Looking to keep up to speed whilst hunting for paid work.

Can do shadow writing - books, brochures, letters and notices, also offer proof-reading and editing skills (experience in both fields).

The service is free.

Since moving to Ireland we have settled into the habit of throwing out any scraps of food we have for the birds - the rooks, crows, jackdaws and magpies will eat anything, and the smaller birds usually like the bread and fruit we throw out.

Recently though I have noticed that the birds avoid the fruit in favour of the 'junk food' items like bread. I am beginning to think that wild birds living in urban areas are acquiring the same bad habits as the humans that live in these areas.

I am now wondering how long it will be before we are inundated with low flying songbirds because they are too overweight to clear the houses.

Anyone know of good cultivars of sweet cherry to grow in this climate?

I want to put two in the front garden (seeing as we have two apple trees in the backyard). There are plenty of cherry trees on the estate, but they all seem to be very poor at setting fruit.

Finally, summer holidays are almost here ... 6 weeks of keeping the kids entertained - Oh my bank balance!! :taped:
I aim to do one pricey activity per week and then spend the rest of the week doing less expensive ones, but I need some ideas.
What cheap activities do you do with your children?

I've got the beach (if the weather holds ), and we have a National Trust membership, which is a great help. But what else?

God Save the Queen

Het hierdie boekie in SA raakgeloop... "Raar maar Waar" 'n versameling ongelooflike en fassinerende feite van Koos Human.

"Nog die digter van die woorde nog die komponis van die musiek van die Britse volkslied is bekend. Die bekende John Bull het 'n stuk met die titel gekomponeer, maar dis 'n heeltemal ander wysie. Daar is ook bespiegel dat ene Henry Carey (komponis van "Sally in my Alley") vir beide woorde en musiek verantwoordelik was, maar dit bly 'n gissing.

Die woorde het soms verander en het saamgehang met die verskillende opvolgingsgevegte van konings. 'n Kenner se dit was vermoedelik oorspronklik 'n onbekende en selfs ongewilde ballade totdat 'n onbekende persoon dit omstreeks 1744 tot volkslied getransformeer het. Dit is die eerste keer amptelik in Lane-teater in Londen gesing as reaksie op die bedreiging van die aanspraakmaker Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Haydn was so jaloers op hierdie volkslied dat hy vir sy eie land, Oostenryk, 'n volkslied gekomponeer het op die woorde "Gott erhalte Franz den Keiser" ("God behoede Franz die keiser") wat vandag voortleef as die Duitse volkslied "Deutschland ubeer alles". Beethoven het 'n stel variasies vir die klavier geskryf op die tema van "God Save the King" (destyds 'n man!).

"Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging", say God. "I'll take care of it."

Our Scriptures tell us that if yu see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good."

This is some of what I've read on the internet ... is there anyone who uses a set of activities from Brain Gym?

Brain Gym

Brain Gym is a series of simple movements to enhance the whole brain learning.

Purpose:
To stimulate the brain to make 3D connections empowering learners of any age by using movement activities to draw out their potential for learning.

Shown to improve reading, thinking, writing, maths, self-awareness skills, home study skills, whole body co-ordination.
How:
The three dimension connections are:
laterality (links between two hemispheres of the brain)
focusing (links the front and back lobes)
centering (links the upper and lower brain)

Bibliography:
Smart Moves Carla Hannaford 9-915556-27-8
Brain Gym Paul and Gail Dennison 0-942143-02-7




BRAIN GYM

Brain Gym is made up of simple and enjoyable activities that we can use in the classroom to enhance their experience of whole brain learning. These activities make learning more effective.
Encourage the children to work within their own limitations. Hopefully they will enjoy it, request it and integrate it into their everyday lives.
This is taken from the research undertaken by Edu-Kinesthetics Inc, Ventura, USA who concluded that whole brain learning through repatterning and Brain Gym activities enables students to access parts of the brain previously unavailable. This can the lead to a profound change in behaviour and learning.
CROSS-CRAWL or SKIP-A-CROSS ~ co-ordinate the movement so that when one arm moves, the leg on the opposite side of the body moves at the same time. Move to the front, side and back. Move eyes in all directions. Touch your right knee with your left hand and vice-versa. Touch right knee with left elbow and vice-versa.
LAZY 8's ~ draw the figure 8 three times in the air or on paper with each hand about three times, then with both hands together.
DOUBLE DOODLE ~ draw with both hands at the same time, in, out, up and down.
ALPHABET ~ write the letters of the alphabet together.
ELEPHANT ~ bend your knees, glue your head to your shoulder and point across the room. Use your ribs to move your whole upper body as you trace a LAZY 8. Look past your fingers. Repeat with the other arm.
NECK ROLLS ~ breathe deeply, relax your shoulders and drop your head forward. Allow your head to slowly roll from side to side as you breathe out any tightness. Your chin draws a smooth curve across your chest as your neck relaxes.
BELLY BREATHING ~ rest your hand on your abdomen. Blow out all of the old air in short, soft little puffs. Take a slow, deep breath, filling up gently, like a balloon. Your hand softly rises as you inhale and falls as you exhale. If you arch your back after inhaling, the air goes even deeper.
ENERGIZER ~ Rest your forehead between your hands. Breathe out all tension. Then quietly breathe in as the air fills up your midline. Your head easily lifts up, forehead first, followed by your neck and upper body. Your lower body and shoulders stay relaxed. Exhale as you tuck your chin down into your chest. Pull your head forward, lengthening the back of your neck. Relax and breathe deeply.
OWL ~ grasp your shoulder and squeeze the muscle firmly. Turn your head to look over your shoulder. Breathe deeply and pull your shoulders back. Now look over the other shoulder, opening the shoulders again. Drop your chin to your chest and breathe deeply, letting the muscles relax. Repeat with hand squeezing the opposite shoulder.
ARM ACTIVATION ~ hold one arm next to the ear. Exhale gently through pursed lips while activating the muscles by pushing the arm against the other hand in 4 directions (front, back, in & away).
FOOT FLEX ~ grasp the tender parts in the ankle, calf and behind the knee, one at a time, while slowly pointing and flexing the foot.
CALF PUMP ~ as you lean forward onto the back of a chair, one foot forward and exhale, press the back heel gently to the ground. As you release, lift your heel up and take a deep breath. Repeat three times on each side. The more you bend your forward knee, the more lengthening you feel in the back of the calf.
GRAVITY GLIDER ~ Sit comfortably. Cross your ankles. Keep your knees relaxed. Bend forward and reach out in front of you, letting your arms glide down as you exhale and up as you inhale. Repeat to the left, right, centre. Change legs and repeat.
GROUNDER ~ point your right foot towards the right. Keep the left foot pointed straight ahead. Now bend the right knee as you exhale and then inhale as you straighten the right leg. Keep your hips tucked under.
WATER ~ drink water.
'THIS AND THAT' ~ Use the verbal instructions "Do this", and "Do tha

Took my son to see it yesterday....he thoroughly enjoyed and so did i.....very good graphics and i liked Spiderman's butt...:haha: :haha: *drool*

My daughter is a bit fussy when it comes to vegetables. She does like cauliflower though. I love all vegetables.
What vegetables do you like/dislike?

Just CURIOus. :p

I know, I know, I'm a bad mother - I've only got a toothbrush for my baby about a month ago, and for the past 2 weeks have been trying to brush her teeth for her, but am not having much success. She'll open her mouth but the minute I try brush the little teeth, she doesn't like it and pulls away.
What would you do to get her used to brushing?