I dithered about allowing Boy Three to go to his after school club’s Christmas Party – and here’s why… Claus for concern pic: Kevin Dooley via Flickr It’s supposed to be magical. Children waiting for the kindly, bearded chap to deliver their heart’s desire into an old sock on Christmas Eve. Then they ooh and […]
Thoughts on the end of home learning (fingers crossed)
Back to school – real, actual, muddy knees, bell going school – next week. I have never been keener for a Monday morning scurry. And neither has Boy Three. At first it was interesting to peep into the classroom through the Zoom window and my theoretical admiration for teachers now has more evidence than any […]
When is a cow not a vegetarian?
When it’s eating its own afterbirth. Apparently they do this to protect the new-born from predators long enough for it to get on its own four wobbly feet. Clever nature. A summer evening walk with a lovely friend was rendered unforgettable by the sight of a new-born calf and its mother. We stood fascinated while […]
Statues: celebrate the changes
A statue tells several stories. One is its subject’s, one is of those who commissioned and created it, and one of how we understand and react to these other stories. Which is most important? Do I need to open this post with a statement about black lives mattering? Surely not… Some things are blindingly obvious, […]
Coronavirus: What are we going to talk about today?
“Mum, you’ve said that four times already today.” “I have?” “Yes. You telling people that the quality of the chat is going to get pretty skinny pretty quickly.” That was back at the start of the Time We Couldn’t Believe Was Happening when even our astonishment was worth commenting on. How quickly we’ve got used […]