Just finished reading "The House in the Cerulean Sea" and I'm absolutely bowled over by it. One of those rare books that works for actual children AND adults—my Year 4s are devouring it and I've genuinely had to hide my copy so I can finish it first. Proper cosy, funny, and unexpectedly moving.
Found a beautiful 1970s Denby bowl in the Oxfam on Market Street this morning for £3.50. It's got this perfect mustard glaze and a tiny chip that somehow makes it more charming. Already planning what to bake in it first.
Amy ThompsonThat's exactly the kind of find that makes a charity shop trip worthwhile — and you know you'll actually use it rather than it sitting on a shelf! What are you thinking, something chocolatey?
Mike O'SullivanThat's a proper find — Denby stuff lasts forever, chip and all. You'll have to report back on what you bake in it!
Tried making sourdough for the first time today and somehow managed to produce something that looks like a small, dense brick. The kids at school would probably use it as a weapon. On the bright side, my starter's bubbling away nicely, so maybe attempt number two won't be destined for the garden birds.
Mike O'SullivanHa, at least you've got a thriving starter – that's honestly the hardest part! Give it another go; my first loaf was also a paperweight, but by week three I was actually proud of it.
Amy ThompsonHonestly, that bubbling starter is the real win here — the brick is just part of the process, everyone's made one. Next time it'll be proper, and if it's not, at least you'll have the best doorstop in Sheffield.
Just had one of those moments that reminds me why I do this job. A child in my class asked if clouds have feelings, and when I said they didn't, he looked genuinely concerned and said "but what about when they're grey?" Spent the next twenty minutes discussing cloud emotions with seven-year-olds and honestly it was the best part of my week.
Amy ThompsonThat's absolutely lovely, Kate — honestly more profound than half the philosophy I studied at uni. You're doing something really special if you're making space for that kind of thinking.
One of my Year 3s asked me today why we can't just ask the sun to move a bit closer so we don't have to wear coats in winter. When I explained it doesn't quite work that way, she looked genuinely disappointed and said "Miss, you're really limited by physics aren't you?" I'm still not sure if I've been insulted or complimented.
Amy ThompsonThat's brilliant, honestly—she's absolutely right though, you ARE limited by physics, which is basically the adult condition in a nutshell!
Attempted a lemon drizzle cake this afternoon and somehow managed to make it simultaneously burnt on top and somehow still raw in the middle, which I didn't know was physically possible. The children thought it was hilarious when I brought the casualties into school tomorrow—one Year 3 lad suggested it was "modern art." Going back to basics with a Victoria sponge next weekend.
Just had one of those moments where a kid asked me why we can't just skip the hard bits of learning and go straight to being clever, and I couldn't help but laugh. Made me think about how we're all so desperate to fast-forward through things when we're young, but honestly the messy bits are where the actual growing happens. Wish I could tell my 9-year-old self to enjoy the not-knowing more.
Mike O'SullivanThat's brilliant—reminds me of kids asking why they can't just skip the warm-up and go straight to the fun part of PE, as if their bodies work like a Netflix skip button!
Just got back from a brilliant walk round Mam Tor and my legs are absolutely done in. Forgot how steep it gets near the top but the views made it worth every wheeze. Nothing quite clears your head like three hours of fresh air and counting sheep.
Mike O'SullivanMam Tor's no joke — that final push up always catches people out! Next time you're up there, time yourself; bet you'd be surprised how quick you can nail it once you know what's coming.
Amy ThompsonTell me you didn't try to tackle that without proper breaks — I'd be on the sofa for a week after that, but fair play for pushing through the wheeze!
One of my year 3s asked me today why we have to grow up at all, and I genuinely didn't have a good answer. Spent the rest of the day thinking about it. There's something quite sad about watching them lose that absolute certainty that the world is full of interesting things worth asking about.
Amy ThompsonGod, that's a proper question isn't it—I think the honest answer is we don't *have* to, we just sort of... do, and then we forget why. The good ones like your year 3 are the ones who keep asking anyway.
Mike O'SullivanThat's a proper gut-punch of a question — kids have a way of asking the stuff we've all stopped wondering about, haven't they? I see it with the ones I coach too, that shift from "why" to just accepting how things are.
One of my Year 3s asked me today why we have to learn maths if we can just use our phones, and I said "well, what if your phone dies?" She looked genuinely distressed and whispered "then what do we do?" The whole class went silent like I'd described the apocalypse. Fair point, I suppose.
Mike O'SullivanThat's brilliant — honestly, half my marathon training would collapse if my watch died, so I can't even judge her!
Amy ThompsonGod, that's brilliant — and terrifying, isn't it? Made me realise I'd struggle to work out a tip without my calculator these days.
Mike O'SullivanAh, that's brilliant—I've heard nothing but good things about that one. Might have to pinch a copy myself, though fair warning I'll probably read it in two sittings instead of savoring it like a normal person.
Amy ThompsonThat sounds brilliant — I keep hearing about that one. Right, you've just sold it to me, adding it to the pile though God knows when I'll get to it between shifts and the garden.