I can post this now

 Thank you to everyone who commented with the upsetting news that I am indeed going to have to fettle the rescue dahlia to enjoy it next year. I have some newspaper reader. It is still in flower so I will be watching and waiting. I will nurture it and hopefully bring it back to life next year  . 

* I wrote  this at the end of term but now our Oreport has been published and we did OK I can share *

**WARNING*** 

Contains MANY sweeping generalisations and it's a bit ranty in parts. 

I am a dreadful blogger really because I have so many  unwritten posts, due to

So many long days at work! 

At the end of June I turned eternally 28 + 27! 

This means I have matching numbers in my age. It also means, should I want to or need to, I can officially get my mitts on my pension pot. Not that I plan to. 

So on Monday 15th June, the dreaded O call came to school. The new rules mean that they call on a Monday before 11am. They then come into school Tuesday and Wednesday and leave by 5pm on the Wednesday. We started the new year with a new Head and she had all her ducks in a row in anticipation and we were just waiting for it really. Every Monday since Christmas, when we approached our 'window' we all breathed a sigh of relief by 11.15am because no call had come! 

Now I've been around the clock so many times with Ofsted. Ofsted schmofstead effofsted I calls it.  However, it was gruelling and I was in 5 meetings due to the nature of my role in school and the absolute focus on inclusion and what are we doing for our disadvantaged learners. It is very easy to prove because 85% of our school are classed as disadvantaged so it is our bread and butter and also the new head wanted me in as one of a few  who has worked there the longest! I am Pastoral, Deputy Safeguarding Lead and staff Governor.  

But, here is an annoying fact - and I am not giving any thing away around the new grading in the reports, because that has all changed too. 

This is just a fact about the new areas Ofsted look at. For anyone who does not know. 

Tell me, how can any school be judged on 'attendance' when it is the parents who basically drive that??? You can be the best school in the world with the best resources, teachers, building, staff, bouncy castles in the playground and the Kind Of England  sitting - there are still children who would not be at school because of the parents failure in their duty, even with the most intensive support, to bring their children to school on time, every day. Government say schools should do more. WHAT MORE CAN WE DO?!!!!! 

****I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS AND A TINY % OF CHILDREN JUST SHOULD NOT BE IN MAINSTREAM SCHOOL AT ALL AND WOULD BE BETTER HOMESCHOOLED OR IN SEN PROVISION BUT ON THE WHILE, I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT THESE FAMILIES*****

And remember...

There are SO  many complex reasons behind poor attendance - EBSA, Emotionally Based School Avoidance - used to be called school Refusal but you are not allowed to say that anymore. Parental capacity to parent when faced with daily stresses of their own meaning they cannot get up in time to get their children to school. Many say COVID closures are STILL having an impact giving the message that school is not important. Nationwide and locally, attendance figures for school have never recovered, year on year. 

So how can school 'fix' this???????

The next point is what annoys me even more. 

Also 'interestingly' and UNFAIRLY,, the category of 'attendance' is linked to 'behaviour' 

So in an ideal world a school would like to be graded 'expected' ( which the government framework states cannot be compared to old style grading of good and outstanding etc ) for behaviour and attendance. 

But 

If every single pupil is there on time every single day, attendance would be 'good' 

But if those pupils then dicked about every single day and were little horrors, behaviour would 'need work' or however they put it and so overall the school would get the lowest grading. 

And vice versa 

If the pupils at school behave like little angels day in day out, the schools care for behaviour was good, but if attendance is below a certain atandard then the whole grading is again pulled down. 

I do not understand how they can be lumped together. They are very two different kettles of fish

And I can now say we should have had a higher grade because the inspectors were very impressed with the good behaviour we have in school. The kids are amazing generally. Really good culture of behaviour for learning in the classroom and even the most challenging children have their plans which were seen to work etc so we should have had the higher grading - but because the attendance figures are not showing signs of improvement - a few die hard families choices affect an overall grading. Ridiculous. The whole thing is. 

Because also

In my experience and definite line of work, a lot of the children I work with, come from horrific home life, are very challenging with their behaviour, yet turn up, day in day out. Yet little Cressida and Horace, who are lucky enough to have working parents with a good source of income will be pulled out for a term time holiday because the family can afford the fines and pay little heed to rules or disruption to their education. Cressida and Horace are generally compliant and cause no challenges to staff - but the parent's attitude will cause school's attendance to look bad. Term time holiday prices are horrifically higher - Inhave no choice. Also also, holidays are a PRIVILEDGE not an absolute right. No one HAS to go on holiday. It's nice. That's it. 

Oh and the government don't seem to care that cases of chicken pox and jorovirus etc which can knock swathes of children's attendance askew, are also unfairly judged 

Because they go on the hard figures in black and white. 

Oh and whilst I am on my high horse 

SATS

The debacle of the fact the marks are now not out until July 16th. The Govt spent BILLIONS on the company running them. The whole of Leicestershire break up on July 10th. 

Schools are so desperate to have their hard data up, they will scrutinise the papers and request remarks where they think a pupil has missed out unfairly on 1 or 2 marks which is the difference between a pass and a fail 

So they will have a week I think to submit papers

Here's the thing. Schools will be CLOSED by then for the hard earned Aummer Break from work/school - NOT A HOLIDAY - a break hahaha 

It is a total farce and a shambles and it also does not recognise the pupils who may not have been fluent readers u til Y5 or grasp basic numbers and shapes but because they cannot be disapplied, the fact that they

1. Turned up and sat the paper

2. May have got 10 amazing marks which is an absolute achievement 

MEANS NOTHING. 

Can you tell how near to burn out and retirement I am? 

I have even been looking at jobs I could do where I would get paid for 52 weeks in the year. This is still a foreign concept to me because as school support staff we are STILL only paid term time only. Yes, they do some jiggery pokery with the money and holidays ( I think I am paid for the maximum 46 ?? Weeks a year - I can't even think - it might only be 43 

When it is divided by 12 - it is not much more than minimum wage for a whole heap of heart attack inducing stress. 

Which is what happened to my lovely friend earlier this year. I'd argue she did her job - which is what I do - harder than me. She had a sudden heart attack and died. Out of the blue. Horrific. I still can't believe she has gone. She was a truly kind soul who went over and above and then a bit more for the teenagers she was working with. 

Anyway, my lips are sealed re Ofsted and because they came in June, the time line of the process means our full report will not go live until September! ( Disclaimer - it is out now and it is what it is and school goes on a offstead schmoffstead - I will carry on regardless knowing I work in an amazing setting with dedicated and hard working staff doing what we can to squeeze every single bit of potential out of our Childers so they thrive and achieve and strive to be the best human being they can be with hope for the future. We want this for those children at home who have parents who actually could make more of an effort and for those who can't - there's a team of us working behind the scenes , offering support and help to try to get it to improve. We would not change a single thing if Ofstead came next week or the whole inspection system was scrapped. We are now not due another visit for four years - will I still be there?!! 

Probably hahaha 

It makes no difference what it says, as the last 4 I have endured. The job is the same, sparking heartache and joy, every single day. 

Wow that was a rant. Anyway, my birthday week was the week after Ofsted and I was so poorly with a virus that was sweeping the Childers - a few hospitalised with croup like symptoms ( never mind, get them in school please because the government was attendance figures up ) I was off for a whole week. Absolutely floored I was. So was the head. 

It annoys me because so far, I had not had one single day off due to my ill health. 

I'd had one day when my Mum's partner died, one day for his funeral and two separate afternoons for my shoulder hospital appointments. And on my birthday, which was also slap bang in the middle of that stinking heatwave, I spent in my sick bed, quietly panting, like the dog, feeling like a wring out dishcloth! 

The tonic came at the weekend back in June in the form of Oliver and my daughter and hubby. They paid £15 to book the guest room at my Mum's sheltered accommodation - it's private rental flats complex over seen by a warden - it's lovely- but for that bargain price I did not have to move all my craft room away and wash bedding etc which was a bonus given I was still post viral weak and it was so hot. 

We got the bus to the seaside on the Saturday afternoon and had a lovely day. Oliver is a smashing little lad, talking in upto 5 word sentences now 

Everything is 

'My do it' 'my want to go outside and gut the grass' 

Mr Independant! He is growing up so fast into a very headstrong I will say.... typical two year old....but loves being outside, stickers, helping doing jobs and just life itself. He brought much needed joy and lives and all round good feelings! Even though I was completely knackered when he went!!! 

My HG bought me a new watch for my birthday as my original one would t match my much newer phone. I also got some birthday money for some perfume. I bought myself a new raincoat from reincoat! So very waterproof. 

Anyway - it is now Sunday morning 6th September and my weekly shop just got delivered - no loo roll or bread and no substitute - is this because people are panic buying because of WL Nino and the news saying we should stock up? 

I wasn't stocking up - it was just my usual fortnightly buy! I will not panic buy anything! But I now will have to go into an actual shop in our day of visiting the elderlies to pick some up. Tsk. 

I'm lucky I get to be annoyed by this. I'm luck to be able to go to an actual shop. 

We live in such an entitled want it now world, we forget we are so lucky to be who we are where we are. 

Off to get cracking! 

Hello post

I now have 3 partly written posts in draft. I've just been editing posts about the summer holiday we had , my new HArriets and Ofsted. 

All three are unfinished and I will make the effort to finish and get published soon. I've said it so many times that doing this on my Phone is getting impossible. The text jumps about. Photos are tricky too and my patience for it is short! 

Sunday today. Back to school on Tuesday. We have compulsory anaphylactic shock training too. 

My patience for going to work is shorter too! However, after a really stressful academic year where I found myself over working my hours by a massive amount, I have taken steps to preserve my mental well being. 

Although it irks me, I was working late anyway, I have took positive action! 

The Behaviour Mentor Role has gone - naturally no longer a thing which I enjoyed it at the time, it caused me an extra layer of admin stress. So that won't be there this year.

Staff Governor - I finally retired from the post after must be 10 years! 

I have condensed my 35 hours into 4 days meaning I no longer work Fridays. 

Three day weekend here I come! Like I said, I was working that late anyway. I also can leave after school and work from home so there are even less interruptions. In theory, I should be able now to have more child time. 

Let's see. Last year I gave myself 8 more Septembers til I retire. After Tuesday, I'm down to 6 more - mentally encouraging!!  

I'll not be rich and we will get state pension ( if things stay as they are ) and a moderate amount to live on from my pension. 

After seeing the care home system swallow all my mother in law's hard earned savings. I've decided we will enjoy ours whilst we can. Our children are working and have more than us! I'm just going to enjoy a year at a time. The Govt and Social media are starting to mention stockpiling for emergencies. We are hoarders anyway! 

Life is short and fraught! But also for living and doing. 

The scenes from Nepal are heartbreaking. The world is doomed and I've really been thinking about my own mortality. Then I stop myself! 

Let's have a photo before I sign off. This is the dahlia plant I bought off the rescue bench at the garden centre. I've decided that I will allow orange plants into my blue/purple flowers only garden. Isn't it gorgeous! However, my friend said they are notoriously difficult to bring back each year and I will have to lift the tubers to save them from rotting! Hopefully someone out there will tell me different! 

Storm Dave incoming

I stuck these like new running shoes on the selling site that begins with a v. and rhymes with minted. I bought them and wore them a couple times for cycling. Anyway, they've been under the bed for approx 15 years! I styled them in the garden haha and a lady from Bury bought them approx 3 minutes after I uploaded! £5 each! Whether she wears them or is a re seller ( she asked me for the box ) good luck to her. It's £10 more than I had yesterday for something that could have gone to landfill or charity shop as I was definitely getting rid! They are cute though but I did try them on for old time's sake and they are no where near as comfy as they look! I've donated to a few sponsored events this month so have zero qualms about not dropping off at the local charity shop. 
Apparently there's a Storm called Dave on his way. It all sounds very casual but supposed to be very worrying if you believe the internet. 

We've an Easter Bonus visit from Oliver and his mum. Her friend from here was going over to see them and daughter hitched a lift back. We had planned on a day trip over on Friday anyway so we have guests for the week which is lovely. He is chatty and funny and knows what he likes and wants! He was up very early and after he had an extra breakfast with Bluebell and then extra extra breakfast toast with Grandad, he's having a nap. So is his Mum who is under the weather. I'm quickly recording this down and then I'm going to knit whilst there is peace and quiet! 

The world is bonkers - people were queuing up here panic buying petrol yesterday, and yet humans are on their way to the moon! 

I'm loving it though, it fascinates me. 

Hope it's  something good for your tea tonight.  I made a braising steak stew in the slow cooker yesterday and it's resting in the fridge to be reheated later on with some dumplings yet to be made.  Need to check I've enough suet. Will stroll Oliver up to the shop for some milk later on. It's cold and grey here. 

Right knitting before Nanna duties are full on in demand again! 

Rachel or Naaaaaaaanaaaah as I'm called! 

2 years old already!

 

We were in the North East again at the weekend to celebrate Baby Oliver turning 2 on Monday. These were the gifts we brought for him. 

We also bought some outfits in the sales and a new sandpit and tuff tray for the garden. 

He is a little superstar. We had a gorgeous couple of days. On Saturday, daughter held an open house, coffee n cake and presents we allowed because he is only little. He was a busy boy and loved all his presents. He says, "Wow!" A lot haha 

We then did a late afternoon trip to Ikea as he had a sleep. We were returning some things we got when we bought the wardrobes but didn't use. The handles I changed my mind about and a trouser rail. Pretty good system of allowing 12 months return policy. 

On the Sunday, we went to a place called Hopetown in Darlington. It is a railway museum. Oliver loves choo choo trains. What a flipping great place to go. Free entry. There is a huge extensive play area that they charge £5 to go in but it would be worth it. We didn't go in because it was FREEZING and he's still a bit small for it. It's flat. Dog friendly.Lots of outdoor space to run around or sit and chat ( if it was warmer!! )

However inside, there's great interactive displays. 

Dress up spots. Great photo opportunities with these big screens 

and fun cut outs

and a role play area in a waiting room. Freddie and Oliver both dressed up!

 The cafe was excellent and very reasonably priced too. 

Will we go again? Oh yes! 

It's now the Easter Break off school. Am off up the Lakes today with my florist friend, delivering wedding flaars to a hotel called Merewood. We are then going for lunch. We usually have afternoon tea but we are both on a health kick so will save it for another time! 

Hope it's something good for your tea tonight. I'm having summat n salad! 

R

I love Saturdays

 I just do. Always have. Started my day at 5am 

Woke up and let Madam Barkypants out. We then snuggled downstairs and I looked at crap online for a bit and fixed under a blanket. It's a bit chilly this morning. 

At 6am, I loaded the washer, made a coffee. Logged my black coffee on the two calorie apps I'm testing out - just for my own ITNOS* experimentation and watched the starlings in the garden. 

I'm now sat drinking said coffee ( with 10ml Biocol -  cholesterol lowering milk ) looking at the jigsaw on the table. I've just done 5 minutes close heel work training with Bluebell in the kitchen with the most stinkiest treats ever . They would stop a charging hippo in its tracks. 

Actually, they wouldn't because I've been watching a programme on TV with a bit of an annoying presenter, Steve, I think he's called. But hippos give no warning and when they charge, there's no real stopping them. 

And now I thought I'd record my news. 

My daughter sent me one of her usual heart stopping messages yesterday. 

I only saw it once I had left work. 

It said. And I quote. 

"Oliver’s not very well I’ve got to take him to hospital "

No follow up text to explain. Nothing. No context. Reminded me of about ten years ago when she had gone back to Uni for the 2nd year and left me a casual voicemail message. 

"Mum, I'm in hospital. I'm having an operation. "

No details of what happened, which hospital, an operation for what?? I will have to go check my posts - she was out at a Fresher's Week even despite being a 2nd year and had fallen off her high heels on the dance floor and broken her arm near her wrist. The operation she was having was to pin her arm back together! 

I checked - that 10 years ago was actually 13 years ago and  I didn't blog it sadly! I did blog about taking her back the week before. Little knowing we would be going to the week after, paying a billionty pounds for a Travelodge because of the GNR and Uni starters etc. 

Anyway, he was poorly with a high temperature and she had taken him to the doctors. Because he had fast heart rate and temp not coming down, they said to take him up the hospital for monitoring. 

He had been drowsy and not drinking. So they said it's tonsillitis, bless him. So he's got a throat spray, antibiotics and they were home in time for tea. When she rang me at the hospital he was busy playing in the children's centre. Probably picking up even more germs off the toys! 

I tell you what, compared to where we live, it is far better in the NE for their healthcare systems than here. 

Anyway, we face times after his tea and he had a little husky voice but was just playing as usual! Hopefully he's slept and will be more like himself today though my daughter said he had been a little more compliant yesterday hahaha ! 

The weather is unseasonable warm and pleasant - in fact, it's just perfect for me! Yesterday afternoon, once I realised Oliver was not at death's door I emptied the kitchen and swept, hoovered, scrubbed, then boiling water mopped the kitchen floor. When I say scrubbed, I've got, what is in essence, a giant electric toothbrush on an extendable pole. It's USB charged up but it's a godsend for the bathroom and the kitchen floor. 

Having said that, if there was a way of managing the aftermath, I would let the HG power wash it! They are Welsh slate tiles and the light grey grout was black. 

The filthy weather last week meant that despite best efforts and decent mats, keeping the floor clean with Bluebell in and out  was nigh on impossible. Anyway, I washed all the mats too ( Turtle mats they are - really impressed with them ) as it was a great day for drying and the floor still looks nice this morning. I am very easily pleased. 

Mum, stop taking photos for your blog and make my breakfast. 

Don't look too closely because my cupboard doors need a good wash down too! 

Not sure what to do today - which is how I like it. There's always cupboard doors to wash. 

Next weekend, we will be up with Oliver ready to celebrate his birthday. Two already. It has flown by. 

I might start wrapping his gifts. I'll prob go see my Mum. I might make some bread - nothing fancy - I have a seeded loaf bread mix in. 

The butcher is coming and I've sleeves to knit. I've a few plants to plant out. Am gearing up for holiday mode. One more week at work. I should have had my follow up shoulder appointment on Thursday - remember I said how they'd sent a reminder, even though I knew nothing about it? Well, they cancelled it and now when I go look on the NHS app it says appointment reschedule under review. 

So maybe it will be this Thursday as so far that's when they've been. 

Work - inexplicably hard and frustrating and constant interruptions meant I'm still behind on admin. Some meetings were a delight and positive. Some, pretty pointless and I am actually not sure at all what more, as a school, we can do. 

I saw this on the internet and it is true. I'm not sure who Walter is but it resonated. No excuses. Even children with additional needs can function but the parent must parent harder. It is their job. 

I will not put the soap box away but will park it for now. It is 7.30am and I'm going to have a coffee and a chapter of my audiobook whilst jigsawing before the rest of the house awakes and the peace is broken. 

Hope it's something good for your tea tonight. We on steak n salad or Stalad as I like to call it. Or chips, as the HG calls his salad! 

*ITNOS is a phrase I coined with my friend whenever we try anything. 

In The Name Of Science 

R

What's new?

 1. New bed is so high, I actually have a little step now at my side so I can get on it. I feel like the Princess and The Pea, so high up. When I stand at the side of the bed, the top of the mattress is above my belly button height! 

With the giant wardrobes and now the bed, I really do feel like a Borrower! 

2. The recipe for the crispie tray slice was based on this. Except I added two crushed shredded wheats ( for goodness and roughage ) some rice crispies and the cornflakes to the toffee base. It was DEADLY. Do not make it. You will not be able to resist it!!!

The bottom bit cut off. I also added some melted chocolate to the toffee base to make it a bit fudgey and then topped with melted chocolate and crushed mini eggs - photo on last post. I never add butter or oil to chocolate - yuk! I don't mind it unshiny haha

3. The sun shone warmly today and it made life feel just better. 

4. Today I received a text from the NHS reminding me about my up coming appointment on Thursday afternoon at the hospital with the musko skeletal team. Except it was no good reminding me about something I didn't know about! Accompanying this message was another one that said 

Here is a letter for you, use this code to access it. So I used the code. You have been made an appointment etc etc. if you do not use this code to access the online message we will contact you by letter in 48 hours. 

Well in 48 hours - that's my appointment time - the letter would not be here - and then I would be getting a 'you missed your appointment' letter. Crazy! 

5. Anyway. I am absolutely terrified about going. The consultant was very abrupt and to the point. However. I will just put it out of my mind and try not to stress. 

6. Oliver is doing his first ever sponsored event! Very clever marketing. The charity is a children's charity in the North East that sets out to support children and families living with nothing.

7. Some lovely flowers on my kitchen window sill - the only place I'll really tolerate them ( long term friends of this blog and in real life know I much prefer flowers in the garden ) 

Daffs off my son, the bouquet off my daughter and the hyacinths off my friend. The minute the hyacinths stink they are going to be planted in the garden. The daffs will be next to go! But alive for quite good at keeping the water and vases clean and cutting flowers down to keep them going. 

I had egg and cottage cheese salad for my tea and loved it. Refreshing and delicious. Hope you had something good for yours. 

R. 

 

Replacing our 'New' Bed

 We got our new bed in the year 2000! I still refer to it as our new bed. The mattress is still the same but it's like us, knackered! 

. I've extended its life somewhat with memory foam mattress toppers but I think it is now desperate for a change. 

Anyway, we went with a company called Sueno based in Wakefield. I did want to just get a bed like a Premier Inn Bed and you can buy them. 

But we went with Sueno. They are an online company. Our Son had bought one from them two years ago and had no complaints. 

So we dithered over the headboards. We couldn't agree anyway I let the HG have the final say and we ordered it. It's got wings! 

So Saturday was delivery day. And it was a day of me stalking the bed's journey. It went all the way up to the Highlands of Scotland. Back down through Perth and then Glasgow and finally here at 5.15pm. The photos are out of order and go bottom to top but it was a great tracker system. 

I knew it was going to be a snug fit. We knew this from getting the old one out! 

We have a massive bedroom, it's at least 13m long by 15m wide - or 14m - it's longer and wider than a standard roll of carpet like huge. But the world's smallest staircase! Anyway, the wings that had caused much angst when choosing- had to come off. As did part of the overstairs cupboard extension! Thank goodness the HG was here. He was going out with his old school friends for 7pm and originally the bed was coming 6.30-9.30pm 

It would have to have been left in the dining room for him to sort. 

Anyway, the delivery lads were amazing and we all breathed in a bit and up it went by a whisker! I absolutely recommend them.

The base wasn't so bad because its two singles bolted together and they managed to squish and pull the mattress up too. 

It is lovely. However, Hindsight and all that. Why did we not decorate and get new carpet before we got the new bed?? 

Oh well. I think it was urgent for the bed to save our backs and joints. I loved my bedroom when it was first done. Not I want to paper to match the tiles on the fireplace - oatmeal with a splash of colour - it ties in with the oak wardrobes and the winged headboard ties in with the slate fireplace. 

Lovely bewinged headboard that I thought was old fashioned but it's grown on me. 

Plenty 

Of storage space to hide a dead body or two.

I bought some lovely new bedding - fitted sheets from a company called 'Rise and Fall' which are labelled with the short side because in the history of making the bed I always always always get it wrong first time. I also bought a lovely luxury thread count duvet cover in the M&S sale. It's cool and smooth. It's also pale bloody grey - it's now pale grey with Bluebell Prints! I will pop my beautiful scrappy quilt made by Pam in Wales ( I do miss her blogs ) on to save it a bit! 

Rightyo, I'm going to have my coffee, with a chapter of my audio book and make a start on this before work. 

Work is very challenging at the moment. Very, very challenging. Today I am also going to the funeral of a lovely friend, not much older than me, who I worked with for years. She did the job I do and she had a heart attack. I am 100% convinced, work played its part in that. I love my job, I am damned good at it, but most days I plot my way out of 

Anyway, please do at least one nice thing for yourself today annd one good for you thing and I hope it's something good for tea. 

My coffee and jigsaw is my nice thing , I've topped up my vitamin and magnesium and fish oil tablet dispenser which is my good for me thing and tea is yroast gammon with them posh knobbly new potatoes and salad. 

And probably a slice of this beauty. Recipe next time. 

4.26am

 

Just thought I'd show you the little corner of my room that's now the school. I'm going to swap the swan pic for the clock actually to give it the classroom feel a bit more. I took small crockery n cutlery for school dinners. I've a maths basket, some phonics, work sheets, exercise books , science equipment etc 

They are all loving it! 

Am awake, have been for hours. Got up to the loo, let madam out and took some painkillers - my shoulder is sore. But I think mostly I'm just sad having learned that one of my friends died suddenly on Saturday. 

She was one of those friend who you don't see for ages but pick up where you left off type. I first met her 30 odd years ago at the school I joined as a Maternity Cover. 

I clicked with her straight away. She was warm, kind, stood no nonsense and she was bloody funny. Hilarious even. Really good fun. She championed the children and went out of her way to help them. Me and her set up the first true Nurture group at the school and we stayed close after I moved schools to where I am now. Over the years, we caught up at training events and on line but I hadn't seen her in probably well over 12 months. 

Still, it was a shock and she will be missed. 

Life is short people, live for today, have something good for your tea. It might be your last. 

Crafternoon Tea

Thanks to all who've commented on my last few posts. I don't blog as such for the comments as it's just me recording what's going on. But I do rather love them too! 

 I had a lovely weekend. My working week now ends at 12.30pm on a Friday. I've swished working hours around to allow for one late finish at 5.30pm and one at 5pm. I've now declared myself semi retired! 

So I got home from work and then had a couple of hours pottering and washing and knitting then my friend picked me up at 3.30pm and we drove to her daughter's gorgeous country cottage to let her dog out. So we had a lovely long catch up and back home in time for tea. 

Then I was seeing her again on Saturday and my other friend. We had booked on a Crafternoon Tea activity afternoon in Kendal. A really sweet cafe hosted upstairs ( Bakery No.4 ) It was a bargain. £30.60 for four hours on a fabric art class plus afternoon tea. 

It was a lovely chatty drive up. A really wonderfully relaxing chatty but quiet afternoon with like minded folks. I learnt a new craft ( felting in the hoop to create art ) and would 100% recommend ( Jules, if you are reading this - I think you and L would love it! ) 

The gluten and dairy free option was also outstanding and the cafe provided bags to take home the stuff we were too full for! 

The only decision was what on earth was I going to create? You could choose to either make one large hoop or 2 small. I went with 2 small. For my first, I thought I'd do something that the children like to do at work. I cut a long length of black sparkly wool, gathered it up and held it high and let it go onto my hoop. I then chose 'jewelled' bright colours to fill in the spaces to create a stained glass effect. The possibilities were endless. The other one I decided to recreate one of the Sunrise photos from our holiday to Rascarrel Bay last October but I ran out of time. I brought some of the wool I was using from The Wool Buffet and I do have needles for needle felting at home to finish it off. 

Lana Grindlay is the artist who hosted and she was amazing. I'm hoping she will be able to come and do a workshop at school. I took her card to work yesterday but was so busy I've not had time to mention it to the Head yet. I may do it myself as an after school club one off or give the details to the Art Co ordinator to give the opportunity to a whole co hort. Undecided yet. It's great because there's no rules to follow and even if you don't consider yourself arty ( I don't actually ) there's joy in the process I think. 

Anyway it was a really really really lovely day outs 10/10 

Photos at the end of this post. 

Then on Sunday, I was invited to my friend's house to celebrate her daughter's 12th birthday. She is such a good and dedicated Mama. She always hosts a birthday celebration for school friends and then a separate family and friends one for us old dears to fuss and coo together. Her daughter is growing up into a wonderful young lady. Her celebration was book themed and my friend had ordered tiny edible books of the ones her daughter reads! There's an annual piniata - this time filled with book trinkets. I wish my friend was my mum! 

It was a really great weekend. 

Work yesterday was alright. I changed the role play corner in my room from a Cafe to a school. Oh my stars - you know who play the hardest and the best? The Year 6 children who come in. It was also very hilarious hearing the 'teacher' do all the lessons! 

This morning I got up at 5.30am. I've got a shin beef stew in the slow cooker and started using the new food waste bin with my peelings. I gave my compost bin away years ago once I quit growing veg. I've a few meetings this morning and about eleventy billion emails to catch up on and then this afternoon I've got some online training for supporting the siblings of children living with life threatening and life limiting diseases. We've quite a few in each year group so it will be interesting to find out what's out there beyond what I already know. The this evening I must get going on the sleeves for Oliver's jumper. 

Hope all is well in your world and it's something good for your tea tonight! 

  Book birthday cake

Saw this on the internet - isn't it just lovely 

One friend recreated a waterfall near the Coniston Copper Mines walk she'd done on Friday

My other friend recreated the view across the bay with the memorial bench for her Mum and Dad on the prom. 

All of our work. 

The GF DF option

Deliciously light scones

The lemon drizzle was huge and divine.

 Coffee art! 

How mine started

My efforts above! 

R 

What my MRI scan was like

 So Thursday morning I was up in time to get the larks up. After a few nights of dreadful broken sleep, I went to work as usual. I left at 1pm to get home and let Bluebell out, clean my teeth etc before my friend picked me up. 

But before work, I had to hunt out my swimming costume. Thanks for the kind comments and bra suggestions on my last post  lovely bloggy folks. So I do indeed had a pull on sports bra type affair. But that's too small. I tried and got stuck midway. Not a great look. So I carried the stepladders up the stairs and climbed up to my top boxes in our new wardrobes. 

And when I say Top boxes they are right up at the top. And

at 4ft 11, I'm not! These photos are from when they were installed by the HG in the Summer. The wallpaper shows where the old wardrobes were! 

Anyway I struggled but managed and then got my Son to reach the very last one for me to check - of course what I was looking for was in the very last box...

I tried on. Swimming costumes are stretchy but not that stretchy ! And it is a good few years since I wore them but nope, definitely a bit snug as you can see in my photo below . 

Nicked this funny off the internet! 

Then I thought, oh I know, I've my vest top, that will be fine. Forgetting that I've worn it in bed due to the drenchers I've been having nightly ... I thought - it'll be fine - a bit of febreze and there we are. Oh 

Fished out of the laundry basket to remember I drooled sodding toothpaste down it cleaning my teeth - the drooling occurred because I overbalanced. Michael Mosley told me to stand on one leg whilst brushing my teeth because it's good for me ! I'm dead good on my right one but a bit wobbly on my left. 

Balls to it, I thought. I will just go au natrel! 

So into the mobile MRI wagon.

I'd climbed. up the rickety stairs and was welcomed in by two radiologists and one of them looked like Paddy Dingle off Emmerdale.

He asked me to sit on the chair in a tiny box cupboard labelled 'changing room'.  and asked me 

Name

Age

Weight

Height

Have you got a bra on?

Take it off

I thought, blimey, he's forward and I don't think much of this speed dating!!!

So the scanner was in a lorry trailer in the hospital car park. At one end I could see there was the person in front of me being scanned. All I could think of was the scene from The Wizard Of Oz where the house lands on the witch and her legs and feet are all that's left sticking out! In the middle was a giant wall of tech, screens, buttons, cables and knobs and then the tiny cupboard where I was sitting at the other end, opposite the scanner room. 

He also asked if I had any tattoos, metal implants and anything inside my body I was not born with. I signed a form and then waited. There was a pulsing humming and whooshing constant noise and it almost felt womblike. Pulsing and rhythmical. I could have fallen asleep. He asked if I'd had one before ? I said no, I was looking forward to the experience! 

Then it was my turn. 

I walked from the cupboard, past the tech desk, into the scanner room. He said get on the bed. Bed! Concrete slab it was with blocks on it. One for my head that was like a chopping block shape and then an inverted v shaped one for my legs to go over. And a sculpted like shell foam mould for my shoulder. 

He manhandled me into it and after 3 instructions to lower my left shoulder, he realised I could not lower my left shoulder, I was manoeuvred a bit more, strapped in and anchored down. But as my shoulder was the most painful it had been for days, I could not hold my arm straight down against my side so was allowed to bend it at the elbow so my hands were resting on my middle. 

Next he said stay still, don't move, be still as you can. The bed shifted me in a bit, he tucked my saddlebags in on my right side so I felt squished up against the wall of the thing, he gave me a panic button to press if I needed them to stop and slapped a pair of ear defenders on.

He then proceeded to ask me if I was ok. I gave a thumbs up. He said don't move! 

Then he said right I'm going back in with Paddy Dingle. It'll take 20 minutes to an hour. Ok Rachel? Well, I wasn't allowed to move so I did nothing. 

Then Paddy Dingle said 

Are you Ok Rachel? You can speak to us! 

So I squeaked a Yes, sorry ( because I am British! ) 

I think, I'd reverted to 2 years old where if I can't hear you, you won't be able to hear me! Plus he'd said not to move, so no thumbs up and he'd given me a button to press to communicate with them to stop ie. I'm not OK , so why would I speak. 

And then it started! Now I know so many people who have had an MRI before. Interestingly, not the HG. ( 10 years this year since the Kidney Cancer! ) and they all mostly report it is so noisy, banging, clanking, clunking. 

Now that is not at all how I would describe it. 

It was like being IN a Space Invaders game to me.Peeeeow Peeeeow Peeeow zzzzzzzzzzzzz nooo noooo noooo nooooo dededede dededede bbrrrrrrr bbrrrrrrrt each 'firing' electrons sound was a different pitch so I could imagine it penetrating the different layers of my body tissues. 

Then it stopped! 

I thought, wow that was fast! 

And a muffled voice said, right Rachel, we are ready to start, KEEP STILL AND DO NOT MOVE. 

And I didn't! But I was so conscious of not moving and was barely breathing but realised my hands on my middle must be moving up n down. After a good chunk of being eliminated from space. It stopped and the voice said Rachel, some of that was shaky. You need to keep still. I said I'm ever so sorry, I think it's because I am breathing! He said, try shallow breathing. Which is what I thought I'd been doing. 

So anyway I said I'd try, I took two deep breaths and said Ok. 

Well, the more you think about your breathing, the harder it is to do shallow breathing and not move your lungs at all and because there's nothing to look at or distract you the focus becomes uncomfortable. I started to realise properly how the people with claustrophobic tendencies could panic. 

The magnetic fields  were well underway and by now I could feel them hitting my bone ( I couldn't, but you know ) and it was getting warmer. He said you are doing well. But then with the concentration on my shallow breathing becoming so intensified I thought the next time he asks if I'm ok I'll say I'm not, I can't do any more. I felt like I was going to pass out and the buzzer had shifted in my grasp so I'd have had to have moved to squeeze it. Anyway they said my name and all of a sudden I was sliding back out into the light! He asked if I was Ok. I said I was now. He said you can sit up. But I couldn't. It was like I was paralysed! So he helped me up and said how was it? I then said. Ooo I enjoyed that! It was an adventure! He laughed. I said when you told me to do shallow breathing, I couldn't!!! He then said you are free to go! So I left the chamber, walked past Paddy Dingle at the computer and said, Could you see why my shoulder hurts so much? 

He said 

Ohhhh yes. But your results will be through in about two weeks and they will go straight back to the consultant who referred you. I then got sorted and went out into the pouring rain glad to feel it in my face! 

Here's what I think they should do to make it better. 

For me, had I known they did a start test shot as it were, it would have been preferable. Also there is no way of knowing how long you have been in there so saying 20 minutes to an hour is absolutely pointless unless they can talk you through it. The inside of the chamber is white with nothing to look at - I don't know if that can be changed. They never offered me music through earphones like it said on the NHS guide. And explaining what happens if you move meaning it has to go again might help also a guide to the different sounds you might hear. Knowledge is power! 

Then my friend. Picked me up and we went to the garden centre for a cup of tea and some cake. Lemon ginger cheesecake for me, chocolate cake for her. We had a good old debrief about all our medical bits and bobs and work stuff. A browse in the gorgeous gift shop and bought some sweeties from the lovely display of goodies on the way out. 

She dropped me off at home in time for tea! All in all I'd give it a solid 8/10 for a day out! 

Hope you had something good for your tea, and if you ever need an MRI scan, you know what to expect now!