Some Overdue Congratulations...

Congratulations to Dave and Cara who have just had a beautiful baby girl called Leah and whom I have yet to see due to being up here - looking forward to seeing her soon though.

Congratulations to Kim who is about to have a baby probably any day now!

And congratulations to Claire who I've just found out is having a baby in the Summer!

It's okay Sarah - you're not the third! It was Claire all along!

From one Brown's Bay to another...

Some of you may know that I've been considering going to New Zealand next year for about 6 months, and today I was doing my research on the beaches around Aukland where I would be. I came across a Brown's Bay which looks very nice, I'm not saying it is nicer than our Brown's Bay, but it will definitely be warmer!

Okay I admit it is a lot nicer than our Brown's Bay, but I still like our coast!

Happy Birthday Lego

It's the 50th anniversary of Lego today, as I found out on Google today. I don't think kids today get as much enjoyment out of little plastic bricks as we did, what with playstation and dxlite and all that! Do you remember hours of enjoyment we had making different designs of houses etc. Hooray to the humble Lego brick!

It's blowing a gale...

Quite literally! It has been very stormy all day today on the north coast although fortunately no rain (that was actually quite a weird weather system to walk out to this morning!). Well apparently the wind is to get stronger, up to about 60 miles per hour. I did write before about thinking my house was going to fall down, well I think tonight is the night when it might just happen!

Arty Day

So, I finally worked out how to add video to my blog, now I have also put a slideshow on the sidebar - my blog is rockin' now!

I don't know why I suddenly started talking like that. Please ignore slight street deviance.

Tonight I am laminating children's names for various taskboards, behaviour charts etc etc - it's quite a tricky business and requires me to cut out the names twice, once before laminating, and then once again afterwards. To do it without cutting the names out first means they will probably separate after a little use. A tip you will probably never use unless you're a teacher or are creative and fond of laminating.

I have been looking through some old photos and came across a fairly artistic doodle so I'll put it up here. I also found some other artwork I'm quite proud of - please don't think this is an 'I Love Me' post, I just got really inspired by a great art lesson today and thought I'd share some art.

Pop-Up Laura

I know that last night I was going to post about something, I think it was the fact that Edwin lent me his guitar and I have now learned B minor which opens up a whole new set of songs I can play!

The reason for today's post is entirely different. Today I am taking advantage of the new video-posting feature on Blogger, to display a video taken on our Paris holiday in 2006! Watch it and see why it is called pop-up laura - i didn't know lisa was taking a video, let's just say that.

Soundtrack to my Life...

Try this . . . copy and paste onto your own blog and follow the instructions. But first read mine!

Music from and inspired by the life of Laura
If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be??? Copy this and post it again with your answers!

So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool....because you're not!

Opening Credits: Counting Crows – Accidentally in Love

Waking Up: Snow Patrol – We can run away now they’re all gone

First Day At School: Sheryl Crowe – Talk to the One Who Made You

Falling In Love: Jack Johnston – If I could

Fight Song: Gregson and Williams – Fiona’s Secret

Breaking Up: Hanson – Strong Enough to Break

Formal: Avril Lavigne – I’m with You

Life's OK: The Feeling – Same Old Stuff

Mental Breakdown: Sheryl Crowe – Everyday is a Winding Road

Driving: Gregson and Williams – Merry Men

Flashback: Five for Fighting - Superman

Getting Back Together: Switchfoot – Dare You to Move

Birth of Child: Keane – Leaving so Soon?

Wedding: Avril Lavigne – Naked (!!!)

Final Battle: Gregson and Williams – Singing Princess

Death Scene: Coldplay – Track 13 (Got No Names from this CD) – but something about my time has come so pretty relevant.

Funeral Song: Gregson and Williams – Ogre Hunters/Fairytale Deathcamp

End Credits: George Gershwin – Left All Alone Again Blues (Piano song)

Actually the only one that wasn't in any way relevant was the driving song, perhaps for the fight, the airy fairy music of shrek might not be the best either.

Lesson to Learn From...

I just read this article in BBC News and found it hilarious. Apparently Jeremy Clarkson rubbished claims that the stolen disks could help fraudsters and published his bank details in a newspaper. Read the story to find out what happened. I especially love the last like (his turnaround) so make sure you read to the end.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7174760.stm

I actually don't think that's made a link, so copy and paste the address into your browser (becuase I know it's not correct to say 'Internet Explorer' due to people using Firefox, or dear forbid 'THE INTERNET'!!!)

So...It's been a while/Happy New Year!

I thought it was about time Jennifer Anniston ceased to be at the top of my page - especially since the photo is of her smoking!!!

Happy New Year to everybody who reads this blog (probably about 5 people judging by the comments, but I could be wrong!) I hope you've been having a good one so far, I have had a busy one, just starting to calm down now in time for the new term. (For which, by the way, I still have to wash all my work clothes!)

We had the most amazing praise band practice today, I don't know what was different about it (I know I certainly didn't play my best) but there were just a lot of creative ideas being bounced about. And then we went out for lunch in Springsteens which was equally good.

Note: don't ever go to Springsteens for lunch if you don't want to eat a lot!

So... what am I doing the rest of the day? Well, washing my work clothes for a start, then a little bit of maths/PE/Thinking Skills planning, maybe making some resources, then hopefully out for dinner with Lisa and Gayle.

:)

I really gotta stop doing these quizzes, but I did like this result!

You Are Jennifer Aniston

Girl next door with a free spirit. You're low key and naturally sexy. Sweet and approachable, people are attracted to your upbeat attitude. And even when life doesn't go your way, you always eventually turn things around.

Are You More Like Jennifer or Angelina?

Facebook removes the word 'is' from status updates...

... and it makes the front page on MSN Today! That said it is significant as people are now free to write in whatever tense they want rather than using present participles (the words we use with 'is' and 'are'). BUT ... and this is a big BUT ... I kinda liked the restriction because it was a challenge to make what you wanted to say fit with the start of the sentence! Of course I haven't really shown off my knowledge of grammar very well by starting a sentence with 'but'. BAD GIRL LAURA!

"You work well in a group and contribute heartily - without needing to take the lead". Dermo how did you ever end up being a drummer?

And I thought I should be a pianist...

You Should Play the Drums

You are often hyper, restless, and full of a little too much zeal. However, people may be surprised to know that you can focus your energy well. You are driven and engaged enough to be a great drummer... and you have the stamina to practice for hours. In fact, when you can channel your energy productively, it only increases! You are independent and spirited... but also consistent. You can definitely keep the beat. You work well in a group and contribute heartily - without needing to take the lead. Your dominant personality characteristic: your aggression Your secondary personality characteristic: your precision

What Musical Instrument Should You Play?

I Love Black&White

I have recently caught the bug for black and white photography - here are some of the results...

Okay that one wasn't taken BY me!!!

Woohoo!

This is my first post from my laptop in my own house - woohoo!

I forgot to mention that last night I bought some wool and a pattern and am now in the process of knitting a cushion cover. It sounds a little artsy-craftsy but trust me it will look cool. I've done 15 rows and that's after ripping out my first four because I forgot how to knit and I had been doing a stitch that was a cross between a knit and a purl!

Dream Catch Me

I have a whole weekend of freedom! I really probably shouldn't but I never get anything done at the weekend anyway and we have a staff day on Monday, so I can do Tuesday's work on Monday night. So, a guilt-free weekend of fun! I've already started it off well by going out to Springsteens tonight. Where we took random black-and-white photographs. I can't put them up here because I left my camera lead somewhere else!

THE EXTENT OF MY WEEKNIGHT SOCIAL LIFE...

This is one of those rare occasions where I have time to actually go out of the house and go to the library to use the internet! Last night I got to Tesco so I'm beginnning to think I'm much more relaxed than I was a month ago. I've just finished Friends series 4 so I'm stuck for something to watch while having my dinner - oh dear well maybe I'll be able to concentrate better on my food...

My weeknight social life consists of trips to the garage and tesco, sending emails and texts...that's about it really at the moment!

Hope you're all well and don't all object to my 'seductive' tea drinking post!

Old Pictures

I found a couple of pictures of me on people's Facebook profiles so I just thought I'd post them up here. A bit vain I know. But maybe not because the 80s attire I wore to Sarah's hen night isn't all that flattering!

















I Love Tea!














Sarah is embarrassed by the childhood photos all around her friend's kitchen...maybe!













A picture of a person taking a picture of a person taking a picture of a person taking a picture of a person taking a picture... you could go on!

I also act my age! How flukey is that! Note to Dermo: am therefore obviously not immature.

You Are 22 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?