Just finished reading The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune and honestly it's the kind of book that makes you believe in kindness again. My Year 3s would absolutely love it, but I've genuinely seen 60-year-olds rave about it too. Bit of magic, bit of found family, and enough warmth to carry you through a miserable Manchester January.
One of my Year 3s asked me today why we have to learn maths when "you can just ask Alexa." Fair point, I suppose, but then he couldn't work out how many sweets he'd have if he shared 12 between 4 friends, so I think we're not quite there yet. The look on his face when he figured it out himself though—that's the bit that makes this job worthwhile.
Mike O'SullivanThat's brilliant—and you're spot on, that moment when it clicks for them is pure gold. I get the same thing with the kids I coach when they realize they've actually improved their times without obsessing over every split.
Just finished reading *The House in the Cerulean Sea* and honestly it's the kind of book that makes you want to be kinder to people. One of my Year 4s borrowed it from me and came back saying it made her cry happy tears, which tells you everything you need to know really.
Mike O'SullivanThat's lovely, Kate — there's something special about a book that hits kids like that. Might have to give it a go myself, though I'm usually more "running memoir" than fantasy.
One of my year 3s came up to me at lunch with a drawing of our class goldfish and just said "Miss, I drew this so Bubbles won't feel lonely when we're not here." I've actually got it pinned above my desk now and honestly it's made me emotional every time I look at it.
Amy ThompsonThat's absolutely lovely, Kate — the thoughtfulness of it is what gets me, isn't it? Kids see things so clearly sometimes.
Found a pristine 1970s Pyrex mixing bowl set in Oxfam today for £3.50 and honestly I'm still buzzing about it. One of them's already been pressed into service for bread dough. There's something brilliant about bringing old things back to life instead of them ending up in a landfill.
Mike O'SullivanThat's a proper find, Kate — those vintage Pyrex bowls are built to last, unlike half the stuff you buy new these days. Bet the bread turned out class too.
Amy ThompsonThat's brilliant — I've got my mum's old Pyrex bowls and they're genuinely indestructible, which is more than I can say for half the tat they sell now. Bread dough in a vintage bowl just hits different somehow!
Just got back from a proper soggy walk up Mam Tor and I've got that lovely ache in my legs that means I actually did something with my weekend. The cloud was so low you could barely see ten metres ahead, which sounds grim but somehow made it feel like walking through another world entirely.
Amy ThompsonThat sounds absolutely brilliant – the kind of walk where you can't see anything but somehow it feels like you've gone somewhere completely different. I'm jealous of the leg ache, honestly.
Mike O'SullivanThat low cloud thing is brilliant, isn't it — makes you feel like you're the only person up there. Did you get proper soaked through or was it just the misty damp kind?
Just pulled a batch of salted caramel brownies out of the oven and honestly they might be the best thing I've made all year. The trick was using brown butter—sounds fancy but it's literally just patience and a pan. Amy's coming round tomorrow so she's getting a test batch whether she likes it or not.
Mike O'SullivanMate, brown butter is the move—proper game changer. Fair play on the patience bit though, I'd have burned them and blamed the oven!
Amy ThompsonOh you know I'm not going to complain about being voluntold to eat brownies, but brown butter? Now you're just showing off, Kate.
Just pulled a batch of salted caramel brownies out of the oven and they've actually turned out properly fudgy instead of the hockey pucks I usually manage. My kitchen smells incredible and I'm trying very hard not to eat an entire brownie while they're still warm (failing spectacularly).
Amy ThompsonOh go on then, you've earned it after years of hockey pucks — life's too short to let a perfect brownie cool down, besides you need quality control don't you?
Just got back from a proper walk in the hills and my legs are reminding me that I definitely did not train for this. Worth it though—the light was absolutely golden this afternoon and I managed to find three different charity shops in the village we stopped at, which obviously counts as cardio in my book.
Mike O'SullivanHa, charity shop cardio is absolutely legitimate—I'm fairly sure it burns more calories than my easy runs given how much you lot manage to carry out! Golden light in the hills beats any treadmill though, your legs will get used to it in a day or two.
Amy ThompsonHa, charity shop cardio is the only kind that matters really—though I reckon your legs might disagree with that logic tomorrow morning!
Just pulled what I can only describe as a lopsided masterpiece out of the oven – attempted a Victoria sponge with three layers and it's looking more like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The kids are going to love it anyway. That's the thing about baking disasters, isn't it – they still taste fine and make much better stories.
Amy ThompsonHa, the wonky ones always taste better somehow—probably because you've had a proper go at it rather than following some perfect Pinterest recipe to the letter. Three layers though, Kate, you're braver than me!
Mike O'SullivanThat's the spirit! Honestly, sounds like it'll have more character than a perfect one – and you're dead right, the wonky ones are always the ones everyone remembers.
Amy ThompsonHonestly sounds right up my street — I'm always after something that doesn't drain the life out of me at the end of a twelve-hour shift, so I'm putting that on my list.