Beautiful Bloggers

Yesterday I was nominated for the beautiful blogger award by Sally Jayne (her blog is at http://sjbwriting.wordpress.com)

I was very touched, not having been nominated for anything like this before :O) Thank you for making me smile.

The rules of the award are that if you accept it you post it on your site, choose (about) 6 people to pass it on to, and then tell ten facts about yourself that others may not know. I have chosen the people who I think deserve the award next.  The nomination made me smile and pleased that my blog interests others , so I hope these nominees see it in the same light.

If it seems more like a chore than an award, then I apologise now.

These are the people I am nominating

1.       Rachel Selby at http://midlifesinglemum.blogspot.co.uk/ always enjoy reading her take on life’s matters and she regularly contributes to 100WC

2.        Alison Green over at http://theotheralig.blogspot.co.uk/ A teacher who blogs – like nearly everyone I follow on twitter, never met her but think she is great

3.       Re Harris who writes at https://wordsonehundred.wordpress.com/ and has taken the time on numerous occasions to critique my writing. Her flash fiction pieces are always well worth a read

4.       Polly Burns at http://www.caughtwriting.co.uk/ another 100WC writer as well as musings on life and everything

5.       Isobel and cat at http://isobelandcat.wordpress.com/ another cat lover whose blog is always great to read

6.       Mrs Teepot at http://www.mrsteepot.co.uk/ fab photos and loads of interesting pieces including 100 WC

7.       Susan K Mann at  http://www.susankmann.com/  love her gothic inspired short stories and her take on life; not sure how she finds the time to write such a fab blog J

I am new to blogging really and don’t blog as regularly as some.

Now for things people don’t know about me-

1.       Being a mother is my greatest achievement.

2.       I have played the flute since I was 10 and still do every now and then.

3.       I taught myself to play the guitar which I love

4.       I have always wanted to learn to belly dance- it’s those wonderful costumes!

5.       I am allergic to melon – weird but true; makes my throat swell- not pleasant.

6.       I really (and I mean REALLY) hate flying ants- not sure why, but I loathe them and will run away (no matter where I am) from them

7.       I used to want to be a doctor when I was a little girl. Very glad I changed that to becoming a teacher (but science IS my fave subject)

8.       I am a complete coffee snob after being given a nespresso machine- can’t stand instant coffee :P

9.       I love a single malt (highland) whiskey, half and half water, with 70% dark chocolate to nibble on at the same time!

10.   I am very scared of heights- don’t know why and it seems to be getting worse as I get older; crossing wibbly bridges, going up lighthouses and other tall buildings, really steep steps, walking up steep hills- brings me out n a cold sweat and shakes. So no ascending Everest for me!

100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week#45

 This week the challenge from Julia was to include "There's a real buzz about this place." in a piece of writing not to exceed 100 words. 

 http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2012/06/11/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week45/

I am trying to complete the campnanowrimo for the first time- I have got to 20000 words but hit a bit of a wall at the moment. 

Never written that much before and thought I would see if I could manage the challenge! Have until the end of the month so some time left yet.

When I saw the prompt I couldn't think beyond bees so  here is a little rhyme in their honour. I adore honey (am a real fan of manuka honey and firmly believe that it is a real health supplement as well as being delicious - far more palatable than fish oils; yuk!)

Thank you for reading :)

You can read the other pieces by clicking here http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=149204&type=basic

Honeybees

To-ing and fro-ing with hardly ever a break

 Their tiny wings humming as they fly busily around.

Collecting  pollen from flowers for the honey they’ll make.

Just stand still and listen to the summer-time sound!

Nurses, guards, workers, housekeepers , royal attendants.

Honeybees improve the environment and prey not on any other.

All working together and communicating through dance

Their stings only used if they’re in a  spot of bother!

There’s a real buzz about this place;

United, harmonious, team players, all taking care of each other

From them much could be learned to help the human race.

The humble honeybee is a splendid creature unlike any other.

100 words for grown ups week 43

This week the challenge set by Julia at  http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week43/#comment-10744 is

….The flame flickered before….

I was thinking along the lines of the Olympic flame as I was amongst the crowds today cheering ! However, sitting enjoying the sunshine this afternoon a different idea started to flow so, here it is:

The right time

As Leanne reached for the bottle and her dress slipped ever-so-slightly, Grant knew it was the right time... “Are your parents home?”

“Not ‘til late.”

“Wanna...?”

She gently kissed him. Their picnic lay forgotten as they set off.

 The mid-afternoon sun found the empty bottle, its rays igniting the carelessly abandoned.  The flame flickered before stretching out its orange fingers. The discarded bottle’s label curled futilely away, edges turning golden. Wisps of grass and long shed remnants from overhead trees quickly consumed.  Fingers gained strength, spreading ceaselessly.

As the lovers lay entwined they were unaware of what was heading their way...

Read the rest at http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=145885&type=basic

Thanks for reading. Comments and critiques welcomed. 

Class Blog

My wonderful class have had their blog nominated for Class Blog of the Year.
I am super proud of them for all their efforts- our class blog is a reflection of their interests and a place to celebrate their writing.
If you would like to visit the blog the address is www.classash.primaryblogger.co.uk
If you like it , please vote for us :)
Thank you

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 week 41

This week, Julia has given a picture prompt. http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week41/

This prompt was used for the children's 100 words and I remember the creativity and originality they showed.

I am trying to use these challenges to "find my voice" or style. I have tried to do something a little different this week- not sure if it is "different" or not. I am never short of something to say (!) but want my writing to flow and excite the reader.

Here is this week's effort; please let me know what you think. Read the rest at http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=143276&type=basic

As always, I have written mine before looking at the others... that is what I am now going to do ...

Mysterious disappearances...

Deep in the bowels of the long abandoned, once magnificent, manor where I sought shelter, I soon realised that I was not alone.
 

As my eyes gradually adjusted I saw his rag clad body- his twisted gnarled hands working frenziedly in the shadows.  Lightning caused him to shuffle back revealing his secret. I clasped my hands over my mouth.

 Carpeting the ground all around him were dozens of broken skeletons, their tiny bones picked clean - at their centre a monstrous ball of bones.

He looked proudly at his creation.

The mystery of the missing pets had at last been solved.




I am not entirely happy with the last sentence; not sure whether to include it or not. I wanted his creation to have been made from missing pets and felt without some nod to that, there would be too many unanswered questions. I had thought of beginning with "After fruitless inquiries and interviews, I was no closer to solving the mysterious disappearances of beloved pets."
Hmmm, perhaps I will come back to this later. Please let me know your thoughts.

100 words week 40

This week the challenge is the prompt “RUBY” See details at http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week-40/  Can't believe this is the 40th one of these! 

Here are some interesting facts about Rubies that I came across while procrastinating and waiting for inspiration to kick in...

July Birthstone poem

“The gleaming Ruby should adorn,

All those who in July are born,

For thus they’ll be exempt and free,

From lover’s doubts and anxiety.”

(Traditional)

Hmmm, I’m not so sure if that can be accredited to a stone, but who am I to argue with tradition?!

The word, ruby, is derived from the Latin, ruber, meaning red- reflecting the colour of the stone. A precious stone which can be found in a wide range of shades  from violet tones to deepest red. It is a red crystallised variety of corundum, and is extremely hard, second only to diamonds! (Diamond is 10 on the Mohr scale, rubies 9) Interestingly, sapphires are made of corundum also- it is the amount of chromium present which causes the redness. I never knew that!

Anyway, enough procrastination, here is my effort at this week’s challenge. I especially enjoyed those from last week which used stories to inspire them; no prizes (sorry) for guessing my inspiration this week!

You gotta go when you gotta go

Dare she? She hadn’t for years. Not since...ah, that hideous afternoon at Frank’s (such a dear boy, unfortunately, the man endlessly disappointed).

 Back to the present. The thrill of writing her memoirs had been quashed by the succession of “meet the author” sessions she’d attended. This one was particularly galling. “It’ll be reflected in the sales dahling!” gushed her publisher.

How many of the Q.M.A. would be interested in her life story? She slipped behind a photo of her childhood home.

 “There’s no place like home!”

***

Returning the precious slippers to their box she blew a kiss towards the sky, “Thanks Glenda!”

(Note to reader- Q.M.A. Quantum Mechanics Association-not sure if there is a real one of those but it seemed like the type of place that she would SO not want to be!)