Halloween!

William and Oliver have celebrated each Halloween since they have been born in fairly low key way.  However, moving to a compound occcupied by a majority of Americans was bound to put a stop to this!  I found myself going to a weekly meeting that started in September to plan the compound's first Halloween Street Party! 

After sorting out a common vocabulary and explaining that we British did know what Halloween was (!!), planning got underway.  Jobs were allocated and I found myself signed up to make jello/jelly for the table of gore and to source mini pumpkins for the pumpkin tossing!  Unfortunately, William and Oliver will have to wait to experience the tradition of apple bobbing as it was felt that this would be a germ spreader!

On the night an area outside was decorated, luckily the weather was still warm enough and the games were set up.  Most families carved pumpkins to enter in to the competition.  William and Oliver enjoyed eating the sweets off the string, the gore table, tossing pumpkins and making scary popcorn hands. 

One highlight of the evening was having a picnic in the dark.

After eating everyone set off trick or treating.  Each house participating put a pumpkin out.  Most of the compound joined in.  Oliver and William enjoyed knocking on each door and calling out 'trick or treak?' in scary voices -They got a fright at our house!

We managed about five house when tiredness began to show so we went home for toast, wine and to check what goodies we'd got. 

The first Hawkridge trick or treating session was declared a success!

A Rainbow of Nations

At the end of October, William and Oliver's school held their 8th annual United Nations week.  At Dulwich forty two different nationalities are represented so there is lots to look at and learn about.  Each class focusses on a country and learns all about it.  There is a food fair organised by the parents where there are lots of different things to sample. 

The end of UN week culminates in a parade of the children from DUCKS.  Each child dresses up to represent the country or countries they are from.  Unfortunately, for the first time since it started, the parade was rained off.  However,  the whole morning was set aside for parents to visit the different countries around the school trying food, completing activities and getting passports stamped.

I went with Oliver and William and we visited England, China, India, Turkey and Madagascar. 

In England we made a soldier from the Household guard and had our faces painted

In China we had to count the number of Chinese flags we could see in the classroom, there were 49!

In Turkey we made Turkish lucky eyes (and some funny faces!!)

 In India we used coloured sand and glue to make pictures and in Madagascar we discovered that the only cutlery they use is a spoon, so we decorated spoons. 

After stopping for the all important snack, William and Oliver collected their prize of a pot of bubbles for visiting four countries

Oliver and William with their friend Ria who represented Britain and India!

An Ode to the Rugby World Cup 2011 - by Sam and Lucy

At the start of September began six weeks of heaven

The Rugby World Cup  - 2011

Big Bamboo each Saturday and Sunday

Us to watch rugby and the children to play

England progressed on and topped our group, just,

The last game arrived, and beating Scotland was a must

We got to the quaters just about  - job done

Antics off the pitch were causing media scrum

Both Ireland and Wales were playing very well

Which one would go home, it was difficult to tell

It was the pick of the quaters, a close contest

However, in the end Wales played the best

The Argies and Saffers put up a good fight

But the Antipodeans won on the night

The French built a lead, we came back but too late

A second world cup will just have to wait

We continued to Big bamboo for every game

Children were growing wilder and more insane!

Adults were glued to the screen and the cup

Children were tipping the bouncy castle up!

The first semi arrived, Wales were a sure thing

Their fans were teaching everyone to sing

The fairytale didn't go according to plan

Allain Rolland is not Wales' favourite man!

Semi number two, the teams were set to go for broke

As long as the Kiwis didn't, yet again, choke

The Aussies sent the kick off straight in to touch

and the Kiwis knew they wouldn't have to do much

The final arrived, what would be the score

The Kiwis were ready, could the French find more

France played well but couldn't trip the Kiwis up 

New Zealand lifted the Rugby World Cup

And so draws to a close our six weeks of heaven

A great time we've had at RWC 2011

Four more years to wait, what will we do

Dream of winning the next final at Rugby HQ!