Invasion By Flocks Of Birds?

Another bright sunny day that started rather cold. As predicted there must have been flocks of all sorts of birds flying around judging by the 'sightings' my class recorded on their bird watching walks around the grounds. Never mind, the object of the exercise was to have a go and be enthusiastic not to make a scientific survey.

I finally got fed up with mud being dragged into the classroom after each playtime and the resultant chaos as the children change out of their shoes especially as they are not even allowed on the field (we do have our no-mow which is so much better) so now we have a sign that reads Muddy shoes = miss a playtime. That should solve the problem. The fine weather continued throughout the day with some children not even bothering to wear their jumpers out in the playground. And in the afternoon the illusion of a summer's day was added to by a performance of morris dancing by the Ilfracombe Red Petticoats morris dancers. The jingle of the bells and the jolly sound of the melodion (a little accordion) and a trombone put me in mind of a summer fete. They gave a short talk first which was quite interesting, at least for us adults. I hadn't realised there were different types of morris dancing, this lot danced in the North West style which originated in the mills around Manchester and features little wooden sticks with bells and swingy rope things as well as these big hoops. The morris men who dance at the Green Man festival dance in the Border style with blacked up faces and coats made from strips of rag or cloth while the morris men who wear mainly white outfits and wave handkerchiefs are dancing in the Cotswold style. There are even some who dance with swords. After several dances they they picked some of the children to come up and learn a dance. A nice way to end a Friday afternoon. A stock photo of the Red Petticoats dancing in Braunton. Note the traditional wooden soled clogs.