February...

At Forest School yesterday, we did birdsong and then we drew the birds in chalk on fence posts and the strange metal sheet on the ground. All in all it was a wonderful afternoon - the children laughed at the tea-cher tea-cher mnemonic but then most at the chaffinch with its ginger-beer! exclaim at the end. And then the starling as the R2-D2 bird with it chirps and whistles. 

Later I headed into Belfast and chatted with the Grow NI people up at the Waterworks. They were looking to do a Forest School with children. I wonder if I could get a few children to e volunteers at the Saturday so that they can see a session...

That's the thing about Forest Schools though - they are not run by full-time teachers. If you are a full-time teacher you are not a forest schooler.

It was something wonderful to be able to go into a place and go - yeah you will get x amount of time out of this - you can do this - but you will get no more out of it. 

Then give them a lesson plan on the spot. It was quite amazing actually. Really - I DO know something. I surprise myself sometimes really.

Yesterday was a golden day in school as well - the kids loved playing so much with the numbers game... it has been quite magical really. Oisin called yesterday - he has been busy! I was asleep though when he called but managed a short catch up with him. He was heading over to get tacos for dinner.

But after yesterday I came home. I had steak, had a small bottle of cider and then fell asleep - and did not get up till 5 am when Gary woke me. What I'd do without my Gary alarm clock I don't know. BUT it has been a good week so far. I think a cider in the evening is alright. Just one bottle. 

The Waterworks is a strange remote place  - despite being surrounded by housing, when you walk up it, there is nothing - no trees - just the reservoir and grass. These public parks which clearly have no landscaping skill in mind - I have not come across a public park which is better than a forest.

Just enough with the parks and put in forests already. Everything should be managed as a nature reserve. The only wild bit was a VERY wild bit - which was a swamp of alder and reeds. You kind wonder really... 

But the little corner of the Waterworks - it was so cute - a collection of shed, polytunnel and lean-tos. some alder right at the end and a pizza oven. 

We chatted and laughed and made connections. Well, we'll see - what the future turns up.