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Race for Life

Posted on April 16th, 2010 Langwitch View Comments

It has become a bit of tradition for me (and Alice) now to do the Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research UK. This year is no different so I’ve just signed up. We would like to raise as much money as possible, obviously. If you would like to sponsor us you can do so by following this link or by clicking on the widget in the sidebar.
Thank you in advance for supporting the work of Cancer Research UK. )

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A year of perfect vision

Posted on December 27th, 2009 Langwitch View Comments

A year ago today I had laser eye surgery that gave me better than 20/20 vision. I opted for the LASIK-wavefront treatment and at the time I was really worried that I’d done the wrong thing, as the first few days were rather unpleasant-painful, sore eyes and less than perfect vision (although my vision was good enough not to have to wear glasses, even then!). Over the following weeks, I wore my plasic eye guards to sleep in and followed all the instructions and within hardly any time at all I had forgotten that I ever wore glasses.

A year on I can categorically say that it is one of the best things I’ve ever done. My vision is perfect and I don’t have to contend with uncomfortable glasses and swapping them for sunglasses at inconvenient times. I love being able to see at the hairdressers, when I’m putting my makeup on and when I go swimming. I love not having to keep pushing my glasses back up my nose every couple of minutes and I love my glasses not steaming up whenever I open the oven door!!

The only down-side is, now I can’t get away from the bags under my eyes and the concealer gets ever thicker, as ends of terms approach. In addition, I had looked forward to buying myself some cool designer sunglasses in the summer…it was rather disappointing therefore this year to have bought 3 different pairs of sunglasses and still be unhappy with them. I rather think I must be too picky!

I still wake up on a morning and reach for my glasses though…

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Holidays and High Hopes

Posted on September 9th, 2009 Langwitch View Comments

The Zen Fountain in Les Rosiers-sur-Loire

Where did the holidays go? It seems like no time at all since the summer holidays were approaching too slowly and now they’re over.

What wonderful times I had with my family. We went to France for two weeks and seemed to travel the full width of the country. Spending a week in the Loire Valley, 3 days in Disneyland Resort Paris (to give it it’s full name) and then 4 days in a tiny little village on the French/German border called Liederschiedt visiting a friend. It certainly was action packed a lots of fun. Best of all I and my family got to speak lots of French and I discovered that my 7 year old really is a budding linguist, able to work out the meaning of signs and words with far more ease than many pupils I teach. It was so amazing watching her use all of the clues that I tell my pupils to use, without me even having to tell her. Also fascinating was the friendship that developed between my two children (7 and 4) and my friend’s two (4 and 2 1/2). My children speak next to no German or French and Heike’s children speak mainly German and often French. Despite the language barrier all four children played really well together and there were tears shed upon our departure.

Naturally, we had our usual visit to Eastbourne to visit my sister and watch the airshow. We saw the Red Arrows an all of the days we attended the event and enjoyed many other thrilling displays.
After that work seemed inevitable and I began to contemplate the year ahead of me. Where am I going? What am I doing (and why)?
There are some exciting things happening this year – none less so than the fact that I am to teach ICT for 6hrs a fortnight to Y7, Y8 and Y9. In order to do this I am going to have to learn how do use some applications quite quickly. Can’t wait! In particular it will be interesting to see my job from the perspective of another subject area. How do they teach in ICT? Is it really different from teaching MFL? In addition ICT is taught in Tutor Groups throughout KS3, whereas MFL is taught in sets from Christmas of Y7, what will that be like? I already like teaching ICT before I’ve even had one class, as I already have all of the lessons and resources!
Added to that I have acquired a “new” job title, that of “International School Co-ordinator”. Basically it means I just continue doing what I’m doing already. Continuing with that theme, we will re-apply for a Comenius Grant, after failing to gain funding last year. I’m currently trying to organise a preparation visit for January which will be entertaining! Also we have an all new French exchange with a school in Caussade near Toulouse.
As far as my MFL teaching is concerned, I have to admit to feeling a little stale, so I want to focus on injecting some enthusiasm into things. Naturally I’ll continue to use ICT to motivate pupils and also lead some staff CPD within the department to encourage colleagues to follow suit. I’m also going to do some work on Phonics with my classes. After seeing Rachel Hawkes speak at Grasping the Nettle and being in touch with Suzi Bewell, I’ve bought a Jolly Phonics French book and a lovely Frieze and am going to spend time focusing on pronunciation with many of my pupils.
So not much then, in the year ahead. It should keep me out of trouble anyway!

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Race for Life – Ormesby Hall 2009

Posted on June 24th, 2009 Langwitch View Comments

For the third time in a row, I headed to Ormesby Hall on Saturday morning to take part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life. This year was a little bit different, as I had my favourite 7 year old taking part with me. Alice was desperate to take part this year, since one of her friend’s had done it last year and she likes to do the same thing as her friends (of course).
We made no pretence of trying to run this year and duly lined up with the “Walkers” to cross the start line about 10 mins after the first runners. It was most disconcerting to, having only just completed the first kilometre, see the winner heading for the finish line. Alice couldn’t believe it!!!
We finished the race in a record 56 mins and have been challenged to run it in 35 mins next year by Mr. Langwitch – he said he’d sponsor us £100 if we did.
I don’t think you can tell by the picture, but on our backs we wrote “I race for life for Pauline’s mum”. Pauline is my closest friend and her mum is currently in the final stages of ovarian cancer, so we felt it was very important to race for her.
All in all it was a good morning, we didn’t get too wet and my hand didn’t quite fall off after being held onto very tightly for 5 km by a 7 yr old girl )

ps. You can still sponsor us online here

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Just one of the reasonsI love being a mum

Posted on March 19th, 2009 Langwitch View Comments

My little girl, who is 6, must have been writing poems for Mothers’ Day at school this week because this morning she wrote me this gorgeous poem before going to school. It just goes to show how children see things through rose-coloured spectacles but here it is, it’s absolutley beautiful. (Oh by the way, I’ve left in her versions of spellings!):

“My mum is terrific and thoughtfull

My mum is fashenebell and fantastic

My mum is beautifull and best

And thas way I love my mum”

Absolutely wonderful!

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