BEGINNINGS OF A NEW 'SHED'

The hard work has begun of clearing and leveling the foundations for our new shed.

STARGAZING

Around 80 people braved the cold to stare through telescopes as part of the BBC’s stargazing events. A roaring fire with pumpkin soup and hot drinks kept everyone warm and when the clouds broke we could spy the moon and its craters, Jupiter and its five moons.
Thanks to Dr Darren Baskill from the University of Sussex and Jo lewis from Science and Technology Facilities Council for bringing their telescopes and making it happen.

ROOF ON, FENCE DONE, READY FOR THE NEW YEAR

A few days before Christmas, the roof went up on the temporary structure while the council put up a new fence. In 75 work hours, we cleared the site, the old fence line and put up our tin shelter. Hey, they should make a Changing Rooms programme about us.

In an amazing short space of time our temporary shed now has a tin roof! Well half of one. Don't know how much it will protect us from the elements tomorrow at our Christmas party but everyone has been working their butts off to get it sorted. Tomorrow we say thank you to everyone with a three course meal at the garden and plenty of mulled wine. Cheers!

SCHOOL CHRISTMAS LUNCH

At the end of the winter term we fire up the clay oven and serve up Christmas dinner for pupils that work with us, a few that used to and some of the teachers/teaching assistants. Sticky Fingers Simon with help from some of the pupils dished up chicken, roast potatoes (pink fur apples from the garden – everyone should grow these), kale, parsnips, carrots with a big dollop of gravy. Very quiet round the table as everyone devoured the lot, apart from the bones. Something really satisfying about getting all the pupils from different schools sitting down together. For me, it helps reinforce that sense of being part of something, of belonging, that for whatever reason, most of them just don’t feel at their schools.

STRUTTING ITS STUFF

Temporary structure really taking shape, old fence line gone.

FLATTENING AND BASHING

The chalk floor on the temporary structure is finished thanks to hard labour and a pounder. The A frame is being built and the support struts will be up soon. The council are going to put up a new fence at the back and to save the council money we are moving along the back line, bashing out old concrete posts, removing tangled fencing, tree stumps, rubbish, old shoes, glass and cow bones.

The weather continues to be kind to us along with people who have continued to give donations of cooking equipment and cash. Thanks also to East Brighton Trust, Moulsecoomb Primary Parents Action Group for Education and The Migrant English Project for their financial support.