I would take that reply as either English isn't first language, or they're not great with literacy.

I put this up in an earlier thread, but I'm getting different novelty socks for a bunch of kids we often host for a pre-xmas brunch: Cute Shark Christmas Socks - Kidz Country:

I hear sweetie and babe and hun (or see them in texts) and I guess they just sound like the kind of word that person uses. I use 'mate' a lot (not in texts though) and I remember co-workers used to laugh at that (I was from the country and was working in the city). I think it's a combination of class, culture and what stuff they watch.

I found a good new fantasy series called A Heretic's Guide to Homecoming which is similar in some ways to Victoria Goddard's books - a world after a massive magical change, an overthinking character and pages of his overthinking, and a mysterious almost god-like friend. I enjoyed book one and am reading book two, but I do warn you, the anxiety and panic-attack breakdowns (more book 1 than 2) may be a bit annoying. Depends if you relate to it or not! It is deliberately not romantic at all.

I'm sorry. Last year I couldn't cope with the family thing and we went away over Christmas. Had a quiet day at the beach instead. No big gatherings at all. So good. We are doing the same this year. I see my parents the week before, swap gifts (and leave secret santa with them) and that's done. I thought that we'd get a huge reaction last year when we ditched the family thing but they coped and it was so much better.

Sorry to hear that. Can we help with ideas?

I know it's only early November (and those from North America have still got Thanksgiving) but I'm sure I'm not the only one who has begun. I order stuff online because we're not near any decent shops, so I like to give myself a fair bit of time for things to arrive. We do secret santa in our family so I only have one couple (new young couple - ordered a picnic basket still to come); one baby niece (peg dolls, sorted); my parents (Dad's books arrived, Mum's kickstarter is on its way, apparently . . .) and a few friends and neighbours (planting calendars, they all have green thumbs). For my own little family, everyone from Dad to youngest is getting a board game, books, t-shirts, and some kind of treat. About half of that has arrived. I usually buy myself a few Christmas gifts as otherwise there isn't anything much for me, but I can't think of anything I want. I will definitely load up my e-reader so I have lots to read on the day, though. So where are you up to?

Absolutely some kind of hammock/pod swing - the most used thing ever by my kids. Just ask the parents if they have a space for it - we hang ours on the verandah.

Chocolate samples? Yes. The sample sizes of the studies (showing reduction of all cause mortality in chocolate-eaters) are pretty huge, 85,000 people in one of them. But I guess where statistically the majority are going to do better, there will definitely be outliers who won't, which tend not to get picked up in a really big study. In Australia, there is a huge cluster of people being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (which I believe is an umbrella term including ALS), who all live near and access a certain lake. They're finally doing some research into the relationship between the algae in this lake and motor neurone disease. 'It's scary': motor neurone disease spikes sevenfold in rural NSW | Motor neurone disease | The Guardian

It's heart-wrenching, isn't it? I thought it was brilliant, but I could never read it again. We did this one at school (in Australia) and I still have my scribbled marks in the copy with 'green light' underlined! I was pleased to see that Janet Edwards' latest Hive mind book is finally out (Adversary) - my daughter and I are both reading this series.

I have seen a few studies though that showed people who ate chocolate over many years had better health outcomes - there were studies of men specifically, women specifically, over decades which showed reduced risk of mortality from all causes. Unless something has changed, they're not seeing the increased mortality (or not as yet finding it) from eating chocolate.

That's a huge achievement! Congratulations!

Wow. Can you test for cadmium levels?

We have all the birthdays (except mine) within a month either side of Christmas, so it's a balance of managing stuff for both celebrations. They get a small stocking that I made myself, only fits in a couple of little things. Then a few other things, generally fits on the seat of a chair each. Books, t-shirts, games. I worry each year that they'll be disappointed, it's been so far so good.

Lots of new articles in the local media about Australia going into the 'eighth wave'. With masks suggested by some 'experts' and not by others (why would you discourage masking, really?) We are going away for Christmas and not joining in on the huge extended family feast, and Covid is one of the reasons for that. We still have a few events coming up but most are fairly informal which means people will be outside. I've bought some new aura masks and will cross my fingers, I guess.

There are bad ones in rural Queensland and northern NSW, but I don't think we have anyone near there. There are actually fires everywhere, even Canberra, but not huge out of control ones - yet. I am sure they'll come, we are all prepared.

So when you say a learning centre, do the children have disabilities? Or is it a homeschool thing? I would wonder why the other parents are so anxious.

Definitely a cultural thing. I've heard that Americans call hamburgers, sandwiches. We don't (in Australia). It's 2 pieces of bread with something between it, preferably vegemite (and while I've heard open sandwiches exist, I've never seen one).

We are having a community Halloween event on for the first time ever (except that time I invited a bunch of kids around pre-covid and half the school turned up). We didn't grow up with Halloween in Australia so it's been one of those things that the community has slowly accepted (along with decorating houses for Christmas!) I really hope the weather settles down and we have a fun evening. The whole community is struggling at the moment with losses (well known local worker died yesterday) and with a few serious local controversies which have split friendships, along with severe anxiety as we head into bushfire season. We need something positive!

Yes, and if so, head to the hospital. With the spot I thought of meningococcal disease although I think it's less common in grown adults.

Can he touch his head to his chest, ie doesn't have a stiff neck?

I am not sure whether this is the same thing, but years ago when we were hiring a speech pathologist for our team, we asked them to work with a child while we observed - it would've been 10 mins at the most. We just wanted to see them in action with a child. I can't see how 4-5 hours working can be classed as an interview, though. (NB, the person we hired was great in the 10m interview - but long term was a big mistake. I have done quite a few interviews and they really don't weed out the dodgy ones!)

We have a tiny house so what's in the kitchen goes everywhere. I don't ever fry with canola oil because of the smell (olive oil is fine). We do open up all the doors and windows to try to keep the place aerated!

An interesting read- looks as though once it started to hit sales, she's changed it up a bit, but her curriculum is still not ideal and yet of course she's flogging it to make money. Ugh.

Anyone able to gift this article? Looks like it's about one of the whole word people admitting that phonics is important . . . Lucy Calkins Retreats on Phonics in Fight Over Reading Curriculum - The New York Times (nytimes.com)