Saturday 29 February 2020

Saturday morning.

One of the nice things about not going out for Friday lunch is that that leaves Saturday to go out instead.    And to that end I have booked a table for two in our local pub - only a couple of miles away.   It has a good menu, a blazing log fire, a stone-flagged floor and usually a lot of people.   I would guess it has always been what I would call 'a game-keepers' pub' - it retains its old-fashioned appearance and serves good, honest food.  I am almost certain I shall order what I always have when I go there (I went last Saturday) - home-made quiche with freshly made chips and a good salad.   Time will tell.

Well yet another storm is due to hit the UK later today - Storm Jorge - very high winds and heavy rain.    At least the high winds mean that the storm clouds pass over quickly.    It is half past ten in the morning and when I started writing this it was cloudy and raining.   Now the sky is blue and the sun is out so it is not all bad.   Looking at the flooding on the River Servern I am just hoping they don't get much more in that area.   This morning I see that the River Ouse has burst its banks in East Yorkshire and there are villages flooded there too.   When will it all end.   March tomorrow - surely things will soon begin the brighten up.

Climate change - such a contentious issue.   I watched Greta Thunberg on the News last evening in Bristol.   What an inspiration to the young she is.   This morning I read in the Times that she has Aspergers Syndrome and has had a really troubled childhood (but with extremely supportive family around her) - how good to see her now and how her family must be so proud of her.   In the past, before Autism and Aspergers were recognised one wonders just how many young people suffered in school and for years afterwards.   When I did my Teacher Training (late 60's early 70's) I don't remember any mention of it.

I am sitting looking out of the window into my garden and can't help but marvel that in spite of the absolutely awful weather over the past few months everything in the garden is saying 'it's March tomorrow we must get on with it' - I guess it is the hours of daylight which make a difference.  As far as I can see the only plant which appears to have died - and I presume because of too wet a winter - is my French lavender.   I shall replace it with something else which doesn't bother about wet weather - I think the French lavender would have been more suited to Cro's garden, where the sun is a bit warmer and the rain a little less frequent.   A blackbird sits on the hedge singing its beak off, a little wren scratches under the same hedge, hardly visible in the undergrowth - what a lovely little bird they are.

 

20 comments:

Tom Stephenson said...

When you were teaching, were you aware of dyslexia as a condition Weave?

JayCee said...

My nephew has Aspergers Syndrome and we worried about his future as he was growing up. However, he has just graduated with a degree in history, as a mature student, and has a responsible job at the Home Office. He has travelled extensively and has a group of supportive friends. There can be positive outcomes.

Rachel Phillips said...

Greta Thunberg is a doom monger and spreads fear amongst the young and doesn't know what she is talking about. I feel sorry for young people who listen to her.

Lynda said...

Greta is trying to open everyone’s eyes to Global warming....I am assume you , as tRump, don't believe in it....signs are all around and it’s accelerating..open your eyes...

Brenda said...

Love the pubs. One in Stratford upon Avon was my favorite. Hope to go back someday.

Gwil W said...

One fascinating subject for me about my schooldays was the teachers pets syndrome. Some kids got belted because they wrote with the wrong hand. Or didn't hold the pen or pencil in the approved manner. Having a shock of red hair l was an easy target and often at the head of the queue to be thrashed including fir sticking up for the underdogs as I saw it then. I suppose they thought it was character building. Or maybe they were getting revenge for being ill-treated when they were pupils themselves.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

The rate of austism has grown by leaps and bounds since I started teaching thirty years ago. I currently have four, yes four, students with autism in my classroom. I get no extra support for these students who have their own unique ways of learning and socializing. Going to the pub for lunch sounds like a wonderful way to spend part of your day. Enjoy! -Jenn

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

Excuse the spelling mistake in autism.

Rachel Phillips said...

Lynda, if you were addressing me and not Weave as it seems you may have been, I did not say I do not believe in climate change, I said that I believe Greta Thunberg to be a doom monger and a danger to young people. There is plenty of good work going on in this country to tackle human contribution to climate change and there has been for many years and we have been paying for it in our taxes for many years and yet she comes here and speaks as if we are doing nothing and these children will all be dead within 50 years.

Carruthers said...

Politicians, although the best among them want to be seen to be doing something, just aren't doing enough about climate change. Some of them are even climate change deniers! The people who vote for the politicians do so with pitifully low expectations. Young people have to stand up and tell it how it is. And young people should arguably have a bigger say in how things get done as they're going to be around longer. All power to Greta's elbow.

jinxxxygirl said...

What a wonderful post Pat. I just love to read your blog with my coffee in the morning before the day starts..The weather here has been very mild. Daffodils and Naked Ladies are poking through and i see many tree buds ready to burst... I'm not ready yet.. I enjoy my Fall/Winter... Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment.. Always love it when you do... Hugs! deb

NORA said...

Well written, Weaver! You are an example to all of us, and obviously you are interested in the world around you. I think that Greta with all the problems she had in the passed and also with Asperger, is a great inspiration to lots of people.
I rather think that Rachel is a very negative person.

Maudie said...

I so love to read about your day - the lovely friends, food and books/reading. Thank you for sharing.

Rachel Phillips said...

Did you really have to add that NORA? I rather think you are a nasty person. Where is your blog, I would love to read it and share with you and you to share with me and see if you are a nasty person? I expect I am wrong, I hope so. Please spare a thought for other points of view and give yours but do not dish out judgements on those who give their points of view.

Rachel Phillips said...

The irony is NORA, I am probably the most positive person here and Greta Thunberg the most negative.

Derek Faulkner said...

I promised myself that I wouldn't get involved in these blogs anymore but I really do have to support Rachel's comments on this Greta person. I wonder how many of those school children that followed her yesterday like some Pied Piper, still fly on foreign holidays with their parents and get driven to school and many other places, instead of walking. How dare Greta come to this country and preach to us when this country is working hard on reducing it's carbon footprints. The irony is, that even if we reduced our carbon footprint to nil it would still be pretty meaningless when you look at the pollution still being created unabated in the likes of China, South America, North America. Greta needs to jump on a boat and sail to those countries where her words would have some truth.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Tom - I think I was aware of Dyslexia but research was in its early stages. I taught many slow learners as they were called in those days - gaining confidene, finding the right way forward for each child - these things made a difference.
Gwil - I would like to think those days are past but am not sure it is so.
Interesting how my post created a stage for a Global warming debate and Greta - we must
all have our own views on that issue. As to China - the last time I went was in 1989 and the number of chimneys puthering out thick black smoke - and the number of folk wearing masks was terrifying. It is nothing like as bad as that now. I think Rome wasn't built in a day and they, like other countries, are making progress so let's give credit where it is due.
Thanks for your replies - I do like it when my post generates such an interest.

Carruthers said...

I'm amazed how emotive people get about Greta Thunberg. Does anyone seriously think enough will be done about climate change unless politicians are constantly under pressure from the people in the street? The politicians we have cannot be trusted to be left to their own devices on climate - until recently, they were right behind fracking, for a start.

Greta's critics always remind me of the old fogies who moaned about students, hippies and pop music in the 1960s. The youth movement was right then: the nuclear arms race was out of control and the war in Vietnam had to stop. The youth movement is right now, too. History will be kind to Greta Thunberg.

laixinjie said...

Love the pubs. One in Stratford upon Avon was my favorite. Hope to go back someday.custom swimsuits custom made swimsuits

gmv said...

I enjoyed reading your Saturday description. The blackbird singing on the hedge made me happy. Spring, please come quickly.