Today I've mostly bin...

[LAT]

I agree with giraffe on this. I think there is far too much pressure on children to feel they have to conform to what is expected of them and go on to university. I believe that university is for those who have a real interest in and desire to study a particular subject, or those who know that a degree will be needed for them to get into the sort of career they are aiming at.
For many young people a job is a much better option as they are earning money and gaining experience which can be just as valuable to future employers as a piece of paper saying you have passed some more exams. In addition they can feel they are contributing to society rather than spending their time as a student not sure what their next move will be.
And as has been said, not going to uni now doesn't mean that she can't do so at a later date. And who knows, maybe a future employer will encourage and pay for her to get relevant qualifications?

Whatever happens hope she is happy and fulfilled.

[Bunnylump]

Just laughing at this video which was made by one of the 6th form leavers. He's filmed lots of the teachers and teaching assistants dancing and made it into a film. Unfortunately, this was filmed on a Friday when I wasn't in, so I don't feature personally, although many of my colleagues are on there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pin8PC8EPSQ&app=desktop

[Bunnylump]

...To a spa. This was a treat from my daughter. So I've been in the pool, jacuzzi, steam room, to a pilates class, had lunch, then had a lovely back massage and a facial. The funny part was that both of us fell asleep during the facials! http://www.bannatyne.co.uk/healthandfitness/fairfield/

[Laura]

You didn't snore did you???

[Bunnylump]

I'm rather afraid I might have (just a little!)

[Laura]

Brilliant!

[Bunnylump]

Just been away for the annual "girls' " weekend. This time, highlights included trying to evict a large BAT out of the house, which was swooping around the living room!

[Bunnylump]

...Having lunch with a strange bearded gentleman, who came armed with a lovely gift. (Thank you, and lovely to see you. )

[Wulfruna]

Beware of dark strangers (even with beards flecked with silver) ..... and they don't come much stranger than jesters with puzzles hidden in their bag (if I have understood your message correctly?)

[Bunnylump]

Yes, you have. I'll even forgive the Dr Who backpack since it contained chocolate!

[LAT]

A Dr Who backpack!

[Scurra]

Yes, really. It looks like this - and, as has been noted, is surprisingly spacious inside...

[Bunnylump]

Brilliant.

[LAT]

Today I have been walking round Bloomsbury visiting gardens in the Open Garden Squares weekend. The weather wasn't great but we saw some nice gardens, many of which aren't normally open to the public. One which is open to all but which was a real surprise and delight was the charming but small Phoenix garden just a stone's throw from Centre Point. It's definitely worth a few minutes' visit for anyone in the area.

Phoenix garden.jpg (98.06 KiB) Viewed 1513 times

[Bunnylump]

Looks lovely!

[Scurra]

Yeah, it's a lovely little garden that one, isn't it?
I found it by accident one day some years ago and now try to make a point of passing through whenever I'm in that area.

[LAT]

I have also made a mental note to revisit the garden whenever I am in the area with a little time to spare.

Today I have been maxing out my credit card. We are about to get a new kitchen installed (the old one is about 30 years old!) so I have ordered the hob and oven I want plus a new extractor fan.
The units and worktop are chosen and on order and the next job is to choose the wall tiles and flooring but there's so much choice it's all a bit bewildering. We've been oscillating between porcelain tiles and vinyl for the floor and still aren't definitely decided which way we will go. Our builder is arriving on Monday morning to start ripping out the old kitchen so it's all happening quite quickly.

[Bunnylump]

Porcelain sounds like the kind of thing which might crack if you dropped a bottle of champagne on it to me. Plus think of how cold that would be on your tootsies in the morning...

It'll be lovely for you to have a nice new kitchen.

[LAT]

Porcelain sounds like the kind of thing which might crack if you dropped a bottle of champagne

The porcelain or the champagne?

We have also looked into getting underfloor heating for the kitchen; you can apparently buy mats that get installed under the tiles and are just wired in by an electrician. There are just far too many options to consider.

[Bunnylump]

Well, all I can say about that is that my sister in law had expensive porcelain tiles laid over underfloor heating, but then the underfloor heating's electric circuit had a break in it and they had to take all the tiles up to fix it. So most of them got cracked in the process. It was nice while it worked though!