ELEVENSES HERE *****************************************************************************************

[MaryAnnSingleton]

think we've been deleted,so shall we put ourselves here in other subjects ?
Sleepless night fretting about T and loos and lunches at big school - how neurotic am I ?!

bumping for attention of HOTCROSS & HIPPI

shouldn't have put all those asterisks as it annoyingly fills too much space at top bit of current messages..sorry !

Phew, found you Almost started a new thread, but you beat me to it

I never got back to our old thread last night - How did T get on???

E had a fab day. New teacher already read with her adn she brought a reading book home.
She was very happy.

O came home less happy. The teacher (not the one we like but the other one, it is a jobshare) allocated them all places to sit. O is next to the one person in the class he does not like. And she does not like him either.
I have told O just to ignore her, get on with his work and not react to her. (The girl in question is very very bossy and will try to rule the table. O fell out with her last year because he would not do as she said, but to be honest they have never ever got on.
I hope it won't turn out to be a problem.

hello hippi ! Oh poor O,what bad luck..but don't despair,things might be different this term and if not am sure you can negotiate a move..T's class were always moved along after a few weeks and I did ask for him to be moved away from a boy who troubled him - was no problem..but see how they get along first.
T was fine yesterday,though told me he hadn't been to the loo (!!!) and had eaten only garlic bread as he didn't know what to choose for his lunch..am hoping these things will be sorted today..I have rung school (already..neurotic pfb mum alert) to leave a message for his tutor to ring me as I wanted to ask about PE equipment and mention the loos...
Glad E had a great day - hooray

Oh, bless lovely T He will find his feet soon, I am sure! Did he find his way around the school okay? Does he like his teachers? I hope he will be happy there.

I don't think I will instigate a move. This particular girl sat next to someone last year who she did not like (she obviously does not like quite a few children) adn her mum went in adn asked her to be moved. And it was a bit of a joke really. Teh teacher pointed out that in Y4 they had to rub along with anyone, and she (the teacher) was not asking them to be friends but merely to work alongside each other.
I have told O this, and told him just to be polite and get on with his work.
If it really does not work, then the teacher will realise soon enough (and this girl and her mum are not ones to keep quiet if something is upsetting them)
Of course if it starts to majorly affect O's work then I will step in. But this girl is very bright, and wants to work hard so she could actually be good for O. If he sat next to someone he got on with he would be far more tempted to chat. This way he has no choice but to concentrate

that all sounds very sensible hippi - am sure it'll work out !
T seems happy with the work aspect of school - Geography and German today so he'll be very excited ! He found himself in the wrong room yesterday but he should figure it all out soon ..tutor sounds nice, young and newly qualified so hopefully enthusiastic - she must be well thought of to have a tutor group anyway !

Ah ha! Found you! Was just starting to panic, but searched methodically and there you were. Phew!

Hope all dcs have gone in happily today? Even on such a rotten wet, cold morning

Hippi - great news E is happy. Long may that continue. Can't believe she's read already Poor O, but you sound very sensible about it. Probably best to see how things go... As you say, it may help him to knuckle down and then he can let off steam with his friends at playtime.

MAS - it sounds like T is coping pretty well so far and telling you things, not bottling up too much. As he becomes more familiar with the routine and layout of the building he'll feel much more settled and you'll be able to breathe

B sailed in to her class happily again today. We chose a reading book, put drink away etc and then she said 'you can go now mummy' so I did. Lovely not to have long drawn out goodbyes. I introduced myself to her teacher today, and she seems nice, very young and smiley, and have discovered the other teacher(jobshare) isn't who I thought it was. Don't know when she's in though..

We met the new head after drop off, and she seems quietly capable and easy to talk to. She stressed she isn't planning on changing lots(not even to introduce a reading scheme!!!which didn't please some parents) and was just looking forward to getting to know us all. So I'm fairly relieved - didn't realise I was fretting, but I was

Have been co-opted onto the PTA and am still doing library, so guess I'll be busy!

that all sounds good hotcross ! you'll be busy sorry to be so brief, just dropping in on my way to get some spider and ladybird reference (poetry book is about all kinds of animals) xxx

Hello hotcross, glad you found us

Great news that B is so easily settled. I do like the fact you can go into the classroom, but does it not get terribly congested??
The three Y1 classes were lined up again today. This system seems to work well for most people. E certainly seems happy to give me a kiss and then join her line. But little S had a terrible time. She screamed and cried and had to be peeled off my friend K. I felt so sorry for her. But she is going to see the teacher this afternoon to discuss a strategy for little S to be happy to go into teh classroom. She is fine once she is there, but finds it hard to leave mum.
You sometimes forget how little they still are...

Hotcross, you will be busy!! I will be doing Toe by Toe again in the Junior school, but that does not start until after the October half term.

Back later

Hello. Should not be here, should be cleaning

MAS - your insect job sounds nice, and I love poetry We read an absolutely gorgeous story in Waterstones this week, and it made me think of you as the illustrations were so so beautiful. It was called 'The bogbaby'(I think). I think I might have to buy it ...

Hippi - it is nice being able to go into the classroom, although I'm sure it wont be encouraged when they've been there a bit. It actually doesn't get congested. There are 2 entrances to the classroom, and pegs are outside the interior door, so lots of places for parents to be., and there isn't one main through route as tables are dotted around, so we can easily spread out. I just can't get over how laid back B has been - long may it continue Am for E's little friend. They are still very very young.

can 11 be considered very young for being thrust into big senior school ? ! T's tutor just rang - seemed nice - didn't know about PE kit though (is a Science teacher) but told me that yr 7 use the music block loos...just having marmite sandwich before returning to desk

11 is very young for senior school. In fact, I'm 36 and think I could probably just about cope with it now I hated secondary school....

Am about to grab a sandwich. Have gone through piles and piles of junk mail etc and can finally see the top of the computer cupboard!

hotcross ! well done for cleaning..am going to wash my plate and coffee stuff and return upstairs - have offered to meet T outside old school again today, but rather wish I hadn't - don't want to be wet as well as chilly.

11 is too young for senior school. In Holland you are at least 12 by the time you go to senior school, and under the american system you are 14!

I have not done much today. Felt really ill last night, but a bit better today, so horrid cold is on its way out hurrah!
I have made and frozen some sandwiches for O adn E's lunchboxes, done a load of washing, I have dealt with some e-mails and have re-organized O and E's wardrobes by removing all shorts adn summery things and replacing them with long-sleeved tops adn jeans/joggers. Have kept on or two summery items out for both in case we suddenly get a heatwave, but am not holding out much hope...

Of to get them in a mo - I hope O has behaved himself and not wound that girl up too much! He said last night that when Mrs R allocated him the seat next to this girl she loudly groaned 'oh no' as O sat down. O said he responded by banging his head on the desk and pulling a face at her. She then pulled a face back. Could become interesting....

Well, success today - pasta and tomato sauce and chips,much of which was on his tie and he found the loos..
Swimming lesson at 5 which was nice. He seems cheery,walked home alone,or as far as old school anyway,but the 2 boys he walks in with were waiting for him outside school and he hadn't realised that they would - sweet of them to think of that- they twigged and came home shortly after. Homework is to decorate his German and French exercise books,so nothing too taxing
Hope O had a good day and got on ok with his deskmate, or at least ignored her. Hope you feel better too hippi

how organised to make and freeze sandwiches in advance - I'd never thought of that !

Am that you think you haven't done much today, hippi, it sounds LOADS!! Hope you're feeling much much better tonight and that both mini hippi's have had fab days?

T sounds like he's doing well Good news about lunch too. And the homework sounds fun.

Thank goodness for the weekend though. B is exhausted! She read to the teacher today and came home very happy with herself. Wont tell me much more than what was for lunch though. It's sooo frustrating - I want it all in minute detail, but am trying really hard to restrain myself from asking loads of questions

this rain is vile - the roof is leaking in the bathroom (sloping tiled roof) think it's the sheer weight of rain forcing through the tiles,fortunately much was over the bath,a bit has come down the walls though...gah !

Oh MAS how's the leaking this morning? I think the worst of the rain is today and then tomorrow should be drier, so hope you can get it sorted out asap. Poor you...

it stopped as soon as the very heavy rain subsided last night...with any luck I hope it withstands 'normal' rain..will ring roof man to come and look. gah !

Morning

Have only just found time to catch up with you both. MAS I am sorry to hear about your leaking roof How is it now?

We have had a busy weekend. Well, Saturday was not sooo busy, E had a swimming lesson adn dh took O into Woking to spend his birthdfay gift voucher.
Sunday was a family get-together with Steve's dad and his side of the family. It was lovely, they had invited dh's aunt adn uncle he had not seen for 4 years! Bit sad though, he (the uncle) is suffering from prostrate cancer adn she (the auntie) from secondary lung cancer caused by last years breast cancer. But you would never know it - they looked well and were chirpy adn chatty. Lovely.
O was in his element because dh's uncle was a squadron leader in teh RAF, his job was to fly over the sea and 'spot' submarines (or so I believe, I got a little bit lost) and he had some interesting stories to tell

I need to do some chores today. ONe of them is to deliver the forms and payment for the Cubs Family Camp to an adress all the way at the bottom of the hill. We are not using the car now because we have run out of money (dh's overtime has been cut due to the company's financial crisis adn that means we are over £600 per month down, and we used to rely on that money for groceries, fuel, clothing etc. So we are on a mucho tight budget until after Christmas when hopefully the company will pick up. So no car usage except for emergencies and swimming lessons.
So, do I walk there, with DillyDog, thereby killing two birds in one stone. It is not a big hill, it will take me 10 minutes to walk down from my house, and 20 back up. This is my preferred option. Dh wants me to use my new bike and roll down the hill (which I know will go way too fast and I will panic) and then walk back up.
The other option is to cycle the long way round, sort of skirting the hill therby only dealing with a long but gentle slope.
Oooh, that is my dilemma for the day....

at your dilemma hippi ! I'd cycle the long way round, if that's any help !
Family get together sounded lovely - but sad that they are both suffering from cancer - hope the prognoses (plural ?0 are good for them...
The roof didn't leak with normal rain,thank goodness... I suspect it was the extreme heaviness of the rain on Friday evening that just forced it's way through..anyway,dh is ringing a roofing firm today to ask them to check it out.

We didn't do much this w/end apart from chores and a trip to town where dh bought me my bday present - it's a silver bangle,plain but twisted in 2 parts,so it's kind of thick,then thin,if that makes sense. He wanted to buy me some amber earrings but I didn't think they were quite me (good job he showed me first on website !) I don't wear much jewellery,usually some small earrings and I love bangles so that seemed a good choice !
Planted hollyhock seedling which FIL had put into pots from seeds I'd given him from Gilbert White's house in Selborne.
T decorated his German and French exercise books with drawings of maps,flags, a boulangerie,a rottweiler and a man in leiderhosen,oh and a drawing of the Bavarian Alps !! I then covered them,very badly, in clear plastic film.
He has gone in laden with rucksack and sports bag containing his entire PE kit - weighs a ton- seems ok today, I sent him off with my usual mantra of instructions !

btw, can sympathise with economising thing - we are hard pressed too - am trying to keep shopping bills as low as possible and we are forbidden any heating until it's mid winter !! I did sneak it on to try to dry the rain mopping up towels and some of my washing though

Wow, T's artwork sounds amazing!!
Glad he set off for school happily.

I have started letting O walk on his own (sometimes he catches up with friends) adn I trail behind with E.

It is a safe route to school, only one busy-ish road to cross and that now has a level crossing (but not one with traffic lights if that makes sense)
And O is sensible and not a risk taker.
But I still worry....

I think I will cycle the long way round. It is a nice day, no rain, so a cycle ride should be nice. I should be out for about an hour....

Morning

I'm in agreement - I'd cycle the long way round too. But I don't have a bike yet, so I wouldn't, but hypothetically I would IYKWIM??? I never did like steep hills and cycling, I don't think I'm at all, or could ever be, an adrenaline junkie...

We're also tightening our belts. I'm the queen of using up leftovers. They may not be terribly edible, but they're free B isn't impressed but dh would eat anything, as long as he hadn't had to cook it.

Glad leaking stopped MAS. I was thinking of you, but ended up not getting near the computer. Hope the roofing person says positive - not costing a lot of money - things!

Your family get together does sound lovely hippi. So sad to hear about the illnesses, life seems to be very cruel sometimes, but they sound like lovely, positive people. Hopefully something can be done to help them.

I'm cleaning again today. Dh did some drilling (putting up shelves in B's room) so there is a fine layer of dust over things. I wish he'd moved her things below out of the way first, but Hey ho