Making it up

This morning on the way to school we stopped in a layby to drop off a couple of unwanted passengers. Turned out there was only one to drop off, and he was kind of shy. I opened the trap, nothing. Gentle shake, still nothing. Then I had the horrible thought that maybe I actually had a dead mouse in there, so I turned the trap to look in, and the little so and so leapt out at me.

Cue girly shriek, probably much to the amusement of the two blokes sitting in the white van at the other end of the layby. Mouse runs under car, then turns about and hops off into the grass. He seemed reasonably happy to be free

Quite enough excitement for one morning I think.

We have enough bleach (several years supply in fact).
We have enough pan scourers
We have enough bin bags
We have enough bin liners
We have enough water filters
We have enough tissues
We have enough cat food (particularly since we no longer have a cat)
We have enough carrier bags
We have enough dusters
We have enough shredded newspaper
We have enough mouse shit

Well, actually we have more than enough mouse shit, but not nearly enough disinfectant, nor vacuum cleaner bags, because I am going to have to chuck it when I am done cleaning out the cupboard under our sink.

Jax and Big set off this morning with two sprung traps, one of which is a definite catch - the other was a tad light, and didn’t rattle when I shook it so maybe a baby inside or a very crafty adult outside.

And I am listening to…. The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. “Smoke On the Water” right now.

And how is your day?

(Fraud (Trials without a Jury) Bill 2006-07) Currently being debated.

Just watched some of the debate on BBC Parliament.

Much impressed by contributions against the Bill from Shadow Attorney General Dominic Grieve and Labour Member for Parliament for Medway Bob Marshall-Andrews .

From Identifying and Maintaining Contact with Children Missing or At Risk of Going Missing from Education

There are also other circumstances by which a child could go missing. Most cases are relatively minor whereby the child returns home quickly or is not believed to be in any serious danger even if they are found or do not return. However, there are cases more serious, particularly where children are concerned, including where a child may become a victim of crime, such as being abducted by his/her parent, abduction by a stranger or abduction by a stranger that later results in homicide. It is therefore essential that when a child goes missing from education, that these cases are approached in a sensitive manner.

Runs over page 4-5.

I don’t understand. I thought we were talking about children ‘missing from education’. How did we suddenly drift to children missing (as in I can’t remember where I put it)? And if a child is at risk of abduction and homicide why are we approaching these cases in a sensitive manner? Surely these are the cases we should be approaching in an urgent manner?

And don’t you just love the occasional nods to Education Otherwise in there. Distinct lack of consistency of approach mind.

Before we worry about children missing education, we ought to worry about the adults who missed out who are producing such ill thought out documents.

My head hurts. I’m going to bed.

Comment is free: A raw deal

A raw deal

Tony Blair is planning a new ’social contract’ in which the public would be expected to meekly obey a whole new set of rules.

We are not alone.

The guardian’s nicked our idea!

Comment is free: The emperor’s new clothes

tagline reads:

A knitting pattern for a penguin’s jumper is a rubbish Christmas present - and it fails to address the real problems facing these birds.

One for the children - let’s have junior activists too, eh?

Convention on the Rights of the Child online survey

Want to have a say about children and young people’s rights?

This survey is your chance to tell the Government what you think about children’s rights in England.

It is part of a project to involve children and young people in saying how well they think the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is working in England.

I’m a Ford Mustang!

You’re an American classic — fast, strong, and bold. You’re not snobby or pretentious, but you have what it takes to give anyone a run for their money.

“Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Thanks Kris

I’m a Porsche 911!

You have a classic style, but you’re up-to-date with the latest technology. You’re ambitious, competitive, and you love to win. Performance, precision, and prestige - you’re one of the elite,and you know it.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

BBC NEWS | Politics | Olympics audio surveillance row

“As you walk down the street you expect to be able to have a private conversation,” he said.

“If you can’t guarantee that - and here is someone speaking who has been pretty tough in terms of what should be available to protect society - I believe we have slipped over the edge.”

For the first time ever, I’m rooting for David Blunkett.

“Do you never listen to a word I say?” he said.

:rofl:

BBC NEWS | Politics | Poor ‘may start learning at two’

Children from poor families could begin pre-school learning at age two to help give them more stability and stimulation, MPs have heard.

and

The government is piloting this type of provision for 12,000 two-year-olds in some of the poorest areas of the country.

Ms Hughes ruled out giving grants to grandparents who look after children whose parents are too busy.

So this is about removing them from home and family environments and getting them into institutions nice and early. Don’t get me wrong - there are some nurseries that are lovely, and I really do believe that Big was better off in a nursery than she would have been at home with me full time. By the time I’d had Small I was a very different person, and home was a good place for them both.

But to assume that because a family is poor that the best thing to do is shove the children into a ‘a good quality pre-school learning environment’ is precisely the wrong thing to do. Children need to be in families. If the families aren’t stable environments (though I’d question what right anyone has to judge an entire section of society merely on the basis of their income) and we’re going to throw tax payers money at the children anyway, throw it at the home lives. Grants to grandparents to look after grandchildren would be only fair tbh, you can get grants for all sorts of other childcare, why not assist the families direct?

Gill has another take on this as well.

Still reeling from the Two Red Boots Hamster Palace Shock! I stumbled across this little video showing much more suitable pet accommodations.

It is a .wmv, so you may need a proper computer to view it.

Aargh, have just reread pattern I’m working from and recounted stitches, and realised I’m 10 down. Somehow I’d been reading down a row on the totals, so at the end of round three, I have 156 (I thought I was adrift by 2) instead of 166

Think I might go and have a lie down. My head is thumping.

We’re not having a learning day, we’re having a fighting day - for some reason today Big doesn’t want to read. I could do without this.

Yesterday, after a reasonably good start to the day, I took a break to do some crochet on my tapestry purse. I did a whole ‘nother round! (Must find some wip plugin bars so that I can display this stuff and keep myself on target ETA in the sidebar, marked on the hook ). Anyway, nearly done the 150 stitches needed for the round, and I started finding it hard to concentrate. By the time I’d done I couldn’t see straight. Five minutes later and I could barely sit up.

I retired to bed, and slept approx 4 hours. That’ll be another day wiped out without much achieved then. Apparently the children had a great day, building a two layer train track out of duplo and duplo track, although Tim forgot to take a picture!

Quiet evening, unsurprisingly, we watched another episode of Bones while I did another motif for the shawl I’m doing as a Christmas present. That means I’ve done 4 out of the 10 motifs needed, which will put me at about a third done (as there’s a load of edging and finishing to do as well. That’s if I can ever figure out the instructions on attaching them all together - I’ve read them over and over again, and I can’t figure it out. Dc in the corresponding 18 ch sp - that’s all well and good, but how do you tell which one is corresponding???

Anyway, as I kissed Big goodnight last night, she requested that today be a learning day. They’re busy recreating the amazing train track just now, so I’ve got time for a cup of tea, but I’m guessing we’re going to be busy learning on and off all day. Wonder what she’s got in mind?

BBC NEWS | Education | Soap characters ‘damage ambition’

Some ppl don’t have a good grasp of the difference between reality and fiction. Soap operas are full of tragedies, otherwise they would be fairy tales!

And if every market trader opened a fashion boutique, who’d run the market?

aargh.

In the car on the way to school this morning, the children were telling me what they want for Christmas. Big wants a bike and a camera, while Small wants a car and a camera. That’s a toy car, apparently

So I’m planning shopping lists, and then I decided to just go to my favourite store, and get this: BRIO 34531 Builder System: Road Diggers Set (71 Pieces) What do you reckon, will he like it?

Resolved a couple of issues at school this week - anyone got any tips on working on assertiveness with a 6 year old? Assertiveness is so not a problem at home, or only in that we need to work back towards it from extreme stroppiness and attitude. At school though, she is so quiet that she isn’t making herself heard, and I’m pretty sure it’s not because they aren’t listening. Big is very shy with other grownups, I’m sure that some of you will have seen that too. Is it just something she’ll grow out of?

I seem to be asking a lot of questions of you all tonight

…for Tim and Sara

that I’m getting by, but boy I’m tired.

Still, only three days til the weekend

Video of city life