Old Style Diary Archive June 06

Chipps

Good morning everyone :hello:

Queenie: hope the meeting goes well & you stay awake;) Your new additions to the menagerie sound sweet!

cha97michelle - hope you are ok at work

PP - hope you and DD both enjoy being pampered at the hairdressers, & that you come out looking glamorous & confident enough to take on anyone - even with wheels attached:D :dance:

Hi to everyone else, too!:hello: :hello:

Last day before holiday :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
So got a few things to buy, go to the library, quick buzz round all the rooms with duster & vacuum.... and pack bags:j
Childrens' club this evening, then early night cos we will be up & on the road really early.

Have a good day!

comping_cat

Good morning everyone,

Hopefully a nice quiet day here today, as all my plans involve staying home (hopefully not spending any money either!!!!) and although i have quite a lot to do, i should get them all done quite quickly. I was very good last night and made the childrens packed lunches before i went to bed, so thats one job i dont need to do this morning, but i do need to put the BM on, and wash the kitchen floor (shouldve done it yesterday, but due to hospital appointment (10.20, but not being seen til 11.30) and DDs speach therapy). Still havnt decided what we will be having for dinner tonight, im going to go and have a shifty in the freezer, as i also need to take some bits out for tomorrows dinner, as i have a friend and her children coming over, so hopefully will find some inspiration for tonight!!!!
Hope everyone has a lovely day (cloudy and looks like rain here, and im still trying to dry all the washing!!!) take care, and hugs to anyone who wants one!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Penelope_Penguin

Morning all!

Queenie, quail, how lovely. :T That's what I'd like to do next, along with Guinea fowl. I've heard quail are pretty flighty (a friend lost 10, as they just flew away). Any tips here? Our 2 chicks are growing huge. Friends looked after them over the weekend, and they were noticably bigger when we came back.

PP, welcome back! :beer: Good hols on the bracing Yorkshire coast? I believe that we were in York on the same day last week, but didn't bump into each other.

Catowen, how was the hospital. Not too stressful, I hope. :grouphug:

Charlotte, enjoy your garden patch. You may need more, though. I started with a patio, and now have 1/3 acre, and we're outgrowing that! Best of luck, there's loads of tips and advice on the Green and Ethical board. :j :dance:

Roz, best of luck in the move! :dance:

Michelle, enjoy your time off. You know you deserve it. _party_

Broken wings, can I whisper to you, what are soapnuts? Sorry for my ignorance, they're mentioned loads, but I've been too shy to ask before now.

Moggins, hugs for you. :kisses3:

Have a good day, all, whichever one it is!!

Penny. x

Queenie

Penny-Pincher!! wrote:

Queenie-I have the Parents evening tomorrow and DD too is very lucky to get into her school (only one in her current school to be accepted), but am really nervous about it .Any pointers? We've been told its about 2hrs long. Also the sizing is done in cm's isnt it now there bigger-not ages. What measurements will I need from Charlie?

Well, obviously I can't speak for your school, but I think they all tend to follow a similar format.

Get there early so you can park and get yourself sorted. Ours begins with a meeting in the hall, chairs are already laid out so you may have to ask for a chair to be moved to make room if you are using your wheelchair, but I'm sure that won't be a problem. The children get taken off to meet their Form Tutors and get a brief tour, told which 'house' they belong to all while we listen to a nice long winded chat from Head and Year Head :laugh:

In a prominant position they have the local school uniform suppliers standing with their wares (grab any leaflets as they often have a voucher for a % off if you spend x or buy before a certain date; it's not a lot, but not to be sniffed at )

After the chat, parents and children are reunited. In our case this is the point to go to the gym, queue up and buy the sports kit. The school enlist the help of older students and they are very good at gauging sizes! Last year, my d12yo tried on a couple of items over the top of the clothes he was wearing just to be absolutely certain we were getting the right size (no undressing necessary). Always buy with a comfy "growth" allowance because for some odd reason, the summer between Yr 6 - Yr 7 they seem to have a bit of a growth spurt - awkward beggars :laugh:

Take notes! The PTA is there promoting their angle and have a couple of forms to fill in (and sign up for any PTA involvement ), the uniform suppliers are there promoting theirs, and the Head promotes the school and how fortunate *your* child is to have been offered a place. We also get a brief chat on school dinners (cost, choice) and there was also a representative last year from the bus company for those who needed to enquire about travel passes.

Can't speak for what sizes you need to get, but the method I use to make a rough conversion from cm to inches is to divide by 5, then multiply by 2 (not accurate, but broad enough: e.g.: 35cm /5 = 7 x 2 = 14inches ) Or, if you know her measurements in inches already, you could try converting them into more precise cm measures at Science Made Simple Could OH pop out and get a tape measure so you can take her measurements beforehand?

Try not to worry or be too nervous about this meeting, it's quite a pleasant evening and my experience is that although a bit chaotic, in the context of where do I go now/what is this stand, piece of paper for, all the staff are extremely helpful and most of the parents are just as new to it as you feel you are.
Dressing yourself in something you feel most confident in will go a long way to alleviate any nerves. If you have any concerns or uncertainties, have a think before you go and write them down. If, after the meeting, those points haven't already been covered, you can then ask your specific queries.

Oh yes, this was also the time when we had to hand in various forms (like the SIMS data sheet - personal info, contact numbers etc) that were sent through the post with all the other bumph like the dates for their tester day. D10yo missed out the day the Year Head visited his current school the other week because he was poorly, but they were given a booklet with a map of the school and other info in it such as what to bring to each lesson the first week, code of conduct, that sort of thing. Fortunately, d12yo got him a copy last week. I think most schools do something similar.

Also, he will spend a full day at the school in 2 weeks time, like Jockett's dd - this is a funtastic thing because they get to spend time with their class and year group and it really makes the transition so much easier for September! Last year, d12yo spent his day putting together a drama presentation with his class peers and then we were invited to attend in the afternoon to see their performances It was great fun (non uniform) and really made the children feel at ease. Oh and it was the Yr 10/11's who had the "pleasure" of assisting the classes in putting together their mini-play's, so good bonding there too.

It sounds like an awful lot to take in, but honestly, it all flows and gels, falling into place smoothly.
HTH

Glad

Penelope_Penguin wrote:

Broken wings, can I whisper to you, what are soapnuts? Sorry for my ignorance, they're mentioned loads, but I've been too shy to ask before now.

there's a thread here about soapnuts

Queenie

Penelope_Penguin wrote:

Queenie, quail, how lovely. :T That's what I'd like to do next, along with Guinea fowl. I've heard quail are pretty flighty (a friend lost 10, as they just flew away). Any tips here? Our 2 chicks are growing huge. Friends looked after them over the weekend, and they were noticably bigger when we came back. ....
Penny. x

Ooooh, yes, they can be flighty! Tips? Clip their flight feathers on one side - doesn't hurt them, but it's meant to prevent them flying off. I doubt if it truly works because they are pretty nifty on their feet and jump upwards to quite a height!! :rotfl: Very entertaining The jumping can be a problem because they take off like a helicopter and it has been known for them to hit the top of the cage and break their necks. One of mine has a damaged leg. Ahh, poor thing, you may think - nopey, she's a slippery little begger and it doesn't stop her from scurrying/hopping and escaping at a super speed! I'm very fortunate because they came with a HM cage of tried and tested dimensions and escapology tested. Now, getting them from their travelling compartment (shoebox) into that cage took a wee bit of dexterity on my part - only one managed to escape my grip and that was the lame hen who ended up in the kitchen sink briefly.
Boys have chosen their favs., D10yo has chosen the white male and named him "Tailo", d12yo has chosen the tawny coloured hen and named her "Lou" after a girl in his year and I've been given the speckled lame hen by default. I'm still mulling over what to name her :think:
Do note I have said a definate "No!" to the boys keenest to breed them. These will be the only quail we keep. No breeding, no incubating!

Glad your 2 chicks are thriving, they do grow quicky don't they!! Did you find names for them in the end?

Penelope_Penguin

Thanks, Queenie! :A

As to names for our chicks, one has a lovely trick of standing on one leg, then stretching it and the corresponding wing, in a beautiful arabesque. DS has called her Billie (after Billy Elliot). She has brownish stripes on her head. Not sure if she'll keep them when she gets adult feathers? The other is buff all over, and DD has named her Ecochick.

We refer to them both as girls, due to my unshakeable belief that if I say it often enough, it is bound to be true. :rotfl: How old before you can sex them? Can you tell when their comb/wattle begins to form?

Penny. x

Penny-Pincher!!

Thanks for all the info Queenie-I appreciate it:D

The meeting we have tomorrow night is a kid free zone, so doesnt sound like a similar set-up DD is going for her taster day next week and she will be told what team/colour she is in then.

Have sent back most forms except the PTA ones, which will I assume be spoken about tomorrow night. OH is keen to be a member, although DD isnt:rotfl: We also had to sign a form to say that DD would not be taken out of school for holidays at all in the academic year before she was fully accepted:eek:

There is only 1 shop that sell the school uniform and they do no discounts at all:mad: Everything has to have the school crest on it and she requires 3 PE kits, although one isnt needed till spring:rolleyes: Uniform is costing about £500 in total:eek: :eek: :eek:...at least she is going to a good school.

Thanks for all the advice:D

PP
xx

Shez

good morning everyone!

didnt get to post yesterday as I did a Marathon Painting Job yesterday at my sisters house. I did ceiling, wall, skirting in her bedroom and then ceiling, skirting in bathroom and then all woodwork in the hall!!!!! Am feeling abit achy but ok.
Got exciting job of ironing today and probably sort out paint for hall ive got to paint next!

penpen - is that you with a certain Mr Edwards in yr avatar?????? or is that one of yr chicks now grown! ha ha

off to get kids ready for nursery run.

Hope everyone is ok, hugs to all in need and birthday wishes if any.

TTFN
shez

taplady

Morning all!

Queenie your friend is very lucky to have such a good friend as you, I'm sure she'll love the garden when she gets out of hospital!;)

Moggins I hope you and the family are feeling better today! Take it easy today and get your strength back, leave the flyladying till tomorrow!

Have just had the loft insulated by the housing association so hopefully that will help with the heating costs this winter.:D

OH still suffering with his back, cant bend at all so am having to help him look after his pigeons.

Off to town to do a few jobs soon then off to Kidderminster to but DS2's birthday present(new MP3 player - old one not very good so is giving that one to his Dad)
Later hope to visit froend for a coffee then its off pigeon training and on to a carbooty!


Not much time for flyladying today but aim to get the doors and paintwork in the hall and stairs washed even if its not done till tonight!;)

Back later X