty hilarious captions! 

Right it's 7.35am. Time to get the day restarted! 

This was the other day after a really hard rain! The photo does not do it justice. 

And I don't know if any of you are or want to, but I might...
 Saw that on Twitter. One of my best friend's mum is a member. We may join in her memory. She was diagnosed with an inoperable cancerous brain tumour 10 weeks ago. Life is really really unfair sometimes. She's still here. The prognosis was 8-12 weeks with palliative care. Up to 6 months with gruelling chemo and radio therapy and all that entails. The lovely lady decided it wasn't worth it. She wanted her time left to be free from hospitals and The Side effects from chemo. It would never be successful, the type of tumour she has is untreatable. I won't go into gory details right now.  Initially 21 weeks ago she presented at A and E with a stroke. 11 weeks ago she collapsed with seizures and had a scan. Black Betty ( the tumour ) showed up. 10 weeks ago we heard the inevitable. So day to day they are just getting on with it. I go to see her and she's delightfully sweary. My friend and I communicate mostly by text - we use tumour humour to get through this. But it's really shit. Her dad is also going through Bladder cancer treatment. Yanno folks, live every single day how you want to because you really are lucky. 

The lady is a prolific crafter - so talented in all she touches. She's bequeathed all her wool, needles n patterns to me. I've said I will knit for her great grandchild come the time, as she won't be here. But look what my friend has made for the funeral. It's gorgeous. 


 Bloody cancer. 



7.45am now. Still swithering over that puppy....

Another question for you. I used a word yesterday that my colleague had never heard of. My Nanna and mum used it all the time and consequently me! 

Do you know what it means? 

'Flarching' (v) to Flarch 

Hehehe now 7.47am 

Lots of love from 

Rachel *loves a good strike day but could really do with a strike fortnight* Radiostar xxx 


27 comments:

  1. Hope you enjoy the day! Terrible news about your friend, it sounds as though she is doing all she can to enjoy what she can while she can and that is a good thing I think. Craft and enjoy and if you can bear the heartache get the puppy because the love will be unbounded and will fill your heart!

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    1. Thank you Amy X Miss 22 has got a puppy - maybe I'll just borrow hers!

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  2. That was a marathon read, so much content that I will have to read again. Enjoy the day. Love the wreath, humour helps to deal with hard knocks. Posh baking for the cake stall, in every case that I have been near a cake stall the contents disappear faster than a rabbit down a hole. As for that word, absolutely no idea.

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    1. I know, I think the posh cake stall us for our benefit! It doesn't matter what it's like, cake stall is always so busy! I hadn't meant to waffle on for so long! My mind is just jumping from one thing to another lately which mostly means I get nothing much done!

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  3. No idea what flarching means, faffing maybe? Giz a clue. Sorry to hear about your pals parents, cancer is a b@st$rd. I love the wreath, a lovely personal tribute. Maybe your indisicion about the pup is more to do with the reception you got from the breeder rather than the pup itself. I've had all my dogs from local families litters. Does the breeder have a website page you can read feedback from?

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    1. Not faffing! Nice try - I'll tell you next post. The kennels does have a website and much like any review really, there's good and not so good. I am leaning towards the fact we are so dithery, then how's not the time - except it is because I've the summer holidays coming to train it!!

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  4. I am so sorry about your friends Mum. What a brave lady. Cancer is just the most vile thing-x-

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    1. Yes you are right. Nothing more to say X thanks Sheila xx

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  5. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend's mom. That's absolutely rotten for her whole family.

    On a different note, for the video, how about What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong? Guaranteed to make one cry. -Jenn

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  6. When I was at university in Nottingham many years ago a lot of my friends were northerners with accents to match. One of them (I think he was from Barrow-in-Furness) I heard accuse someone of flarching. He meant they were exaggerating to make more of a story than was actually the case. Is that the same way you use it?

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  7. You have such a talent for making me smile, even with such sad news. Good on her for choosing her path herself. What a s**t it is. As soon as you asked for songs every song I've even known fell out of my head! I bet it'll be lovely though and all the parents will be wailing :o) XX

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    1. I hope so, I pride myself on making them cry!!!

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  8. Beautiful post today-what a lovely tribute your friend has made fot herbrave Mum. We used "You raise me up" for our leavers tribute which always seemed to bring tears from nearest and dearest. Hope you enjoy the last part of term-I was usually so b****y knackerd that it seemed like the end would never come. Catriona

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    1. Nine schooldays to go...feels like ninety!!

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  9. When we visited Laura's primary for various presentations they often played "What have you done to make you feel proud" and at the leavers assembley one of the teachers sung "Take me home".
    Carolx

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    1. Whilst I reckon I can hold a tune, I'm not getting up n singing!!!

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  10. Flipping heck Rachel. I've got a lump in my throat and I'm not even involved in your leaver's assembly. And what a remarkable lady your Mum's friend is. The bravery of people when they're facing things like that astounds me. The knitting wreath is gorgeous, a perfect tribute for a crafter.

    Keep dithering over that puppy! You'll thank me in the end :) Just a thought, but have you ever thought about fostering a dog? You can have them for a week or two and you do a bit of a report on them for when they're put up for adoption. Might give you a better idea of what's involved before you commit fully. xx

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    1. I'm dithering. But feel like I'm missing out on some furry love!!!

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  11. My god I'm exhausted just reading your post. Sad news for your friend, Cancer is just so mean. Your equally cruel and lovely for the video.

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    1. Hope you are well rested now!
      Equally cruel and lovely indeed!!

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  12. I love a good flarch! Good way of getting ya own way ;-)
    Very sad news about your friend, send her my love x

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  13. I agree, 9.30 has been too late, and I also agree with you about the winner. she grated on me so much. Her and that Tracy woman, both were as bad as the other. I was rooting for Jade to win, so young and so much talent! Plus I really liked her hair.

    Cancer is such a pile of poo.

    I'm already trying to find reasons to not go to the Year 6 leaver assembly next year, because I will cry like a baby that's lost its dummy. I can't go. I'll make a right show of myself. Have a year to come up with some brilliant reason to avoid it.

    Because I'm a cheat, I googled flarch and got two definitions. One is a smidge hilariously embarrassing. Hoping you use it for the other definition, which is a lot less giggly! Though the rude one is now safely stored in my brain for future use. ;o) xx

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    1. Oh my stars! I googled it too!!! Hahahahaha hahahahaha!!!!

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    2. You have both caused me to google flarch myself. I urge no one else to look it up hereafter.

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