Super Saturday!

I was a very lucky girl this weekend and was able to go to the Olympics! Up early, (3am!!), we drove down to London in time to enter the park as it opened. I loved every second of being there! We had such a fantastic day, the atmosphere was incredible, and I can now say I was at the Olympics on the greatest day in British athletics history!

Although, we didn't go to see the athletics. We saw two women's hockey matches in the morning, and then had the afternoon exploring the park. The first match was Australia vs South Africa, and the second was Holland vs South Korea, (they had the flag right!).

Here are a few, (of the many), photos we took during the day to give you a flavour: 

 Mine and my sisters very patriotic nails with the bunting she made.

 The view of the Aquatics centre with the sun rising as we arrived.

 A very British marching band coming through as we were walking to the Riverbank stadium to watch the hockey.

 The view from our seats. As you can see, we not only had great seats to view the hockey, but we also had a view of the whole Olympic Park. From our seats you could see the Athletics Stadium, the Orbital, the big screen, (we heard the cheers when we won those two rowing golds!) the Olympic village and the velodrome. It was hard to concentrate on just the hockey!

 This was a coca cola building, whihc we went it. As you climbed up you built up the coco cola song by touching the panels you can see, and they fused 'sporting sounds' with the song. At the top we got to hold the torch, (third time for me!),

 then, as you walked down inside there were these beautiful lights!

 And then a free bottle of Coke!

 It was a fantastic day, I was so excited to be there. Below is a picture of my Dad in front the the Athletics Stadium.

Although we didn't get to go in this time, I'm very lucky to also have Paralympic tickets, and we're seeing some athletics then. But until then, GO TEAM GB!!!!

Book Worm

I'm a bit of a book worm. One thing I've not liked about my first year of teaching is the lack of books I've been able to read. I use to read a book about every two weeks, depending on it's size or difficulty of language, but now I think I average one a term!

Therefore, now nearly at the end of week two of my holiday, I have devoured the written word. Although started previous to the summer holidays, I finished 'Gone With The Wind' by Maragaret Mitchell. This has been on my to read list for years, and was a present from my Grandparents a few Christmas's ago. I absolutely loved it! I also bought the film off amazon, so have watched the film over the last few evenings as well, and now have three discs of extra features to keep me going a little longer!

I have literally just finished 'One Day' by David Nicholls:

 I had already seen the film at the cinema, but it was still a great read. I'll definitely have to keep my eye out for other books by him. I loved both of the main characters, and although I new what was going to happen, I still couldn't put it down. You know a good book when you're completely absorbed when reading it. The Olympics failed to get my attention at times because I was reading, even with my Dad shouting at the TV.

The next step was to pick out my next read. I collected all my books together that I hadn't read yet and was shocked to see how many I had. Certainly not by biggest pile ever, but more than I thought, especially as these don't include the books I want to read that are on my Mum's bookshelf. Therefore I've vowed that I'm not allowed to buy myself any more books until the pile has at least halved, (let's see how long that lasts!)

 In Lichfield, my local city, there are two cheap book stores and an Oxfam and St Giles stores, both dedicated to books. I very rarely manage to leave town without a new book to read!

After a little deliberation I've decided to try 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'. I heard this was supposed to be violent, but with recommendations off a few friends, I bought the trilogy cheap online. I did start it in February, but decided it was too heavy to start during term time, so now seems like a good time.

We'll see how it goes, but with so many other books to read, I'm not going to force it. Perhaps I'll give it a few days to see how I get on.

Been a busy weekend!

Spent lots of time with my sister, including going to a crochet class for the first time! Sounds a little odd thing for a 22 year old to go to, but I actually quite enjoyed it! My aim is to make a blanket eventually, however I haven't had time to practice since, so it might take me some time!

On Saturday we went shopping together. I ordered a dress ready for the cruise at a bargin price, so very exited waiting for that to arrive. We then watch my brother-in-law playing cricket for his team. Got to admit that I didn't really understand what was going on but it was great to see them play.

Yesterday, Sunday, I went to Soul Survivor for the day. It's a Christian youth camp that happens every year. I used to go when I was a 'youth' but I only went for the day this year. It made me miss it, and although I was glad to be coming home to my own bed, there's a part of me that wished I was staying and camping with the 5000 or so people who were! We chatted in the sunshine with the people from our church, before going to the evening meeting, and then to the late night disco. There was a majorly embarrassing session where the entire youth group and leaders were trying to set me up with someone. I wanted the ground to swallow me! (Although afterwards I regretted not getting the courage to go and give him my number- he was really cute!)


I did say the other day I'd try and upload some pictures of my classroom for you to see. Here it is after a day of moving in:

 This took a day, and there was stuff everywhere! But after about three more days, and lots of help from my lovely Dad we managed to finish:

So I'm ready for September! I'm very happy with my classroom. I was never really on top of it last year. As it was my first year, I didn't have as much time as I wanted to to make my classroom as I wanted it, so this year one of my targets is to have a wonderful classroom for the children.

So today no plans- but that feels great! Olympics is on tv and my book at the ready, I'm going to just relax! Here's to week 2 of the summer holidays!

One in the morning? Let's start a blog!

Okay, so here's to blogging!

I've never been one for diaries, but after starting to follow a few blogs this year, I decided that it would be fun to try starting my own and see where it leads!

Where to start?

Well its 1.02 in the morning and I can't sleep- hence setting up the blog! I can't sleep as I have work going around my head. "But you're a teacher!" I hear you cry. Indeed I am, but I've been going in this week to set up my new classroom ready for September. Tomorrow is the day for starting to put up my displays, and as I'm a bit of a perfectionist, I'm up thinking about ideas and how to set them out!

I've just finished my first year of teaching. It's been a roller coaster ride of emotion. Many ups and downs, lots of learning, fun, tears, tantrums, stress, screaming, moaning, laughing... and that's just been from me, never mind the children! I'm a year three teacher in the local village school, and sometimes I can't believe how lucky I am to get paid to spend my days with 32 seven to eight year olds. I've loved watching them learn and grow, and it was very emotional saying goodbye to them last week. I'm sure I'll love my next class as much as the last one, but I don't think I'll ever for get my first class, and they've become very special to me.

One of the main perks of being a teach is the holidays! I may work ridiculous hours during the week, but it's definitely a consolation knowing that you're very rarely more than six or seven weeks away from the nearest holiday. Now we're half way through the first week, and I'm so lucky to have another five and a half weeks to go! As I said earlier, I'm in school this week, but then I should have five weeks completely work free! Yippee!

Some things I'm looking forward to over the next few weeks-

1) Learning to crochet. My sister has taught me the basic crochet stitches, and tomorrow I'm going with her to a craft group where I hope I'll become more skilled and be able to begin my first real project. I'd like to begin making a blanket soon, so it'll be ready for those winter months when I can snuggle up on the sofa with a good book and a cup of tea.

2) The Olympics! After the Queen's Diamond Jubilee earlier this year, I've been feeling very patriotic and can't wait for this to continue into the Olympic celebrations. We've been learning all about the Olympics at school and so I've had quite a build up, which has included a trip to Much Wenlock, (the home of the modern Olympic games), holding the torch twice, ("Excuse me children, but it's now my turn!") and watching the parade as the torch was carried through our home town. I've got tickets to see the Hockey with my parents and my sister, and then Paralympic tickets in September.

3) My holiday with my Mum. Very excited about this! My first experience of cruising, and my first holiday with just my Mum. We're sailing up to Iceland and then back down the coast of Norway. Should see some beautiful sights.

4) Coffee dates. Many, many, many of these I hope. Already had two so far. I just love catching up with friends over a coffee. As it's the summer, I should also be able to meet up with old school friends that I haven't seen since Easter.

5) Days out, especially if this weather holds out! Only got a few officially planned, but I'm looking forward to spending time going places and exploring as well as going around my favourite haunts.

6) Reading books! I love to read, but haven't been able to read anywhere near as much as I'd have liked over the past eleven months, well, apart from books aimed at seven year olds. So I've got my spot in the garden picked out and my books ready. I've just finished 'Gone With The Wind'  by Margaret Mitchell, and loved it. Now starting 'One Day' by David Nicholls. I've even got faint tan lines from my reading session this afternoon!


So, should really get some sleep so I can get cracking on my displays tomorrow morning. I'll perhaps try and remember to take some pictures to show you the finished room.

Miss Honey x