Wow! No wonder I’ve been feeling a little chilled in my small room with the nice big windows - it’s only 7°C out there this morning (aka, upper
40s)! Brrr!!
To start the day off right, had a nice brisk walk
straight up Bournbrook Road (adjoining street to Oakfield where I live), took a
right onto the main road, Raddlebarn, by St Edward’s Roman Catholic Church, of
the Archdiocese of Birmingham, and then on up a little further to Raddlebarn
School off Gristhorpe Road. Met the Wards in the adjoining playground.
There was Oliver – and Kat – all in their
standardized uniforms, including their maroon Raddlebarn jumpers (heavy
sweatshirt-fabric cardigans). So cute, so British. Finally got to meet Ollie’s
best friend – floppy, red-haired Oscar (it is quite typical, I have noticed,
for parents to keep the hair of their small boys fairly long), that I had heard
so much about. We moved up to the barred school walls, then through the gate into
the school yard, where we waited, or scampered about, depending on your age,
till it was time to enter the world of Reception (aka kindgarten in America).
This time, unlike Katya’s first day, parents – and friends – were invited in to
help the kids get oriented: place your lunch (no short day in this kingdom for your
first real year of school) on the table outside, find your cubby where your
jacket and specified binder will go, greet the teacher(s), look around the
room. Eventually there will be around 30 pupils – that seems like a lot. It was
quite a small room, the children sit around five-sided polygon tables. However, there is one
teacher (Miss Middleton) AND two assistants, (Miss Needle and Miss Lever.) for
the lot. Leah sAys, in regards to the names of the children’s teachers, “Isn’t that
about as British as it gets?!! She also said
- speaking from personal experience - that in school kids call their
teacher, “miss,” whether or not they are a “missus.”
After the kids were off, we stood around greeting,
and chatting with, other mums. I had the chance to meet several more of Leah’s
friends – friends because their kids are
the same age and have followed each other from class to class through the years.
I continue to love the diversity. One was a small, sweet woman from Pakistan
who is a pediatrician, whose husband is also a practicing doctor. She told me
they were here in Birmingham for her husband to gain medical experience, eventually
planning to return home or broaden out elsewhere. When I asked if she will also
continue her work, she shrugged and pointed towards her family of small
daughters.
OllieWisdom_
When I asked, Oliver, aren’t you just SO excited on
account of it’s your first day of school!! He returned to me quite wisely, “Oh,
Auntie Honey Bee, you have to be sensible.” It is always wonderful to behold
what has been said to a child as it comes wafting back through the mouth of the
one it was spoken to.)
Whispered to me by Oliver: Buckwheat's momma has a beard. (Yes, you are right - whatever does that mean?! All I can tell you is that Leah sAys that Buckwheat is Oscar and Ollie secret friend.
Photos_
1- St Edwards Church (there ought to be an apostrophe here, but I notice it is often left off nowadays)
2- Raddlebarn School – grades nursery through year 7 (Ofsted refers to the annal government inspection of education facilities – from curriculum to the cleanliness of the toilets.)
3- buds
4- sisterly concern
5- lookin’ sharp (Oscar & the Olliemeister - 1st day of school, all decked out in their new school uniforms)
6- plethora of babby push carts
7- Buckwheat
8- charity shop find - this cheesy little bee called out to me: please, sir, take me home. (Little cheesy things like this seem to glom on to me everywhere I go . . .)
