Snow days and Holidays

Well another week has gone by and not very much has changed with regards to: financial situation, staffing situation and health situation.

Thursday here in London and I think most of Great Britain was a snow day (My back garden above) – I stupidly struggled in to work – I’m a bit of a glutton for punishment – only to find that most of the rest of the staff had not bothered, so we got sent home at around 2pm. Most of the kids that go to my school live in the surrounding area, so they had all turned up for a normal school day, they looked quite sad to be in. The sadness turned to joy, when they were released at 10 am to go back home. Many of them hung around the school grounds, making snowmen and giant snowballs, some of which reached a height of 5 feet – the giant balls are still in the playing fields, gently melting!

One of my colleagues, who is quite short in stature, but rather large in the breast department (40JJ) – took a couple of falls in the snow and ice and hurt her back and elbows – I don’t know why everyone laughs when I tell them this?? I had to drop her home as she was in some considerable pain. On the way we passed a group of our pupils at least 50 strong – I was just behind a bus and they pelted the bus with snowballs as it drove by – I gritted my teeth and nearly closed my eyes; gave them a steely look and almost dared them to throw a snowball at me – not one of them did. Am I really that scary?? Well am I punk?

This morning I went shopping to Brent Cross shopping Centre with my two sons. My eldest needed a new suit for work and I needed to buy my Dad, who is 76 on Tuesday a birthday present. It’s really difficult to buy him anything now as he seems to have lost interest in reading books (he has eye problems) he can’t drink too much as he is diabetic and has kidney problems and he doesn’t eat a lot of things as he has problems chewing (bad teeth). Well I ended up buying him a short-sleeved shirt from Marks and Spencer and a bottle of Harvey’s Bristol Cream (sherry), of which he drinks one small glass per day with his lunch. My youngest son just came along for the ride – and the burger and chips his brother bought him from Burger King.

What I did notice in the shopping centre are all the signs advertising special offers for the School’s half-term break, which is next week. Why would you want to spend £300 on a new games system to keep your children entertained for the week – why don’t people take their children out anymore? Wouldn’t if be better to take them to see something interesting, or go out to a park, visit a museum or just take a walk around the area you live in? For me living in London has always been something amazing and I used to enjoy taking my children out to places, not necessarily to spend money – a walk by the River Thames to see the sights and hear the sounds, free museums and galleries, loads of beautiful parks – all free!! Just walking around London especially the City of London can turn up interesting features and can enrich you and your child far more than plonking them in front of a TV ever could.

Have a look at these websites for ideas of what to do with your precious little angels or even your precious little devils!!

Enjoy England

For some reason the one above doesn’t seem to load up the right page – you may have to type the URL into the address bar, but it is worth it – this is a really good site.

365 Tickets

UK Government

London Visions





All you Mums and Dads out there - TAKE THE KIDS OUT!!!!

Jo xx