Top trumps

Who would have thought that the simple pack of cards downloaded from the Oxfam site would have been such a success ? As FIFA fever spreads like that tummy bug throughout the whole of school, at least years 3 to 6 now know what the letters stand for. The clever cards of 32 qualifying countries draw the children in to a world fronted by football but undergirded with hard facts of what used to be known as general knowledge. I and they have learned without even realising it that in Angola the life expectancy of a human being is less than 46years, and that it has the highest infant mortality rate amongst countries in the World Cup. Children and Miss now know that the highest CO2 emissions are from USA, and that Togo has the smallest population. We have had a good week with these cards. Thank you Oxfam and thank you Gareth Pitchford , your Primary Resources site is really going somewhere. It helped that each winning card and we spun these out, led to the reward of a football sticker card from an album company making millions and probably adding to CO2 emissions.

Keep your eye on the road

Have been waiting weeks for the first Spotted Orchid to flower by the roadside near the Royal Oak turn off,on the A165. First one today.

Wars of the Roses

Have just seen the trilogy Henry VI, Edward IV and Richard III in one day at the Stephen Joseph. IF I am tired but happy, I dont know how the members of Northern Broadsides are being in character so long. At least it was good to spot the religious Henry having an anacronistic fag outside the stage door. Im now reading 'The daughter of time ' by Josephine Tey of course, as I cant find my copy of '1066 and all that '.