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I'm afraid I'm one of those people that sheds a tear at almost anything and this afternoon was my little sprogs nativity.  As she is in year 5 and in 'Upper School'  (and all grown up!!!) her important role was singing and taking care of the Kings :)

There they were, the littlies, with tea-towels on their heads, red velvet curtains for the Kings robes getting their words spectacularly wrong, Mary cried because her dress kept slipping and Joseph but his arm around her to comfort her.  It is just a wonderful sight to behold, the Narrator couldn't say Bethlehem she kept saying Bethanyhem, the whole experience was just a wonderful seasonal moment.

Then it dawned on me that last year was the last time I would see either of my girls taking part in the Nativity - another milestone!!  This is also the first year when neither of them believes in Santa!!!

Oh dear I'm reminiscing now :)

Then came the staff's interpretation of Dick Whittington and magnificent it was too,  the male staff especially played wonderful Dames and the children truly enjoyed the spectacle :)

I never get to see my kids doing anything.  It is the lot of a teacher to see everybody elses kids perform but not to get to see your own.

Glad you enjoyed yours.

PS do not give my school any ideas about doing a panto. ;D

I think the teachers should put one on for the kids  ;D   Oh yes I do  :)

I'm sorry you get to miss your own sprogs nativity Clanger, my OH has never been able to make to the Christmas Concert either.  All changes when they get to secondary school, their concert is tomorrow evening so atlast he will be able to show his face.

Shame about you not doing a Staff Panto, where was it you taught again Clanger?

I've just had a  flash of inspiration HOW ABOUT VIRTUAL A4A PANTO.


How about Babes in the Wood, Derek the Fox as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Clanger as the Dame, Wardy would have to Direct cos we would need a feisty type to keep you lot in order, now..............who for Robin Hood and Maid Marian....................I'll do Wardrobe ;D

I may be a Bah Humbug, but why do neither of your children believe in Santa ? We kept ours going, surprisingly, up to about the age of 9, because we told them they get presents from 3 sources, parents, family and friends, and Santa. Santa's presents were always at the end of the bed, and somehow we always managed to get them out without waking anyone ... As the oldest started to twig, we told him it was unkind to shatter the belief for the younger siblings ...

The youngest is 16 now, so I can revert to my Bah Humbug ...

Derekthefox :D

They are 12 and 10  and youngest only found out this year!!!!!

Yep we did the 3 sources for pressies thingy too, Santa's were always in a stocking at the end of the bed and family and friends were downstairs - meant that we got a little longer in bed cos they opened Santa's pressies first then came through to show us what they had received ;D

I love school Nativity's, memories flooding back! Your will probably find this quite amazing - I have never believed in Santa! Dan :-)

It's odd you know, my 21 year old has never asked whether "he" exists or not.  ::)

I could never understand why my parents never gave us presents at christmas.  :D

I've got my daughter's first ever nativity next week. I've been asking around and think I've found a video camera I can borrow. And I can't wait! She's going to be the "Angel Goldriel" and has lines - she's so excited! She's been practicing loads of songs and all the wrong words have me roaring with laughter - but trying not to let her see.

I am a big softie too.  Followed the procession in our St. Nicholas's Festival at the weekend and had to control myself listening to the children singing carols.  Then the Salvation Army Band played and that really cracked me up, tears just filled my eyes.  I was always very moved when my children were young and in plays or nativity's, it is such a lovely time,  - treasure it.  We still believe in Santa in our house and my children of 31 and 28 still set Santa's tray on Christmas Eve and hang up the pillow cases. So Christmas is alive and well in our house.  :) busy_lizzie

And the PC Brigade want to banish all these little gems into oblivion

But we ain't going to let them are we?

I saw a short video clip of my, almost, five year old Granddaughter today ...she played Mary in the school nativity...no fear at all but the headscarf kept slipping over her eyes.. she's a little gem...takes after me of course  ;D

Derek

Derek

Have yet to see mine this year, It's next week, but so far I've been informed that Jesus was shot, and it's not Jesus the Messiah, It' Jesus the Slide.. ??? Maggie's a wife, but doesn't know whose. ::) Daniel's doing breakdancing and Jack is Dr What...   ??? will be going with hand to clamp round mouth to stop giggling attack! And can't wait!  ;D ;D ;D

Plocket. Beg, steal or borrow a video camera. I have so many videos of the Grandchildren. Have also got films of my kids but they are on the old cine camera and have to be put through a  projector. I think they can be changed to video but quite expensive and I have so many.


Derek. You didn't have to mention it!!! We would have known she takes after her Grandad :) :)

Come on Lorna...you are not going to really deprive me of the chance to brag are you.

I have three Granddaughters and a Grandson, two daughters and, of course, the Governor...as you can see I am well and truly outnumbered...constantly fighting a rearguard action here.

Derek

My daughter has a starring part as the Rainbow Fish in the school nativity :o (yes the one in the bath book with the pretty scales). So we have Mary, Joseph, the 3 Kings misc angels & shepherds, an octopus, Rainbow fish, skates, rays, angel-fish.................

I don't know what whoever wrote it was on..................although I did have some mushroom wine once, maybe it was that -mind you I was in no state to put pen to paper.

Jeremy

Quote from: Derek on December 06, 2005, 19:39:53
And the PC Brigade want to banish all these little gems into oblivion

But we ain't going to let them are we?

I saw a short video clip of my, almost, five year old Granddaughter today ...she played Mary in the school nativity...no fear at all but the headscarf kept slipping over her eyes.. she's a little gem...takes after me of course  ;D

Derek

Derek

What evidence do yo9u have for this.  I regard myself as being PC - some on here may dispute that.  I find a lot of the extreme stories about political correctness are generally just made up by the Daily Mail.

Erm me?? Ish?? Go easy with me, rarely enter the fracca!! But I'd also heard on radio 4 ( there that shocked you!) that some schools were not doing Nativity plays, so they didn't upset the other religions. Though from what I can gather, they all love it too....OK, have eyes shut, and am ready for it!! Be gentle!! :-\

Nah - trust Radio 4 with me life so if they are saying it it must be true.  You won't catch John Humphries reading the mail you know.

Phew!!! Am relaxing shoulders in relief!! Mmm, OK, think you may have created a monster, Clanger, will go round blasting opinions at all now.... ::) ;) John Humphtries, awww, if he were  younger....grrrrrr in an mmmm kinda way.. ;D ;D I have strange tastes....

Everything on Radio4 is true - including The Archers.

Glad it isn't just me that gets all emotional when the sprogs are performing.  I cry when they do their class assemblies, I gush when dauhgter number one does her disco dancing at her dance club and I cry tears of pure joy when I hear the two of them practising their Christmas songs and making the words or tunes up and laughing proper from the belly, laughter!

Daughter number one is angel 3 in the infant nativity and son number one is the narrator in the reception nativity - he really wanted to be a King as 'Kings are awesome mummy', but his teacher told him how important his role is as without him, nobody would know the story.

I will video it, and take snaps, and cry into my hanky.  My darling will see our sons show with me, but we will see daughters seperately, me the afternoon show, him the evening performance.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! ;D

I love going to see my boys in their nativity plays, the school they are at always gets everybody a part, which is why we've had elephants, tigers, lions and zebra's as well as the usual donkeys and sheep in the stable. It's funny how the jungle animals also make an appearence in the Harvest Festivals, maybe I missed something when I was at school ???

Delilah, glad to know that we were not the only ones to maintain the magic for as long as possible, our children seem to be very well adjusted anyway, so I don't think we have introduced any major traumas for them. Our eldest has requested we buy him a goat, (for the third world - a goat would cause a riot in his student accommodation).

Derekthefox :D

It can't be 'just' the Daily Mail RC...Political Correctness is all around us everyday..can't really miss it.

Oh for the days of simplicity

Derek

Oh Derek.....I find that statement deeply offensive.....  have no idea why, but will come up for a reason later.... ;D ;)

Yes but PC equates mainly to politeness and treating people correctly.  There are a few extreme measures taken by people on the loony left that are ridiculous which are blown out of all proportion and made to seem like the general rule by the right wing press and a few that they just make up.  The Sun and the Mail were famous during the eighties for going round waste paper bins in Strasburg and digging out proposals that didn't get past the first stage and declaring them as the next 'bonkers' Euro legislation about cucumbers and suasages - it suited the aims of Thatcherism at the time.

RC

Politeness and treating people correctly was instilled into me by the family whilst growing up ....there wasn't a need for the authoritarian (I agree often ridiclous) approach by the so-called PC brigade in today's world.

Blaming a particular political party is not necessarily correct as history denotes that there is very little difference between them on this issue

On a much lighter and pleasant note I have seen pictures of my youngest granddaughter (18 months old) in her nativity play...apparently her sister (almost 5) who was there thinks she's a star

Derek

And bet she is too!! Can't wait to see mine now! Dan's getting really good at moonwalking and I'm not!! Keep falling over!
If you're brought up with the need to respect others, then I don't even see the need for PC. I still tremble when I see a police officer, and can barely look the headmaster in the eye! Keep forgetting I'm not 6 now....

I consider myself very lucky, for Coventry is a 'multicultural' city. There are very few racial, ethnic and religious problems really, and the environment is fairly rich in cultural activities. I don't really think about being PC as we are all human and have our own little stances on things. Organisations though, need to consider the bigger picture, and my college is an example of how it tries to be PC, because it is heavily criticised if it gets it wrong. Most of it relates to equal access, irrespective of background. This does lead to problems, whereby students can demand to go on courses where they lack the basic numeracy and literacy necessary, by declaring they will also acquire those basic skills. This rarely works in practice, and just takes places which other more worthy students are denied.

On the subject of moonwalking ... I saw a lad moonwalking on iceskates at the local rink, that has got to be the coolest technique ever ...

Derekthefox :D

We're having enough problems on the kitchen floor, Derek, let alone strapping him to two pieces of metal and shoving him onto the ice...I dread to think!!!  ;D ;D ;D ;)

Ha ha ha yes the mind boggles ... gosh, to think I was such a boring person before I joined this site ...

Derekthefox :D

Twas the Christmas Fayre tonight after school - another joy, got 6 books for £1.00, 2 puzzles for 50p and a cup of coffee, mince pie, 2 oranges squashes and 2 buns for another quid.

Bargain of a night and we got to see the teachers dressed up in silly costumes again ;D

Well, am now off Christmas shopping, have crash helmet on, roller blades and cushion firmly tied to butt, fell down slope on way to school this am... ::) ;) am fine, though would have preferred not have had 3 bin men cracking up...if you don't here from me by tonight, send out a searchparty.....

Good Luck Lottie - I can't imagine anything less pleasurable :(  Hope you get it all done today then you've won't have to brave the crowds again :)

Delilah. If only one of us lived nearer UC we could set up an "escort" thingy for her to avoid any more mishaps. As I have said before it could only happen to UC. Still she is good for a laugh ;D ;D

Wardy, yes Christmas shopping is a real nightmare for me too, I have my father's gifts already chosen, nice simple stuff, but I have to think of several gifts for my wife, and no clues at all, the poundshop is not inspiring this year. (Before you think me a skinflint, we get each other a sackful of cheap presents, leaving the expensive stuff for in the sales ...).

Lorna, you are right about Lottie, someone has to keep us entertained ...  ;D

Derekthefox :D

OMG!OMG!OMG!!!! Never ever again, never, ever, never....ever!! My poor butt! And the town had people in it!!! Everywhere......am running off to TM's dream house and squatting.....did get a nice pair of socks though..... ::) ::) And thanks for all your kind offers of supervision, I feel that they best way to go, is to draw up a rota...Wednesday's are particularly fraught, and Thursday's, Friday's can be tricky....mmmmm ???

Ha ha Wardy, my wife has enough clothes to fill a warehouse !!! It is not possible for someone to wear that many clothes ... I think she has realised though and is starting to bag them up for the charity shops ... I tend to just buy token stuff as I have already said, perhaps a warm fluffy hat etc. I have already visited the pound shop and experienced the same hell as described by lottie, knees bashed by pushchairs and baskets etc, and my glasses knocked off by people trying to reach across me. Grrrr. Got a few little kitchen oddments that will amuse my wife, she is always into kitchen gadgets. And also some foodie goodies too. Stuff to fill her santa sack. I will have to brave the other discount stores another time, not something I am relishing.

Derekthefox :D

I am cooking xmas dinner on Sunday for 16.  The out laws are going to Sri Lanka on Monday for 2 months so OH volunteered me to cook.  Went to Morrisons to get bits and bobs and I have to say I think there should be a law against incondsiderate parkers.  Single people who park in the parent and child spaces and also 4x4 who just abandon their car diagonally across  2 spaces.  I want one of those magic blippers that turn their headlights on so that when they get back their car wont start.
Back on topic ....... I ran our Xmas carol campfire last night at cubs. It was great.  I wrote a poem that the kids all had a part in and then went on holiday.  Got back yesterday morn, went to cubs and one of the other leaders had sorted out all the costumes for the lads.  They were brilliant.  Then they all sang happy birthday to me and presented me with a birthday cake with a picture of a Baggy on it.  Really good time was had by all.

Awww Baggy, it sounds like you had a wonderful time, I hope you weren't overcome when they sang happy birthday and brought you that cake ...  :)

Derekthefox :D

Sounds great Baggy, hope you had a good hols, good luck for Sunday, the most I've ever cooked Chrimbo dinner for was 13 and that was plenty!!!! :o

Sounds wonderful,  Bags!! Glad you had a good time, though if I had to cook for that many....well, doesn't bare thinking about...

Today was the final festive school event - Christingle Service.  ;D

This year it was held at our local church instead of at school, and lovely it was too, the children were singing their little hearts out to Christmas Carols faster than the organist could play them, twas highly comical.   ;D

What I love about children singing is that they have absolutely no inhibitions atall, there they were singing at the tops of their voices loving every minute of it while the parents were so self conscious only a handful of us were singing - Yes I was singing :o, not a pretty sound, but Abbie gets quite upset if I don't  :( and we can't have that can we ;)  So I try my hardest to keep in tune, quite unsuccessfully I may add, making a fool of myself trying to convince myself that I'm not bothered what anybody thinks when my mother :o, my mother I ask you suggests that perhaps I should sing a little more quietly :( :(