My science class at the nearby Senior Center...................

I started this class, at the request of Peggy (aged 97) and Carol (aged 83 ) in February, 2018, thinking I could lead science discussions on a range of topics, for, say, three weeks, or, perhaps, six weeks at the most.

6 people came to the first session.............the right number for a class...

It's now the end of 2018..............and the class continues!!

Everyone loves sharing their knowledge and their enthusiasm.

I'm now looking forward now to more energising science discussions throughout 2019. The topics vary, but the best and most animated sessions happens when I give everybody a tin and ask them to find sometvhing of interest to put inside, bring to the class, and tell them what they have found.

Yesterday I found............

Can anyone help me?

I co-authored a book with Dorothy, YESTERDAY I FOUND, in 1971, when we were working with David Hawkins at The Mountain View Centre for Environmental Education, in Boulder, Colorado...................and I would like to get it republished.

Does anyone know of any publisher who might be interested?

It's a really good description of a super teacher's upper junior classroom science and, I think, would be of great interest to elementary school teachers today.

Mother Nature

MOTHER NATURE

This morning, as I was clearing out the ashes from last night's fire, I heard a thump at the window. 

'Oh, no,' I thought, not a bird flying into the window...........and, sure enough lying on the ground was the most beautiful bird, prostrate. I opened the door, picked up the poor little feathery delight, hoping I could massage it back to life. 

But, no, it was gone............gone to join the stars.

I laid it on the table, reassuring myself that, at least, its pasing was quick.........I went to the garage and selected a tin in which to bury it. 

Jeannine was in the kitchen..........I told her to go to the front window ...........she did and I heard her shout, "John, John, come quick!"   

 "Crikey," I thought.........."what's happening now?"

 I got to the window just in time to see the biggest hawk picking up the dead bird and flying off to the nearby tree. I assumed that earelier the bird was so frightened by the hawk that it flew off as fast as it could, straight into the window.

So, it was a Free Hawk breakfast..............hey, hey, Mother Nature................why didn't you make all birds vegetarians! 

And us humans, too, for that matter.

NOVEMBER 1st Hey, I'm blogging again....

THURSDAY November 1st

A cold but BEAUTIFUL morning.

After a very painful double kneecap removal, July 31st,  and stressful recovery, my brain is partly back in action...........so, I'm writing again............forgetting things but journaling in my notebook, keeping my diary/calendar up to date, trying to bring my second memoir to a conclusion (my 17 years as a Headmaster/ principal of two schools in the UK), and creating/continuing a file on the agenda items of my most enjoyable Monday morning science class at the local senior center............

We'll see how it goes.

This morning, the 1st November, I have some spare time so I've cleared out the fireplace, fetched wood and placed it by the fireplace, , fed Bertie and Fifi, filled and taken outdoors the trash can, watered all the plants with rainwater, and now I'm sitting and typing on my brand new Chromebook - which I love as its so light........................and so easy to use.

Then I went to physical therapy for an hour..................tough but I know my knees need it.

FRIDAY November 2nd.

Up and ready early for the day ahead, I got in the car just as the sun was blinking on the horizon. I was in Lamy at 7.30, watching the countryside light up for the day ahead. It was BEAUTIFUL to sit in the car, munch a donut I'd picked up from the gas station, and sip my tea.

At half past 9, I went to the Senior Center and played bridge for a couple of hours.

SATURDAY November 3rd.

After buying a couple of donuts from the gas station, we took the long drive to Albuquerque by way of Galisteo...........................fabulous.

SUNDAY November 4th

Needed to test the strength in my legs,  we went for a hike.... About a mile in rough, beautiful countryside.........I did it!!
I'm getting there!