Alright Guv'nor

So it's official - I'm a properly trained school governor. I spent my day in Hampshire Golf Club in some very interesting and helpful training. I was dreading it really - mainly because I didn't know anyone. I've worked out two main things about being a school governor:
1. Pass everything to someone else - in particular the Headteacher or class teacher.
2. If the school goes into Special Measures (when it's failing) it's the fault of the Governing Body!

So there you go! Despite the burdern of responsibility in ensuring the school excels I am very excited about being a school governor. It's really amazing to think that your decisions can have such a big impact on the lives of many children - you have a real chance to indirectly influence them.

Talking of influencing children; on Sunday I sat next to Hannah in worship at The Gap. Hannah is six and she is Ian and Louise's oldest daughter. I work with Ian (he is the Divisional Youth officer) and Louise is the associate officer at The Gap and a fellow school Governor. Anyway, Hannah always sits next to me, Lesley and Fi when we're at the Gap. Hannah is beautiful (all the Davis children are beautiful). So we were all standing singing. I had my thumbs in my jean pockets as I was singing. Hannah was sitting down. Then she suddenly got up and spent a while putting her hands in her trouser pockets and then stood just like me! It was a really lovely moment and nearly brought a tear to my eye! It just reminded how children watch everything you do and I was also reminded of a quote by Albert Einstein where he says something like "being an example is not just a way of influencing a child - it's the only way". Ever since I read that quote in the Tug of War document about 5 years ago (this document was a report of research the SA commissioned to be done on it's children's work) it has had a massive impact on me and has been proven over and over again - children really do watch you so closely and that is a real challenge to me as a person.

Which brings me to my third point in this blog - Not only do children watch you closely but so do adults. I have been in a foul mood today. I don't think there is any particular reason for this but I think I literally did get out the wrong side of the bed this morning. I normally get out the side of the clock but today I got out of the other side and when my routine is changed it sometimes makes my grumpy. Ian said that I had 3 pairs of grumpy pants on today - he's right and I'm quite ashamed of myself. I'm not particularly nasty when I'm grumpy (well maybe only a few sharp comments but they're more utterances under my breath) but I'm just a bit quiet and low. Sometimes when I get grumpy if I tell someone I'm grumpy it's enought to make me laugh and take my out of my mood but I just couldn't shift the cloud today. I remember my mum saying that when you feel down, get out and see your people. So this afternoon I had to lead my first Cameo Club (come and meet each other club) which was really great and I enjoyed doing it. One little lady there called Ruth (I know this because she told me about 30 times) is in a home and this afternoon she was sitting on the end of the row. As I was playing A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square by Vera Lynn Ruth started to fall asleep so Steph had to move herself next to Ruth so she didn't fall off the seat. Aw bless her! It was a real ministry to me doing that this afternoon especially when the theme was My Favourite Things (thanks Suz) and we were thanking God for all the things he has created for us to enjoy so that we can live life to the full! Doh! and here's me - Miss Grumpy pants! I'm suitable chastised because I knew people noticed and I feel bad because of that.

So I was going to be baby sitting the Davis clan tonight but Esther is teething so Ian has stayed in with them. I'm having a nice evening in watching As Time Goes By! Brilliant.

laters
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