The PTA

Just back from a meeting of the PTA, which I chair. Somehow the role of organising the school fete's and doing lots of the work for them falls to the chair at this school. Not sure how it has turned out that way as usually one would expect the chair to manage the work to be done but not do it herself! So I'm delighted to say that I asked if anyone would like to take on the role of leading the summer fair, and I had a volunteer. So no spreadsheets for me, no getting anxious about signage, and worrying about the logistics of all the tables and where to put them, let alone how to get enough people to run them. Yay-hey! Just need to make it clear to all it is voluntary, so no haranguing people who don't want to, or can't get involved then can just do the dull agenda' and minutes and bits that I like.

In other news, the dog has taken over chewing the shoe basket as her number one naughty task. And she still does not obey to leave it. Will have to get more treats out as part of training I think. I've been doing my homework, and as well as reading the puppy training book have been watching a very entertaining yet informative programme entitled; 'It's me or the Dog'. Quite posh British woman is the dog trainer and she does it all with treats. Quite small ones too.

Little spotty funny face

We've got a dog; a cross Spaniel and Jack Russell, no please no more comments about what a 'lively untrainable mix' this is, I didn't know OK. She is called Lily, and is really nice sometimes. Other times she runs manically around the house trying to bite ankles, steal shoes to eat, get at the crisps, bark and have wees. When she's nice though, she is very very nice - cuddling up to the whole family, wagging her tail, playing with her toys, saying hello to other dogs and so on.

Lily is 18 weeks old, her first family couldn't manage her, their kitten and year old baby in a flat without a garden. She'd been crate trained there, but I can't bring myself to do that so she's a bit more free range at ours. Hence the need to train her to 'Leave it'. If I'm honest, there are times, when I'm fancying a bit of peace and do wish there was a way to get her to get in her bed for a rest and stay there for more than a minute.

I'm actually thinking having a puppy is harder than an over-active toddler, because (mostly) toddlers don't nip, are not so loud and wear nappies. Lily has settled down slowly since we got her though so do have faith in her ability to be trained. Well I do most of the time.

Off to dog training classes next week. Hoping trainer not too strict with owners as I did read something worrying in puppy book whereby the author said she could tell how well behaved a puppy would turn out to be by looking at the owner's children!

It is Christmas time and I'm having a break

Hello lovely readers
Just to say we're all fine, looking forward to Christmas and I'm having a bit of a break from blogging at the moment.
Best seasonal wishes
Bev

Worst Cold in the World

I've had a shocker of a cold since Friday, been unable to sleep, drink, even eat at times. I still feel very unwell although last night I had a better nights' sleep what with waking up every 2 hours rather than half an hour.

Late mark

We were late for school this morning, forgot we planned to walk until too late and did not have the car as a back up. Did have to give my name to the school secretary for a black mark, surprised she didn't want the children's too but either she knows who they are or the black mark is just for me, deservedly so I suppose.

It's all about the coffee

I've just decided, and agreed with the Bridge, our local community centre to start volunteering there. I'm going to work in the cafe on a Wednesday morning, not alarmed about it at all apart from the very swanky coffee machine I'm going to have to learn to operate. Of course am nervous it will get very busy, as it does sometimes and I'll have a flap but apart from that it should be fun and a nice way to help, and get out of the house.
At least I know the components of all coffees, and just need to worry about them having the right milk, and of course the machine itself. Expressio anyone?
Oh, and in other exciting news we've got a new hamster. We also bought a new hamster cage, which is very secure with no way of hamsters escaping or cats getting them free. The hamster is called Gnasher, and is mostly Ollie's; it seems very cute so far and also very fat.

One Wedding, two funerals

We've got a memorial service on Thursday for Clive, as a popular teacher, and with friends and family I'm expecting it to be very busy, and very emotional again. I can't do justice to writing about Clive yet so I won't but needless to say he's been in our thoughts a lot.

We've also got a wedding to look forward to at the start of October - it's a small friends and family wedding; we're part of the friends contingent - it is one of Ollie's godfathers that is getting married. The service is in Lyme Regis, a lovely town so we're looking forward to spending some time there.

Weirdly we are staying in Charmouth, about a mile up the road where my childhood holidays were spent in a caravan. In fact, we have decided to stay in a caravan for the weekend, rather than spend a little extra for a lodge. I just could not resist for the nostalgia fest, plus the lodges are probably just wood cladded caravans anyway. Wonder how much the decor will have changed?

It's a sad time

My father in law died unexpectedly, and suddenly in Spain of a heart attack. We're just back from driving down to Spain and back for the funeral.

Mini Kickers and Middle Class Park Takeover

I took the children to the fantastic, Mini Kickers, football for little ones organised by the local community centre this morning. They loved it as usual, and the mummies enjoyed a good chat and discussion about how much we like (some of us more than others) the lovely man who takes the session and keeps our 3-5 year olds occupied and behaving well for a whole hour. Quite unusual to meet a younger single man who is fantastic with kids, and so bossy with them too!

Then we all went off to the new park on Bembrook Road, I've heard good and bad things about the park. A couple of friends of ours even got shot at with BB guns there a few weeks ago. But today, was a very middle class take over (that is, if we all accept the inevitable that we are middle class anyway) with a good ten or fifteen children mostly playing nicely together and taking turns. Very lovely afternoon polished off with a nice cup of tea and more playing in the Bridge Community Centre.

We're half way through the summer holidays...

...and have managed to have a lovely time despite the weather and being on a budget, I think just for being in Hastings. We've had a pirate day, and a lovely Carnival topped off with a free firework display this weekend. We've also been to Chessington, which was great, on 2 for 1 vouchers. Particularly keen on the chimpanzees there, although the children were more taken with the rides, and the pizza for tea.

And this week promises just a few days before we go on holiday. We're off camping in the middle of France - the Isle de Re to be precise for a week. I feel slightly 'of the moment' as a possibly (to be discussed at a later date) middle class family off for a week or two of camping in France. I think nearly everyone I know will be doing it this year.

Oh, and we just might try out the Hop Farm tomorrow despite being quite pricey it seems like it may be fun, and if not worth poking a bit of fun at the olden days.