I am MisterJim

Thank you for your lovely comments on the last piece of writing. It's been one of those weeks, as I've only just got round to publishing them now - sorry! This week, Julia has given us a picture prompt. Here goes. Red Rum - Favourite of the masses, Master of the grasses. 03/05/65 to 18/10/95 Red Rum, originally owned by Noel Le Mare but bought by his trainer Ginger McCain, lived life to the full, overcoming obstacles in the way Dan Dare would do.  He fell just once in over a hundred races.  His training routine, masterminded by McCain, led him to victory at the Grand National in 1973, then 1974 - becoming the first horse since Reynoldstown back in 1934. He came second twice more and, at the ripe old age of 12, won by a masterly 25 lengths.

...Take a Leap of Faith... Close your eyes. Breathe            D             E               E                 P                   L                     Y                        . Heighten your senses and FEEL things around you. Shuffle forwards and curl your toes around the edges. That's it. Relax. Everything is fine. You're fine. You've got this.  It's okay. There's no rush.  You have to come to it in your own time. Remember everything you were told and just go with what feels right. I know you can do it. Close your eyes. Breathe            D             ...

Now for this week. Very simple: …is it me or are bells ringing?…. My 100WCs have tended to be either serious, or sad. I thought that I would attempt to do something slightly more interesting. I must say that the original draft for this challenge was over 300 words, so a lot has been removed, but I hope enough has also been left for people to fill in the gaps for themselves. "Boy," growled the stranger, "get to the bell tower and tell the monks to ring that bell for all they've got. I'll to the rest." He narrowed his cold, blue eyes and in that moment, the boy didn't know who he was more afraid of. He nodded vigorously and ran. The stranger turned his back to the boy and stood resolutely at the foot of the bridge, arm casually resting on the hilt of his sword, staring at the enemy. The attackers smirked and drew nearer, almost surrounding him. Without a hint of fear, the stranger smiled, "Is it me, or are bells ringing?" He c...

This week's challenge is a picture prompt. I quite like picture prompts, they allow so many tangents. Our classrooms are windows. Children's views are shaped by the pictures we paint, the opportunities they envisage. We are responsible for the window's upkeep: treat it with consistent care and attention and it will open seamlessly to worlds that are beyond their wildest dreams; leave it untouched and those worlds will remain forever out of reach.  The window is open to the world to view, some outsiders simply point out what is missing from times they spent inside. Others like to castigate and deride. Most smile knowingly, remembering with fondness the people who opened windows for them. People like us.

I found this chapter I wrote a while ago, for a book that has never been finished. I would really appreciate some feedback. I've uploaded it as a pdf, which is to protect the original work (just in case I ever finish it!).

The prompt this week is to use at least one of these for inspiration. …the powers that be  /  the apple of his eye  /   the writing on the wall… It was early in the Autumn When she took herself away. The trees in our orchard cried leaves for her; She was the apple of their eye , their Mistress. She said it was, "Inevitable". Powers that be had deemed it so and so it was Fruitless to pursue it. Her one way trip. The marks of her passing are writ large on the cold orchard wall s. They are writ larger, though, in me.

On Tuesday, I set the class a task for homework. Build a rocket or spaceship Simple, right? Well yes and no. I asked them to spend two weeks and they weren't allowed to cop out and buy a kit, they had to make it - the more homemade the better. There was also a catch to it too, Tuesday next week (29th November) we would have an after school gallery where parents will be invited to attend and see their child's work. But wait! What about those who have obviously had help? That's allowed - as long as they admit it. There's this stigma attached by some educators to homework because of the notion that parents 'interfere' with homework tasks, so the work isn't a true reflection of the child's capabilities. I'm really looking forward to bringing the parents into our class and letting them share what we do. Transparency is very important to me as an educator and engaging the parents by enthusing their children is the best tonic for our jaundiced educa...