Animals from scrap (2014-02-24)

We played Octopus whilst people arrived and Tim collected signatures and money for Hostel.

We held our Circle News: Xanthe and Iona went to Harry Potter World; Imogen has tattoos on her feet; Natty has a new topic at school: Here and There with there being Inda; Molly has started a new topic: Icarus and Daedalus; Flora went to see Wendy and Peter Pan at Stratford and has a Syrian hamster called Bonnie; Millie is going to get a Chinese hamster; Magnus bounced on a trampoline and went swimming; Nia went to the Natural History Museum and has a plush wolf called Lupinette; Pip showed a craft he had made out of Lego; Dylan did something in Skylander; Lena went ice scating for the first time; Rafiq has an Air Lego App; Jo had an ear infection; Ivo also did something in Skylander; Izzy and Matilda went swimming; Matilda's teacher brought back bracelets from Africa; Yasmine was with us but too shy to say her news; Rayan went ice skating and has a watch from Brasil; Rana went on a First Aid Course; Debbie has been making things for the Green Winter Fair on her sewing machine; Millie-Maye swallowed an ice cube; Tim went on the First Aid course too.

Rana led us in making Animals from scrap, bringing three she had made to show.

We held our Closing Circle.

Leaders: Rana, Debbie, Tim
Elfins: 20

First Aid Training (2014-02-23)

Rana, Rayan and I attended a First Aid training course organised for the District by Sue and given by Janice. Janice is an ex-nurse and really knew her stuff.

We practised CPR and learnt a lot of things I hope never to need.

Janice has given us a list of what should be in our first Aid kit and a certificate each.

Tin Can Cooking (2014-02-10)

Whilst people arrived Debbie led a game of Dead ants and then Octopus whilst Tim showed carers the Health Forms printed out for Hostel.

Our allocation for Hostel is twenty places, we currently have applications for twenty nine. Fortunately we can hope to be given some of Woodstock's allocation.

We held a flash News Circle: Ivo has played table tennis; Joe couldn't think of any news in the time provided; Dylan's police badge was broken and kicked at school; Lena and Rayan are having a sleep over; Rayan is having a friend over; Matilda has been swimming; Izzy has a wobbly tooth; Magnus was wacked by someone; Jay played football and has annoying boots; Nia bough a raccoon in town; Molly did papier maché at school; Rafiq upgraded skylander; Pip has one more audition for his new school; Imogen's mum is having a baby; Natty has an extending, scrolled paper stick from a party; Millie-Maye's guinea pig Mr Pinkie may have a kidney problem; Xanthe has had a haircut; Connie went to London for her cousin's eighteenth birthday party; Iona went swimming;Tim has updated the group registration system.

Tim explained the dangers of hot oil and candles, telling those with long hair to tie it back and should anyone get burnt to run to the water bucket first then to scream.

Iona suggested, and led, a game of Four Corners whilst the food was prepared.

We divided into groups of three or four and each had a plate of chopped carrots, parsnip, peppers and bread. Everyone cooked and ate their food.

We held our Closing Circle.

Leaders: Tim, Debbie, Ranna
Elfins: 19

Chinese New Year (2014-02-03)

We played Octopus whilst people arrived.

We held our News Circle: Molly's knee is better but she has had a bike accident; Dylan has gained a stripe in Karate; Rafiq has hurt his leg; Joe has gained an Orange in tennis; Ivo has composed a drum solo called Drum King; Pip's car is being repaired; Xanthe has started at Pegasus; Millie-Maye is godmother to baby Juno; Matilda went to a friend's house after German on Sunday; Lena performed at the Pegasus; Rayan went to a friend's house on Sunday; Debbie performed in the Pegasus Family Project; Tessa had her first guitar lesson and then was bought a guitar; Iona had visitors from Kenya where she is going on holiday for three weeks; Rana has not been well but is better now; Imogen and Natty are both six now; Jay tells us that it is Meow's eight birthday; Magnus went walking in the woods with new boots and got a blister; Nia did a report at school; it is Connie's birthday tomorrow; Millie performed nine times at Pegasus; Flora went to London with her grandma to watch the Royal Ballet; Tim went to the Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary.

Tim explained that we had a few activities planned, but thought we should play a game first. We chose Dead Ants.

We held another circle and discovered everyone's Chinese birth symbol. Many Monkeys. Then we all opened Chinese Fortune Cookies and read them out in turn.

Finally we divided into those who knew the story of the Chinese year names and those who did not. The tellers performed the story whilst the listeners sat on a big crash mat.

The story is that all the animals were squabbling over who should have a year named after them. The King and Princess told them to have a race to determine it. The Ox would have won as the race was across a river and he was a strong swimmer, however he did not notice the Rat on his back, who pipped him to the winning post by climbing over his head. The Princess declared that whilst the rat was the winner it was not fair and so all the animals had a year named after them.

We had just enough time to hold our Closing Circle where we first sang Happy Birthday to Connie, accompanied by Tessa on the piano.

Leaders: Tim, Debbie, Rana
Elfins: 21