Merry Christmas 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, this is Christmas 2012.

With all the talk of ‘Round Robin’ letters being unwelcome and seen as ‘boasting letters’ I have decided to desist. I know it was never my intention.  I do love hearing what everyone is up to and how they have got on – especially the children as they grow up and find their place in the world. We are rightly proud of them but only want to share that with those who enjoy hearing about them.

 

So, our year! We have remained pretty fit and, apart from the usual ‘over 60’ stuff have enjoyed a really good time. We could complain about the weather but I really can’t be bothered. I remember some lovely sunny days and a lot of fun. At the beginning of the year Heather had some fun down in the Falklands, visiting penguins and seals in that vast area.

I decided to buy our ‘Sue’ to complete a set of 4 labradors. We now have Molly, Teasle, and Bramble (Teasle’s daughter) and the white chocolate – with a hint of Madagascan vanilla – Sue.

In May we made up for being apart when we all went over to Tuscany for a lovely week’s holiday.  I rented a beautiful villa overlooking the beautiful Tuscan hills, with flashes of Tolkien in the distant ‘Mordor’, the adjacent ‘shire’ and an ‘enchanted forest complete with Unicorn’.  All the family and partners came along and we had a really lovely family holiday. We did a little sightseeing, a lot of relaxing and really enjoyed Mediterranean family meals out on the terrace and overlooking the valley.  A final day in Pisa completed the week as we journeyed home.

On our return we collected our pack and fetched them home ready for Teasle to produce a lovely litter of 10 puppies in June. That was, as ever, hard work – especially with the rains! I have to admit that puppies in wet weather is less fun than puppies and sunny days. All went to lovely homes and happily there are a few that are learning to work – very well. I get to see a few of them at training which is lovely.

 

September was planned to be back to normal and off for a wonderful holiday to Northumberland. We looked forward to having long walks and training with the dogs on a farm with fields, woods and a pond.  The coast was close by and we would catch up with Heather who stayed with us and travelled back and forth to work at Boulmer.  Even better, the lovely ladies there said Alistair could fly his airoplanes in the field. we borrowed a dog trailer from Gaynor and managed to get everything including Darcey, the puppy still living with us and had an absolutely wonderful week away. Darcey went to her forever home in October when we had our preChristmas for Heather.

 



Later in the year, unfortunately, my dad did fall and had a few weeks in hospital.  He is now back on his feet but, at 93 years old is, naturally, needing more help and support.

Alistair continues to enjoy his radio controlled flying although the weather puts a damper on that as it just isn’t possible in the rain and sever cold.  However, there is hope of some indoor flying if Santa comes up with the goods ;)

My hobby, of course, continues whatever the weather. I now have the enjoyment of teaching the beginners’ class with my wonderful friend and trainer, Gaynor. We have a lot of fun and it is great to see the girls working. Walking and training them keeps me out of mischief and keeps me fit!

Our Christmas will be one or two light as Heather is out in Afghanistan. We had one preChristmas Christmas before she went, with everyone home, but we will miss her over the Christmas week. We are missing her a lot although technology helps, with Whatsapp, emails and Skype (lovely to see her, but the webcam does me no favours!) keeping us in touch and blueys and parcels, while they take rather longer to arrive, are much appreciated. Zoe is now flying for Virgin and will be off to New York on Christmas day. Zoe’s husband, Shane will also be flying so their Christmas will be much like Alistair’s used to be. Stuart continues to enjoy his work and will be sharing Christmas with his lovely girlfriend, Ingrid’s family. 

We will be a quiet threesome on the 25^th,  although we will make sure there are a few bubbles to keep us going; the rest of the family will be coming on up over the next few days for a 3^rd Christmas on 28^th which will be our ‘real’ Christmas. We will have a great time.

Come the 31^st I am determined to stay awake and drink in my 62^nd year!!!  More bubbles :) Another fabulous year  ahead with the wonderful Alistair, my fabulous family and friends as well as my four legged pals.

 

 

 

MOOCs, blogs and WIKIs

OK, having been to a fascinating session at Bedford University regarding the Creative Use of Digital Technologies in Education and meeting some very interesting and inspiring people, I am playing at building a MOOC.

Now, it seems to me that where I anticipated some specific software like Moodle', it is simply a use of  several available technologies which I would feel needs a front end which is accessible and attractive.  This could be managed via a fairly simple Dreamweaver page.  Links could take the user to Blog and Wiki entries and then hopefully lead them onward to more in depth information before returning to specific areas with a contribution such as a blog or WIKI entry, photos on flickr, video on youtube and posts on a facebook page - tweets on twitter.

If anyone has any hints and tips to put me on the right trail, they will be welcomed most warmly.

A Great Day’s Training!!!

Triple woooo hoooo! Just been out with my girls. After consultation with our illustious and long suffering leader (Yeah Gaynor Gent !) I walked the Mollster round and threw her dummy (sadly, cap gun broke so had to shout!) then walked acrosss the field (ie through the long grass, not on a track) for about 1/3 the length and sent her back. Straight there and straight back :) dropped a dummy there, didn't point it out but she probably noticed, then walked an extra 100 yards again through long grass and crossing a track. Sent her back and off she went. She turned down the track briefly then turned to ask and a 'back' sent her off, straight to the area and straight back :) Teasle then, had a dummy over the fence. I did have to get grumpy and throw her over but she eventually jumped back. Two more goes got her jumping straight over and straight back woo hoo!! Then a memory mark up the track but in cover and last of all another memory mark with a sit. Still slow on the sit but getting better. Then it was the Bramling's turn. I used a track, dropeed 2 dummies which she saw and walked a long way along the track. Sent her straight back and off she went, delivering the dummy really well. We walked another 100 yards and I sent her back again. She did stop to ask (and I fforgot to blow the whistle at that point) but then she went and came straight back. I then turned and threw the dummy further and turned and walked back along the track and over another track and past our original point. When I truned to send her I realised that it was at least as far as Molly had gone - but along a track. I sent her back and then stopped her. She turned slowly but sat down as soon as she had turned around. Best Day Ever!!!!!

Motivation through self-direction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc

This youtube clip entitled 'The Surprising truth about what animates us' is by www.RSA.org and adapted from Dan Pink's talk at the RSA. As they say, alongside the clip, "(It) illustrates the hidden truths behind what really motivates us at home and in the workplace."

It is particularly appropriate to teaching and to Higher Education where management (and teaching) styles are too often based on external direction rather than self-direction. This clip supports the new approach to CPD that is being taken through recent TDA, ttrb and TeachNet initiatives.

The well presented clip first reminds us that the usual motivational processes in business is through monetary reward – taking a behavioural 'carrot and stick' approach. However, a study by economists (I am currently attempting to find the actual paper) has shown that, while offering 3 stage monetary rewards for mechanical tasks may have some positive effect, once any small level of cognitive process was involved, a monetary reward led to a fall in performance.

Shocked as the researchers were, they carried out the research in India where, it was felt, lower paid workers would have a greater motivation for monetary reward. However, their results were in fact replicated. Top performers gave the worst performance.

What was discovered was very interesting and relevant to all organisations. Once people were paid sufficient to take the issue of money out of the equation; 3 motivational factors emerged: Autonomy, Mastery & Purpose. They discovered that self – direction was better for engagement, which stimulates motivation.

One Australian software company has perfected its own method according to this management style. The management thinking being that 'you probably want to do something interesting – let me get out of your way'; once a month, on a Thursday afternoon, they do just that. They tell their employees that they can work on anything they like, however they like and with whomsoever they like. The only stipulation being that they must share their results with the rest of the staff at a fun meeting (with coffee, cake and beer) at the end of that 24 hours – on the Friday.

What they discovered was; an increase in software fixes and an increase in new product ideas.

It seems that Autonomy engages and motivates people. This leads to Mastery of their skills, which in turn gives them Purpose.

It is borne out in the plethora of free, good software available: Linux, Skype, Apache and Wikipedia.

However, watch the clip – it tells it so much better than I do.

 

So how would I use ‘Scratch’?

Well, I have had a good play and a look around at this software. Bearing in mind that what I actually want to do is write games that can be used, albeit simply, for pupils to learn, Scratch does not yet do it for me.

My current feeling is that it is a substitute for LOGO. I am probably wrong here, but it does do that – children can programme an avatar to move, make sounds, can see what difference 15 degrees makes. Personally, I'd bet that they would prefer a big turtle moving around the room. However, I am not about to give up and I will continue to play while I go back to 'Game Maker' to explore how that might meet my needs!

That was fun!

Ok, so now I have worked through the 'getting started' pdf, which has given me some fun, turning cats around to drums and changing their colour and making break dancers twirl and scream. Didn't get the football doing anything but that will be another day. Enough is enough for now – I have to go and sort out why the DS wouldn't save for 'HimInTheShed' while I was out today! They couldn't do without me!!!

Scratching the surface of Scratch 13th July 2010

After some google searching, I found a 'getting started' document. Following a fair amount of head scratching about the link address, I realise that the getting started pdf must be downloaded with the software and hence was found on my hard drive by google. Being a geek, I found that quite fascinating!! However, I will now see whether I can get any further.

 

Aha, I now have my sprite rotating, and it is absolutely fascinating how the mind works as the process processes. That is what I found when I programmed in Java – loved it and sad to find that finding a hosting server with Java was very expensive! L Getting my own little server this week and hope I can load Tomcat and learn how to work it. However, meanwhile, its back to the drawing board to work towards constructing a game that will enhance learning!

Scratch – the blog session 1 – 13^th July 2010

So, to start with Scratch, you really need to know what it is you want to do. However, you also need to know what can be done...and later...how.

This is the classic chicken and egg situation, which can easily develop into the less classic "Why did the chicken cross the road?" conundrum. At this point you really need to be thinking actually, "How did the chicken cross the road?" if you are to get anywhere with programming; because, obviously, if the chicken was catapulted across the road, then the why of it isn't of interest, while if it ran in front of a fox, we know that something needs to be done about it.

In order to resolve this; the first step is to look at what other people have done. The first stop, therefore is: http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/. (You do need to register to use this, but it is free and it is easy so worth doing – its where you will download the software anyway.) Actually, that didn't help me much so I am going back to another google search for scratch to see what I can find to start me off. I settled on a google search for scratch tutorials which led me here: http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/blahdeblah/104408

Which looked promising, so I downloaded it...lets see how it goes...

Now for the serious stuff!

So today I have revisited my LinkedIn page following an exciting trip to Liverpool for the ITTE conference (see associated blog - Journeys with Sarah). Had a great time, very nervous about being part of the presentation with Sarah and Pete and am very grateful to both for being so supportive. Now I have had a go I hope to be better next time.

This blog, therefore, since I have quite sufficient doggy blogs, will be my serious, work related blog. Not that those who know me should worry, it won't be that serious!

Hopefully I will be able to get some of my game making blogged here. Then, the next time Miles asks what my blogging is related to in a serious context, I won't need to, rather shamefacedly, need to mutter - dogs and dog training. Now Miles did say he could see the relationship but I am not too certain that he wasn't being sarc..., no, ironic. However, there are huge links to teaching and ITE. I just wish I had started the serious (again, relatively) training before the teaching, because it really helps. Indeed, one trainer was asked in to Leicester University with his dogs (admittedly to the pscychology course - but it would work with child pscychology for teaching) to demonstrate how they learn. Maybe I should write a paper on this for next year's conference????

Bluebells in Wakerley Woods

I am so pleased with this photo. Could have done with the dogs posing a bit better, but The woods are beautiful!

Who's a pretty girl then!

...and this is how pretty a 13 year old Tosh can look!

Molly resting!

This is how a Molly looks at the end of a long, hard day. In the favoured 'doughnut' bed acquired from Freecycle!

Just a-training in the Rain tra la!

Here I am again, either I have no life, or, as I would see it, better to bore the computer with tails of fun and frolics than people!!

I set off for another solid training session with the Mollster, only really this time. I worked out that as she is very nearly 2 and she doesn't tear around as much as she did, that she can take more training on her walks and it will do her good. Accordingly, I took all my dummies - 8 in all and set off. Walking out to the car neighbours were out and Jill said hello! I was really pleased that Molly didn't really even look at them and got into the car. Of course I had to chat with Jill and then it started to rain. By the time I actually set off it was drizzling unplpeasantly, and me with only jeans, no salopettes today! When I got up there it was raining quite heavily. However I was not to be daunted and the dogs didn't care so I set off to drop dummies around the field (too lazy today to put them out before getting the dogs out!); and the rain came down and the hail started and eventually I remembered that hail is not all that safe, coming from cumulo nimbus (thunder - and more importantly lightning - producing) clouds. So I set back, but intended to pick the dummies first. Molly was a bit skittish and had to be handled onto the first simple dummy. The same happened on the second dummy. I had her sat a few yards from the dummy when Gaynor called to say that 'Mouse', her lovely Norfolk Terrier, has had 7 puppies!!! She is so tiny and looked so very round last time I saw her. I can't wait until training on Tuesday so that I can see them. Molly had to be reminded to sit as she showed signs of wandering off since I was ony talking, but then stayed until I had finished. She picked up the dummy and the hail slowed to heavy rain. We turned round and set off back around the field. I set all the dummies down on the way round, reciting where I had left them! This has to be better than 'Brain Training' I love the DS, but this is like a memory game and more fun being outdoors!

We then stopped in the middle of the field and Molly was wondering what was up when I sent her 'back' but away from where we had walked (usually she is retracing our steps as I drop it, walk on and then send her back). She went eventually and took a right with encouragement to get the first dummy. The second was a straight back but quite a way and out of site. I was really pleased as she came back over the brow towards me with the orange dummy. However, she happened to come back over another dummy and swapped. She stopped and put the grey oval dummy down when told but I had to go to her to get her to pick the original and bring it back to where we had been. She then picked another well with some handling although it was straight back. I went to pick the one she had swapped, so that she doesn't think she can have them all; but she found it before me and picked it up - just to help! Another two retirieves, one from a pond and we were done. The weather was still threatening so we didn't go to the other fields, but both dogs looked as though they had had enough, we were all drenched!

Roast Lamb for tea. I made a victoria sponge for pudding but used low fat Flora. However I then found cream in the fridge that needed eating before it went off so beat that up and put it in with the jam. Sort of defeated the purpose, but is was very nice and the first treat I have had for 3 weeks, so what the heck!!! The Alli should help!

You want help training your dog?

Did I mention, if you want a great Dog Trainer and live close to Leicester UK , Gaynor Gent is the person you need. You can find her at www.mistigrigundogs.co.uk .

Blog for weight loss!

Yes, the blog worked - I had lost 2 lbs this morning!! Therefore I am writing another post now!!! Lets see if I lose more by tomorrow! Well, after meusli and banana, tomato roll and squash and potato topped with a small amount of low fat cheese followed by fruit and 0% fat yoghurt I feel quite smug. Especially as Molly and I have been out training most of the afternoon.

We were down at the sheep field today - courtesy of fellow trainee and farmer Geoff. One thing I am sure of, Molly won't bother to chase sheep, she just ignores them. She wasn't too happy about getting over the stile, but Gaynor and I manhandled her over. Maybe next time she will jump it. It has to be better than us getting her over and she regularly jumps fences that high. We were a select group, the three remedials: Mel and Eve, Leanne and Lucy, Molly and me as well as Sian and Bertie, of whom Molly is quite fond:

The other day whilst training, I had had to chase and catch Molly and have a short discussion about her behaviour. I then called her to heel and walked confidently back to my place with Molly close by. I didn't take too much notice when someone shouted, "Can you get your dog?" I did look down however, and was shocked to find that little brown body simply not there. She had dropped off at the end of the line to flirt with Bertie!!!

Anyway, she was a bit better today. Whilst waiting for everyone, she stayed with me until they were quite close before being overcome with the need to say hello to 'Aunty Gaynor'. However, when I was sent to put out dummies, she broke away to follow me not just once, but twice! Silly girl! I replaced her the first time, Gaynor spoke to her the second time!! When the dummy launcher came out she was pretty steady. She marked them well and retrieved them straight there and back. One was lost after rolling down the hill into the hedge. I finally got her to go through the hedge and into the stream and I was very proud when she came bursting back with the dummy!! We then had dummies fired and then retrieving the blind dummies and tennis balls. Molly handled reasonably well, but it still needs some work. I was pleased with her holding marks. I think she is good at this. This is a very good thing because she has been known to get me out of a spot or two when I haven't been paying attention, talking at the back of the class even!:-S

We had to manhandle her over the stile again at the end of the session. Something else to work on.

Life is never dull with a Chocolate Labrador!!!

Minimising Me!

So, I really decided that this was it, I will lose that unhealthy extra stone I have been carrying! Off to Goa next week! So determined was I that I bought the ‘Alli’ tablets being advertised – bloomin’ expensive too! I had met someone who had done really well on the prescribed version of them which gave me added hope.
So, off I went to buy them. I had to go through the humiliation of a weigh-in in ‘Boots the Chemist’ to check that my BMI put me in the group to take them. It did! Only just, but it did! So, off I went home with great determination and a pack with tablets and all sorts of information. I weighed and counted and put together an excel program to count up my daily food! I bought slimming magazines with recipes in them and decided I would try them out.
One week later, yeah!! I had lost 3 lbs. Nothing else had gone down, however, I had grown half an inch!! I think I stood a little taller on the machine! However, it was similar to what my own scales said so I am going to save my 70p and weigh in at home now.
So, to the second week, trying to be good but without the patience to do the food diary and count everything up. Not an ounce off! Is this to do with not measuring? I was hungrier and forgot the tablet a couple of times, but I ate low, almost no - fat food and nothing between meals. I guess the proof is in the pudding – that is the one around my middle!
Week three then. I don’t really feel like measuring and counting so I going to try blogging. Let us see if that will help!
Day 1: Cereal, homemade soup (Weight watchers recipe) and Pork, squash, potato and cabbage – Slimmers World. All this after an extended walk and training session which I have already mentioned. For a snack – 90 calories of snack a jacks popcorn.
Let’s see how this goes!

A full week of training or - 'Let's see if this'll work!!'

This has been quite a week for training. On Tuesday the class was held in the evening. The remedial group arrived a little early. For Molly the aim was to stop her running in after a mark when Gaynor said ‘Karen’ so that I could send her. She had worked out that I send her shortly after being given the word! That was sorted quite quickly, which was good. The fact that I spent much of the rest of the evening chasing her down when she didn’t respond was less good!

So, on Thursday evening the remedial group met again, together with Gaynor’s Blitz and Ronnie with 1 year old Richie. Alistair came for the first time to watch, but mainly to look at the kennels as we are looking to put one out at the back. Partly for the pups if we ever get that far and also for short term accommodation. If I get to keep the pup I want from Molly then there will be two of them and it will be a tad easier for the morning poo.

As Alistair was there he brought Tosh out to watch. She was interested and so, since Tosh had been very keen when we went to the pond, at the end of the evening Gaynor threw her a dummy. Of course she turned her nose up at it!

Today I set off in the rain to do some concerted training. In the first field, I set out three dummies and called Molly to sit and sent her back, after throwing a dummy out to the left. I stopped her every so often on the way back and then she retrieved it well. Next was back and left. It was not in any of the ‘usual’ places, but she handled well on to it. The third was further left and she found that easily. When she returned, as I couldn’t remember exactly where I had thrown the other one, I sent her for it – took about 3 seconds!!

In the next field I dropped a dummy way back for Molly to fetch from the far field, over a hedge. She has done this often but not so far. However, she went straight out and back. Two more long retrieves, sitting and taking some direction, but the rights and lefts were off. She wasn’t listening.

I decided that I should remind her about direction. I sat her and told her to stay. I threw one dummy over her head and Tosh shot off as did she. I grabbed her and put her back and Tosh, for the first time in months decided she was going to retrieve! I threw it to the left, to the right, behind and over and each time Molly stayed still, resigned, while Tosh retrieved them all!!!

So I set up a long retrieve, dropping a blind and then throwing a dummy she saw, walking across the field and throwing a dummy in her sight over ‘the’ fence. I sent her back, and she went well with three stops on the way. It took a while to get her to go out right. Well, she hadn’t seen one dropped there, but eventually she went and found it. Getting her to go back and then left to the dummy she had seen me throw was harder. I got the impression that she had forgotten it. I had to get up there, but eventually she did it. Over the fence to collect the rugby ball dummy was a piece of ease.

After a well earned run, in the final (and also first) field, I sat her down and placed the dummies behind and to the left and right, not too far and Molly did some good retrieves and whistle work. All that is left is to get her to work like that at training tomorrow!!!

So, Why a Chocolate Labrador?

OK, so why a Chocolate Labrador? Good question, and not one I can really answer. I was feeling broody for a new dog as my old labrador, Tosh, was getting very slow on our walks and didn't even look as though she enjoyed them. I love to walk but don't do it unless I have a dog for company. So I started looking at the rehoming labrador site on the internet and started to see the chocolate variety. That was it, I wanted a chocolate labrador!

I knew that I wanted to train the dog, for the obvious reasons first and then, as a hobby it would be lovely to enter tests and trials if I could.

So the hunt began, for a chocolate labrador with a working background! I found some a way away on the other side of the Severn Bridge and with a good working background, I did book one. However, I then found some nearby from a lovely lady called Jane and with a working dad who had a photo on the internet that mellted my heart. That was it! Booked.

Then I waited and I waited. I was so excited that I rememebered wha it was like to be five years old just before Christmas again. Goodness knows what I will be like if any of my children make me a Grandmamma!!

Eventually, on 19th June 2007, I got an email with a photo of my girl!!! She was the only one which saved all the pain of selection! - a good thing!