Today... I am sad

and a little excited too.

Lianne starts secondary school tomorrow. It seems like only yesterday she was crawling through the back garden on her hands and knees, stuffing her face with everything she could find and filling her nappy. Now I find that I am standing here ironing a secondary school uniform and she's getting ready for her first big day and a new big challenge. Yet another milestone, I wasn't quite prepared for...

Good luck Lianne, I'm proud of you, every day, I love you so much.

Farewell Mr Ryder

This is a card I made for Lianne's teacher of Year 6, Mr Ryder. He was one of her favourite teachers and travels a lot during the school holidays to far and distant countries, hence the Indiana 'Ryder' theme. We wanted to put a picture of 'his' face on Indie's shoulders but sadly didn't have time and couldn't find a decent photograph of him despite enquiring at the school office if they had a school photograph of him. Never mind. He loved the card and has blown it up to A4 and laminated it for his classroom wall.

Lianne's Leavers' Disco

See how grown up she looks...

Her Leavers' Disco was just for Year 6 students and she had a great time. They all did. I remember most of them from when they were in Infant school so it was quite nice to see how they had all grown up and matured into gorgeous boys and girls. I wish them all well.

It's Official...

Well, it's official. Lianne has now left Junior School. My beautiful 10 year old daughter (soon to be 11 on Saturday) has finally left Junior School and is growing up quicker than I care to mention. I'm not sure I was ready for this, as I was very tearful saying goodbye to all her friends and teachers on Friday, a bit more than she was I think. She shed lots of tears and when I went to meet her from school to collect her things, they were all in floods.

Myself and Lewis waited by the gate with her and her friends and two lovely big white limousines collected them all and took them on their hour long journey around various places they wanted to visit and then dropped them off at the park where me and Lewis met up with them a few hours later. They were all still crying as we all said our goodbyes and promises to keep in touch. Brought back a lot of memories for me when I left school, although I remember leaving Secondary School more than I remember leaving Junior School. Still, times change and I hope she makes a whole lot of new friends in September, and remembers the ones she has left behind.

Sorry I haven't been around for a while, I have been so busy making wedding invitations and sorting Lianne out these past few weeks, I don't know where all the time has gone...

Keep in touch, Fae xxx

Induction Day...

Last night was Year 6 parents evening at Lianne's new secondary school. We listened to the Headmistress go through her talk and then we purchased Lianne's new school uniform. When we got home she couldn't wait to try it on and although we had purchased the EXTRA SMALL size it still seemed to drown her... ha ha ha!!

Anyway, last night was a preparation for today, as today was Secondary School Induction Day for Lianne and most other Year 6 students in Hertfordshire. I don't know who was more nervous, me or Lianne, when I dropped her off in the School's main hall this morning. She said she was part nervous, part excited and I think I felt a little of that too. She kissed me goodbye and ran into the Hall to meet her other school mates who are moving on with her. As I left, a couple of Year 6's were crying and I felt a bit upset for them. But Lianne seemed happy enough when I left her and as I continued my journey onto work I couldn't help but feel a little sad too...my baby is growing up!

At the end of her school day, I waited anxiously in the Hall with the other Year 6 parents and the Hall doors opened and out they came, all smiling and laughing...and suddenly there she was! BEAMING! Her day had been brilliant. She had made some new friends and couldn't wait for September to get here!

A Sigh of Relief...

Just thought I'd let you all know, Lianne was offered a place at a School today that I am really chuffed about! Thank you all for your support, kind wishes and emails, it's been lovely to know that you are all thinking about me and that you have been praying, keeping fingers crossed (and everything from the sounds of it) as well as sending positive thoughts and best wishes etc.

Thank you all, it's so nice to know that I have such great friends, some of whom barely know me, but thanks all the same. I can open a bottle of wine or two now, and sit back and wait for my lovely daughter to come home so that I can share some good news with her too, she's been waiting for it a long time and I'm so glad that I can finally share some with her.

Thanks again,
Fae xx

Appeal News...

Sorry I haven't been around for a couple of days guys and girls... I had to get Lianne's things packed as she went off to the Isle of Wight on a school trip yesterday and won't be home until Friday, I hope she's having the time of her life and has left all her troubles here behind her.

She did brilliantly on her Race for Life on Sunday morning, she completed the 5k and was a little worn out at the end of it all, but she was very privileged to have taken part and has a medal to prove she completed the challenge. I will take a photograph of her when she returns from her school trip as there was far too little time to do it Sunday evening, as I was preparing for her trip.

Other news is... I got a telephone call from the Headmaster at the school where I work yesterday evening and... unfortunately, my appeal was unsuccessful. I cried for about an hour but I think I am over the worst of it. Although I desperately need a cuddle from Lianne as I am missing her so badly, didn't think I would as she has been away from home before, by going away to America with my mum and nan for a couple of years running, but this time it feels different. I just miss her so much.

I haven't given up on the school front, I am keeping her name on all of the continued interest lists and hope to receive some good news soon. Keeping my chin up and my thoughts positive (it's the only way I can cope!)

Thanks for all of your support.
Fae xxx

GCSE Luck

This card was a request from a work collegue for her son Jamie. She didn't like the High Street cards and wanted a personalised card that would wish him good luck in his GCSE's. She liked it so much that the lady she works with has also requested a similar card for her daughter who's about to sit her SAT's. Good luck to both Jamie and Emily in the next few weeks, I know it's a horrible time and I'm sure you'll both give it your best efforts.

PMA (Positive Mental Attitude)

Well, I've just posted three letters, each stating that I would like to add Lianne to the Schools' Continued Interest list and when I got home I had already received a letter from Lianne's second choice school to state that she was number 41 on their list!! So that's all good!

I am keeping a positive mental attitude to this whole thing and hopefully (as Sarn knows) my belief in fate will come through and if she does get a place at any of her three choices then that's just because FATE has stepped in and she's actually MEANT to go to the school they've allocated her to and that she will probably excel there just as well if not better. I KNOW that this will all end up the way it's meant to be and hopefully she'll be happy.

She went to school this morning with the idea that she was okay with the Admissions decision and therefore she would try and help her friends (who aren't as accepting or happy) to try to come to terms with their emotions and to try and think positively about all the movement that's going to happen between now and September. Ain't she great???

Disappointing...but not sad day!

Well, the results are in! Lianne unfortunately didn't get ANY of her choices!! However, when I broke the news to her she was terribly grown up about it and said, "Don't worry mum, we'll appeal and if I don't get any of my choices between now and September, I'll just go to that school, it was good enough for YOU! (Yes, she got the school I went to back in 1983! Which can't have been that bad as I came away with 9 GCSE's!)

Anyway, like I said, it was disappointing for both of us, but NOT the end of the world AND a few of her class mates got into the same school...

Thanks for your support guys! Really appreciate all of your lovely comments!
P.S. Shaz, I hope your boy did ok in his examination xxx

Apologies...

It's been a busy week and I have to apologise for not posting any new messages during that time. I've been avoiding going online so that I could get my christmas cards done and I have to say I'm very proud of myself as I have made February's target of six!!!

I basically made three designs and made two of each, and I will do the same next month (sorry... this month, I keep forgetting that today is the 1st of March!!!

I will post my three designs shortly but I wanted to apologise for not being around first.

Two days to go before Allocation Day and the tension is starting to show. I can't wait until it's all over on Monday and we finally get to find out which school Lianne will be going to (ubless we go to appeal of course, which we will do if she doesn't get ANY of her three choices, but we'll see on Monday). Watch this space!

Anyway, I'll get my cards on now. Thanks for your patience...
Fae xxx

Well... that's that!

We have completed all the forms for Lianne's top three secondary school's and got them sent off by the deadline. Bless her, the Saturday before last, she had to endure a 3 hours sports, physical test (as one of her choices of school specialises in Sport) and then the Saturday just gone this weekend, she had to complete a 3 hour academic test with Verbal Reasoning (don't ask) and Maths.

I'm really glad that it's all over now, but now we have the waiting game until March when she will (hopefully) be given a place at ONE of her chosen schools. If, IF, she is UNLUCKY and doesn't get any of her chosen three, we then have to go to an appeal process and wait on 'Continued Interest' lists. HELP!!! Please, Please, Please let her get one of her choices, else I know she'll just be heartbroken. More to the point, I think I MIGHT BE TOO! I cried like a baby when I dropped her off at Queens' School to do her academic test. Where has the time gone? It was only yesterday that she was my little fairy, running around the garden in her fairy wings singing like she hadn't a care in the world!!! Boo Hoo!