Live to Learn , Blog your Own Song

I am back with a bounce and a vibe now one is quite like me.


I thought since it was 2 months since I burnt out I should start living again , the blogging world is different now I think in a good way, sad way wishful way but here it is plain and simple.


The world doesn't stop still not for one cotton picking minute I think back to lazy summer days of past , blog it fast blog it slow ; do as you wish. I feel as if I am waking form a Rip Van Winkle wondering where the hell have I been  these past 2 months?  You could tell me if you have stayed with me but you can't if you didn't and I don't blame you . Remember being sad/depression isn't a celebrity hanger on whimsy to support as you feel , it is a connection that you take with both hands and stay with. Of course you live your own life but don't pick and choose , compassion for all or compassion for none.



Celebrities such as Stephen Fry , and the late Robin Williams raise the profile of those who are depressed and rightly so. Looking back on what you could of should have done is great but eyes on the future.


I have separated the wheat form the chaff or life has done it for me.


Don't get me wrong I miss old friends but I don't think for a minute they do the same , the feeling is momentary , fleeting.

I am not asking anyone to fight my corner , all I am asking for is continuity of friendship and if not then so be it.

I am here.

The other day I thought I was surviving and 10 % living the odd are getting better each day .

I can not make everything right, but I can live my life and learn.

Blackberry Apple Charlotte Sandwich

I love the lanes that surround where I live , they are my lifeblood my salvation and my sanctuary and I feel bless and very very lucky to live here. I am as I always saying surrounded my countryside I am a toes dip into suburbia but it s countryside suburbia and I have a farm at the bottom of my road. It is not unusual to have chicken crossing the road and a pheasant thinking it is road runner. Though I have yet to see one ,Roe deer hide in the woodland nearby ,where the badgers gently root around.

So here we come onto a Blackberry Apple Charlotte not your usual Charlotte but more of a sandwich where a jam filling.

Ingredients


400g Blackberries / 14 oz
10 slices any old bread (crust cut off , save crusts for breadcrumbs)
110g / 40z caster sugar
A couple of apples chopped  ( I only had one big one it seems a poor crop on the old apple bush this year)
Enough melted butter to to the bottom layer of the Charlotte.


Method


I preheated the oven to 220C/425F/Gas mark 7.

Next I heated the blackberries, chopped apple and sugar along with 2 -3 tablespoons of water. I gently heated them the blackberries and apples had softened.

Next I took the saucepan off the heat, I got a square brown tin and lined the button with slices of bread with the crusts off ( soaked in butter)

Making sure there we no gaps , I then worked my way round the edges.

Spooning you can hold off on some liquid if you wish but I promise you it will turn into a most beautiful jam/ jelly when baked.


Then seal the top of what will become your sandwich , you down have to soak these slices in butter if you don't wish I didn't

Bake in the oven for around 20 minutes and then serve with cream .

Share or don't share the choice is yours !

I might share but be quick. !

Saturday Caption #Satcap

Starting School & Nursery Tips

Many children start school and they have only just hit four which I find utterly amazing compared to other countries where it is 6 they start and they seem to fare no worse. Reception is very much an extension of nursery but putting in place even more structure , so by the time they are into year 1 they will be writing stories and amazing everyone around them.

Many are coming to school nowadays with a lack of social skills and I am not here to blame anyone , but the lack of skills does impact initially upon their learning.

• They can not dress themselves.
• They can not cut up their own food.
• They don't know when to ask for help by putting their hand up.
• They have no manners.

This is no way characteristic of all children but a snap shot of some of the problems when initially starting.

At the end of the day they are only children but when they are 30 in a class despite having a teaching assistant initially it is a very busy time confusing believe me for all.

It helps to prepare your child for school in conduction with nursery or anyone else that is involved within their care.

• Visit the nursery or school before hand with your child to see exactly what the class/ school does.
• Explain what will happen during the day; play at school , children love being the teacher.
• Read books about starting school.
• Reinforce the activities that your child is interested in that they perhaps do at the nursery/ school "there are loads of books there and you love reading or they have lego to build with" And trust me there is nearly always a class teddy !
• Talk about the fun activities that you do at home that will be replicated in school/nursery such as painting,drawing craft etc.

At school there is always sand!

Reading is such fun at school.

You can dress up at school.nursery.

Everyone loves the school nativity! except when a costume goes missing.

Everyone loves a self portrait!

• Try and mimic the timings of the school day where possible "Oh Look it's 12 o' clock the children at school are having their lunch now."

• Practice doing up buttons and fastening shoes.... Velcro is ideal but as they get older laces are ideal especially as by the time they get to senior school : Velcros trainers  really are not cool.
• Practise social skills, such as taking turns, following directions and making choices
• Visit friends with children or invite other children to play
• Teach simple  jobs that may be useful at school, such as packing away toys. The teacher doesn't want to break their neck on a stray sheep now do they?
• 
  
• Help your child to recognise his name - most children can't read or write yet, but they may be able to recognise the first letter of their name or even the whole thing
Remember, all these activities should be fun - it's important not to pressurise your child. If you're making your child in the least bit anxious, stop talking about it quite so much.

The Blog That Moves The Body

I was thinking ...

Dangerous to think.

Dangerous to have an original thought.

That blogging is the blog that moves the body, you all with me so far?

We all I think have our own ways that blogs move our bodies , take me for example ( well it is my blog) recently I've been walking, travelling, foraging in fact this morning  I'm going back out to forage for what I hopefully expect to wild horse radish.

I've just baked a Blackberry Apple Charlotte sandwhich.

So for me it is the blog that moves the body.