Sunday 14 January 2018

Midway through January

Well almost and for the first time in about 100 years I am not wishing January away! If anything, the year is going too fast. Another four weeks and it's half term! I wonder if, because of my SW stuff, it's the first January I'm not in that cycle of new year new me oh I've already failed by the 2nd! Or if it's wanting to put off the next worry-ct scan -results cycle that's coming. ( It's definitely that. )

My first week back at work was difficult. Much paperwork and the aftermath of Christmas! Also we were not back in our usual routine! Plus hours at the computer irritated my shoulders. I do want to blog separately about my shoulders. But it's going to be a long and very whiney post so I'll warn people in the title.


I want to document a particular Christmas Present I received from a pupil. Annoyingly it's at work and I can't take a photo to show you. This pupil had embroiled some work chums in this present all without me knowing. I had no idea about it. So it was the day before we broke up and the pupil asked me if I had a few minutes for them. Of course, was my answer. They brought their teacher in with them.
Then I was told the pupil had been working hard on something and they wanted to give me it. The pupil then took out a 'book' ( about 6 sheets of A4 folded in half and stapled ) dedicated to me.
They then began to read a story poem they'd written. It was the most shockingly awesome thing ever ever ever I have had happen to me in all my 24 years at work. The story started and I'm summizing it for you.

'Once upon a time there was a pupil called X. This pupil was hating school, frightened to come and it was because they were getting bullied. This pupil went to see Miss Radiostar. Miss Radiostar listened and took me seriously. She had a smile for me and I felt safe. She told me what to do and she sorted it out. She really sorted out the bullies more than any other teacher had done. I now love coming to school. I'm not frightened. Etc.'

( Bullying is a very strong word to be used in Primary School and we really do take it seriously, children and parents will call a bit of falling out bullying etc but when something happened over and over and there's power being held over another then it is true bullying. This is what had been going on under the radar by some really sneaky, clever pupils until I hauled them in and I didn't ask a single thing. I 100% believed the victim. I told them straight they were bullies. What they were doing was bullying. I got the head and then the parents were brought in. They tried to deny it but thankfully their parents were shocked and appaulled about what their offspring had been doing and thankfully it was sorted. It's never happened again and the bullies are no longer that. )

Anyway the poem then went on about how much I mean to this pupil and how they will never ever forget what I did for them. How I make them feel because no matter what I always have a lovely smile for any children at school and how I always care for them etc etc. It got a bit much and the pupil got so choked up and emotional reading, the teacher had to take over. I was in tears!!  I do feel valued and appreciated at work but this one particular afternoon totally knocked me for six and I know that in my job I'm doing the right thing!!


In other news. The HG and I went to Gretna Green. But only to the outlet village! I spent the Christmas money off my Ma in law on a new coat. It's beautiful. I rarely spend Christmas money on myself. I mean to, but it then gets used for household stuff and I never 'put it back' but this time I did. I was supposed to be getting a waterproof. But even in the outlet shop, whilst I'm mid SW journey ( rolls eyes at that j word ) they were too expensive to contemplate. I shall do a charity shop search instead. But this coat had my eye from the minute I walked in. The one in the window was black and
beautiful but the navy one in the shop had me stroking it. I checked the size, too small. In my head
.I'm still the same as I ever was. Anyway I thought let's try it one. To my amazement the zip went up and it wasn't too hideous! It's a padded coat. With embroidered flocking. Hahaha it sounds revolting! It's from Roman Originals. It was down in the sale and the nice shop lady gave me a card for an extra 15% off, so it would have been rude, frankly, not to buy it. So I bought it. Then, rather like when I was a little girl in the shoe shop, I asked the nice shop lady if she'd take the tags off so I could wear it!!
I wore it into town yesterday and must have had 93 compliments! I saw a lady in the black version of the coat and we smiled knowingly at each other!!!







This is neither me nor the lady!!








I also faffed about with spare baubles I had, some glue and polystyrene and voila! All ready for December. It's so beautiful! Even if I say so myself.

















I spent yesterday sorting out my floordrobe and finally Put. Things. Away. Job done. That's so I can spend most of today in my craft room. I'm going to have a bash at a jelly roll tuffet.
The last thing I made was a ginger bread lady for my friend's daughter's 21st. She was over the moon with it. I tried to deChristmas it so she can keep it up year round.





Right, it's 7.25am on Sunday morning. I'm going to lounge about for a bit and watch create and craft tv. There's a quilting classroom programme on at 8 and I love Jenny Rayment who presents it! She's quite stern!

Lots of love from

Rachel *happy to be in January mode* Radiostar xx

How good does this look? All Absolutely positively encouraged at SW!



 






24 comments:

  1. The coat is lovely, the wreath is lovely, all the photos are lovely, in fact, and I am in tears over the poem/book, having been on the receiving end of something sort of similar myself. it makes everything worthwhile and it's a gift that will never stop giving. I'm so happy for you.
    J xxx

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    1. Your comment is lovely!! I bet you were a real advocate for the children in your care. My phone wanted to type advocating then!!

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  2. I love your blog. Well done you on your amazing SW success, really like the coat and the lovely, lovely story at school. My foster nephew had retinoblastoma and was one of the first children in the UK to have one of his eyes saved, he lost the other one. He was the most inspiring person and definitely one of my life's heroes. Sadly he died two years ago (he was two years younger than me) he also married my closest friend, I introduced them in the 60's. They had two children one who did not inherit retinoblastoma but sadly their daughter did. She was treated from a tiny, tiny baby and has 100% vision and both her eyes were saved. In turn heartbreakingly her dear little girl of 3 has bilateral retinoblastoma, she is doing well but one of the tumours is not reacting to the chemo so she is having cryogenics. It is a dreadful condition but with new procedures and treatments a lot more can be done now. Your nephew looks adorable and I hope he is doing well. Regards Sue H xxx

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    1. Oh Thank you for your lovely kind words Sue. Harry just turned 7 and despite being registered blind, is doing amazingly well in a mainstream school. He has a one to one visual imaparment teacher who is teaching him to read and write in Braille which is amazing. He’s bright, funny, clever and so snart and thankfully still in remission. My heart goes out to the little three years old and I hope she gets the best possible outcome of the treatment. It’s awful that every cryogenic procedure steals a bit of sight yet saves their lives x

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  3. Gorgeous coat and wreath and yummy breakfast. Wonderful pupils and my eyes are raining here too, you did good!!!

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  4. Also wanted to say hope your shoulder pain has eased, you have my sympathy, it's horribly debilitating!

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    1. It worse at night but thankfully painkillers do work!

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  5. The poem/book is a treasure to keep.

    Joan (Devon)

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  6. Brilliant post, anyone working with young people should be treasured, I wish my daughter had someone like you when she was at junior school, the bullies made her life hell, she did not tell us, we picked up on it when her moods got so bad. Plus back in 80's the school tried to call it anything but bulling. Love your bauble ring, it is so pretty. You must be so pleased with you weight loss, it's nice to find something you love what fits you. Just to add to your pain, the wool I have is wonderful, Wool Warehouse is a fantastic site.

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    1. Thank you Marlene, I think it’s because I was bullied at school that I work so hard to stamp it out when I can do so. Those cruel jibes can still sting even 40 years on.
      I have had a quick look on the website but NO I will not be tempted!

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  7. If I had had one person like you during my school life maybe I would have achieved much more than I did. That child will remember you for the rest of his/her life. I was in tears seeing what a difference you made to him/her. That is pretty awesome thing you did Rachel.

    Don't ever walk past me in the street wearing that coat.........I will steal it off your back..lol. Isn't it gorgeous!!!

    So sorry that you are suffering with shoulder pain. I hope you can get it sorted.

    Have a lovely Sunday.
    Hugs-x-

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    1. It really made me stop in my tacks because I do what I do everyday just because. Not for the glory hunting etc but to actually here from someone I helped and how they really really did feel about it had me choked up! Starting again!!! Even one of the bullies has since thanked me for making them see what an awful thing it was they were doing! If you neeeeded my coat Sheila then I would give you it. But you’d have to be really really Really needy!!!

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  8. I was lucky to have a treasure for a teacher during my Primary School years. It helped me through the icy years at Grammar School. If only you could be cloned and have one of you in every school. Love the coat, very swish, and the wreath has encouraged me to master the glue gun. Another one to add to the Explore list.

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  9. Wonderful uplifting post-I have the same problem with my reduced size. Now my DH or DD tell me to try it on and of course they are right. Lovely coat and it’s even better that you spent money on yourself. The gift from the pupil was exceptional-I wonder if children ever know how much they bring to us in terms of joy that we are “ getting it right for every child”. ( Scottish document) I found mindfullness a great help during my weight loss journey and maintenance eating-I am currently using it to help me sleep as the flu seems to have beggared my usual routines completely. Catriona

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  10. So many lovely things to comment on, the present from the pupil was amazing, so heartfelt. I love your little gingerbread lady, I have an embroidery machine, but need to get to grips with it. Gorgeous coat and unusual and well done with your SW, as someone who needs all the inspiration she can get, I’d love to hear more about what you’re eating and how it’s going xx

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  11. Awesome! That's you, the pupil, the coat and the wreath!

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  12. What a difference you've made to that child's life by listening and believing. And also the bullies as well. Rather than going down a certain route, maybe they will think before doing anything like that again. Excellent to read that their parents were appalled rather than thinking their children could do no wrong. I'd be equally upset if mine were bullied or were the bullies.

    Your bauble wreath is beautiful and the gingerbread lady is so sweet. I definitely have coat envy, it's lovely. The SW dessert looks so good, can't believe you can eat something like that and lose weight as well. xx

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  13. in an ocean of grim and gloomy blog posts, this one is like a lifeboat of happiness!
    How I wish Violet had had a teacher like you in Primary school, instead of the crap idiots she had to deal with. I keep telling her she is doing well now in high school DESPITE her experience at primary. It makes all the difference to have a teacher on your side, instead of on side of everyone else but yours. I'm so glad your pupil let you know exactly why you have been so important to them.

    love your coat. And love a bauble wreath! Yours turned out brilliantly.

    Happy new year to you. Even though January is marching ahead and I'm a bit late in saying so. xx

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  14. What a difference you have made to this child, a job well done. We always pop into the outlets at Gretna when we are travelling down to England, not only a break fro the car but bargains too so a win win situation. Loved the wreath, stunning.

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  15. Well done in stamping out the bullying and a beautiful story of the little puil you help. They must see you as their angel. Beautifull coat and Christmas ring. I have arthritis in my right shoulder and it's painfull. I find lying on it in a certain position (you have to find your own position) helps.
    Carolx

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  16. What a touching story...you really did make a positive impact x

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