Happy new year and return to 100WCGU

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It's been a while since I last blogged. 

I have completed my Grandad's memoirs- hurrah. He was delighted with them so I am very pleased to have achieved what I set out to do. It has been wonderful finding out so much about him and his time in the war and his working life. I hope the rest of the family enjoy it.

Term starts for me tomorrow and I have just about got the planning finished. I never plan too far ahead as it changes on  a daily basis depending on the needs of the children; but it still takes what seems like an age.

I am now going to edit my nanowrimo in earnest and see if I can manage to get a few more of these 100wcgu completed now. 

I also must get the decorating done. My lovely hubby and son worked out that if I keep on the present rate it will take me nine years to finish so I need to hurry up a bit!! Will do some after lunch...

Anyway, enough prevarication.

This week's prompt from Julia is

 ... you said you’d do WHAT?….

 Read all about it at http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week72/ 

Here is my effort. One of my aims this year is to tell less to the reader! I will try. 

Feedback is always welcomed- (comments are moderated to avoid spam) If you don't like it please tell me why!!

Read the rest over at http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=179012&type=basic

WEEK 72

Clouds of smoke swirled as Big Jake exhaled. He stared penetratingly at Mickey.

“You said you’d do what?”

“Well, uh, I sorta thought it would help the guys.”

“You did, did ya?”

“Jonny said he’d help. ”

 “Hell no, it’s the first I’ve heard of it Boss. We gotta cut him loose, know what I mean?”

“Now c’mon guys, it’ll be cool. We’ll be outta there before you know it. All I need is...”

Big Jake leant forward and blew a cloud of cigar smoke in Mickey’s face. “All you need kid is to go back and tell them you’re not gonna do it.”

100 words for grown ups week 67

I can't quite believe that there are only 5 school weeks until we finish for Christmas!! I have been trying to do a multitude of things; some better than others and had intended to do some decorating today. However, a cricked neck has put paid to that so thought I would have  a go at this week's challenge . (Julia's page at http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/100-words-for-grown-ups-week67/  )

When I read the prompt ," I really tried not to laugh" it made me think of all those different types of laughter that you can have.  A good belly laugh with a mate, a stifled giggle when you should be terribly serious, a nervous laugh when things are not going to plan, a wry laugh at yourself for not seeing what was going on, laughing til you cry... the list goes on and on. 

Here's my effort for the challenge. Read the rest at http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=172612&type=basic

Life, love and laughter

I really tried not to laugh:

When I opened the exam paper

            

                                               to see I couldn't answer any questions,

When I failed my driving test

                                                                      for the third time :/

When my friends told me it wouldn't last;

                                                                        and when it didn't.

When I looked in the mirror

                                                        to see the woman I had become.

BUT...

I really DID laugh:

When I had the strength to walk away

                                                                     and never look back,

When my precious son smiled at me

                                         

                                                                  and melted my heart.

When I met the love of my life

                                                                   who gave me wings.

When I look in the mirror 

      

                                                    and see the woman I have become.

                                           *    *   *

Thank you for reading .

100 word challenge week 64

This week Julia's challenge is to create a recipe fit for a witch.

Now, I thought about this when I read it and decided to try to  do something different to what I expect the others to do, for after all witches do not have to be bad do they?

This time of the year, with Haloween looming (and I hope the forecast is correct so that the trick or treaters stay home) it is all too easy to slip into bad witch territory.

So, here is mine- hope you like it. If it seems somewhat confusing see the note at the end :)

Comments good or bad welcomed. 

(By the way, have I ever mentioned that I own not one, but two little black cats? ) 

                                      >^..^<         >^..^<       

Recipe

A breath of air,

From a mother’s kiss silver dust,

From a butterfly’s wing a newborn babe,

Suckling from the breast an orb spider

Weaving her intricate web.

Sparkling dewdrops,

From snowdrop’s petals a fizz,

From a sherbert dip a tender kiss,

From a lover to his sweetheart a glorious tune,

From a skylark  warmth.

From the midday sun a flicker,

From  a fire gentle purring,

From a sleeping cat bubbles rise,

From a freshwater brook hope springs ,

From an eternal optimist.

Lastly I will stir it once, twice, thrice.

My recipe for a future not yet told.

If this all seems somewhat random, I used the poem , "I saw a peacock with a fiery tail" as my inspiration; it is a poem I have often used in class with children to stimulate creativity. http://www.potw.org/archive/potw193.html

I adore poetry and love teaching it to children ; if I was in charge of the curriculum I would have far more emphasis on it because it is such a rich and varied genre of writing. But I'm not , so I just do it as much as I can.  And I wouldn't be without this book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rhyme-Not-Teaching-Children-Poetry/dp/0340611480/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351617050&sr=1-1 

I have been in the classroom for more than 20 years now and have not found a better poetry book than this.

Read the rest of this week's at http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=169496&type=basic 

100 words week 57

I haven’t taken part in the 100wcgu since July as I have been concentrating on a variety of mini writing projects as well as recharging ready for the new school year.  Now that the new term is underway I will endeavour to take part as often as possible in an effort to improve my writing skills. This week's prompt is:

...returning to the routine...

Details found at http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week-57/

I have (so far) been unsuccessful with my submissions to various websites and competitions but will keep trying!

As always, constructive criticism is welcomed J

September

The alarm snaps me out of my dreams and the incessant bass of the music drums out the final vestiges of sleep. I reach for the snooze button, glowering at the illuminated numbers. I haven’t seen this time since the last day of term. I reluctantly leave the music playing, swing my legs over the side of the bed and half stagger to the bathroom, eyes beginning to focus. Not until the water is pulsing over my body do my eyes open fully. Stretching, I dry off and sing along. A new term and class awaits; retuning to the routine isn’t so bad.

Read the others at    http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=162399&type=basic&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

100 words week 48

This week the prompt is

'I blamed it on the dog'


http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week-48/

Having pretty much finished my end of year reports (yeah) and my 50K (whoopee) thought I'd do this week's.
Check out the rest at http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=152359&type=basic


Anniversary

“I’ll be home by seven!” You’d promised. You were gone before I’d made it out of bed. Yawning,  I went downstairs to make myself a cup of tea, hoping that you might have left me at least a clue that you’d remembered.

Nothing.

Not strictly true; one dirty mug on the table.

I waited in all day just in case.

Nothing.

Seven o’clock came and went. The lovingly prepared meal scraped into the bin, the wine drunk.

Eight O’clock...

Nine O’clock...

Half past nine, “Sorry I’m late. What’s for tea?”

I blamed it on the dog as I headed for the stairs and ripped the card in two.

New 100 word challenge

It has been one of those weeks this week; not really quite sure where the time has gone.
My trainee teacher has heard that she has two interviews so I am keeping my fingers tightly crossed that one of them goes her way.
Funny that I am feeling so tired really because I haven't done a huge amount of whole class teaching. Somehow watching, feeding back and doing intensive support work with individual children has been more exhausting!
Great though- it isn't very often that you can get to step back from the class and really watch them ; I feel that I have learnt so much more about them by being able to focus on them. Something we should all have more time for in our classes. You also learn so much from watching another teacher; regardless of how much or how little experience they have.
My job share partner and I have watched each other teach, are doing so again straight after half term. I am looking forward to seeing how this helps us achieve consistency with the class. We are very different; something I see as one of the real strengths of working in a job share is the children benefit from two teachers who can bring different strengths and interests. However, I am aware that for some children (particularly those who have tendencies towards ASD) find any change challenging so it is with these children in mind that ways to make the classroom consistent across the week is important.

Anyway, this week's challenge was to use 5 prompt words within a piece of writing. (LIBERTY    EMPIRE    APPLE    YELLOW    ENORMOUS) http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week-42/

 I had no idea to begin with and thought I would give this week's a miss. (I had been hoping that a piece I had submitted for NFFD might have been selected ; it wasn't! Back to the drawing board!)
But, I am determined to keep working on my writing and get something published somewhere (some day...some time...)

So, here it is:

“It’s Monday, it’s 6.30! G-o-o-d morning listeners!”

Endless yellow sands, her toes dipped in the gently lapping sea, the man of her dreams beside her…

♫ Wake up it’s a beautiful morning♫

Music blared out as Liberty’s dream was brought abruptly to an end.

She showered, grabbed car keys and an apple and set off.

No matter how hard she worked, how many enormous contracts she secured for the impossible-to-please Richard, did he notice?

No.

Too busy building his “empire.”

Well, he’d notice her when she’d gone.

She checked her inbox. Everything was set. Just one call to make and her dream would become reality.


 Check out the others at http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=143813&type=basic

100 words for grown ups week 35

http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week-35/  This is the link to Julia's page with this week's prompt... the red box...
Topical pieces will be a-plenty I'm sure with the budget tomorrow, however, finances not really my thing so I have gone back to my character , Kit (previous pieces about her can be found http://mrshalford.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/100-words-for-grown-ups-week-21.html and http://mrshalford.blogspot.com/2011/09/100-words-for-grown-ups-week-10.html

Would welcome any comments , critiques welcomed .

Find the rest at: http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=136717&type=basic

An unexpected turn of events

The last mourners had gone. Alone at last, Kit  kicked off her shoes and sank into the comfort of her Grandmother's armchair. Her racing mind was filled with an array of unanswered questions.

 The doorbell’s chime interrupted her thoughts, but she was surprised to find no visitor, just a battered red box on the doorstep.

She carried it inside and placed it on the table. Opening the lid she pushed aside the layers of tissue to reveal a smaller box and a letter with her name written in a hand she instantly recognised.

With trembling hands she began to read,

 "My dearest Kit...