Creationism

Not really a proper post here yet I'm afraid, merely a reminder to me that I'm going to post some views on this shortly, when I've worked out what they may be, though I'm most open to those very same views evolving over time...

In house group tonight we watched a creation v evolution debate in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. I'd like to see it again and be able to listen to both sides of the argument without the deriding sneers, but until I do, if I may, I'm going to link to Mike's very own blog and the discussion there a few months ago. http://mikepeat.blogspot.com/2006/05/creation.html
More to come.

Hooray for good days

I'm sorry about the excess of job posts over the last few days, more interesting stuff to come soon I hope!

I had a full day in year 2 today. Have never taught that age group before but said that would be the lowest I would go ... so I did. Was a really good day actually, which was necessary after the farce that was year 5 yesterday afternoon! Bizarre really seeing as I was more worried about the year 2 than the year 5. There might even be an infant teacher in me somewhere that I didn't know about...!!

Conundrum solved

Thank you all for your contributions to problem solving. I managed to extract the rock from the bottom of the jar using a sundae spoon. Thank you to Sarah for suggesting a spoon. A teaspoon would have had insufficient leverage due to its length but the extra length of the sundae spoon solved that problem. Thank you to Mike for suggesting sugar tongs. I'm sure they would have done the trick had I had any to try... Dissolving the rock may still be an option for cleaning out the little bits, thanks to Chris for this idea.

Hard earned cash

More update on the supply way of things. Today was one of the hardest earned £40s ever... perhaps... What a rude and obnoxious class! Talking over me most of the afternoon despite all the best behaviour techniques. Kept me occupied for an afternoon though, and I suppose £40 for 2 hours work isn't so bad really.

No more dossing about for me

I have been given no more time to think about whether or not I can teach or want to do supply and am biting the bullet and doing it! There will be no early morning call to dread tomorrow or Thursday so I can sleep easy! Mum's friend is a teacher and rang me up this afternoon to offer me a day's supply on Thursday at her school. It is year 2 which is a little nerve wracking as I have never actually taught that age group for more than an hour before and I will have them for a whole day... but I am going in after school tomorrow to find out what I will be teaching so at least I will have time to think the day through fully before arriving. Then the LTA rang me up to book me in for tomorrow afternoon. A more reasonable and well known age group - year 5. I can cope with that.

I was right!

It was indeed much more tricky to ring up the LTA today than it was thinking of it yesterday! I did it though and am now on the board for supply this week! Eek! What if they ring me up tomorrow? Scary!

Time to get paid

I have finally given up on the rock, succumbed to the truth that my fingers are never going to reach the sweets at the bottom of the jar, and have opened another packet instead.

I have come to the decision that I will ring the LTA and ask for some supply work tomorrow. I am feeling particularly bolstered by knowing that I have come to a decision that I cannot yet carry through, it being Sunday, and am equally sure that I will be very unsure of the decision when it comes time to ring tomorrow. Voluntary work seems so alluring I think because there isn't the same level of responsibility when you aren't being paid, your best is your best and it will just have to do. Being paid means that there really is no excuse for providing a substandard service. Having come to this realisation I also know that I cannot hide behind it, there's even less excuse for being a wuss. If there's still no work for me, I can still volunteer, and I can always try Steads again and see if they are in need of an efficient sales assistant!

Bits and bobs

I left the house today! It was rather nice to get some fresh air when you realise you've not left the house since Wednesday evening and it is now Saturday...

I've been re-reading Harry Potter 6 today. I couldn't sleep last night, I don't think finishing off a stick of rock before going to bed really did me any favours! I didn't really want to start anything new that I wouldn't be able to put down when I did feel tired so I left Jodi Picoult for another day and went back to Harry - always good for a read.

I have finally found a passport photograph worthy of being seen and have put my Signpost International application in an envelope to be sent on Monday when I can get to a post office. Very exciting!

It's the Harvest Social at church tonight, a Jacobs Join affair with a few acts and 'Dancing with Winston' our resident ballroom dancing teacher... I won't be joining in myself! They have dancing in the church hall every Thursday, my mum and sister go but I don't, I can't say I've ever been interested in ballroom dancing! Still, should be a fun evening I hope!

More productive today!

I am pleased to announce that I have indeed been more productive today and have done something about that dust on the conti-blob! I had a bit of an Anthea-spurred cleaning frenzy, cleaned the bathroom, hoovered the whole house and dusted and polished the hall, landing, stairs and living room. Well done me!

I have also discovered a self motivating way to do things - write a post-it note and stick it over the power button on my computer! I am self controlled enough to complete the tasks on the post-it before removing it and turning on the computer :)

Battle cry of love?

I have been looking through my songbooks over the last few days looking for songs to introduce to music group and to church here in St Annes. So far nearly all of the songs that I have introduced have been Stuart Townend ones, he seems to be a particular favourite of mine. In my Spring Harvest 06 book I came across another of his called 'O church arise'. I love the tune and thought this could be another that I could introduce but I was, for a change, quite disappointed with his lyrics. Although the hymn is quite biblical, being taken from Ephesians armour of God, the imagery seems to be to be particularly and unnecessarily focused on battles and war. The tune is very triumphant and the words about marching into battle. In recent years there has been a trend to avoid war-like imagery, in our hymnbook even Onward Christian Soldiers has been changed to Onward Christian Pilgrims. In such a climate of terror and religious fervour I don't think it is helpful to be singing about 'an army bold' or 'this victory march'. I have begun to write fresh words to the hymn, ones about love and service, reconcilliation and renewal. When I'm happy with it I might even post it on here.

The fruits of my labour...

The offending jigsaw, note the same coloured, lots of dark blue background - FOREVER it took!

Productivity - less than zero

OK, maybe that's being a little harsh with myself, I have been mildly productive today. I rang the DDO, well done me, only needed a little quiet persuasion and coercion from a few friends culminating in a helpful text that said only 'nag'.

As I walked back downstairs I saw dust, caused by the recent creation of an understairs toilet, on the conti-blob (a bookcase built out of conti-board by my father and encouragingly named, as is custom in our family...!!!) and I thought to myself, 'I shall be helpful and productive today and do some cleaning'. First I decided to have my lunch and complete the jigsaw my mother and I have been working on this week. 4 hours and 7 episodes of The Vicar Of Dibley later the house is as dusty as it was before, but the jigsaw is complete!

Tragically, I had only the background to finish, probably between 50 and 100 pieces of the 1000 in the jigsaw and it was incredibly difficult! I kept having to take them out and start again. I took a photo of the finished article but blogger isn't being kind to me this evening. And I'm missing Anthea Turner on the telly... maybe I'll learn how to avoid procrastination of cleaning by jigsaw tonight?

Team player?

Guides. I love it. Tonight we had the guides working towards their 'team player' badge... how modern is that?! They were actively listening to one another and finding out what it is like to talk when no-one is listening to what you are saying. Something I'm sure they all know already, there can't be that many whose friends are so raptured by what they have to say that they listen intently all the time.. but still I think it is good for the girls to be given the opportunity to think about it. This lot need to learn it, actually - they are so chatty you can't organise a game for the incessant talking!

Then I came home and watched Princess Nikki and I thought, now this is a girl who needs to learn how to listen. She is so rude! Apart from the tantrum throwing and screaming and laughing inappropriately, when anyone talks to her she is looking at the ground and at her fingers and turning away. She shows no respect whatsoever for what anyone but herself has to say. But see anyone ignoring her when she talks... tantrum! Nikki is certainly one who could benefit from doing her 'team player' badge. She was clearly never a Guide.

Finger length conundrum

Hello and welcome ye all to this the very beginning of blogging for me, Emma Swarbrick. Named Emma's Spraff because that is what it will be. And starting at the very beginning with the 'finger length conundrum'.

This is a jar of rock...



Given to me as a end of term and leaving present from school in the summer. I am having a few issues. As my fingers do not reach to the sweets, how, yes, how am I meant to get the rock out of the bottom? Answers on a postcard (or failing that, via a comment) please.