Similes for sisters x x x

The end of May is a glorious time for a March Hare such as I! Two women very dear to my heart have birthdays. Charlotte, for who I don't remember life without. My beautiful sister, when we were little my Nana used to say we were like chalk and cheese. That Eleanor would think about it and Charlotte would do it. There maybe some truth in that. But in some respects we are peas in a pod we are crystal clear about the most important things. Our morals, trustworthy nature, our loyalty and commitment to family.

We had a wonderful night last night, a lovely hand-knit woolly jumper of friends met in a Hexham Indian. My sis was pretty as a picture and got spoilt. We all drank like fishes, ate like kings and due to a relatively early night (in spite of Charlotte's distaste- she was well up for a Donnie's mission!) woke fresh as a daisy!

Soon I'm off for a birthday adventure for lovely Emma's 30th! Here are a couple of antidotes/memory's I wish to remember forever of Miss Beattie.. These are going to be printed on bunting for the party.

On holiday with Beats in the US of A, we had daily spray time, Emma taught me the joy of body boarding, she coached me in riding a bike along the sands. We got caught in an electrical storm, we were the only two people who ran smiling towards each other and the sea! Happily picking up our favourite kind of shells till we realised the whole beach was deserted and my Mum's batty neighbour Mary T was shouting at us from her balcony,'Girls get the frick off the beach!!!' Ha ha, laughter and fear have never been so closely coupled! Do you remember when we watched the day after tomorrow, then there was a HUGE storm shaking all the windows and blowing the sun loungers over the wall! Emma my love, If there was a disaster going on I'd choose to be with you every time! Keep smiling and remember not to peer to closely on baby birds their mummy's are vicious and may fly after your head!! All my love Ellie x x x

If you want a space to be magically transformed Emma is the lady for the job. Em's creativity is something to behold, she will move any piano in her way to create the desired effect. I've seen her transform a grey room into a Mexican party den, complete with the kind of party games you squealed for at 7. Most recently, our living room became a room of rich celebration for my 30th. The sunshine banners had to stay and the birthday chair was a piece of art. I nearly went to check the night before as it sounded like someone had broke in and was smashing things! A week later the living room was changed again into 225's spa! But the best decor must of been the outdoor living room, one of the many 58 specials. I was on mushrooms with an eye patch (being a pirate for a night) and I cannot describe the wonder and fairy light glory when I took my patch off and had the power of two eyes!! :) Love you Miss Beattie. Thank the lord you got the job at Kenton! You are an inspiring, beautiful and amazing friend to have and my life is so much richer for having you in it!! x x x x

For now I am as keen as mustard, best get the car packed and be on our way as quick as a flash. For tonight will be sweet as a nut. :)

Small successes

'Even after all this time, the Sun never says to the Earth, "you owe me". Look what happens with a love like that, it lights the whole sky' - Hafiz

A friend of mine posted this today and I think it beautifully encapsulates unconditional love. The type of love we all need and that the little boy I am teaching has never received.

Its early days but I already feel very comfortable in my new world of work. The team of teachers and support workers there are brilliant and treat the children and young people with the respect and value that you would a family member.

I have had 2 days which have not been without challenges but have been filled with small successes. Were slowly building up trust and have had two days clear of outbursts.

Its an interesting way of working because all the learning needs to be hands on, engaging to one individual and incidental. Its mostly been linked to pizza's this week, with lots of flexibility for him to feel settled and call the shots. I am learning a lot.

I'm so happy to be back into work, in a place which echo's my belief system. Today we made pizza's and my student volunteered information that made me think he feels comfortable. We also took photographs of the process and he gave us lots of smiles. The lucky thing is he is a really engaging and funny so even if times are tough, he comes back from it full of beans.

I also get free school meals from the lovely cooking staff who really like to feed! The food is amazing and there is loads of it, so will have to watch out not to pile on the pounds! Chicken curry and chocolate sponge with custard today!

I am enjoying my home and my home time so much more for having less of it, although half term with money sounds mighty appealing! :)

Hope the sunshine might come out these next couple of days, its been seriously windy!

Have a lovely weekend to look forward to, drinks with my beautiful sister and Anita on Friday. Birthday celebrations with Soph on Saturday night and a 75p event at the Tyne side cinema on Sunday so off to see Amiliee. :)

I have a job!!

What a difference a day makes! Today I got a job at an inspiring independent school for children and young people with Emotional and Behavioural difficulties. A job I start tomorrow and which will very likely continue in September.The environment is idealic set in large grounds, behind allotments. The school has a warm , friendly atmosphere, with lots of social spaces and only 24 pupils on roll.

After getting a little lost in sunny Walbottle (luckily I was half an hour early) I found the school tucked away, this was a good ice breaker for initially meeting the Head and my line manager 'Cockney Mick' a very warm man,who I took an instant like to . The ethos of the school is everything I believe in. Unconditional value for every pupli. Each day is a clean slate. First names are used for the teaching staff. Happiness and emotional well-being are the central focus. My aim in the following months will be relationship building and gaining trust in a purpose built 'nurture' room.

I will be teaching one 8 year old boy initially, with an experienced support member of support staff. There is an alternative Key stage 2 unit being built which can take up to 6 children. September could see a new cohort. Having a job, starting tomorrow and very likely a job for September is such a relief. No more form filling and constant searching.

I am elated! I came home, danced around a lot, got taken for lunch by Stu, made a few calls and text messages, then packed my beautiful bag, bought from America with all the resources I may need. What a joy to have a place and a use for all the energy and work I've put into becoming a practitioner.I'm sure it will be a steep learning curve at first, but the brilliant thing is I so agree with the schools ethos and felt comfortable. I think the support for it to be the way I would like it to be will be there. Bring it on!

Fresh Mint and Lemon Balm

'Be where you are, otherwise you'll miss your life.' Being present is something I am always striving for. I know I feel better when I achieve it and the simplest tasks such as spring cleaning my room become joyful. It took me a while because I got into sorting and clearing spaces and decided to change some pictures in frames. (Emma's bird, painted for my birthday, a photo from Figi to remind me of simplicity. And a lovely photo of my Mum and Bernard taken when we were all in Australia 10 years worth of moons ago.)

I am sipping fresh mint, (including chocolate mint which is incredible) and lemon balm tea from the allotment, which is covered in about a 100 dandelion clocks, which if I'm honest I love, the remind me of childhood and happy times with Stu when we first got it and it was a shock of yellow!

The weekend was pretty close to perfect, Emma, John and I dressed up as cats for a house warming party, where we were the only ones in fancy dress! We enjoyed ourselves back-combing our hair and making tales though and I did some tale dancing.

Saturday was very chilled, Chats from bed, making a gift, catching up with Jeanette, bathing..followed by a wonderful evening of amazing music, dancing with lots of friends and heart to hearts with Jenny and Lorry. Felt very blessed and fully charged from having so much fun.

This week its back to applications and hoping to get some supply work, fingers crossed! It feels like luck is changing and I'm enjoying the beautiful sun light day moment by moment.

Walking home

I just woke up from an undisturbed 8 and a half hours sleep, feel like a renewed woman! So I thought I'd multi task and have my favourite breakfast at the moment, tea and marmite on toast in bed whilst writing this.

Last night I went to my old (and very close to my heart) house 130 for a devotional Paddy was having. I was met by a hugely warm welcome as there were friends there from Earthing the Spirit. (Best festival in Northumberland)

Vanessa and I went upstairs to my old beautiful room to say hello to Mike and I got a gorgeous gift from Mike's adventures, a silk Indian scarf, beautiful rich red, turquoise and orange.. I was glad of it, the days are so sun filled and in contrast the nights are unexpectedly cold. Then we went to the lounge and played beautiful music, the room surged and we sung. It was possibly the most needed devotional I have ever attended. Singing is such a release and singing with beautiful people creates this resonating sense of joy. Amazing. My favourite song was 'walking home.' Everyone sung for that one, when we sang 'give up your sorrow, give up your pain' The power of everyone singing this from the heart was dare I say close to a revelation. I don't believe for that moment there was an ounce of pain felt by anyone embraced in that room.

At the beginning of the week I felt frustrated by my job/lack of work scenario and did some North American animal cards (a gift I bought for Clara) I did a farther sky Mother earth spread. 2 cards chosen by different hands to represent the different aspects needed. My male energy, right handed card was Moose- Self esteem and bellowing joy, so all about celebration of where you have got to. Hard to feel when work isn't happening, but I felt a sense of bellowing joy last night. Also being really active is helping, I know if I continue being focused and pushing out as many applications as possible each week. It will happen.

My feminine energy card, intuitive, emotional aspect was rabbit- fear. So I have been much more open with myself about what I'm afraid of and its certainly allowing it much less hold.

Things are shifting in a positive light with Stu. He got an essay off his back and the sense of relief was huge. There is also a real fire and passion being ignited in his beliefs about how the worlds power and fossil fuels are running out. The nuclear explosion in Japan and how the impact of that could effect us long term and all this is driving a passion in his joint business ventures with 'Gen Flux' I am relieved to be honest. :) On to the teaching applications of the day, the last of this weeks lot.

Wedding bells and cockle shells.

Today has been a proper Sunday, had a lay in, called a couple of friends with tea in bed, pottered around, wash loads, book in the sun, skype chat with my mum and the all important roast chicken. Lovely! A much needed restful day after my step sisters wedding on Friday, I went out for a strange cabaret evening and catch up with my lovely friend Elena on Thursday, so the early start on Friday was a little bleary eyed! Charlotte and Paul picked us up with MacDonald's breakfasts full of beans, we had a great journey down. Radio 1 was playing 90's summer classics in celebration of the Royal wedding. Char and I toasted the wedding at 11O clock with a can of pinot grigio-proper classy!

We arrived at the hotel, a big old beautiful house, got changed whilst catching a quick glimpse of Will and Kate, then chilled out in the bar with my Dad. White wine spritzer's with my beautiful sister were the order. Char gelled up Stu pots hair, which was funny and we got acquainted with the resident Parrot Bo Bo.

The service was really simple and beautiful. My step sister Lianne was a good half an hour late and Charlotte had us all crying saying how lovely Joseph had been when he went to see James's tree and bench. He thanked Paul for taking him there and said 'When I die I want to be buried next to Uncle James because its lovely.' Such a sensitive beautiful hearted boy.

After a quick civil ceremony which a beautiful smiley 7 month old boy chatted all the way through we went to the lawn for bucks fizz and photographs. I was the paparazzi, ( a trick I learnt from my Mum) which means there will always be some natural smiley photos.

The wedding breakfast was lovely, we had a fun table, with my Dad's best mates Pete and Kay, so plenty of laughter, not too many references to the Royal wedding, but some cheesy mugs and t-shirts and my Dad's star performance as Prince Charles in the Best man's speech.

The Prince Charles mask made some hilarious appearances on the dance floor later, especially when Paul did some runner man moves in it!

I had a fab time dancing, bit of Jackson 5 and Groove Armada with Stu and plenty of cheese with Char, especially enjoyed 'Everyday I'm shuffulin!'

Later on Char mistakenly fed Stu's rollie to the Parrot are friend Bo Bo to much laughter and horror as he ate it!

Yesterday I felt pretty rough, but had a jet air bubble bath and a huge full English which helped a lot! Ended up going to a May day celebration, the sun shine lured me to carry on, saw Backyard Rhythm Orchestra's first gig which was really uplifting, joyful bouncy music to hop along to in the the sun. I couldn't dance much as my feet were sore from silly shoes.But got to catch up with Paul Calver and Matt, with good chats and extended picnic. When I got to the allotment afterwards I realised the extent of the huge blisters. One of them was nearly half my foot. So the day of rest has been much appreciated and tomorrow an allotment celebration will be held in honour of my beloved house mate Clara May. :)