I chose Preschool picture books which was a bit of a surprise choice but which I think are under-discussed but are incedibly important for a child's learning and here are some of the elements to take note of.
We will have mulled apple juice which is quite delicious made with cinnaon sticks, orange rind and ginger at least.
Though it might seem that there is not much to discuss the following are just some of the subjects that all successful books cover - obviously not all in each book but many in most.
And here for safety is the serial number for my projector.
And I have a new car with my old one going for a song. New one is same again but 11years younger and with many more buttons.
Luckily did had learnt some of the buttons, called MB immediately and they immediately sorted out replacement tyre.
3rd day of new car!
And so ends January but not happy time for Tom whose relationship has come to an end sadly.
two new games.
1. storyline - must make sense
2. rhythm
3. rhyme
4. counting
5. unusual word - what does that mean?
6. happy ending - baddies never win - no nightmares
7. tension - anticipatory - think how even tiny babies react to peekaboo
8. interaction with child - either - eg where's spot? or where shall we look now? could our dog fit into a basket
9. pictures exactly same as story - 7 ducklings must not be 6 in picture
10. hidden things in the pictures
11. like all good stories three sections, beginning, middle and end - a bit like a three course meal, ending with a satisfactory pudding
12. humour
13. fact or fiction?
14. anthropomorphising?
15. colour
16. size of font and what font? serif or non-serif
17. size of page, card cover, paper cover, gloss or matt, etc
18. morality - may be hidden but almost always there
19. educative - something the child would not have known
20. the cover - does it reflect the story - is it enticing
21. courage/bravery esp in face of bully, stronger adversary
22. adventure - firing imagination - possibilities
23. sadness, suffering comes later when this can be discussed further - eg the snowman which just melts away.
24 probably the most important feature is empathy
Meanwhile Trump has taken Venezuela President Maduro into jail in New York in an attack on Caracas. Who knows what will happen now. Will Putin try to capture Zelenski or Xi claim Taiwan?
Countries are now so interconnected and the powerful so powerful and greedy are we heading for these big men just overrunning other countries because they can. Maduro may indeed be an awful drug lord elected illegitimatly but now the precedent has been set we can but wait. He has also threatened Iran, Greenland and Panama.
Where I have booked to go next month.
I have been learning French on Duolingo for about a year and a half and am now a bit bored with it.
We had our monthly bridge meeting here where I did a lunch of Xmas leftovers. Beef with Brussels on skewers, roast potatoes and pigs in blankets with Xmas pudding and orange cream.
Today 11th is ginger biscuits time and hot apple juice.
A fibre optical cable is being laid in the village so this is what the road outside looks like.
Meanwhile there have been weeks of protests in Iran with probably thousands killed, some executed despite Trump saying he would hit the regime hard, so far just sanctions again. I wonder why regimes seldom take note of protestors demands and just crack down. These authoritarians are invariably old men hanging on to power.
As the month goes on with plenty of murky weather Europe is in turmoil as Trump demands Greenland. It has become a fixation. He wrote to the PM of Norway complaining that he didn't get the Nobel Peace Prize. His henchmen have become more brutal in their attacks on perceived or genuine illegal immigrants. 2026 doesn't look good.
Hot apple juice is a cheerful drink on a day like this.
But I have bought a new car as my old failed the MOT dismally sowhile I had to get it fixed i think it is time to change. Another of the same BUT petrol.
Sold my car for 3200 had to take 50 off as got a puncture yesterday in a pothole.
Now carless for a few days.
HEIDI is 9 today the 25th.
Then off to Wassail in true Gloucestershire style with mulled apple juice, banging of pots and shouting wassail to drive away the evil spirits.
Then guess what coming back from Opheluas flute lesson i hit another pothole and the tyre was written off.
Friend invited me to this which is a treat.
Hundreds of gold finches roosting.
Ambition by me with help and Migration by Heath and Otis.