Look at the size of that!

That is the biggest strawberry I have ever seen.

So Grateful - feel the love

I received many gifts when I left eh Little Village School, those that were hand made touched my heart.  One gift was a word cloud made by a little girl and her family.

Such a thoughtful gift

Last Day at the little village school

I finally made it, today was my last day at the little village school.

It has been a very long week, tying up loose ends, sorting and tidying up and just basically getting ready to leave.  

The end of the school year is always a mixed bag of emotions, sad to be handing over a cohort you have cared for and nurtured for the past year, excited about the year ahead and relieved that it is finally over!

This year however was particularly sad because I was moving on, for good.  

It has been a very stressful couple of years and working had begun to affect my health.  It wasn't easy but after a lot ( a heck of a lot) of soul searching I decided that I needed to move on.

To give myself a chance to have a family of my own, I would have to remove as much stess from life as possible.  That stress was most definitely work related.

Today began quite manically, my TA was unavoidably detained and all of the parents from my class and other classes seemed to be congregating in my classroom.  I was called out by the head for a "chat", which was all a ruse, when I retuned all children were sat in a circle and there parents were all there.  

As I walked in I was suddenly hit by the enormity of what I was doing and I crumbled, a had to leave the room to compose myself.  The parents had organised a lovely book with pictures all of the children I had taught it.  They also gave me vouchers worth over £100, their generosity has completely blown me away.  As Mrs F said "it just goes to show how much you were appreciated."

We then made our way to the local church, for the year six leavers service, always an emotional moment.  After that we had a tidy up, lunch, another assembly.  I was able to say a few words about how lovely the children are and how much I'd miss them.  Then it was home time, but as I arrived back in the classroom some of the parents were already there, I had left the door open!  They had organised a little tea party to say goodbye.  I was extremely touched by this and felt a year or two on my cheek.

I have learned a lot about myself as a person and as a teacher the past five years.  I am very sad to be leaving, but there is also a small feeling if relief.  I am now officially a supply teacher an as such can plan my own hours. Having said that my first placement is three months in a local RC school, a new challenge that I am looking forward too.

World Cup Final - Germany win!

After 64 matches we have made it, at long last, to the final of Brasil 2014, the twentieth World Cup Final

Germany vs Argentina

Estradiol do Maracana

Rio De Janeiro

Some statistics (from my Panini Sticker book)

* Most appearances (team) - 19 Brasil 

* Most tournaments played (player) -

   5 Antonio Carbajal (Mexico, 1950-1966)

   5 Lothar Matthaus (Deutschland 1982-1998)

* Most wins (player) - 3 Pele (Brasil, 1958/1962/1970)

* Youngest player - 17 years 41 days Norman Whiteside (Northern Ireland vs Jugoslavija, 1982)

* Fastest goal from kickoff - 11 seconds Hakan Sukur (Turkiye vs Korea Republic, 2002)

* Most goals in a tournament (player) - 12 Just Fontaine (France, 1958)

* Oldest player - 42 years 29 days Roger Milla (Cameroun vs Russia, 1994)

* Most goals (player) 16 Klose (Deutschland, 2010 - 1014)

* Most goals in a match (player) - 5 Oleg Salenko (Russia vs Cameroun, 1994)

* Most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal - 517 Walter Zenga (Italia, 1990)

* Most goals scored in a match - 12 (Osterreich vs Switzrland 7-5, 1954)

* Biggest victory - 10-1 (Magyarorszag vs El Salvador, 1982)

* Most wins (teams) - 5 Brasil

* Most minutes played (player) - 2217 Paolo Maldini (Italia, 1990-2002)

* Most matches played (player) - 25 Lothar Matthaus (Deutschland, 1982-1998)

Countdown Continues

This Monday there will be...

Until the summer and I move on to pasture new, even if it is only until Christmas.

Exciting times

Exciting times ahead in the greater Murray family as the G.O's brother married his childhood sweetheart letter this summer. 

We are both very excited and cannot wait to share in what will no doubt be a very a locket an romantic day.

In preparation G.O has been flapping about his suit, he own one and it's "just not right for a summer wedding!"  

So we took a trip into Reading, a great shopping town, to find him a suit that fits.  

G.O is all kinds of sizes and so often an off the peg just doesn't cut it, after a couple of false starts he plumped for a lovely, lightweight grey suit, that needs a couple of alterations, and pink shirt.  He does always look mighty fine in a suit, I can't wait to see him all dressed up.

 My outfit is a birthday gift from my parents and I can't wait to try it on next week, when I go over to see them.

As always when we go out, we didn't last long until we, or at least I, began to feel a bit peckish.

 We came across a funky little snack shack that served sweet an savoury crepes.  They were yummy and I would whole heartedly recommend the crepe affair for a quick bite to eat.

Breakfast Date

As G.O often works evening and weekend shifts and I'm a usual Monday to Friday 9-5 (ish), it's often hard for us to fit in quality time away from TTC.

Recently we have been going on breakfast dates, we get up early on a Sunday (I know) and head into town for a breakfast and coffee, then he goes to work and I bimble around.

Bill's is a favourite venue of ours, and also of the of other people up and about at sparrows fart. 

After we have parted I have take strolling around town, before it gets busy with students and tourists.

Oxford is a lovely town, full of history and beautiful architecture.

One of my favourite places to go in Oxford is the covered market.

 It is full of little shops, cafés and Boutiques.

It's like a secret place away from the rest of the world.

Apart from all of the tourists and students  all know about it.

It is a little piece of heaven on Earth.

I'm not counting honest

I'm not getting exciting about moving on or anything.  I am very ready for new challenges.  While I will be really sad to go and will miss everybody, it's time to think about our future.

Germany - Algeria

Yet again we are watching another match.  It was supposed to be a simple match, but the Algerians aren't giving Germany an easy ride.  As usual Muller has been working his socks off, but he just can't seem to steer the ball goal-wards.  

I predict we will be going into extra time. Well the game went into extra time, the final score was Germany 2 - Algeria 1

To The Manor Born

Great Weekend

It was lovely to spend some quality one with the G.O this weekend, especially as we were able to leave the house.  

We have recently joined Costco. I know we are very late to the game, but that place is awesome.  Everytime we go I am amazed at the range and sheer volume available.  They were selling full size swimming pools, enormous flat screen TVs, a sofa in a box and a canoe! 

It never ceases to amaze me, just what is on offer. I have feeling that this could be the best/worst thing we've ever done.  I have to confess I have become slightly addicted to their pretzels and love nothing more than curling up on the sofa munching away.

On Sunday we decided to make the most of the glorious weather and our National Trust membership and visit Hughenden Manor, just outside West Wycombe.

Hughenden Manor was the home to the charismatic and colourful Victorian Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, who lived there from 1848 to 1881.

We were able to tour the house on our own and browse among an extraordinary collection of personal memorabilia.  I find it amazing that we are allowed into these huge and wonderful houses and garden and are able to explore as we choose.  Sometimes the houses feel warm and inviting and other times, especially when they are "dressed" for the occasion, they feel creepy. Particularly the cellars (I don't like cellars).
While we were there we learned about  Hughenden's secret wartime past (map making) in the Second World War room in the cellars.

 Like I said the cellars are creepy, I wandered around half expecting to see, feel, or hear something otherworldly.  I watch way too much Most Haunted.

After our tour of the house, we took a stroll around the amazing gardens and woodlands.

Then we found a nice, sucluded spot and had a picnic.  It was one of those idyllic moments you hope to have.

I was once told by a very good friend, Mrs F, that to make the most of your NT membership you need to visit at least 6 venues, as of Saturday our July 2013-July 2014 count is 6, I think we've made our annual quota.

1.  Waddeson Manor

2.  Stowe

3.  Waddeson Manor

4.  Buscot Park

5.  Basildon Park

6.  Hughenden Manor