We are home, but blink and you will miss us!

We had to come home because we have run out of clean clothes, dog food and I really need to have a bath. Hallett's mountain's accomadation is truly wonderfull but it is lacking a bath. Well there is an outdoor solar heated one , but whilst there was plenty of rain for bath water there was precious little in the way of sunshine.

Water featured large in our visit. On Monday night I collected by complicated scientific research ( well, actually the glass I left outside by accident) three cms of rain. I think there was just as much for every other night we were there.

And although our feet are now webbed, we still had a lovely time.



Possibly the best front garden in the world.




What happens when there is too much rain!





Fruitbat paints.

There will be lots more pictures - but I'm tired now.
And tomorrow I have to go to festival for five whole days ( YAY!)

It's been a rather mad few weeks - I am having a truly wonderful summer holiday , all the planning that has been taking place all year is paying off.

Our first adventure was to the lovely small festival www.thesmallfestival.co.uk. Lots of wonderfully chilled and happy hippy people. Bit like Woodcraft Camp for grown ups. A plan to leave after tea on the Sunday was abandoned and we finally dragged ourselves away at well past midnight. I think we had a nice time!

I have been extremely brave and made my first forray into the music world. At the truly amazing and wonderfull Music for the People Summer school. www.m4p.org.uk
It was a bit like Big Brother but with a musical background! There were so many first for me - playing , singing and performing. As well as making what I hope will be some life long friends. I have been on an insufferable high for the last few days. Sorry Rock God!

And then it was festival time - I joined the regular friends of the Black Pig for the final day of Fairport Convention's Cropredy Festival. The weather failed to dampen our spirits, although I have never been so muddy, and the final chorus of Meet on the Ledge as always almost reduced us all to tears.
What follows is a picture record of a windy dismantling of camp.


The bat girl



The gathered clan.


Francis the human tent peg.





Tomrrow a the next leg of our adventure will take us up Hallett's Mountain. Can't wait.

We have harvested the first of this years vegetables. Yesterday we dinned on our own potatoes, salad leaves and radishes . Our beans and squash plants can only be described as rampant and there looks like there will be enough tomatoes to feed the whole village.

We do however have a bit of a problem - an excessive number of courgettes.

Since becoming vegan the Rock God has been very good and has happily eaten his way through all manner of meatless meals, however he has dug his heels in and is claiming that courgettes are the work of a very bored devil.

We have reached a compromise and he has agreed that if Freddie ( the probiotic dog *) will eat them then so will he. I think I won't have a problem, so far Fred has eaten sweetcorn , brocolli and yoghurt this week. He has asked me not to tell the other dogs , but last night he was begging for cherries. I don't think I will have any problems with courgettes!

(* he does get to eat meat as well! )

So, when most people go to a wedding there are plans to be made, hours of trailing round shops chosing the right outfit, shoes , hair and prsents to buy.
Yesterday , The Rock god and Roaring Meg were booked to play at the
wedding of the lovely Richard and Jane - now we have met this couple before at various events, but I couldn't really say they were close friends, they really just wanted a friendly rock band.

I went along in the afternoon to help the boys set up - since their sound man Andy's unexpected illness ( well noone expects to loose both their legs and the use of their right arm) they have been in need of a little extra support. I can set up lights, microphones and carry boxes. It was very hot, very sweaty and we all got a little dirty.

There were a few tense moments when it looked like the bridal party were going to arive early and trip over a kit strewn dance floor, but they were headed off by the very vigilant photographer. At exactly 4pm we were ready and like willo the wisps prepared to dissapear until needed to perform at 9pm. I did sneek a peek through the side of the marquee - just to get a glimpse of the bride.

The venue organisers were keen to keep us out of sight - in our scruffy jeans, dirty tops ( and my pink crocs) we were hardly appropriately dressed. The best man had other ideas, three guests had not turned up, there were three seats on table three , coincidentally with Dave the guitarists. I did feel rather sorry for the other guests who clearly felt that they didn't want to share their looked forward to wedding breakfast with the turn.

I am pleased to say that I did manage to change out of my jeans in the car park, into a vaguely respectable skirt but I did attend a wedding in the top I had slept in the night before and without a scap of make up.At least I had washed my hair in the morning after swimming but I did still smell of chlorine. It is amazing what a spray of deodorant can mask!
The Rock God wore his stage trousers which are so tight he can't eat whilst wearing them - they are purely decorative!

After a lovely meal my evening improved no end, rather than being left to watch the proceedings alone whilst the boys were busy I enjoyed the undivided attention of the best man, the charming,softly spoken,suave, sophisticated, maker of custom jewellery Julian ( what more could a girl ask for and can I think of anymore adjectives!)- well I did until his girlfriend arrived later!

I was not allowed to go to orchestra tonight - I am considered a health risk. In the high maintenance world of performers the meerest sniffle can cause people to dive for cover. The Rock God has taken to standing poised with a spray disinfectant whenever I approach.
I have had a cold.
And I am starting to feel as if noone likes me.

I also think a head full of snot may have had a funny effect on my brain.

This morning I was awake at 4am, my mouth feeling as if something small and furry had slept in it. Whilst in search of water to wash out the furry animal I found myeslf in the spare room, there was a beautifull sunrise. Whilst distracted I dropped my inhaler off the widow ledge, onto the radiator and wedged it between the wall the radiator and the skirting board. I then used a coat hanger to wedge it further down. I contempleted waking the Rock God and asking him t help. I wondered about taking the radiator of the wall , I did after all have several hours before I needed to be at work.

Whilst deciding I knocked over a mirror, a hair brush and some books - they made a very satisfying crash as they hit the floor. Freddie, being a superb guard dog, lept into action and barked loudly at the intruder. Next doors 2 year old Moaning Myrtle woke up and frightened by the barking dog , screamed. Through the wall I heard her parents wake and rush to comfort her.

The Rock God woke up. He was not impressed. But I was a least able to ask him to rescue my inhaler - and I tried very hard not to laugh when it hit him full in the face.

I hope everyone eventually got back to sleep - I can't be certain, after a dose of night nurse I slept until lunchtime.

Can't seem to stop myself ...............

I think I lost my mojo, that and I had too much work to do and consequently little time and head space to blog.

For those in the world of education this time of the year sees a definite change, an untucking of shirts and a loosening of ties - we head towards activity weeks, sports days and trips to theme parks. I have counted the weeks until the summer break begins.

I have made a career changing decision and expect that this will be my last end of summer term in my current role. Having made the decision the practicalities will sort themselves out.

In other news - it must be summer because this.....



happend in the garden. Once again we have rainbow grass , a multi coloured dog and more t shirts than we know what to do with.
All sizes , all colours - orders can be taken.


We are also conducting an experiment as you can see in the background to test just how many vegetables can be grown in the local councils recycling containers. ( Do not be alarmed we have bins filled with jars and cans round the corner. )

The elderly and now sadly departed have served us well recently and we are making great use of a sewing machine and a piano we have inherited - both making a great amount of noise to annoy our rather aloof neighbours. A large patchwork quilt is growing quickly and yesterday I mastered 'Twinkle, twinkle' (with both hands,) the expense of all those piano lessons years ago clearly completely wasted! The flute is making more promising progress and I and it shall be making our musical debut with the Da Capo orchestra in early July.

And now to plan for the weekend ..... I think a bath and washing some of that dye of might be a good place to start.

I filled in a questionnaire today and had to do something I have never done before. You see - yesterday was an important day in the world of the fruitbat. Yesterday I moved into another realm, for yesterday was my 35th birthday. Today I filled in a questionnare and realised that I was no longer eligible to tick the 24-34 , I have moved up a level - I could truthfully only tick the 35 - 50 box.
I contemplated lying but as we all know this is a slippery slope.
I fear there are other things that will reveal themselves in time.

The Rock God amongst many lovely gifts bought me a sat nav - he suggested I tried it on the way to school today - a journey I have done for almost nine years. Recently there were road works and I got lost, no one believed why I was late when I finally got to school, half way through assembly.

I was surprised yesterday evening when The Rock God returned from work, to find him standing in the doorway holding what looked like an item of black lingerie - I wondered what he had planned for our evening and if this was another exciting birthday gift.
It was however not new knickers at all, but in fact the rather soggy bottom part of my swimming costume that when coming in from the car I had dropped in the middle of the road. I had left my knickers on public display.
The slide has begun.....

It is just past 6.30 - I have been awake close to an hour. I am wearing my pyjamas two jumpers, fleecy socks and the finishing fetching touch of my pink crocs. I am wrapped in a blanket, huddled as close to the radiator ( as close as one can ge without scalding oneself).

I woke at 12, at 3 and then finally at 5. On each ocassion I had been convinced it was morning - those with more sense might perpahs have seen the lack of daylight as an indicator that it wasn't! I finally decided that the Rock God had endured enough and have left him to at least an hours un-interrupted sleep, before I bother him again.

We are in Wales , until later today when we shall migrate south for the spring. Wales has fullfilled expectations in being probably the coldest wetest holiday location one could choose. I grew up here, couldn't wait to leave, now we spend our holidays here, and I spend the time away contriving ways to haste our return, and on really tough days I look at the property pages on the net.

We have much to return to Buckinghamshire for, good friends, planned events, careers we enjoy (mostly). I especially enjoy mine when I am in the middle of a pleasingly long holiday!

Tomorrow I shall post photographs and wish I were here.

The mist has risen over the Penrhyn quarry, the gret slag heaps are coming into view and like evreyday we have been here it is all seen through a light fog of drizzle. (The type that makes your hair go really frizzy!)

I think it is time to wake a Rock God.

Just in case anyone was worried I cn confirm that my visit to the dentist was propbably one of the most unpleasnt experiences of my life and rendered me a complete gibbering wreck for about five hours.
The anasethetic has worn off and I am no longer dribbling. Oh and my tooth dosen't hurt anymore!
But I'm never going again....

I am sitting in my kitchen and have just watched a squirrel perform a gymnastic routine in the bird feeders worthy of an olympic medal. I felt the birds watching should hold up score cards. It is quite busy out there this morning although there was much indignation that the fat balls had run out.
I am listening to the radio and should by now be at school for a training day.
This week I think I have experienced the absoloute worst of my profession - i have been accussed by a parent of a child in my care of cruely and unprofessional conduct . Initially I was a bit concerend however this did turn to mild amusement when a complaint was also made about the Deputy who had stepped in to help me out. We did wonder by the time the parents came into school if they complained about the Head, would any of us be returning after half term.
I sat through and contributed to a meeting where the behaviour of the invited guests was nothing short of disgusting. A child clearly guilty of unpleasant bullying with parents intend on bullying and intimidating the school. I'm glad I am not in charge.
I did get a box of chocolates ( sadly not vegan!) from another mother so happy with my dealing of a problem - so I can't be that bad!
This week my lap top blew up - I was a bit dissapointed that there weren't more flashes and bangs. I have lost all my work and a few precious photographs.
And finally the reason for my not being at work and it is not becaue of discipllinary action ( although it very nearly could have been!) no, it is because I need emergency dental work. I have an abcess under one of my teeth at the front and am today having root canal work done - Yay! I had not until last week been to a dentist for fifteen years - this could be the reason for the problems now. I am somewhat phobic about the whole needles in the mouth thing and am really not happy at all. I have to go on my own and just thinking about it is making me sweat. Although anything at has got to be better than the pain I have been in for the past few days.

Ouucccchhhh!

On the left my grandmother , on the right Noni, sharing a joke.

I have never understood why the world assumes that you should only be friends with people of your own age or at least your own generation. At school we keep children in regimented groups according to which bit of September they were born in.
I was much younger than my first boyfriend – I remember the shock and horror from my friends. My partner now is nine years older than me – no one has even commented. I have friends who are both older and younger – I value their friendship and in many cases their experience.

I first met Noni when I was nineteen – recently moved to Enfield and finding routes for me and my dog Jim to walk. Noni walked her small dog Danny an irritating yappy terrier. Jim normally not one for socialising with other canines decided that Dany would make a good walk mate and so our friendship began. A 9.30 appointment every weekday morning – ( I was a student at the the time and unaware of early morning starts). We talked and shared our stories. Originally from Philadelphia she had travelled over on a liner, had an affair with the purser and had never gone home. Her first husband whom she eloped with was a major in the army- her second a high flying executive killed in the Marleybone train crash. She had travelled and lived in a world of servants and parties. She once told me a suitor had been sent packing because he wouldn’t buy her champagne. She had two sons – one who sadly died an alcoholic and the other who went out one day and simply vanished.

Our friendship became more than just walks when her dog broke his leg and I took them both to the vet. She had a granddaughter, but I have never met her. We went out for lunch, to the cinema and never seemed to stop talking. When my first long term relationship ended she was a tower of both emotional and practical help – even offering me her spare room. She was the support I sometimes lacked from my own family. She loved me. She sorted me out. We took it in turns to boss one another around, both thinking we knew what was best.

At an age when most are putting their feet up and accepting what life deals them Noni launched into her third relationship with Brian a near neighbour whom she had her eye on for while! I was once most indignant that I had called round only to be told she was going out on a date!

Our friendship crossed three generations – she could have been my grandmother, I am
proud to say she was my friend. I used to wish she was closer to my age – then we would have had more time.

I saw her for the last time last Saturday, on Thursday she died.

Goodbye Noni – I am going to miss you so very much.

Today we did the RSPB bird watch, I think the birds knew we were paying extra special attention. We have had up to twenty blue tits, a woodpecker , black birds, robins, pheasant, chaffinch and a squirrel all at once, but today the most we counted were four bluetits and a very pretty robin.




It's been a beautifull sunny day and in an attempt to prevent a complete metamorphosis into nocturnal dark creatures we ventured out into the woods.
Our lovely woods are managed by people who think it is important to be kind to the planet.They don't like using machines . Today we came across these very friendly grass mowers.




They were very nice and very pleased to see us.
I am aware that some may not share my passion for cows but they are my favourite and my best. These cows were especially lovely as they were ebing allowed to wander freely, had lovely glossy fluffy coats, were not in calf and carrying great heavy udders around with them and most importantly were not being used to create gallons and gallons of milk in a process that causes the cows stress and suffering and shortens their life expactancy by about four years ( and most cows would only live to be eight anyway). These cows seemed to especailly like the bramble leaves. Sorry, vegan rant over.
Another picture of a nice cow.



We had a very nice walk.

It has rained so much this weekend I am thinking of setting sail across Penn Street pond.

The Rock God and I haven't ventured further than the woods with a rather soggy Freddie.
We have declined a party invitation last night and a dancing evening tonight in favour of nothing more exciting than pottering. The Rock God had recorded songs and made jewellery and played racing cars. I have painted - a window display and some crockery. We have baked and cooked and eaten. The freezer is full of fairy buns ( a vegan version of a fairy cake)and other delicacies to make our working week easier. I have begun to read ' The Gentle art of Domesticity' and another improving book (I can't remember the title)but it is to do with bering productive and happy. I have painted my nails purple and thought about doing the ironing.

I spent some time creating potions in the kitchen - I was away the day we did science at school. I am attempting to grow crystals, progress is slow. I think perhaps I did not add enough magic, I shall have to refer to my Book of Shadows.

Oh and we slept for 12 hours last night.

So I think as wet weekends in Buckinghamshire go this one can be considered to have been quite good. I am a bit worried abut how we shall cope in the real world tomorrow.
I'm not even sure where my shoes are.

I imagine in a nice frendly office, kind and caring collegues ocassionally make one another cups of tea and share biscuits by the photocopier.

Today at 1.20, I decided that I would quite like a cup of tea. I even have my own herbal tea bags and a special mug that my collegue gave me that says 'barking' on it. I haven't worked that one out yet.

I left my office, carrying my mug and tea bag. On the way I met Jenny - in trouble for her uniform and because she had decided that algebra really wasn't her thing today. We went back to my office for a little chat.

I tried again - this time I made it three doors down the corridor where I discovered Mark and several of his Yr 9 collegues trying to fit Josh (who is quite small) into a locker - and then there was Emily who wanted to show me her Nintendo and Rebecca who wanted to borrow the lego set and would it be ok if Sophie played too.
I went back to my office.

On my third attempt I made it a little further, all the way to the stairway. Here I met Ellie and Megan. Ellie was revisting the scene of the accident that saw her now hobbling precariously on crutches as she attempted to climb her way up the B block. Remembering my own month of crutch use, coupled with a fear that her poor sense of balance would lead to another accident, I felt compelled to stop and teach her how to get up the stair case safely. I am certain someone had the same conversation with me when I broke my knee. I know all the details of how the accident happened now as well.

Tammy was on the stairs waiting for me - the boys were being mean about her hair and her Gameboy. I told her that boys were stupid and that I wanted a cup of tea - she seemed to accept this, but wanted to know if she could play with the connex. I went back to my office.

I looked at my watch, it was 2.25 - five minutes to tell Matthew off in and get to the other side of the site to be ready to teach Yr12.

I finally made my cup of tea when I got home at 7.00 - it went cold before I managed to drink it. Must try harder tomorrow.

I am trying to work out what the point of today was - well actually the whole point of January really , but thats too big a question for Tuesday night.
Today I went to work. I taught some lessons. I told some children off. Made a few children laugh (just briefly) by teaching some very old English swear words ( well I was getting bored). I didn't make anyone cry. I ate two yoghurts and a carrot for lunch and had a baked potato for tea. Tonight I did some marking and lit the fire.

See I told you I had nothing to say!

I grew up in the wilds of North Wales - when we had proper winters and snow that kept you off school for days. I love the sound of a fierce wind and am not really too bothered by the rain. Cilfodan my home area being proven to be the second wetest place in Britain ( I think Fort William is the first ). I quite miss the unpredictable weather - in leafy Buckinghamshire we mostly get dull or grey with the ocassional pretty frosty morning.
Unpredictable weather also creates issues - our North Wales home was almost flooded last month with an overfull stream flowing neatly around the house and straight down the lane. As I child I decamped one winter to a friends house because they had an aga and double glazing, I'd only gone for tea but couldn't face a cold ice blown walk home - I was only seven.
Last night we had our own howling gale - these days I turn the heating up, light the fire and enjoy the sounds, our 100 year old property rumbles and rattles. We were plunged into the outer darkness at just after ten o'clock. Whilst I imagine much of Penn Street were scrabling around trying to find their candles and torches, mine were already lit. Having just watched Sense and Sensibility I was toying with the idea of going to bed by candlelight and imagining myself as a Jane Austin heroine. (Only without the flowing night gown!) I rather enjoyed the drama of the power cut - The Rock God and I found plenty to keep ourselves amused!


We made jewellery, played an ancient game of Vikings that we found in a chrity shop for a £1 and played I spy in the dark!
I was quite dissapointed when the lights finally came back at midnight. I was rather getting into the whole romantic candlelight thing.

I am concerned about the Rock God's animal recognition skills.

Taking advantage of the frosty morning and a peaceful Sunday start we set out for a walk across our forest.

There are a number of animals that live in our forest - we regularly have to stop Freddie from chasing pheasants and rabbits and squirrels are a particulaly amusing to chase. He is a able to spot the smallest dog that simply must be chased from 1/2 a mile away.
He can however completely ignore a large deer sauntering by.We haven't yet worked out why.

The Rock God cannot let anything pass without having a good nose ... he decided he needed to investigate why there was a white van parked in the middle of the woods. This necessitated a detour off the path and through deep squelching mud - (I am still cleaning the dog!) The white van it transpired was in fact a large white cow - she was most unimpressed by us traipsing up and exclaiming in surprised tones that she was a cow!

The Rock God grew up in a town and it would appear that there is still some work to be done to turn him into a country boy!

or actually finding a way to work out what my password is. I have to confess to ebing logged out for the last three months, opppsssy!

But I am back now and shall endeavour to write witty and interesting anecdotes as often as I can - assuming there is someone out there wanting to read me!

So happy new year to everyone in blog land!!!

I know that I am not what could be called a regular blogger - sadly in amongst the daily to do list, updating my notes rarely reaches the top of the list. It is somewhere down with finish the iorning and ring my mother - things that I keep meaning to do, but never quite get round to.

Last time I posted I promised news on prizes I had one - I did in fact win first prize in the craft section of the local show and also the recent village treasure hunt. The treasure hunt was a bit of a challenege, the elderly locals proving themselves to be worthy opponents, it was only by using all my cunning and guile (and a little help from the RG!) did I manage to leave with the winners champagne.

The last few weeks can only really be described as a bit of a stuggle, a chest infection resulted in a trip to the doctors, the first in almost two years, The Rock God's grandfather died, having sadly not quite made a century and I am finding the demands made in my professional world almost too much to manage.

I did have a break from the routine on Thursday , taking a group of sixth formers to the BBC to be stand ins for a tech rehearsal for Strictly Come Dancing. I was initially worried that they might not behave and that their teenage uncoothness would be somewhat embarassing. I needn't have worried. In the presence of greatness they were struck entirely dumb. It began outside with a sighting of Jonathan Ross and that big fella from Children's TV. My collegue was even heard to be fussing that she didn't have her best knickers on. ( I'm not really sure why she thought this important) I'm afraid old Brucey and Tess did little for me but I would have been more than willing to do anything Roger the floor manager asked me to do!