Curtains

Theatre has always been a huge part of my life. My nan and my great uncle used to take me every year to see The Nutcracker Ballet in London which was a real treat as a young child and those memories I still hold very dear to my heart especially as neither are longer with me now. They also used to arrange the annual Christmas pantomime for us which became a ritual where around ten family members descended upon our then local theatre for fun and frolics. We were always the loudest row with group participation which used to thrill me immensely. I wanted theatre to be a large influence on the boys' childhood too and I have been very fortunate that my brother has chosen his career path in this area and he has been a huge inspiration to them both.

Since the move down to Cornwall, I haven't been to as many theatre productions, partly due to travelling distances, but also there just hasn't been the huge selection of shows to see that there is in and around London and the home counties that I'm used to. Lara and I took our eldest sons to see Goodnight Mr Tom a few weeks ago at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth which was a very moving and thought provoking production. It is a book written by Michelle Magorian that I remember enjoying when I was at primary school and I was equally as moved when John Thaw played the lead role in the television dramatisation a few years ago. A tale of two broken souls at very different ends of the age scale, celebrating the value of love and proves that friendship knows no barriers http://www.goodnightmistertom.co.uk/  Highly recommended if the tour comes to a theatre near you.

Nothing much since then has tickled my fancy locally however there are two future performances which have caught my eye and very annoyingly, if all goes to plan, I shall no longer be a Cornish resident by then to enjoy them. Paul Zerdin is at the Landmark Theatre on Monday 22nd August 8.15. I have seen him perform before and he is a hugely talented and hilarious ventriloquist, not to mention in my opinion very easy on the eye (!) and is well worth a watch. If it is anything like the last show of his I saw, your sides will be aching from all the laughter, so this is an absolute must see.

Kisses on a postcard is also showing locally at Queens Theatre on Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th September and then again Friday 30th Sept-Sunday 2nd Oct. Similarly to Goodnight Mr Tom it is a tale of wartime childhood but this is a true story of one ordinary boy and his brother, packed off to a small west country village from war torn London. The production features popular music from WW2, hymns, children's and folk songs and I would have definitely booked tickets for Jamie and I had we still been about.

On a completely different note altogether, people are obviously reading this blog as I have had quite a few messages over the last few days congratulating me on my twenty four mile run. Sadly I have to confess that the font I have chosen to use on this blog does not clearly show punctuation marks. It is not very good with    :-)   !!!!  or seemingly .      I only managed to run two point four miles which for me is still quite an achievement but alas not the 24 as it would appear - I am saving those types of distances to the dynamic Davis who incidentally is running the London Marathon next month in aid of the NSPCC. For anyone wishing to donate I know she would be delighted with any spare pennies you may have http://www.justgiving.com/thedaytodavis

Thought of the day :- Don't wait for your ship to come in, swim out to get it

Its just another manic monday

The progress on the house in just 1 week is in my opinion, nothing short of amazing. Dean has been a real trooper and the upstairs is already transformed with thanks also to my dad and Billy who have had the dusty jobs and tip runs to contend with. It is now officially a 3 bedroomed cottage and the extra space upstairs will make a huge difference to us for the short time we will live there, and hopefully make it all the more saleable for any potential buyers who may be viewing it in the very near future.

My job this morning was to strip the wood chip wallpaper in the boys old room and I must say, what an amazing job I did...........of ducking out of it! I accidentally (on purpose) left my old clothes at home and as I couldn't possibly work in the same attire that I did the school run in, went round to my friends for a girlie group catch up with biscuits which is more the norm of a Monday morning. Sorry Dean. I promise to be more productive at the painting stage and know a bunch of ladies who for a cuppa and some cake will clean the house from top to bottom for us.

Lesson plans for this week nearly complete, I have been blown away by the songs and rhymes Stanley has been singing to me. Being the teacher, I am well aware of all the benefits of music and how children's learning through a mix of repetition and new material takes place, but it is really all falling into place with Stanley now. Mum has been bringing him to my classes since I started teaching and sometimes I forget that my own son is one of the class members and that he too will be benefiting, along with all the other children. He has particularly enjoyed Eyes, nose, cheeky cheeky chin over the last two weeks and Ive heard him mixing a pancake when he was playing with his dolls house. Ive also heard him talking through some of the months of the year this week which is in the key song we are doing in every lesson this half term, so it is a great reminder to me that Music Train and the ethos behind it, really is a winner. Cant believe we only have 3 weeks left

Answers on a postcard

You may remember we are staying at my parents while we have extensive word done on our house and tonight, while they are out with friends, I stumbled across this in a saucepan.

I am slightly fearful as to what is planned for Sunday dinner?????????

Something funny for money

Friday as I'm sure most of you know, saw the return of Comic Relief and before I had children, if I'm honest and slightly ashamed to admit, I think I was slowly become immune to these types of events. However I was deeply moved this year on two levels. Firstly Jamie who is very nearly 7, took a real interest in the imminent arrival of the special day and gave me a shopping list consisting of a red nose for him and Stanley-check, a red nose for the car-check and some red hair spray or a wig-check.

On Thursday evening, he and I went to the bedroom and had a mini fashion show, pulling out all items of varying rouge shades so that he could design the perfect outfit of his choice. He chose his red pyjama bottoms, his red England tshirt to go under his red hoody top, accompanied by red slippers, red hair spray and the face of a clown with of course the honorary painted red nose. A great choice I think you'll agree?

After an immensely fun day of activities and fundraising at school, he came home and we watched some of the programme on BBC1. When we were by ourselves, he became deeply moved by one of the appeals in particular which featured ques of poorly children in Uganda with malaria waiting to get admitted to hospital after lengthy and tiring journeys. He was baffled by the fact that these children were unnecessarily ill due in part, to lack of funds and therefore unable to purchase preventative equipment such as mosquito nets which cost only £5. During this feature it also said that 1 child dies every 45 seconds and when I told him that it would take approximately just over an hour to loose the equivalent of all the children in his school, the tragedy of it all really hit home. Jamie's school works closely with a Ugandan school so this brought about further empathetic discussions and for the first time, he really seemed to grasp the whole concept.

For me, being fortunate enough to have given birth to two gorgeous and healthy boys, watching various excerpts where parents had suffered painful losses of their children through often no fault of their own, made me very reflective. Until you are a parent, I don't think you can truly understand the effect they have on your life and the unconditional love you feel. The thought of me being faced with the choices or decisions that these people had to make is nothing short of horrifying.

Another disaster in the news at the moment is obviously the Tsunami tragedy in Japan. Again to have whole towns completely wiped out seems unimaginable and even after seeing the endless footage on the news, I have trouble grasping the absolute devastation these people must be facing. My very close friend Katie who is a leader for Bude Women's Running Network and will be running The London Marathon this year (amongst others) made me aware of runforjapan.com where you dedicate a run to the people of Japan. In the pouring rain on Friday morning we both went out and ran 2.4 miles and on my return I donated and dedicated to this very worthy cause. The thought of her very tasty homemade scones that were calling me with the clotted cream and jam really spurred me on. I am fairy new to running and whilst I am not someone who naturally enjoys it, I feel great afterwards with a real sense of achievement and that is all thanks to the great encouragement of these two ladies maidincornwall.blogspot.com and thedaytodavis.co.uk Check them out. They are both very clever and inspirational ladies who Im fortunate to be able to call my very close friends and for anyone in the vicinity of Bude who is looking to start some exercise/running, meet new people and improve your fitness gradually, BWRN comes highly recommended http://www.womensrunningnetwork.co.uk/womens_running_network_join_us/find_a_running_group/South_West/Cornwall/Bude.htm

Anyone for pancakes?

It has to be said that pancakes are not eaten in our house as often as Id like. Whilst I can make a good batter mixture, I am useless at cooking and flipping them, and that role has always been assumed by the males in our family. There is a great pressure with the children watching that you don't drop it or mangle it, and the sharp intake of breath as the said pancake leaves the frying pan and flies through the air in what feels like slow motion, followed by the large cheer and round of applause as it lands perfectly, is too much for me to bear. It seems that Pancake day this year has unlocked something in us all, as since then, they have been a frequent visitor to our dining table. Some days have seen the traditional lemon and sugar, alternatives have been mashed banana and honey (those who come to Music Train will be singing the infamous banana song and no doubt "mashing" as you read), and my current favourite is cherries and ice cream. The boys have both enjoyed under the supervision of Dosh (their grandad) trying out their tossing skills with remarkable accuracy.

The word of the day is......

CLOSED

It was always going to be a bit of a rushy day what with the extra mileage from North Devon to Jacobstow which is where I am currently teaching my afterschool club to 18 enthusiastic, vocal and vibrant reception and year 1 students. But I wanted to make the most of the morning off with Stanners and had arranged some time ago to meet with Stacey and her boys who I just dont get the chance to see often enough.

Stacey's was the first face I saw when we relocated to the South West as she and I both had the misfortune of spending way too much time in the maternity unit of the North Devon Hospital (Barnstaple). For around 10 days we were residents in the bed opposite one another and we spent the time moaning, comparing notes, turning our noses up at the food, sharing chocolate, comparing blood pressure results and medication, but most importantly, forging the start of a very close friendship. It turned out we were induced on the same morning and Stanley and Ben were welcomed to the world only 6 hours apart, and they too are great buddies.

We had planned to go to the Gnome Reserve as Stacey had often commented on the photos she had seen of mine from previous visits where members of my family, both adults and chilren alike looked very colourful and it has to be said, a tad daft in gnome hats, and she was keen to join the club. On the warmest morning of the year so far, we trundled over, only to be met with a big, fat CLOSED sign. So not to be detered, we thought we'd go to the tamar lakes for a walk and a play in the park, and a spot of lunch in the cafe. The play in the park bit was good, but the cafe was CLOSED. Never mind I said, lets go to the Pizza Ape cafe/takeaway in my village, that would be just perfect for the boys, but you've guessed it, it was CLOSED! So we got some pasties and drinks from the local shop and went and sat in my local play park in the gorgeous sunshine, under blue skies and watched two very happy boys giggling, running, chatting and throwing sausage rolls (the latter was of course Staney). An added bonus was that some of my other good friends from the village happened to stop by after the pre-school pickup and it was lovely to see the children all mucking in together. Such a lovely bunch of little peeps.

I dont mind admitting that with the sun out and spending time with friends, I was a bit less enthusiastic to get off to work, but as always with Music Train, the minute I hear the voices of the children outside, the air of anticipation in their tone, and then seeing their little faces, the look of pride when they show me what they have brought in from home, something completely takes over. My job has to be one of the most enjoyable in the world, ever ever ever. I love waiting for their responses to my questions and the fact that they are learning so much whilst having fun. The way music is presented down here definitely has some catching up to do and it does get somewhat overlooked which is a shame, but I am just hopeful that for the 18 months Ive been teaching it, I might have inspired or unlocked something in the children, and perhaps even some of the adults. One mum after we had done the Strings topic said that she was going to get her old cello out of the loft, and another has said as a direct result of Music Train, she has had her piano tuned and sits and plays it with her son, so that is job done. 
  

What a difference a day makes

I find it extraordinary to think that just over 48 hours ago, my house was carpeted, furnished and okay a bit mouldy in places but what do you expect with an old 1900 Cornish stone cottage! The schedule was as follows :- 1) Box up remaining items, remove all bulky furniture and take to the self storage unit
               2) Rip up all carpets and remove skirting boards
               3) Take out bathroom suite
               3) Begin hacking off plaster

It has to be said that I have the most useless arm muscles in the world and whilst my horse riding years as a teenager gave me thighs of steel, I will be no threat to Amir Khan with these biceps. So may I introduce to you BANG IT AND LEG IT REMOVALS! These guys come with a health warning come highly recommended and for anyone looking to move or relocate to the North Cornwall/Devon area, for a highly entertaining experience, this is the South West's answer to the Chuckle brothers. Give them a wide birth!!! Well, actually it was my dad and brother we roped in but they truly are a great double act and I am very much looking forward to listening to them throughout the rest of "operation mammoth task".

Joking aside, the speed at which Dean, Mr & Master P and the help from the local bobby have kicked off the project is amazing and we are already ahead of schedule which is very exciting. Stanley has been getting very confused and cant understand why he is unable to currently live in his own house so I took him around there this afternoon to show him why. This is the image we were met with

24 hours ago this was a magnolia bathroom, with a white suite and tiles!!

The up side of living back with my parents (bet they were hoping to have well and truly seen the back of me by now) is that dare I say it, we feel a bit like The Walton's - 3 generations of the same family living under one roof. If we continue having beautiful weather as we did today, the boys will really be able to appreciate the great outdoors in the space my parents are fortunate to have, climbing the hay bales, collecting the eggs, helping muck out the two Dartmoor ponies etc etc. Spring really does feel like it is only around the corner. Bring it on I say.

Right, time for some beauty sleep, I'm off to bed. Night John Boy..........