Fab40 foibles

How much do you weigh?

 

 

(source)

 

I was reading an article in today's Guardian (this is officially a VLW - very lazy weekend, so you'll have to find the link yourselves today) which was talking about how women snack in secret - fair enough I thought, who wants to share the chocolate with the kids? It's bad for them.

 

So far, so Guardian.

 

However I was taken aback by the fact that women lie about their weight.

 

To whom?

 

Why?

 

I have never dreamed of asking a friend, or of telling them how much I weigh, who cares?

 

Until now I've always asked them what they are reading, or told them about my latest classic teaching moment, e.g. -

 

We've obviously been having the wrong sort of conversation.

 

Apart from the anesthetist I have never thought to tell anyone my weight.

 

Oh well, now I know. I'll just sneak behind the sofa to finish this kitkat then I'll be back with the details.

 

 

 

 

Related articles

Women own up to guilt over eating habits

My dream hideaway

... and a couple of extra resolutions!

 

 

 

Is it too late for a couple of last minute resolutions?

 

I hope not.

 

To be honest I was too busy enjoying Christmas to think properly about New Year so it took me by surprise so to speak.

 

I've just read A Year of Doing Good and was briefly tempted to try and do a good deed every day, until I realized that my deeds would probably be things like not singing in front of people or not wearing my new Christmas hat to pick the kids up from school.

 

I read a great blog ( and lost it immediately) about a girl who didn't buy any clothes for a year, that would do my bank imbalance wonders, but I bought a T-shirt today so it's already too late.

 

However there are a couple of things that I'd like to try. 

 

One is the happiness jar, loads of blogs have mentioned it, have a look on google images - happiness jar to see some far prettier than ours.

 

The idea is to write down every happy moment of the year and then open the jar on New year's Eve and reread the best bits of 2013.

 

My other idea is to use this widget here, that's right this one at the bottom on the left, to count how many miles I run this year.

 

Perhaps I should make being more decisive a resolution too.

 

 

Related articles

...and Hello 2013

Goodbye 2012

To blog, or not to blog - that is the question

(source)

As you can see below I made  the decision to stop blogging a while ago, I was completely overloaded and something had to give.

Although  haven't any more free time, if anything things got worse towards the end of the year, I have missed having a place to share my views and an outlet for the little creativity I possess. 

I've missed not telling you about running with courir...ensemble a fantastic charity which works with children with cancer.

I would have loved your advice on how to deal with my new primary class and a few SEN pupils I've tried to help this school year.

I'm sure I'd have made you chuckle with the adventures of Cookie, the sofa-eating puppy.

You could have helped me find prezzies for the husband who wants nothing and the football crazy boy.

Although I haven't been blogging I've still been keeping an eye on blogs I enjoy, such as the brilliant Bibsey and  gorgeous Get Real France . I've also been frustrated by some blogs that I used to enjoy, but now find that every time I log on they're advertising some product or other - a prickly subject I imagine.

So, after all this procrastinating.... I'm back... perhaps, what do you think? Should I stay or should I go?

Shock, horror, no poem today

 

 

My humble apologies for the lack of post this week.

 

I've always managed it before, even posting every day for a month while being away in April for the A to Z blog challenge, but this week has just been too wizzy for words.

 

Firstly the puppy managed to knock a jug of water on TN, (trusty notebook), meaning I couldn't have posted if I had wanted to, which I did actually, but I'll tell you about that idea next week instead.

 

Fortunately my hairdryer came in useful in fixing TN. 

 

It's handy that I kept it because it's only used for drying out electronic equipment, did I tell you about the time Daughter put her new digital camera in the fish tank, on Christmas morning, thinking it was waterproof ?

 

The only reason I bought a hairdryer thirteen years ago was to take to hospital to dry episiotomy stitches, so it's nice that it's being used a bit.

 

Even worse, work. I'd forgotten what big portions of one's day it takes up, it's very badly planned if you ask me.

 

The couple of nonoseconds free I did find this week were taken up by the running club a bunch of us have started, including  a morning advertising aforementioned club at a village hall thingy.

 

Finally, now, when I could find a poem and write a couple of posts I can't because I'm about to go and run a local half marathon to support a children's cancer charity, but more about that next time I find a couple of minutes.

 

My excuses may be crap, but their all mine and I'm rather attached to them, besides you probably haven't got time to read a poem today anyway.

I am the mother of a teen

 

On my kids’ birthdays I always give them a special hug (sometimes a present even!) and tell them the story of the day they were born…

 

It was a hot summer’s morning/snowy night and mummy got up for breakfast/turned over in bed and thought she’d wet herself.

 

At first my daughter mistook my crappy French pronunciation and confused lost waters with lost bones, poor child obviously imagined a very floppy mummy being pushed into the car, somewhat akin to Harry Potter’s deboned arm into his pyjamas.

 

When you were born I took you in my arms once they had undone the knot of umbilical cord around your neck/ I had fought daddy away with a big stick and told you how you were the most precious thing in my life baby number one/two, and how I’d always be there for you, no matter what – unless I was in the closing chapter of a very good book.

 

Kids’ birthdays are not just their special day, but the anniversary of a very special moment for us mums and tonight I am privately celebrating the day I became a mum.

 

Thirteen years ago today I joined the best, and hardest club in the world.

 

Today I’m celebrating still being a member.

 

I haven’t physically damaged either of them, the psychological scars don’t show yet and I am officially the mother of a teen.

 

I always used to look at mums with older kids in awe, they obviously knew the secrets, I don’t yet, but I’m assuming they’ll come tomorrow, in the post perhaps?

Did I survive the webless wilderness?

So, you’re dying to know, did I make it? I’m sure you remember my pre-holiday dilemma; can I survive two weeks without TN (trusty notebook), faithful computing device and side kick?

Well, the answer was… YES! TN stayed at home and we both survived. TN was in fact replaced by a pre-digital invention of the same name, indeed of the same colour too. I used my other trusty notebook, complete with those other handy objects –funky biros (more about my stationery addiction another time – I’m not a teacher for nothing you know,) to note down any interesting articles I came across or thoughts I had, not that I had many – I was on holiday after all.

 I also tackled my Amazon addiction and didn’t order a single book while away. I have kept that up since I got back, although it hasn’t been easy, when desperate I have ordered the free sample of a book, the plan being to read that before deciding whether or not I can live without a particular publication or not. As with when I ordered the whole book (although without the cost) I haven’t even got round to reading most of the samples yet.

Instead I tackled my backlog, and came across some very interesting books that I didn’t even know I had, if you’re curious I suggest you start with Wonder, The Red House or Why Students don't like School.

Another way I’ve got round this self-imposed ban has to be to buy the odd freebie, so watch out Odysseus, here I come.

I have actually ordered a couple of books for the kids, (Percy Jackson – Ioved the first one and one on football in case you’re interested) but that doesn’t count either.

Without TN I hardly used the internet at all, that was the point after all. I must confess to the odd FB moment, uploading photos or commenting on friends', and found I had loads more time for reading and other holiday fun.

I know that once I get sucked into the web I get caught up going from site to blog to article, gleaning some interesting ideas but mainly wasting time in a screen provoked daze, so I’ve had a think and come up with some new term’s internet resolutions, I’ll keep you posted on my progress – if I allow myself time on TN to do so!

1. Check mail and messages twice a day, 10mins max am & evening.
2. Only go online after having fixed my reasons for doing so – AND stick to them.
3. Read at least one teaching post/article a day and save useful material in an organized way for once.
4. Do not use phone to check out FB, unless it’s to upload photos or reply to messages.
5. Always order sample before buying the book.

 

I'd love to here about your addictions and what you're doing to fight them, or am I the only freak?

What's your favourite colour?

 

 

 

(source)

I read an article the other day claiming waitresses got bigger tips if they wore red. Does this mean my pupils would learn better if I wore red? Or would it just make my bloodshot eyes look worse?

  I once took a test to discover the colour of my aura, it was on FB so it must have some serious scientific grounding, and yes, you’ve guessed it – it was red.

 It’s also my favourite colour of wine, and the colour of many of our home furnishings, although I think that’s to stop the wine stains showing.

It’s the colour of blood and revolution, a colour I often see – in the metaphorical as well as physical sense.

 It’s the colour of the winning house at school sports day; I was in the blue team.

It’s also one of the few colours Son can see, as he piped up the other day, “oh look at that rainbow, it’s all red and yellow”…pregnant pause as the rest of the carload waited for him to finish his phrase, before realizing he had.

If my aura was blue he would think I hadn’t got one.

 

 

Why I won't repost your facebook status

 

Of course I’m against cancer too, I agree that domestic violence must be stopped and actually, as a teacher I probably know as much about special educational needs as you do, and I’m doing quite a bit to help the kids who deal with them.

However I refuse to repost your facebook status because of that silly phrase at the end of it.

AIDS will not be wiped off the earth just because I repost, there will not be less children born with physical or mental disability if I copy and paste, and I can still be affected by these social issues, and still do my most to help those I can without making my opinion into a poster.

Besides as you said you knew which 1% wouldn’t repost you obviously knew I wasn’t going to, didn’t you?

 

P.S. I'm away right now so please excuse me if I don't reply to your comments until I get back.

Computer Cold Turkey - Can I do it?

 

We are busy(ish) packing up the camping car for our summer hols. 

 

When we first got our home on wheels this operation was conducted with military precision, lists and a clip board - a certain auntie would have been proud of me.

 

The result was that I became an exhausted nervous wreck and fell out with everybody, ruining the first week or so of the holidays.

 

Nowadays we follow a different pattern.

 

1. Wander round the house, picking up useful things and putting them in a big bag at the bottom of the stairs.

2. When bag is full, take to camping car and put away in cupboards.

3. Repeat until a) camping car is full, b) time to leave.

4. Repeat hourly to spouse and children for a week before you leave, " If you want to bring it put it in the camper yourselves.

5. Ignore 4. and secretly sneak in all chargers, board games, books etc. that you know they will whine for the minute the engine starts.

6. take clean pants for Son, he will only remember to take the ball.

 

So, there you have it, camping car packing for beginners, yes, stuff like washing line, sponges, plates are useful, but to be perfectly honest, apart from the bottle opener, everything else can wait a day or two and be bought from a local supermarket - makes great holiday souvenirs too.

 

This year's dilemma, however, is my trusty netbook. Since January she (it's pink so obviously a girl) has been my faithful sidekick, to a point where Son is having reoccurring nightmares that he's being eaten by monsters while I call out " Not now darling, mummy's busy on the computer".

 

TN (trusty netbook) has helped me set up my blog, accompanied my endless webwibbling, and especially fed my amazon addiction to a point where I'm facing bankruptcy, but at least if I go down I'll have plenty to read while I'm inside.

 

Can I manage a fortnight without her? On previous holidays I've always done so, but that was a  preblog, pretwitter life. In my defense the children were younger and actually wanted to play with me as opposed to hanging out with friends.

 

Hubby and kids will be expected to live without TV during our trip, I do realise it's quite easy for me to gayly claim "NO TVs on our holidays" as I never watch the thing anyway, so maybe it's only fair to make my own sacrifice too. 

 

Not books though, obviously.

 

So, what do you think, should I do it? Could you do it?

 

 

Could you pass the British Citizenship test?

 

(source)

Having found an example of the questions found in the citizenship test in this Guardian article, I'm proudish to say I got 11 out of 15 and so have the level of knowledge on British history required to become a citizen.

This test does bring up a lot of ponders though. As you may know I'm sort of considering applying for French nationality, after 21 years of residence and 11 years of my husband to get it.

But what IS nationality? Will all of the born and bred Brits be conducted over the border if they don't know which monarch founded the church of England? Perhaps we can withhold benefit payments to those a little unsure of the name of the monarch overturned by Oliver Cromwell?

As far as I can gather  the French government require applicants to have a level of French language skills equivalent to B1 in the European framework, but no general culture.

Is it fair to ask more of immigrants than we expect of our own nationals?

I also saw recent immigrants and their spouses had to have a good level of English before being allowed to stay in the country. I'm not sure all expats and their wives have a similar level in the language of the country they move to.