40th Birthday Project #6 and 7

Number 6

Pops' team won on a rare occasion at the weekend by a good score. The other team had a little goalie in play and he was just diddy. I don't think he wanted to be there but there he was. I noticed that there was no grown up near the goal with him supporting him and just being there...maybe he needed it.  Then again maybe it was a conscious decision not to...it's not my place to speculate.

 

Anyway, near the end of the match the other team changed goalkeepers and I decided that apart from me giving him the odd comment getting him ready for the ball coming back to his half, I had missed my chance with the little one so I'd try and make up for it...I asked the replacement if he'd like me to stand with him and help him. He said he was fine but I stood near anyway.

 

Then in the shake-hands line (sportsmanship issues aside) I found the first goalie and gave him a big hug and told him I thought he was a brave boy and did a great job. He thought I was mad I expect but I hope it gave a him a little boost.

Number 7

I gave some flowers to the ladies I know on the complex. Just because they're yummy mummies and lovely ladies.

A weekend for the girls...plus 40th BP#5

Ok, this is a belated post...

really, when will someone invent an extra day in the weekend already?

 

The last weekend in January saw me head off to Abu Dhabi for my Gaelic Football tournament...it was the kids the weekend before and hubby's next weekend...I flew up and was like a little girl, so excited at travelling on my own, not having to fret or worry about keeping my own children in check.

 

By the end of the weekend I had left my hat in the airport. Before I had even left Muscat. And left my lovely lime green Haivianas at the stadium. I am truly incapable of looking after myself! 

MISSING IN ACTION: not exactly high end style but certainly

the hippy comfort I know and love :-(

Long story short, fabulous and feisty weekend. I think I found my place in this game but more importantly a role as a team member. And obviously super celebrations carried onto in the early hours at the hotel. I am starting to get to know some of the girls from other teams around the region and I caught up with my girl Fiona from the

Sharjah Wanderers.

 

Bear went on an outward bound course in the mountains. She's a proper little Bear Grylls. She loved setting up camp with four sticks and a sheeting. Not everyone did apparently! Next one booked in May!

 

 

Birthday Project Update #5

 

I gave the taxi driver to my hotel a hefty tip. He was new. Hadn't been in the country 5 days. He seemed to be struggling how to use the GPS so I offered but he politely said he was ok and knew where he was going. I doubted a little if I'm honest.

I arrived no problem.

He deserved the tip and my gratefulness and wishes of safe driving. I hope he is doing well. I hope HE gets the tip.

40th Birthday Project #4

   

A little anonymous note to one of my pupils admiring her art work. She is talented for her age and I wanted to let her know. She has a gift. I needed to do it in such a way that it didn't come from me as a teacher and therefore risk her bragging (I don't think it's in her nature). But if I thought too much about everything, I would do nothing on my list :-)

 

(I checked with my Head before I did this, so don't worry!)

The start of 40th Birthday Project #3

I saw this link on Muscat Mutterings this week.

Giving workers water and fruit is on my list of RAOK although I feel it would be of more benefit later on in the year in the hotter months. But hey, who am I to knock a great organised caring initiative such as this.

 

So I've registered if anyone wants to join me. I'm waiting to hear back so I can give you more details when I know them. I'll still go out again in the year...and looking at the I-care initiative's calendar, it looks as though they have events through the year. :-)

POSTedit: I read the date wrong...how embarrassing. I was in Abu Dhabi for my Gaelic Football tournament...! However, an independent water drop-off is planned to atone for my impulsive sign-up. Watch this space x

40th Birthday Project #2

Number 2: Write a thank you/appreciation note to my Secret Santa '13.

They gave me a beautiful cross stitched bookmark that had a tag from Syria (hmmm, a clue??), a butterfly ink stamp and an ohm ink stamp and a pack of metallic pencils (someone could have remembered I mislaid my metallic pens last year!)

So they either know me really well or have wonderful taste in gifts!

This isn't the finished card...I forgot to take a picture of the final! I stamped a gold ohm in the sun and reflected it in the water. 

40th Birthday project #1

And so it begins. I'm 39 today so this year is my 40th year and I'm starting The Project!

 

A year of 40 Acts of Random Kindness, wherever I may be.

 

Going through the plethora of ideas and inspiration on the internet, I have realised that we as a family carry out little acts of kindness without labelling it as such. So I am going to have to think higher and harder!

 

1. This is when/where the seed was planted all those years ago:

I remember seeing this book in the studios of Radio Kent years back when I worked there. It got my attention as I thought it was an inspirational, fun, karmic thing to do.

 

Then I got on with my day.

 

That was back when I didn't have children

and I wasn't making the most of the small things in life

and I didn't appreciate how lucky and fortunate I was in so many aspects of my life.

 

But it's not all about me. What a lovely way to pay my good fortune forward to other people in so many different ways. I hope they continue it on.

 

So, I have started a list...17 on it so far. In no particular order but with some, the timing will have to be planned.

 

2. Here's the lady that got me motivated to start my own project:

http://mixmingleglow.com/blog/?p=1358 and also at www.thebdayproject.com

3. And here I am:

 

Number 1:

The staff at school returned today, a day before the children. I turned my hurruuuumphs in to 'you're welcomes' by giving out gift cards for a coffee and a Pinkberry yoghurt, as I couldn't take them all out for my birthday!

Plans afoot...

Another year has passed, nay, flown by. My analogy for the year as far as my blog is concerned is you know when you start to trail off towards the end of a sentence...? Well, that's it. More especially because you keep spotting something shiny whilst you're speaking. That's my blog. I keep wishing I could write like the girls who write the art lesson blogs I follow. But hey. Life has got in the way of regular blogging. But you know what, I really am happy with that. So be it.

This year's plans (remembering a plan is a basis for change ;-)):

:: keep going with Artist of the Month but with focus on the artist I choose for the spotlight board on the KS2 board at school. Lesser well known ones for the kids to comment on.

:: artwork of the moment, again that comes from the KS2 art board.

:: more focus on the children's art work here

:: my sister's wedding. For me beforehand, this encompasses hen do plans and bridesmaids' dresses. Sooooooo excited....

:: my solo trip over the summer :-) for another tick off the bucket list.

:: and continuing to tick, more like enjoy, a few more things from the bucket list

:: this is my 40th year. I will be setting on a 40th Birthday project that I will complete by the time I turn 40 in January 2015. So watch this space for updates through the year :-)

:: each morning, be thankful for another day. And the people who feature in it. And for what they are teaching me, whether they realise it or not!

My 2013 conclusions:

Be peaceful and happy.

Be thankful.

Look for the lessons in the day.
Do not force or push my way through life. Peace will set in when I slow down.
To have real friends I must be a real friend.
I am not afraid to ask for help.

The washing up can wait. Go tickle my children. Or have a Brandy Alexander :-)

Listen to my body.

Happy New Year.

X