Category: Memories

Compassion

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What makes a teacher great?

I think compassion and understanding would be great traits for teachers.

To see and understand how difficult things can be for both parents and children. I have heard of some teachers spending their own money to buy pencils and paper and equipment for their pupils.

They care far more than some teachers do. But they also understand that extra support gives children a better chance to learn. And after all that encouragement will help create a stronger, more well rounded individual in the long run.

The world needs more trust and love and less hate. I had a compassionate teacher that supported me through the loss of a relative when I tried to bottle up my feelings. That helped me to cope and I think it made me a better adult.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

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Have you ever had surgery? What for?

When you get pain in your wrist and near your thumb, when your thumb, index finger and middle finger start getting numb when you hold things. When you start dropping things, and sleep with your hands turned outwards to reduce the pain?

Go and see your doctor. You may have carpal tunnel syndrome. In my case it was that. My job was using machines to print with and holding a heavy box to type information into. After 5 years the pain got so bad I sought medical help.

My radial nerves were being trapped by a band of muscle round my wrists. I could have had an injection. But the problem was severe. 75% reduced nerve conductivity in one wrist and 43% in the other. I couldn’t hold a teacup for long, never mind a paintbrush.

I elected to have local anaesthetic as I could get the operation done sooner. So one morning I was wheeled into an operating theatre and watched with interest as the surgeon operated on my wrist and hand. A few weeks later I had the second one done.

Now twenty or so years later both hands are still fine and I am so glad I had it done!

Tired again!

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Hot day, hot even in the shade. And as we rehearsed in costume it felt hotter still…..

“Hello everyone, let’s get straight to it shall we…..” I’m narrating and I start the show. I only have a few lines but I ended up reading from the script because I just couldn’t keep the jumbled words in my head.

When I finally got home I had a hot cup of tea, ond then an ice cream! Weird combination but I just needed rehydration.

Two quiet days and now I’m exhausted again. I need shopping but I’m waiting for it to cool down. The weather app says 30°C likely tomorrow. Long term weather forecast is for 20°C and sunny with a light breeze next Saturday on Mystery day. Wish us luck.

Quote

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From catscraftsandcommentary

I read the book this quote was in, I think it’s got the character Granny Weatherwax in it, (who often holds a sign when she’s possessing another animal and leaves an apparently lifeless body, “I ain’t dead yet”) but I can’t for the life of me which Terry Pratchett book it is in, (he wrote so many). I recommend him as a funny fantasy writer.

He died a few years ago of a form of alzheimers disease. I miss his cheerful and intelligent books so much I just wanted to share his words.

Paints

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What paint to use on scenery? It would be cheaper to use emulsion paint, but the tins are too big for the Mystery Play job as we only have a few pieces of scenery to paint, so I got out my trusty acrylic tubes. The palettes are a bit of a mess, but I have to admit I like peeling the paint off to see what the back of the paint looks like (shiny and smooth, multicoloured).

More to do, tired…

Cave

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Turned a block built stone wall on the back of the cottage scenery into a creepy cave today…. With the help of three other people. It was so good to get help. I’m physically shattered and would have struggled for days to get this done. But with a little help and much appreciation it’s done. It needs a bit of wood to support it. By the way it reminds me of Cezanne in a way. X

Can’t do as much…

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In the past I used to do 8 ft square boards of scenery for the Mystery plays, and I could paint rapidly. Now it’s taken me all my time just to do this and a few bits and bobs. I don’t have the strength in my arms so this was mainly painted with a small brush and instead of using a full sized board I have one that has an extra couple of bits stuck on. It has a hole because the back of it was already painted as a cave. It’s due to be a witches cottage I still try to be me.

Custard creams

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Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?

My favourite biscuits when I was a child were custard creams, a layered sandwich of two biscuits with a creamy vanilla layer in the centre. You would twist them apart and lick off the filling, then dunk the biscuits in a cup of tea, carefully soaking them and eating them before they got too soggy and fell apart.

Sometimes mom would buy a crispy slightly oatier version with a lemony centre to it which would be eaten in the same way.

Just reading the prompt took me back to our living room, sitting at the dining table with a China cup and saucer and matching plate. Milk jug and teapot. The biscuits were eaten after heinz  sandwich spread sandwiches on white bread.

I also remember the rusty orange settee and the wallpaper with tiny rosebuds and ribbons printed on it.

Dad bought home a wallpaper book once, full of swatches of paper patterns in various colours. So exciting to look at.

Longest (or Shortest? Day)

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Someone reminded me what day it is today. Midsummers day. In the Northern Hemisphere it’s the longest day. I’m not sure but I think it’s the Shortest day in the Southern Hemisphere.

We have been singing “Summer is Icumen in” in choir. I usually sing the “foot” which is sung under the lyrics which are an example of middle english polyphony.

This is a set of lyrics from Wikipedia :

Middle English
Sumer is icumen in
Lhude sing cuccu
Groweþ sed
and bloweþ med
and springþ þe wde nu
Sing cuccu

Awe bleteþ after lomb
lhouþ after calue cu
Bulluc sterteþ
bucke uerteþ
murie sing cuccu

Cuccu cuccu
Wel singes þu cuccu
ne swik þu nauer nu

Sing cuccu nu • Sing cuccu.
Sing cuccu • Sing cuccu nu[9]

Modern English
Summer[a] has arrived,
Loudly sing, cuckoo!
The seed is growing
And the meadow is blooming,
And the wood is coming into leaf now,
Sing, cuckoo!

The ewe is bleating after her lamb,
The cow is lowing after her calf;
The bullock is prancing,
The billy-goat farting, [or “The stag cavorting”[11]]
Sing merrily, cuckoo!

Cuckoo, cuckoo,
You sing well, cuckoo,
Never stop now.

Sing, cuckoo, now; sing, cuckoo;
Sing, cuckoo; sing, cuckoo, now![12]