If you liked this...

(and I did, oh I really did) then I'm sure you've also wondered at this...

The only difference being that Cooking Catherine and I didn't want to take off the glasses that would propel us out of Underland!

Fridays

As I have previously said, I do love Fridays! Recently, however, we have fallen into the fabulous tradition of meeting at a lovely pool, equidistant between my school and theirs where the water is warm and the cafe serves truly the best and most beautiful cupcakes I have yet seen in this Northern clime! Spot the missing piece of chocolate flake and strawberry slice and smartie...

So I was doubly inspired to buy buttermilk on the way home. The plan was to make banana bread, thus to join the Linden Grove Friday cake bake! But time was against me, and Jojo had decided that the night demanded jelly. I don't think this quite counts as a Friday cake bake, but I see myself as slipping gently into the pool. (Jojo and Mattman both enter with a great splash.)

Another blog that has been floating on the surface of my mind this week is The Philosophy of Lists. Thence came our Holiday Helper- a list of things to do each day in a tub. We can take turns to pull them out when we need something to do. The golden one says that we will tidy up our toys and it's my joker for the end of the day! Jojo resolved to produce the yellow one. I hope he's not going to wait too long before choosing it!

Bounding Boys do Girly- for teachers!

I never anticipated hearing a request for pink gingham ribbon at my table, but there you go! All in the name of Easter baskets! Happy Holidays!

Pleasure and accomplishment 1

(But the strawberries love this one best! I think it reminds them of the Granny from the Oxford Reading Tree!)

Patrick's Day

My children haven't yet had so much as a half-day off for St Patrick's Day. Their school is a middle-class Protestant primary school, where Mattman says there wasn't a mention of our earliest recorded missionary today.

Last year, not teaching on 17th March, I raced them straight to Slemish after school for a picnic and stroll with the other pilgrims. The sun was streaming over grass and snowdrops, so he must have turned the stone just for us!

I teach in a Protestant secondary school. So, unlike the grammars, we don't get a half-day for the rugby final of the Schools' Cup. Not even today when the town's Academy chased off all the usual suspects to face the city's Academy- and indeed they won! Well done, the outsiders!

So, no family celebrations for us at all today. I feel quite bereft. Thankfully we had a day at the St Patrick's Centre on Saturday, rounded off with a mini pilgrimage to Saul and (one of) the first reputed churches of Patrick! Tonight we had our annual reading of Tomie dePaola's brilliantly researched and gorgeously illustrated "Patrick", and I'm off now to think about our latest missionaries... (Irish missionaries all wear green wraps!) I hope you've had some Guinness!

"That was the best day ever!"

Mummy, isn't this perfect time?

(I wasn't listening properly, getting a bag ready for a day out.) Yes, my love; you are perfect. (I kissed him just over one eye.)

No, Mummy. Isn't this perfect time?

What do you mean?

Well, first there were dinosaurs...

... and then there were the wars.

But now this is the perfect time.

Right as always.

The Ulster Museum. Finally re-opened. Finally visited by us!

Feasting on Lent

My creative journal isn't very creative, as words keep tipping the scale! And I'm not making crosses for Lent, but I am eating them! Spring sunshine on your hot cross bun- I do love Lent!

ps We walked home in genuinely warm sunshine and I can tell you that the strawberries have declared Spring officially open!