Labouring From the Dawn To Setting Sun

Here's a picture of Bob working on the funeral sermon, in our room at the Premier Inn in Manchester.

Everything is decorated in Purple - but I was disappointed that we were not supplied with large fluffy yellow bathrobes [as worn by Lenny Henry in the advert] and there was not little yellow duck in the bath either!

Everything went well at the service, including the video link to the overflow. But somewhere during the day, I managed to lose my keys, and did not discover this fact till I was home again. That's two different car keys and a house key. Feeling Very Cross with myself for this [especially having just talked to the helpful people in the Skoda Dealers about the cost of replacement!]

Back to school yesterday, and my last day with the Year 1/2 class I have worked with all year. They have finished off their Isle Of Struay Models which I began with them last week - elaborate papier mache constructions, but looking very good, I thought.

This one has a lovely bridge on the right

 

This one has a great lighthouse- and real sand on the beach!

The Isle of Struay is the setting for all the wonderful Katie Morag Books by Marie Hedderwick. The KM books are being used by schools all over the country as a basis for teaching - and they are great fun!

The contrast between children in a school on the edge of a huge city like Leicester, miles from the sea - and this little girl who lives in a tiny island community gives plenty of scope for discussion and creative writing and artwork.

My personal favourite among the books is KM and the Big Boy Cousins.

I confess that I like this one best because it is all about the summer holidays when her cousins visit. And these brothers are absolute holy terrors! Their father is a pastor in the Kirk on the Mainland. Which confirms everything I ever thought about Children of The Manse.

The stories are gentle, and thoughtful, and written beautifully - and Marie Hedderwick is not afraid to use longer words and complex language - but the class have loved reading the stories.

Last night, Bob and I went to the school production. It was really excellent - although I admit to bias here! It always impresses me that due to Leicestershire's absurd Middle school Children, the final year at this school is Year 5 - children of 9 and 10 - but they are so good at acting, dancing and singing.

My last bit of sewing for school was fixing the Parachute.

 Somebody  [but nobody is owning up to this] used the parachute in PE and it got ripped badly and was unusable.

But it was only a matter of minutes to repair the seam and make it a working piece of kit again. I have suggested ot the Head he should perhaps pay me to go into school on a regular basis and do all these little

mending jobs!

Spot the join!

I felt that I could not return the chute to school in the ripped black bin sack it came home in, so made a bag with handles from an old sheet.

 

It is a bit floral - but on the other hand, it may help the equipment to last longer and be maintained a little better.

Having got the machine out for that, I used some curtains from the loft to make a length of mini bunting.

This is for a window display - yet again, Mark and Marie, our local Newsagents have kindly allowed us to put up a window display advertising Holiday Club.

There still seems to be an awful lot of stuff to prepare- but I am sure we'll get there in the end.

Careful research indicates the best proportions for bunting flags are 5 units wide by 8 units deep.

It is probably some sort of Fibonacci/Golden Ratio thing. These ones are 7.5cm x 12cm.

So term's ended here in Leicester, and it will be full steam ahead with Showstoppers! preparations from now on.

Since the funeral, I have been humming the hymn Sheila played as the coffin was carried out - it was one of Charlie's favourites, and really expressed his positive faith in Jesus.

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Let us labour for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.