Renovations and Repayments.

maman

AlexLK wrote: »

They do respect her, it's my wife that doesn't like them paying for things. She doesn't want them to free us from the mortgage or to live with them. They can't see why she doesn't want this or why she wanted to pay them back for the times they paid the mortgage a few years back. Mrs K also decided to make an unnecessary fuss over them seeing our son as their second chance.

Anyway, on another note, son went willingly to school with a smile on his face. No fuss, no asking to stay at home. That made it a lot easier.

Of course she doesn't and I can quite understand why. She's a grown woman with her own family, career and income. Why would she want someone else to finance her? Plus she's probably wary of being 'in their debt' both literally and metaphorically.


So pleased to hear LittleK is settling well. Any castles near you to explore? Won't be long until half term and you could have a day out or better still at the weekend while it's still the current theme.

AlexLK

maman wrote: »

Of course she doesn't and I can quite understand why. She's a grown woman with her own family, career and income. Why would she want someone else to finance her? Plus she's probably wary of being 'in their debt' both literally and metaphorically.

So pleased to hear LittleK is settling well. Any castles near you to explore? Won't be long until half term and you could have a day out or better still at the weekend while it's still the current theme.

I suppose I'm willing to be 'financed by' my parents if it means no more bills to pay.

There's Bolsover Castle which is only the other side of Chesterfield, so not too far. If the weather is nice this weekend, I think he'd really enjoy visiting, thanks for the suggestion. School was a bit of a disaster this morning but he got over it and had a good afternoon, even stayed for Cookery Club which he enjoyed.

No savings news but managed to get quite a bit of work done before I went to volunteer school where I was asked by a kid if I 'drink champagne and smoke cigars for breakfast'. Yes, everyday was my response. Judging by his reaction I think he thought I was being serious. :rotfl:

heartbreak_star

AlexLK wrote: »

I wasn't, though Mrs K certainly knows how to wind up my parents. That said, they deserve it sometimes. :rotfl:

My son had a really good day at school today and brought home a nice painting of a castle (the theme for the half term is folklore and fairy tales).

I am so glad to read this first sentence - I can't really articulate why but I like it. :cool:

Half term...BEST THEME EVER!! We did a similar thing in middle school called "Operation ICH" which was Islands, Castles and Harbours. Living where I do has its perks sometimes Would have loved a bit more fairytale stuff though, my head was always in the clouds as a kid and I'm not sure it's entirely out of them now :rotfl:

AlexLK wrote: »

where I was asked by a kid if I 'drink champagne and smoke cigars for breakfast'. Yes, everyday was my response. Judging by his reaction I think he thought I was being serious. :rotfl:

This made me chuckle quite a lot!

HBS x

AlexLK

heartbreak_star wrote: »

I am so glad to read this first sentence - I can't really articulate why but I like it. :cool:

Half term...BEST THEME EVER!! We did a similar thing in middle school called "Operation ICH" which was Islands, Castles and Harbours. Living where I do has its perks sometimes Would have loved a bit more fairytale stuff though, my head was always in the clouds as a kid and I'm not sure it's entirely out of them now :rotfl:

This made me chuckle quite a lot!

HBS x

I'm not sure why you like the fact Mrs K winds my parents up, either.

Certainly not complaining about the theme of the half term, he's really enjoying it and a great topic. I really used to enjoy Classics, that only started because Greek mythology really captured my interest and imagination as a young boy, so I'll join you in having my head in the clouds.

Had a bit of a proud Dad moment today, he's had a bit of a breakthrough with his violin playing and played an absolutely perfect and beautiful sounding G major scale and arpeggio. Also enjoyed listening to 2 Bartok String Quartets with him.

heartbreak_star

AlexLK wrote: »

I'm not sure why you like the fact Mrs K winds my parents up, either.

Certainly not complaining about the theme of the half term, he's really enjoying it and a great topic. I really used to enjoy Classics, that only started because Greek mythology really captured my interest and imagination as a young boy, so I'll join you in having my head in the clouds.

Had a bit of a proud Dad moment today, he's had a bit of a breakthrough with his violin playing and played an absolutely perfect and beautiful sounding G major scale and arpeggio. Also enjoyed listening to 2 Bartok String Quartets with him.

Myths and legends are fantastic. I do like a bit of the Greek stuff, but the Celtic nations are where my heart lies

I think it's more the fact that you agreed your parents deserve it sometimes - I think I'm actually liking the fact you're agreeing with Mrs K. rather than your parents

Aww well done Little K! I think that's about as far as I ever got with my violin lessons...:o (I think I scraped through Grade 2 and had totally had enough by then haha!)

HBS x

AlexLK

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Myths and legends are fantastic. I do like a bit of the Greek stuff, but the Celtic nations are where my heart lies

I think it's more the fact that you agreed your parents deserve it sometimes - I think I'm actually liking the fact you're agreeing with Mrs K. rather than your parents

Aww well done Little K! I think that's about as far as I ever got with my violin lessons...:o (I think I scraped through Grade 2 and had totally had enough by then haha!)

HBS x

I'll admit I know nothing about the Celtic nations. Will do some reading and perhaps write an activity to do with son over half term as I think he'd enjoy that and I'll learn something new. Thanks for the idea, I was running out of them.

:rotfl: Well, Mrs K deserves winding up sometimes too... .

G major is set on the Grade 1 syllabus, so you got a little further than son for the moment. Unfortunately my son's schoolteacher 'doesn't like "classical" music', she didn't appreciate me explaining there's lots of genres of "classical music" and clearly is of the university is for a job brigade. :mad: In fact, she's obsessed with what pupils parents do and what the children want to do when they grow up - had a full day on that. I've written a letter to the Headmaster explaining I saw no educational benefit to that at the age of 4-7. Thankfully she's only there 2 days per week.

Today I'm hoping to prep some more nice old things for sale and have a meeting about my furniture business which will hopefully see it running again.

maman

AlexLK wrote: »

I'll admit I know nothing about the Celtic nations. Will do some reading and perhaps write an activity to do with son over half term as I think he'd enjoy that and I'll learn something new. Thanks for the idea, I was running out of them.

Unfortunately my son's schoolteacher 'doesn't like "classical" music', she didn't appreciate me explaining there's lots of genres of "classical music" and clearly is of the university is for a job brigade. :mad: In fact, she's obsessed with what pupils parents do and what the children want to do when they grow up - had a full day on that. I've written a letter to the Headmaster explaining I saw no educational benefit to that at the age of 4-7. Thankfully she's only there 2 days per week.

Speaking as a Celt it's something that interests me too but I understand that what traditionally constitutes a Celt is in dispute from the reviews of current British Museum exhibition.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/what-to-see/celts-british-museum-review/


I find the attitude of your son's teacher strange too Alex but I don't think a letter to the Headteacher is the way to go. I'm with her in expressing preferences but she shouldn't be running down one genre over another and should be encouraging children to have open minds. My pupils knew I was an Abba fan:o but that didn't stop me encouraging the appreciation of classical and all sorts of other things in between.


I'd guess the 'what do you want to be?' day could be about getting pupils to think, be aware of the big world out there and value people who do all sorts of jobs. It's fine to have a conversation about the design of the curriculum but I'm not sure deciding it's of 'no educational benefit' (presumably based on potential Chinese whispers from a 4 year old) and in a letter is the way to go.


Good to hear you sounding much brighter:).

edinburgher

Did you send that letter Alex? I hope not, it comes across as very rude. How would you feel if the parents of one of your charges criticised your music lessons/techniques/approach?

School is not a 24/7 productive learning jamboree, some 'lessons' will be less valuable and some will seem pointless to you. You're not the teacher, however, and it's not for you to dictate the contents of their day.

Relax. If your son gets 10 'useless' days in a row, write to the headteacher. Otherwise butt out

heartbreak_star

Yay for business-ing definitely good to see you a bit more upbeat.

HBS x

maman

edinburgher wrote: »

Did you send that letter Alex? I hope not, it comes across as very rude. How would you feel if the parents of one of your charges criticised your music lessons/techniques/approach?

School is not a 24/7 productive learning jamboree, some 'lessons' will be less valuable and some will seem pointless to you. You're not the teacher, however, and it's not for you to dictate the contents of their day.

Relax. If your son gets 10 'useless' days in a row, write to the headteacher. Otherwise butt out

My sentiments exactly and sadly the content of the day is often prescribed under the National Curriculum.


Imagine the scenario where one of Alex's own pupils at the volunteer school went home and said ' My music teacher, MrK, says we should all smoke cigars at breakfast time'. Parent comes into school in high dudgeon or writes a letter of complaint......It happens!:rotfl: