End-of-Summer Downunder - Jasminum officinale blooming

When ever I see or smell Jasmine I always think of you and your lovely garden.

Sue, my Jasmine is finally starting to look great. It's started covering one side of the new pergola, and it's starting showing lots of flowers once more. I couldn't be happier!!!

It's gorgeous

Thanks Sticki. It's taken quite some times to recover from cyclone damage inflicted on it two years ago. It used to cover the enormous old pergola structure. Now it's starting to grow up almost an entire side of the new pergola, so I'm very happy about that.

When something struggles back like that you can appreciate it even more!

I love the battlers that come out on top!

I like the dandelion that struggles through the pavement! You have to admire that tenacity! Same with children!

Yes that's exactly what I admire most about the children I work with. They work so very hard at their learning, much much harder than students who don't struggle, and often with little reward or recognition ... well apart from mine.

I often think this world recognises and rewards cleverness and responsibility but not necessarily hard work which is a shame.

Too right! Whatever happened to feeling great about just doing your very best.

we should promote that ~ have a 'feel good at doing your best day'

I'd be with you on that one! I do try it with the students that come into the Learning Support room (what I call the Star Room) every day.

I love it when the children trust you and can have a laugh with you! Great aren't they.
I worked with one little boy for three years then he went up to the next school, I saw him a few years later, we laughed and joked, it was as though he was almost my son!

That's what I loved about teaching in a school with a multi-age philosophy. Classes would have two age groups, for example Year 1s and 2s, so when a student came in Year 1 he or she would stay with you for the two years. You got to know the student very well, as well as the family. It was brilliant.

I think that can have positives but equally some challenges, there were one or two characters it would have been very tough to keep for two years. If they had been in a small group or one to one it might have been different but they didn't cope with 29 others!