And For the Rest of the Week!

I was glad to finish college and have a couple of days before Jamie broke up for his Christmas holiday, or that was the plan, but then the weather took hold and we began the longest stretch of snow that I can remember.

But before that we had a pretty busy week (which makes this a very long post) starting with Jamie's school disco, he had had his hair cut just prior, so it was really easy to spike it up and he had a great time, the noise when I left him was pretty deafening so I made a quick exit!! A couple of pictures before he set off and he is looking like a really cool dude!!

Oh and that picture reminds me, I finally got around to having my hair permed, it was needing its first wash after the perm so was looking pretty straggly, but I am glad I finally got around to doing it, although it cost a small fortune!! I love my hair long and I love my hair curly, so I guess I am pretty happy with it at the moment!

Next this week was Jamie's cub induction and Mike's Work Christmas do, so I was doing a lot of driving people here and there. Mike picked me up from college and then I dropped him to work, I then took Jamie to Calverton just outside MK for his cub event. I then went home, then went to pick Mike up from work and we headed back out to Calverton for Jamie's induction. So he is now officially a Cub - hip hip hooray. He has a heap of badges which now need to be sewn onto his uniform. After collecting Jamie we headed off to take Mike to his work Christmas do, end of taxi job!! Mike will be getting a taxi home, either the official version or the informal system they operate where he works, that is whichever shift is on night shift picks up people from their Chrissy do's and takes them home.

Here is a photo of Jamie getting his badges and his necker and woggle - they were all the standard ones, plus a couple of activity ones, so he is now well on his way. Not sure why he is looking grumpy, but it was a very cold evening!! He's probably thinking c'mon Mum I'm cold!! and she has that bloody camera out again.

Mike had a good time at his Christmas do and came home tiddly as usual, I had gone to bed to miss out on the drunken stupor he would be in!!

On Wednesday we were off to a schools music concert at Simpson Church, in which Jamie was playing, and boy it was really cold by then!! Jamie played Jingle Bells and very good it was too!

Mike headed off to see Deaf School again this week, that was one for him alone, an acquired taste I believe. But the support act was headed up by none other than Loyd Grossman, yes that Loyd Grossman, regurgiate, cogitate and who lives in a house like that. He was a punk back in the punk days it seems and not at all bad it appears. I love his guitar, he has got the real Les Paul version of which Mike's is only a copy (shame!).

And Deaf School - who all have very strange names! Below is Bette Bright (aka Mrs McPherson - that will become evident in a minute or so should you choose to read on)

Frankie Average (Steve Lindsay)

Clive Langer (he's produced a lot of records - gems such as Kilimanjaro by The Teardrop Explodes and Elvis Costello to Marilyn (hang your head in shame) and lots of Madness - hold that thought!)

The Rev Max Ripple

Here is Mike with Bette Bright

A famous face, well Mike was blown away as according to Mike this guy made one of the best punk records ever - Spizzenergi, the record is 'Where's Captain Kirk', they exchanged contacts and talked Friars!

and now for the stalking, Bette Bright, singer of Deaf School, Mrs McPherson in her daily life is married to Mr McPherson (obviously), well he goes by another name too, have you worked it out yet, here is a clue, One Step Beyond .........

It's Suggs from Madness (madness, madness this is Sparta, sorry that's something else, Madness, Madness they call it Madness ......)



now here he is thinking, I'm getting a bit sick of that bloke with the camera, all I want is a quiet pint or several, as he was the worse for a beer or two, allegedly!! And now he is thinking you're beginning to take the p**s mate!

And here is Mike's money shot so to speak, Suggs was almost legless (allegedly) by this point.

There is one day in the run up to Christmas which I dread and it has now happened. I am not averse to the odd decoration outside and I have seen some lovely, cute and even some tasteful ones, so would be happy to have a decoration or two outside. BUT and here lies the problem tasteful is not the word I would use, tacky, over the top, excessive, chavish, I could go on - it is here that one of the differences between Mike and I is at it widest and most evident. But you have to accommodate each other and let each other have their own creative expression and this is definitely Mike's! We have an agreement, he does what he likes outside and leaves inside alone, so inside is restrained and tasteful! As for outside well make your own mind up!!

The whole scene

Rudolf

The Santa stop sign - sort of!

I like this chap

Merry Christmas

Winnie the Pooh and Bugs Bunny - the lantern I have grown to like, although I did really hate it at the start, about 10 years ago!

Quite like the polar bears, but scale and proportion Mike! Can you spot someone looking out of the window?

Binnie, at the very edge of the bay window!!

We received Jamie's feedback from his Grade 1 - he passed and here is his certificate (to follow), well done, now we have to buy him an electric guitar, he already thinks he's James Hetfield!

And then came the snow, Jamie missed his last day of term as school was shut and we then seemed to have snow for the best part of 3 weeks and now apparently it is forecast again over the next few days.

Here is a picture of the snow, this is when it started on Thursday evening ......

Ciao

Sue

XX

Reading challenge 10/16 - currently reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkhaban

Last Week of Term - Hooray!

Finally the last week of term has arrived, hooray!



This week was parallel arrangements, which are one of my favourites and on the last day we had a mini party, we all took some food in, soft drinks and some music and had food and music whilst we worked. We had a different tutor to usual so the whole atmosphere was relaxed and chilled and an enjoyable day was had by all!

It has been an interesting, challenging and frustrating few weeks but at least the first term is done and now I know what to expect for the next two terms.





I have mentioned a lot of the frustrations and (just to say they are not solely me having a whinge) a letter has been composed by one of the other students which most of us have signed and has been sent to the Principal of the college, we will eagerly wait and see what the outcome of that will be, although I won't be holding my breath about it. Some of the issues are biggies really such as enrolment, communication, refund of funding, council tax letters, lifting and carrying tool boxes, parking, cleaning and tidying of the room etc really important issues.



This week I did finally receive my refund for the trip which was cancelled in October, so about 2 months for them to return the funds!! I have received my council tax refund as I sent off a different letter to the one the college gave us, those who have used the college's official letter have either not received the refund as yet or have been turned down. Not really helpful to anyone.


The frustrations have been basically:

• information given at enrolment differed from student to student so we have all had differing bits of information, if we all put it together we have something approaching a whole (on things such as expectations, content, finance etc etc)




• communication as a whole is poor, between the college and students, college and tutors and the tutor and ourselves, let alone other college support staff and students eg finance




• Various monies have been paid, for key skills sections of courses (in excess of £400) which students did not need to take (I challenged it at enrolment and they took the money and course details off my enrolment) others didn't and a full term later are still awaiting a refund of over £400 (this is very poor)




• The refund for the trip, it was impressed on us - you MUST pay the deposit or the trip will not go ahead, the trip was cancelled with no warning and no explanation and a refund too 2 months to find its way to us




• Council tax letters which would not enable students to get the refund to which they are entitled but which are the college's standard letter - and there response tough, take it or leave it - supportive NOT




• the appalling state of the room after it has been used by the Art Department, even though at enrolment we were told we were having a brand new purpose built room, with cool room (which has only just been fitted), our course time is taken up cleaning up the room so we are able to work in it




• No access to lift when we have work boxes weighing in excess of 30kilos and we are on the second floor, and getting nagged at by the reception staff because we need them to open the lift for us




• No parking facilities within 15- 20 minutes walking distance of the college when we have such a large amount of equipment to bring into the college - if I used the nearest parking it would take me 30 - 35 minutes longer a day when I only live 5 - 8 minutes drive away from the college




• If we wish to bring additional items to enhance our work, well forget it as what we have to bring in doesn't allow any spare room for bringing in anything that would enhance our work and thus enable us to be able to get the distinctions in practical work, therefore our work suffers, because we are laden down with tools and equipment and books and folders before we add anything to that and then have to cart everything 15 - 25 minutes walk!




• And that does not even take into account other frustrations within the classroom.
  
  
  
  
  Ciao
  
  Sue
  
  XX
  
  Reading challenge 10/16 - currently reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkhaban

Christmas Flower Arranging

Whilst Jamie was safely off with the cubs having fun and Mike was doing his own thing at home (but more of that in the next blog but one!), I was having a wonderful day flower arranging at one of Sue Billington's day schools. And it was lovely, just for pleasure and free from the constraints that come with the Floristry Course.

Sue showed how to make 3 arrangements the first was a Christmas wreath, made on a wire frame with moss - but I am going to be a little catty here (sorry) it was so much nicer than the ones they made at college (which I missed out on gladly I think) as there wasn't a bauble or bit of tinsel in sight!! Sue's were totally natural and full of lovely natural Christmas materials, much more my style (but of course each to their own).



It has moss over a wire frame, which means you get very dirty and then blue spruce which means you get very sticky (rubber gloves are useful at that stage). I've got cinnamon, holly, ivy, bark, fir cones, dried orange slices, and Malus 'Red Sentinel' (apple) and ribbon that I made a lovely bow (how come I can make bows with Sue but not at college). Very traditional, very pretty and at the time of writing this several weeks later still going strong!)




Here it is in situ on the front door ready for Christmas and you can see the berries on the ivy too, I do love this type of ivy, the traditional English ivy (Hedera helix), the berries look great sprayed in gold and used in Christmas arrangements too.

Next was a 'False Garland', that is a garland in a dish, which in a home is much more practical as garlands can dry out very quickly, especially in a warm house and you aren't running the risk of water getting everywhere! Here is mine sat on top of our very old TV but why change it when it is hardly used these days!



A closer look at the central section, overall it looks quite nice, but I may have got a wee bit too much foliage, but I love the orange rather than the red, it gives a nice alternative. This lasted really well through Christmas and I changed the carnations and kept it going for about a month all together. Again fir cones and cinnamon, this time tied with orange raffia, tangerines with cloves, a little bit of bling, holly with a few berries, cupressus and blue spruce. My scissors and fingers where sticking together by this point with all the sap from the spruce!



The highlight of this arrangement was undoubtedly the orange/tangerine carnations which Sue had found, they were gorgeous and the picture in no way does them justice. They were the most amazing colour and set the arrangement off beautifully - I cannot remember the name of them but think they may be Carnation (Dianthus Caryophyllus 'Solar oro' or 'Solar') but whatever variety -truly stunning.




And finally we made this topiary tree which I think is just fantastic, a lovely idea and again, very natural. Cinnamon sticks are secured in oasis and then into an oasis pyramid. Cocculus leaves are rolled and attached to the foam, a bit fiddly but worth the effort and then hypericum berries and cranberries were placed in between, they were the baubles on the tree.


The cinnamon was brightened up with some raffia and the oasis covered with the spaghetti like Tillandsia usneoides and by this point it was nearly 6 pm - the class had over run by 2 hours but no-one is ever in a rush to get away! The weather by this point was getting very cold and very icy. As Mike and I had to get Jamie, Mike picked me up and then we went on from Newport Pagnell to Bedford to collect Jamie and then picked my car up on the way back!

I made a couple of finishing touches to this when I got home by adding some decorative wire around the tree, it was my tinsel and added some of it the bottom to bring the colour into that part of the design. I love the red pails Sue had found and I sat in on a red plate I already had which matched perfectly and it looked lovely in the corner all over Christmas, yes it dried out, but it still looked brilliant.

A very enjoyable day indeed, and what I really needed as it reminded me that I do really really enjoy working with flowers, something I was beginning to doubt!

Ciao

Sue

XX

Reading challenge 10/16 - currently reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkhaban

Christmas Preparations Have Started

This week was a busier week and started with Jamie at his Cub Christmas celebration which was held at Woburn Safari Park, in their play barn, a very good time was had and Jamie came home full of fun and very tired, he seems to be enjoying himself in these pictures!

Jamie was back at cubs again on Tuesday and they were planning for their space sleepover which I'll get to later. It did also involve us having to go out and buy one or two items for Jamie for his weekend, such as a sleeping bag, torch a couple of extra layers of clothes, plastic plate and bowl etc, but it was good fun and he was really looking forward to it. I have to say I was a little worried as I wasn't sure how he was going to take it, being away from home and not having us in contact was going to be a totally new experience for all of us.

It was a busy busy week for Jamie as on Thursday he had his guitar Grade 1 Exam, I went along with Mike and Jamie but had to go away as I was very nervous and didn't want to make Jamie nervous. I had a coffee in the cafe at the Church in CMK where his exam was being held. He was a trooper and seemed to take it all in his stride, and was really happy when it was over with. He knew which bits he wasn't happy with, but it was the first time he had done anything like this at all so we will see how he goes. We have been really lucky with Jamie's teacher and he is lovely and really knows how to work with and connect with his pupils, he is brilliant with Jamie and you can tell from his playing, his attitude and his enthusiasm now he is going to Ivan - they have all improved in leaps and bounds. (As I am writing this well behind now - the good, no fantastic news is that he has passed and passed well, so we are very very proud of him but I'll get to that one in a later post).

Then it was onto Friday and I took Jamie to his sleepover near Bedford and when I had finally found the place, in the ice and fog and cold (!) and left him I was a bit worried as the whole place looked a bit basic. Well it looked basic to me, and I needn't have worried, Jamie had a brilliant time and can't wait for the next one!! Here are some pictures ....

there was mud in plenty

Having fun being creative

More mud and lots of walking too

They seemed to have plenty to eat, in and out of each others rooms when they should have been in bed sleeping,

More food (you can see one of his plastic plates here!)

Jamie had a brilliant time, so all was good! And when he came home there was plenty of very very muddy clothes for the washing machine!!

As for me I had a busy day too on Saturday but check out the next post for what I was up to.

Ciao

Sue

XX

Reading challenge 10/16 - currently reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkhaban

College Week 11

Only 2 weeks left now before the first term is complete. This week was more of the same identification of materials, pricing up and some work with flowers! A new arrangement this week was the funeral sheaf which is a bit like a flat bouquet, a bit like a hand tied and a bit like an opera bouquet and here are a couple of pictures of my first attempt. This design is slightly different from a lot of others as it has what is called a ' return end' - that is where the leaves near the bow face the opposite direction to finish the design off.





That was really the highlight of the week, except getting another assignment back and I am quite happy with the mark, it was the same as last time so I am keeping the standard consistent, which is pleasing!





Ciao

Sue

XX

Reading challenge 10/16 - currently reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkhaban

December Is Here Already!

December seems to come around scarily fast these days and here we are again! It was time for Flower Club again and a Christmas theme this time, with wine and mince pies too. Lovely as ever to see everyone, I am so happy that to have found this group. Here are the amazing arrangements from this months demonstrator, fantastic, brilliant and stunning.

Lot of bling and lights on this feathery door wreath ...

I think these were my favourites, could you imagine a couple of these either side of the door to welcome guests, how lovely.

So perfect and the amazing lady who created them all in the background.

Who needs trees and baubles you could have this arrangement .....

or both of them!

I love this chap (but don't tell Mike and why will becomed evident next week!)

My photo lets this one down, badly, but it was stunning.

A stunning pedestal arrangement and I love all the bling too, and I don't usually like bling!

A quiet week other than that, Jamie was menu planning at cubs in preparation for their space sleepover, which will be good practice as we have decided he is going on his school residential which is 4 days and 3 nights away in March, how will I survive?

Mike headed off to see Simple Minds with his friend Martin, a jolly boys night out and I think a very good time was had indeed.

And that was about it!!

Ciao

Sue

XX

Reading challenge 10/16 - currently reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkhaban