Froglet

Someone at work the other day said that everyone outside the setting thinks we wind down for the summer but actually we wind up!

Thanks Sunnyday, that did make me smile. Early return because a couple of years ago my LA changed to having a two week October half term - we lose a week in summer as compensation. This year I think it feels worse because it’s 4 and 2 half weeks. Any week which has school in it feels like a school week to me. My current plan is that I will aim to take the middle two weeks completely off - no email, no work, no nothing. The other weeks I will allow myself to work in the mornings and then do ‘me stuff’ in the afternoon. My top tip for keeping cool is to freeze a hot water bottle. When it’s back in it’s soft cover it creates lovely cool spots in the bed at night.

Zigzag - so pleased that Thursday went well. Sending you lots of love. Sunnyday - congratulations on the blanket - it's lovely. Louby - congratulations on finishing! I have 8 more days to go - we finish on the 27th. One of those includes sports day which we have moved (originally scheduled for Tuesday). It has been a difficult term in many ways and I am mentally and physically exhausted and just worn out. We have what feels like a short holiday this year - back on 31st August. I need to take a little time to reset and regroup and a lot of time to think over some challenging questions. Am not quite sure where to start at the moment! I know that I will need to sleep a lot but for me that often ends up being naps - I can tell when I'm 'better' when I no longer need an afternoon nap. I have lots of crochet plans (taking a little break from socks at the moment) although I haven't crafted for a while and I need to! I usually have cooking plans but I've been struggling with wanting to cook recently so I maybe need to find some easy things to get going again. Since I lost my taste/smell I don't have quite the same motivation to cook and eat! The school TDL is, as always, epic and I need to find a way of managing that so that I don't start the year stressed but also take a proper break. Apologies if all that sounds moany - it's not meant to be just stating a fact! I know that as soon as next Thursday (rescheduled sports day) is over that will help.

Zig zag, I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. Sending you much love.

I’ve really enjoyed Sewing Bee again this year. It felt more ‘normal’ celebrating people who were really good sewers rather than weird and wonderful.

A crochet Victoria sandwich. As for your granddaughter - love a girl with priorities!

I’m with you Sunnyday. I have just crocheted a champagne bottle - might that have something to do with it? Currently working on a Victoria sandwich!

Nothing in particular but I have (for me) been very brave and been in to town today to get my hair cut and go to the theatre.

My brain and body have rebelled against the TDL today and I have spent it snoozing, reading and crocheting - some ears for a jack russell and some mini jubilee bunting just because!

Sorry about the house but congratulations on the outstanding! That’s wonderful news!

I will, I’d heard about smelling and visualising the smell too but I hadn’t realised the length of time you should do it for. I get wafts of smells like citrus and mint but they are tantalisingly short. There is an upside - a child was sick and I couldn’t smell it! 😉

Yes, didn’t notice at first but then made a loaf of bread over Christmas and then realised as I took it out the oven that I couldn’t smell it at all. I don’t have any horrible smells but can hardly smell anything or taste anything much. Given how much I love food and cooking it’s very depressing.

In the end I made lemon madeleines, lemon curd and some marzipan cookies. I love a cheese scone too but I’ve not had much practice at chutneys and pickles and since I lost my sense of taste and smell I am wary of things like that unless I can get others to taste test for me!

Oh I like the scones and jam idea! I might also make a jar of chutney or pickle and some crackers. I have tomorrow morning - it was important to rest today I think!

Garden show sounds lovely, glad Mr S managed. I’m going to see A Murder is Announced - an Agatha Christie. I may be rethinking the birthday gift idea - have just woken up. Do I just find something online and arrange for it to be delivered to her house?

Oh the joys of half term! I woke up at 3am but managed to go back to sleep and not wake again until 8am. I have spent the morning in pyjamas crocheting a mini lion and am now contemplating what next. My brother and sister are coming to mum and dad’s with respective families tomorrow and I need to sort a birthday present for my sister-in-law. I think I’m going to do a selection of edible things so will spend the afternoon browsing recipes and cooking. I do want to go through my school emails today. There were 123 in my ‘need action’ folder but I’m fairly sure some of them have been done. I want to see what’s what on the good old TDL before next week starts so I can actually be productive. I will be taking plenty of time off too! Am going to the theatre one day and also need to try to do dull but necessary jobs to sort possible leaks at home.

PS My book group just read A single thread by Tracy Chevalier and one of our follow on discussions was around the therapeutic nature of craft.

All this is fantastic and this and a couple of conversations I’ve had with people about things are inspiring me to try and find a similar group that meets at a time I can do (so many seem to be mid morning/afternoon on a weekday).

Updating - why is it that the moment I write that I’m feeling wide awake and planning to get lots of work done I immediately feel overwhelmingly tired and have to take a nap?! So frustrating!

Family pizza party and Sunday dinner sounds lovely - enjoy! I had what can only be described as a true Friday 13th! Let's just say that retrieving peas from my underwear was the high point - I was feeling slightly hysterical at the end of the day. I have just hung the washing outside and I could really do with doing some serious tidying in the garden which, as it's so tiny, probably won't take that long! I have various new planning formats to work on today, reports to write and transition arrangements to make. I am currently wide awake so I am going to see if I can get going and stick with it today and take tomorrow off.

Happy Birthday! Hope you’re having a wonderful day!

Does anyone hold you accountable for attendance or expect you increase it at all? I know that in both my schools post covid it is a significant issue.

I quite genuinely had a parent asking me about a child’s missing jumper the other week and telling me it was “Age 6-7.” I couldn’t help myself and did reply with “Well, we’re an infant school - there are quite a lot of age 6-7 jumpers!”

That is great news Zigzag! Parents are definitely a mixed bag - some are amazing, some are very challenging. I often find myself wishing that I could go out and say what I really want to them - I don't mean to be rude or aggressive but sometimes I despair at the lack of consideration for others that they show. I am all for protecting your own children but they often don't seem to think that staff are real people too and might be hurt by their manner. The number that also seem to think they don't actually have any responsibility for bringing their children up or that school should be at their beck and call all the time. My new(ish) head is encouraging us to take a tougher line about our availability and responses to things we are asked. My week has been mixed - one of my SEN children who has been really worrying me with uncharacteristic behaviour seems (touch wood) to be returning to normal which is lovely. However, I am having to plan and deliver a very personal curriculum to try and engage him in any learning at all. I may be coming for an EY dose of creative help to get some specific maths and English objectives into Thomas, giraffes, sunflowers and the gruffalo! I've also been really struggling with sleeping through the night and have woken up at 3am most days - my brain is a little mushy as a result this weekend! My TDL is even 'epicer' than normal this weekend as we begin to sort out transition and next week we have 'visitors' in school three days - not those who begin with O but people who are all focusing on school improvement. It's going to feel like a very scrutinised week. I am starting another crochet dog for someone and have used the excuse that as it's largely black I needed to take advantage of the bright sunshine we have this morning... I must make myself do some school work soon though or I will regret it! Have a lovely weekend everyone.

If you want, as long as it’s not urgent. Crochet is my escape and the summer term is the busiest of all - I don’t want it to become something I feel pressured about.