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Well done Isaac on your award for your GCSE results. 

Mr Baugh's jacket caused smiles as did Mr Goodwin's effusive praise of the incredible breadth of Isaac's general knowledge.  

My new phone is finally working but Jude will have to wait as his new SIM card is too big! 

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Happy birthday John xx

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It's Jude's birthday - 14 today! 

Lots of smiles opening presents, eating cake and playing silly games! 

And these ducks and geese made me smile this morning. 

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First mince pie of the year. Delicious! 

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When your son goes off to a debating competition and texts to say it was going well until his team realised that speaking for the opposing team was ... Malala who proceeded to interrupt their argument with "points of information" that were quite ferocious in their vehemence. They lost but not before the headteacher got Malala's autograph 'for his daughter'. 

In other news, a translation competition for eldest and a trumpet exam. got the youngest, and (very good) reports all around. 

Oh, and a rather tasty omelette. 

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I love it when children who find school work really tricky are rewarded for their efforts with success. Happened today in Y5 when several of the 'low ability' children did a brilliant job of describing a monster in Spanish and hardly made a mistake because they listened to my advice and followed it, using the chart as instructed.

A 'smiling' stingray from last week.

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Biggest smile of the day reserved for excellent news about a colleague who is ill after weeks of (incorrectly) bad news.

Other smiles:

The enthusiasm of the language leaders. 

The child who, when I thanked him for opening his planner to the correct page for me to sign, said "I am a blessing!"

Triarama madness. 

Sitting down to relax and thinking that it must be time for bed and discovering that it was only 8pm. 

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Thought for the day:

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Proud Mummy moment. Jude not only played in three of the six bands/ensembles in tonight's concert at the Adrian Boult Hall in Birmingham but also had a solo. The concert was in memory of his music teacher at Plantsbrook who died last year and I know he would have been a proud of Jude too. 

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Sad to say goodbye to Rous and Martita but smiled when I discovered that not only is there an article in the Tlaxcala paper about my colleague and I visiting but also a picture that describes us as 'distinguished teachers' :)

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Love Martita's smile. So bright it illuminates the room. Or the underground! 

We've had a great time in London today. 

Lorry spoils selfie ;)

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Introducing my Mexican friends to curry! We enjoyed the Boldmere Street Festival but they needed to sit down to eat! 

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Fish and chip supper? Yes please! 

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Sonrisas a Cadbury World y en el centro de Birmingham. 

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Cold hands but warm hearts at the Sealife Centre. A delightful experience. 

And I love this photograph. We were like little girls in that tunnel! 

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Rous and Martha arriving from Mexico made me smile broadly. As did the subsequent 'how fast can you complete the Mexican states jigsaw' competition between the boys and our visitors. Isaac reigned supreme! And my apple crumble was a hit which, as a reluctant and not very skilled cook, pleased me no end!

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Catching up on Les Revenants (I'm four weeks behind!) And I've got chocolate! 

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A beautiful evening for a run. Worth the wait! 

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An improvement? 

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The Bridge will be back soon! 

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"Love is what makes you smile even when you're tired"

A quotation from a child when asked what love is. 

I can really identify with that today! 

Good to get out for a run though. 

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A smiley potato from Emily! 

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Mexican jigsaw. 

A smiley piece of wood. Sort of ;)

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It's good to be home 

And find my boys wrestling on the carpet as I walked in the front door! 

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Going to miss 'el kiosko' and Santa Ana Chiautempán. 

Going to miss Colehio Esperanza and Popacatapetl watching. 

Adiós México

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What a lot of laughs this afternoon. I got so confused switching languages that I started translating English into English at one point. And the balloon!

Going to miss Alan and his Mum!

And a very special evening with Ana Gloria and family. Muchas gracias 

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So many laughs in Chignahuapan! 

Cheerleading.

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A lovely welcome.

Music maestro. 

Making friends with the police!

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Our one eyed taxi driver.

New friends at the bus station who loved our English accents! 

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For the next week I'm just uploading pictures as I'm in Mexico and don't have much time.  So many smiles though!