From Auntie Sheila

The Green, Green Grass of Playgroup... ... ...

This week we took some of our Stars (the younger group) up to the Kangaroo rooms (the older group) to introduce them to the new setting they will be in next term.  I think in the educational world this is called transitioning, but I do tend to get these new phrases mixed up.  One of my favourites is “global delay” as this often fits me like a glove.

Anyway, back to the Stars.  Off they went upstairs to see what the Kangaroos do – and behold – what wonders did meet their eyes!  One little girl returned and was so very excited because “they do paintin, stickin stuff, water (without the ‘t’ but I could not write this), they play wiv sand and they cut fings”.  Well, all the activities that have been happening at Playgroup since time (or Playgroup) began, and certainly things that she has been doing each morning since she started with us.         Just goes to show how early in life we think that the grass is going to be greener on the other side.

Now about grass.  The lawn in the Church garden is a bit short of the stuff right now.  This is likely to be caused by low rainfall recently, global warming, and the fact that the children play on it daily.  It is in a worse state than Wimbledon after the final.  So we decided to buy something called “grass save”, which (I think) is a permanent spiky netting that covers the lawn and lets the grass grow through without damage.  It was to have been delivered this month, so that we could lay it in August and sow grass seeds before the new term.  That was the plan.  So far nothing has arrived, so I called the company to ask why.  They have a very modern tracking system on all their orders and were able to pinpoint the location of ours in minutes – wow.  It is in a container on a large ship somewhere off the coast of India, apparently having come from China.  Oh well – at least it is on its way.  At Playgroup we sing a song called “my ship sailed from China with a cargo of tea”…….. anyone remember this?  Our ship has a cargo of “grass save”, and until it arrives we play on the brown, brown grass of home.

End of term this week – hooray!  Time to relax and get ready for Holiday Club,
Auntie Sheila

Off (with) My Trolley!!...... ......

There was an episode of “Fawlty Towers” years ago where an elderly guest  complained about the view, and Basil Fawlty asked what did she expect to see from a Torquay hotel window - the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? - wildebeests roaming majestically by???

 
We have just returned from ten days in Devon, staying in a holiday flat atop a hill overlooking the whole of Torquay.  Well, we might have seen Torquay were it not for the huge tree in front of the window that completely obscured the view.

It was a mighty climb upwards to reach this place (I cannot call it a flat - a flat implies one level) and by the time we had climbed this mountain home each day I was usually ready for oxygen - so going out again in the evening was never an option.  Then to add insult to injury - the ‘flat’ was on the third floor.

Last week we returned to Playgroup and I always walk up quite a steep hill to get to church - only this time it seemed easy - did not even stop for breath.  And to make life easier I now have a trolley.

These days trolleys are back in fashion and come in all sizes and very bright colours.  No longer do we have the ancient, tartan ones that our grandmothers used to wheel along.  Well, I never knew mine but our Pastor says his grandmother had this tartan one.

I went to buy one, and found they were at least £20, so decided to shop around.  Then I found one in a secondhand place - for a fiver - that’ll do nicely.  One wheel is a bit dodgy and, once cleaned, I discovered a tartan pattern under the dirt.  I think it probably used to belong to Shaun’s Gran.  But it gets me to Playgroup with all my stuff - no more carrying bags for me.  You get used to the squeaking after a while, and it has so far only collapsed once.  There was a song (long ago) that went “three wheels on my wagon...and I’m still rolling along...”  I seem to have one and a half.

But this morning it became a holy trolley - set apart - and was filled with Bible, notes, and all the stuff I needed for the Why?Kidz.  I will not buy a bright new one until this old faithful bites the dust.

Auntie Sheila   

(Trolley now resplendent with an England flag)

Cupboard Love

I am about to get a cupboard to store all the Why?Kidz stuff (and there is a lot).  I am extremely excited about this, as it will
mean no more scrambling about under a table to find what we need in boxes and bags.  The removal of the stuff is to happen tomorrow and  I hope I will be able to sleep tonight.  The daughter says I really need to get out more.

Last Sunday we retold the story of Easter, and Jesus’ resurrection.  The children were as quiet as mice, and sat so nicely listening as the story unfolded.  To those who have never visited Why?Kidz, I must explain that this is unexpected behaviour - they are usually jumping off the walls.  Then I realised that I had first told them the craft we would do was to decorate a huge egg.  Now - what do eggs mean to kids at Easter? - chocolate.  What a disappointment it must have been to them when they realised we were to arrange sticky back plastic shapes all over a large outline and create a mosaic egg.  Coincidentally, this is when the noise level in the room increased to near normal.

This morning (Thursday 15th April) is also a quiet day.  Apparently a volcano has erupted somewhere in Iceland, and a huge cloud of something that could interfere with aircraft engines is upon us.  Therefore most flights are cancelled, and we who live beneath the Heathrow stacking system are grateful for the peace.  Probably like those who work at Church when Playgroup is on holiday.

But we are back next week!

I often read the pages from Ceefax for news and weather, and it is a great source of enjoyment, as they seem to have a special relationship with typing errors.  Be warned - the long range forecast (for our area, next week) is “some sun, but mostly loudy”.  Get your earplugs ready now.

Auntie Sheila
(such a quiet person - what?)

Cast in Order of Appearance

Recently in Why?Kidz we told the story of Shadrach, Meshach and  Abednego.  It is one of my favourites, but I now realise that I cannot  tell it  unless the young men in the tale  appear in the order of the last  sentence.  I think that years ago there was a song (anyone remember??)   and  it  went “Shadrach,  Meshach and  Abednego……”  and since then  the order of appearance is fixed in my mind.  It surely would not have mattered to the guys involved, as these are not even their real names.  When they were taken as slaves to Babylon, mean old king Nebuchadnezzar tried to take away their Hebrew names, as well as their faith in God.  He failed big time - you can read all about it in the book of Daniel.

Recently a very old friend of my Mother’s died and I went to the funeral.  Her name was Mary, or so I thought.  At the service in the chapel she was referred to throughout as Emily - was I too early and at the wrong funeral? - but later a relative explained that her name was really Emily but the family had always referred to her as Ann.  Now I am confused, but apparently this sort of thing goes on all the time.

What annoys me is just why I did not think of doing this.  I have never liked my name, but just assumed I was stuck with it - probably a bit too late now to change it.  I could be Kylie, or Danni, or Beyonce (like my friend Amy’s hamster) - maybe not.   Do you think we get new names in Heaven?  The Bible says we get new bodies, and I have already pre-booked a size 10, about 5ft 4ins.   I expect it will not matter there what we are called - just what He is called.

Oh well, back to planning for next Sunday’s installment of the story of Belteshazzar - no, let’s give him his Hebrew name - Daniel.

Auntie Sheila
(still do not like it)