Moving Forward

With everything going on right now I hope you are safe and well. I am preparing to “socially isolate” going forward, and our schools are closing on Friday.

I am working from home and due to the nature of my work my income has dropped significantly. The impirtant this that We have enough and will be able to cover the basics and the absolute necessities for the next 12 weeks and I will worry about rebuilding my business after.

So we will have to find things to do as family that keeps us sane.

I still have University course work to do and we are yet to see what the schools are planning to do for the children.

I am grateful that I have friends who are already homeschooling their kids and have supplied us information about suitable resources for our kids.

FREE online education resources

These are largely UK based but every little helps.

A non-exhaustive list that might help those affected by school closures due to coronavirus, compiled by home educators.

Khan Academy
https://www.khanacademy.org
Especially good for maths and computing for all ages but other subjects at Secondary level. Note this uses the U.S. grade system but it’s mostly common material.

BBC Learning
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learning/coursesearch/
This site is old and no longer updated and yet there’s so much still available, from language learning to BBC Bitesize for revision. No TV licence required except for content on BBC iPlayer.

Futurelearn
https://www.futurelearn.com
Free to access 100s of courses, only pay to upgrade if you need a certificate in your name (own account from age 14+ but younger learners can use a parent account).

Seneca
https://www.senecalearning.com
For those revising at GCSE or A level. Tons of free revision content. Paid access to higher level material.

Openlearn
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/
Free taster courses aimed at those considering Open University but everyone can access it. Adult level, but some e.g. nature and environment courses could well be of interest to young people.

Blockly
https://blockly.games
Learn computer programming skills – fun and free.

Scratch
https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/games/
Creative computer programming

Ted Ed
https://ed.ted.com
All sorts of engaging educational videos

National Geographic Kids
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/
Activities and quizzes for younger kids.

Duolingo – use this is is great!!!
https://www.duolingo.com
Learn languages for free. Web or app.

Mystery Science
https://mysteryscience.com
Free science lessons
The Kids Should See This
https://thekidshouldseethis.com
Wide range of cool educational videos

Crash Course
https://thecrashcourse.com
You Tube videos on many subjects

Crash Course Kids
https://m.youtube.com/user/crashcoursekids
As above for a younger audience

Crest Awards
https://www.crestawards.org
Science awards you can complete from home.

iDEA Awards
https://idea.org.uk
Digital enterprise award scheme you can complete online.

Paw Print Badges
https://www.pawprintbadges.co.uk
Free challenge packs and other downloads. Many activities can be completed indoors. Badges cost but are optional.

Tinkercad
https://www.tinkercad.com
All kinds of making.

Prodigy Maths
https://www.prodigygame.com
Is in U.S. grades, but good for UK Primary age.

Cbeebies Radio
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radio
Listening activities for the younger ones.

Nature Detectives
https://naturedetectives.woodlandtrust.org.uk/naturedete…/
A lot of these can be done in a garden, or if you can get to a remote forest location!

British Council
https://www.britishcouncil.org/school-resources/find
Resources for English language learning

Oxford Owl for Home
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/
Lots of free resources for Primary age

Big History Project
https://www.bighistoryproject.com/home
Aimed at Secondary age. Multi disciplinary activities.

Geography Games
https://world-geography-games.com/world.html
Geography gaming!

Blue Peter Badges
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/joinin/about-blue-peter-badges
If you have a stamp and a nearby post box.

The Artful Parent
https://www.facebook.com/artfulparent/
Good, free art activities

Red Ted Art
https://www.redtedart.com
Easy arts and crafts for little ones

The Imagination Tree
https://theimaginationtree.com
Creative art and craft activities for the very youngest.

Toy Theater
https://toytheater.com/
Educational online games

DK Find Out
https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/…
Activities and quizzes

Twinkl
https://www.twinkl.co.uk
This is more for printouts, and usually at a fee, but they are offering a month of free access to parents in the event of school closures.

Most Universities are supplying students with their coursework online through normal their e-learning portals. This is working for me.

Ultimately, stay safe, pay attention, switch off the tv and social media especially if it stresses you out, wash your hands, stay in touch with isolated friends and relatives by phone, FaceTime, Skype, card or letter, help when it is safe to do so, enjoy this time with your children.

Be kind.

Be Patient.

Love one another.

Take care xx

I Tried to be Productive it Backfired

So I got really productive today and moved my bedroom around so I could have my desk in front of the window.

I then spent time filling up my drawers so I could have everything to hand when I am getting ready or am working. Then set about spending some time doing some studying.

When I moved my desk to its new home I had to move my bed to make room for the chair. It wasn’t a problem to move it but when I went to tidy up afterwards I noticed the bed (it was already a bit wonky) was sagging badly to one side. I looked underneath it and discovered that the centre posts holding up the frame had dislodged completely.

My son came home from school inspected it and declared it a lost cause and promptly set about dismantling my bed for me.

He is 15 and a dab hand with the tools and he made short work of it. I am proud of how he just rolls up his sleeves and gets on with the work. He was also slightly motivated by a promise of getting the TV to himself so he could play Minecraft. I wish you could have seen his face whilst he was working on it, he was so happy. Have I mentioned before he built my desk!

I am left with all the stuff that was lurking under the bed in a big pile in the corner and this…

The mattress on the floor🤦🏼‍♀️ This is familiar … has this happened before?

Oh yeah look my pics from March 2014, just before I got this last bed I would like to keep a bed for more than 5 years.

It’s going to be a fun few weeks until I can get it replaced. At least, I can sleep safely until then.

So I accomplished something whilst simultaneously destroying something else … awesome!

I am not going to allow this mishap to demotivate me as I have so much to do after I finish my Essays.

I have to finish styling my desk, get my new mirror set up and then I have one more piece of furniture to build and a gallery wall to organise and it appears I am getting a new bed now. There are a few other small tweaks that I would like to do but not just now.

My brother and s-i-l came round to help with a tip run it was so satisfying seeing everything go including the broken bedframe. It has been a great motivator to get some more things done including sorting the corners of my room and putting everything in it’s place or in the bin.

A couple of days after my initial disaster I bought a new bed, it will arrive next week, it was one of those times when I was grateful for the Black Friday sales which I normally avoid because I got a quality bed at a fraction of the price.

Did I mention I loved sitting at my desk it is great studying at it and having the natural light coming in which is so important for doing my makeup and my mental health especially at this time of year?

Catch you later

cmx

Winter is Rolling in

The only problem about working from home in winter is you need to heat the place, especially here in Scotland.

Central Heating

I gave in.

I switched my heating on in the middle if November. Full disclosure it had been on part time for a month prior but it’s too cold now. I have been resisting this year because our winter is long and expensive. I am hoping for the odd sunny day so I can switch it off all be it briefly.

Coffee Shops

I am enjoying Hazelnut Praline Hot Chocolate and Spiced Cappuccino at Costa Coffee and the Pumpkin Spice and Toffee Nut Lattes at Starbucks. I normally stick to Americano’s but sometimes you need something else.

Snuggle Up

I snuggle up with my throw whilst I am in the living room either watching the tv or reading a book with a hot drink. My throws are a staple in our home and I have had the same three for many years, two in red and one in mink. I got them from Woolworths the year before it closed down. I sometimes think about changing them out, I just can’t they are too cosy to let go. I have my brushed cotton bedding as well and I am happy.

Clothes

Cuddly cardigans, cosy pullovers and socks, and my jeggings I bought some in a whim last year and am now obsessed with them. I have been digging out my hats and scarves and my purple M&Co duvet coat. I was putting on my ankle boots on for the first time since last year and found my missing glasses inside 🤓, it was so funny. I had searched the house and car high and low it never occurred to me they would be in my shoe rack. I had replaced them in the meantime so now I have spares!

Skincare

I am usually better with my skincare in winter because central heating really dries my skin out. I use plenty of moisturiser and face masks, I have recently come across gel eye masks they are brilliant.

Deicing

The annual ritual is beginning to come upon us meaning I have to get to the car earlier just in case which is no bad thing. Interestingly Tesco has released scented deicer we have apple spice there is a berry spice one too. I have bought a second scraper so the kid can help clear the screen at his request.

Dark nights

The only downside of winter is the dark nights that is when you have to go out it is a thought, I have many a friend who agrees. The rest of the time it’s perfectly fine because it encourages the cozy nights in with a movie.

Food

Soups, casseroles, chillis, baked potatoes, slow-cooking and roasts.

Candles

Just lovely scented candles. That is all.

Catch you later

cmx

Day 11 – Outfit of the Day – November Blog Challenge

Today is a work from home day, so I will not be getting dressed as I will be switching between laundry, cleaning, writing and reading.

So I am not posting a picture this year because nah you don’t want see that. I am wearing mismatched pyjamas a terracotta top and black flowery bottoms. I think my bottoms are last summers trendy trousers to be honest they are super comfy. Plus it’s laundry day so I don’t have much else to wear.

Catch you later

cmx