Finally I can breathe a sigh of relief! Two weeks off work and I can relax! Woke up early and finished off all the laundry and the cooking for the day so I can take the girls shopping to our nearest city centre. Only 6.30 am now so it is a pretty good start so here I am sitting at my blogs with a cuppa and toast!
What a few busy weeks these were and so I posted jokes to give my readers something to go by. Tash is now a black belt in martial arts. She had 4 gruelling hours at the Town Hall before she was awarded the belt. We loved her solo demo and also her speech was easily the best (J said she gets that from me, aaaah!) of the ten. Her best friends were there to support her and then they came back for a sleepover and tiger prawns and lamb that J made. It was an emotional moment for the six friends when Tash gave them a red rose for being there for her. The culmination of three years of hard work. She is very proud of her muscles and the fact she can do 150 push ups without a break (I am lucky if I manage 2). But being at university may hinder her going for the second and third dan! Time will tell!
Tanya's birthday has come and gone and her party for 45 has been deferred to January. But she had the best time with an outing with her family as well as her close friends' sleepover.
Tom arrives today to spend both Christmas and New Year with the family! He is so looking forward to the break.
I have the rather unenviable job of being the mistress of ceremonies at our church Ecumenical end of December. Four of the Malayalee churches in the area will come together and present their Christmas carols and nativity play and the bishop's speech for around 4 to 5 hours. My church has 'kindly' put me in as the anchor with the words 'make us proud' not putting me under any pressure..not at all! Actually I am always ready for excitement in my life so am looking forward to it.
Two weeks ago was my best friend's husband's 70th. That sounds old except if you see Viv and Stan..they look younger than me! And I am the same age as their twins! It was a gala event and was a surprise for the birthday boy organised by Viv and the children Paul and Andrea at their friend's golf country club! All their parties are exceptional (they hold a few each year) but this was easily the best. Since Stan is in the public eye, he usually has a few celebrities, past and current, at these events. This time there were TV stars, football legends like Ron Atkinson and even singing legends like Mike McCartney (brother of Beatles' Paul) from the Scaffolds, Clive Abbot (the Black Abbots), the Four Tunes (60s fame), Paul McCoy a winner of Stars In their Eyes 10 years ago and above all Gerry Marsden from Gerry and the Pacemakers (the man behind some of the most famous songs from Britain 'Ferry across the Mersey' and 'You'll never walk alone'. Check out on YouTube, you'll have tears when you watch the Liverpool fans singing this at Anfield! It's entitled 'the greatest YNWA ever'!). I have heard them sing on a few occasions but they still have me overwhelmed and in tears each time.
Stan, although famed for his comedy not singing, has brought his second novelty song out which is currently being played on the radio called 'the Bin Bag Song'. His last one called 'Stan's World Cup Song' was a huge success and was number one in the charts in a few countries. The kids and I were in the music video and watched ourselves on MTV! (Check on YouTube someone's homemade video of the song). Check out both his songs by listening to the preview and see his gallery of photos of the hey days on www.stanboardman.co.uk. You can even download his funny songs or buy them on CD. Go for it. It lights up my day when I listen to him in my car! Our claim to fame is that Tasha designed his red World Cup Tshirt that sold well, you can see a revised version on the picture on the Download page of his website where it says 'Visit Stan's shop'.
The talent is there with their kids also in the media, Paul a sports presenter on Sky and Andrea an ex-children's TV presenter. Their improvised comedy routine on the night made both mum and dad very proud!!! and us too! Despite their busy lives, Viv came yesterday with a very generous Christmas gift for us! Life with my closest friends is never boring or tame! And I consider myself very lucky to have met Viv at a computer class 15 years ago where we both were getting ourselves into the modern world of PCs and log-ins!
Christmas spirit is well and truly here now...our tree, lights and decorations did go up over a week ago, close friends coming over to see us tomorrow (can't wait), Christmas day with other close friends and today there will be presents under the tree. New Year's will be with other friends visiting and then it will all be over...sigh! At least we will be back at the grind refreshed and recharged. It is very cold now but that is in itself exciting. I love the wintry days of this most exciting time of the year!
Keep reading! and here's to wishing all my readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!
Friday, 21 December 2007
LOL, people, it is Christmas after all
The couple were 85 years old, and had been married for sixty years. Though they were far from rich, they managed to get by because they watched their pennies.
Though not young, they were both in very good health, largely due to the wife's insistence on healthy foods and exercise for the last three decades.
One day, their good health didn't help when they went on a rare vacation and their plane crashed, sending them off to Heaven .....
They reached the Pearly Gates, and St. Peter duly escorted them inside. He took them to a beautiful mansion, furnished in gold and fine silks, with a fully stocked kitchen and bar and a waterfall in the master bath. A maid could be seen hanging their favourite clothes in the closet.
They gasped in astonishment when he said, "Welcome to Heaven. This will be your home now."
The old man asked Peter how much all this was going to cost. "Why, nothing," Peter replied, "remember, this is your Reward in Heaven."
The old man looked out the window and right there he saw a championship golf course, finer and more beautiful than any ever-built on Earth.
"What are the green's fees?", grumbled the old man.
"This is Heaven," St. Peter replied. "You can play for free, every day."
Next they went to the clubhouse and saw the lavish buffet lunch, with every imaginable cuisine laid out before them, from seafood to steaks to exotic salads and desserts and free flowing beverages.
"Don't even ask," said St. Peter to the man. "This is Heaven, it is all free for you to enjoy."
The old man looked around and glanced nervously at his wife.
"Well, where are the low fat and low cholesterol foods, and the diet colas and decaffeinated tea and coffee?" he asked.
"That's the best part," St. Peter replied. "You can eat and drink as much as you like of whatever you like, and you will never get fat or sick. This is Heaven!"
The old man pushed, "No gym to work out at?"
"Not unless you want to," was the answer.
"No testing my sugar or blood pressure or ..."
"Never again. All you do here is enjoy yourself."
The old man glared at his wife and said, "You and your stupid bran muffins. We could have been here thirty years ago!"
Though not young, they were both in very good health, largely due to the wife's insistence on healthy foods and exercise for the last three decades.
One day, their good health didn't help when they went on a rare vacation and their plane crashed, sending them off to Heaven .....
They reached the Pearly Gates, and St. Peter duly escorted them inside. He took them to a beautiful mansion, furnished in gold and fine silks, with a fully stocked kitchen and bar and a waterfall in the master bath. A maid could be seen hanging their favourite clothes in the closet.
They gasped in astonishment when he said, "Welcome to Heaven. This will be your home now."
The old man asked Peter how much all this was going to cost. "Why, nothing," Peter replied, "remember, this is your Reward in Heaven."
The old man looked out the window and right there he saw a championship golf course, finer and more beautiful than any ever-built on Earth.
"What are the green's fees?", grumbled the old man.
"This is Heaven," St. Peter replied. "You can play for free, every day."
Next they went to the clubhouse and saw the lavish buffet lunch, with every imaginable cuisine laid out before them, from seafood to steaks to exotic salads and desserts and free flowing beverages.
"Don't even ask," said St. Peter to the man. "This is Heaven, it is all free for you to enjoy."
The old man looked around and glanced nervously at his wife.
"Well, where are the low fat and low cholesterol foods, and the diet colas and decaffeinated tea and coffee?" he asked.
"That's the best part," St. Peter replied. "You can eat and drink as much as you like of whatever you like, and you will never get fat or sick. This is Heaven!"
The old man pushed, "No gym to work out at?"
"Not unless you want to," was the answer.
"No testing my sugar or blood pressure or ..."
"Never again. All you do here is enjoy yourself."
The old man glared at his wife and said, "You and your stupid bran muffins. We could have been here thirty years ago!"
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Jokes to keep you going till it's time for that Friday Feeling
A woman goes to the post office to buy stamps for her
Christmas cards. She says to the clerk, "May I have 100
Christmas stamps?"
The clerk says, "What denominations?"
The woman says, "God help us. Has it come to this? Give me
28 Catholic, 22 Presbyterian, 10 Lutheran, 22 Baptists and
18 Atheists."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The recently married young woman was weeping and pouring
out her heart and troubles to the church's appointed
marriage counselor.
"Isn't there some way, without turning into a nag, that I
can keep my husband in line?"
The counselor scowled. "Well young lady," he said, "maybe
that's the problem, Your husband shouldn't have to wait in
line."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Vegetarian - Indian word for bad hunter
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"I write down everything I want to remember. That way,
instead of spending a lot of time trying to remember what
it is I wrote down, I spend the time looking for the paper
I wrote it down on." -Beryl Pfizer, American journalist
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A policeman arrives at the scene of an accident, in which a
car smashed into a tree. The officer rushes over to the
vehicle and asks the driver, "Are you seriously hurt?"
"How do I know?" the driver responds. "I'm not a lawyer."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"I don't mind coming to work,
But that eight hour wait to go home is a bit much."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"I get those maternal feelings sometimes, like when I'm
lying on the couch and can't reach the remote, I think,
'Boy, a kid would be nice right now.'" --Kathleen Madigan
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Wife to Norm: "What's your excuse for coming home at this
time of the night?"
Norm to wife: "Golfing with friends, my dear."
Wife to Norm: "What? At 2 a.m?!"
Norm to wife: "Yes. We used night clubs."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. What's the main difference between a woman and a dog?
A. The later you are, the more excited the dog is to see
you
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A doctor examining a woman who had been rushed to the
Emergency Room, took the husband aside, and said, "I don't
like the looks of your wife at all."
"Me neither doc," said the husband. "But she's a great cook
and really good with the kids".
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Two campers are walking through the woods when a huge brown
bear suddenly appears in the clearing about 50 feet in
front of them. The bear sees the campers and begins to head
toward them. The first guys drops his backpack, digs out a
pair of sneakers, and frantically begins to put them on.
The second guys says, "What are you doing? Sneakers won't
help you outrun that bear." "I don't need to outrun the
bear," the first guy says. "I just need to outrun you."
------------------------------------------------------------------
A guy shows up late for work. The boss yells "You should
have been here at 8:30!" he replies: "Why? What happened at
8:30?"
Christmas cards. She says to the clerk, "May I have 100
Christmas stamps?"
The clerk says, "What denominations?"
The woman says, "God help us. Has it come to this? Give me
28 Catholic, 22 Presbyterian, 10 Lutheran, 22 Baptists and
18 Atheists."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The recently married young woman was weeping and pouring
out her heart and troubles to the church's appointed
marriage counselor.
"Isn't there some way, without turning into a nag, that I
can keep my husband in line?"
The counselor scowled. "Well young lady," he said, "maybe
that's the problem, Your husband shouldn't have to wait in
line."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Vegetarian - Indian word for bad hunter
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"I write down everything I want to remember. That way,
instead of spending a lot of time trying to remember what
it is I wrote down, I spend the time looking for the paper
I wrote it down on." -Beryl Pfizer, American journalist
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A policeman arrives at the scene of an accident, in which a
car smashed into a tree. The officer rushes over to the
vehicle and asks the driver, "Are you seriously hurt?"
"How do I know?" the driver responds. "I'm not a lawyer."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"I don't mind coming to work,
But that eight hour wait to go home is a bit much."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"I get those maternal feelings sometimes, like when I'm
lying on the couch and can't reach the remote, I think,
'Boy, a kid would be nice right now.'" --Kathleen Madigan
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Wife to Norm: "What's your excuse for coming home at this
time of the night?"
Norm to wife: "Golfing with friends, my dear."
Wife to Norm: "What? At 2 a.m?!"
Norm to wife: "Yes. We used night clubs."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. What's the main difference between a woman and a dog?
A. The later you are, the more excited the dog is to see
you
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A doctor examining a woman who had been rushed to the
Emergency Room, took the husband aside, and said, "I don't
like the looks of your wife at all."
"Me neither doc," said the husband. "But she's a great cook
and really good with the kids".
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Two campers are walking through the woods when a huge brown
bear suddenly appears in the clearing about 50 feet in
front of them. The bear sees the campers and begins to head
toward them. The first guys drops his backpack, digs out a
pair of sneakers, and frantically begins to put them on.
The second guys says, "What are you doing? Sneakers won't
help you outrun that bear." "I don't need to outrun the
bear," the first guy says. "I just need to outrun you."
------------------------------------------------------------------
A guy shows up late for work. The boss yells "You should
have been here at 8:30!" he replies: "Why? What happened at
8:30?"
Sunday, 16 December 2007
Look what you can discover when you have talent and time!
PRINCESS DIANA
When you rearrange the letters:
END IS A CAR SPIN
MONICA LEWINSKY
When you rearrange the letters:
NICE SILKY WOMAN
ASTRONOMER:
When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER
DESPERATION:
When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT
THE EYES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE
GEORGE BUSH:
When you rearrange the letters:
HE BUGS GORE
THE MORSE CODE
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS
SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME
ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters:
LIES - LET'S RECOUNT
SNOOZE ALARMS:
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S
A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters:
IM A DOT IN PLACE
THE EARTHQUAKES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THAT QUEER SHAKE
ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE
AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE:
MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER
When you rearrange the letters:
END IS A CAR SPIN
MONICA LEWINSKY
When you rearrange the letters:
NICE SILKY WOMAN
ASTRONOMER:
When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER
DESPERATION:
When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT
THE EYES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE
GEORGE BUSH:
When you rearrange the letters:
HE BUGS GORE
THE MORSE CODE
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS
SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME
ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters:
LIES - LET'S RECOUNT
SNOOZE ALARMS:
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S
A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters:
IM A DOT IN PLACE
THE EARTHQUAKES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THAT QUEER SHAKE
ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE
AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE:
MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER
My choice of 'quotes' of the day that I believe in and hope you do too!
"You only lose energy when life becomes dull in your mind. Your mind gets bored and therefore tired of doing nothing. Get interested in something! Get absolutely enthralled in something! Get out of yourself! Be somebody! Do something! The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have."
Norman Vincent Peale
1898-1993, Pastor, Speaker and Author
"The man or woman who treasures his friends is usually solid gold himself."
Marjorie Holmes
Author
"A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him."
Sidney Greenberg
Norman Vincent Peale
1898-1993, Pastor, Speaker and Author
"The man or woman who treasures his friends is usually solid gold himself."
Marjorie Holmes
Author
"A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him."
Sidney Greenberg
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
So busy
Sorry, my blog readers, I intend to bring you loads of news, the parties, work news, kids' news..so much more but I am so busy with the run up to Christmas with all that is going on that I have not even put our Christmas tree up...and that is a sacrilege. I usually have it up end November as I get into the spirit of the season that early. This year the new job has taken over my time.
I am absolutely loving it as you know now. Talk about waking up to excitement everyday!
Bye for now, Tanya and her friend Alison are getting dressed up for a show at the dance school and I am helping out at another show tonight at my school. Got to rush!
I am absolutely loving it as you know now. Talk about waking up to excitement everyday!
Bye for now, Tanya and her friend Alison are getting dressed up for a show at the dance school and I am helping out at another show tonight at my school. Got to rush!
Sunday, 9 December 2007
My second week at work!
I promised I would post about how my second week went. It was wonderful! I say that not intending it to sound all is perfect but it has been such a huge learning curve that I appreciate even having the opportunity to learn in the job. Albeit the hard way, it is also the best way.
I am still Ms Intolerant but that is because I have decided to not smile till Christmas. Once they learn that I expect good behaviour in all my classes, I can drop the act and be myself. It is hard when you do not know the students and the staff but am learning very quickly.
I think it will take a few weeks before I get round to all the classes and they see how Ms Philip works. Already the classes I have been to a second time know I brook no nonsense and they behave like I expect, although it takes a few reminders throughout the session. I reckon this is because I am yet to develop a 'No Nonsense' voice. The funny thing was when I spoke to the Head Teacher (a wonderful lady that I have a lot of respect for) about developing this 'voice' she said, 'Reshmi, speak to them in the same tone you speak to me..I am scared already!!' 'No way', I said, falling about laughing!
Like I said, it has been fun, an excellent learning curve and I expect there will be bad with the good and as long as nothing is taken as personal, I am onto a good thing here. I believe in facing life full on and an opportunity of a challenge is always exciting and this is a lot tougher than my previous part time job at the local metropolitan college where I worked with special needs students. No regrets though!
I am still Ms Intolerant but that is because I have decided to not smile till Christmas. Once they learn that I expect good behaviour in all my classes, I can drop the act and be myself. It is hard when you do not know the students and the staff but am learning very quickly.
I think it will take a few weeks before I get round to all the classes and they see how Ms Philip works. Already the classes I have been to a second time know I brook no nonsense and they behave like I expect, although it takes a few reminders throughout the session. I reckon this is because I am yet to develop a 'No Nonsense' voice. The funny thing was when I spoke to the Head Teacher (a wonderful lady that I have a lot of respect for) about developing this 'voice' she said, 'Reshmi, speak to them in the same tone you speak to me..I am scared already!!' 'No way', I said, falling about laughing!
Like I said, it has been fun, an excellent learning curve and I expect there will be bad with the good and as long as nothing is taken as personal, I am onto a good thing here. I believe in facing life full on and an opportunity of a challenge is always exciting and this is a lot tougher than my previous part time job at the local metropolitan college where I worked with special needs students. No regrets though!
Sunday, 2 December 2007
Papa Cj - World Stands Up
My brother sent me this new age young British Indian comedian's video today. Enthralling to see the British people in the audience not frightened to laugh at themselves as long as we are all laughing together!
Really, enjoy totally guilt-free. I did!
Saturday, 1 December 2007
My first week at work!
My new job is CHALLENGING!!!! I have to be on the ball at all times as I actually have to deliver teaching to 11 to 16 year olds! I cover classes for teacher absences in my post as a Learning Manager at a local comprehensive secondary school and already in the first week, have sent kids out of the classes and given out detentions, kept entire classes in for break..omg! I have fallen into the very trap I have always been determined to stay out of...teaching..and that too full days for full weeks, year 7s through to year 11s and anything from the languages and arts through to Maths, Sciences even PE!!! I have to shout and project my voice over some 30 mixed-ability not-all-desiring-to-learn students!!!! But it is a challenge and I have to swim having been thrown into the deep end. So far the observations have been good but there is bound to be bad days,worse days or really unbearable days!
But the truth is, I am enjoying it very much. I am waiting for the day when they know me well enough for me to drop the 'awful Miss' act and be myself!
Mum should be proud! A teacher and a Head for 45 years and her daughter has finally followed her footsteps!
But the truth is, I am enjoying it very much. I am waiting for the day when they know me well enough for me to drop the 'awful Miss' act and be myself!
Mum should be proud! A teacher and a Head for 45 years and her daughter has finally followed her footsteps!
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