The Collie on Dartmoor

This is where he is happiest - the wide open spaces of the upper moor. The Collie senses the change in the seasons, his nose raises up into the breeze and quivers - he seems to drink in the scents as we absorb the view from the top of White Tor.
 
The climb has been gentle but, for once, The Lakeland is lagging behind. She doesn't give up and will make it to the top because of her sheer determination. The late afternoon sunshine is very welcome as we know that there will be no more opportunities to walk this late in the day. The clocks go back one hour this weekend and so British Summer Time officially ends.
 

The reddish hue of the bracken is giving way to more earthy colours - ochre, tan, russet and moss. The desolate moorland resembles the uninhabited deserts of other continents. The raw wind reminds us that we are a long way from any sultry, summer temperatures.

The bold shapes of the granite rocks stand proud and imposing on the wild moorland. The silence and the emptiness create a mystical atmosphere and you can begin to believe the myths and tales that are told about these remote places.

Stephen's Grave

The Collie is at home in this landscape. The inquisitive ponies no longer bother him. The brainless sheep that follow one another in lines across our path, are of no interest. Here we can all find our own space and take time to reflect and contemplate how fortunate we are.

Sanity restored, we all head home.

School assemblies - notes from The Curate.

The thought of taking a primary school assembly used to fill The Curate with dread. Despite being the son of a teacher and married to a teacher - he had very little experience of organising small people. He was away for much of the time when our own boys were small and he didn't have to do much of the organising. He bravely volunteered to hear readers at the local schools when we lived on the north coast as I suggested he need some allies for when he started to do assemblies. That way the children got to know The Curate rather than just seeing him standing at the front. It was a real eye opener for him to see how children learn and behave in the classroom. He has just received a card from some of the children he got to know very well and, as a result, he used to join them on school trips as well as hear them read in the classroom.

Since moving here, The Curate has gone from strength to strength with his primary school assemblies and he has been thinking about some of the things that he has learned along the way.


1. Small children fly........if you find them seated in the wrong place ask a teacher to move them. 

A  front row child (- the smallest in the school) was given a helping hand to move by The Curate. Being unaware of how light these children were ... his enthusiasm resulted in her being propelled a little further than intended!

2. Repetitive rhymes that tell a story are useful.- These keep the children listening for when they have to join in and they remember them and repeat them .


3. Teaching the children sign language - keeps them quiet! Two thumbs up meeting together for 'Amen' is very popular.


4. Once they trust you - schools are often very happy to hand over the assemblies. - Make sure you don't get too many.


5. Get to know the teachers - don't rush in and rush out - they always seem to have a question or want to know more.

6. Keep it simple.This is not a pulpit preaching session - even if parents are there - the reality is that they are there to see their children - not you. (unless it is a 'church' school.)

7. Watch your hand signals - you may be less aware of an alternative meaning to some of these than the children!

The Curate will not use his fingers to count - he didn't get past two on one occasion!

8. Puppets are good if you can use them - small children are fascinated to watch and listen to the puppet and not you!


9. It usually takes the children longer to come into and out of the hall than the assembly itself.


10. Beware windy days. Weather seems to affect children in very strange ways!


I am sure people reading this will have many more tips - The Curate would love to hear from them!

Following Fashion

I am disappointed in myself. On our trip to London I found myself looking at everyone else travelling on the tube and feeling relieved that I had the right 'look' for London. I mean - others had the same style of boots on, my skirt was the right length,my bag the right shape and I was wearing the right colours! It was the sudden realisation that I was even thinking like this, that brought me up short and I felt disappointed in my insecurity. 

          
Why did I suddenly feel the need to be the follower of fashion? What influences made me want to conform? 
 

It's good to be back - where a good pair of wellies and the wind swept hair style are in vogue all the time!