Today I had a great day out with my brother in law to the car rally made complete by a poodle loving life on a roller frame because it had a spinal problem. Finished off at a view point called Pwll Deri where a child had set up a stall for Cancer Research Wales. Couldn’t make that up – it was miles from anywhere. But I bought a little gecko.
Brilliant day. Loved the Triumphs, especially the Spitfires (naturally).
For the past two days I’ve been to Barry Island near Cardiff to be trained in the Handling Children’s Behaviour course which was absolutely fascinating, mainly because our tutor was so experienced, so knowledgeable and an all round excellent trainer. I think what I loved most about her was that even though she was a consummate professional (one of her roles is to chair child protection conferences) she is very child focused and is able to convey really well how a child might feel in a Miriad of circumstances. So often we may assume (as childcare practitioners) that a child must be ‘on the spectrum’ because of some of the behaviours being exhibited when the issues might be more about ‘attachment’.
As usual while away I took a few photos.
It’s been a bit of a week this week, most of it seems to have been entertaining the kids which has been great; it’s taken me back to my days as a children’s worker and been a real tonic. Feel 10 years younger 🙂
Today I supported colleagues from the Language and Play department with their Play Day at Scolton Manor in Pembrokeshire and basically gave them a whole day sing song peppered with lunch, water and sand play and a bug hunt. I went prepared (check out the wellies) but fortunately the rain held off and we all had a fabulous day. The photos here are published with parental consent.
Right now I’m at a loose end waiting to start work and loving having the time to catch up with my little people. We live out in the sticks on the Pembrokeshire Coastal path which is a great place to take the dogs for their evening walks. My dog Mowgli and my granddaughters dog Bear have become good companions and have a daily evening walk with Bluebell and me which gives us time together too which is lovely.
If I’m absent over coming days it’s probably because I’ve climbed into packing case so I don’t have to look at the chaos surrounding me.
Two more sleeps and we hit the road. After four years here I will miss this place, the country feel of it, the cows and the fields.
But as one journey ends so another begins and I look forward to whatever is coming my way in Wales. If it takes a while to sort out a decent wifi I’ll still update my website using my phone and so to my readers (new and old) thanks for being here with me at yet another turning point x Blessings x Alan
My lovely daughter Benita and her hubby Dan are with us for the weekend (up from Wales) with the kids as they travel north to go camping for a couple of weeks in the Whitby area. The nicest thing about our impending move to Wales is that we will get to see them all on a more regular basis.
Today I had the call to formally offer me my new job and I formally accepted and so I’m very excited.
Plant Dewi is the Diocese of St David’s very own Children’s Project, where families matter. They believe in strengthening families, nurturing children and building communities. Their projects are available to help parents, children and young people to receive the local support they need and they work throughout South West Wales in the counties of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. I’ve put a link to their website if you’d like to have a look.
My role is Project Worker working partly with the Dadventure programme delivering Parenting Support Programmes to Dad’s of all kinds (foster Dads, single Dad’d, expectant Dads…) and partly with families who have children 0-4 years old.
Hopefully after relevant DBS checks and references I will be moving to Wales sometime in August to start my new job in September so between now and then I’m going to be a bit of a busy bunny. I’ll miss the crew I work with in Nottinghamshire but hopefully we’ll all keep in touch somehow. Meanwhile…Jai Ho!!
Found an old sketchbook from 1993 of drawings I did while chilling out in Pembrokeshire so I’ve put them on a new page. I’ve put a link below and at the top of the page.
Pembroke Castle
