Week 7

Another week another dollar - I got my payment from Gingerbugs for April this week and was very pleased and surprised.  I had sold over £170 of goodies through them.  This was mainly for Easter and they ran out of my Easter goodies almost instantly because I had stopped producing them - but even so, I was very pleased and even more surprised.  Apparently I was their top seller of the month - not good for them!  Anyway, I have some cashflow which is brilliant - although I have nothing to spend it on at the moment except for food and drink!

Maths this week was angles which I found easier than ratios from last week (I had to look up some answers and work backwards to figure out how to do some of the questions!).  Thinking the teachers really should do some lessons for us parents as we don't know how our children have been taught to do things - might be doing more bad than good with our teaching.  I am completely out of my depth with English (or Literacy as it is now called!)  I don't understand the grammar at all, and the way the kids have been taught how to put together a story / poem is well beyond me.  I just leave Tom to it as I know he is way more advanced than me.  (My insecurities put nicely in place by St Crispins' English department have come straight back to me - never far from the surface!)  Tom seems (to me anyway) to do a better job than I could do!

Here's his poem of Hope he did this week:

Sun has been shining,

Even though what's happening,

Not seeing friends

Hoping for it to stop

Hoping that we will return to school,

Wanting the weather to stay with us.

Always getting excited when there is a knock on the door

Going on long walks

Always getting fitter,

Bikes have never been used so much

Playing games over video call

Spending as much time as we can in the sun

Hayfever has started which doesn't help trying to stay well

Hoping everything will get better soon.

Tom teaching me to play the guitar

On Thursday, Tom received his own video message from Mrs Clements, see below.  Which was exciting. Was the last day of schooling this week as it was VE Day on Friday.  Gradually the teachers are getting to grips with technology but I don't think Ingleton will teachers will be holding zoom lessons or file sharing via the website anytime soon.  They are so so behind with technology here.  I have no idea what families without computers and printers are doing.  Pretty impossible without either, we were lucky as we had a spare laptop which Matt was using for photos - so Tom is using that.  I'm using my edible printer to print everything out - ink was about to go out of date anyway!

Personal message from Mrs C...

VE Day took place on Friday and was a good day.  In the morning Tom and I made scones.  He made cheese scones and I made fruit scones.  I took some spare over to the ambulance station.  At 1pm, Bibby's did a parade of their vintage vehicles around the village.  Lots of people had made a real effort, dressing their houses up in red white and blue, flags, bunting etc etc.  We made some bunting and hung it up, dressed up in red, white a blue and got our one flag out.  

Making scones

The morning was spent making cheese scones (Tom) and fruit scones (me).  I've never been a big scone maker, but both batches were really good.  Tom made his with Jarlsberg, it worked really well.  Once made we split and filled a number and took them round to the ambulance station for the lads there.  We then took our chairs to the front of our drive, and settled down with our scones.  Anne and Lauren turned up and stood opposite us on the other side of the road, so we could shout at each other.  We were lucky in that the parade went past us 3 times, we were expecting just their vintage bus and 1 or 2 other vehicles, but there were probably about 10 or 12 - all looking immaculate and with their horns sounding.  

Scones for lunch - driveway picnic

Once again we had a party atmosphere in the village, everyone was out in their front gardens so we were able to wave.  Unfortunately we don't have many permanent residents around us - next door obviously is the ambulance station and opposite us most of the cottages are holiday homes, but we do have neighbours on the other side of us who are ok and of course the Browns behind us who we have started to talk to (just) again - well they are the only people we see and vice versa. Don't think we will ever be great friends though, maybe just civil, although he has been playing with the drainage in the field behind us since lockdown, so I'm sure he will be up to his usual tricks trying to build on the land behind us again soon! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKW8wBBw9n0

After the parade we went for a bike ride up Oddies Lane, very hard work - I walked most of the hill as it is extreme, so extreme that the boys gave me a 15 minute head start!  Just about worked!  The rest of the ride was quite pleasant to Chapel-le-Dale and back down on the Hawes Road which is lovely and empty at the moment.

Great lockdown birthday pressie

Saturday - my birthday.  Think Matt was worried that today wouldn't be special enough for me, but he neededn't have worried, I liked the fact that there was no pressure on me to have the 'best day ever' and I could just relax with my family.  I was lucky in that the weather was amazing - the hottest day of the year so far, in fact I can't remember it being as hot in the past.  I had a lovely lie in, then opened lots of lovely presents.  Matt did ALL the cooking for the day which was just wonderful (I am so fed up with cooking!).  After lunch (which consisted of cheese and biscuits from a rather lovely birthday hamper from Pat and Bob set out on a lovely piece of slate and cut with a new cheese knife both from Jude and Craig) we went for our walk of the day to Edith's Wood.  We bumped into loads of people we knew.  A 4 mile walk took us over 3 hours because of all the chatting (socially distanced of course!).

We even ALL went for a paddle in the (very low river) afterwards as it was so hot.

When we got back home we discovered a happy birthday banner on our front wall and a bag of goodies from the Bickerstaffs.  Matt then cooked me pork chops and whisky sauce for tea.  Then at 7.30 the Bickerstaffs turned up and sang happy birthday, then the Holmans turned up and then Steph arrived.  Was an overload of people, but very very lovely.  One of the best birthdays, simple is good.

Sunday, sorry, not 100% sure what we got up to, but I think it involved cricket on the field, a film and relaxing (what else is there to do?!)

Birthday banner!

Week 6

New wardrobe...

...and new desk

So we are beginning to accept the new situation as 'normal' now and have got ourselves into a routine which sort of works.  Not every day is a good day, some days I am so bored doing home schooling, some days Tom doesn't want to do it and the red mist descends but really on the whole I can't complain, he's a good, compliant kid and has accepted everything that has been thrown at him without complaint.  We, as a family are in a good and privileged position, we have more money than we need rolling in every month, we live in a beautiful part of the country, meaning we are able to recharge our batteries and feel our souls with our countryside rambles and bike rides.  And we do actually like (even love) each other meaning being cooped up together hasn't been a disaster!  I do worry with Tom being an only child, not having enough social interaction with children and turning into a mini adult.  He does have video calls with friends (all girls - there has been no contact with any of the boys at all, which to be honest I'm not all that surprised about!) and it is lovely to hear him giggle with them, but I'm thinking it might take him a while to get back into actual play.  We will see...

Guess we are doing what everyone else is doing on, just keeping on keeping on, finding pleasure in the small things and enjoying the slower pace of life.

This week was a little miserable, weatherise, but considering it has been so so sunny recently we really couldn't complain, the landscape needed some rain after all.

Pebble art

Lemon eyes!

We used our time wisely this week, and put the final touches to Tom's bedroom.  It is now very blue and lime green - and quite smart.  I'm very happy with his choice of colours as is he.  We spent Wednesday mindfulness time sorting his room out, which of course didn't go down too well with him - he hates tidying his room - but the rough has to come with the smooth and we did get it (more or less) done which meant he got to sleep in it on Wednesday night.  He was very excited - almost too excited to sleep, but he did manage it (just)

Sunshine under a dark cloud

Thursday was another miserable day, we spent the afternoon painting pebbles to plant around the village which lots have been doing to make walks a little more interesting.  Thursday clap for key workers was fun this week too - the emergency services came together: ambulance, fire engine, police and mountain rescue and did a very noisy circuit of the village.  It took them a good 30 - 40 minutes, we could hear them reverberating all around as they went up and down all the lanes.  Made for a party atmosphere in the village.  We were lucky in that they started and finished in the car park opposite us so we got to see them twice.  They made quite a noise - was great to see them all together.  We have seen loads of police in the village since lockdown, they have certainly been trying to keep us safe from irresponsible people wishing to visit (made some decent money as well!) Wonder where these police are in 'normal' times.

Friday, Tom put on his apron and made a lemon drizzle cake.  Very tasty it was too.


Saturday the boys went off on a long bike ride to Clapham station and back.  I know I can't begin to keep up with them - so didn't go with them, preferring to go for a walk by myself instead. Sunday we played cricket on the community field again.  We also watched Zootropolis - one of our favourite films.  And that was another week done.

Back to School

Making brownies

So Monday was still officially Easter Holidays, although the teachers seemed to forget this and send through an extra-ordinary amount of work on Monday morning for the children to do.  I didn't go into my email until the evening so it was too late for us.  I had to point out that Monday was still officially a holiday which is why we didn't do anything, they had forgotten!  We of course then spent the rest of the week playing catch up and never quite got there!  Basically we have 5 Maths lessons and 5 English lessons to do each week and then loads of extra work and activities if we wish to do them.  The Maths is ok (ish) but I found the English extra-ordinary hard, I seriously had problems doing it and was not sure we had the right answers at the end.  Tom was completely lost.  I ended up acting loads of it out for him to try to help, but not sure it did - the text was quite abstract and he had to infer what was happening.  I would have struggled at 16, let alone 11!  I am now seriously worried for High School English.  I always hated English as it is so subjective.  People read different meanings into the same text so how can you possibly mark it right or wrong?  Maths and science is so much easier when it comes to finding the answers.

Cherry blossom in the village

Monday Tom wanted to do some baking and I gently nudged him towards chocolate brownies, I managed to find a recipe I used many years ago and remembered was good.  I didn't help him at all, and wow - they were amazing.  The best ever chocolate brownies.  Tom didn't think they were up to much but Matt and I were in 7th heaven.  They didn't last long!

Tuesday was back to school.  So back to getting up at a school time and a routine to the day.  The days certainly go much faster when a routine is in place.  In the evening we decided to do the river walk over to Country Harvest.  We bumped into a number of friends on the walk which was good.  It is so good to have a chat.

Wednesday, another school day and an evening walk down by the river at Storrs and then along to Skirwith and up to the Ingleborough path and back again.

Painting his room

Concentration...

On Thursday for mindfulness we started painting Tom's room.  He had decided on lime green and teal as his colour scheme.  We ordered the paint right at the start of lockdown, but it took a good month to arrive.  Anyway we finally started the painstaking task of moving the furniture, masking taping everything etc.  Tom was excited to help paint and took to using a roller very well.  Paint obviously went everywhere, but most of it ended up on the wall.  Today, Matt did a mega long ride, from here to Austwick, to Hellwith Bridge, Ribblehead and back again.  He wanted to test himself, see how fit he has got and surprised himself, he did it very quickly and without too much discomfort.  Tom and I went for a walk in the evening around Green Lane, there were a lot of
people about, so social distancing became a little difficult.  The government have done a good job - I am wary of other people now!

Friday - not wanting to have the same experience as last night, we decided to bike ride along the lanes, much easier.  I went with the boys, but peeled off home earlier than them as I can't keep up with them!

Tom not overly happy with his hairdo!

Saturday - I had to become a barber again.  I wanted to 'attack' Matt's hair again as it was looking a bit messy from my previous attempt.  It was easier this time, I have been studying his head and knew what I needed to do.  I was quite happy with the outcome.  Next was Tom - his hair has been getting out of control, so I gave it a go.  I was worried as he has such fine hair.  I did an 'ok' job.  His fringe is a bit dodgy and I couldn't get the hair around his ears to cut properly and he has a 'bald' patch on one side where I got a little too enthusiastic.

On the limestone pavement

Today, we went for a long walk - we walked up to Crina Bottom on the slopes of Ingleborough and the up to the limestone pavements.  They were fab.  It was soooooooo quiet up there, no traffic on the road below meant that bird song was deafening, wish I knew what they all were.  We had lunch on the limestone pavements and then headed down towards the A65 to get back home again.  We had trouble finding the style out of the Open Access area and at one point got sworn against by the owners of White Scar Cave who saw us and told us that we shouldn't be there and that he didn't give a toss that the land was Open Access Land etc.  I think he thought we were tourists - we were well in our right to be there.  Doesn't hurt to be polite - he could have told us where the styal was.  Anyway,  we found it and had a lovely walk back home across some fields, bumping into some friends too which was a bonus.  We came home tired, so had showers, tea and then Tom and I collapsed infant of Paddington 2, whilst Matt was in the kitchen taking part in a comedy Zoom beer night.

Sunday we decided to have a quiet day.  We spent the morning playing cricket in the community field - the cricket club said people were welcome to use it as long as social distancing was observed.  Was nice to do something different.  The afternoon was spent doing lego models.

Easter Holidays - week 2

So I wasn't feeling very well during the second week of the Easter holidays.  I have never completely shaken off the 'cold' I had in February and all the extra exercise we have been doing overwhelmed me and I was back to feeling a bit rubbish again, so the boys headed off on their own adventures this week whilst I enjoyed some lovely hot baths by myself.  Oh, and the weather was amazing again!

Crossing the river

Boy in a tree

Monday - Tom and Matt headed to Kingsdale on a bike ride.  Basically miles of uphill roads.  I wouldn't be able to do it if I was 100% let alone under the weather.  By all accounts they did really well and even bumped into some friends who were duck egg rolling down the hills.

Tuesday Tom put his tent up in the garden as it is so sunny, the idea was to sleep in it, but although he did try many times, he didn't manage to actually fall asleep in it.  After lunch they headed up Ingleborough - at Tom's request.  Walking around here is great - but locals are divided between whether you should be walking in fields or on roads, and whether you should be walking up mountains or not (issue being if you fall, you will have to call out CRO putting them at risk).  So, we don't tend to advertise where we go as there will always be people saying you shouldn't be there.   Anyway they went up Ingleborough carefully and back down again with no incidents.  Matt was hoping that it would be really clear up there, but unfortunately it was hazy so not great for panoramic shots.

Wednesday - sorry can't remember what we did on Wednesday, but most probably included a bike ride for the boys and I think we watched Lion King 2 and probably did some legoing.

Tent up

Thursday, Matt and Tom went to Crina Bottom and then explored on the limestone pavement above it.  We then had a BBQ for tea.

Friday - once again, we can't remember what we did - but a bike ride for the boys and maybe a film: Jumanji or a board game and probably some legoing

Saturday, we all went out for a walk together.  Up to the stepping stone, across them.  I then went down Oddies Lane back to Ingleton, whilst the boys explored  the ridge above Twistleton.


https://www.facebook.com/Ingletonprimaryschool/videos/244816426637409/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Above Twistleton

Sunday is a blank again - probably lego, a board game and a bike ride?!

Mainly, this week we completely fell out of routine, we weren't waking up till really late, we lost any semblance of routine and were very busy doing very little.  Thinking getting back to a school routine will be good.

Easter Holidays

So we are now in official Easter Holidays - we were supposed to be in China for Easter this year, but with everything that was going on, decided best not to book (luckily we didn't have flights)  Ironic thing is that it would probably be safer in China right now than here!  Oh well.

So, we have lost the structure of the school day and are messing around, not really doing much.

In a field with Ingleborough behind

At the weekend we did 2 long walks - a 7 mile one half way up Ingleborough and then around its slopes,  and a 8 mile one.  The 8 mile one was from Ingleton to Bentham to Burton and back to Ingleton again - was a really nice walk - one which would be much better when the pubs are open again.  We hardly saw anyone except when we were almost back in Ingleton where a cyclist was resting up by the style we needed to climb over.  He didn't see us, so we got his attention and politely asked him to move 2 meters away so we could pass through.   We got a load of abuse and then he said we were hypocritical because we weren't 2 meters from each other.  When we pointed out we lived together, he said we were deluded.  I politely said thank you when he did move out of the way and he shouted 'don't you f***ing thank me".  Oh hum, you can't always win, but it was a shame to come across him at the end of a lovely walk.

New profession for me?

I was put to work cutting Matt's hair at the weekend.  I am no hairdresser, never had any interest at all.  Matt bought some clippers and asked me to do his.  He had to show me how to hold the clippers and then I watched a Youtube video and got stuck in.  Luckily Matt has a lot of hair, which means that any mistakes don't show up too much.  I did a half decent job, Matt was happy.  Bit scared of doing Tom who has much finer hair...

So we haven't had a schedule this week, I've just let Tom do what he wanted to do.  Monday it was mainly lego, Tuesday we just pottered around doing not much.  Oh, the teachers posted a wonderful video of themselves dancing during lockdown and sent it to us - brought a smile (and maybe a little tear) to us all!  https://www.facebook.com/Ingletonprimaryschool/videos/148173203288823/

Watering

Wednesday was food day: we can't get any supermarket food deliveries here for love or money, but happily a catering supplier, Cornvale is delivering to private addresses so I ordered meat and veg off them.  I then headed to Booths to get sundries.  They are open to NHS 8 till 9, then vulnerable 9-11 so I went in after lunch.  There was a bit of a queue but it was orderly and good humoured.  No parking charges in the car park and part of it cordoned off for queueing - everyone queued 2 car spaces apart, and then a strict policy of one out, one in.  Probably only about 10 in the supermarket - but even so, it was still very difficult to stay 2 meters away from everyone.  They didn't have everything, but I did ok.  I got tinned tomatoes and soap which disappeared from shop shelves before the lockdown and some plants for the garden so was very happy.  I got a friend some tinned tomatoes and planted it on her doorstep on my way home, never did I think I would be able to bring joy to someone through a tin of tomatoes!!!!

Gardening

Came home, did some gardening, including making up some baskets with the plants I got at Booths - look nice for now, wonder how long before we kill them?!  Oh, as I was weeding behind the front wall of the garden, a bloke went past and did a horrible cough.  He didn't know I was there, but yuck!  I went straight inside and washed my face with soap and water.

Oh I haven't mentioned the weather.  Since Covid 19 took hold in the UK the weather has been amazing,  warm, sunshine, blue skies.  It has been a blessing as it has meant that we can play outside in the garden which helps.  If it had taken hold 3 weeks earlier, we would have had 3 weeks of constant rain which would have been very depressing!

Careful piping

Thursday Tom wanted to bake.  I gave him a heap of baking books to go through and choose a recipe.  He decided on rocky mountain cupcakes.  The recipe looked very dodgy but figured as he had gone to so much trouble to choose something to make to just let him, so he had free reign of the kitchen and I just pottered around so he could ask me questions if he needed to.  The mix was very stiff and dry, not surprising given the recipe but I didn't take over and let him carry on.  He even managed to get them in and out of the oven by himself which was a first.  Then he made up the topping.  They were tasty but they were dry as I thought and a big difficult to eat.  He made 12 of them!  We thought we would give half of them to the ambulance station next door but every time we looked there was no-one at home.  Oh well, the topping was nice and Tom has been ploughing through them - he was very pleased with himself, so I haven't told him they are dry.

We did an evening ride around the lanes and were back in time for the 8pm clap for NHS and Key Workers - it is getting to be more of an event every week - this week the church bells were going as well which was a nice touch (especially as they don't ring very often)

Friday we spent the day doing lego outside.  We spread it all out on the patio and got to work.  We managed to more or less finish 2 models: Car boat ferry and shuttle and are half way through a fire engine and police helicopter.  It is getting easier as the number of pieces reduce.  In the afternoon Rebecca video called Tom and they had a game of Monopoly.  As usual it is the girls that Tom connects with best.  He has also been having regular video chats with another girl, Florrie who is in Year 5, but in the same class as him.  We knew they liked each other, but I didn't realise how much.  It was Florrie's mum who got in touch with me to set it up (she's a TA at the school - the one who dances with the huge horse on the teachers' video.  It is so good for Tom to have these chats as they provide him with chances to giggle and conversation on a level that we can't.  He hasn't missed the boys at all!  We went for another evening bike ride around the lanes.  Wowzers - I am feeling very out of condition - the boys are so much fitter than me - I am always way way behind both of them!

Saturday

Nice place for a rest

Today, the plan was to do a long bike ride.  However, a ⅓ of the way in, I knew I wouldn't be able to do it.  Everywhere you go here is up a hill and not just a rolling hill but a steep hill.  The boys don't seem to notice them but I am huffing and puffing like a broken steam engine trying to get to the top.  Also, I have discovered that I don't think I'm completely over the cold I had in early March which is making it all the more difficult.  Oh hum.  Anyway, I cycled to Clapham and then rode back along the A65 home (the A65 is so quiet at the moment, it means you can cycle on it without the usual worries - I think only about 5 vehicles over took me!)  The boys continued to Austwick, went up another huge hill, down some bridleways to Clapham and then back along the A65.  I did 10 miles, they did 16.  I'm glad I turned back when I did on hearing about their exploits.  They didn't get back until about 1.30.  So by the time we had lunch, the day was almost over.

Sunday

Stepping stones (1st set)

Today I requested a walk, having done 7 bike rides in a row.  We decided upon the quarry walk which we did a couple of weeks ago but the other way round.  When we left the house it was cool, but it quickly heated up, so much so that we actually cut the walk short as Matt didn't have a hat and the sun was strong - he was worried that he would burn which is a very real worry for him.  We then spent the afternoon watching Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc - figured he was old enough to enjoy it - we were right.  Was nice to have a quiet, relaxing afternoon.

Stepping Stones (2nd set)

Lockdown Week 2

Making his new desk

We have survived another week of lockdown - yay!

It has gone quite well really, haven't been clock watching, Tom to be fair has been pretty good, home schooling has gone way better than I imagined.

What have we been doing:

Monday: Joe Wicks, English, Maths, Reading, Mindfulness (DIY - the boys made Tom's new desk) and diary writing

Tuesday: Jess' Pilates, English, Maths, Reading, Mindfulness (DIY - Tom pretty much made a chest of drawers by himself), diary writing

Making chest of drawers

Wednesday: Joe Wicks, Steve Backshall, English, Maths, Reading, Mindfulness (Baking: 2x apple crumbles and 1x banana cake), diary writing

Thursday: Jess' Pilates, English, Maths, Yr 6 Zoom meeting, Reading, Mindfulness (Lego - we've decided to make all the kits again) diary writing

Friday: Joe Wicks, English Maths, Reading, Mindfulness (Gyoza making), catch up email to Mrs Clements.

Making Crumble

In English Tom has been writing a story about a boy, Klaus Schmidt, caught up in an earthquake in Vienna.  I get the earthquake bit (Matt and Kobe earthquake) but where the Austrian bit came from I have no idea.  He's been looking up streets and features in Vienna to make it realistic, but did zero planning so it is all over the place.  However, he is enjoying writing it (got to 1,000 words which he is really proud of) so I'm letting him.  I'm sure he is breaking every rule that Mrs C has taught him!  The school suggested a Covid 19 scrapbook - as we are living in historical times.  I have started this with him, but it is a bit of a task - Tom's really not up for it.  We will see if we mange to get anything useful done.

In Maths we have done measurements and BODMAS - I managed to find some worksheets on line which Tom was happy to work on.  The rest of the time was spent doing maths games.

In Reading we both lie on a sofa each with an animal after lunch read for 30 mins and then spend 5 minutes describing what has happened in our books to each other.  Seems to work - both of us are reading books set in India at the moment which helps.

Bonkers Zoom Meeting

On Thursday, one of the parents arranged a Zoom meeting for the whole of Year 6.  It was completely bonkers - 18 children on the screen at the same time shouting on top of each other - there was no one conversation, but they were all genuinely happy to see each other and it brought a lot of cheer into the house.  As I walked past the screen at one point I got a happy chorus of 'Hello Tom's Mum!'

Lego project

We have breaks at roughly the same time as school and Tom stops work at 3.30 (the same as school) when the snooker table seems to come out.  At this point, Matt tends to come down for work, the whisky gets opened and we have a dram whilst playing snooker.  Then we watch an episode of Malory Towers (a new adaptation on the BBC which they released earlier because of the lockdown and is surprisingly good.  I loved Malory Towers as a girl, and they have stayed true to it - except they have brought in ethnic minorities and introduced a good strong streak of feminism - oh and some of the actresses are Canadian)  I have discovered that I have remembered the books almost word for word and therefore know exactly what is

going to happen in every episode.

Eating gyoza

Then we have tea and then head out for our 'Boris Walk'.  We have been discovering lots of new walks around Ingleton and generally fit in a 3 to 4 mile walk before heading back home, jump in the shower, have a snack, listen to David Walliams 'Worst Children' and bed.

Making gyoza

The days are tending to go smoothly and quickly enough.  We will see how the 'Easter holidays' go - no school work to structure the day - but we have thought of some activities we can do instead - what we really need to happen is have the paint delivered for Tom's bedroom - that would kill quite a few hours...

New 'normal'

So 'normality' has been thrown away and we have a new reality.  My business has ground to a halt but I'm not upset - means I can dedicate myself to Tom's homeschooling without distraction.  It isn't something I ever thought I would have to do.  Matt's work, thankfully is unaffected, so he is working as usual Monday to Friday.

First Monday of homeschooling, Tom and I sat down and tried to come up with a schedule.  He wanted to keep it as close to school as possible.  In fact he is being very mature about it.  We have decided the following:

9am - PE with Joe Wicks / Pilates with Jess followed by choosing time.
10 to 11 English
11 to 12 Maths

1 to 1.30 Reading
1.30 to 3pm Mindfulness (anything else)
3 to 3.30 Diary

Learning to touch type

School haven't really given us anything to do - just given us some links to some educational games on-line, so really it is up to me to think of things, especially as the games tend to make the computer run hot and crash!  

Maths isn't so bad - I can come up with work for him to do, but I have no idea when it comes to English.  I ended up getting Tom to write some letters to his grandparents which worked well, but I guess he needs to do other things too - just what?

Powertool!

Hammer

Mindfulness is more fun.  On Monday we played board games, Tuesday Tom washed the car - he was very diligent.  Wednesday he made some lemon cupcakes and Thursday and Friday he did DIY.  We have been talking about upgrading his bedroom for a while but have never got round to it.  As the lockdown was getting more and more likely we quickly got onto IKEA and ordered some new furniture (wardrobe and desk) which got delivered on Wednesday.  He got to use power tools and a hammer to put them together with no injuries and even more amazing no arguments (although I stayed away).

Beautiful letter

We also need to paint his room - but we were too slow getting paint and now no-where has any.  Will keep checking - problem is the whole nation is doing DIY at the moment.

Washing the car

PE with Joe Wicks

Anyway we survived the first week without too much incident.  We are feeling how small our garden is - the only game we can really play in it is beach tennis so that is what we do for 'playtime'.  We keep 9 to 3.30 as the school day, have an early tea and then go for our 'Boris walk' afterwards.  We are lucky to live in such a lovely area - think we will discover lots of new walks from our front door over the next couple of weeks.

The weekend was slightly different - no school work.  Lazy morning, making of a picnic and then a long walk from our doorstep.  Return home, showers, watch a film, snooker, tea, board game, David Walliams audio story and bed.  I'm not exactly looking forward to the 'Easter Holidays' as not sure what to do without structure of school day to keep us going during the week...

Countdown to lockdown

Wowzers - how different the world looks now!  Normally at this time (week before the school holidays), I realise that I have got behind with the blog and quickly write up the past weekends ready so I can write daily about our holidays.  Impossible now - so so much has happened and to be honest our weekends weren't that interesting - mainly football and walks.

Why - oh just a little thing called Covid 19!  A little germ that somehow got transferred from the animal kingdom to humans in Wuhan in China (no-one is 100% sure exactly how at the moment).  That happened in December, the Chinese then shut down their whole country to stop it spreading, however, the rest of the world didn't quite realise what was going to happen and still allowed foreign travel.

The virus then kept popping up in other countries - mainly S.E. Asia (Korea, Japan etc) and on cruise boats.  Countries started flying their citizens home and put them in quarantine for 14 days before they were allowed out and about.  It was being contained...then February half term happened.  People and families traveled all over the place.  Outbreaks of the disease occurred in Italy and Spain.  Problem with it is, not all are affected which means you can be a carrier without knowing.  People came home from their holidays in the sun / snow and went back to normal life.

Within a couple of weeks cases of Covid 19 were being found in the UK in people that hadn't travelled to any affected countries.  The virus had got out and was being transmitted between people. It was getting serious...

Thursday 12th March  - Boris said all those with new continuous coughs (what does that mean) and temperatures to stay at home for 7 days to self isolate.
Tuesday 16th March - Boris extended period of self isolation to 14 days and for it to include all members of the household
Wednesday 17th March - all schools to close on Friday indefinitely.  Everyone to social isolate from those not in your household (keep 2 meters away)
Monday 23rd March - you are only allowed out for one walk a day and essential shopping (groceries / pharmacy)
Thursday 26th March - you are not allowed to travel by car to go for a walk.

Who would have thought it?  Terms such as lockdown, social isolation, self isolation have become common place.  The government who have had 'no money' for years and had been squeezing the poor and local services out of their pennies for years is suddenly able to pay all non-essential workers 80% of their wage and after what seemed an eternity 80% of self employed wages too as well as bailing out transport etc etc.  I do realise that we will have to pay for it later, but you do wonder where this money has appeared from?

So, Tom probably had his very last day at Ingleton Primary School.  It was very sad for Year 6, so far all they had done was work, work, work ready for the SATS and then after those they get a term of treats - lots of outdoor activities, days away, they do a play, have a leavers do, leavers hoodies, trial days in their new schools etc etc.  They have missed out on it all.  They took in white shirts on Friday and got lots of autographs but that was it.  Their teacher though has said they they will be invited back for a proper leavers assembly once things go back to 'normal'.  Tom's year has always been the golden year - the teachers were as upset as the children.

End of year photo!

Here are some emails we received:
"I have just had confirmation from the DfE that SATs will be cancelled this year. The very year when your bright bunch of children would have done us proud and moved us up the league tables considerably! But, it doesn't matter, they know how great they are and so do we. We all have other priorities at the moment this is the least of anyone's worries.

Keep smiling everyone, the sun is shining today.

Jo Colledge"  

"Dearest Parents

This week has been the hardest of my teaching career.  What a very strange day it has been today, but hopefully your child feels they have had some well -deserved fun and added some good memories to their bank. A few highlights were: giving Harry Dawson and Mrs Morphet a fright while playing manhunt; Charlie ‘hiding’ amongst the children in Wensleydale while they were enjoying a story outside with Mr Forde and enjoying a delicious ice-cream this afternoon.

Your children have been amazing throughout and have shown great maturity and sensitivity to the situation. They truly are a special bunch!

I feel desperately sad for my Year 6 children, whom I have nurtured and fed for a few years now. They have grown in so many ways and they were excited to show everyone what they were capable of in the forthcoming SAT tests. They were looking forward to showing how they would have put on the best show Ingleton has had with our KS2 production. They were looking forward to being the most respected Year 6 we have had and spreading important messages to their peers about the environment and healthy lifestyles. They were looking forward to taking part in the debate competition and lots of other opportunities. They were looking forward to their leavers assembly with all the ceremony and celebration that would bring.

These things may still happen, but I fear, this virus will take a long time to pass. If we are still closed by the end of the summer term, I have vowed we will still have a leavers assembly. You will all be invited back to Ingleton for a special assembly where they will receive their leavers hoody and enjoy the congratulations they so deserve.

In the meantime, we will endeavour to help you support your child at home. Yesterday they all brought home their learning packs. I have fully explained these to the children and they understand the idea of consolidating knowledge and skills they have already been taught. The suggestion is, your child picks five activities/tasks to do each day. I have suggested they have a timetable for Monday to Friday so they have some routine to their days.

In the coming weeks I will introduce other tasks and activities to complete. It is also really important to take this opportunity to take time to be with each other and do some of the things we struggle to fit in.

We are all experiencing unprecedented times and are trying to make sense of the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in. At the heart of all the inconveniences of our new restricted lifestyle, is the safety of everyone in our community.

Rest assured I am available as always via email and any questions or queries you have (or just a need for a friendly message) contact me at r.clements@ingleton-pri.n-yorks.sch.uk anytime.

This time will pass and we will re-emerge from our social hibernation. We need to keep smiling and remain positive for our wonderful children.

Take care everyone and please keep in touch

Rachel Clements"

Tom in his autographed shirt

To be fair, Tom has taken it all in his stride.  He hasn't felt sorry for himself at all.  I think they must have approached the subject well at school as he came home ready for homeschooling and has accepted home arrest with the two of us with good humour.  Children are resilient - I'm thinking he will be fine.  I do worry for his lack of social contact with other children, he is going to become a mini adult in this time, but hopefully when the kids go back to school, they will spend time letting them adjust to being in social situations again before the hard work starts...

Extra day? Time for a day out!

So Janine and I had arranged quite a while ago to finally have our girlie day out in Leeds. We were a little worried at one point that it wouldn't go ahead as we have had so much rain and the trains around here aren't the most reliable, but it was fine, they ran.

Bubbling magic drink!

Matt took us up to Ribblehead and the train arrived on time.  We got seats, shortbread and a drink from the trolley and settled down to watch the scenery go past. We got into Leeds and headed straight to the Alchemist for cocktails.  The Alchemist does a great range in cocktails - very expensive but great for showmanship.  I very much like anything with dry ice and chemistry type glasses etc.  First one I went for was a colour changing one where you pour in two different liquids at different times and the drink changes colour whilst bubbling with dry ice.  Great entertainment and tastes good too.   Next one was pimms, gin, ginger beer and mint, with dry ice of course.  Really tasty and very cool too.

Then we headed to the corn exchange and then Bundobust for lunch and a beer.  Then another walk including a stop at TK Maxx and a very giggly incident around a huge pink waterproof poncho thing. Next stop was Alchemist but the other Alchemist.  But OMG - the clientele was quite different.  It was full to bursting with young 20 and 30 year olds - all of whom were very orange, bleached hair, HUGE eye lashes, pouty lips, weird tights with no heels, in shiny black pants and leopard print blouses.  It was stifling and suddenly J and me felt very old, very frumpy and very in the wrong place.  We turned around and made a dash for it through the pouting selfie taking orange ladies back to the streets where we felt a little bit normal again.  We found a rock shop full of band T-shirts and gear and spent a good half hour calming down amongst the black t-shirts and normal people - I much prefer a goth to an orange lady!

We headed back to the Trinity Centre, thinking we would go back to the Alchemist, but that was full of orange ladies too now.  Then I remembered that the Everyman Cinema has a bar so we headed there and found a lovely quiet retreat with comfy chairs where we could feel normal, hear each other and relax.  So, we got in a bottle of white wine and relaxed, was lovely.  We then got the train back.  Spent an hour waiting in Shipley as the train in front of us had broken down but it was no bother, plenty of very drunk people on board keeping us entertained and it was warm and comfy.  We got back with no dramas - a very lovely, relaxing day.

Sunday - a bit of a quiet day.  Tom came home with Pat and Bob (he had got the bus over to Settle again to watch the snooker).  Tom and Bob then had a game of snooker here (Tom bought some snooker balls for his pool table with his birthday money) and then we went for lunch at Goat Gap.  The afternoon was spent doing homework - that took pretty much the whole afternoon.  Then tea, and snooker final until it was Tom's bed time.