transitions

Some of the children at the school I work at are getting ready to move on. They are in their last year at the school and they visited a college today to see if it is for them. The nervousness they felt reminded me of transitions I have had in my life. The fear of the unknown is something that puts many people off trying something new.
The good thing is if you push through such fears and try you often find the actual event is nowhere near as frightening as you anticipated.
Here's to all the brave people that push themselves to try something new despite their fears!

Acts of kindness...

Today I have been thinking about all the lovely and thoughtful things people do for one another. Not because they have to or its someone's birthday but just because they want to brighten someone's day. Two such things have just happened to me in the past hour.
I came home from work to find my neighbour had wheeled my bins back to their places and then I cam indoors to find that my lovely friend Tina has made me a plaque saying 'Cathy Wills and Bills Lady!' She has dropped it into my letter box wishing me luck in my businesses.
What a wonderful gesture, it has made my day. I am so pleased I am taking the plaque to the pub tonight to show my friends!
I am so thankful for good friends and neighbours they truly help to make the World a better place!

Jackanory

I taught an English lesson at the school today and the main theme was 'story telling' so I searched on You Tube and found some old Jackanory episodes with stories read by Rick Mayall. The kids hadn't heard of him but liked him despite themselves. They started off cool not wanting a story read to them like 'little kids' but by the end of the story they were hooting with laugher!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19_K9zIeehs
It is actually hilarious!

double rainbow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_DKWlrA24k
I saw a double rainbow today, I love them! They seem so full of hope and promise.
I also love this version of the song....:)

Everything clicked today!

I love those days when everything seems to flow. Today I was at school having some really interesting Autism training. We all brought food to share and there was some lovely veggie stuff which made me happy!
I had to phone a couple of people today after work and they were totally helpful and relaxed and I drove home with everyone driving sensibly. Ollie was in a lovely calm mood when we went out for walkies and I threw together my evening meal and it came out well. I love days like this!

very fortunate

I realise that I am very lucky.
 I am glad to be employed part time by a supportive school leaving me time off to develop my businesses and to spend time with my family.
I am very lucky Graham was willing to look after Ollie so that I could take George over to Clarrie and Ben's house. I am delighted Jack managed to get to Plymouth to visit despite all the transport problems he faced and I am grateful to Ben for giving is all a lift to the theatre when poor Harold the car registered his protest at being parked on a hill and refused to start! I am also relived Harold decided to start later that evening when we worked out what the problem was!
I loved seeing Clarrie and Ben's home and it was great to have a delicious meal cooked for me by Clarrie- especially as everyone was willing to eat Quorn as I am vegetarian.
I am uplifted by the actors and musicians who performed in the Lion King Musical we watched at the theatre.
I am lucky to have Graham in my life he has been very supportive of my attempts to get my businesses off the ground and helped me in many practical ways.
I am fortunate to be part of two businesses that offer such good training and encouragement.
Now I am home curled up with Ollie and feeling very appreciative of all the wonderful people and experiences I have in my life.

George's adventure

I am sure he will not be pleased but George will be going on his travels soon. He will not be keen on the journey but the final destination will more than make up for any inconvenience caused as George is off to start a new life in Plympton with Clarrie and Ben and he will be spoiled rotten!
I am also looking forward to seeing The Lion King show later this week too. I have just had a lovely time with Graham walking rescue dogs around Havering. I also had a delicious Chinese meal. Life is rich and varied at the moment, just the way I like it!

adventures are best!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Greatest-Store-World-VHS/dp/B00004YAA5

Click on the link to find out on of my favourite children's films of all time- The Greatest Store in the World.
Honestly I think it was in part responsible for transforming my outlook on life.
The mum tells her children 'adventures are best' when they have to sleep the night in a department store because they have become homeless.
She makes their life fun and an adventure and that is the way I choose to see my life- as an adventure.
With adventures there are fun parts, happy parts, sad parts and exciting parts.
This week is an adventure in many ways especially for George!
I will be taking George to his new home and this marks the end of an era really.
 Now I am ready for the next part of the adventure, I wonder what will happen next!
This is what Ollie will look like when I tell him we are off to Graham's soon....

George

I bought George some catnip treats to eat on the journey to Clarrie and Ben's later this week I thought they may cheer him up when we go on the long trip. He doesn't like them and wont eat them so that was a bit of a waste of effort but at least the thought was there. Very soon now he will be off to start his new life in Plymouth. I know it is for the best and I am very happy for him. He must get rather tired of all the drama Ollie creates trying to get at him but I must say I will miss him. He is very laid back and purry, these are things I really do admire in a cat. I am hopeful he will just go to sleep in the car and wake up when we get to Plymouth as George has an awful meow when he is not happy about something and sitting in a cat carrier ranks right up there among the experiences he dislikes most. I will definitely have to sing along to the radio to drown out the yowls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPGoxe5j2K4

Phosphorescent ~ Sun, Arise!  Listen to this it is wonderful!

The sun has risen this morning without the rain.
It was absolutely lovely walking my dog in the sunshine.
All this rain has made me truly appreciate sunny moments.
I will try not to take them for granted again!

Wow! What a stormy night!

I have never heard a storm so loud. I thought at one point the windows were going to blow in. I got up this morning and wondered if it was safe to go out. I had to walk Ollie though and gambled no-one else would be about so I nipped out in a dodgy coat and my pyjamas and didn't bother doing my hair as I knew within 3 seconds I would resemble a scare crow anyway with the weather like this.
I am happy to say I got away with it as nobody else was about!
There were a few twigs and blown over bins scattered about but I do count myself and my neighbours lucky so far. I really feel for all the people flooded out and without power. I hope things are back to something like normality for them soon.

The end of term

I really think half term is a good idea. I know it can cause havoc to working parents having to arrange childcare but I think half term is special as it gives children a chance to entertain themselves and do their own thing. When I think back on happy childhood memories they were almost always during holiday times. We didn't have to go anywhere fancy, a trip to the park or playing in the woods was wonderful.
I really hope half term holidays stay and don't get swallowed up as free time is precious and childhood so fleeting.

more music

There really is music for every occasion and in the past 3 days I have sat in a lot of traffic jams and have been very thankful Harold's car radio is working. When I hear a song I like I start to sing and
its just as well the other motorists cant hear me!
This evening the journey was longer than usual due to an accident and as I waited in the car I saw ambulances and other emergency services arriving at the scene.
I think we have an incredible 999 service and life would be pretty scary without it.
I am very proud of my two children- one is going into nursing and the other is a musician. They have a lot to offer the World.

Inspired by a film!

I watched the Tim Burton Charlie and the Chocolate factory today with a class of 11 year olds. That film is so clever it is inspiring. It made me think what great minds there are on the world and all the amazing things people can achieve if only they think big enough!

Words

I watched a video clip today- it was about a woman who had experienced much emotional pain throughout her life. It stemmed from when she was 5 years old and her alcoholic father told her that he wished she had never been born. Telling the audience about this event so many years later this woman looked like she had gone right back in time and was hearing those words all over again.
Hopefully not everyone has a memory like this but this does serve to remind us adults the power and affect our words can have on young people.
Something we could say in a moment of anger that we didn't really mean could have a life long impact on the person we direct our angry words to. It makes you think, doesn't it- words are so powerful and can be used to encourage or condemn. We need to use them wisely.

picking the right moment

At the moment timing is everything. It is great going outside in the sun and wind today whilst trying to dodge the rain!
Don't get me wrong. Rain is necessary and can be very refreshing on a hot summer day. We have just had so much of it lately that wind and sun is an exciting novelty.
I love being out in sunlight after a long winter. It is the most incredible feeling!

bird song

I am indoors listening to the wind and rain. As I listen I can hear bird song. These conditions must be pretty difficult for birds and other wildlife. I hope they are able to keep warm and dry enough wherever they are hiding away.
All the domestic animals and birds are hopefully well sheltered.
I am really looking forward to Spring where I will have the opportunity to go outside and look out for all the lovely animals and birds that live in this country.

Cosy weekend

I am looking forward to a cosy weekend- largely indoors judging by the forecast. It is so nice to be spending Friday evening with a lovely glass of wine, listening to music - I love music!

Devoted to sunny thoughts

Sun is beautiful. It brightens up a whole day when we have even a little glimpse of sunshine through the clouds. I am thinking sunny thoughts and hoping the rain has a well earned rest!

On top of the World

I am very happy today. I have realised how lucky I am having such a lovely school to work at with enough time off to develop my two wonderful businesses. I was driving home today and I suddenly realised living in the present is pretty darn good. I spend such a lot of time in life looking back or forward but this year I have determined to focus on living in the Now.
It is not easy but it definitely makes life more satisfying and exciting!

what is happening to the days?

I cannot believe it is 4th February. How did that happen? It seems like only yesterday it was Christmas! Schools break up for a week at the end of next week. That means Christmas was ages ago. I know it was wet and cold but I liked January and so far February has seen a fair amount of sun. Long may this continue.
It was lovely driving home when it was still light this afternoon. The days are definitely getting longer and that is a good thing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiOr5WoAJgg

beauty

If you look carefully you see beautiful things everywhere and thoughtful people create beautiful things out of the simplest of things.
On Saturday coming back from Greenwich there was a rainbow. It was visible for a long time and was very special. Today I looked at a post that is being shared. It is Andres Amadors beach art. I have posted it on my wall as the patterns he creates on sand when the tide is out are absolutely breath taking. I also read today that in America a young man who has Down's Syndrome works at a supermarket and every day he either makes up or finds a 'thought for the day.' His Dad helps him to copy and print out his 'thought for the day' then he takes the copies into work and at the till when he helps a customer pack their bags he slips one into their shopping bag. The customers love this so much they queue up to go to his till even when other lanes are free as they so value his thoughtfulness.
Beauty comes in many different forms and it surrounds us every day.