Storytime

It's known that I work with children (and I love it).  However the past few weeks I've spent more time with children than I have with adults.  From babies of a few months, to teenagers. I went on holiday with Little Miss, and over the past few weeks not only ran my usual programs but have picked up a few extra. We also had Little Miss and Toddler With Attitude stay with us for a few days as well. This has really got my head spinning with ideas!  And frankly the more I work with children, the more time I spend with them, the more I am amazed at how they think. How they work things out. How they see the world. It is such a revelation to discover what matters to them. What drives them. On Monday I had a Tinies Time, there I was singing away while babies crawled and toddled and basically did what they wanted to do...when I looked down to find three little boys had crawled up to me. They sat there, looking up at me, with the most beautiful smiles on their faces. Wh...

On the weekend I went to a Masterclass...the Gourmet Kitchen Cooking School ...Patisserie Masterclass: Mousse cakes, caramels, coulis and Macarons. My Christmas present from lovely daughter, who accompanied me. It was amazing! Frankly we were amazed at what we accomplished. Delicious salted caramel macarons...they even let Lovely Daughter and myself make the caramel. We did try to warn them...we and caramel don't mix well. But it all worked out exceedingly well. And we learnt so much. Tips and tricks with mousses...making of the cake or lady fingers for the bases. Secrets to an amazing glaze. Laura was a fantastic teacher...there was so much to cover, and we did it all. Mostly because she had us moving. She had a time line to work too and kept to it. She had a structure to work to. It's something I'm trying to put into practice at the moment. The juggle of getting Little Miss here at a certain time, myself here at another time, juggle the ...

Last week I went on an adventure. I tend to visit my sister and her family regularly (working permitted). I took a few days off during the first week of the school holidays and went for another visit. But this time I took Little Miss with me. I took a few audio books for the long long drive....however she didn't want that. She wanted to chat. So chat we did...for nearly five hours. This was her first time on such a long drive. First time staying with my sister and her family. First time for so many things. She brushed and loved Ellie... She roamed the river. At one stage even going for a swim. always with an eye out for eels. She decorated some cupcakes... Walked up the big hills behind the house. She played with animals, ran with alpacas, fed a baby lamb, chased chickens out of the house yard. She had a blast. Nothing tired her, she kept on going. I, on the other hand, am not as young as I once was. But it was great fun. Going to my sisters i...

Everything comes down to choice. From the most basic choices to 'Do I get out of bed' or 'Do I stay snuggled and read all day.' Some factors come to the fore. Do I have to work? Is it a weekend/ day off? Simple choices like 'what shall I wear today?'  Once again, what we are doing does come into play. When I'm home I'm a slob. Jeans or trackies all day. Work is another matter...and once again it's choice. Do I want to wear a dress, some colour, all in black and an amazing piece of glitter?  What shoe to wear?  Boring flats for work alas (too old to be on my feet in heels all day) What do I have for lunch? Take something from home, buy something while out? Every little thing is a choice. Do I walk this way or take that path? Do I sit and veg out or clean the house? Do I put on the washing or finish reading this chapter? What colour icing will I make? Where do I put green/ purple/ orange? So many choices we make each a...