familytreehouse.co.uk

When living where we live, with so many areas being very isolated, you come to understand some of the many challenges that the RAF and other rescue agencies deal with.

I have always had a great respect for the emergency services, and feel that this is a wonderful gesture, of Art, meeting religion, meeting rescue…

“A stained glass window which took eight years to come to fruition has been dedicated at a church on an RAF base.

The two-part window, depicting rescue work, is sited to the side of the altar at the RAF Valley church on Anglesey.

It was the brainchild of 38-year-old Simon Allen, a former winchman who now trains air crew instructors.

The window was created by Karen Newby, who makes stained glass windows, and Lindsey Abbott, who paints and restores them.”

source :http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/8473055.stm

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I found this photograph today, from when Asha was around 1 and it reminded me how important it is to sit and talk to children.. all children.. how ever old they may be.

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Well today was the home education group.. otherwise know as CLAS.

We were all a bit sleepy this morning, and none of us really wanted to get up. We have received this weeks “i love film” dvd’s and so we watched one in bed before we got up. “What to eat now.. Autum cd 1”

Well if your going to watch tv in bed.. it needs to be interesting…!

After that we all got up, and i had a much needed bath. Asha did some early morning art work.. and then we got together our selves and went to pick T up, as his mums car was off the road again.

At CLAS we ate our dinner, and Asha enjoyed playing with her friends, and using her roller skates. She is currently really enjoying roller skating and skateboarding. I plan to take her to the local skateboarding “site” one day soon.

I had a lovely time talking to Kay and Rowenna. It was good to have some time, to sit and talk. I am not spending much time in the main hall at the moment, but this is partly because its just too active in there and my little head cant cope with it!

J and I sat and discussed crafts for the next few weeks. Hopefully she will start feeling brighter soon. If we can get through this blip in the craft market, then we will be back on track i am sure. E, has offered to do some crafts as well which is fabulous, the more the merrier!

On the way home, Asha was hungry, and asked if we could go to the shops for some crips.. I agreed. She was very happy at having a whole pack of hoola hoops to her self!

Oh well.. Night all!!!

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We sat and watched the bee movie again in bed, then Asha and Daddy got up, whilst i struggled to wake enough to get to the drs.

After a trip to the drs, Asha and I sat and watched a 1995 version of Little Women on video. Asha seems to have understood much of it, but got confused over the characters a bit.. the older girls did look rather similar to her!.

We had shepards pie for dinner, and home made rice pudding for pudding.

Asha listened to “The Little Prince” published in 1943, is French aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s most famous novel.

We have not covered “The Little Prince” before, so hopefully it will be something new for her to talk to us about for a few days. Normally with audio books, we have read the book, prior to introducing the audio book but I am interested to find out how much she listens to from the audio book on its own.

After bed tonight, steve and i cut out some material to make me some new clothes.. We just need to get some cotton now, to sew the bits together!!

I was going to write a new status up on facebook when the skye boat song, popped into my head.. so i have put it here instead!

The Skye Boat Song

(Chorus)
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing
Onward the sailors cry
Carry the lad that’s born to be king
Over the sea to Skye

Loud the wind howls, loud the waves roar,
Thunderclaps rend the air
Baffled our foes, stand by the shore
Follow they will not dare

Chorus

Many’s the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore did wield
When the night came, silently lain
Dead on Culloden field

Chorus

Though the waves heave, soft will ye sleep
Ocean’s a royal bed
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head

Chorus

Burned are our homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men
Yet e’er the sword cool in the sheath
Charlie will come again.

Chorus

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It is with sadness that I must let my favourite hot drink , my favourite easter egg, and my favourite chocolate go..

Kraft have bought them out. Now for most people this wouldnt seem a major problem, after all… aren’t Nestle the real problem in the chocolate industry??

Well yes, but Kraft arent a lot better!

http://www.tdu.org/node/1942

http://www.sfexaminer.com/economy/ap/62386327.html

http://library.law.emory.edu/1circuit/feb2000/99-1446.01a.html

Just a few examples of how they treat there employers.. so be prepared!! Cadburys may well be leaving the UK… It wont surprise me.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/8467485.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8467007.stm

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Forestry Commission scraps Magna Carta right to collect woods from forests
The right of people to collect wood from Britain’s forests that was created under the Magna Carta has been overturned due to health and safety fears.
By Chris Irvine
Published: 9:28PM GMT 26 Oct 2008

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3264458/Forestry-Commission-scraps-Magna-Carta-right-to-collect-woods-from-forests.html

then we get

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KTLDR

Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) is committed to promoting the use of wood as an economical, sustainable and carbon-neutral fuel.

As more people in Wales turn to wood as a form of fuel, we are changing the way we sell firewood in order to respond to the growing demand in the most appropriate way.

We want to support the development of a firewood supply chain in Wales which delivers a quality firewood product, and also supports community enterprises. Our aim is to develop a network of local firewood merchants and community enterprises who are willing to collect timber from the forest roadside for processing into domestic firewood.

So they are now selling it.. where as three years ago you could collect it…ummmm…

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‘m not a pheasant plucker, I’m a pheasant plucker’s son
I’m only plucking pheasants ’till the pheasant plucker comes.

Me husband is a keeper, he’s a very busy man
I try to understand him and I help him all I can,
But sometimes in an evening I feel a trifle dim
All alone, I’m plucking pheasants, when I’d rather pluck with him.

I’m not a pheasant plucker, I’m a pheasant plucker’s mate
I’m only plucking pheasants ‘cos the pheasant plucker’s late !

I’m not good at plucking pheasants, at pheasant plucking I get stuck
Though some pheasants find it pleasant I’d rather pluck a duck.
Oh plucking geese is gorgeous, I can pluck a goose with ease
But pheasant plucking’s torture because they haven’t any grease.

I’m not a pheasant plucker, he has gone out on the tiles
He only plucked one pheasant and I’m sitting here with piles !

You have to pluck them fresh, if it’s fresh they’re not unpleasant,
I knew a man in Dunstable who could pluck a frozen pheasant.
They say the village constable had pheasant plucking sessions
With the vicar on a Sunday ‘tween the first and second lessons.

I’m not a pheasant plucker, I’m a pheasant plucker’s mum
I’m only plucking pheasants ’till the pheasant plucker’s come.

My good friend Godfrey is most adept, he’s really got the knack
He likes to have a pheasant plucked before he hits the sack.
I like to give a helping hand, I gather up the feathers,
It’s really all our pheasant plucking keeps us pair together.

I’m not a pheasant plucker, I’m a pheasant plucker’s friend
I’m only plucking pheasants as a means unto an end !

My husband’s in the forest always banging with his gun
If he could hear me half the time I’m sure that he would run,
For there’s fluff in all my crannies, there’s feathers up my nose
And I’m itching in the kitchen from my head down to my toes.

I’m not a pheasant plucker, I’m a pheasant plucker’s wife
And when we pluck together it’s a pheasant plucking life !

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8 oz Self Raising Flour
2 eggs
2oz sugar
1oz melted butter
Milk.

mix together, heat pan up and put a spoonfull of mix on pan.. YUMMY

Thanks to Pippa for this..

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Tots 100 has now got a new sponsor.. I have always loved the idea of someone spending there own time and energy and resources manually going through different sites, and deciding that they will name the top 100 parent blogs. This has appealed to me.

Now they have a family holiday firm who are taking over sponsorship. Allready this is causing some differeing views, between people who are on the list.

I remember the first time heard of tots 100, I was amazed that my site was on it.. It hasnt been for a while now though I like the idea a lot, however I am worried, that the sponsorship might go wrong… I guess we will see…

I wish them luck with it all… !!!

http://www.whosthemummy.co.uk/parent-blog-index/

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and found this of White Lion Cubs. Even at a few days old, you can see the power in there jaws.

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I had just got up, and was half way through my morning coffee, when there was a scream and tears, as Asha noticed that the cat had bought us a present in. One of HER birds. – A starling.

The cat carried on, after dropping it on the floor, and so did Asha’s distress, tears and total distress, that the cat has killed one of her birds. She was begging me to go and change her for a little hamster, or something which wouldnt harm her birds..

Eventually we got her settled,, though it did take many cuddles, loves and loads of re-assurance. Explanation of why the cat did it, and how it meant that she loved us, as she was bringing us a present.. we managed to get on with our day.

Later this afternoon we had a delivery from a friend of ours. Part of this delivery was the information that we have a SMEW on our river.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/smew/index.aspx

Them birds!

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So what is a “normal” day in our home?

I guess today could be counted as such.

Steve wakes up, and Asha comes to join us in bed, with her teddybear, blanket and half her bookcase. After some time Steve gets up, and Asha and steve head downstairs.

Asha will either go straight into play mode, or will demand breakfast and will sit, eat breakfast and do what ever “task” i have left for her at the table. This morning it was decorate a robin, using peices of paper and materials I had cut up for her last night. This is related to the RSPB bird watch in a couple of weeks.

Asha will either listen to an audio book whilst playing, do some reading or if tired ask for some TV. (videos) and if its video day, she will get something like Muzzy , Ray mears, or a wildlife programme. Morning TV is definatly not Daffy Duck time!

If I am very bad, she will come and join me in bed around 11, and we will sit and listen to an audio tape in bed together, or she will read to me.. Or will talk about what ever she wants to talk about. Sometimes its the imaginative world of Asha, other times its questions about absolutly anything!!

Once we have all got up and dressed, we then will either do some jobs, be it shopping, tidy play room or make clothes. We will also ensure Violin Practice, and some maths / english have been done. On arrival back home, we will sort the table out, eat dinner then its pj’s story and bed…

Inbetween this, steve and i find time to do facebook, write music, sew, read books and wash dishes… How long is our day exactly someone????

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For the last two weeks we seem to have gone through an awfull lot of bird food. In fact we have not only gone through two 2.5 kg bags of bird food, 100 fat balls and emptied our cupboards of all remaining nuts etc which were towards date.. We have also had a usefull way of disposing our kitchen waste products.

I am rather sad the snow has gone…

One of the side effects of this is that we now have had some more new comers to our garden. We have a friendly Nuthatch

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/n/nuthatch/index.aspx Who swoops into our window feeder daily. Just at dusk.. We seem to have encouraged a glut of blackbirds, which we didn’t get many off. And we have company for the great and blue tits in the name of coal tits and some other smaller birds, such as tree pipets, sparrows, and some rather tame robbins.

It also forced us to try our local farmers shop for bird seed. I am very glad we did.. £9,90 for a 25 kg sack. That at least will last us a few months, at 1/3 of the price of anywhere else!

www.familytreehouse.co.uk

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For some time, I have been looking for something which would help me to understand the moons cycles.

I then came across a link on a friends web site, for a diary, which claimed to do such a thing.

Inspired, last week, I asked Steve to get me one. £10 felt an awful lot for a diary, so i was naturally rather worried about it. This morning my diary arrived. Its wonderful. I cannot explain to you the satisfaction of having the different calendars at ones fingertips. Knowing what celebrations are coming up for all my friends, and myself.. and the lunar cycle explained so well.

http://www.moonwise.co.uk/diary.php

Its a limited edition, but well worth still trying to get as well, i only bought mine last week!

I wish we had enough for the calendar as well, but we dont need it this year, but for any of my OU friends who are studing astronomy I can only recommend you take a look at it.

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Not in my name by Steve Hon

Enjoy

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One of the things that Asha got involved in was an animated video, with some of her friends.

We recently were informed of the result..

Wonderful stuff!

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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth was born in London on April, 21 1926, first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, subsequently King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Five weeks later she was christened in the chapel of Buckingham Palace and was given the names Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor. The Queen ascended the throne on February 6, 1952 upon the death of her father, King George VI. Her Coronation followed on June 2, 1953.

Princess Elizabeth had her early education at home. After her father succeeded to the throne in 1936 and she became heiress presumptive, her studies were extended to include lessons on constitutional history and law. After the Second World War Princess Elizabeth’s public engagements grew in number and frequency. Her first official visit overseas took place in 1947, when she accompanied her parents and sister on a tour
of South Africa.

Princess Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten (4th cousin) in Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. Prince Charles, now the Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the throne, was born in 1948, the Princess Anne, now the Princess Royal, was born in 1950, the Prince Andrew, now the Duke of York, was born in 1960, and the Prince Edward, in 1964. The Queen and the Duke celebrated their silver wedding anniversary in London in 1972.

In 1977, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee was celebrated in the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth. Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen travelled some 56,000 miles to share the anniversary with her people. 2002 marked the 50th anniversary of The Queen’s Accession to the Throne. This milestone had previously been achieved by only five other British monarchs: Henry III, Edward III, James I, George III and Queen Victoria.

Source : http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96apr/elizabeth2.html 12 the January 2010

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Since December I have been really very sloppy in keeping note of what “education” we have done.

This is partly because of the christmas spirit, and partly because Asha has had a snuffly cold for a while, so were still not onto “written work”

However she now has full command of the following three works of literature :

Little Women – Louise Alcott.. to the extent that yesterday, when I asked her which was her favourite book, she informed me that ” little women is, because Joe is like you and me mummy” Slightly abashed I asked her what she meant by this” she has a tempor which rises up and we both try and control it.. but fail misserably” Well there you go…

She also asked why daddies cant always be around, and what the war was in the story. She seems to empathise a lot with the girls when they are sad..

The secret Garden – Frances Hodges Burnett. She has loved this title for some time now, and I am seriously starting to tire of it. But her games have gone from Colin;s nautyness to being an Animal Charmer.. She is no longer wanting to be like Mary Lennox, recognising that Mary has a terrible temper, which Asha says isnt like a princess… It has also encouraged a great amount of interest in india, and if anyone has any recommendations for indian literature suitable for a 5 year old i would like to hear them!!

The Little Princess, also Frances Hodges Burnett.
This is interesting as it is encouraging her good behaviour and her love of literature and her sympathetic nature. Its also bought up questions about mineing, death, quarrying.. and slavery / maids… Wonderful stuff!

She also has some command of the following works.

The Hobbit. – daddy is currently re-reading it to her.
Winnie the poo.
Hiawatha.. All these have developed a lot since November and I am pleased with these outcomes.

In December we went to a violin concert in liverpool held by the Liverpool Suzuki group, it was wonderful. Asha had a lovely evening, though she was fidgetty, after a long day in birkenhead and liverpool, visiting such wonderful places as Woodside, Birkehead, etc..

Her violin practice has been slow this month, but hopefully we will get back on track once her snuffle has gone.

Currently Asha is not interested in reading or writing. Were encouraging these skills by ensuring she always has access to pens, paper and reading fodder… I am not worried about these skills, as last time I worked on them with her, she was well within her age group needs… and well.. there is more to education!

Her fascination with local birds is continuing.. we feed them every day, and she watches them every day.. often for hours at a time.. I plan on doing more work with bird life, once I have found some more resources on it.. We certainly seem to enjoy talking about there shapes, feet, wings etc….

Crafts, before Christmas we made loads of decorations.. snowmen, candles for on the wall, birds to hang up.. all sorts, since christmas we have done some painting, some drawing and talked about the chemical reaction needed to make a crystal snow tree.

Asha has contined to spend much time doing skateboarding, walking and enjoying time outside. We have also enjoyed a trip to portmerion…

I am generally more than happy with Asha’s level of education. She is a sociable, happy child.. what else can I want?

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Miep Gies.. Rest in Peace… Your job is done here on earth.. and we thank you for doing it…

Miep Gies, the last surviving member of the group who helped protect Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis, has died in the Netherlands aged 100.

She and other employees of Anne Frank’s father Otto supplied food to the family as they hid in a secret annex above the business premises in Amsterdam.

Anne’s diary of their life in hiding, which ended in betrayal, is one of the most famous records of the Holocaust.

It was rescued by Mrs Gies, who kept it safe until after the war.
……………….

I didn’t know what to say. The only thing I could manage was: ‘That ought to be interesting.’”

Mrs Gies also remembers the day the Franks were taken away and how she went up into the empty annex to find the pages of the diary lying on the floor.

Removing the pages, she did not read them immediately, telling herself at the time: “These may belong to a child, but even children have a right to privacy.”

Miep Gies died in a nursing home after suffering a fall just before Christmas.

source http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8453331.stm Date 12/ jan 2010

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She keeps on talking about being an “animal charmer” as such i have collected a series of animal videos to share with her..

Firstly owls at Heligan center, corwall.

and now some baby herons..

Baby Pandas

and some lovely baby rabbits!!

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