Blessings

There are a few areas of my life that, when I compare them to others [I know I shouldn't, but hey, who doesn't?] I feel disadvantaged, but where I work is not one of them.  As some of you may know, I am a teacher, so that might be quite surprising.

I work in a lovely school, among many wonderful people, some of whom are now important friends to me.  Our Head is an amazing lady and she leads the school with integrity and we are very blessed.

One of her achievements is to have obtained solar panels.  The money we save on fuel has been used to set up and run a school farm.  We have a mini pony; 2 goats; countless  chickens; a rabbit; a guinea pig............  It is a really beautiful place to be and the children benefit from it no end, both in terms of learning and in terms of social and emotional nurturing.

Anyway, because the weather has been so nice, twice this week several of us have taken our lunch up there. Sitting at the picnic tables, surrounded by various animals and happy children, there was no better place to be.

Also this week, our Deputy, another amazing lady, began our 'sewing bee'.   She is a very taleneted sewer.  Many of us had enjoyed The Great British Sewing Bee and had chatted about it.  So, S decided to start a staff  sewing club.  We meet after school.  There is a range of abilities is broad:  I am a complete beginner.  One person is making 2 piped cushions, with zips; another is making a 'Kath Kitson' peg bag.  I am making an 'A-line' skirt.

S is v clever and instead of me buying a pattern, she took my measurements and created a bespoke pattern for me on the computer.  She then gave me calico and I made a 'block', which she then fitted on to me.  Today, I am off into Birmingham to buy my fabric.

Another illustration of how we care for each other is the machine I have was given to me by a collegue.  It turns out that a fellow sewing bee-er also had her machine given to her by another person at school.

I shall take a picture of the fabric, when I have it and post a picture.

x



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Cool Kid

WARNING - BOASTFUL MUMMY POST

First of all, welcome to my new follower: Donna Scott.

Up until this point, I have hardly mentioned my 2 children.

My [almost] 14 year old daughter [Alice, aka superscout] is super cool, even though I say it myself.  REALLY.

She properly does not run with the pack and is not motivated by money at all.  She is motivated by happiness.  She is into photography and writes her own blog.

Anyway, this week she used ebay for the first time.  She bid and won a pair of skinny jeans for £1.21 plus £2.99 P and P.  She is so proud of herself. 

She is now researching/watching DM boots, in preparation for a winning snipe.  That is so like her; she always does her research about things.

This is her, wearing my 'Underground' shoes, that we share!

Today, I hope to capture the skinny jeans look; so watch this space.

Fantastic Bank Holiday Monday/Whitson Half-Term

When I woke up this morning, an email was waiting for me offering a composter, through Freecycle.  I was delighted. It was very timely.  Only yesterday, I had found a composter on Ebay; collection only.  The current bid was £1.75, with 24 hours to go.

I set up a snipe bid; max. £3.00

I had previously ordered one from a supplier offer a concession to my local council. However, I had received an email to say that there had a problem with the check out on their website and my order had not gone through; would I like to re-order? NO!

Then the Freecycle offer came.

Superscout and I went to collect it at 4:00PM, from a lovely lady.

On the way home, we stopped at a Marks and Spencer 'Simply Food' store.  We planned to buy a £10 'Dine In For 2' offer, because it was Bank Holiday.

WELL WE ARRIVED AT THE RIGHT TIME ....................... JUST LOOK AT WHAT WE BAGGED!

ALL 10P!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All in all it has been a great Bank Holiday.

Plus, I wrote 30 ICT comments and 30 Art and DT comments.

Added to which, we re-arranged Superscout's bedroom and did a major spring clean in it.

The Ebay composter finally went for £19.

I also have a chicken carcas in the slow cooker. #stock

Norfolk 5th to 8th April 2013

Superscout [13] and I [!] had a lovely time in Norfolk.

We stayed at Pontins Pakefield, at £9.50 per head, courtesy of The Sun.  However, there was an approx £45 supplement to pay on top of that.  From a frugal point of view, once cost of fuel, approx £60 [2 x 3.5 hours] is taken into account, I am not sure how economical it was. I know, for example, that Sarah across on Little family of 3, has gone on a similar break, but for £65.

I will be very interested to find out more details when she gets back, because next time I might be better off waiting for a late deal, closer to home.

That said, someone I work with says that once you have been on a Sun holiday, and are therefore in the system, you receive a priority booking code in the future; thus securing wider/better choice of parks.  I did want either Devon, Cornwall, Gloucestershire etc, but all where gone.  Hence Norfolk.

Anyway, to the break itself:

On the first day we drove to Toad Hole, a Victorian eel catchers cottage.  It was small, but interesting. [I have a degree in History and love all that stuff]

Whilst we we were there we walked along the banks of the Broad that runs adjacent to it.  It is a very beautiful and peaceful landscape.

 

On the way back, we had fish and chips in Great Yarmouth.  Both superscout and I  were not impressed with GY.

On the second day we went to Somerleyton Hall.  We spent several happy hours together looking around the gardens, where superscout took lots of photographs. [When she has edited them, I hope to post some]

We also treated ourselves to lunch in the cafe.  I had spinach and potato soup; delicious.

 

It was lovely to get away and to be with SS, she really is a wonderful child.  We had a laugh, seeing the accomodation for what it was....................I wanted to go to the Disco Bingo, but she is too well brought up and wouldn't allow it!!!!!!!! We ate well, because we took out slow cooker and had some nice treats.

We really are very lucky.

x