Monthly Archives: March 2011

The Gallery – Education

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If children live with encouragement,
They learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance,
They learn to be patient.
If children live with praise,
They learn to appreciate.
If children live with acceptance,
They learn to love.
If children live with approval,
They learn to like themselves.
If children live with honesty,
They learn truthfulness.
If children live with security,
They learn to have faith in themselves and others.
If children live with friendliness,
They learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Copyright © 1972/1975 by Dorothy Law Nolte

As soon as I saw the brief for this week’s The Gallery I thought of this poem that I have displayed on my classrom door and in my home. It is a reminder that children learn what they live, education is about so much more than what is taught and learned in schools. Education is about family, community, experience, exploration and reflection.

I have always loved learning. I consider myself well educated, academically, socially and personally. I enjoy education.

The pictures I have chosen to share show me getting to grips with guiding something that played a huge part in my early years and a community that helped me learn who I was and who I wanted to be. This experience, the explorations, the people provided me with the values discussed in the poem that I used to start this post.

Children learn what they live, all life is an education, we are all learning all of the time.

What a great theme for The Gallery. Hop on over to Tara’s blog to see what other people have made of education this week.

003/365 First Garden Adventure

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Though Esther and William were born in the summer by the time they came home from NICU it was mid-Autumn and they were not able to make use of our garden. Today, for the first time, we were able to put a rug down outside and go and play on the grass. This photo captures their first al fresco exploration of our home. They have of course been out for walks and out of the house but this is their very first outdoor play. The photo shows our garden backing on to the village green with a view to the church where later this year we will be married and next year Esther and William will be christened. I took 152 photos today but this one had to be the shot of the day for the story that it tells, rather than any skill or design in the picture itself.

Esther and William’s First Garden Adventure

Garden Adventure Numbr One!

When I Grow Up

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When I was just a little girl,
I asked my mother,
What will I be?
Will I be pretty?
Will I be rich?
Here’s what she said to me …

From an early age I dreamed of being; never being any one set thing but each thing related to words. And now when I think about those childhood ambitions many of them remain the same to this day. I would still like to be an actress, a journalist, an English and Drama teacher. Added now to my list are the White House Press Secretary and my one childhood pipe dream, a professional ice skater, like my childhood heroine Katarina Witt.

So here in more detail are the things I would most like to be when I grow up.

Ice Skater
When I was younger I lived in Germany and I used to love watching ice skating on television. My favourite skater was Katarina Witt. She was a hugely successful skater and was jut gorgeous to watch. I loved her grace, her elegance, her costumes!! I loved watching her colour and creativity and sparkle on the screen. I used to dream of being just like her. In reality when I went ice skating as a child I had to hang on to the sides of the rink so as not to fall over. An ice dancer I was never going to be!

Actress
I tried so hard to make this dream come true. I was in every possible school production, I studied GCSE Drama and A Level Theatre Studies, I joined local drama groups and when we moved to areas that did not have a drama group then from as young as 9 I woud start one. Drama was and is my thing! I would have given anything to be a professional actress. When I was a child I was desperate to join Anna Scher Theatre School. I worshipped her and wrote her letters. I am fairly sure that she replied too. I also went through a phase of wanting to go to The Italia Conti Academy, none of this was possible as by this time we were living in Germany. I wrote to the BBC too and asked if I could be an extra. I also told the BBC about a book I liked that should be made into a TV series and I even offered to play the leading role myself. I was desperate! As I got older I realised that I needed to make the best of my amateur experiences as a professional role was probably not ever going to be mine.

Writer / Journalist
I tried hard to achieve this goal too. I was editor of our class magazine at school as a pupil and also ran the school newspaper as a teacher. At university I wrote short pieces for the TES and had an interview for ATL. In my late teens I had an interview for a job as a local news reader on BFBS Radio in Germany. They were very impressed with me at the interview but I was too young for the role. I loved the interview though, choosing what news needed to be given the highest priority and makng headlones and reading them out over the air. Such a great experience, I would have loved that job! Now as a blogger I am developing my writing skills and I also write articles about Zu3D for my fiance. I would like to write a book one day. I have been writing stories and poems for as long as I can remember. It is something that I find very easy, something that I love to do. Perhaps an educational children’s book will be in the offing one day.

English and Drama Teacher
I am half way to this one already as a primary teacher and literacy subject leader but when my own children go to school I would like to work as a secondary school English teacher. I want to be like Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society. That is my dream job. That is the dream I am going to strive to achieve next and I cannot wait!!

White House Press Secretary
This is my fantasy dream job after becoming a little obsessed with The West Wing. I think I could be a good Press Secretary, I would love to give it a try!! I love the patriotism and passion in The West Wing. I am not American but The West Wing makes me want to serve at the pleasure of the President. Of President Bartlett anyway!

So there you have it, what I would be, if I could be, should I ever ever grow up.

Please hop on over to Manana Mama who is hosting this week’s listography to explore other people’s hopes, dreams and fantasies.

Things to be Happy About

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H.A.P.P.Y

A clear and bright blue sky
The sun casting diamonds on the ocean
Warm sand between my toes
Crisp morning air
Reaching a summit
Running or rolling down a grassy hill
Cocktails
Friendship
Loud music
Great lyrics
Making lists
Crossing things off lists
Hot chocolate with cream
Christmas
Advent
What ifs
Just imagines
Happy ever afters
Baby smiles
Little giggles
Belly laughs
Playtime
Bedtime
Cold sheets
Cuddles
Fresh linen
Blossom
Wordplay
David
Family
New inspirations
Ideas that work
Teaching
Learning
Exploring
Remembering
Esther
William
Beginning
Ending
Dancing under the stars
Sleeping beneath the moon
Toasted marshmallows
Buttered crumpets
Campfires and songs
Fine food
Chocolate wine
Trust
Loyalty
Spontaneity
Peace
Flowery dresses
Floaty skirts
Plaits and ringlets
Tumbling tresses
A good book
A funny film
Great company
Solitude
Understanding
Respect
Curiosity
Belief
Celebration
Giving gifts
Making cards
Writing poetry
Creation
Imagination
Hardwork
Fun
Dream making
Goal getting
Faith
Destiny
Love

I could go on and on!

This is in response to Lauren @ RealhousewifeofSuffolk who has started a Things to be Happy About MeMe. How could I resist joining in, it is always so nice to think happy thoughts. You have just read some of mine, why not hop on over to Lauren and share some of yours?

Where’s Your Head At?

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Mumra Playlist

I have been aware of Mumra’s Playlist for a few weeks now but have not joined in. This week’s topic jumped out at me though partly because I am missing my little sister so much at the moment and partly because I have not danced in so long apart from at my sister’s wedding where we did indeed dance to this band!

My breaking shapes tune is actually any tune at all by The Basement Jaxx. I love them and they never fail to get me on my feet and on to the dance floor.

I cannot choose a favourite tune but I do love Red Alert, Rendez-Vu, Romeo and Do Your Thing.

Such great, light hearted dance tunes that really do make you shake your thing!

One of the best nights of my life was going to see Robbie Williams with my little sister and supporting him were The Basement Jaxx and they were just outstanding. We danced and bounced our way through their tunes and enjoyed them almost more than the man himself. An amazing experience which cemented my love of this fabulous dance act.

Ladies and Gentleman, The Basement Jaxx

Rendez-Vu

Do Your Thing

Photo 365 Introduction and 001/365

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Today I am starting the Photo 365 Challenge. I know that it is usual to start this in January but I am in need of a new challenge and photography is something that I long to be better at so this seemed the right way to go. I am going to try hard to take good, different photos and improve my skills and my blog in the process.

To start the challenge I am going to introduce two young models who I think will feature quite heavily in my photos to come. My very nearly 8 month old twins, Esther and William.

Esther and William were born at 27 weeks and 3 days gestation on 24th July 2010. In 8 months they have come on in leaps and bounds. At their corrected age of very nearly 5 months they are rolling at will and caterpillar crawling around the floor. They can sit independently for a few seconds a a time and have in the last few days developed a love of bubbles and balloons. They are becoming quite chatty in their funny little way though it is hard to make out separate sounds when they have all of their fingers stuffed in their mouths!! Poor teething babies! I hope to get lots of improving shots of them as they change and grow.

I hope you will stick with me throughout the challenge.

Here is Photo 001

Introducing Esther and William to 365

Reasons to Be Cheerful

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Reasons to be Cheerful at Mummy From the Heart

In a week when many people around the world are holding on to hope with their bare hands I feel quite selfish gloating about my cheer. And yet here I am, because this week I do have genuine reasons for cheer and pride. My little miracle babies are doing so well and I cannot hide how I feel about that after the terrible start to life that they had.

My Reasons to be Cheerful this week:-

Esther and William are above average in their general development
This week we had a clinic appointment for Esther and William at the hospital. At this clinic they are weighed and undergo a number of developmental checks that I do not pretend to understand. What I do know though is that the Consultant told us that she is very very pleased with both babies. William is just above the 75th percentile for development and Esther is just below. This is marked against their corrected age of 4.5 months. I was so proud watching them work thorugh the exercises with the physio I thought that I might burst with pride and they did everything with a smile too. The session was topped off when one of the nurses said to us, “We always knew these babies would be clever ones!” Proud Mummy moment!

Esther and William loved their first baby class, Baby Sensory

Today we went to Baby Sensory for the very first time and Esther and William both loved it. In particualr they loved helium balloons and the ball pool. I was so impressed with the class leader, Julie Reynolds, and her welcoming manner that I signed up for 10 weeks straight away and we start next week!! I am so excited!!! I am going to review the session on my blog so please watch this space x

Esther and William have moved into their very own BIG cots!!
After William crawling on top of Esther in his sleep a couple of times we decided that the time had come to move Esther in to a cot of her own. It has only been one night so far but again it is a really proud Mummy moment though I am also sad that they are not sharing anymore. My babies are growing up. Next move will be into a room of their own and no longer with their Daddy and I. That will be a big moving day. This was just a small moving day but a big reason for cheer.

Need more stories to make you smile? Hop on over to Mummy from the Heart’s blog and share your Reasons to be Cheerful.

Friday Flashback: Wee Sis

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Today I have been missing my little sister. She lives in Australia and I know that she is very happy there but sometimes I really miss her, more than any words can say.

Today I have been thinking about when I first introduced, Julie, my little sister to my fiance, David. Dave and I were living in West Malling at the time and Julie came to stay in our flat for a long weekend. We had a fabulous time and as I knew that they would, Dave and Julie got on really well. It was brilliant, two people I am closest to in the world seemed to like each other, I was a very happy girl.

It was the summer of 2007 and I think it was a happy time for all of us. We certainly look happy in the photos I have chosen to share today.

It was a glorious summer weekend. The air was warm, the sun was shining and swimming in the sea was refreshing and cool. We went to the beach at Joss Bay and it was a perfect perfect day. At night we went to the pub, the three of us, and got merry chatting and playing drinking games. It really was a wonderful day.

This Friday Flashback is of happy summer days with the people I love best of all.