So here it is..

... Merry Christmas everyone.

Stay safe. Keep your special people safe.

Peace and love to you all. May whichever God you pray to watch over you and yours.

Z

She specifically said.........

...................."hmmm, interesting..." in that way that made it sound as if it was all a bit weird. My blog, a bit weird? Surely she was joking, or being ironic. Since when have I done anything that's a bit weird?

Anyway, Christmas productions are in full swing, and the ones I have seen so far have been awesome. Everyone is talking about the robins in reception, and the year 2 trees.

If you have time, and are unbelievably sad like me, trawl the internet for "the book of love" by Peter Gabriel. A beautiful piece of music and no mistake. And whilst we speak of music, you may recall I blogged some time ago about a band called the Invisible who no-one had heard of. And who has just won the best iTunes album of the year award... hmmm, interesting.

So, in a week when advent calendars are looking half full / empty, and the school has received lots of positive praise from visitors, what have we learned:

Year 2 can sing. Very well.

Reception children can dance. Extremely well.

I cannot dress Christmas trees. Particularly well.

The new version of A Christmas Carol is awesome. Very scary as well.

And, if Peter Gabriel is to be believed:

"It's full of charts, and facts and figures, and instructions for dancing".

Have a good final week everyone. Slade, Wizzard, Elton, Jona? Your favourite this year? How about John and Yoko, and a song of peace and caring. Works for me.

Proper sized wham bars

Miss Parnell had a fair point mind: drumstick lollies have shrunk. And don't get Mr Scaiff and I started on Wham bars. They have just got smaller, they've imploded. We used to think it was 10 pence ill spent if it didn't dislocate your jaw after a game of rugby. Usually against the local grammar school, where wham bars had been outlawed for not wearing a tie to breakfast.

Anyway, I digress...

This week, I have learnt:

Writing the SEF is tough for me, but even more tough for Mrs Ford (Thank you Miss)

That I am still useless at writing policies

That Christmas songs on Sky TV in November are too early, even for me

That sometimes the horrible decision is the right one to make, and that I'd rather live with that than the consequences of doing nothing

Not everyone likes a Paul McCartney song all the time

That some year 5 pupils are brilliant at being independent, some are, well, not...

Year 6 love history

The world seems a better place when the backing paper order arrives from consortium.

Too many year 2 boys love toilets

That there's more than one way to poach chicken

A useful week, I hear you thinking. Oh yes, yes indeed.

Thank you. That is all

Raindrops on Snotty noses ...

I cannot believe how ludicrous I sound with a snotty nose. I had to do remembrance assembly, which I try to treat with great solemnity and dignity, sounding like I was talking through a funnel. And an ugly, unwashed and loved funnel at that.

This week, I have remembered that I love Emma Pollock in my iTunes, and Empire of the sun, but not Emmy the great who comes in between. No no, not at all.

Weightwatchers is about to cause a monumental ruck in this house. After this evening's offering of coriander chicken noodles, I had the cheek, the barefaced, chubby cheek to mention that I was still hungry. Oh well, she'll talk to me again ... one day. Never mind, she's gone out now, and I intend to make myself Ikea meatballs, pasta and sauce. So there.

Anyway, can I say that I got the Booker prize winning novel as a prezzie - Wolf Hall - and it is awesome. May well have to amend me fave books list.

Brogan, your spelling list is as follows:

Gabriel Agbonlahor
Stephen Warnock
James Milner

10 / 10 please Brogs.

Finally, as a dedicated educational professional, I regret to inform that, after the hedonistic cocktail of prescription pharmuaceuticals my wife has made me take have done nothing for me, I have moved on to self prescribed medicine. It's 568 ml of black stuff with a white top, applied regularly.

PS - Watched Gone with the Wind for the first time at half term. Not as good as sound of music.

Amber is the new green

It is. Honestly.

This week the staff and I have had a long talk about homework. Or, to be more precise, talked about long homework. Oh dear oh dear...

Anyway, what have we learned this week.

That Mr Vaisey is getting a taste for displays on a large scale.

That when there's no argument, there is just that.

That Mrs Stringer and a piano are far, far more harvest-y than me and a guitar.

That some of the children's blogs on the website are awesome!

That the bar isn't going to be lowered. Nor, thankfully, closed.

That the PCSOs and I make a brilliant three aside team.

That I have neglected the Kings of Convenience for far too long.

Anyway, time to go. Good luck to the Badock's Barbarians playing in the rugby tournament on Sunday - I'm looking forward to watching you all. (Let's all pray for no rain - either way, my daughter will try and eat the ball, several tags and at least four bibs.)

And I agree, there is nothing like the sight of jet planes meeting in the air to be refuelled that makes me think - "A ha, Harvest is here!"

Have a great weekend peeps.