Tim Atkinson's Blog, page 113

Goodbye Mr Chips!

Or rather, Mr Fitton. A legend among English teachers, a true renaissance man with talents ranging from fly fishing (about which he wrote a book) to music-making; so much more than a teacher but - as a teacher - an inspiration to thousands. Quite simply, Nick is remembered by everybody: his are the lessons all his pupils will recall; he will be the teacher sorely missed; it was a pleasure to be a colleague for many years and to attend his retirement gig on Saturday evening.



Yes, retirement g...

Depression

Here's a description of depression:



When you're depressed, you stay depressed. Even when you're ill, you're still depressed. You're ill anyway, of course: depression is an illness. But not like any other illness; not like a physical disease. It's worse. Because when you're ill, you are ill. You. Ill. There is someone that the illness is attacking. When you're depressed though, you are depression. There is nothing but depression; there is no-one. That is what you are, forever - depression...

Come Outside

Auntie Mabel, eh... who'd have thought Nurse Gladys Emmanuel would have cast such an amazing spell on my infant son? Although his speech is sometimes stuttering, Charlie's no Arkwright, that's for sure. But he loves Auntie Mabel and Pippin with a passion. And 'hurrah' for that, say I. Because it's such a charming and informative series: 'old-fashioned' in the very best sense of the word. You can find out such a lot: how welly boots are made, what happens to your rubbish, where bread comes fro...

Anderby Creek

Sounds like a book by Daphne du Maurier, doesn't it? Something involving smugglers, caves, coves and Cornishmen. But it isn't. It's a lovely beach in Lincolnshire, just a few miles north of Skeggy but a million miles away from tacky. Telling somebody about our day trip there last Saturday, I was amazed to hear them say they'd never heard of Anderby Creek before. Perhaps I should've kept it that way. But no. I like to share. So if you're a fan of unspoilt beaches, free car parking, miles of sa...

Sunday Supplement

Here are a few items which escaped 'big post' treatment this week. Oh, and this is a sponsored post, of sorts...





First, That Car: you know, the Citroen C3. It really is a cool drive and so miserly with fuel you almost get cash back driving it but the boot isn't big enough for our pushchair. And our pushchair isn't big. Last weekend, when we went to Granny's it had to be strapped in next to Charlie. The pushchair, that is. Not Granny.





Next, a little gadget with the potential to clear up...

Last of the few

We've had a car this week, a very nippy (and unbelievably economical) Citroen C3. It's compact, comfy and incredibly easy to drive. Getting back behind the wheel of our






Lincolnshire is famous for two things: cabbages (as well as sprouts and spuds and other veg.) and the RAF. Ok, there are other things too like Tennyson (Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to d...

Wordless Wednesday... Cybermummy caption competition

Number One: What is Karin thinking?

Number Two: What is Potty saying?

 Number Three: What are they all eating? 

Number Four: Why is Emma laughing?

 Number Five: Why is Josie smiling?

Actually, I think we all know the answer to that one, don't we? 

What a day!

Nobody expects...

... the Spanish Inquisition! I certainly didn't. In fact, I was so nonplussed that I totally forgot who'd tagged me (it was Kailexness) and in spite of putting out an APB on twitter I only discovered it again by accident on Friday. Anyway, here's the test set for me by Julie. You can mark my answers.









1. Which (in)famous person (alive or dead) would you like to take out to dinner, where would you go and what would you like to talk about?

Hmmm, difficult. I'd quite like to bring Mozart...

As easy as ABC

Some music for you today folks. I don't know how these things happen, but suddenly in the middle of an otherwise normal day you find yourself doing things like this:







Does this happen in other families? We've forever creating little mini-musical moments and I can't decide if it's normal or not. Anyway, the Alphabet Song's quite educational, so there's no harm in it. We'll get on to D, E, and F later, when Charlie's learned them. And when I can remember the lyrics.



At this point I was going...

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

Hi, my name's Tim and I'm going to Cybermummy. But I'm not a mum. That must make me...



*drumroll*  

"Cyberdaddy!"



Faster than a speeding ferret, stronger than a plastic locomotive, capable of leaping tall kerb-stones in a single bound...



Well, you get the idea.



Yes, I seem to be gate-crashing the mum fest on Saturday. I've no idea if I'm the only one, but in case there are other delegates with beards I thought I'd better accept the invitation extended by MummysShoes the other day to int...