Firstly an apology as such for my absence in recent weeks.... I have been unwell and it's knocked me for six, some days I couldn't do more than shower and crawl into my dressing gown. Not nice but I am slowly getting better. I have made two momentous decisions with the help and support of my amazing friends and family.
1) to allow (read help) Bella to have a second litter! We expect puppies around the 16th June.
Read more about this on shirleygoldendoodles.blogspot.com
Due to this happy event we will post over there for the next few months, probably best to contain my enthusiasm in one place. FYI I am not called Shirley, My family call me Mary (my mother calls me something else) so why shirley? I live there!
We drove past the Fairfield halls in Croydon yesterday (on the way back from Ikea) but that's another story! On the billboard in huge letters it said Under milk wood by Dylan Thomas 16th to 21st June I got so excited. When I met my lovely Alan, we shared our bookshelves and vinyl collections with each other (like you do when you are desperate to learn everything about this person!) He had Stevie Wonders Songs in the Key of Life and Under Milkwood by Dylan Thomas. So did I. We read passages to each other, I loved his welsh accent saying "Rosie Smalls" and "Organ Morgan." I sang Isn't She Lovely by Stevie to him! Anyway I jumped up and down with excitement (have I already said that?) Never Mind. I said "oh Alan would love that we must get tickets" then a little alarm buzzer went off in my brain and I said "We're doing something on the 16th June" but I could not think what...
Racked my brain, worked myself into a panic..... what were we committed to do on the 16th? I really want to go to see / hear it (It is a play for voices).... when we got home and I got the doodles ready for a walk I remembered.... the puppies. And yes I am committed on the 16th. Well and truly.
So what is keeping me so busy? Puppies not due for another 5 weeks or so... I'll tell you.
It's the sweetest little bundle of joy. I am a Granny (I know I"ve told you that before and it is true (I have 5 gorgeous grandchildren up in Yorkshire with my second husband) but this new baby has been born to my own son. I have a precious Grandaughter called Charlotte (Lottie) born on 14th April.
More than anything in this world I want to be in this little ones life, helping to raise her to be strong and independent, self assured and confident, competent and skilful, knowing that she is loved enough to reach for the stars. Another little tease to invite you to look in on the shirleygolden doodles blog is that there are some lovely pictures of her over there (and lots of pictures of fluffy, friendly dogs and puppies.
As that's where we'll be for the next month or three come and see.
The other big decision? Quite a major one....
2) I have made the decision to retire from Teaching at the end of this term. I just can't cope with the stress. There is no time for creativity in the heavy academic curriculum and it's just too much. I don't want to supervise 6 year olds with phonic tests, handwriting and numeracy on a friday afternoon. I want to let them play (and learn) to follow their own interests. We've become an Academy in the last three years and now it's expanding to include more schools, more sites and more people. I originally worked in a small two form entry infant school and everyone knew everyone else. I had time to make partnerships with parents priding myself on learning and using parents names. Making it personal and friendly. Now we're at least 6 form entry(maybe 9) on 4 different sites.... it's difficult to be personal with the children let alone colleagues and parents. Waking up in the early hours having panic attacks and working far too many hours - the expectations have changed - Teachers are now EXPECTED to come in during weekends and holidays to set up their classroom each half term and start work at 7.30am through til at least 6.30, and then take work home to mark or displays to mount or levels to assess...... I could go on, but I won't. FOR MY MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, I GIVE UP.
I shall be sad to give up after a rewarding career, but I will NEVER be bored. I have my gorgeous granddaughter and her brother here. Bliss! I dream of the time to follow my own interests, for crafting, embroidery, patchwork, knitting, crochet, loving my garden and our allotments, cooking and baking, travelling to Cornwall to visit my family, and up to West Yorkshire to visit Alan's daughters and those lovely boys and girls who call me Granny. I am blessed.
I will always find a quiet corner to share a book with a kiddie and my skill set will be valuable elsewhere. I am down but not out! so lovely people, please leave a comment either here or on the shirleygoldendoodle blog.
I will be back.... watch this space
Mary
