A blog everyday in September: Day 7 Neither rain nor snow day

I follow a blog about motherhood and saw that the writer did a 'blog every day in August' challenge and I really enjoyed reading it, so I have decided to take part in Chickywiggle's blog every day in September

Day seven: Neither rain nor snow day

Chicky wiggle wants to know about our favourite time of year

Well...I change my mind depending on the time of year, so here are some reasons why I love various times of year. 

Winter -

Get the winter woollies out! Everyone has a good warm jumper that they love to wear! Mine is a blue Christmas jumper from Fat Face!

Apologies for the snake and the cheesy grin - I was very excited!

 

I love getting all wrapped up in hats and coats and going out. It might simply be for a dog walk, or something more like bonfire night or carnival! 

Christmas!! This is definitely my favourite time of year. Just follow my Pinterest account to see how much I love it! Everyone is feeling festive and in the mood for giving. I love getting my prezzies bought or made and wrapped (see my Christmas makes post!), decorating the house, planning the dinner! Christmas!!


Summer -

Cooler clothes for hot days!

Eating outside. I always start with evening meals but by the end of the summer breakfast outside seems a great idea too!

Swimming outdoors - maybe at the beach, or at this amazing Outdoor pool near where we live!

The food! BBQ, salads of all variety, baked potatoes. At every meal. It's totally acceptable!!


I can get on board with spring and autumn, but really these are just lead up to the good bits!

What about you...?

A blog everyday in September: Day 5 Teachers' day

I follow a blog about motherhood and saw that the writer did a 'blog ever day in August' challenge and I really enjoyed reading it, so I have decided to take part in Chickywiggle's blog every day in September

Day five: Teachers' day

Now, I think this post is supposed to be something that inspired you...mine memory sort of is, and hope it is something that others can follow too...keep reading to the end - I'll get to the point!

As a teacher I have lots of memories of my time in school, that help me become a better teacher today. This is one I tell everyone - so apologies if you've heard it before

One day, in a Geography class, our teacher asked us to look at an ordnance survey map and work out which way the river was flowing, and explain how we knew. To my friend sat by me, I JOKINGLY said "well this map is just a flat version of the Earth. If it was the real thing it would look like this (here I held the map upright in front of me) so the river would be flowing downwards off the page". We giggled at my crap joke, however the teacher overheard me and ridiculed me in front of the rest of the class. It was simply light hearted humour on his part - he was a fabulous teacher and was one of those that inspired me to become a teacher myself.

HOWEVER - as a child I was humiliated. I was a keen sort of pupil and hated to get things wrong, or not understand things and I was embarrassed to think that he thought I was being serious. Still, to this day, I have no idea how to find out which was a river flows when looking at a ordnance survey map. I attribute this lack of knowledge to the fact that I must have switched off for the remained of the lesson.

That's the funny thing about memories - I can remember the classroom, where I was sat, the friend I was talking to, the teacher, the feeling, but I have no idea what we learnt that day.

Children are in fact just that - children. As teachers, parents, friends, people of the general public I think we often forget that children are children. As an adult, as well as a teacher, it is my responsibility to ensure they can learn - in all senses of that word - in a secure, free-to-make-mistakes world.

I strive for this as a teacher already, but will try as a parent too.

A Blog everyday in September: Day 4 Favourite Film

I follow a blog about motherhood and saw that the writer did a 'blog every day in August' challenge and I really enjoyed reading it, so I have decided to take part in Chickywiggle's blog every day in September

Day four: Favourite Film

Oh - where to begin?! Here is a list, with some reasons why they are great

Little Women - the book is amazing, and the film (the one with Susan Sarandon) brings it to life a little bit more!

Any 'Marvel Comics' film. A little bit of action, some heroics, some funny. Perfect! My favourite is Captain America!


Aladdin - "Shall I call you 'Al', or 'Din', or maybe just 'Laddie'. Here boy!" Need I say more?

A Wonderful Life - most Christmas films are brilliant, but this one is second to none! It seems dark and gloomy but actually the message is...well, wonderful!

 

Please list your favourite films in the comments below!

A blog everyday in September: Day 3 A strange fact

I follow a blog about motherhood and saw that the writer did a 'blog ever day in August' challenge and I really enjoyed reading it, so I have decided to take part in Chickywiggle's blog every day in September

Day three: A strange fact

You know those limpets that stick to cliffs and things...

If it was as big as a human, it's penis would be as big as Nelsons Column, Trafalgar Sq. London!

Amazing!

A blog everyday in September: Day 2 Back to school

I follow a blog about motherhood and saw that the writer did a 'blog every day in August' challenge and I really enjoyed reading it, so I have decided to take part in Chickywiggle's blog every day in September

Day two: Back to school

Today I return to school as a secondary teacher in an all boys school. In a couple of week I will blog about the ups and downs of returning to school, juggling part time work, a baby and trying to keep a social life, but for now here are the crazy things buzzing round my head about my return to work.

• Will my little boy be OK?
• Will I remember how to teach?
• Will the pupils be happy to have me back in their lessons?
• Will my colleagues be pleased to see me, or will they miss my maternity cover? Will it make a difference?
• I can't wait to have something that's just for me, not anyone else in my family.
• I love my job, and the pupils so it will be fun to be back at work.
• What will the new head teacher be like? How will it be working under a different form of management?
• It's only part time - my working week will be over before I know it!
• I'm so grateful for my mum, and my mother in law for looking after my LO - it has saved me time, hassle, worry and money about finding a good childminder.
• Do I really want to be away from my little boy for this long when he's still only six months old?
• Will we be able to afford our bills every month?

I appreciate that much of this list contradicts other aspects of this list, however this is my brain at the current moment.

Blog everyday in September: Day 6 National Read a book day

I follow a blog about motherhood and saw that the writer did a 'blog ever day in August' challenge and I really enjoyed reading it, so I have decided to take part in Chickywiggle's blog every day in September

Day six: National Read a book day

This book is wonderful.

A quick synopsis - four sisters growing up in an America at war with itself. Trials and tribulations of sisterhood as children, and then growing up and out of the family home and the new challenges that face them.

I first read this book while I was in Sri Lanka when I was 19 - I just picked it up in a 'library' in one of the travel lodge/hostels we stayed in. Since then I read at least once a year because I love it so much. The main character, Jo, is a reflection of Louisa May Alcott (LMA) and her family life is a reflection of that of LMA.

Sections of the book that touch my heart:

• The kindness of their mother is passed through to her lovely daughters - this is shown in the book as charity to poverty stricken family, as well as to the kind gentleman living next door.
• Their kindness is reflected back upon them and so gratefully received - when Beth receives a piano.
• The friendship between Jo and 'the Laurence boy'. This touched me so much that my son is called Lawrence.

Highly recommended - tissues required!

A blog every day in September: Day 1 Who am I?

I follow a blog about motherhood and saw that the writer did a 'blog every day in August' challenge and I really enjoyed reading it, so I have decided to take part in Chickywiggle's blog every day in September

Day One: Who am I?

Easy peasy:

• Ali, 28, live in Dorset with hubby, 7 month old boy and Border Terrier
• I'm about to start back at work as a Secondary Teacher - part time hours, but totally dreading it (planning to blog about back to work experiences! Stay tuned!)
• I love to craft! I'll try anything with the right guidance, but I really enjoy machine sewing. (Some of my creations can be found here and here)
• I started to blog just to get some thoughts and ideas down on 'paper' - some are like diary entries, some are rants about things that annoy me, some are about the things I have been crafting. I'm not very good at keeping up to date with it. I can go months without doing anything, so I think this 'blog everyday' will give me a little kick start, and maybe some ideas too!

As a secondary teacher we run 'humanities' lessons which is basically history, geography and RE in one lesson. My colleague and I have planned a whole term's work called 'Who am I?'. It is based around identity - the pupil explores their own identity as well their peers and looks at cultural identity of others too. It's a really interesting way of getting to know the pupils but they find it hard to express things about themselves. "Can I just say 'I enjoy playing x-box'?" is a regular question.

I think self reflection is a really important part of life - self understanding and value can be obtained by thinking (and practicing) What do I enjoy? What am I good at? Who am I?