My blog

sunday 19 november

The girls had a great birthday, yesterday.
Not much presents, as the main one hasn't arrived yet, but lots of other interesting things, including lots of fun at the band.

I went up at 5 to see if there were any clouds. Preferably not, as we wanted to watch the meteorite rain with all the children.
We can do with some falling stars. LOL!
Well, there was such a thick layer of clouds that I went to bed again.

Well, after this week I know it's not the only reason that I'm so very tired.

After choosing the bagpipe this week, we (my group of 3) went to the person who has to ask how much they cost and he told us that instead of the standard AB4, we can get a AB 4 DeLuxe (McCallum bagpipes), because that's the offer of the moment, and it made me want to have bagpipes without that terrible fake ivory over again.
I don't like plastic on an instrument. You don't put plastic on something that's so extremely expensive.
So I asked him to allow bagpipes without the white.
I think this week the bagpipes will be ordered and they'll arrive around my birthday at january 27, or slightly later.
I can't wait!!!

Thami's mentor wrote a mail about Thami's attack by the boys, and said he thinks the truth lies in the middle and we should quit talking about it and offered to help Thami feel a bit happier at school.
That made me so very mad.
First I don't think the truth is a mathematical construct that needs to be in the middle to suggest it's done justice.
Second, I don't think it's a wise decision to put the matter to rest, as it signals to those boys they can do whatever they want and get away with it.
It also tells Thami he's right in feeling teachers are not listening to him. He hasn't been able to tell his story at school.

Even when they're in puberty, young people look for rolemodels, and if grown-ups only hush away things like this, they are playing a larger part in the problems of society and school, than they are aware off.
Maybe that's part of the cause of the large numbers of children having problems with trust, social interaction and sticking to the rules of society/impulse control.
We have to show them how life should be lived. And that's certainly not by harrassing others, lying about it and hushing up.

The teacher felt parents and school were standing opposite each other.
That's because we have different goals.
The school wants rest, I want those children to look into a mirror and see there is alternative behaviour.
I want social learning,acknowledgement and justice.

School and parents are opposite, because we feel matters are not dealth with the way they should.

It's not right to offer Thami some sort of hobbycounselling (the mentor wants to do it himself), and leave the other boys alone.

Well, I have to write a mail before tomorrow morning.

And then prepare for another bussy week.

On wednesday we have the meeting about living arrangements of Stef.
The elections, official installment at the band, an information evening, and loads of other work.

Makes me feel like escaping. LOL!

tuesday 14 november

Yesterdaymorning Lars'school had letters to both the person who called us about skipping school and the person who is the intermediary to report this to the council, and who is at the same time the care-coördinator.
Lars had found some rest during the weekend, and he went to school without any problem, had a very good mood. The same today.

Well, yesterday the woman of school called and said to Jim that she had understood that he agreed with her to report Lars to the council.
??? NO!!
And certainly not before talking to us from person to person, from chair to chair.
Lars is not skipping school because he stands up against society, but because he experiences problems both at school and with himself.
So we got an appointment for wednesday, and she said to wait making a decision about involving the council untill after the meeting and information from the psychologist.
Immediately the pressure dropped from my shoulders. I must have grown at least half a meter longer. LOL!

So I devoted some time at looking at the different styles of design for the bagpipes.
Oh my dear, I can't make a choice.
Maybe I should make a poll and have you choose. LOL!
I think I'll make a page to show you which decision needs to be make.

Then Lars (just from school) came inside and told me Thami had called him about having problems in front of the school. 8 boys said they were going to slam him to bits.
The same guys that have been harrassing him at school, threatening him with all sorts of things, and who started a gossip that Thami has a knife and is going to stab someone.

It's a school for special needs...well, none doubts they have special needs.....

I called the school and Lars went there.

Well, Thami arrived home safe, together with Nyo and Lars.
Turned out those boys had been theatening all day long and then waited for him at the byciclestands.
His bycicle was in the bushes. After some toodoo he went home, but the followed him, the went in front of him, and as that was the only way home he had no choice.
He was kicked, pushed, his bike has damage and his ego serious scratches.

School already had a talk with some of the boys, he said.
Within ten minutes after hearing his story, which is quite a job as he can't finish one sentence when he is hyper, I had a mail ready for school. Asking them if they could offer any guarantees, otherwise I would call in the police.

I know the school appreciates to talk with those parents themselves, and not have us to that, and I'm OK with that, as you never know where those boys get their violence from.
But I'm also ready to go to the police, as I'm fed up with the whole situation.
Thami is not a sweetgirly type, but he was wounded on his leg, and I won't accept that.

On top of it all the whole turmoil had created enough stress for Nyo to be stressed too, so we had an awful time with him grunting and yelling.

It was the 13th yesterday, yes?

Got a mail late that evening about the next grande meeting of the band.
We expected a full installation then, but the names of recent members were send, and they were far more recent than we.

Last time I was already surprised not to be on the list.
Well, I expect a message about that today.

sunday 12 november

I'm a bit calmer now.

Yesterday we left the house early, because there was a storm forecast, and we might take the bus.
The garden is rather protected and outside the garden it's sometimes colder, and far more windy.
But it was less cold, for a change, so we decided not to go by bus.
Far too early we had crossed the bridge and biked past the warcementery (remembrance day in England) and looked around us in awe because it was beautiful in the wood.
As that is a rather safe area, with many people with dogs walking, we decided to have a walk too.
Saw wonderful mushrooms and walked a lawn that ended with a haze between the bow of trees, with all colours or orangy brown on the ground.
Every person we passed was greeting, and that was such a pleasant feeling.

We walked for half an hour, and when we stepped on our bycicles, it started to rain!

Then we saw bandmembers going to school too... everyone was al least 15 minutes early, and luckily so was our teacher who has the keys of the school.

I still was stressed and in a coupe of words I informed my fellow students, so they would know I was not fully concentrated.

We played for a while and it went well, and then the teacher came in.
A difficult move he instructed the last time now was fully automatically made, but he wanted me to play it slow.
I couldn't. He showed it, time and time again, and it just didn't reach my brains.
I saw it, and that was it.

Kind of a blackout.

Well, I mailed him later to tell him what was the matter, because I felt bad about it.
And in a way it's suggesting he can invite me for a talk about it, if he wants...

Turned out the person who was going to ask how much the bagpies will cost hadn't done that. But we now know we don't have a choice where we are going to buy them.
Well...I'm not completely happy with that shop, but it's where all the bandstuff comes from.

The uniform is now ordered too, which makes me feel a bit panicky. I still haven't found all the money I need, so I partly can pay and partly have to have a loan.
I'm doing some online TV judgements, and I have collected some money there too... only they pay in irischeques, which are moneychecques that can be used in certain shopped, but not in all.
I have asked them again to pay it in money on the band or on paypal.
They're stubborn... but maybe... they transfer money to __accounts of charity too, so why not to me?

There are a few friends who have given me 5 in return for a chant at their birthday or so...when I'm a fullblown piper. They like the idea of being with me whenever I play, is what one said.
I like that.

When I came home the letter of the school was there. Lars is officially reported to the council.
Included a list of ill days..He was reported absent in september too, when he was ill. Which makes clear he's never turned in the letters to give the reason of his absence.
Ofcourse now the school wants to speak with us. Too late!!!

The council will want a talk too us and him. If he is unwilling or incapable of talking there too, he'll get to court.

And it completely freaks me out!!!

There is a clear line between under and above the age of 12, stating that above 12 they have more responsibility. The fine? 2250 euro.
That means it's far more than my bagpipe...

In the evening the storm became worse. Fierce lightning.
The worst part went over very fast, unusually fast.
I don't like the way the weather has changed.