Mama Beech

I hate being ill.  OK, I know no one actually likes it, but I hate that while my body sweats or vomits or aches or coughs, my brain speeds through 100 things that need sorting that instant due to my absence, AND the several knock on effects that being away from site causes. This past week I was tired - big deal, who isn't!? As we hurtle towards the end of the school year there is no calm wind down...  just the wind UP to the Summer Holidays! There's the leavers production,  the transition days,  sports day,  school fete,  visits,  the Yr6 water fight,  visitors,  and usual curriculum to squeeze in. July = 3 weeks of school, that's 15 days IN school, throw in an inset and couple of strike days and there's a dozen days left! Now it's July 7th, we're down to nine! In Forest School we are not immune to the pace or changes to the norm. The children who are anxious about moving up or moving on, or are just not coping with disrupted routines, bring ...

I hate being ill. I know that no one actually likes it, but for those of us who provide Forest School, being ill usually means an extra little bit of chaos, as there may not be anyone to step into our role, so the organisational fallout of being off sick is something we try hard to avoid! Being outside keeps most of the viruses that circulate School at bay. It strengthens the immune system of the Forest School Leader as well as the children, so luckily for me getting sick is fairly rare. Yep, I get headaches, and everything-else-aches, and the odd cold, but fresh air and over-the-counter painkillers seem to mean 'soldiering on' is easily possible.  This week was a disastrous week for germs to finally catch up with me. It's the last week of term, Celebration Week, a week of campfires and treats, and I did head in ready to do 3 marshmallow toasting sessions, but only survived the morning before I had to retreat home to the duvet... and a sick bowl. When Covid-19 was at its h...