An Afternoon at the Arts Centre

We went down after lunch to the clay building class, which was for primary aged kids, although there was one lovely year seven girl in the group, as well as the cutest, cheekiest five year old boy.  I am out of my comfort zone with new people and places these days as I just haven't done anything like that for so very long, and Emily is the same, but it was very relaxed down there.  We caught up with Julie, Emily's high school mentor who made a big impact in Emily's life during her difficult time at school.  She had breast cancer, we heard that through the school but she looked wonderful today, better than before she got sick actually.  I am thinking she has given up smoking and drinking and that is contributing to her health.  We had fun helping the kids with their pots and tiles, and both Em and I learned a few things.  It was a really nice group of kids, most from the Catholic school (sorry but they're just generally better behaved).  It was a bit slow for me, I like to be busy all the time when I volunteer but we did what we could, and Emily shone when she showed a couple of the kids how to make a paper crane.  I could see the teacher was impressed and told Em she could take a class showing some other kids how to do origami if she wanted to.  I hadn't intended to stay, I only did it to help Em feel more comfortable but I really enjoyed it.  I hope Emily will go back, on her own, and I won't mind helping out if it's needed again either.
Last night we had our bbq, which we usually do on Saturday nights but it was pouring with rain then, and we had been in Wagga all day.  We lit the fire bowl after dinner and the kids toasted marshmallows and we sat and talked and had fun and it was good.

Earlier we had a pinball tournament.  Scout found the machine very interesting. 

He could see the movement and colours but couldn't figure out how to get to them.

The art teacher today said she had to go outside for a "break" and the savvy kids said "You are going outside for a smoke!" She was honest with them, and told them they must never smoke, it was addictive and when she was a child they were never told how dangerous it was etc etc.  Impressive, but I heard her say later she was only 28 (she looked a lot older, that's what smoking does).  When she came back in (she stunk) the kids again started going on about smoking and how it kills and why doesn't she just give up, which I thought was great, it's so good they're educated properly about it.  One girl asked if the teacher had ever smoked cannabis, I nearly choked, the teacher got out of it but then the girl asked her if she knew what cannabis was and the teacher said she did.  Then another little girl piped up "You can't smoke it when the police are going past!"  OMG I had to walk away.  These kids were mostly years 3 to 5.

I remember when I had to do volunteer work in the kids' preschools, some of the things I heard from those little ones would make your toes curl.  Makes me wonder what family secrets OUR kids gave away!

I miss having little kids, I never thought I liked other peoples' but I really enjoyed their company today. 

I want to set up a bit of a studio in the garage for Em and try to encourage her to get back into her art again.  The teacher told us today that we can fire our own pottery just by putting it hot coals.  I never knew that.  We can even just use our fire bowl.  I'm going to get some  clay and get us creating.  Emily made a lovely little bowl today, and  Picachu (which some of the kids thought was a bunny).  She is so naturally talented and I have almost convinced her to take some classes down there herself.

I just wish that other people could see in Emily what I see, but I will never give up on her or trying to help her to find where it is that she belongs.

Josh got his half yearly report today and all things considered it was good, he was very pleased with himself but I know he can do so much better, the kids he hangs with drag him down I know that, and I need to help him be more focused and to see that this year is really important as a foundation to the last vital years of his schooling.

And the year is half over already. 

My oldest daughter rang me yesterday out of the blue, I really thought all contact had been lost with those three.  She just rang to say hello and updated me on her kids, and I got to talk to my darling little Harvey.  I don't know what he makes of Granny being in and out of his life and I'm not sure if he remembered me but it was nice to talk to him and he is talking really well.  I found out my second born is having a baby girl.  I may or may not get to ever see her but it is what it is and there isn't much more I can do about it.

I looked out the front window this morning with blurry eyes and saw what looked like a cat lying in the gutter across the road, we have two roads here, our access road and the road that goes in front of it.  I went to look closer and it was a ginger and white cat exactly like Scout.  My heart skipped a beat, even though I was sure I'd seen him in the family room just minutes earlier.  I turned around and there he was alive and well.  Poor little dead moggy, someone is missing their pet tonight, although if they'd kept him in, like we do ours he might still be alive and purring.  When I looked out later, the council had picked up the body, and I'm glad I didn't want the kids to see it.