half way through the year

Last month my bellydancing classes ended after nearly 4 years.

The class had been getting smaller and smaller and eventually there were not enough numbers to keep the group together.

Most of the dancers have joined other local dance classes but at this stage I have no idea what I am going to do.

I think it could be a good chance to try something new like a different style of dance or a different activity altogether ... (or perhaps revisit an old interest like guitar or piano lessons).

At the moment though things have been so hectic I haven't really had a chance to miss dancing or think about what will replace it.

Kougra was sick during the last week of dancing and then the week after when she went back to school I had a zillion things to do that I hadn't done while she was home!I also had to hit the shops and stock up on plenty of warm winter clothes for her to wear at school. That and the fact that I had to look for a birthday present for B meant that the week went by very quickly.Then we had a small family party for B on the June public holiday and that was the week Uni noticed that Bella appeared to be showing possible signs of doggy pregnancy. We took her to the vet but he couldn't tell us for sure because apparently female dogs commonly have phantom pregnancies after they come into season and physically it is difficult to tell a real one from a phantom one.

We also had to deal with an issue at school where an older boy had been chasing Kougra around in the playground and purposely pushing her and knocking her to the ground.It was only by chance really that I found out what was going on ... we happened to go to the toilet straight after school one day and on our way out of the school grounds (at a time later than we normally leave) K pointed out a boy in the school yard to me and told me in a "tears just below the surface" voice that he was the one who pushes and knocks her over in the playground.

At that stage I thought it was an isolated incident that had perhaps happened that day and we talked about it all the way home. It turns out that the boy had been regularly bothering her in the playground most days at both lunchtime and snack time and whenever she went to find a teacher he would run away. The only time she could get any peace in the playground was when the kids do "outdoor learning" which is Prep only playground play.

After discussions with her dad that afternoon about how to handle the situation, we decided to talk to K's teacher and explain the situation to her and see if she could help.When I spoke to Mrs S she said she hadn't heard anything about it from K, but she understood the gravity of the situation and didn't want K to feel threatened in the playground.

Luckily for us she would be on playground duty the next day and she asked K to point out the boy to her. Detective K found him and Mrs S gave him a talking to. He apparently didn't realize she was a prep kid and thought she was a grade 2 like him. He came up to her in the playground later and apologized to her (of his own accord) and they made "friends".

The week after, K was able to finally complete a full circuit of the monkey bars which apparently she has been working towards so far this year, but had been having trouble achieving as a result of trying to dodge the boy in the playground... along with the other playground traffic etc.

So we have had plenty to think about, sort out etc.

And just as that was all sorted K developed a bad cough and stayed home from school for another week.

This week is the last week of term and thankfully it has been a good fun one and we will finish on a positive note.