decisions,decisions

J2 is coming to the end of her first year at High School and has to choose which subjects to study at Standard grade. This seems so early, as she is only 12 , but her school puts the kids into the Standard grades a year earlier than normal so that they can have 2 years for their Higher grades (which has worked well for J1).

What do you choose when your dream careers include being a chef, a psychologist, a garden designer and a writer?

And how much weight should you give to what the jobs market will be in 10 years time? (the quick answer : none!who can possibly guess?)

The simplest and best way is to choose a broad mix of subjects, and as J2 has good marks in everything in her first year, this has not been too difficult. As well as English & Maths, she has chosen French, Biology, Chemistry, Modern Studies (that's Current Affairs/Politics), Geography & FCT (Food & consumer technology-that's home economics to oldies like me). She also has to do Social & Vocational Studies which includes practical life skills (e.g. managing your money), work experience, relationships, citizenship etc. She'll also do PE & RME as well.

She should know by the beginning of June which classes she'll be in and the school will start the new syllabus in June rather than waiting till August.


It all goes so fast when your kids are in secondary education, primary school is a breeze by comparison! (my friends told me this but I didn't really appreciate it till my own kids went to High School)



The next lot of decisions for me are a lot harder, but a lot less life changing, as I got a lovely parcel from Texas today!

My pal Spinningerin sent me some sock wool (by Araucanía) and some of her own gorgeous handspun& handyed which is a lovely soft mix of merino, bfl and tussah silk.

The lovely card which accompanied this generous gift is made from handmade paper and impregnated with flower seeds for me to plant in the garden. How fabulous is that?

My little wannabe garden designer has already decided what she is/ we are going to do with this! But how to decide on patterns for this lovely yarn? Not such any easy decision as choosing standard grades! Maybe a neck warmer or a tippet with the handspun? and which sock pattern?Hmmm.... what a lovely problem to have. Thank you Erin! You're the best!

In a spin..

... uh oh, this could be another addiction...

My first drop spindle...

We went to Keswick last week and as it happened it was market day.

One of the stalls was run by people from The Wool Clip who organise Woolfest and they were selling local yarn and drop spindles.

I was lured into their stall by the gorgeous hand-dyed local yarn and I had to buy a couple of skeins of it. The colours are lovely, and as I was chatting I mentioned that I had just bought myself a copy of a WI book about corn dollies, spinning and basketwork.

Amazingly* they were selling drop spindles and I caved in and bought my first kit.

I've watched a few little online videos and I can understand the process but whether I can get both hands to operate the drop spindle is another matter. Still, nothing ventured..

* its not that amazing really, these girls organise Woolfest, have their own sheep, make felt directly from the fluffy fleece, so they are likely to sell drop spindles too.. I could have spent a fortune at their stall...