Cheeky Mamilein

Look what my cheeky Mamilein sent me.

She knows I love Buende.

Back to Blenheim

Our annual pass is almost up at Blenheim, it's hard to visit a place that you been so much and do something different.  Well we went up the hill and went to visit the statue.

Oh no my Papichen

We Four missed calls from Mamilein, that can't be good.  When I finally reached her, she told me papichen was in hospital!

He had been testing out an electric bike and while getting off had stumbled and the very heavy bike had landed on top of him.  He was lucky it wasn't worse, no helmet!

He was taken to hospital, and this morning was operated on.  It was a seven o'clock start and by the time Mamilein arrived at one o'clock he was in recovery and groggy.  He is now the owner of a pin in his shoulder (again) and one in his leg.  

He will need rehab/physio and will have to stay in the Krankenhaus for about ten days.

Poor papa, but also poor mama, who has been worried sick.  She has had the help of "The Brothers", hers and papa's and I am going to go over when he is out of hospital and will be more of a handful.

Get well soon Papichen, love you. Xxx

UPDATE

Mamilein has been to visit and she says he has started wingding and being rude, so nearly back to normal.

He has been complaining that he is only allowed to eat sandwiches for tea.

UPDATE

Papichen has been told that he will need to go into 'REHA' in Bad O for three weeks, it is a place of rehabilitation that will increase his mobility and build up his strength again. He has recently been taken to the pool to begin his swimming therapy.  This make mamilein laugh, she has been trying to get him to go swimming with her for years.  It is a five minute walk from the train station so mamilien can hop on the train to see him.  She says he is back to normal again, making demands and complaining about everything (it's good to know).

Just found this

I was digging around my filing box when I found a receipt from a salad bar we went to at Philly airport years ago.  

I remember thinking the salads were lovely and I would never be able to make them myself so I wrote the ingredients on the back. 

Tea next week GO?

Isn't that always the way

So with a move in mind, isn't always the way that whe you decide to leave you find the coolest places!

For lunch the other day we stopped by the waterfront Cafe in Benson

and had some yummy food in the glorious sunshine by the banks of the Thames.  

Who needs the Costa Blanca?

James Bond, don't cha know

Grey's Court, a manor house in Bix by Henley.  

Had many owners, all

with their own unique story.  

The most recent being the Brunner family, Swiss descendants, huge in the chemical business.  

The owner that sticks in my mind however,

and I am sure also on GO's, is that one of the previous owners was none other than Lady Flemming, 

mother of Ian, author of James Bond.

Jolly Holiday

We had plans.  

We always have plans.  

We were going to go everywhere.  

The only snag, I was exhausted.  

Even though this has been the least stressful year of my working life, I am shattered.  

So what did we do?  

Nothing, absolutely Nothing!  

Well we slept, watched films, played games, just relaxed.  

Do I feel totally refreshed?  

Nope I could do with more sleep, isn't that the way.  

I'm sure we'll have a day or two out, but for now I'm enjoying the peace.

Living With PCOS

What is it like living with PCOS?  Sometimes describing what it is like is difficult, what is part of the condition and what us just me?  Through the best website ever Pinterest, I have found support and advice and some of the nicest people who are going through the same thing.  This website explains perfectly what is is like to live with PCOS.

Is it too soon?

I'm getting famous now

I sent a picture to Liza Tarbuck's radio show last week and it made it on to her show.

He's Winchin

Mamilein has been popping in to the Krankenhaus to see pappichen.  She says he is getting much better because he has started wingeing.  He looks much better in the recent photos, still no news from the doctor, yet.

The Wonders All Around

While papichen was in surgery I saw a trio of nature's wonder.  

A redkite being chased by a magpie

A small roe at the side of the road 

A squirrel running across the television wires

A sign?  Was papichen having and oobe?  Or just a lovely, lovely coincidence?  

Who knows but isn't the world wonderful. 

Photos from Pinterest

That's familiar

We made a get well soon card for one of the little boys, I had a very distinctive idea in mind.  It took me a while to realise that I had made GO exactly the same card for our anniversary this year.  Nevermind, it was well received. 

OMG

Started clearing up the classroom for the new teacher.  I took down the displays, the final one was a killer. I soon realised why I always struggled to push the pins in.  There were seven layers of backing paper.  Seven!  How lazy do you have to be?  I have been known to double up when I am pushed for time, but who puts up seven pieces of backing paper?  

Ice Ice Murray

After a church service that involved watching one of my little girls twerking while we sang hymns. All things bright and beautiful....  I was ready for home time.  Just when my energy pot was almost all dried up (after the papichen drama) I was given the best gift. To make it even better, GO loves them and was very jealous, "Where's mine?" he asked.

Last Day at the other village school

It's the last day of the school Year!  

It has been very busy and I have worked my socks off.  I have loved it though, well maybe not all of the time, but being with the lovely little people has been such fun.

Gorgeous Butterfly Scarf

A lovely card from the parents 

Lots and lots of lovely cards (homemade -gorgeous)

As a supply I don't expect to receive gifts when I leave, but I was again pleasantly surprised.  As well as lots of cards and gorgeous flowers, I receive candles, a scarf and £140 worth of John Lewis vouchers.  Again I am very grateful and don't think I deserve it.

Flowers from the staff 

Flowers from the Pippin Parents

Things I'll miss about Oxford and The Southern Shire

Before we move and start to make new memories, I thought it would be prudent to look back at our time in Oxford and the Shire and reminisce.

Oxford 

Everybody starts their descriptions of Oxford with dreaming spires and lazy days punting on the river.  While great and very evocative these aren't on my list.  What will I miss about Oxford?

The Museums

The Pubs (with a tale to tell)

The River and Parks (although I didn't actually spend much time in/by either)

The Buildings

The Eclectic Mix Of People an Food

The 280 and U1

The History (Alice in Wonderland)

The Bizarre (buskers, people in costumes in the pub, a man dressed like a bush on mayday, A shark stuck out of a roof)

The Celebrations

May Day, literary festival, folk festival, light parade 

Summer is nearly here!

This is what summer is all about.  Roll on Friday, five days left.

Another Classic

Little ones always struggle to know when they should and shouldn't "tell", it's hard to distinguish between telling to keep someone safe and getting them into trouble.  I love this, it's very helpful. 

I use this all the time

I have a lot of patter that I use in class.  This one is one of my favourites.  I taught it to a class a couple of years ago and a parent told me her daughter lived by the saying.  She had been sat in her car seat struggling to put on her seatbelt, when her mum asked her if she need help the response was "nope, Mrs M says it's okay not to know but it's not okay not to

try!"

Yet another countdown

I will be working this summer, supplying in preschools and nurseries and tutoring, but even I am counting down the days till the end of the school year.  

I have decided to have the first week off, I need a break. I will hopefully only work four days a week, as I want to spend sometime with GO.

Roll on the summer I say!

This is my dream

This is, or a least should be, every teachers dream.  I am proud to say that I have managed to get most of my classes to this stage within the year.  This year has been trickier, but if even managed to get there with the little village class.

Scary new school

I went to visit my next school today, I will only be there for six weeks or so, I must remember this.  It was so scary, the principal was very severe and not at all friendly.  

The teacher who is be covering for just kept repeating "I've been here for ten years!"  I know it'll be ok, I'm not staying permanently, but I am not looking forward to my time there.  In fact I'm dreading it.

I'm popular!

One of my Pinterest posts made it onto the popular board.  I was way more excited about it than I probably should have been.

School trip

I went on my first ever whole school trip with the other little village school today.  We went to Newbury, the living rainforest.  It was the day after the hottest day of the year and I was dreading it.  I hate the heat and I knew it would be uncomfortable in the huge greenhouses. I bought a pair of shorts especially for the occasion and also tested myself to a sun hat.  When combined with my sunglasses, I thought it gave my a sophisticated air, reminiscent of Hollywood actress of old.  GO got in the car, when I picked him up, took one look at me and said "who are you hiding from?"  It's a good job I love him!

I saved a life today

I suppose that is a tad dramatic.  I donated some blood, it took half an hour to register and about seven minutes to donate a pint.  I do feel proud of myself.   I may have saved a life, who knows what they will do with my little red cells.

I felt a bit woozy afterwards, but it is also roasting hot, so couldn't say what made me feel woozy.  

I decided to treat myself to shorts, a new top and a big straw hat,  it may only last a week but I can't stand the heat.

To replenish the blood and iron I have given away I'm having a nice, big, juicy steak.  I can't wait to do it again in 16 weeks!!