Tip, tap, tippity, tip, tap
{repeat}
Believe me. First thing in the morning, this is not a sound you want to hear coming down your chimney. Or any time of the day, for that matter.
tip, tip, tip, tap
It was windy the previous night. I mean, really windy. The sort of night you bury your head under the pillow and pray nothing on the property blows away. If it does, please don’t let it be expensive. Or land on my head.
tap, tap
But there it was. Holding my morning brew, I stared up the chimney. Not that I could see anything, but I had images of the chimney cowl bouncing, around loose in the wind. Held on by one last, twisted strut, as it made its final bid for freedom. The incendiary device, setting off a chain of reactions that included phone calls and men with long ladders. Tutting sounds. Money changing hands at a socially acceptable distance. Sigh.
tappity, tap
Wait. Hang on, a moment. That can’t be right. The wind dropped hours ago. Even I registered that from beneath my pillow. So how could anything be flapping around now? I crept outside, still in my nightie. Peering around the corner at the offending chimney.
A seagull. I kid you not. It was a blooming, big seagull tap dancing, with all its heart, on our chimney. Warming itself up on the rising heat, but the surface was evidently too hot to stand still on, so it was practising its shuffle ball change on top of our cowl. Dancing from one leg to the other. The Fred Astaire of the bird world. On our chimney.
tip, tappity, tip, tappity
End result. One of us flew away. The other retreated back indoors, relieved that she had one less adulting thing to do and, for a bonus, her tea was still warm.
School
I don’t know about you, but my ability to see the ridiculous in situations is growing. There seems to be a balance of serious versus ridiculous, going on. Who would have thought eighteen months ago, that my next parents evening would be conducted in the comfort of my own home, via a laptop, and with the format of a speed dating meet up? Or what I imagine speed dating would feel like.
Appointments were set up at the push of one button. I logged on, in the evening, and had exactly five minutes with each teacher. A moving bar, at the top of the screen, changed from green to amber to red as the time counted down. Sudden death to the session as the five minutes ended, and the next appointment flashed up. The bar was back to green. Different smiling teacher appeared on the screen and there was little time even to register the subject.
Fortunately, my son was beside me. He seemed to recognise each teacher and chatted comfortably away. I listened and asked my questions. Up shot. Apparently, I needed to talk louder at these meetings, but my son is doing well in class/online class. So that is good.
Parents evening took half the time than usual, as no need to allow time between appointments for physically moving to the next teacher. I marvelled at how comfortable the teachers had grown using this new technology. Previously nervous teachers seemed to take it in their stride. I slightly missed the more relaxed approach of former parents evenings, but we had a parents evening and that is good.
I did have one victory. As a parent, I’m not usually one to contact school and interfere with the way they are doing something*. Actually that’s not true. I did lead a revolt once, but that is another story. Also, there was one year I phoned up a lot to sort out an ongoing case of bullying. Not that they listened. We moved schools in the end.
Anyway, youngest was unhappy with one of his classes. It’s a favourite subject and he felt he was in the wrong set. Pace was too slow and he was getting bored. Long story short, after a few emails, he is now in the right class and much happier. The teachers were brilliant, but the victory is more about him. When you have a teenage boy speak up and ask to be pushed harder in a subject, it is an absolute 100% victory and punching the sky moment.
(edited: after reading this post, my children began listing all the other times I’ve phoned up or marched into school offices, so maybe I’m more involved than I think.)
Smile
My corner to corner, stash busting blanket is coming on a pace. I weighed it. Of course I did! I’ve used 180gms of yarn, which is equivalent to almost four balls of wool. As it’s mostly 100% wool, I’d price each ball at £3, so that is a saving of £12, already. Still haven’t found my missing ball of mohair.
Finished watching Schitts Creek, which was fabulous. Went on to binge both of the Dirk Gently series. Miffed that they cut the series, just as the characters were really getting interesting. Also watched Holes, which was brilliant too. Looking for the next ridiculous series to watch. Any suggestions?
With so much going on, in the world, at the moment, I am thankful for all my slightly ridiculous encounters this week, which have kept me sane.
Joining in with Anne’s word of the week. My word is ridiculous.
I had to laugh at the thought of the Fred Astairesque Seagull on your chimney. I guess it could have been worse. I miss having a chimney sometimes; I used to enjoy listening to the noises. Your blanket is coming along well, I’ve decided to give up on hexagons and go for granny squares instead. Not that I need any more blankets, but I do need to use up my spare bits of wool. I really don’t think I could cope with a parents evening like that, I’m glad my kids’ school only do phone calls. Have you watched The Queen’s Gambit yet? I think that’s a little ridiculous at times. I really hate chess but I really enjoyed the series.
Honestly. He just needed a stylish cane and a top hat and the part would have been his. We’ve watched the Queen’s Gambit and loved it. I’m not into chess either, but it really didn’t matter.
The tap dancing seagull story made me laugh! Much needed this week so thank you 😀 I didn’t miss the irony of your dog’s toy either LOL! We had a teams parent’s evening (technically it was an online learning session but only I turned up, Sir wouldn’t come to the screen so…) I’m glad your son is sorted in a different class.
Always happy to spread a smile. Your parents evening sounds so more sedate in pace. I hope you weren’t left in the lurch without your son. Screens are difficult.
I have a wonderful image in my head now of a seagull tap-dancing on your chimney pot whilst simultaneously being relieved for you that it was nothing being damaged by the wind! I also love the mental image of online parents’ evening being much like speed-dating. Glad that your son is doing well. Good news about your son being moved up a set as well. It’s very frustrating when a class is not moving at the right pace for you. I love all the colours on your blanket too. Such a good way of using up the leftover yarn. #WotW
I was mighty glad it wasn’t an expensive moment too.
Thank goodness it was only a seagull on your chimney. What a worry. I’m glad it came to nothing.
We have yet to have a parents evening via video but I can see it happening before long. I’m glad your son is doing well. Good on him for wanting to be in a more suitable class. x
I’m so thankful that we can still have parents evenings and they have enough contact with my son to be able to comment on his progress. Normal school would be great, but everyone is working with the situation.
I had an online parent’s evening online like that. With each teacher, just as they got to the “do you have anything you’d like to ask?”, and I began to word my pre-planned question, because I didn’t want to look so stupid that I didn’t have a question, the screen cut off. Not once, but 3 times. The last one I tried to speed up, but even that didn’t work.
Oh no! That must have been frustrating. Five minutes is incredibly short and the cut off is brutal.
A touch of ridiculous sounds perfect in times like these. I did smile at the seagull and the speed dating parents evening haha!
Thanks for cheering us all up.
Have a fab week ahead. x
I’m glad I made you smile.
Love your seagull story! Glad it didn’t involve lots of money changing hands 😉
We have parent-teachers meetings this evening on Zoom. Hope they pass as well as your did! #MMBC
Hope your parents evening went well.
I must say from reading your blog for several years that my impression has always been that you are an involved and caring parent. The story about the seagull is funny and I would have been right with you imagining the end of my chimney as I know it! #MMBC
My imagination did run wild!
Wow! I don’t read many blog posts about a seagull tap-dancing on a chimney. In fact, I am pretty sure this is a first! Good for you for standing up for your son and getting him placed in the correct class. Parenting win!
I’m glad I’m the first! Yes, I think it was the right move. I’m sure he would lose motivation otherwise.
Thank goodness it was a seagull and nothing more too expensive. I’m so glad parents even went well. I don’t think we have had one this year. I’m glad you pushed for your son and moved him into a class better for his wants and needs. Sometimes we have to do our Mumma bear impression with schools #WotW
I am a mother. Hear me roar!
I like the word of the week! It’s perfect! And I like the idea of online learning, but the teachers conference seems really fast! I’m glad that everyone is having a successful school year in these uncertain times. The blanket looks marvelous.
Thank you. Schooling is definite different, which makes the normality of a parents evening going ahead, even more important. The blanket is coming on.