16. Hobbies

I have lots of hobbies; I like to live a full life! My job keeps me busy most of the time, but I enjoy many other things.
Being a Music teacher means I sing and play all day with the children but I also love to play my violin and piano and sing in my downtime, as well as go to concerts where I am the listener rather than the performer for a change.

Meet Henry, my violin, which was left to me when I was ten;  an English 'Hill' pattern, made before 1820. Apart from that, I don't know much about him.

I love crafty pastimes too. Mostly sewing, knitting and simple crochet and jewellery making. I make cards for special people a well, but never get round to photographing them!

 

My 'Wedding Guest' dress, from 'Little Chelsea' fabric.

 



 

 

Lavender bag

 

Crochet flowers and Suffolk puffs, which were made to decorate a cushion cover

 

 

We made fascinators at Lorna's Hen weekend, to wear on her Big Day! (with the 'Wedding Guest' dress!)

 

 

 

Thursday Craft club at school, which Susan and I run. Here's Gabrielle making a Christmas cracker.

 

 I can't resist a Charity shop. It's the first place I check out when I visit a new place. Things for the home and skirts.

 



 

Pretty treasures picked up for small prices.

 

 

Other people's languages fascinate me. I learnt French and German at school, and as an adult have learnt Spanish and a little Japanese and Mandarin, but I love learning Polish because it is a real challenge. I love the country, as well. I get lots of practice speaking with the Polish girls at school, but I prefer writing, as I have more time to think about declensions, irregularities and agreements!

 

I go to Lille by Eurostar as often as I can, to keep my spoken French up to speed.

 I have dabbled with candle making, thanks to a huge collection of wax, moulds and wicks from Freecycle; and I hope to do more, and experiment with colour and scent. I'd like to do some more soap making as well.

 

 

Sean loves cherry cake, I love baking, so good reasons to make lots of them! With a nice cup of Earl Grey, in a cup and saucer found on a Charity shop visit.

 

 

Remembering the summer with preserves and fruit vodkas.

 

 

 

And I almost forgot! Writing this blog, and reading my favourites.

 So, that's how I spend my spare time!

 



15. Favourite Folk

I am lucky to have lots of Favourite Folk, my family and friends who make my world happy. Also, I love my job, and the children I teach brighten my day too.

Just a few of my favourite people .........

 

Sean; Champagne afternoon tea at the Brooklands hotel for my birthday.

Mummie at the Bournemouth Echo Tea Lounge for Mothering Sunday

 





 

Mummie, Pippa, Milli, Emerson, Kenya at the Blue Mountains.

Kenya and Milli in their cubby house.

 



Susan and Poppy

 



Afternoon tea with Sam at the Checkmate Bar for her birthday.

 



 Cristina, Deirdra, Sue, Me, Kat and Mairead taking afternoon tea at Drink, Eat, Do at Kings Cross.

 

 



Shani and Anthony in Hythe

 



Paul in the Gallery queue for a Prom at the Royal Albert Hall.

 



Hello to others I don't have pictures of; Helen, Nick, Sue, Suzanne, Jocelyn, Teresa, Breda, Helen & Paul, Krzysia, Gabrielle. Thanks for your friendship!

It was 'Bring your teddy to school' day for Children in Need today. Teddy Axtell made his annual appearance.

Here he is in the Library learning Danish; he enjoys a linguistic challenge.

Checking his emails on my iPad.

 

7F all brought their teddies too. We raised about £500 as a school.

 

Halfway through the challenge to blog every day this month.

14. My workspace

My Music Department relocated to the basement last February, and I eventually have an office with a computer, a notice board, a filing cabinet, a window and a comfy chair! It has a pink theme of course, and I can sit here and work without interruptions, as I don't have a phone in my office!

 

We have Practice rooms for the girls to rehearse, and then come together to share with the class.

 

I am very lucky - my new Department is splendid!



13. World Kindness Day

Today is World Kindness Day. I challenged my Form to carry out random acts of kindness; smiling, offering help, offering seats on the bus, etc. They are kind generally, but today especially. We have done away with a long list of school rules, and instead have decided upon Five Simple Ways of behaving. The second is "Be kind and respectful to everyone in School". There is a poster to remind them in every classroom, so we should have a whole school of considerate, respectful girls!

My all-time favourite kind person is Pollyanna. As luck would have it, today of all days, I came across a copy in the bookshop I pop into on my way to Waterloo, so I bought it for my cousin Isabel, (age 9) for Christmas.

The world should have more Pollyannas for it to be a better place!

12. My Hometown

I have lived in London for 25 years, after coming to study at University, but I come from Christchurch, Dorset. For non-UK readers, it is on the South Coast of England, about 120 miles from London. It's a beautiful ancient small town and a marvellous place to grow up; we were minutes from the river, quay, beach and town, close to the New Forest, and to bigger towns such as Bournemouth and Southampton.

 

Our 900+ year old Priory church. We were married here, my parents, my mother's parents, and her grandparents too.

 

There are also ruins of the attached convent and monastery dissolved by Henry VIII, which are great to explore.

 

We have two rivers flowing into the sea; the Stour and the Avon, saltmarshes with amazing birdlife, harbours, sandy beaches and stony beaches, Saxon settlements and tales of smugglers. We have an Arts Centre with theatre productions, cinema showings and exhibitions and a weekly market. Christchurch enjoys the longest life expectancy in the country!

 

I love going back to see Mummie. The pace of life is relaxed and peaceful after London, a stroll into the town takes ages as you chat to people on the way.

 

We have some marvellous independent shops selling gorgeous things, an old fashioned ironmonger where you can find absolutely anything, many a café (the New Forest Perfumery being our favourite) and a proper high street. No McDonalds, KFC or any of the usually ubiquitous fast-food joints, instead a good traditional Fish and Chip shop.

 



 

Impressive Victorian ironwork in the rail station.



 Sweet little house in Milhams Street
 

Kimmeridge - fab for ladies clothes and accessories



 Thomas and Lucia - vintage home and garden



 

Check out this older post for more lovely independent shops: http://sky-blu-pink.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/visit.html

 

We were so lucky to spend our childhood here, and to have someone beautiful to visit still.



11. Remembrance Day

Remembering the Armistice: the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month

Lest we forget



 

A poppy to remember.

 

I took some of my GCSE class to a marvellous concert this evening, the Young Musicians' Symphony Orchestra at St John's Smith Square, Westminster, for a programme of film music. Schindler's List, Out of Africa, Fantasia, Brief Encounter, Superman, E.T, The Dambusters and Star Wars all came to life. They are a fab orchestra: Music Conservatoire students who will feed the major national orchestras - they have a very bright musical future ahead of them. 

10. Something Different

Today's challenge is to blog about something different from the norm, so I shall share with you my trip today to a wonderful vintage frock shop in Shoreditch. Sean gave me a voucher for my birthday, so we went today to browse.
I love vintage clothes - '30s and '60s suit me best for the daytime, and I love '20s for evening and special occasions - so this was a real  treat!

Fab selection of frocks in all colours and styles, mostly '40s-'70s.

 

 

And all these skirts - I chose three, will share on another post.



 

 Accessories galore, I chose three scarves

 

And a comfy spot for tea in the afternoon, or something stronger in the evening.

 

This super treasure trove is open every day, from mid-morning till late, (Sunday 12-6) and when you have shopped, you can hear live music, poetry and other treats in the evening - it's such a happening place!

Check out their website http://paperdressvintage.co.uk/ and pay them a visit at 114-116 Curtain Road, EC2, nearest tube is Old Street.

Sam would love it here - I think we shall have our next Departmental meeting here instead of at school, on the sofa, with tea and cake!