This is my N post for the A to Z Challenge. I'm quite behind but I think my friends understand.
Lizzy stood in the middle of the nightclub with her flashing tiara and luminous sash. There was no way to hide the fact that it was her birthday and she was thirty. She had been dreading this birthday for about two years now. Her plans for life hadn't worked out as she had hoped- being married to Tom and getting ready to have a litter of babies. When they had split up Lizzy had been devastated.
But that had been six months ago and her perspective had changed. She finally got the job she wanted, teaching adults basic computer skills. Not a well paying job but a job that made her feel fulfilled. She had great friends and a good social life. Lizzy loved hill-walking and this had led to fun-filled weekends away. Finally she had concluded that she hadn't completely loved Tom but he had been part of her 'plan for life.' Sometimes you can't plan for life.
She watched her friends in the distance dancing their little hearts out. Over on the balcony she could see one of her learners, Jack. He was working as a bouncer in the nightclub. He was in his forties, with a beard, tattoos and built like a tank. She had walked past him, without acknowledging him at the door. It was the unwritten rule that you didn't have to acknowledge one another in public, if you did her course. In case the learner would have to explain how they knew Lizzy and would be embarrassed. Jack was a particularly reluctant learner who had been sent to her by the Dole Office when he wasn't working. Once he had gotten the job he didn't turn up to all his classes. Lizzy kept instructional sheets for him and took extra time helping him when he did turn up. Everyone deserved a chance.
In that moment Lizzy took stock. She was completely contented. She wasn't drunk, just tipsy and she was grateful that her 'plan for life' had been diverted.
Suddenly she felt someone rush up to her very quickly. Jack appeared in a flash beside her and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. She felt his beard brush her skin. Then he was gone. It was like a little thank you, just for her. Nobody had even noticed. Lizzy felt delighted. A perfect end to a perfect night.
As she left the nightclub that night, linked by all her friends, she and Jack made no eye contact but they didn't need to.
Friday, 19 April 2013
Thursday, 18 April 2013
Maria Montessori- 3 short facts
This is a very short blog about the educationalist Maria Montessori. (1870-1952) Here are three short facts about her.
1. She was one of the first female doctors in Italy. Her attendance at medical school caused consternation and her attendance at class, with men, in the presence of naked bodies was deemed inappropriate. Therefore she had to perform her dissections of cadavers alone and after hours. She smoked cigars in order to mask smells, especially of formaldehyde.
It is rumoured that the only reason she got into medical college was because her name was misread as Mario.
2. Montessori had a son, Mario, with an unnamed doctor. She didn't want to give up her academic life so they agreed not to divulge his identity and that they would never marry anyone else. He later married someone else. Maria left her son to be fostered but subsequently was reunited with him. He carried on her work with her and after her death in 1952. (I discovered this on Wikipedia today-despite studying her methods of education for five years.)
3.Montessori developed her method of education mainly through scientific observation of children. Originally she had developed materials and methods that were for the benefit of children with special needs but later they began to be used in 'mainstream schools.' The materials were well made, usually out of wood, attractive and durable.
She was asked to set up a school for under-privileged children in the San Lorenzo district of Rome in 1907. She called it 'Casa dei Bambini.' The teachers didn't have desks and they were regards more as guides. Allowing the children to choose the materials that they would work with themselves. The 'directress' (all women in those days) would introduce a more difficult exercise to the child when she felt they were ready to move on. The child could use the materials as often and as much as they wanted.
Montessori also introduced child-sized furniture which may seem obvious now but was not common practice then. Her school was a huge success.
1. She was one of the first female doctors in Italy. Her attendance at medical school caused consternation and her attendance at class, with men, in the presence of naked bodies was deemed inappropriate. Therefore she had to perform her dissections of cadavers alone and after hours. She smoked cigars in order to mask smells, especially of formaldehyde.
It is rumoured that the only reason she got into medical college was because her name was misread as Mario.
2. Montessori had a son, Mario, with an unnamed doctor. She didn't want to give up her academic life so they agreed not to divulge his identity and that they would never marry anyone else. He later married someone else. Maria left her son to be fostered but subsequently was reunited with him. He carried on her work with her and after her death in 1952. (I discovered this on Wikipedia today-despite studying her methods of education for five years.)
3.Montessori developed her method of education mainly through scientific observation of children. Originally she had developed materials and methods that were for the benefit of children with special needs but later they began to be used in 'mainstream schools.' The materials were well made, usually out of wood, attractive and durable.
She was asked to set up a school for under-privileged children in the San Lorenzo district of Rome in 1907. She called it 'Casa dei Bambini.' The teachers didn't have desks and they were regards more as guides. Allowing the children to choose the materials that they would work with themselves. The 'directress' (all women in those days) would introduce a more difficult exercise to the child when she felt they were ready to move on. The child could use the materials as often and as much as they wanted.
Montessori also introduced child-sized furniture which may seem obvious now but was not common practice then. Her school was a huge success.
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
In Love
My son and I have some of our best chats when we are driving in the car together.
Last week he threw one of his random questions at me. 'What's the difference between fancying and loving someone?' Dear Lord, he's only eight but I still need to answer the question.
I took a deep breath and tried my best to explain.
'Well..... when you fancy someone you like the look of them.
When you love someone, you like what they say and love spending time with them. You want to tell them stuff and listen to them. You also fancy them.'
I'd love to tell you his reply but I'm sworn to secrecy. It's very cute though.
Last week he threw one of his random questions at me. 'What's the difference between fancying and loving someone?' Dear Lord, he's only eight but I still need to answer the question.
I took a deep breath and tried my best to explain.
'Well..... when you fancy someone you like the look of them.
When you love someone, you like what they say and love spending time with them. You want to tell them stuff and listen to them. You also fancy them.'
I'd love to tell you his reply but I'm sworn to secrecy. It's very cute though.
Friday, 12 April 2013
Kites
Lorcan drove pensively through the Phoenix Park. The weather was his favourite kind, not too hot, blue skies and a gentle breeze. His dog, Betty, yelped enthusiastically in the back of his car. She wanted a walk and Lorcan felt inclined to agree.
A few minutes later he heard some mesmerizing chill-out music coming from behind the trees. Betty, understanding him, followed the music as Lorcan followed her. There was a kite festival in a huge field behind the trees. Lorcan loved the way he could walk into the most random of events in Dublin. He was an impulsive person and let his instincts lead him into unusual situations. Sometimes for the good and sometimes not but he seldom regretted 'living in the moment.'
He sat on the warm grass with Betty leaning against him in the ungainly way that dogs do. The music was hypnotic and there was enough warmth in the day to make him feel contented with life. A group of professional kiters were flying ten kites in unison. The kites moved perfectly together, turning and swaying in the soft wind.
He looked around him. Couples and families sat in groups on the field. Young children were getting their faces painted in the distance. His contentment evaporated. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a feeling of overwhelming grief covered him like a rain-sodden bedsheet. He was alone. No-one to share this moment with. How many wonderful moments like this had he witnessed? Longing for a partner almost broke his heart. Did these moments really matter if he had no-one else to discuss or remember them with? How he longed for a man to share these times with him.
With that, he stood up, rubbed the grass from his jeans and headed back to his car.
A few minutes later he heard some mesmerizing chill-out music coming from behind the trees. Betty, understanding him, followed the music as Lorcan followed her. There was a kite festival in a huge field behind the trees. Lorcan loved the way he could walk into the most random of events in Dublin. He was an impulsive person and let his instincts lead him into unusual situations. Sometimes for the good and sometimes not but he seldom regretted 'living in the moment.'
He sat on the warm grass with Betty leaning against him in the ungainly way that dogs do. The music was hypnotic and there was enough warmth in the day to make him feel contented with life. A group of professional kiters were flying ten kites in unison. The kites moved perfectly together, turning and swaying in the soft wind.
With that, he stood up, rubbed the grass from his jeans and headed back to his car.
Thursday, 11 April 2013
Junior Infant
Ernest Hemingway was famously challenged to come up a story in six words. His answer: 'For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.' (There is still a debate whether he did actually compose this.)
If there's one thing that twitter has thought me is the beauty of brevity. I'm a huge fan of @veryshortstory. A story being told within the confines of 140 characters. Every word in important and precious. Painting a picture this way takes skill. Please check it out.
Some of the most funny, heartbreaking and interesting tweets I've read are when two people that I happen to follow are exchanging tweets. It's like an overheard conversation. But, it's twitter, so nothing is private. Right?
With this in mind, here's a short tweet I posted one day after school.
Junior Infant
Tiny, blonde, button-nosed Junior Infant,
Wearing a duffel coat and glasses.
Worn-out, he sighs,
"I can't find my school bag."
It's on his back.
If there's one thing that twitter has thought me is the beauty of brevity. I'm a huge fan of @veryshortstory. A story being told within the confines of 140 characters. Every word in important and precious. Painting a picture this way takes skill. Please check it out.
Some of the most funny, heartbreaking and interesting tweets I've read are when two people that I happen to follow are exchanging tweets. It's like an overheard conversation. But, it's twitter, so nothing is private. Right?
With this in mind, here's a short tweet I posted one day after school.
Junior Infant
Tiny, blonde, button-nosed Junior Infant,
Wearing a duffel coat and glasses.
Worn-out, he sighs,
"I can't find my school bag."
It's on his back.
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
In Isolation
Tina, Garreth and Donal got out of the old Toyota and stretched. It's had been a long drive from Dublin. Although thankfully the weather had stayed lovely especially for Easter.
The camp-site appeared to be empty, most of the caravans were unoccupied even for this breathtakingly beautiful part of Kerry. A few sheep peered over the hedge on the east side of the camp-site and the gentle sea could be heard lapping on the sand over the sand-dunes to the west.
Garreth and Tina were going out six months now and Donal was his oldest friend. The plan for a weekend in Kerry had been thrown together over a few drinks the week before. Tina's parents had been uneasy about letting her stay with her boyfriend in the mobile home but this was the nineties and perhaps it was time to move with the times. They liked Garreth and he appeared to have a settling affect on Tina. She had been a bit 'hard to control' for the past couple of years.
Tina had short, soft, spiky black hair and she wore dungarees and a paisley shirt with dock martins. She looked like a little pixie with her tiny frame and streetwise clothes. Garreth played on the first rugby team for a south Dublin private school. Donal was tall and gangly with a bookish appearance albeit with strong shoulders. He also went to the same private school.
Feeling like a 'gooseberry' Donal offered to go to the local shops to get provisions. Garreth and Tina quickly agreed, longing to have to some time alone. As soon as he was gone they went into the caravan. Tina was reluctant to go to the bedroom in case Donal returned early. They turned on the gas heater, the kettle and snuggled on the sofa.
When Donal returned Tina suggested the lads have a can of beer while she went for a walk on the beach. They helped themselves to the cans and relaxed in the kitchenette of the mobile van.
"She suits you," ventured Donal.
"Yeah. She's a good one alright. Getting a bit too settled but I'm fond of her."
"Thought it was more serious than that," Donal replied quickly.
"Imagine bringing her back to my old man and saying that I wanted the deposit for a wedding. He'd freak. She's a good girl and all that but seriously, she's not the settling down type. Before you know it, she'll be looking to travel the world, or something like that."
Donal stayed silent for a moment. "Don't mess her around. One minute, she's too settled, the next she's not the settling type. "
"Don't make your crush so obvious, man," Garreth retorted quickly.
Later as Garreth went for a swim in the freezing cold sea, Donal and Tina sat companionably together on the sand. They had a can of Budweiser each. Donal opened his mouth to speak and then stopped himself. "What?" laughed Tina. Donal thought for a moment and then said carefully, "You know I write poetry, well....I wrote a poem about you." "Oh, show me!" she replied. "Not this weekend, maybe in a few months time." She laughed and shrugged her shoulders.
She never got to read the poem but she later wondered about it. A whole poem devoted to her.
The camp-site appeared to be empty, most of the caravans were unoccupied even for this breathtakingly beautiful part of Kerry. A few sheep peered over the hedge on the east side of the camp-site and the gentle sea could be heard lapping on the sand over the sand-dunes to the west.
Garreth and Tina were going out six months now and Donal was his oldest friend. The plan for a weekend in Kerry had been thrown together over a few drinks the week before. Tina's parents had been uneasy about letting her stay with her boyfriend in the mobile home but this was the nineties and perhaps it was time to move with the times. They liked Garreth and he appeared to have a settling affect on Tina. She had been a bit 'hard to control' for the past couple of years.
Tina had short, soft, spiky black hair and she wore dungarees and a paisley shirt with dock martins. She looked like a little pixie with her tiny frame and streetwise clothes. Garreth played on the first rugby team for a south Dublin private school. Donal was tall and gangly with a bookish appearance albeit with strong shoulders. He also went to the same private school.
Feeling like a 'gooseberry' Donal offered to go to the local shops to get provisions. Garreth and Tina quickly agreed, longing to have to some time alone. As soon as he was gone they went into the caravan. Tina was reluctant to go to the bedroom in case Donal returned early. They turned on the gas heater, the kettle and snuggled on the sofa.
When Donal returned Tina suggested the lads have a can of beer while she went for a walk on the beach. They helped themselves to the cans and relaxed in the kitchenette of the mobile van.
"She suits you," ventured Donal.
"Yeah. She's a good one alright. Getting a bit too settled but I'm fond of her."
"Thought it was more serious than that," Donal replied quickly.
"Imagine bringing her back to my old man and saying that I wanted the deposit for a wedding. He'd freak. She's a good girl and all that but seriously, she's not the settling down type. Before you know it, she'll be looking to travel the world, or something like that."
Donal stayed silent for a moment. "Don't mess her around. One minute, she's too settled, the next she's not the settling type. "
"Don't make your crush so obvious, man," Garreth retorted quickly.
Later as Garreth went for a swim in the freezing cold sea, Donal and Tina sat companionably together on the sand. They had a can of Budweiser each. Donal opened his mouth to speak and then stopped himself. "What?" laughed Tina. Donal thought for a moment and then said carefully, "You know I write poetry, well....I wrote a poem about you." "Oh, show me!" she replied. "Not this weekend, maybe in a few months time." She laughed and shrugged her shoulders.
She never got to read the poem but she later wondered about it. A whole poem devoted to her.
Monday, 8 April 2013
Happiness is.......
Happiness is sitting with my family,
Cuddled together on the sand,
Gathered with friends around a campfire,
Singing songs, as the waves gently break.
Happiness is sitting at a dinner table,
Surrounded by young friends.
Everyone is laughing and joking
The night is ahead of us.
Happiness is lying in bed
With my love snuggling in behind me.
He whispers 'see how you fit perfectly'
And kisses your neck.
Happiness is sitting in a newly built tree-house,
My young son is beside me
And we're reading a book together
He smiles and says "This is the life!"
Cuddled together on the sand,
Gathered with friends around a campfire,
Singing songs, as the waves gently break.
Happiness is sitting at a dinner table,
Surrounded by young friends.
Everyone is laughing and joking
The night is ahead of us.
Happiness is lying in bed
With my love snuggling in behind me.
He whispers 'see how you fit perfectly'
And kisses your neck.
Happiness is sitting in a newly built tree-house,
My young son is beside me
And we're reading a book together
He smiles and says "This is the life!"
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| Ventry Beach at Sunset |
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