She asked me what happens at a teacher training day and I replied, "Well the teachers all gather in the school hall and pretend that they are trains as they sing, 'I'm a choo-choo train'. This is why they call it training".
For a moment, she seemed to believe me and then the realisation dawned, "You're just kidding Grandpa!"
She wanted to go swimming at Dronfield Leisure Centre where Shirley took her many times before she was obliged to climb aboard the conveyor belt of formal schooling.
We drove up to Totley and had lunch in "The Cross Scythes" before travelling on to Dronfield. It was a wintry day and there was a dusting of snow on the hills and roads - but nothing too problematic.
When Shirley and Phoebe went in the leisure centre, I ventured out for a stroll around Dronfield and I also popped into a couple of charity shops. In one of them, I found a ceramic plant holder in which I estimated I could place one of my young busy lizzie plants. I wanted to give it to Frances as a late Christmas present as she had shown interest when I told her about the strain of impatiens I have nurtured for forty five years - from cutting to cutting and from year to year.
My estimation ability with regard to sizing things up is pretty well-tuned and sure enough, when I got home, the designated plant pot fitted into the silver-coloured plant holder perfectly.
Crosses were sometimes erected for pagan or early Christian reasons but in addition they might have been boundary markers or market crosses given legal permission by which ever king or queen happened to be on the throne at the time.
Oh the good old teacher training days. I certainly supported all kinds of professional development for teachers. However, you'll have to be careful what you try to pull on Phoebe as I think she's on to Grandpa's tricks.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you could write a story by imagining what such a cross might say as people pass by year after year after year.
ReplyDelete"Silly old grandpa" echoes down through time. Crosses are interesting, there are plenty over the North Yorks moors, they are the markers on a pilgrim walk or to show the traveller which direction to take.
ReplyDeleteTeacher Trains.
ReplyDeleteGet on board for an educational ride of a lifetime.
Lunch before swimming? Well I guess both Shirley and Phoebe were not overstuffing themselves with food and so were still good for swimming.
ReplyDeleteThe Hall in Dronfield looks beautiful. Is it a private residence or open to visitors?
Ripon offers a walk to take in the sites of boundary crosses, some of which still remain, while from others only their original site is known, now marked with a plaque. Within those boundaries, in medieaval times people could find sanctuary from persecution. I have written about that walk and posted pictures in 2014:
https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2014/07/scantuary-walk.html
You'll have to be careful joking with Phoebe. My Dad told me things I believed into adulthood! Maybe I was not as astute as Phoebe. I believe some crosses relate to Eleanor of Aquitane's funeral procession resting places down to London where it finished at Charing Cross. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_cross
ReplyDeleteChoo choo...here comes silly grandpa! You are blessed to live close to some of your grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteI assumed the teachers drank most of the day when the students were away.
ReplyDeleteI know you treasure those precious days with Phoebe - they pass all too quickly. Before you know it, you will be attending her wedding - the years really do roll by so fast.
ReplyDeleteIt's so amazing watching children learn about humour. Jack loves wordplay and I bought him a box of riddles for Christmas, among other things.
ReplyDeleteThe cross is interesting, as well as their uses. In the North we have Inukshuks, "a stone landmark or cairn built by Inuit and other Arctic peoples to communicate across vast, featureless landscapes, serving as navigational aids, markers for hunting/fishing spots, warnings of danger, or memorials, with some resembling human figures (inunnguaq) for spiritual purposes, becoming a powerful symbol of Canada and Inuit culture, even appearing on the Nunavut flag."
I've seen stone crosses in church and graveyard contexts but can't recall if I've also seen or heard of them marking boundaries or markets. Historically there used to be stones along some roads telling the distance to or from somewhere else, and I know we have some like that preserved in the outdoors museum park in my town. I can't remember having seen any in the shape of a cross - but then I also have never done any research on that particular topic...
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I would have known what that cross was, much less how old it is. As much as I try to learn about my surroundings, I'm sure I walk past things all the time without having a clue.
ReplyDeleteVery clever of Phoebe to know you were putting her on! She's learning early.
You've nurtured a strain of impatiens for 45 years?! Have you blogged about this and I've just forgotten?