Sour Crepes

[QueenQueenie]

Well someone had to do it....

[bigTillyMint]

Friends have just phoned to invite us for an impromptu drink which is, of course, lovely even though I was just settling down infront of the TV.

Strength Windy and MI!

[motherinferior]

I have a pile of gory novels (charity shop this pm) and a glass of wine. DP is sorting out DD1's eye-watering phone bill so I am left gloriously alone

[Blackduck]

Ohh windy you will so fit in with us crepeys who have dmums/mils who drive us bonkers!!

Auriga - many thanks for the chat last night - been thinking on it much re mum.

[CointreauVersial]

Courage, Windy....actually, my MIL never speaks, just sits there passively, which I think is even worse.

We had a lovely day in Kingston; all missions accomplished, obligatory trip to Tiger, and we even managed to kit out the notoriously picky DD2 with some summer clothes including a gorgeous dark denim jacket from Gap that I rather wished was available in my size. We finished with a burger blow-out at Byron, where the bill topped £100 That's why we don't eat out often. I look back wistfully to the days when they all had kid's meals at £5 a head.

Funnily enough, at Clarks we were directed to the Children's Department, even though DS is a size 7 and taller than me. I'm guessing the equivalent shoes in Men's would have been more expensive, so I wasn't complaining. But he did look a bit out of place squeezed on the bench next to all the toddlers.

I might get up early tomorrow and go to the local car boot. If it's not raining....

[CointreauVersial]

Oh, and Herbs, I hope your little Sportacus is delighted with his new costume.

[NearTheWindymill]

Well we've been home for about an hour. DD is triumphant. MIL is behaving acceptably in private and in public. I'm on my third glass.

Have to be up at 6 to prpeare a decent lunch. Am head sidesman tomorrow ( Big church so a two hour job). My mother and step will arrive at about 10.30 - before I get back (for the matinee). I am looking forward to the clash of the titans. The mothers haven't met since dd christening. Ballerina turned vamp -v- wannabee actress turned Sunday school teacher. Both 77. Deep joy ahead. [Hmm].

Was lovely to meet you btw - just launched into a rather demandin w/e. Contemplated having Monday off, bt MIL doesn't leave until midday!!

[motherinferior]

I am chivvying various people into getting up (to be fair DP is better at getting up than I am) and preparing to see my parents.

[Blackduck]

MI - good luck!

We are planning ds's birthday. I was a bit when one possible suggestion was met with 'oh I don't think x would like that' from the mother - erm it's ds's party - your child either comes and does what is on offer, or doesn't come!! Sheesh....

I have hoovered and tidied and now need to get ds ready for school on Tuesday - a bit of a full non week here work wise.

[herbaceous]

DP downstairs tackling the kitchen (he also cooked dinner last night, and made gingerbread men with DS, so top marks), while I have another bash at the PGCE stuff.

DS absolutely LOVES his Sportacus costume. The first thing he said when he got into our bed this morning was 'If I had a Sportacus costume, I could run soooo fast', so imagine his amazement when there, laid out on the hall floor, was that very thing!

He put it on straight away, ate breakfast in it and is now watching Frozen. Again.

[SheherazadeSchadenfreude]

CV - is your MIL Irish? I have a friend with an Irish MIL, who never speaks either, and also eats her meal separately from everyone else in the kitchen, then clears up, does all the washing up on her own and makes tea for the men.

[bigTillyMint]

Herbs, do you know what kind of thing they will be asking you? I can think of scenarios you might be asked about for primary, but adults???? And awww at MiniHerbs in his Sportacus outfit.

Windy, your weekend sounds gruelling! Rudy, ever the domestic goddess

I had two separate conversations with friends suffering with menopausal symptoms yesterday. I am now wondering if I have a flashing light over my head "mad menopausal woman" but glad I consuls share their pain!

Am contemplating a trip to Johnny LouLou's for my free cake and coffee to peruse their amtico/kitchens, etc, etc...

[herbaceous]

My MiL is Irish. She is not remotely silent. But she is a bit prone to excessive solitary toil in the kitchen, despite repeated offers of help.

[bigTillyMint]

Consuls? Could. Bloody iPad!

[herbaceous]

Ah, BTM. I have to do a five-minute presentation on literacy teaching, but think that's OK.

The interview is more terrifying. The only question I know they're going to ask is: "Give an example of how you reflect on your practice in your current role." Which I'm assuming is new-fangled management speak for just keeping abreast of changes in your field, taking note of new ways of doing things, etc.

I'm assuming the rest of the questions will be about why I want to be a teacher, what makes me think I'll be good at it, how I'd deal with disruptive pupils, etc...

[bigTillyMint]

Reflective practice in teaching is about looking at how your teaching is going. So assessing how well a lesson went and trying to identify why that was - self, pupils, resources, appropriate objectives, starting from where the pupils are and building on prior knowledge, etc, etc. And then thinking about how you could improve on it for the next lesson. It is about analysing your practice and then incorporating new or different ways of doing things into your practice so as to affect positive change.

It is adult literacy that you are interested in Isn't it? Or have I got that wrong?!

[herbaceous]

That's right! The course is 'post-compulsory PGCE in literacy and ESOL'.

Ah yes. That's what I thought re 'reflective practice'. From googling it seems to be a long-winded way of saying 'learning through experience', but formalised. I'm finding it quite hard to get my head around all the new jargon I'm going to have to learn/speak. The last 25 years have all been about plain English and stripping out all that kind of malarky...

[bigTillyMint]

Nooooo! Don't let the jargon take over - plain English is what eye want! And that will be relevant to teaching adults.

[motherinferior]

I have spent most of the car journey to Norwich realising with cold horror how much work I have to do in May. And that May means NOW. It's because of this daft bint designer who thinks she can work with a newborn. So we're having to produce an entire charity mag in a month. I am losing out on this considerably as am buying in help to push it through..

[Blackduck]

MI - one bite at a time... You'll be fine.

Herbs - yes don't get caught up in the jargon, be clear and concise.

I need to decide whether to finish third (poison chalice/slayer) application or not
^^
I think I've decided haven't i? QQ come and slap me round the head :)

[herbaceous]

Don't do it, BD. I've no idea what the job is, but if it seems like a poisoned chalice now, I'd imagine it will be a total nightmare when actually in the job.

[QueenQueenie]

Puts down megaphone and advances on BD with a damp kipper
As you were...

[Blackduck]

Damp kipper?!? Where did you get a damp kipper on a Sunday morning QQ?

[bigTillyMint]

Have stuffed down a lovely slice of carrot cake as a reward for braving Primarni (much nicer than a damp kipper on a Sunday morning I always think) and am relaxing before I visit the flooring/kitchen departments