Author: seasidesparkles

We are definitely on a countdown to the holidays now. The children are enjoying the final school weeks, but there is lots going on and they are exhausted, it’s time for a break to relax and play. This week has seen lots of trips and treats for the children, whilst I have been organising plans for the holidays and starting to prepare for September. Friends have been surprised by my preparation but it means I can relax in the holidays without a long to do list. I want my holiday to be fun and carefree not fretting about school uniforms and gymnastic clubs!

READ

I finished ‘When God was a Rabbit’ and remained unimpressed. It was so contrived and the clues so planted, the tarot card reading and Twin Towers episode was just crass and it felt like a countdown of all the major events in the past generation with a tenuous link to a story.  I feel quite sad when I read a book I don’t like; I want to appreciate an author’s work.

I bought a new magazine this week, The Simple Things. It’s a coffee table type of magazine and very aspirational but I do like its simplicity and ideas. Its inspired me to add a visit to a French flea market to my bucket list and I loved the articles on nature, lavender and beach houses. There’s a lovely visual piece on shells which I’m going to photocopy and use it to help us identify the shells on the beach.  I was surprised to some acquaintances in a feature, the seaside lifestyle is quite popular at the moment,  another friend also appeared in a recent edition of Prima.

WATCHED

It was the parent’s viewing class in ballet this week, so I got to watch Little Miss dance. She has got such natural rhythm and coordination and she dances so gracefully it’s beautiful.  I was able to record her perform a solo and sent it through to Grandma who was very proud and impressed.

I also watched a spectacular storm from my bed.  It was unexpected as at 7pm in the evening when we were at the school fayre the weather was hot and sunny, yet at 11pm we were experiencing a storm with so much lightning and rain, I have never seen anything like it.  It was a mix of exciting and a little scary, the sky was so lit up and I was genuinely concerned about a strike near us.    The pictures below are a map of the lightning strikes which illustrates how intense the storm was and the flooding in town, we had half a month’s rain in just one hour.

 

LISTENED

I have been eagerly awaiting the start of the Ashes this week and was tuned in to Test Match Special for the start. I have very happy memories of the Ashes series, both in Australia and at home, cricket reminds me of happy times, good friends and sunshine and TMS is the perfect accompaniment.  We do have Sky Sports and if Mr S is home the cricket, highlights and analysis will always be on in the background but to me TMS is the spirit of cricket, I love the commentary, talk and relaxed presentation, its perfect company and keeps me entertained and makes me smile throughout the day.    It also has the best theme tune to any programme!

MADE

I made a new running plan this week as I have managed to run on three occasions this week without pain or niggles, I am so happy and looking forward to some races and achieving new goals.

I also made lots of personalised cards this week on the Funky Pigeon website, July is a very busy month, so I took an hour out to make the teachers and TAs thank you cards, and family and friends’ anniversary and birthday cards.  I have sent the cards directly to the recipients so I can relax now knowing that everyone will get a card on time.  A couple which were sent to me have arrived and I’m really pleased with them.  I do think its good value doing the cards online, I love to send beautiful, thoughtful cards and was getting a bit fed up with cards made in China, this way my cards are produced in the UK.

WORE

I have worn two pairs of new shoes this week. First are my Birkenstocks, for years I’ve fancied a pair as I have friends who swear by their comfort and design. Last time I went shopping I was very nearly tempted and then felt a bit disappointed that I hadn’t tried them on. On this trip, I was delighted that the ones I liked were in the sale and when they fitted perfectly I bought them.   They feel a little odd to begin with but I think I’m a convert.

The second pair of shoes is a new pair of trainers. After two successful runs I just happened to be driving past the running shop and as there was a space outside I parked and just popped in to see what they had!   My trainers are always my most expensive shoes and the only ones which ever wear out. These trainers feel good and were comfortable and supportive when I went for a run.

It’s been a much more relaxed and family focused time this week and with our mini heatwave it’s meant lots of time outside and playing in the sun. We’ve enjoyed some nice family times in the sunshine, on Saturday we played on the beach and on Sunday we were at a local farm picking fruit. We were back on the beach after school on Monday and to cope with the heat, the sprinkler in the garden has been used to cool us all down!

READ

After seeing a number of recommendations for her new book, I have started to read Sarah Winman’s ‘When God was a Rabbit’   I am around 100 pages into it but have to admit to not really enjoying it, there seems to be too many themes, mental health, child sexual abuse, child neglect, a talking rabbit called God! It feels like it’s a contrived list of things which might shock the reader but which don’t interweave with a real plot yet. I may persevere for a few more pages as I don’t like to give up on a book but it’s not a great recommendation to read her new book.

I have also read one of Little Miss’ books, Judy Moody. It’s not a series I’m familiar with so I read it to see what Little Miss is reading and so I can talk to her about the book. The titled character is cleverly crafted, Judy Moody is a little moody but you see chinks of the person she really wants to be and how she uses her character as a defence.  Children’s books can be real works of genius and I think Judy Moody is a character we can work with!

LISTENED

I listened to an excellent edition of Woman’s Hour on Wednesday which revealed this year’s Top Ten Influential Women in the UK. It was a good mix of women from media, politics although I didn’t agree with the whole list. I felt it lacked contributions from science and technology and education. However it was still an interesting listen and key words seemed to resonate of the nominees, strength, dignity, responsibility. The number 1 in the countdown was Nicola Sturgeon and her interview was intelligent, reasoned and witty.  I’m definitely an admirer.

WATCHED

Nothing on television, not even Wimbledon! It’s too bright and sunny to have the television on, I prefer to sit outside and enjoy the cooler evenings reading a book or jotting down a few ideas and plans. This week it’s been the children’s school Sports Day so I have seen the children run, jump and throw in a nicely organised afternoon of sport. Sadly the weather was a bit bizarre, we had drizzle to begin with, then bright, hot sunshine which led to the grass steaming, then a sea mist and finally heavy rain which led to the cancellation of the parents’ race, no sticker for me this year L

MADE

After our fruit picking trip, I made a delicious gooseberry crumble, sometimes the simplest recipes are the best. Among the other random things I have made this week are lots of sandcastles and a pirate eye patch for Little Man who has become obsessed with pirates this week after Pirate Pete made a surprise visit to his class.

WORE

A dress and heels! It was our school prom on Friday night and I got in the full spirit of the occasion by dressing up. It was an amazing experience and the Prom team had done so much to make it an absolutely stunning occasion.

I also wore my comfy, well-worn Teva sandals when I went fruit picking.  They’re a very useful, Summer sandal and I was amused to read in the Times that apparently they’re the trend of this Summer.

Years ago when I was a student, I used to have a page from Cosmopolitan magazine taped to my bedroom wall.  This page was stuck on the wall of my student digs, my first shared house and was key bits of advice for a Cosmo woman and was full of brilliant counsel.  One I have always remembered is that sometimes you need to do extra than the 9 -5 at work.  Whilst I only work part time and try to maintain a healthy work life balance there are some weeks when you just have to do that extra (as there are weeks when you get to do that little bit less) This week I’ve needed to do extra work to make my working life just a little easier.  Each evening this week I’ve been busy report writing, completing assessments and inputting data as well as preparing for a peer observation activity.  I have finally completed them and feel a great sense of relief and calm, I can enjoy the final weeks of term now.  This week’s edition of Little Sparkles is quite limited as a consequence, can reading assessment criteria and level descriptors count as my reading?

READ

I haven’t stopped reading letters home from the children’s school this week, its been a little ridiculous I think there’s been ten in total!  A 2 page newsletter, a school trip permission letter, lunch menus, Sports Day information, School fayre flyer and raffle tickets, head lice letter, PTA bulletin, leaflets from the local Sports Centre, a health pamphlet and a letter requesting recycled trays for a Science project!  The Summer term is always very busy with Sports day, trips, fayres, proms and parties so as well as remembering the above for the children I have also read numerous emails on similar topics for my school too!

HEARD

I’ve not had the time to listen to much music this week but managed to catch a few episodes of the Archers, one of my guilty pleasures.  I have been puzzling over it though as I’m sure the actress who plays Pip has changed.  I may have to do an Internet search to discover the truth. (Postscript, I was right there has been a change I do prefer the old voice!)

WATCHED

Nothing on the tv this week but I did love this video which was linked via a tweet about life without the invention of the Internet, its witty and though provoking and I love the cameos.

MADE

In writing this post, I am realising that work has definitely dominated my life this week, no new recipes, no crafts.  Instead my best suggestion for makes are the resources I made for a lesson observation.  There is something therapeutic about cutting, sticking and laminating, perhaps its the monotony and repetition which relaxes!

WORE

My final tedious category, as all my work has been computer based this week I’ve been wearing my glasses to ward off any migraines given the extended hours I’ve been looking at a screen.  Fingers crossed its worked.

There is the danger each week of writing of what a busy week it’s been, detailing the diary demands and summarising the to do list. It probably gets a little tedious to read, I’m a working Mum juggling life and family and despite the odd stresses, I wouldn’t wish my life to be much different. I’m sure in my twilight years, my days will be too quiet and I’ll finally have time to read all the books I want to and watch all the films I’ve missed.

This week has been the usual mix of work and family. Unusually we had a family shopping trip to our county town for shopping on Saturday, the girls had their shopping list and the boys went car shopping, we all had successful trips and the girls spent less than the boys!

WATCHED

I was really looking forward to the 20^th anniversary of TFI Friday and it didn’t disappoint. I loved this when I was younger, just hearing the music by Ocean Colour Scene again gave me goose bumps. It was a good mix of old and new and did illustrate what a ground breaking programme it had been in its hey day. There are rumours that it will be brought back but I think the special edition was best as a one off, one night of nostalgia is just enough and best to finish on a high.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11633873/How-TFI-Friday-changed-the-face-of-TV.html

It was also Little Man’s class assembly this week, the theme was Minibeasts. It was full of fun songs and rhymes and Little Man was a highly enthusiastic participant!

READ

I love Twitter and the hashtag devastatingly sexy has been an excellent riposte to the misogynist scientist who argued that female scientists are distracting in labs and cry too much and fall in love. Cue a witty and powerful reaction from female scientists showing them at work not crying or falling in love.   As one commentator wrote the images and descriptions they posted of their roles did more to raise the profile of women in science than any worthy government campaign.

As I’ve been to the hairdressers this week, I’ve read some of the glossy magazines they have for customers. I used to love relaxing and reading magazines but with children and Pinterest it’s rare for me to buy one now and so my monthly trip is my chance to catch up.

HEARD

TFI provided the direction of my music this week with Brit Pop featuring heavily and a little added Lenny Kravitz. Moseley Shoals and Are You Gonna Go My Way were favourite CDs in my early twenties and their quality still shines through.

MADE

Inspired by my Godmother’s legendary marble cake I attempted a chocolate and orange cake this week and was proud of my effort. I think I would perhaps use less of the chocolate mix as it seemed to overwhelm the orange mix but generally it was a lovely cake.

WORE

I do love my bags and I used (wore) my new Orla Kiely bag on our shopping trip on Saturday. It was the perfect size for our trip able to hold a few little purchases as well as the essentials.