Huge excitement this week about the snow! First time in the children's living memory that the schools were shut because of bad weather - slightly mixed reactions in our household... after Simon had shovelled the car out and driven off like a lone pioneer and Felix had ripped his uniform off and dug out his ski gear there was a realisation from Rose that school - the highlight of her day - wasn't going to happen! We did get her togged up in boots and coat and got her outside finally to have a play and throw a few snowballs at me and the dog but it wasn't quite the same as Felix who ran in and out, built snowmen, chucked snowballs at the neighbours and generally had a high old time. There was a bit of movie and popcorn action with a sofa-full of boys which she loved and having Felix at home under any circumstances is A Good Thing as far as she's concerned so it was all lovely lovely and SO COSY - I was in heaven but all good things come to an end and Felix was despatched back to a classroom on Wednesday morning. Pavements still looked treacherous for anyone on crutches so I made the unpopular decision to stay at home for one more day even though Sydenham was open - the pressure was on to compete with Yr 2 for a good time and I don't know how I did but I gave it my best shot. We made cookies, had manicures and pedicures, arts and crafted our way through the day and - even better - physio was cancelled because of the bad weather... There were no complaints but she was very happy when the uniform appeared this morning and off we went.
Rose's community team were coming for a meeting at school this morning with Rose's teacher, headmistress, PE teacher, school nurse, health and safety officer etc etc to have a full review of where we're at and where we're aiming for. Good outcome I think although exhausting trying to constantly push for safety, inclusion, supervision etc without frightening them all off with too many facts. In a bid to leave Rose there for four mornings unsupervised - by me - they are going to ask a rota of teaching assistants to (volunteer to) run a mini physio session each break time for ten or fifteen minutes just to keep Rose from stiffening up too much each morning. We'll see - if there's a deafening silence in the staff meeting I guess it might bounce back to me but we have thrown ourselves on their goodwill and discretion and are hoping that she won't need this sort of support long term and that by the summer term she is able to go out to the playground with her friends. The playground is one of my favourite fantasies and we are all working so hard to get her back there... We have decided to start the ball rolling in the long daunting process of getting Rose statemented in case things don't work out quite the way we want them to and school seem supportive of this. I have no idea what I'm doing and so far have only got as far as requesting the forms from Southwark but I guess it's just the next step on the learning curve!
So it was a brief one-morning week for Rose at school and tomorrow is her full on trainers, whistle and swimming cossie day in hydro and physio. A whole week with no hospitals - bring it on!
Fundraising postscript!
An easy, easy way to raise money for a given charity (BCRT obviously in your case!) has come to my attention this week and it's (almost) effortless and involves NO (additional) expense to you...as we are all hardened internet shoppers this could appeal so please read on. The next time you are planning a big flick and click afternoon with your favourite retailer (Amazon, Boden, Tesco, hundreds of others) please please register first at www.easyfundraising.org.uk and enter your chosen retail site via easyfundraising. A donation is then made to the charity of your choice - all you have to do is nominate your charity, navigate to your chosen site and shop away... If that is just TOO EASY and doesn't make you feel quite GENEROUS enough you'll be thrilled to hear that the next Rose Allocca fundraiser is underway - a team of 12 are running the Reading Half Marathon on 29th March and if your coffers are overflowing and you just can't decide to do with all your spare cash please feel free to support them at www.justgiving.com/rosesrunners!
