Little Readers

I was at a school today helping a few children read and find that so many struggle with phonics. I have never believed that Phonics was the best way to approach reading for every child and found it easier the old fashioned way! I have felt this way ever since I found out about the so called 'brilliant method'. I was listening on the radio the other week and heard Julia Donaldson, author saying that not all children are suitable for all children. I am surprised it has taken so long for that to be noticed and said. Sometimes children find traditional methods easier than modern methods.

I also think that it might be better for the government to keep out of the education methods for reading and other things. Sometimes they do not really know what they are actually doing. It will be better if the government dictating to teachers and schools as to how they should teach rather than letting them do what they think is best for a child. No two children are the same and wouldn't it be an awful boring world if they were true?

I would love to hear opinions from some of you as to what they think about the school curriculum's being so rigid.

The All Important Tax Man!

Why is it that whenever you try to ring the Tax office you always find you have to then ring a different number after it takes an age for you to get to the first number? Anyone else have that problem? I really think self-assessment is one of the most difficult things they could have invented! I know someone who attended at least 4 self assessment courses to learn how to fill his tax return! Isn't there something wrong with that where you have to have a course on how to do your return? I find it easier for me to do mine on the paper but my sister did not get her's so we have to do her's so we have to do it online. Isn't it a pain when it does not let you make a change on the computer and you spend ages trying to get help?

It really is enough to make you want to scream at the first person that answer's the phone. The worst thing is they are usually the nicest person and you always feel guilty about it. No wonder people are late getting their online returns in.

At this rate it will be well past the date when we finally complete it! Good luck to anyone else with the same problem!

Happy New Year!

Well I must be getting worse, must be old age! I could have sworn that I had already written a blog post this year but simply cannot find it!

I hope everyone had a great New Year and I wonder how many of you are keeping to any New Year resolutions! How many have made them? If so what are they? To drink or eat less? To lose weight and go to the gym? I would love to hear what they are.

I made one around 5 years ago which for once I have kept to. I decided that resolutions were not worth making as whenever I decided to go on a diet or get fit I soon lost interest as exercise is difficult for me. I cheated on diets and ate exactly what I shouldn't have, chocolate!

I did promise myself that I would try to write one page a day of my book, still having difficulty keeping to this. I know it shouldn't but life seems to get in the way. I also have a lazy streak and seem to find something else to do or better still sleep! I must say that I have been unable to make it to the shop very much recently and should be going more often. But, that doesn't mean we are not busy but we do hope to close soon as I really want to concentrate on my little boy and writing.

Hopefully, I am not cracking up and that I will watch how often I write my updates and I am also currently working on another blog just for my author pages. See you all soon and I would love to hear some updates from all of you!

Busy Morning

Well, here I am at work (our shop)! I have never stopped this morning and can't believe it is lunchtime already. So many deliveries and not enough hours. But, that is a good thing. Shame we are soon to close.

I have not been able to write anymore than I already have so must get busy next week. My book 'The Little Christmas Elf' on Amazon Kindle is doing very well.I read it to my own little boy again the other day but have to make sure that I don't read it at bedtime as he gets very excited waiting to hear what happens next in the story. It is perfect for very young children even up to the age of around 9 or 10.

I am definately looking forward to completing my current book as it is, I think exciting and at a great pace to keep the interest.

I must go as right now I am starving and looking forward to the weekend when my little boy will be off school.

Long, Long time! Soon be Christmas!

Can't believe it has been so long since I was on here last. Sorry folks but so much has been happening and not all great but hey that's life isn't it? Horrible things can happen to the best of us and the worst seem to get along really well!

How has everyone been? I find it amazing how different things are now since I was last on. Well, for one thing my little boy ran away on his first day at junior school. Same old story, being bullied. Why do bullies like to make things difficult and want to hurt others? Never have worked that one out. Obviously so many people have problems in the lives so they want to put their troubles on others who seem to be weaker or smaller on them. Poor little thing was trying to get to my cousin's house in Manchester area as it was his son's birthday.

We have also decided to close our business. If it doesn't work then get out and that is the best thing we can do so I am now doing a lot more writing and am much further along in my novel as well as having lots more ideas. In fact there are so many I can't keep up there is so much inspiration in so many genres and hopefully fantastic!

So close to customers soon and it comes along so quickly. One minute it is November and the next already into December. My little boy loves Christmas but seems to want every toy on every advert. He should always remember that other children won't be getting anything this year. Thing is though if we keep reminding our children they will feel guilty which no child should really be made to feel.

I can't wait to get him to see Santa Claus but the Bridges is more like a grotty than a grotto! Places used to be much better when I was a child and I know I am not that old! 40 Is the new 20 these days isn't it?

Well, I hope we can do a Christmas countdown to the BIG day!

Bye for now!

Love

Louismummy

Over the hill?

Well, it happened I can't believe it! I am now 40! How time has flown it does not seem like 5 minutes that I was at the infant school my little boy is at now. When we are young we felt as if we would never grow up and get big! Summers seemed to last forever and the weather even seemed better. Maybe we look at things through rose tinted glasses with the past but it is nice to remember sometimes.

I would have loved another baby if Louis had been a girl but a little boy is more than enough sometimes. He is so adventurous and into every mischief he can find. Not sure I would like another baby at 40 though as starting again seems very daunting to me. It was hard enough getting Louis Adam to this age of 6 and a half (as he puts it). Lego mad and playing with his toy cars all over the furniture but still he is worth it.

The other day he wanted my car keys so he could drive us somewhere. He was most put out when I told him he had to wait quite a few more years and became very upset with me.

All over for another Year!

Well, it is all over for another year! There is such a build up before "the big day" and then in no time at all it is ended! We drive ourselves crazy buying presents and cards, trying to buy surprises for our families and friends and then when the big day arrives it is over in a flash. When I was a little girl the month of December seemed to last forever and we seemed to be on the school holidays for months. The day itself lasted so long it felt more like 3 days than one before wishing it was bedtime so I could wear my new nightclothes. No idea why I thought it was so exciting but that is no doubt part of being a child. I try to make it as much fun for my little boy but it is not always easy as things were different then. Now it is even more commercialised than it was then and it makes me sad to think so. Where are the traditional celebrations? What seems to have happened to it all? People think too much of presents, drinking and food but not about what christmas really means. It may have been a pagan celebration to begin with hijacked by the Christian religion but it is still supposed to have some real meaning of family and friendship. Some people even take their decorations down by New Years day!

Some of us are like that but unfortunately not enough and there is always fighting especially, when there is alcohol involved. If you look at the shopping trollies when you are at the supermarket you can see that most of them are taken up with alcohol, lagers and beers etc. It has become a time of overeating and overdrinking.

Where is the real spirit of christmas?

Love to hear what other people think of this time of year.