So what a happy coincidence that we’re off on one tomorrow :).
I worked this morning and it was really busy. Wednesday’s often are actually as the library is only open 930am-1pm – most of Lancing still closes on Wednesday afternoons as used to be the case in lots of towns I think. So we have to pack all the normal days stuff into four hours (staff start at 9am although the library doesn’t open til 930) like unpacking the days delivery, processing anything on it and packing up stuff ready for collection tomorrow to go to other libraries. It’s the one shift I work where noone seems excess to staffing requirements either as we normally run with 4 people on – one to man the counter, one the enquiry desk, one to shelf returned books and one floating. Today I was supposed to be shelving first thing, then on the counter (issuing new books and discharging returned ones) and then on the enquiry desk, but I was all over the place as and when needs arose. We had loads of children in for the BWR so that desk was being hot-desked by whoever was free at the time, which meant the counter or the enquiry desk was often unmanned. It’s so nice to have been there long enough now to be able to deal with most things – even basic stuff like the printer running out of paper when everyone else was busy so I just fumbled around with it til I worked out how to reload it without having to interupt someone else. I did six lots of BWR chatting to children – a real contrast between them all. I had one boy who had read all six books and come in for his medal and other bits and pieces, one childminded brother and sister who made me really sad. They don’t belong to the library but the childminder really wanted them to join in the BWR so brought them in but said to me that she’s tried to get their parents to come in and join them to the library but they have the attitude that if they are paying her to childmind them then she should take care of all of it. The little girl was really sweet, bright, articulate, really fluent reader who clearly adored books and happily chatted away to me about her choices but her little brother was a really unpleasant child who sat being rowdy, wouldn’t talk to me when it was his turn to do his books but wanted to interupt her all the time when she was talking about hers, demanded pens and paper to do more colouring after I’d kindly given him one lot to shut him up while I talked to her and then stabbed the felt pen down until the nib went in despite me asking him about four times not to do that please. And then went off and left all the lids off ON PURPOSE. Git! I often think that we don’t spend enough time reading aloud with D & S but actually seeing how passionate my children are about books and stories in comparison to some of the children who come in the library we’re clearly doing a whole lot more than a lot of parents. And the children – it’s shocking how unable to talk to grown ups they are, they can only be rude or shy, so few of them are happy to chat away and talk to us. I found myself having to really drag things out of two boys today and ending up talking to them like really little children in what even I considered a patronising tone and then when they left realised they were actually older than Davies and Scarlett at 5 and 7 – I couldn’t imagine talking to D&S or indeed any of the other children I actually know like that – they’d look at me like I was mad! Now I understand why teachers and childcare workers have to adopt that sickly sweet tone and ask seven year old to be ‘quiet like bunnies’ or ‘if you were an animal what sort of animal would you be?’ because I found myself resorting to similar measures 😯
I came home for lunch and then took Davies and Scarlett with me up to Truleigh Hill for a look round the room sizes etc. for December NicCamp. There was stunning downs and sea views all the way up there which made me feel a bit better about having booked a holiday just 5 miles from home. The rooms are all decent sized although the living area is a bit on the small side, but I’m sure we’ll have a great time there, so aside from a few small ironing out matters which I’ll deal with when we get back next week that is all in hand and sorted. 🙂
We came home and Lucy and The Rs came back again, having been here all morning looking after Davies and Scarlett while I worked. Scarlett and Rebecca cleared up Scarlett’s room after some ritual trashing of it which had it looking like it had been ransacked by burglars – I hate it when children just trash a place, I can deal with mess made by playing with stuff, but just chucking bedclothes on the floor and throwing toys around for the sake of it really pisses me off. 🙁 They did a good job in the end with some assistance from Lucy though. I realised I’d missed Lucy’s birthday last week so felt like a crap friend for that, particularly when I discovered she’d spent the morning here looking after D&S while I worked 🙁 Will do something belated for you Luce, I promise :oops:.
Ady came home, Lucy and The Rs left, Davies and Scarlett came in and had some tea and then went off to bed while I packed clothes etc. and Ady loaded the car up ready to go in the morning. We had a really late dinner (but it was lovely – sausages from Jimmy’s Farm brought for us by one of Ady’s work friends) and I’m about to unplug myself from my laptop and go to bed. Back in a week 🙂
enjoy your holiday!
Comment by Liza — 09 August 2007 @ 1:06 am
Yes, have a fab time away 🙂 Hope the sun shines!
Comment by Sarah — 09 August 2007 @ 7:30 am
yup have fun 🙂 Sorry we can’t get down to visit.
Comment by layla — 09 August 2007 @ 8:49 am
Jimmys farm is 10 mins away from me. Lovely lovely meat from there YUM.
Have a great time, and I hope niccamp isn’t in december, will make for a rather belated bonfire night 🙂
Comment by Em — 09 August 2007 @ 9:11 am