Feb half term 2026

 Time is certainly marching on. Baby Oliver is almost 2. He's just been with his Mum for a few days and life with him is certainly a whirlwind when he is here. He just brings me delight and I love him so much. I'm very proud of my daughter, she is such an excellent mummy. He is very busy from the minute he wakes up until bedtime. He has visited both Grandma's. My Ma in Law is in a care home and is deeply into her dementia/Alzheimer's story. She's the most sprightly in the home and they do enrichment activities most days. When we took Oliver they were playing games and then she and him did some colouring together! He's a fast learner, he was trying to take the crayon I had at one point, but I kept hold of it and said, 'Ask nicely.' And with prompting, he quickly grasped that saying, 'Peez Nanna.' Gets him what he wants much fast than a stand off! He's definitely at the age of knowing what he wants and doesn't! 

Here he is doing one of the 28 year old jigsaws I kept from my two's childhoods ( spoiler alert - I've kept it ALL!! ) in fact I gave her all the baby toys from birth and she proudly told me last time, that she'd sold the Boots Octopus Baby sensory toy for £20 on Vinted! I gasped in horror as she clearly didn't grasp the fact I was passing on family heirlooms! 

I've been busy yesterday and today catching up on lots of spring cleaning type jobs ( misc. utensils drawer innards currently in dishwasher ) 

I've sewn my new curtains and with much swearing, the HG put the new track up and then them. My left shoulder is pretty much useless these days and is on its last days. I'm having an MRI scan to pretty much confirm everything but it's looking like surgery ( and scary surgery at that ) to have a new one! 

The consultant said I won't get my movement back but I will be pain free. It's osteoarthritis with bony spurs and it's very advanced as if I was in my 80s. 

Anyway the physio then explained the movement thing - she said - don't expect to be able to paint the ceiling or do cartwheels but I should be able to, with hard work and determination regain far more than I have now. I cannot wash my hair, scratch the back of my neck, reach behind me. Anyway we will face it when it gets here. 

Tomorrow I'm meeting one of my best friends for coffee and then into lunch for a much overdue natter that I'm really looking forward to. My other best friend asked me to help her deliver a wedding ( she's a florist ) and then onto posh Lake District Hotel for Afternoon tea  but I was already booked up so we decided we'd do a different day instead.  Thursday, the other two best friends I have are coming her so I can attempt to teach them how to knit! I have bought them a knitting needle each and some chunky wool. I've gone with a size 5. 

My plan is to get them garter stitching on some that I will cast on for them as that's how I learnt. I'm hoping if they get the swing of it they will be able to make their first little knitted purse. 

Then I will teach them to cast on and then purl. We all decided we are bringing our own packed lunches with us! Great idea even though I would have cooked. I then had to let them know my coffee machine away for repair so they might have to bring their own flask if they want posh coffee haha . I now don't keep instant in the house but I have bought a jar just for them. 

I will then decide about Friday on Friday. Think I'll go for lunch with Mum. Saturday is for the rugby and the dog walking. Sunday,we visit the elderlies on a round trip then relax. 

Monday I will be back at work. 

Honestly it is so so so so stressful right now. It seems like all parents are struggling with behaviour at home. All children are struggling because they are not being parented properly. 

It's not all, it's just so many. And at the route of it all are the iPads and you tubes and Roblox and phones a screens. The children are addicted. They go into meltdown when they have to come off it. They say they are bored of school so are refusing to come! 

They do and will find school boring because their brains are now hardwired for all the instant gratification screens and games bring. Now I'm not getting up on my soap box because I can feel myself getting a bit ranty as I am typing but the scientific research is there folks. 

I have a few little ones every morning who truly find the home to school transition so challenging and so they come to our Pastoral room for a 'soft landing'. Truthfully, these ones do have additional needs and mostly parents and parenting as hard as they can and they just need this support. 

So in our room we have a home corner ( currently a cafe ) role play area that they all love. I've brought in 1000 piece jigsaw on my brought in jigsaw board from home that me and a couple of the y6 kids are doing ( I know - I'm a genius - getting paid to do a jigsaw ) and the games we have are mostly the ones from my childhood. We also have colouring, arts, crafts, trainset, cars and garage - and they come and play and feel safe and brave enough to try a bit of learning in their classroom. 

I've set the seed with the new head - what if, I said, the staff change their intervention or morning work every now and then, for a games session, a board games session or free play. Why does it always have to be a reward? They are children. They need this for their developmental skills, not just golden time on a Friday afternoon. 

Ooo soap boxy again!! I say this as one of the district Behaviour Mentors a lot to the mostly newly qualified teachers I help. It's all about relationships. 

School these days,  is one place I would not want to work in if I was just starting out. The pressure the teachers are under is huge, the pressure the pastoral teams is huge, SEND children who need specialist provision cannot access it due to places, Ed Pyschs are as rare as hens teeth and just this week, the NHS trust has announced that it is no longer accepting new referrals from schools for children onto the pathways for Autism and ADHD. 

The current waiting list is way over 3-4 years. It is quite unbelievable. 

Erm, I'm trying to think what else I need to log for now... I'm knitting a Gansey for Oliver and I'm just on with the sleeves. This is the back. And my mustard rug and my leopard print frock! It's in a navy/slate blue cotton. Aged 2-3 but will be nearer 3 when it fits him! It's huge. So once this one is finished, I will do a different one in a smaller size ( if I can, with my shoulder and arm ). 

 I had my second diabetic eye test and all is well so no call back for two years. I do need to book in my review so may ring them when my shopping arrives. Which it has just ! 

Right, am back from putting it away. Didn't get too many things but needed heavy things like milk and rice. 

Typically this post which was started Tuesday lunchtime has now gone over into Wednesday morning. 

I am loving the Winter Olympics but noted how disjointed and less dancey the figure skating was and I've just seen something where they don't do the fabulous spinny twirls on the spot now because they get no marks or kudos for it. Everyone wants to do quads and back flips. For me it didn't flow so I switched it off! The snow boarding acrobatics had my heart in my mouth, they are literally flying though the air. Amazing! Love the curling too. 

TV I've enjoyed recently - just binge watched Sally Wainwright's Riot Women. What a storyline and I cannot wait for series 2. It had me in tears and then laughing. Stellular cast. I am also watching one on Sky Atlantic called The Salt Path. Very good indeed. 

The new wool and needles for my friends. 

Sweet little 500 piece jigsaw did yesterday to check it's all there for the next one at school when the current 1000 piece Paris scene is completed. 

Went to the garden centre last Friday for lunch with my Mum and Sister and bought Madam a new bed. Took her all day to even go near it! Looks so comfy. I'd bought her one like this online a few years ago but it was nowhere near as lovely as this. 
Right, must get up. Going to do some exercise and my physio and then might faff about in my craft room making a little knitting bag each for my friends before off out for lovely long catch up with my good friend Barb*. 
Hope it's something good for tea tonight folks! Have you given up anything for Lent? Are you fasting for Ramadan? I already do intermittent fasting and had my Wedding friend put the Lottery on, I may have been giving up work for Lent and beyond!  Rather than giving up, I'm starting anew. Starting tonight , straight after my tea, I am going to walk Bluebell round the big block- the route is roughly a mile. Research by Michael Moseley and others show it greatly benefits you healthwise, particularly for blood sugar reasons. I have got into the habit of changing into pjs to eat my tea so from tonight- no! Also Bluebell has a nightly treat from the box of death after we've had tea and has taken to squeaking indignantly about it, the minute I put my plate away! So it'll do her good too. Little madam! I bought her a bag of lamb tracheas - she only has natural treats - they stink to high heaven! So my plan is- tea, walk then go get ready for bed upstairs as she has her stinky treat downstairs! 
Bye for now ( probably about two months! )