tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-11-21:/MokoFeed2009-11-21T12:52:44+01:00tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-11-14:/2009/11/14/bird-spotting-in-mushrif-country-park-7371862/lizdavies2009-11-14T13:46:37+01:002009-11-14T14:24:31+01:00 <p>We have started going for a walk in Mushrif country Park on Saturday mornings. The bicycle track forms a circuit of about 5 km and it takes us about 50 minutes to walk.</p> <p>It is a pleasant walk - rather green and full of birds and birdsong. </p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/mushrif_park1/4107693" title="Mushrif Park1"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/693/4107693_d179fb40cf_s.jpg" alt="Mushrif Park1"></a></p> <p>The track undulates and from the high point there is a good view across the trees to Mirdif and on a clear day, the skyscrapers of Sheikh Zayed Road.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/mirdif_from_mushrif/4107705" title="Mirdif from Mushrif"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/705/4107705_7709d0141c_s.jpg" alt="Mirdif from Mushrif"></a></p> <p>I keep trying to photograph the birds we have seen, with conspicuous lack of success. For example, this is my best effort at capturing a hoopoe:</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/hoopoe/4107719" title="hoopoe"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/719/4107719_3881a90737_s.jpg" alt="hoopoe"></a></p> <p>So the following pictures have been borrowed from better photographers than I; but we did see the birds! The most common bird in the park is probably the White-cheeked Bulbul, of which there are many jauntering from tree to tree with a flash of yellow underbelly.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/white_cheeked_bulbul/4107735" title="White-Cheeked-Bulbul"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/735/4107735_8adc53332a_s.jpg" alt="White-Cheeked-Bulbul"></a></p> <p>Another very frequently spotted one is the Common Mynah, which we also often see at Nad al Sheba;</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/common_myna/4107736" title="Common-Myna"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/736/4107736_8da90d52c7_s.jpg" alt="Common-Myna"></a></p> <p>Then there are the pigeons and doves, of which we've seen several different types:</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/collared_dove/4107745" title="Collared-Dove"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/745/4107745_f184873c80_s.jpg" alt="Collared-Dove"></a></p> <p>We've seen a number of parakeets, but surely they are feral rather than native:</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/green_parakeet/4107784" title="green_parakeet"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/784/4107784_58454ef56f_s.jpg" alt="green_parakeet"></a></p> <p>There are a lot of delicate little browny grey jobs which might be pipits:</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/tawny_pipit_uae_2007/4107788" title="tawny-pipit-uae-2007"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/788/4107788_d0a43be7fb_s.jpg" alt="tawny-pipit-uae-2007"></a></p> <p>Today we saw one with a crest which I discover is a crested lark:</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/galerida_cristata_crested_lark_01/4107789" title="galerida_cristata_crested_lark_01"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/789/4107789_6d1335873c_s.jpg" alt="galerida_cristata_crested_lark_01"></a></p> <p>And although they are apparently quite common, we were thrilled to see a Little Green Bee Eater today, as they are so pretty:</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/little_green_bee_eater/4107796" title="Little-Green-Bee-Eater"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/796/4107796_0ca7486158_s.jpg" alt="Little-Green-Bee-Eater"></a></p> <p>To cap it all, last Saturday I thought I saw a dead snake, until I got closer and realised it was a live snake! It was only about 30 cm long, but was probably a Sawscale Viper, so it's a good thing I didn't try to pick it up! It looked exactly like this, down to the way it was curled, with it's head in the middle.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/viper/4107805" title="viper"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/805/4107805_09ca00e199_s.jpg" alt="viper"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/11/14/bird-spotting-in-mushrif-country-park-7371862/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-11-10:/2009/11/10/lost-in-the-ether-7345496/lizdavies2009-11-10T16:44:05+01:002009-11-10T16:44:05+01:00 <p>My website has disappeared into the Ether, despite me having paid to continue it.</p> <p>It seems my hosts have been bought out by other hosts, and we have to change over. If I had upgraded to the premium rate, the site would have automatically transferred, but as mine was standard issue, I have to upload everything again to the new server. Except my files are all sitting on my computer at home in England, and I'm sitting in Dubai working from a laptop...</p> <p>So temporarily my website no longer exists. I hope to resurrect it when I go home on leave, but meanwhile well done if you got here by other means than my link from my site! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/11/10/lost-in-the-ether-7345496/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-11-07:/2009/11/07/lost-in-translation-7326399/lizdavies2009-11-07T17:10:45+01:002009-11-07T17:16:04+01:00 <p>I taught my children "The Farmer's in his Dell" the other day. They love it, of course. But the first time, they weren't sure how it was played. I deliberately picked one of the older, more savvy ones as the farmer in the middle, and he successfully chose a wife, who picked a child. The child wasn't so confident in English and hesitated. "Go on" I prompted, "Choose someone." "Choose?" she asked, a touch anxiously. "Yes, choose a friend. Pick someone" She still wasn't convinced I meant it. "Choose?" she confirmed. "Choose" I replied. She looked bemused, but obediently sat down and started to remove her shoes....</p> <p>Reminded me immediately of a story my late dear father-in-law used to tell. One day he'd been doing a job about the house when little Jenny started to interfere. "Get your fingers off!" he'd berated her. A couple of minutes later she presented herself, naked. "What are you doing?" he asked. "You said get your fings off" she said....</p> <p>Which reminded me of another of George's tales. Little Gareth had broken a glass pane in an interior door. George got a replacement from the glazier's and had just finished fixing it when Gareth came in. "How did you break it anyway?" asked the irritated Dad. "Like this" replied Gareth, and showed him.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/11/07/lost-in-translation-7326399/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-10-24:/2009/10/24/good-old-ms-7233701/lizdavies2009-10-24T08:07:06+02:002009-11-07T17:33:18+01:00 <p>Since coming to Dubai and not finding the Hash, we have joined the Caledonian Society and have taken up Scotish country dancing again for exercise. </p> <p>It's as much fun as always, and the group we go to, with teacher Carol, is very friendly and welcoming.</p> <p>So we bought tickets for the St Andrew's Night Ball in November!</p> <p>This is a major social event and entails tuxedos for the men and ball gowns for the ladies.</p> <p>Not such a problem you'd think, in the shopper's paradise that is Dubai. Well, no, actually, it wasn't, to my great surprise.</p> <p>Ed does have a dinner suit, back in the UK and over a dozen years old, since when his waistline has expanded a tad. So we felt an investment in a new one was justified, when Calvin Klein had a 75% reduction sale. Ed got kitted out in a very nice outfit, for only as much as a normal suit would have cost him at home.</p> <p>I thought I'd be more of a problem. I'm middle aged, so many of the dresses designed for the young and beautiful would just look like mutton dressed as lamb on me. Satin is not me. I'm tall, so long dresses often aren't long enough. I'm scrawny chested, which isn't the norm nowadays, when most ladies tend to be amply bosomed. I'm also a bit tight fisted when it comes to laying out for a gown I might only wear once! </p> <p>Armed with these counter indications, I wasn't surprised to find nothing suitable in any of the department stores or usual chains. Well, I might have found something in Harvey Nicks or Galleries Lafayette had I been prepared to pay arms and legs, but I wasn't. I tried on a few but none did a thing for me and I desponded.</p> <p>I gave up on evening wear and went to Marks and Spencer to buy a pair of trousers I'd seen that would turn my beige jacket into a suit. I bought them, and noticed a couple of racks of evening outfits...</p> <p>There were some crochet lace mix and match pieces in black or old gold, which included a long skirt and a tunic top. I took the gold choice and tried it on. Hey presto! Evening dress that will pass as ballgown when enhanced with jewellery, that hides my chest and hips and looks elegant without being over matronly. And I can wear the tunic with trousers for less formal occasions.</p> <p>Good old M&S!</p> <p>P.S. I've already worn my dress. The girls at work invited me to a Diwali party, with the injunction "Wear a sari". So I said that would be impossible as I don't own one, but I could do long...</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/img_0864/4085914" title="IMG_0864"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/914/4085914_c725398cbf_s.jpg" alt="IMG_0864"></a></p> <p>Me and Manju. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/10/24/good-old-ms-7233701/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-10-16:/2009/10/16/i-m-driving-again-7179427/lizdavies2009-10-16T08:36:11+02:002009-10-16T08:45:05+02:00 <p>When I arrived in Dubai at the end of August, I expected to be able to drive, as I had on previous visits. But no. Because I entered with a work visa and an application for residence, my British driving licence was no longer valid; I had to wait for my residence visa to be processed and apply for a UAE driving licence.</p> <p>This has meant I have been dependent on Ed driving me to work in the mornings and catching taxis in the afternoons. Not as onerous as it sounds - the taxis here are numerous and the drivers courteous and honest, so it has been OK, but not as convenient as having one's own car to pop about in.</p> <p>I waited weeks for my residence permit (preventing trips to Oman as well as driving) but it eventually came back on 28th September, so last week I attempted to get my licence. We gathered all the documentation and I went to get my eyes tested. This took all of a minute and cost Aed 25, but I was set to go.</p> <p>First attempt failed because the licensing office doesn't open on Saturdays. Fair enough, if inconvenient. Second attempt failed because I didn't have a No Objection Certificate from my employer, which I didn't realise I needed, but apparently as they are my official sponsors, I did. That took a couple of days, so yesterday was my 3rd try.</p> <p>We went to the centre - a large, airy building with a reception, help desks and 26 windows. I went to the receptionist and told her what I wanted. She gave me an application form to fill in and said I didn't need to take a token, just take the form to window 17 when it's completed.</p> <p>Window 17 turned out to be the Ladies Section, and a small room rather than window. There was only one lady in front of me, who hadn't quite got all her paperwork in order, so whilst she went off to the in-house photocopier, the pleasant young girl began on my form. I had the form with all my details, my passport and copies of the relevant pages of it; the NOC; the optician's certificate to prove I can see well through my specs; my British licence and a photocopy of it. Turns out I needed the "backside" copied too, so I followed previous lady to the in-house photocopier and had my backside copied (does my bum look big?) for 1 dirham and returned.</p> <p>The girl was just completing the previous lady's business and by error she nearly gave her my passport. She realised immediately it was the wrong colour and retrieved it, but she was mortified and offered me a boiled sweet as compensation and was full of apologies.</p> <p>She copied my details on her computer and asked me to check the spelling of my name was correct. She then stamped and stapled all my paperwork and sent me to window 26. "Don't forget to smile" she reminded me, showing an example of her own friendly one.</p> <p>Window 26 turned out to be the photographer - hence the injunction to smile. I managed a smirk as the man took my picture and sent me next door to window 25.</p> <p>"Please wait" they said. As the cafe was right beside this area, we ordered a coffee as we settled to wait - but I was called before we were served and handed my shiny new licence, valid for 10 years.</p> <p>I was seriously impressed by the speedy and pleasant service. Obviously I had received preferential treatment as a lady, but there were no long queues or sounds of dispute anywhere - the wheels of bureaucracy were running with polite efficiency to everyone's apparent satisfaction. </p> <p>So last night when we went out for dinner, Ed had a few beers and I<br> drove home....!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/10/16/i-m-driving-again-7179427/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-10-10:/2009/10/10/hatta-7137028/lizdavies2009-10-10T13:17:24+02:002009-10-10T13:39:51+02:00 <p>Actually Hatta 2 squared, as I wrote it last week and it got lost in transmission... Ho hum!</p> <p>We went to Hatta again with Rodica - saw the camels of the last post on the way home - but I really wanted to share the pictures of the falaj.</p> <p>A falaj is the arab version of an aquaduct, and can be above or below ground.</p> <p>I thought this was rather impressive. I'll upload in sections and see if I can succeed this time.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/wadi_hatta/3987570" title="Wadi Hatta"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/570/3987570_cd00f97923_s.jpg" alt="Wadi Hatta"></a></p> <p>This is a view across Wadi Hatta, so you can see how arid the area is in general.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/falaj/3987587" title="falaj"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/587/3987587_ba6cfed266_s.jpg" alt="falaj"></a></p> <p>Here is the falaj at a point where the water is carried along a trough something under a meter high and across.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/falaj_2/3987596" title="falaj 2"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/596/3987596_f551c74bd1_s.jpg" alt="falaj 2"></a></p> <p>Looking into the water. There were numerous small fish swimming in it!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/community/profile_photo_sizes.php?item_ID=3987601" title="all image sizes"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/601/3987601_7b2a8cdf44_m.jpg" alt="falaj 3"></a></p> <p>All along the length of the falaj, which sometimes was cut into the rock and sometimes went underground, there was greeenery.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/oleander/3987623" title="Oleander"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/623/3987623_46ccde5c6a_s.jpg" alt="Oleander"></a></p> <p>Here are Ed and I beside a sizeable oleander bush! Notice my rather Edwardian swimming attire, and Ed's desert dress! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/10/10/hatta-7137028/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-10-03:/2009/10/03/beware-camels-in-the-road-7089922/lizdavies2009-10-03T11:58:36+02:002009-10-03T11:58:36+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/wot_camels/3960894" title="Wot camels?"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/894/3960894_ff7907835e_s.jpg" alt="Wot camels?"></a></p> <p>Wot camels?</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/oh_right/3960895" title="Oh, right!"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/895/3960895_8f54bc85c0_s.jpg" alt="Oh, right!"></a></p> <p>Oh, right! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/10/03/beware-camels-in-the-road-7089922/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-09-25:/2009/09/25/trip-to-sharjah-7037699/lizdavies2009-09-25T12:13:03+02:002009-09-25T12:47:16+02:00 <p>A trip to Sharjah is a bit like going from Cleethorpes to Grimsby, or Kenley to Croydon; so it wasn't a major expedition, but it was over a nominal border into the next Emirate. The intention was cultural - a visit to the impressive looking Islamic Heritage Museum, followed by the Maritime Museum and Aquarium.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/islamic_heritage_museum_sharjah/3934543" title="Islamic Heritage Museum, Sharjah"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/543/3934543_66ffe9d9dd_s.jpg" alt="Islamic Heritage Museum, Sharjah"></a></p> <p>We got as far as the imposing facade of the Heritage Museum, to find it doesn't open on a Friday until 4pm. As it was only 10am, we were a little early.</p> <p>Plan B. We repaired to the nearby Radisson hotel to drink coffee and eat muffins beside a tropical waterfall (indoors, naturally) whilst reading an up to date guidebook to Sharjah purchased in the news kiosk. A pleasant interlude, but we discovered all of the quite numerous museums in Sharjah remain closed until 4pm on a Friday.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/sharjah_creek/3934547" title="Sharjah Creek"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/547/3934547_1afacf167a_s.jpg" alt="Sharjah Creek"></a></p> <p>So there was nothing for it but to drive home the pretty way, winding around the four creeks, or lagoons, that make up the picturesque Sharjah waterfront.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dhow_wharf/3934557" title="Dhow wharf"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/557/3934557_e4aeebcb97_s.jpg" alt="Dhow wharf"></a></p> <p>Some people like beaches and yacht marinas; me, I'm a sucker for a dhow wharf since visiting the one in Dubai. I have many pictures already, but couldn't resist just one more... Not sure what all the steel towers in the background are - something to do with oil or gas, Ed thought. This is Sharjah Creek, or more properly Khaled Lagoon, and the business end of Sharjah waterfront.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dhow_in_sharjah_creek/3934559" title="Dhow in Sharjah Creek"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/559/3934559_7030de6bcd_s.jpg" alt="Dhow in Sharjah Creek"></a></p> <p>Next along is the Al Khan Lagoon, where the Maritime museum and Aquarium occupy the peninsular that covers the sea exit.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/al_khan_lagoon_sharjah/3934564" title="Al Khan Lagoon, Sharjah"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/564/3934564_28d7b70c03_s.jpg" alt="Al Khan Lagoon, Sharjah"></a></p> <p>Beside that is the Al Mamzar lagoon, which has two "prongs" formed by the Al Mamzar peninsular which juts into it. Opposite the Aquarium peninsular juts Al Mamzar park peninsular, which is back over the border in Dubai.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/al_mamzar_lagoon/3934580" title="Al Mamzar lagoon"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/580/3934580_55fb1fe80a_s.jpg" alt="Al Mamzar lagoon"></a></p> <p>Interestingly, although the border between the two emirates is mostly nominal, with roads passing freely through and nary a sign to welcome you from one to the next, on Al Mamzar peninsular there is a definite fence between the two, that can be crossed by pedestrians as it is formed of low posts, but not cars. So from Sharjah one can enjoy the NE prong of the lagoon, whilst from Dubai one can enjoy the SW prong - unless one parks up and hikes a bit!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/al_mamzar_park_dubai/3934612" title="Al Mamzar Park, Dubai"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/612/3934612_0204f01b57_s.jpg" alt="Al Mamzar Park, Dubai"></a></p> <p>Crossing back over the border we had to make quite an inland loop to get back to the Mamzar waterside.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/pompom_trees/3934614" title="Pompom trees"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/614/3934614_47935c6084_s.jpg" alt="Pompom trees"></a></p> <p>Then back along the Dubai Corniche, overlooking the man made islands of the now languishing Palm Deira resort. I loved the manicured pompom trees that were scattered along the promenade.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/trees_on_corniche/3934616" title="trees on Corniche"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/616/3934616_75deece14c_s.jpg" alt="trees on Corniche"></a></p> <p>And finally the bridge to nowhere - an almost completed bridge intended to join the roads from the mainland on to the Palm complex, redundant for the moment and like the project, in abeyance.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/bridge/3934617" title="Bridge"><img src="http://data6.blog.de/media/617/3934617_5e79b0a1b4_s.jpg" alt="Bridge"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/09/25/trip-to-sharjah-7037699/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-09-21:/2009/09/21/hatta-7007385/lizdavies2009-09-21T06:07:33+02:002009-09-21T06:39:58+02:00 <p>We managed to get away for a day trip at least. We went to Hatta Pools, right on the Oman border but only a 90 minute journey from home.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/road_to_hatta/3919332" title="road to Hatta"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/332/3919332_df35bcb64c_s.jpg" alt="road to Hatta"></a></p> <p>The drive to Hatta is pleasant, past the Big Red sand dunes and into the mountains. At Hatta village we turned off into the mountains and then off the tarmac road to a well used track to Wadi Hatta, where, amazingly, there is a mountain stream that always has water. Where it has cut deeply through the surrounding rocks and formed a gorge, it has also formed deep, clear, cool pools that are very popular for swimming in.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/hatta_pool_1/3919334" title="Hatta pool 1"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/334/3919334_497d3ecfee_s.jpg" alt="Hatta pool 1"></a></p> <p>We arrived at 9:30 am to find a large party of overnight campers just departing, leaving ouselves and a Japanese family of four in sole attendance.</p> <p>We were surprised by the extent of the large pool, which was crystal clear and populated by shoals of little silvery fish. We waded in - the water was refreshingly cool, but still warm enough not to take your breath as it reached your stomach. I might have been more astonished by this if I'd gone in prior to our sojourn in Puerto Rico, but I'm used to non icy mountain streams now!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/big_pool_hatta/3919337" title="big pool, Hatta"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/337/3919337_dfc48e9a40_s.jpg" alt="big pool, Hatta"></a></p> <p>As we swam, we soon got out of our depth, but could still see to the bottom, as we progressed through the winding gorge. After about 200 metres we reached a gravelled shallows and beach. The pools the extended further on, but we decided to return to our bag of belongings and swam slowly back.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/clear_water/3919340" title="clear water"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/340/3919340_4b8353cd9b_s.jpg" alt="clear water"></a></p> <p>The gorge rose about four metres above us, creating cool shadows where it was narrowest, and dancing reflections of sunlight on the rippling surface against other walls. It was lovely.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/img_0714/3919350" title="IMG_0714"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/350/3919350_78fe4e708f_s.jpg" alt="IMG_0714"></a></p> <p>I had opted against wearing a swimsuit, and had swum in my shorts and T shirt, so when we emerged I was nicely air conditioned against the increasing fierceness of the sun.</p> <p>We decided to walk downstream and try to follow the river a little way. We reached a point where we couldn't go further without swimming again, so tried the top route. We explored for some time. The rock formations were incredible and I took some interesting photos.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/img_0712/3919351" title="IMG_0712"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/351/3919351_efb5213fb4_s.jpg" alt="IMG_0712"></a></p> <p>By the time we returned to the large pool, a party of young men were playing in the water, jumping in from the clifftop and splashing happily.</p> <p>We returned to the car and went to Hatta Fort Hotel resort for a leisurely lunch, before making our way back to Mirdif.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/ed_up_a_wadi/3919353" title="Ed up a wadi"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/353/3919353_c99b641ad4_s.jpg" alt="Ed up a wadi"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/09/21/hatta-7007385/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-09-19:/2009/09/19/eid-holidays-6996294/lizdavies2009-09-19T14:47:23+02:002009-09-19T14:48:03+02:00 <p>After only 2 weeks of term, we are having a week's holiday to celebrate Eid al Fitr - the end of the holy month of Ramadan.</p> <p>We had hoped to go diving in Oman, but unfortunately my visa hasn't been processed yet, so I can't leave the country (Rick will know all about this problem).</p> <p>A small consolation, if rather an unwelcome one, is that in fact even had my passport been fully in order, as I have developed a nasty head cold, I wouldn't have been able to dive anyway!</p> <p>I think it's a combination of repeatedly going from super hot outside - daytime temperatures are still regularly over 40 c - to super cooled inside (we take the children out to play and the classroom has A/C) and meeting a whole set of new germs from the ones I was used to dealing with!</p> <p>Anyway, the result is that we are holidaying at home. Which is partly a good thing as we have been told the government inspectors will be in mid October, so I can use this week to catch up on the things I didn't get a chance to do before school started, on account of my contract not starting till school did!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/09/19/eid-holidays-6996294/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-09-12:/2009/09/12/nearly-famous-6947985/lizdavies2009-09-12T13:03:49+02:002009-09-12T13:03:49+02:00 <p>On Thursday we had dinner with photographer <a href="http://www.kevinphillips.co.uk/">Kevin Phillips</a> who was in Dubai to do some work for Mott MacDonald. During the course of discussing his mostly industrial photographs, I asked if he'd ever been tempted to be a paparazzo and snap celebrities. "No" was the reply, "but I was famous for supplying the world with the only official photograph of Nick Leeson a few years ago." Apparently whilst working for companies on other pictures, he does get asked to do staff portraits on occasion. Whilst in Singapore in the 1990's he had been asked to photograph some of the personel at Barings bank, including Nick Leeson. </p> <p>When the bank went belly up, the only available picture of Leeson was Kevin's. He was on holiday at the time, and rushed to get the picture to his agent. Then he spent the following year chasing up his royalty fees and suing companies who'd just printed it without permission. He was then the subject of an article in a financial magazine himself along the lines of "Every cloud has a silver lining - the one man to make money out of Baring's collapse"! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/09/12/nearly-famous-6947985/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-09-12:/2009/09/12/don-t-you-just-love-3-year-olds-6947917/lizdavies2009-09-12T12:43:56+02:002009-09-12T12:43:56+02:00 <p>So two of my class were role playing cooking. One had filled her dish with Lego pieces and the other was using magnetic letters. One kindly gave the other a large spoonful of magnetic letters. "Here's your fruit!" she commented. "NO!!" protested the other. "This is chicken soup!" </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/09/12/don-t-you-just-love-3-year-olds-6947917/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-09-05:/2009/09/05/nothing-to-do-with-me-6897602/lizdavies2009-09-05T14:38:26+02:002009-09-05T14:40:38+02:00 <p>When I arrived at the house in Mirdiff to take up longer term residence, I discovered another newcomer had beaten me to it!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/picture_002/3861331" title="Picture 002"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/331/3861331_ac4f13e0c0_s.jpg" alt="Picture 002"></a></p> <p>Apparently our housekeeper Nerosha had arrived home one day to find this furry cat had followed her in as she opened the door. She has since resolutely refused to leave.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/picture_004/3861333" title="Picture 004"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/333/3861333_1e6928e1cf_s.jpg" alt="Picture 004"></a></p> <p>This could be something to do with the fact that she is long haired and the temperature outside rises above 40 C during the day, and doesn't drop much below 35 C at night, whereas we have A/C indoors. And it could also have something to do with the fact that Nerosha (and the equally softhearted Ed) have been feeding and watering her regularly!!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/picture_003/3861332" title="Picture 003"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/332/3861332_83b852da49_s.jpg" alt="Picture 003"></a> </p> <p>As she seems to have become a regular fixture until at least the weather gets cooler, I sked Nerosha if she had given the cat a name. "I call her "Brown" " she told me, "Because she is brown colour. But she doesn't answer."</p> <p>So I have edited her to become Mrs Brown, which sounds a bit friendlier - but she still only really answers to a walk towards the kitchen! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/09/05/nothing-to-do-with-me-6897602/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-09-03:/2009/09/03/the-children-have-arrived-6883159/lizdavies2009-09-03T13:45:02+02:002009-09-03T13:47:00+02:00 <p>After a week of FRANTIC activity - it's no joke as a newbie to both country and school, trying to support a team of 13 teachers plus support staff, several of whom are also new to the school/country/yeargroup/all of the previous AND try to set up a classroom with no resources.</p> <p>I arrived here with a suitcase full of clothes and a few story books and sequins (don't know why sequins, but it turned out to be a good idea) expecting to inherit stuff from the previous owner and be able to raid the resource cupboard and paper store. This turned out to be a false assumtion; so I've stuggled a bit to get everything underway in the short time that has elapsed since arriving in school last Sunday morning and the children arriving today (Thursday).</p> <p>On the positive side my team are great - so supportive and helpful, even though I don't know all their names yet! My TA is wonderful, bringing signs and posters every morning she has made overnight to help, laminating at a 100 miles an hour everything I bring, and explaining all the new school routines to me. </p> <p>Anyway; today was D Day, when the new children arrived. It's Ramadan and there is something of a scare over this swine flu pandemic, so we expected some children to stay at home until after Eid in two weeks time, but 17 of my 25 turned up with their parents through the morning.</p> <p>My class is overloaded with girls, and some of them have already established themselves as little sweethearts, getting right on with the sticking and the playdough (including putting sequins in the playdough - I had to laugh, even though that wasn't the idea!).</p> <p>One was distraught when her parents left the room to hear a pep talk by the principal and was inconsolable until they returned. Two others also cried - one firmly put her rucksack back on and demanded to be released to find her parents and was very indignant when we wouldn't let her go. </p> <p>A little boy (June birthday) also cried and wouldn't be distracted by building a tower - but one of the shyer little girls began to join in with the play even if he didn't! Another boy came in a Ferrari T shirt - when I admired it he agreed that he liked cars and knew Michael Schumacher, but gravely explained that when he comes again to start properly on Sunday, he would be in his smart new uniform.</p> <p>One child was quite ready to go home at the end of the session - but her toddler brother cried to stay and play longer.</p> <p>Many of the children will be arriving at school on a school bus, as they live at some distance away and are collected. I was surprised to find that one little dot's parents had left her to go home on the bus today by herself. Naturally I escorted her to her driver and helped her up the waist high steps on to her vehicle. The driver was also a bit nonplussed, as obviously a 3 year old wouldn't be able to tell him where to stop. But he phoned the mother on her mobile and received instructions, and I introduced her to another child and her mum so I was able to leave her in his care with fewer worries. </p> <p>So that is the first week done! I have to write a letter for the parents and sort out a couple of timetables ready for Sunday at some time over the weekend, but for now I'm going to enjoy my Friday off!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/empty_classroom/3854014" title="Empty classroom"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/014/3854014_0e716925c2_s.jpg" alt="Empty classroom"></a></p> <p>My TA and I in our distressingly empty classroom. It looks better now! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/09/03/the-children-have-arrived-6883159/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-08-02:/2009/08/02/lc-and-iv-6638728/lizdavies2009-08-02T22:37:05+02:002009-08-02T22:37:05+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_063/3747367" title="summer 063"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/367/3747367_c238e22e23_s.jpg" alt="summer 063"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_064/3747368" title="summer 064"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/368/3747368_f6fe5b1b51_s.jpg" alt="summer 064"></a></p> <p>My great nieces are identical. But there are ways of identifying them.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_085/3747370" title="summer 085"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/370/3747370_1c1cff32b2_s.jpg" alt="summer 085"></a></p> <p>Elsie sucks her fingers like her Mum Holly used to; whereas Ivy sucks her thumb and holds her lip in the traditional way!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_094/3747378" title="summer 094"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/378/3747378_ad32554b71_s.jpg" alt="summer 094"></a></p> <p>But as they are busy teething at the moment, it's practically impossible to get a picture of them without something in their mouths!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_054/3747384" title="summer 054"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/384/3747384_db06344248_s.jpg" alt="summer 054"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_056/3747385" title="summer 056"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/385/3747385_51a8cda9ca_s.jpg" alt="summer 056"></a></p> <p>Even if it's just cake!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/halls/3747396" title="halls"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/396/3747396_37562fc720_s.jpg" alt="halls"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/08/02/lc-and-iv-6638728/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-08-02:/2009/08/02/my-friend-gillian-6638147/lizdavies2009-08-02T21:03:29+02:002009-08-02T21:03:29+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/cm25_gill_liz/3746904" title="CM25 Gill Liz"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/904/3746904_3b90fd2bb6_s.jpg" alt="CM25 Gill Liz"></a></p> <p>Here are my friend Gillian and I done up to the nines at Carol's wedding a few years ago. "Jill" is one of my best friends - the only one invited who made it to Michigan from Britain for the wedding last year - and we had a date for a girls only weekend earlier in July, to have a good catch up before separating for heaven knows how long again, when I go to Dubai.</p> <p>She came ostensibly to see Clarence House. Unfortunately, juggling with our diaries to find a compatible weekend resulted in only one that was mutually available and it turned out to be the one prior to the summer opening of the Royal Palaces! So she arrived with Plan B, and requests to see various other sights of London she wanted to visit instead. </p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_046/3746941" title="summer 046"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/941/3746941_044a96f091_s.jpg" alt="summer 046"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_047/3746942" title="summer 047"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/942/3746942_031f295a9f_s.jpg" alt="summer 047"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_048/3746943" title="summer 048"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/943/3746943_56f0c9aa39_s.jpg" alt="summer 048"></a></p> <p>First stop was the Fourth Plinth, in Trafalgar Square. We saw three different folk on the plinth during the course of the day, but this girl was the most interesting to us. She was folding origami cranes and dropping them to passers-by. Jill thought she was making a point about the current lack of birds in the square, since the pigeons have been officially discouraged. I wasn't quite convinced that was the purpose of the paper birds, but liked them anyway!</p> <p>Other occupants were a cyclist eating an apple whilst pedalling (promoting a healthy lifestyle?) and a chap who held up placards one by one, but we only saw the one which said who he was, which I've now forgotten...</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/img_0426/3747006" title="IMG_0426"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/006/3747006_15517abee1_s.jpg" alt="IMG_0426"></a></p> <p>We then went to view another plinth - the War Memorial for Women near the Cenotaph. Jill wanted to see if she agreed with those who criticise it as a "wardrobe" (the ones who wanted it to commemorate just servicewomen, I believe). We both rather like it, and think it's fit for purpose, given women's multi-faceted role during the Wars.</p> <p>Seeing as her Maj wasn't inviting us into any of her present homes, we went along to the Tower to see an ancient royal residence instead. It's always a pleasure to see the jewels and generally soak up the atmosphere in the ancient stones. We went in the chapel. I don't remember going in before, but it wasn't particularly memorable, so perhaps it had just slipped my mind.</p> <p>In the Bloody Tower we had to vote guilty or not guilty for Richard III as the murderer of the Princes in the Tower. My opinion on this has altered considerably with the passing of years. I now feel that he probably did have the deed done, and if he didn't, he probably should have, given the climate of the time and bearing in mind it was the 15th century. Sorry.</p> <p>We ended our day by walking back from the Tower to Leicester Square, which was a considerable hike and took us through the City of London and Covent Garden. We arrived in the rain, so decided to call it a day and continue our conversations at home. John phoned and enquired if we had worn our tongues out yet? We assured him that although we frequently come close, we've always got the strength for a bit more chat!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/08/02/my-friend-gillian-6638147/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-08-02:/2009/08/02/more-dressing-up-6637783/lizdavies2009-08-02T20:27:24+02:002009-08-02T20:27:24+02:00 <p>Nobody can ever accuse us of not joining in when invited! On our whistle stop tour of the family to prove the Scarlet Pimpernel does exist as his alter ego Ed, we took Jake and Georgia to the Lowry Centre in Salford. A very good children's pack kept 8 year old Jake interested in looking at the pictures as a "detective" trying to solve various clues and find a "stolen picture" in the art gallery. The only quibble was that the hat provided fitted Ed, rather than Jake!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_104/3746832" title="summer 104"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/832/3746832_5eebc60254_s.jpg" alt="summer 104"></a></p> <p>After solving the mystery to everyone's satisfaction (the red-eyed man with the moustache did it) we moved upstairs, where we were invited to dress up and dance!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_099/3746841" title="summer 099"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/841/3746841_09a400d03a_s.jpg" alt="summer 099"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_101/3746842" title="summer 101"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/842/3746842_2903fd766f_s.jpg" alt="summer 101"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_102/3746843" title="summer 102"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/843/3746843_3e1aaa08a0_s.jpg" alt="summer 102"></a></p> <p>We had a laugh trying on a variety of outfits, thoughtfully provided in all sizes, but in the end didn't bother to do the dancing! Great fun, for all that.</p> <p>We then moved across the bridge </p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_105/3746852" title="summer 105"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/852/3746852_6da0b59cdc_s.jpg" alt="summer 105"></a></p> <p>to the Imperial War Museum North, where we watched a grim audio-visual exhibition of Children in War which caused Jen and I to shed a quiet tear and count our blessings. Meanwhile Jake donned a more successful disguise this time</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_108/3746863" title="summer 108"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/863/3746863_62b974689c_s.jpg" alt="summer 108"></a></p> <p>in order to "escape from Colditz".</p> <p>Super museum, and a much more iconic building than the Lowry, which looks like the architect couldn't make up his mind and tried to disguise it as something else too! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/08/02/more-dressing-up-6637783/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-07-24:/2009/07/24/graceless-6578977/lizdavies2009-07-24T10:58:02+02:002009-07-24T11:00:11+02:00 <p>As we won't be going up to the Festival this year unfortunately, I went to see the preview of the Edinburgh fringe show "Graceless" by Petticoats Rip Theatre Company last night at the Camden People's Theatre.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/droppedimage/3717080" title="droppedImage"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/080/3717080_eddd5414cc_s.jpg" alt="droppedImage"></a></p> <p>It was five young women's view of what it is to be a woman today, from a feminist stance. With only 50 minutes on stage, it was necessarily a whistle-stop tour and some of the many aspects were touched on so briefly the audience had to concentrate to catch it all, but it grabbed our attention from the beginning and held it enthralled to the end, when I for one surfaced blinking, sorry it was over.</p> <p>I particularly enjoyed the opening high heels race, when they were heading not for a finishing line, but towards whatever caught their fancy!</p> <p>The low key, low voiced explanation of what it is to be British Asian from Jessica Pearce was very touching, as was Ffion Glyn's portrayal of the struggle to come to terms with the knowledge that a successful career and wish for motherhood had both to be achieved in the same brief time span of female fertility.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/headshot/3717087" title="Headshot"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/087/3717087_1fdbc54987_s.jpg" alt="Headshot"></a> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/droppedimage_3/3717086" title="droppedImage_3"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/086/3717086_4d730ba35a_s.jpg" alt="droppedImage_3"></a> </p> <p>The company used a few props to great effect - a paper bag to represent deaf/blindness became a canvass for makeup; a row of knickers became a potent symbol against female genital mutilation.</p> <p>I thoroughly enjoyed the show. If you are going to Edinburgh in August, I can recommend it as one to see. They are at the Assembly Hall from the 6th onwards, at 2.10 pm. Let me know what you think of it! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/07/24/graceless-6578977/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-07-20:/2009/07/20/first-day-of-never-again-6551261/lizdavies2009-07-20T09:17:40+02:002009-07-20T09:26:19+02:00 <p>Today is the first day that I will never work at my <a href="http://www.woodside-inf.croydon.sch.uk/">old school</a> again. Monday morning and I had a lie in till 7.30 and thought about all that I'll miss - colleagues who have become good friends; happy supportive workmates and managers; and all those gorgeous children.</p> <p>In the leavers assembly I asked all those who knew me from working with me to put their hands up - and it was most of the school. It just happened that I had all of the current cohort through nursery (usually they form about 60% of our reception classes) then about 20% of the KS1 classes have been in my EAL groups; plus a Yr 2 and a Yr 1 phonics set; KS1 choir; not to mention my own lovely Yr2 class, Silver Birch, who were also with me in nursery, so I had them twice... </p> <p>I told one Mum that I intended to kidnap her child to take away with me - he's always been a bit of a favourite, since his <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2005/09/16/the_children_started_to_arrive~185757/">first visit</a> to nursery when he spent the whole session transporting crates around the garden on a trailer bike - and could tell me he'd moved 17. I took it to my credit that he was astonished, and had no idea I viewed him as a "pet".</p> <p>I am inundated with farewell cards and gifts - the best being home produced "Dear Ms Davaise, thankyou for tiching me spelling" - hmm! But I'll take away lots of more valuable memories - it was a good decade on the whole!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/07/20/first-day-of-never-again-6551261/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-07-09:/2009/07/09/day-out-6481671/lizdavies2009-07-09T23:27:39+02:002009-07-09T23:27:39+02:00 <p>We went on a trip today, to <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-mordenhallpark-2">Morden Hall Park</a> and <a href="http://www.deencityfarm.co.uk/">Deen City Farm</a>. Unlike the other two classes who went on Tuesday and got rained on most of the day and drenched in a downpour just before they got back to school, our two classes had perfect weather - dry and warm, but not so hot we got tired of carrying our coats and ran out of drinks.</p> <p>We took 60 children on the tram to Phipps Bridge and meandered through the park, looking at the meadow, woodland, stream and marsh, to find as many different living things as we could. We found lots, including several colourful Burnet moths</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/6_spot_burnet_moths_sml/3671081" title="6-spot-burnet-moths-sml"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/081/3671081_f1a7999e9f_s.jpg" alt="6-spot-burnet-moths-sml"></a></p> <p>and a Red Admiral amongst various white butterflies. We found a grasshopper and numerous bugs and insects we couldn't name.</p> <p>We hugged trees to see how old we thought they might be; and were thrilled to see fish in a stream, being hunted by a pair of herons. We saw tadpoles in the marsh, but no frogs.</p> <p>There was nothing in the park "for children", but they loved finding and sharing the mini-beasts and just being outdoors with all their friends.</p> <p>The farm was fun too. The blue peacock was in full display</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/peacock/3671099" title="peacock"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/099/3671099_99b5dacf96_s.jpg" alt="peacock"></a></p> <p>and lording it over the albino ones. </p> <p>After our picnic lunch, the children loved feeding the sheep and goats, stroking the chicks and hens and visiting the pigs and horses. We also walked round their extensive vegetable and herb gardens, sniffing and nibbling to see which we liked.</p> <p>The day whizzed by, and all too soon we were back on the tram. Now approaching rush hour, it was a bit scarey getting our children all on and off safely, especially as we had to change trams en route, but we negotiated successfully, and brought them all back in one piece. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/07/09/day-out-6481671/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-07-07:/2009/07/07/end-of-term-moods-6468244/lizdavies2009-07-07T20:49:35+02:002009-07-07T20:49:35+02:00 <p>We are in the penultimate week of school and bang in the middle of transition for our Year 2 children, who are about to go off to another "big school" at the end of their infant career, across the playground to the separate junior school.</p> <p>Their behaviour is typical - one moment they are showing off and testing their new seniority against the control of us soon to be left behind infant teachers, and the next they are having anxious tummy aches at the thought of navigating the unknown shoals ahead.</p> <p>They have already visited their new classes and teachers and know who they will be with (the classes are re-jigged at the end of infants to account for the previous three years of mobility which has unbalanced some classes) and we are busy supporting their emotions.</p> <p>Today, after another session talking about what it will be like in the juniors, I got them to write a letter to their new teacher, telling him or her why s/he will be pleased to get them in his/her class, because of their good points and strengths; warning their new teacher of where they are weaker and might want some help, and asking questions about life in the new school they most want to know answers to.</p> <p>Their efforts were touchingly reflective and self aware, from the one who knew she is a slow reader but a good listener, to the one who knows he sometimes needs help to listen but has a good sense of humour, the one who warns of his quick temper and the one who boasts about how very very fast he can run, even though his spelling isn't the best.</p> <p>Their questions were mostly practical - when will they know it is lunch time, and where will they eat, and which of the two playgrounds will they go to afterwards? Their biggest fear is getting lost in the new building and being unable to find the toilets, or worse still, the way back from the toilets to their new class.</p> <p>I reassured them that they will be shown and if in doubt, nobody will mind helping them on their way, even if it means politely interrupting a class. They thought the big juniors might trick them for a joke; I reminded them that you only trick your friends, and that the juniors include some of their elder siblings, who will look out for them.</p> <p>It's a bit like a mother bird watching her chicks fly the nest, seeing them flap and squawk and prepare to take to the air. Unfortunately I won't be there come September, when, as I know, they will strut back confidently to see their old teachers a few times to tell of their brave new world and demonstrate how far they've travelled already, but I will think of them fondly and wish them well. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/07/07/end-of-term-moods-6468244/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-07-06:/2009/07/06/visitors-the-theatre-museum-and-the-mary-rose-6462323/lizdavies2009-07-06T22:10:24+02:002009-07-06T22:15:19+02:00 <p>The last time I visited the theatre museum was a number of years ago with Lissa, when she came for a visit which we decided to give a theatrical theme to. </p> <p>This last weekend I had the Williams family to stay and as they are also thespians, we went again. But alas, it is no longer located in Covent Garden; instead it occupies a much smaller spot as a department on the 3rd floor of the V&A.</p> <p>We thoroughly enjoyed it however. It has a good display of costumes and theatrical ephemera such as posters and programmes, and some fine film snips of theatrical productions, as well as actors and directors etc talking about their art.</p> <p>My favourite bit was the try it yourself costume section! I went for Juliet - rather elderly for the role, I know, but I couldn't resist the velvet sweeping gown!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_042/3662293" title="summer 042"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/293/3662293_e9adb60f5b_s.jpg" alt="summer 042"></a></p> <p>And neither could Eirlys!! I also had a go in a Bird jacket, complete with leather wings, and a Dame Trot costume, but we all ignored Tweedledum!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_043/3662294" title="summer 043"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/294/3662294_88f2d16def_s.jpg" alt="summer 043"></a></p> <p>It didn't take much persuading to get Gwil into the Grimaldi clown costume though...</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_045/3662296" title="summer 045"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/296/3662296_3cef90a0ba_s.jpg" alt="summer 045"></a></p> <p>but <a href="http://www.uk.castingcallpro.com/view.php?uid=212542">Ffion</a>, the professional actress in our midst, restricted herself to the Queen of the Night cloak!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/summer_044/3662299" title="summer 044"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/299/3662299_90531c996a_s.jpg" alt="summer 044"></a></p> <p>The family were in London to watch Ffion in action at the Battersea Arts Centre, prior to her graduate showcase coming up shortly. Unfortunately I was double booked (lovely boozy end of school year BBQ at Rachel's) and couldn't go with them and I'm even more disappointed not to be going to the Edinburgh Festival this year, so I can't see Ffion and her company <a href="http://www.petticoatsrip.co.uk/www.petticoatsrip.co.uk/Home.html">"Petticoats Rip"</a> perform there at the Assembly Halls in the Fringe.</p> <p>It was great to see them again though and the first time to meet Ffion as a grown-up, after twelve years. We chatted well into the night on Friday and Saturday, trying to catch up on all our news.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/home_revised/3662341" title="Home_revised"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/341/3662341_5a124e82f6_s.jpg" alt="Home_revised"></a></p> <p>On Sunday (not very early) morning, we went to the Whitgift School in South Croydon, to see the excellent <a href="http://www.maryrosehiddentreasures.org/">Treasures of the Mary Rose Exhibition</a>. We saw a display of fascinating artefacts rescued from Henry VIII's flagship. We were particularly impressed by the wooden tableware and personal items belonging to the ordinary seamen on board, not to mention the reconstructed heads from two skulls of the archer and the bosun.</p> <p>We got to vote on how we thought the ship came to sink (a bit of a swizz, as they were all inter-related really) and learned about the links between the Howard family (Lords Admiral) and Croydon. (They lived in Haling Park, now the site of the Whitgift School.) And we got a sneak look around the school grounds - a lake with flamingos, no less!!</p> <p>As always, we parted with sincerely meant promises to meet again sooner next time. We live in hopes, but life always intervenes, doesn't it? Never mind - the rarer the get together, the more treasured the memories!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/07/06/visitors-the-theatre-museum-and-the-mary-rose-6462323/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-06-28:/2009/06/28/tennis-6413875/lizdavies2009-06-28T17:20:48+02:002009-06-28T17:20:48+02:00 <p>On Friday we had a notice that the electricity would be cut off between 9 am and 4 pm so, not knowing how to spend a day indoors without computer access any more, I went out. Having completed my to-do list in Croydon before lunch, I decided on a whim to pay what might be my last visit to Wimbledon for a few years.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/logo/3637405" title="logo"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/405/3637405_630d91d6a7_s.jpg" alt="logo"></a></p> <p>I arrived at Wimbledon station by tram and joined a huge milling crowd. Told there would be a 20 minute wait for either bus or shared taxi, I took a proffered map and walked to the All England Club in 15 minutes.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/the_queue/3637408" title="The-Queue"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/408/3637408_ac80b2bace_s.jpg" alt="The-Queue"></a></p> <p>I was surprised not to see the queue snaking along the leafy and prosperous suburban streets as it had last time I went. I began to congratulate myself that my theory of a non Andy Murray day linked to a forecast of rain showers had kept the hoards away. My smugness was short lived. They have just moved the queue away from the prosperous but querulous locals into the local park, where I found myself in the third long lane of what was to become a 5 lane queue. "You will definitely see tennis today," was the good news. The bad news was "But not before 5 o'clock." It was then just after 12 noon...</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/wimbledonq/3637412" title="WimbledonQ"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/412/3637412_76293340b6_s.jpg" alt="WimbledonQ"></a></p> <p>I had to be satisfied with my secondary successes, in at least having provided myself with a rain jacket (for sitting on the grass) and a good book and a magazine just in case. Even more satisfying was that the weather forecast was wrong and the sun continued to shine warmly.</p> <p>I was just behind a couple of friendly women down from York for the day. They told me they were usually lucky with tickets in the ballot, but had decided to come anyway rather than miss the experience. We chatted amicably as the day passed. Behind me a couple of American men, probably a father and son, kept themselves to themselves, and gave up and went off after a couple of hours, enabling me to chat to another woman on her own, who had hoped to support a young man of her acquaintance. She'd watched him defeated in the singles the previous day (by means of a friends' pass) but hoped he might fare better in the doubles. </p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/q3/3637432" title="Q3"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/432/3637432_58d990183c_s.jpg" alt="Q3"></a></p> <p>I finished my book (the excellent "The Road Home" by Rose Tremain - about the experience of Lev, a Polish immigrant) between chatting with my neighbours, eating a bacon and egg bap from the burger stall, and watching the antics of a group of American kids in the next lane who were amusing themselves with circle games (anyone heard of "Big Booty"?). I also finished my magazine (a family history one - quite interesting). </p> <p>A flurry of excitement around 4 o'clock when we realised that the second line of the queue was now "The Queue" as the first line had gone and was being replaced by campers who were in tomorrow's queue! As the tail of line two approached our view, we would soon be joining on and in motion!! Quick trips to the loo to prepare ourselves for the new adventure and we were ready.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/q2/3637420" title="q2"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/420/3637420_c57364a8e2_s.jpg" alt="q2"></a></p> <p>Our excitement soon abated as we realised that although up and moving, our pace was as a snail's and we were still not even approaching the park entrance. The bonuses were that the closer formation had included an Australian brother and sister and a pleasant lone man in our conversational orbit, and that we shuffled past three refreshment stands, giving the opportunity to purchase a light tea (actually coffee and cake) en route.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/rolf_painting_main/3637444" title="rolf-painting-main"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/444/3637444_afc62e9874_s.jpg" alt="rolf-painting-main"></a></p> <p>By 5 o'clock, we had just emerged from our field and were on the plastic path towards the security area. Things definitely started to move faster for a while. We passed the HSBC stand advertising the vote for Champion of Champions at a brisk pace. Not before I'd decided where my vote would go - Rod Laver and Martina Navratilova. Martina was a shoe-in. It was harder to choose amongst the men. Pete Sampras was an obvious contender (but I could never get over the fact that his facial expression made him look stupid - which he patently isn't, but there you go...) and my current favourite Roger Federer; but I plumped for Rod Laver, who helped to introduce the Open Era and was pretty invincible when I was first watching tennis.</p> <p>The line slowed again and we started to despair. The lone woman learned her friend's match was over (another defeat, sadly). The ladies from York knew they'd have to leave to get their train at 8, so as the time ticked ever onwards to 6 o'clock, they were in a terrible dilemma, but unable to give up on their investment of nearly 6 hours already. </p> <p>Then suddenly towards 6.30 there was another surge of movement! We were through the security post before we knew it and hurrying over the bridge towards the pay kiosks. Hurray! I was in. Where to go? What to do first? </p> <p>After shuffling along for over two hours, I needed a sit down, so when I saw seats beside an empty court 6, with umpire and staff waiting for players to arrive, I sat down regardless.</p> <p>I was rewarded, when I saw that I was to watch a British mixed doubles pair play! Elena Baltacha and James Aukland, playing Kateryna Bonderenko and Travis Parrott. Names I've heard of! I was surprised to see the men looked quite short for tennis players - then realised it was the equally tall women players that gave the wrong impression, as they were all approaching 6ft or more. </p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/elena_and_james/3637579" title="Elena and James"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/579/3637579_be051afc9f_s.jpg" alt="Elena and James"></a></p> <p>It was lovely to watch a live match from a courtside position, within earshot of what they were saying ("Go out, go out, go out!" at one point, as she raced belatedly for a ball that happily did as it was told). In a good match that warmed up as it went along, the British pair came out victorious in straight sets.</p> <p>Ready for another stroll, I went to Court 3 and stood behind the front row seats in front of the grandstand to watch as No 1 seeds and 2007 champions Liezel Huber and Cara Black trounced the game but outclassed Klaudia Jans and Alicja Rosolska of Poland, also in straight sets. Huber in particular was very imressive - so powerful and quick.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/black_huber_07/3637588" title="black-huber-07"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/588/3637588_5becd4d41f_s.jpg" alt="black-huber-07"></a></p> <p>I finished my day's viewing by watching the last set of a match that I'd noticed going on for some time in my peripheral vision. Another mixed doubles (or Gentlemen's Handicap Competition, as some have cruelly called it)between two couples previously unknown to me Jeff Coetzee and Jill Craybas versus Jean-Julien Rojer (with his luxuriant curls confined under a bandana) and the very elegant Galina Voskoboeva. The score was 7 games all in the final set. </p> <p>I soon got behind the cheerful but determined latter couple, who bantered with the crowd between points and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the experience. They finally triumphed to hearty applause with a score of 15 games to 13! By then it was 9.15 pm, so I'd managed to see nearly 3 hours play after all.</p> <p>Deciding against going to see what was happening on the big screen, instead I had a look round the shop and bought birthday presents for my nieces, before walking back to the station, still in the warm sun.</p> <p>PS. Yesterday, in the tradition of being inspired to pick up a raquet after watching Winmbledon, I went for a knock up with Emi and her son Ethan, aged 11. Ethan took on the two of us and would have won had we actually been scoring, but it was good to have a go again - shades of the Ladies Patball Championship in Cairo 10 years ago! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/06/28/tennis-6413875/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-06-01:/2009/06/01/the-tree-6215957/lizdavies2009-06-01T20:57:30+02:002009-06-01T20:58:15+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/tree1/3557953" title="tree1"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/953/3557953_1046069a57_m.jpg" alt="tree1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>This was the tree outside my house in the snow on 3rd February.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/tree2/3557954" title="tree2"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/954/3557954_65a93808bc_m.jpg" alt="tree2" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Here it is again on 1st June photographed at 8.45pm! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/06/01/the-tree-6215957/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-05-31:/2009/05/31/dive-trip-to-mussendam-6208293/lizdavies2009-05-31T18:41:47+02:002009-05-31T18:41:47+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dubai_001/3553548" title="Dubai 001"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/548/3553548_90ee88bfac_s.jpg" alt="Dubai 001" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>We went diving again on Friday, to a new location - the Mussendam peninsular, in Fujeira. We went by Dhow from Dibba. This is the other one that went with us.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dubai_005/3553549" title="Dubai 005"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/549/3553549_81bbbc33b5_s.jpg" alt="Dubai 005" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Ed on deck, trying to figure out how to work the dive computer. He got it sorted in the end.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dubai_015/3553550" title="Dubai 015"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/550/3553550_0abfff74a8_s.jpg" alt="Dubai 015" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Rodica, who went with us to snorkel, even though she can barely swim! She had a good day anyway.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dubai_002/3553561" title="Dubai 002"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/561/3553561_870f000ca3_s.jpg" alt="Dubai 002" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Sorting out the rented dive kit at the end of the day.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dubai_003/3553562" title="Dubai 003"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/562/3553562_38bfc8bf2b_s.jpg" alt="Dubai 003" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>View of the mountains with BCD's drying in the afternoon sun.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dubai_010/3553563" title="Dubai 010"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/563/3553563_65dc37cc0d_s.jpg" alt="Dubai 010" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Coming back into Dibba harbour at the end of the day.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dubai_009/3553568" title="Dubai 009"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/568/3553568_d03ec811b2_s.jpg" alt="Dubai 009" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Dibba dhow wharf.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dubai_007/3553569" title="Dubai 007"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/569/3553569_ccd4c47629_s.jpg" alt="Dubai 007" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Sun setting over the mountains and water.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dubai_011/3553570" title="Dubai 011"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/570/3553570_b724992969_s.jpg" alt="Dubai 011" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>The first time I saw one of these signs, I was convinced the translation was wrong, and looked for a red light. Then I realised the sign was accurate - they signal a dry wadi bed crossing the road, which can become flooded after rain. There are red and white poles at the side of the road, similar to the snow markers in Britain. When the water covers the white and only red is visible, it's too deep to cross.</p> <p>P.S. Having completed a deep dive (over 25 metres) and a multi-level dive I am now an advanced open water diver, with 14 dives under my belt! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/05/31/dive-trip-to-mussendam-6208293/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-05-26:/2009/05/26/gasping-6177829/lizdavies2009-05-26T04:39:01+02:002009-05-26T10:19:49+02:00 <p>We went to see Gasping, by Ben Elton, last night. It was presented by the amateur <a href="http://www.dubaidramagroup.com/">Dubai Drama Group</a> at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre in the Mall of the Emirates.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/gasping/3539419" title="gasping"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/419/3539419_8ee8ebcefc_s.jpg" alt="gasping" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>I was unfamiliar with the play - an amusing but hard biting satire on corporate greed and the global detriment it ultimately causes - but thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a four hander: the cynical business magnate; his two rival ambitious and fawning minions, one of whom eventually sees the error of his ways, and the media manipulator sex siren, who comes to believe in her own hype. The parts were very well played by an international cast, who got a lot of laughs and got the point across well. </p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/gasping2/3539421" title="gasping2"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/421/3539421_90219224e9_s.jpg" alt="gasping2" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>The story is about finding "the new pot noodle" - creating a completely new market and thus making money where none was to be had before, rather than shifting it between existing markets. The idea they come up with is "designer air" "other people's air really gets up your nose". Unfortunately it involves sucking up oxygen in order to purify it, and all too soon people are having to pay to breathe. Those who can't afford to buy their air, can only breathe the much depleted natural stuff, with most of its ogygen sucked out of it and are dying of asphyxiation....</p> <p>Interestingly, possibly because this was an amateur production, the set was very old fashioned - not much play with lighting, but full flats and real furniture with lots of detailing in props, which all had to be changed between scenes by a large team of shifters. I thought this was all unnecessary - theatre goers are used to sparser indications of setting nowadays - and to my mind it held up the action too much, especially in the second half when the scenes were shorter. It sometimes seemed the changes were longer than the scene and very distracting.</p> <p>However, overall a good way to spend an evening. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/05/26/gasping-6177829/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-05-17:/2009/05/17/sunday-is-the-day-i-talk-to-strangers-6128829/lizdavies2009-05-17T12:30:25+02:002009-05-17T12:30:25+02:00 <p>Every weekday, I get in my car, possibly saying hello to a neighbour leaving at the same time, and drive to work. I spend the days talking with colleagues and the children, then I drive home.</p> <p>If I go out shopping, I normally go in the car and at the shopping centre go about my business as others do theirs.</p> <p>But on Sunday mornings when I walk to buy my newspaper I always talk to at least one passing stranger on the way and sometimes it may be up to half a dozen. They are all doing the same thing as me, walking to the corner shop for a paper or breakfast supplies, or else walking to the station or bus stop, but in a more leisurely manner than during the week.</p> <p>The conversations don't add up to much - usually greetings followed by remarks about the weather or the gardens and trees around us - but it's all very friendly.</p> <p>Some people I see regularly, so they are the familiar strangers, whose faces I know but names not, that someone once theorised were the benchmark of feeling happy in a neighbourhood - ie not how many people you actually call a friend, but how many people you regularly smile and nod at.</p> <p>I suppose to anyone living in a village, who knows all or most people, the ways of townsfolk seem unfriendly, but it's all down to two factors; the sheer press of people in the metropolis - you couldn't possibly acknowledge them all, so you ignore them instead - and the car, which speeds people out of the quieter local area where people do speak if they come face to face.</p> <p>It's a shame. But at least, on Sundays I get to talk to strangers! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/05/17/sunday-is-the-day-i-talk-to-strangers-6128829/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-05-14:/2009/05/14/kitty-and-bun-6117388/lizdavies2009-05-14T22:28:02+02:002009-05-14T22:28:02+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/kitty_and_bun/3506689" title="kitty and bun"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/689/3506689_39ad91c891_s.jpg" alt="kitty and bun" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>So many gorgeous babies around in my world at the moment - mostly girls. Couldn't resist sharing this very cute one of little Katherine (daughter of Lewis and Keighly for those who know them) and her Bun. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/05/14/kitty-and-bun-6117388/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-05-10:/2009/05/10/race-for-edna-and-arlene-6091369/lizdavies2009-05-10T14:44:27+02:002009-05-10T14:44:27+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/race_001/3492493" title="race 001"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/493/3492493_4326654c73_s.jpg" alt="race 001" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Only three of us from Woodside staff Racing for Life this year - Chris, me and Irene. Perhaps not surprising as we are amongst the longest serving, who remember Arlene, our colleague who died of breast cancer, the best. Here we are at the start of the race, before splitting up - Irene and I to jog, and Chris to join the walkers.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/race_002/3492494" title="race 002"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/494/3492494_ff1e045880_s.jpg" alt="race 002" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>A pink view - not very flattering of Chris and Irene. I said "Just keep chatting, don't pose," so of course they immediately adopted strained expressions!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/race_003/3492495" title="race 003"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/495/3492495_c7e6c51817_s.jpg" alt="race 003" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>A bit hot and bothered at the end. We again missed our perennial 30 minute target, but again came in well under 35 minutes, amongst the first 300, so we were happy.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/thegirls/3492496" title="theGirls"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/496/3492496_14508d4440_s.jpg" alt="theGirls" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>And here's Edna and the girls - one of my favourite pictures of my very dear late mother-in-law. It's been 12 years now and we miss her as much as ever.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/05/10/race-for-edna-and-arlene-6091369/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:trickymum.blog.co.uk,2009-05-09:/2009/05/09/just-like-the-number-9-bus-6088562/lizdavies2009-05-09T21:28:55+02:002009-05-09T21:28:55+02:00 <p>Nothing for ages, then three come at once! Sorry, it's just the way the mood takes me...</p> <p>Small celebration on Thursday at school. One of my "livelier" boys, full of cheek and always getting told off, who has seemed hitherto immune to literacy although quite good at maths, came to school with a crumpled up bit of paper to "show and tell" about.</p> <p>I am thrilled. Although difficult to make out the exact words - like I say, this boy is writing-phobic and doesn't have an elegant hand - something about Pokemon - it was immediately clear that he has written his own two page pastiche of the poem "Walking With My Iguana" by Brian Moses.</p> <p>We listened to the poet reciting this poem and others, and did some group work chanting and singing poems with actions and adding instruments and it obviously struck a chord with my 7 year old and probably for the first time ever, he has wanted to write something!</p> <p>Thankyou Brian Moses! Go <a href="http://www.poetryarchive.org/childrensarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=52">here</a> to listen to what we enjoyed. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://trickymum.blog.co.uk/2009/05/09/just-like-the-number-9-bus-6088562/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>