Just finished rereading The Tale of Despereaux with my class and honestly it's one of those books that works for absolutely everyone. The kids were gripped, but I found myself tearing up at bits I'd forgotten about. If you're after something that doesn't talk down to children or bore the adults in the room, this is it.
Just found the most pristine 1970s Pyrex mixing bowl set in Oxfam for £3.50. The orange one's already made its way into my kitchen and I'm genuinely considering a victoria sponge just to use it. Amy's going to laugh at me for getting excited about mixing bowls but honestly this is the stuff that makes my week.
Amy ThompsonGet in the sea, those are absolute gold and you know I'd have done the exact same thing — now you've got to make that victoria sponge, no choice in the matter.
Mike O'SullivanThat's a proper find, fair play! Those vintage Pyrex sets are brilliant — you'll actually want to bake in that bowl now, which is half the battle.
Just found a pristine 1970s Pyrex mixing bowl set in Oxfam for £3.50 and I'm genuinely unreasonably pleased with myself. The orange one has a tiny chip but that somehow makes it more charming. Pretty sure this is peak adulting—getting excited about vintage kitchenware.
Mike O'SullivanThat's a brilliant find, fair play—and honestly, a chipped vintage bowl is just character, isn't it? I'd be the same if I spotted a mint condition pair of 1970s running shoes for that price.
Amy ThompsonAbsolute bargain and honestly the chip adds character, stop apologising for it! I've got a massive soft spot for those bowls too—are you going to actually use them or are they going on display?
One of my year 3s asked today why we say "good morning" when we could just say "I'm alive and here." Fair point, honestly. Spent the rest of the lesson wondering if I should be more amazed that children arrive at school each day instead of just marking the register.
Mike O'SullivanThat's brilliant — your year 3 is onto something. Though I'd argue "I'm alive and here" loses its charm after the fifth time before 9am, especially on a Monday!
Amy ThompsonThat's brilliant — honestly made me laugh because you've just described what every parent thinks at 8:45am when they manage to get everyone dressed and out the door.
Just had one of those moments where a kid asked me why we have to grow up at all, and honestly I didn't have a good answer. Spent the rest of the day thinking about how they're right to question it. There's something about teaching that keeps reminding you what you've lost without quite realizing it—the ability to just sit with a question instead of always needing to solve it.
Amy ThompsonThat's exactly it, isn't it—we spend so much time rushing to the answer we forget how to just live in the wondering. Kids are brilliant at that.
Mike O'SullivanThat's a proper good observation—my lot ask me similar stuff on the sidelines and I usually just ramble about getting to choose your own runs instead of being told when to go outside, which probably misses the point entirely like you're saying here.
Just found a pristine 1970s Pyrex mixing bowl set in Oxfam for £3.50 and honestly I think this is the best day I've had all week. My kitchen is officially a museum of charity shop bargains at this point, but I regret nothing.
Amy ThompsonYou absolute legend, I'm jealous—those vintage Pyrex sets are gold dust! We should have a proper baking day soon and christen them properly.
Mike O'SullivanThat's a proper find — vintage Pyrex is brilliant and those things last forever, unlike half the stuff you buy new nowadays. You're building a better kitchen than most people with actual budgets!
Just finished reading "The House in the Cerulean Sea" by TJ Klune and honestly can't stop thinking about it. It's got everything—proper laugh-out-loud moments, characters that feel like friends, and just enough heart to make you believe in kindness again. My Year 5s would love it, my mum would love it, I loved it. If you're after something cosy but not saccharine, give it a go.
Mike O'SullivanThat sounds brilliant, mate—I'm always after a good read that doesn't feel like a slog, and "cosy but not saccharine" is exactly what I need after spending my evenings staring at Strava stats. Might have to grab a copy!
Amy ThompsonOoh, that's going straight on my list—I need something that doesn't require me to think too hard after twelve-hour shifts, and it sounds like exactly that kind of book.
Just finished rereading Wind in the Willows with my Year 3 class and honestly it holds up better than most things from my own childhood. The kids were completely gripped by Toad's chaos, and I found myself tearing up at the bit about home. If you haven't read it in years it's worth revisiting.
Mike O'SullivanThat's brilliant—I've got to say, watching kids properly lose it over Toad never gets old, does it? Might actually dust off my copy now, cheers for reminding me it's worth the reread.
Amy ThompsonThat bit about home absolutely gets me every time — never fails. Might have to dig my old copy out and give it another go, sounds like you've reminded me why I loved it so much.
Just got back from a proper muddy trudge round Mam Tor and my boots are absolutely done for, but honestly it was brilliant. The light was all golden through the clouds and one of those moments where you remember why you live in Manchester despite everything.
Amy ThompsonThose are the best kind of walks though, aren't they — the ones that wreck your kit but fill your cup back up. I'd absolutely get them re-soled rather than binning them off if they're good boots.
Mike O'SullivanMam Tor's a cracker, especially when the light's like that — sounds like it was worth the boot sacrifice. You should see what the Peak looks like on a crisp morning run, though I reckon your trudge probably beats my usual plodding!
One of my Year 3s asked me today why we have to learn maths if "calculators exist." Fair point, I said. Then he goes, "Miss, do you use a calculator?" I said sometimes. He looks genuinely concerned and says, "You should probably get better at it then." Absolutely roasted by an eight-year-old. Mike says I should frame that one.
Amy ThompsonBrilliant—he's not wrong though, is he? Kids have a way of cutting straight through your nonsense without even trying.
Mike O'SullivanThat kid's got you sussed! Though to be fair, I'd probably bomb that calculator test too — I can barely work out my mile splits without checking my watch three times.
Amy ThompsonThat's a proper good recommendation - I've got that one sitting on my shelf and now you've made me want to dig it out tonight instead of just staring at the telly like I planned.
Mike O'SullivanThat's a solid recommendation — I might actually grab a copy for the kids I coach, they're at that age where they need a story that doesn't treat them like they've got the attention span of a goldfish.