College Cock-ups

From Facebook Archives

8 September 2014 at 14:14

Thunderthighs has started college.

Took him in this morning to enrol and take his first English class only to be told it was tomorrow, but got enrolment form from the teacher and took it to the office where two nice ladies sorted everything out for us.

As the English class time we'd been emailed was wrong I asked about the Maths and Biology. They looked confused (as well they might) and started 'phoning people.  The Maths was this morning but Biology is (touch wood) next Thursday evening.  Eventually they got the Manager down to tick two boxes and ring two times on the enrolment form and it was all sorted.

By this time Maths was half way through but as it was an introductory session Thunderthighs could go in without any disruption. As he sat down and I walked away I was suddenly back in Woodlawn School twelve years ago leaving him in Henlady’s class.  The strangest feeling. I hope he's as happy as he was with her.

It transpires the Manager is from Bettws-y-Coed so I had a little chat in Welsh before leaving.

I was so elated that it's all sorted I went and lit a thank-you candle in the Cathedral and had a coffee and caramel-shortbread in the cafe.

He's home now feeling rather strange at spending such a short time in class.

We both agree it was a very good thing his father didn't go down with him or there would have been a small nuclear explosion in the office before everything got sorted out

Mrs Poet  Lovely to read this.

Mercy Dunn  This is exciting. I wonder why all people in education don't make it their business to be as lovely as one's first teacher!

Bentonbag - Henlady was Thunderthighs's fourth teacher. 

He went to Woodlawn School after an awful couple of years in Reception and Year 1 of Benton Park School. 

The Year 1 teacher, in a meeting with NTyneside's Communication Support advice person said 

"But is this going to make more work for me?". 

Can you imagine how I felt about my boy being in her class? 

He ended up having time with his one-to-one in the cloakroom - she being an unqualified dinner-nanny/child-minder. 

Which is why I fought to get him into Woodlawn, and he started at the half term. 

(To be fair the Nursery teacher Mrs Tamms was lovely.)

Mercy Dunn  Oh dear oh dear....... Thank goodness for Woodlawn then! Why aren't people more lovely ....???!!!

 

Sheep May Safely Graze?

Despite their best efforts Ouseburn Farm’s poultry fell to bird-flu and, for a while, the yard was sadly quiet.

From Facebook Archives

7 September 2022 at 10.23

We had an interesting day at Ouseburn farm yesterday. 

The Farmlad had sciatica so spent most of the day wincing (he's off for a couple of weeks now). 

One of the trainees had a complete meltdown at lunchtime which lasted most of the rest of the day; so everyone decamped to a classroom for breaks. 

And when the Farmlad went to get the sheep from the field below the Cumberland Arms he discovered someone had let their dog off the lead and it was chasing them. 

The shouting could be heard right across the valley. 

The dog walker had the nerve to tell the Farmlad he shouldn't have spoken to him like that!

However Ferretfingers did quite a lot of muck shovelling and carting, water carrying, straw bag dragging and spreading and some sawing so it was fine for us.

And the chicks and ducklings are half grown and gorgeous. 

The sound of hens and ducks is back, together with the cheeping of bantam pullets. 

I spent a goodly amount of time leaning on the poultry pen fence just enjoying them.

The house is silent: Thunderthighs is at Hextol, Ferretfingers at the Rising Sun and Fester at the Mining Institute. 

The sun is out, there's washing on the line and, as soon as I've breakfasted, I shall strip our bed and load the washer.

Libet in parvis.

(go on - google it)

 

Guilt Housework Cottage Smell

More mopping up of old posts, and a reminder of Lockdown days.

From Facebook Archives

6 September 2009 at 12:14

Have far too much to do to be sat here doing this

6 September 2011 at 14:44

Living room mats brushed and up, floor and hall swept and mopped.  

If I'd known it wasn't going to rain (damn you BBC24forecasts) I'd've washed the bath towels. Can you tell I've got family visiting soon?

 

6 September 2013 at 08:53

Will Fixit painting the living room arch (which had to have a steel beam installed last year) and chimney breasts forced me to shift everything in that part of the living room, have a sort out, hoover (!), dust (!!) and polish (!!!). 

Wot-nots have been reassembled and shifted and ornaments moved and replaced. 

For once most of the room looks as if it is lived in by civilised people. 

So Mrs Leftfoot, Squireen, Mrs Quilt, if you want to see this phenomenon visit soon - we'll be back to the usual midden ere long.

Bess Cavalier I sometimes have to invite people round for dinner so that it makes us tidy up properly.

6 September 2020 at 16.10

Hurrah- the cottage we want to stay in in Wales at half term says yes (Covid willing*)

McChurch  Whoopee. I`d like to say Yaki dah, but it`s certainly not spelled right and probably means something different from wot i fink it does.😜

*false hope - October Lockdown

6 September 2025 at 15.16

"I keep smelling cheese - I don't know if it's me beard or what..."

Mrs Leftfoot  Deary me.

Mrs Lasagne  Has someone got hold of your phone Ben xxxx

Bentonbag  I can't facebook on my phone - this is life chez Chateau Midden

Miss Doozer  Christ!!!

 

Harvest Time

Seems to be getting earlier.

This year these things have happened a good month or six weeks sooner.

From Facebook Archives

5 September 2009 at 18:08

Have picked the first ripe cherry tomatoes of the year

5 September 2010 at 09:46

Have picked the first basket of apples - Autumn is officially here

Mr Littlefamily  So have I, yum!

Ollie Beaverbrook  Can't be... I haven't received my annual 14Kg of pears off my neighbour yet.  More wine... need a bigger house😀

White Rose  Just about to eat a plum crumble.. the first crop from a tree I planted a few years ago plus the plums that hang over from my neighbours tree!

Bentonbag  Apparently it's been a good year for plums.  Our apple trees are absolutely loaded.

Ollie Beaverbrook  You have plums on your apple trees???

White Rose  Can I have a cutting?!