Saturday is Caption Day!

I’m joining in with mammasaurus.wordpress.com Saturday is caption day!

Go the go ahead for new home education group for North KIrklees

Have just got a lovely room organised for the new Home ed group I am establishing in Cleckheaton West Yorkshire – hope this is the start of a long lasting a fun group – will keep details posted via the blog – email fivekidscounting@gmail.com for further details

Video blogging or should I say vlogging – here we come!

We got ourselves some webcams today so we have been playing around with them (because you can do that kind of thing when you are home educating!) – setting up led to a good half hour talking about light and its properties when Olivia realised that pulling the curtains closed made a difference to the picture on the camera….. After about 15 mins trying to set them up (as baby George thought it was hilarious to pull the webcam off the top of the laptop everytime I got it in just the right position)  – here’s me and Liv trying it out …

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

Neighbourhood Watch !!

Is the concept of being a good neighbour dead and buried in Britain 2011?
There is about as much chance of me becoming the Pope as there is David Camerons big society becoming a reality if the experience on  my road is anything to go by. Last night there was a knock at my door – it was a Police Community Support Officer who had been summoned by the “Man with a Van” to have a word with us because we had asked politely for them not to block us in.  After an inital questioning she quickly came to the realisation that we had one car and one driver in our house – me .The neighbours have three cars a big van and a motorbike !!  and that we had indeed done nothing more than ask politely more than once.She went on to suggest that I didn’t use my drive but parked on the road – when I said  I thought it might antagonise the neighbour she said – “f you were there first then it’s tough!” She also said the PCSO would come and ask him to move if he blocked me in but we were not to ask – as asking again could mean they could accuse us of harrassing them over parking !!!
I was brought up to believe that neighbours should look out for each other and strive to create a harmonious place to live – is our society so broken we can’t even listen to each other without a lady in uniform arriving on the doorstep?

Neighbour from hell!

“Can you put your van on your drive please – you are making it difficult for me to get out” I ask the neighbour, smiling…

“No” he replies folding his arms determinedly

“I’ve paid my road tax I can park where I like”

“But your drive is empty – you don’t need to park on the road”  I point out politely

“I’m parking here and there is nothing you can do about it !” his tone becomes more shrill

“You should change your driving because I’m not changing where I’m parking”

He stomps into his house and stands staring at me from behind the kitchen blind.

Is this the Big Society ?!

If this guy can teach kids science then I’m a fan !

We had a great science lesson today via youtube from charlieissocoollike – see what you think !

9/11 may they rest in peace

The finally unveiled memorial to the victims of 9/11 is beautiful in its simplicity. Ten years before 9/11 I stood on the viewing platform of one of the twin towers and the view over New York was unforgettable. Ten years later I watched in horror as the attacks unfolded whilst my three year old daughter played in the garden. My much loved grandmother had passed away just ten days before. I share the sadness of the families and pray that they find comfort today.

Saturday is Caption Day

To carpet or not to carpet – that is the question?

We have carpet upstairs and wooden floors downstairs and with 5 kids and a chocolate labrador that is not a happy combination – so today on impulse I have taken up the landing carpet as a precursor to getting new (the Dh may not be best pleased as he feels stained carpet is better than no carpet) . George had a fab time wielding the hammer and Olivia had an impromptu lesson  on materials : we found – wood, metal, tiles, paint, paper and a ton of dust – What’s in dust then Mum?” she asks and off we go down another winding path to learning…..
So the question now is –  to carpet or not to carpet – the floorboards are already sanded and looking rather shabby chic – guess another rug needs making.

Had a severe case of tense pencil sharpening this morning

Had a severe case of tense pencil sharpening this morning – it‘s a throw back from when I was a primary class teacher and had to speed sharpen hundreds of coloured pencils before school!
By contrast we had a lovely relaxed first day back to home ed yesterday 🙂