HOTS OFF THE PRESS 2012 This is a magazine containing contributions from children and young people being taught by Edinburgh’s Hospital and Outreach Teaching Service. These children and young people might be: • in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children • in the Schoolroom, CAMHS, Tipperlinn • Looked After (and Accommodated) • Gypsy/Traveller/Roma • excluded from school • taught at home due to their medical condition • taught in one of our Education Groups • part of the Young Mums’ Unit We hope you enjoy the magazine. Any feedback is always welcome. Thank you and well done to all our contributors.
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Transcript
HOTSOFF THE PRESS 2012
This is a magazine containing contributions from children and young people being taught by Edinburgh’s Hospital and Outreach Teaching Service.
We hope you enjoy the magazine. Any feedback is always welcome.
Thankyouandwelldonetoallourcontributors.
“Briiing,briiing.”Thepainfulscreechofthealarmclockshrillyshrieked.Itscreamedthroughouttheapartment.Itcontinued to echo around the silentrooms,refusingtogiveupuntilithadbeenheard.
Shethrewherselfbackontothebedandlovinglywrappedherarmsaroundherhusband.Shepressedher ear to his stony chest and closedhereyesforashortmoment listening to her silent apartment.Sheopenedhereyes once more and glanced abouttheshadowyroom.Adim,greylightwascastacrosstheroom,fromthewindow,illuminating the used dishes laid in odd piles and the couplelyingawkwardlyuponthebed.Itwasraining;raintappedagainstthewindowpaneliketinyfingers.
Decidingthatitwouldbefoolishtolieinbedforan entire day the young womanclimbedoutofbed,untanglingherselffromthewhitesheetsthatwrappedaroundherlikeatoga.
“Whatwouldyoulikeforbreakfastdarling…orI
suppose,lunchnow?”sheaskedsweetly.
Noreply.
“Whataboutpancakes,ortoastandcoffee?Okthendon’tanswermeandIwilljustmakepancakesformyself,”shejestedandthrewapillowathersilenthusband.Shegiggledandlefttheroom,headingdownthelonghallwaytowardthekitchen.Adeadly silence occupied the apartment.Nosoundcarriedfromtheirneighbours,aboveorbelow.Eventhemuffledsoundsofthewife’sfootstepswerelikesilentwhispersatafuneral.
DisasterStoryThe Long Weekend
by Eve Watson
2
3
Thehousewascold,deadcold.Theyoungwomanshouldhavebeenshiveringslightlyasshewalkedinbarefeetacrossthecoldkitchentiles,poppingstaleslicesofbreadinthetoasterandrummagingincupboardsforcoffeegranules.Shetooknonotice and simply began to humhappilyassheworked.
Intheotherroomacockroachscuttledacrossthedarkfloorboards,tohopefullyinspectsomestale,week-oldpancakes.Itwassmallandinsignificantinthestillroom;itmighthavebeentheonlylivingthingformiles.Itscuttledabouttheplates.Intheotherroomthewomanletoutafewviolentcoughsthatechoedthroughthehouse.The husband remained still andutterlyquiet.
bedwithhimoncemore,liftingoneofhisstiffarms.Itdangledawkwardlyaroundhershoulder.Herhusband’sskinwaspaleandpastyandhishandwhichbrushedhercheekslightlyhadnogrip.Thewifecontinuedtoignoretheseabnormalities and simply reachedforapieceoftoastfromtheplatebalancedonherpartner’sunresponsivechest.
Sheimaginedthathisgripwastightonherandthathewasholdingherandmakinghersafe.Thathewasaliveandhealthyandthathiswarmbody and steady heartbeat wasclosetoherown.Thewifefoundthesethoughtscomforting,thoughnoneofthemremainedtrue.
Draw lines on the folded edge of one folded card – picture 1.
Cut carefully along the solid lines.
Fold back and forward along the dotted lines – picture 2.
Lay the card flat and colour your card.
Lift the card and push out the ‘steps’.
Glue the two cards together – picture 3.
Glue your own pictures to the front of the ‘steps’.
Decorate as you wish.
Your card is finished!
5
IstartedwithHOTSinP7theyearbeforeIwenttoBalernoHighSchool.IhadmissedoutonfouryearsofprimaryschoolandHOTShelpedmecatchup,sothatIwasable to attend high school knowingwhatwasgoingonandmanagingthework.WhenBalerno had the induction days,theMathsteachersetatargetandImanagedtodomore questions than anyone elseintheclass,andIgotthemallcorrect.Thewholeclassturnedroundandlookedatmewithdisbelief!
forequipmentsuchashoists,slingsandotherextrastobeinplace.DuringthistimetheHOTSteachersmanagedtohelpmekeepupwithEnglishMathsandGermanwork,sothatIonlyhadtocatchuponothersubjects.BecauseIgetbadbackpainsittingupinmychairtoolong,Iwasneverabletoattendschoolfulltime,somyoutreachteacherscame out to the house three timesaweek.Despitealltheseproblems,IwasreallypleasedtogetsevenspecialcertificatesinS1and2.
about5monthsforittobeadjusted.During5thyearIwasoffbecausetheschoolliftwasbrokenandtookoveramonthtogetfixed.Ialsomissed some time due to quitefrequentillness.WhenIhadtheseproblems,HOTShelpedmeoutofschoolandBalernoSupportforLearningDepartment helped me catch upinschool.SoIwasabletopassMaths,EnglishGermanandGeographyStandardGrades,andinmylastyearIpassedIntermediate1MediaandIntermediate2Maths(withanApass!)
MymostmemorabledaywasthedayoftheBalernoLeavers’Ceremony,whenIgotTheCurrie,BalernoandDistrictRoundTablesilvertrophy,anawardforexcellence.IalsowonanOscarwhichsaidthatIhad“displayedgreatstrengthofcharacter and determination indealingwithconsiderablechallenges”.Iwassurprisedandoverwhelmedtogetthesetwoawards,andIamveryproudthatIwasabletoattendschoolandpleasedthatIgotthesupporttomakethebestofit.
MyEducation by Steven Bangham
6
Alone by Naomi Smith
Sheshiveredandherteethchattered as yet another gustoficycoolwindblewinherdirection.Theentirehousewascold.Coldandabandoned,justlikeher.Annaraised her head to peer out the windowfromhercross-leggedpositiononthefloor,inthefarcorneroftheroom.Directlyopposite she could see the windowwithitsfracturedpanesandtheshatteredglass.Aonceimmaculateivorynetcurtaintraileddirtyandfrayedalongthefloor.Outofthewindowlittlecouldbeseenforthenightwasdarkandthevastareasurroundingtheoldfarmhousewasemptyandlifelessformilesaround.
Forayounggirltobeleftaloneinanemptyhouse,onewouldhaveexpectedAnnatobescared.Onewouldexpecthertobelongingforacomfort.Buttwelveyear-oldAnnawasnotscared,shesimplyfeltdetachedandconfused.Asshesatinthehouse that once used to be herhome,shefeltanachinglongingforwhatusedtobe.The room she sat in once belonged to her mother and father.Itwouldnolongerberecognisableastheirs,forthedirt and mirror shards that weresprinkledalloverthefloor.Howeverthelargeoakbed still sat proudly in the
Ifastrangerhadwalkedintothishousetheywouldhaveknownthatwhoeveroncelivedherehadbeenforcedtoleavewithsomeurgency.Theywouldalsonoticetheteapot,half-fullcupsandplateofnow-inediblebiscuitsthatstill lay on the dining room table.Half-packedsuitcasescouldbefoundwithinalmosteverybedroominthehouse.Anescapeseemedtobeimminent,buttimewasstolenandjustlikeAnna’sfamily,wasnowlost.
Annamadeherwaythroughthelonghallwayfortheseventhtimethathour.With each step she tried to regainamemoryfromwheneverythingwasnormalandofthetimewhen,atanygivenmoment she could retreat backintothesafelulloffamilyandhome.Shecouldn’trememberexactlywhenthatwasbecauseeversincethattime the days and nights had mergedintooneandtoAnnatherestoftheworldwasdead.Shedidn’tcareaboutwhatmaybehappeningoutwithherownsituation.
Annaontoherbedroomontheleftandabathroomtotheright.Betweenthesetwodoorwayswasalargewindow,bigenoughforafully-grownmantofitcomfortablywithinthestrongoakframe.Fromoutofthiswindowcouldbeseentheentirestretchoflandinfrontofthehouseandduringthedayaviewofglorioussnow-tippedhillsroseinthedistance.Itwasbeautifulintheclearlightofday,butduringthenightAnna’sthoughtswereshrouded by troublesome fearsofwhatlayputthere.Yetinmanywaysithadbeenthe isolated landscape that hadprotectedAnna’sfamilyforsolong.NowthatAnnawasalone,shecouldn’tevenbegin to contemplate the possibilities that surrounded her.
Anna’sfatherwasgoneaswerehermotherandthreeelderbrothers.WhatAnnahadtoworryaboutwaswhereherfamilycouldbeandwhytheyweretakingsolong.Ithadfeltlikeaneternitysofar.Shewonderediftheywouldeverreturn to her as her mother hadpromised.Asshethoughtofthelastfewsecondssharedbetweenthembeforetheyhadparted she could almost smell hermother’sperfumeandfeelhercoolskinasshereleasedAnna’shandfromhergraspandwhispered,“We’llbebacksoonAnna,Ipromise.”
Ashereyesgrewheavyandtired,Annaretreatedtoherbedroomwhereshekneltbeforeherbed,litherShabbatandprayedtoGodasshedideverynight.Shethenslippedunderneath her bed into the safenestshehadcreatedforherselftogetsomerestandanticipatewhattomorrowmaybring.
MathsExpertandABMathsaremyfavouriteeducationalapps.MathsExperthelpsmelearnandimprovemytables,additionandsubtraction.Theimagesspinandmoveonthescreen as you try to calculate theanswersfromlowesttohighest.Mymentaladdition,subtraction and times tables arebenefitingbecausethereisalimitedamountoftimeto
It’snotaschallengingasMathsExpertbutitstillhelpsmewithmymentalmathsbecause there is a time limit onthisgameaswell.
Iwouldscorethisapp9/10.
ipadAppReview By Louis Hainsworth
10
Onthe23September2007IwasamascotforHibswhentheywereagainstCelticatEasterRoad.Iwentupanhourandahalfbeforekickoff.WhenIgotthereIwasfullofexcitement.Theeducation organiser met us andstartedthetour.AssoonasIopenedthedoublegreendoorstobeginthetourIsawmyfavouriteplayerScottBrown.HewasaCelticplayerbutheusedtoplayforHibs.Icouldn’tbelieveitIwassohappyandexcited.
movedonintothebootroom.Alltheplayers’footballbootswerehere.Theremusthavebeenaboutthirtypairsofbootsandallofthemwerestinkingofmuck.Therewereverynicepairsinthereandsome huge ones and some smallones.
Itfeltweirdseeingthepitchfromthatview.Isatinthedugouts and had my picture takenwithmyMum,DadandGran.Ialsosatinthefourthofficial’sseat.
“ThisistheballthatStevenFletcherwillscorewith.”
Itwasn’tlonguntilkickoff.Iwaitedinthetunnelfortheplayerstogetready.IwasreallyexcitedandIcouldn’twaittogoontothepitch.Finally the players came out andIlinedupinthetunnel.TheCelticcaptainStevenMcManusshookmyhandandwishedmegoodluckandIrepliedbackbysaying“Youwillbetheonethatneedstheluck.”Hejustlaughedback.TherefereeletmeholdtheballandIbounceditandsaid“ThisistheballthatStevenFletcherwillscorewith.”TheHibscaptainRobJonestookmyhandandledmeontothepitch.Thenoisewastremendous,allfourstandsupandsinging,clappingtheirhands.RobJonesletgoofmyhand and ran to the corner flagtogreetthefans.Irantothecentrecirclemyself.Itfeltamazing,likeIwasaHibsplayermyself.RobJonescamebackandshookhandswiththeCelticcaptainandreferee.Therefereetosseda£1cointoseewhogotkickoffandaftergavemethepoundcoin.IgotmypicturetakenwithRobJones,StevenMcManus,therefereeandtwolinesmen.AfterwardsIranbacktothetunnel absolutely thrilled to bits.
AMascotforHibs!
by Liam Watson
11
Atlastthegamestarted.Hibsstarted great they chased everythingandgaveCelticnotimeontheball.ThefirstchancebroughtthefirstgoalanditwasaHibsgoal.StevenFletcherfromaboutthirty yards out hit a poor shotbutCeltickeeperArthurBoruc let the ball through his legs.Thestadiumerupted.IthoughtitwasArthur’sSeaterupting!WhatIsaidactuallyhappened,StevenFletcherscoredwiththeballIhadbounced.ThegamemovedonandCelticlevelled.OnthestrokeofhalftimeHibsscoredasecondgoal.Theplacewentevenwilderasitwasabrilliantindividualgoalbytherightback.Intothesecondhalfandthegamechanged.SuddenlyCelticwerealloverHibsandequalisedforasecondtime.ThestadiumwassilencedapartfromtheCelticend.AsthegamewentonIthoughtCelticweregoingtowinbutin the last ten minutes a shotfromDeanSheilswasspilledagainbytheCelticgoalkeeper.Icouldn’tbelieveit,Hibswerewinningaftertheirpoorperformanceinthesecondhalf.ThatwasitCelticcouldn’tequaliseforathirdtimeandHibswon3–2.Igaveahugesighofrelief.
My article is about some of the activities that we do in the HOTS group… SomeoftheHOTSteachersand pupils got the chance to trysomethingdifferentbygoing out on a boat on the UnioncanalbeforeChristmas.
TheSantacruisewasofferedby a charity called “The SeagullTrust”.TheSeagulltrustprovidesfreecanalcruisesforgroupsofchildrenandadultsofanyage.
AnotheractivitywedidbeforeChristmaswascardmaking.Wehadblankcardsand decorated them using a techniquecalleddecoupage.
I have started to make extra cards in my own time
and I have earned some money by selling them at
£1.50 each.
Thisiswhenyouhaveapicture that you build up usingdoublesidedstickyfoampads.Afteryoubuilditallupitlooks3D.Imadecardsforfamilyandfriendsandtheyreallylikedthem.IhavestartedtomakeextracardsinmyowntimeandIhaveearned some money by selling themat£1.50each.
Jordan wrote this for a competition run by Radio Lollipop in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children. He won first prize – tickets to see Jeff Kinney, author of the highly successful “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”.
Every year Edinburgh welcomes visits from the ‘shows’, a travelling fairground which brings colour and excitement to the city. Behind the scenes of the music and the bright lights are the families who run them, families who enjoy a long history of travelling across Scotland’s towns and cities. Over the winter the Showmen and their families settle in one place, spending their time repairing and restoring their rides to pristine condition ready for the new season’s work. During that time, the children attend a local school but when travelling begins, usually around the end of March until the end of October, the children have to be home schooled using the pack of work their class teacher prepares for them. If the fair arrives in Edinburgh during term time, every effort is made to contact the families and arrange a visit to their ‘wagon’ (caravan) to help the children with their work. This additional teaching is very much welcomed by the families. The following articles are from two of the ‘show’ children who were in Edinburgh in May last year.
Being a TravellingShowman
1717
car.Onetimeitwas10hours!SometimesIgetpickedonbutIneverletitgetmedown.Butthentherearegoodtimes.IgettomeetupwithfriendsonthefairgroundthatIhaven’tseen since the last year and that’swhyIlikebeingatravellingShowman.
BlueBlue is the seaWith big loud wavesBlue is the skyAbove us all around the worldBlue is the denimThe colour of jeansBlue is the bagThat carries my school booksBlue is the colour Of my brother’s roomBlue is the blanketSo soft and warmBlue is the bellsOn the blossoming flowersBlue is the berriesSo juicy and sweetBLUE By Nina Slater, age 10. Fairground Traveller
18
Itwasstillearlymorningand the sun had hidden its facebehindalightblanketofclouds.Naturewassilent.Thetallbeechtreesgaveasmall groan as a gentle breeze whistledthroughtheirbrightgreenleavescausingthetreestogivealoudechoingcreakallthroughtheforest.Isteppeddownthelaststepandplacedafootintotheearthysoilattheentranceoftheforest.
IreacheddownandletmydogTaraslowlyofftheleadand at that moment she didn’thesitateforasecond-sheboundedaheadofmegallopingoverleavesandsnappingfallenbranches.Andatthatverysecondtheforestsuddenlyawokeandcameintolife.Birdswhistledandsung,flowerscameintobloomrabbits and squirrels came outofhidingandscamperedalongtheforestfloor.
Asmallburntrickledpastmecontaining many small shoals offishandbrightlycolouredstoneswithinthewater.ThenTara raised her curious head andpickedupherearswithexcitement,hertailbeatingfrantically.IraisedmyheadtoseetheexittotheforestwasaheadofusandthenIknewwewouldbeclosetomyfavouritehillinthewholeofEarlston.
Isteppedforwardscrunchingatwig.MovingupwardsIcouldfeelthechillofthemistuponmyskinasthemorningmist lingered lazily in the
air.Taragavemeacuriouslookandstrolledoffintothemist.Herblackfigureslowlybecame more and more visibleonthemossyhillside.ItwasonlythenthatIrealisedthesunwasbattlingthroughthegroggycloudswarmingthe atmosphere and gently liftingthemist.
looking up at the sun pushing the grey clouds and
mist out of the way,
Andthenjustaheadofmeawaitingmethesummitofthehill!MyheartskippedintomythroatandexcitementbubbledintomychestasIran passing Tara as she trotted upwardsafterme.IsuddenlylefttheexhaustionIhadfeltandbeforeIknewitIwasthere,standingonthefaceoftheearth,lookingupatthesun pushing the grey clouds andmistoutoftheway,revealingagreatwarmingrayofbeautyontotheworld.
IarrivedatLongniddrietrainstationyesterday.Itwasgrey,rainyandcold.Thewindwasso strong that it bent the trees sideways.Therewasonlyoneshopandthebigwindowwascracked.Thetearsran
Itwasacolddarknightandtheairwasthickandadampmist gathered around the old greystonebuildingwhichstoodproudinfrontoftheyoungwoman.Shewaslookingaroundforthespotwhereshehadburiedhermother’sprecioussilverlocketwhichmeanteversomuchtoher.Theyoungwomanwhowasnowfreezingandsoakedthroughtotheskinshudderedasshethoughtbacktohowthebuildingusedtolook.Itwasonceaverygrandandbeautifulbuildingwhichanypersonwouldbeoverjoyedtoown.Everyyearinearlyspringthebrightlycolouredflowerswouldbloomandthegardenwouldcomealive.Sowhyyouaskdidtheyoungwomanshudderwhenshethoughtbackon the house and the beauty thatsurroundedit?Thefactwasshewasnotshudderingatthehouse’sappearanceshewassimplythinkingabouthowtheexteriorofthehousehadhidden all the terrible secrets within.
younggirlsittinginthebackofthecar,asshedesperatelywantedtoknowwhereshewasgoing.AsSarahgazedoutofthesunlitwindowshecouldn’thelpbut panic about the uncertainty ofthedaystocomeassheknewfromexperiencethatcarehomeswerenotniceplaces.
Sarahhadbeentravellingforthreelonghoursnowand had passed many busy crowdedcitiesandmanysmallpicturesquevillageswhichallhadtheirownstorytotell.Butnowtherewasnosignofhumansociety,onlygreatbigtreesandfieldsfilledwithgoldenflowerswhichdancedinthegentlebreeze.OnlyminuteslaterSarahfoundherselfbeingjerkedtoonesideasthecartookasharpleftandcontinuedupaverylongunevengravelroadwhichleduptoabreathtakingoldfashionedbuilding.
The car came to a halt and a womanappearedstandingoutsidetheimpressivedoubledoorentrance.Sarahgotoutofthecarandwasgentlyusheredtowardsthemaindoor.Shenoticedthatthewoman,whofromadistancehadlookedveryaveragewasalotstrangerinappearancecloseup.Thewomanhadalongmisshapenfacewithalargenoseand
unusually big hands and there wassomethingaboutherthatgaveSarahagreatsenseofunease-anditwasn’tjustherunfortunatelook.
StandinginthemainentranceSarahwassurprisedwhenshelookedaroundtoseethattheinsideofthebuildingwasnotwhatshehadimaginedfromtheexquisiteexterior.ThefloorwascoveredinacarpetwhichhadobviouslybeentherealongtimeasSarahcouldnolongertellwhatcolouritwasmeanttobe;thewallswereagrotty grey colour and there wereonlyafewlumpylookingchairs lined up against the bare walls.Sarah’sthoughtswereelsewhereasshewastryingtolistenintothetwowomenhavingaconversationinfrontofher.Lisa,Sarah’ssocialworkerwhohaddrivenherouttoMullberryHouse,wasaveryprettyyoungladywithapetiteframeandfairhair,butrightatthatmomentLisalookedmorebeautifulthaneverasshewasstandingnexttoMissRankinthewomanwhohadmetthematthedoor.SarahwasaskedtositononeofthefewchairsagainstthewallwhileLisaandMissRankinwenttoherofficeandsortedoutthelastofthepaperwork.Itwasabouttenminuteslaterwhentheofficedoorfinallyreopened
FirsthesangCelebrationTimeComeOn,thenhesangListentotheMusicandFireworkbyKatyPerry.Asthenightwenton he told us all about his familylifeandhisparentsandaboutthenewalbumshehadoutandhisbooks.
HesangthefamoussongtheYMCAandwealljoinedinsinging and dancing on our feet.HemadeusfeelproudtobeScottishsohesangAuldLangSyneandLochLomond.AlsohesangaverymovingeditionofYouRaiseMeUpfromthepopularbandWestlife.
AfterLisahadleftMissRankinledSarahthroughmanycorridors until they came to a stopoutsideadoorwiththenumber20onit.MissRankinopenedthedoorandtoSarah’ssurprisetherewerefourbeds.ShewastakenovertothebedinthefarleftcornerwhereMissRankinpickedupSarah’stattered old bag and handed overauniformwhichshewasthentoldtoputonandtofindherwaydowntothediningroomontimefordinnerorshewouldsimplyhavetogowithout. Sarahsankontoherbedclutchingthelocketaroundherneck.Shesighedasshelookedaround the gloomy room and liketherestofthebuildingitwasverybland,therewerefourmetalbedswithverythinlimpmattressesandaoldwornoutblanketoneachandbythesideoftheeachbedtherewasasmallsetofwoodendrawers.The only clue that anyone actually stayed in the room weretheteddiesanddollsthatsingularly lay against each pillow.Sarahgotchangedintoheruniformwhichwasnottheleastbitflattering:itwasillfittingandmiscolouredandswampedSarah’sslenderframeanddrainedthecolourfromherrosetintedcheeks.
LisaSilverwasnotonlytheirboss,shehadalsofoundedthecompanyinthe80s,builtitupfromnothing.Inherearlyfiftiesnowshewasavoidedbymostofher employees as she had atempertobefeared.HerrelationshipwithArthurwasknownas‘stormy’tosaytheleast,theyconstantlyhadshouting matches across the officeandLisawasknowntothrowthingsacrosstheroom.
Richardmovedontoanotherfacelesscompany,tofindanotherco-workertoenvyand another boss to blame forhisownlackoftalent.Hewasnothingbutpettyandincompetent,completelyharmless.
Ipullupnexttothelitteredkerb,coveredinadvertisementsfortake-awaysandcashloans,asifthisscumcouldaffordluxuries.Howcanpeoplelivehere?EspeciallysomeoneasintelligentasJess.Iconstantlywonderhowsheeverbeganthislife;wehadthesameupbringingyetIdon’tliveinafilthyscheme.Ilivearespectfullife.Isupposethereisalwaysaweirdoneineveryfamily;Idon’tknowwhyIevenbothersometimes.Isthere any point in my being here?Shedoesn’ttalktomewhenIvisit,simplysitsandstaresintothedistancewithhersunken,darkeyesandabemusedexpressiononhersallowskinnedface.Butthephonecall…itwastooweird.Herlaughing.Itisextremelyunusualtoevenseehersmile.Iseemtothinkherfacewouldcrackwithanattempt.No,sheisn’tthatbad.Yet.Butsheisgettingworse.
sheanswersthebuzzerandreassuresmethatsheisfinesoIcangetoutofthisplace.Butofcourse,hooliganshavebrokenthelockandmadetheflatsaccessible.Typical.God,itstinksinthisplace;thestenchofurineandsweatenvelopsmynostrils.Inearlygag.NinthfloorandyetIstilltakethestairs.Icanheargruntsfromthelift.Iwouldn’twanttodisturb.Thestairsarealsolitteredinadvertsandpee.ItislikeanimalsliveherethoughI’mundertheimpressionthatevenratshavebetterconditionsthanthese.Ihear someone descending the stairsasIclimbthem.Bettermakesuremycarkeysandwalletaretuckedoutofsight.Itisjustakid,withadogandacigarettehangingfromhisdirtymouth.Peoplelikethisshouldn’thavekids,whyfusetogetherDNAfromscumtore-enactthemselvesasyoungpeople.Hemaybeonlyaboutfourteenbuthestillmanagesto barge past me rather easily eventhoughthereisplentyofroomonthestairs.Eighthfloor,almostthere.
Who dares to interrupt my heaven?Ienjoyithere,yetsomeone insists on disturbing myserenity.Iwishtheywouldgo…Whatisthatnoise?Beep,beep,beep.Justgo,leavemealone.Iwashappythere.Nowvoicestoo?Canthisgetmuchworse?
theirforeignaccentanyway.Eventually,theyleave.Jesslooksmorerelaxedandcarriesonsleepinginherownlittleworld.MymemorycrawlsbacktowhenIfoundher.Thebangingofhervandaliseddoor,thekickingdownofherdoor,thediscoveryofherlifelessbody,surroundedbyneedlesandtablets.Thephone she had used to call mewaslyingtheretoo,asifshehaddroppeditnexttoherafterendingthecalltome.Iremembershakingher,tryingtoshaketheunconsciousnessoutofher,thedrugsoutofher.AngerwasthemostrecognisableemotionIrecallfeeling.Griefwasanother.Sowasdetermination.GriefforthesisterIhadlost;thepretty,smartyounggirlandgriefforthewomanshewasnowwithlifeedgingitswayoutofherclammybody.Ivowedtomakehersurviveandbeahealthywoman.Sheneededcare,loveandattention.Notheroin,alcoholandcigarettes.Isitandtellhermyplansforthefuture;shejustliesthere.Isshelistening?I’mnotsure.Shemightbe.Ifeelbetterfortellingheranyway.Iwatchtheheartmonitorbeepingsteadilyon,reassuredbyit.Theyweren’tsureshewouldsurvive.Herbodywasoverloaded.Idesperatelyhopeshepullsthrough.IwishIhaddonemore.
OnFridayIwentbacktoschooltoseemyfriendsforthefirsttimeinages.Weplayedwithbricksandwemadeashed.Wehadastory then mum came to pickmeup.OnMondayIamgoingbacktoschoolforthemorningagainandifIfeelwellenoughIwillbeabletogobackmoreregularly.ForthelastfewmonthsIhavestayedinthehospitalmostofthetime.Igottovisitthefire
IplayedMathsBingo,wrotestoriesontheBookCreatoranddrewpicturesonDoodleBuddy.Myfavouritethingthoughwasgoingtotheplayroom.IthadlotsoftoysandImadesomefriends.OneboywascalledCallumandhewasreallyfunny.HelikedHorridHenry.Ialsohadsomevisitorscomingtoseeme.Myuncles,aunties and granny and granddadscametoo.Itmademereallyhappy.Theyboughtpresentsforme.
HorridHenryintheHospitalbyCallumMurray,Age7
HorridHenrycameforasleepoverwithmeandIwasinWard2.Itwasthe 8September.Westayeduptothecrackofdawn.Wegotuptomischief.Weranabout,kickedfootballs,playedgolfandbouncedonbeds.AAAAH!Suddenlywebrokethebed.Kerrythenursewascross!ShegaveHorridHenryarow.Firstwehadfudgesand then caramels and then wewenttosleep.
GoingbacktoSchoolbyEthanAllan,Age7
29
30
Nobody can deny that ChristmasisamagicaltimeofyearfromthelightsontheChristmastreetothesnowontherooftops.Thetowniscoveredinwonderfulsightsandsmells;themuskymulledwine;thesweetsmellofdoughnuts;cinnamondustfloatingintheair,greetingthesmilingfacesaboardthebigwheel.Christmashasbeenatradition,inmanycountries,foryearstocelebratethebirthofJesus.Yet,thereareproblemsbeginningtoshowwiththisspecialevent.
AnamazingthingaboutChristmasishowimportantitistomanyreligiouspeople.ChristmasoriginatesfromChristianity’sbeliefthatJesuswasbornonthisday,the25thofDecember.ThisissuchasignificantcelebrationfortheChristiansocietyandforthemChristmasisnotaboutlargegifts,itisaboutGod’ssonbeingbornintotheworldandthismakesitreallyemotionalforthem.TheBiblesayshowanordinarycouplewalkedmiles,withthewomaninlabour,managedtofindarundownstableandthisiswherethebirthofJesushappened.This suggests that money is
notthemostvaluablethinginlife,itisloveandhumanity.Therearemanynativityplayseducatingusaboutwhathappened at this special eventwhilstchurchesacrosstheworldholdcandlelitservicestomarkthebirthofJesusandChristiansoftengo out carol singing to the public.EventhoughitisadayofChristianity,atheistsandsome other people around theworldcelebrateChristmaswithallthetraditionalpartstogowithitbringingjoytomany people around the world.
But,withthestatetheeconomy is in at this moment intime,financialdifficultiesare becoming more and more apparentandChristmascanbequiteoverwhelmingwithpresentsbeingtheexpectedthing.Forthevulnerablepeoplefindingthemselvesstressedthereareservicesthatclaimtosavepeoplefrombecomingindebt.Theseservicesarecalled“PayDayLenders”andarereallynotwhattheyclaimtobe.Forasimpleloanofahundred pounds you could beexpectedtopayupto25poundsforjustthirtydayswhichalladdsuptoanannualpercentagerateof1730percent.These“legalloansharks”couldactuallybe charging more than the illegal street lenders and the online pay day lender Wonga is the one that really doeschargethemost.SoforChristmasshoppersseeingalloftheseadvertsasawayoutitreally is not and they can get suckedintoaspiralofdebt.
IsChristmasAllItIsMadeOutToBe? Tiffany Hutchinson
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The pressure to get these expensivepresentsforfamilyandfriendscanmakepeoplereallyquitedepressed.
Thisneedn’tbethecaseaspeoplecouldalternativelygotoaCreditUnionwhichis much cheaper and moretrustworthy.ThesepredicamentscanbeavoidedifyouthinkcarefullybeforeChristmasthough.ChristmasdinnerscanbealotcheaperifpeoplewouldgotoalternativeshopssuchasAldiorLidlandthequalityisreallyjustthesame.Websitesonlineholdreviewsfordifferentbrands’foodanditturnsoutthatAldiandLidlhave,arguably,thebestqualityforpricesoChristmasdinnershouldnotbeanythingtoworryaboutwhenonesitsdownwithcheapwinehavingeveryonecomplimenttheexpensivetaste!Children’stoyscanbereally quite cheap such as boardgameswhichcanonlycosttenpoundsandwiththesetypesoftoystheparentscanspendqualitytimewiththeirchildren.Barbiedollsare another one that surely all girls remember getting intoastateofexcitementwhentheyseethebeautifullydressed doll appearing under thewrappingpaperasifitcostalotmorethan£15outofToysRUs.Teenagerscanbetrickierbutifparentssitwiththemanddiscusswhattheoptionsarebeforetheygoahead and set their mind on whattheywant,thingscanbeawholelotcalmer.Planningahead is the best option at
However,somepeopledonotfinditsoamazing.There are many homeless andelderlypeoplewhocanfindthemselvesaloneatChristmaswithoutfood,warmthandcompany.ThiscanleadtoaverydepressingChristmaswherethe homeless may be on the streetswithoutabedinthebitterwinterweather.TheelderlymayhavenowheretogoandunabletoevenmakethemselvesaChristmasdinner.SomefamiliesenduphavingnoChristmasatallsince money is so tight they are unable to buy the children presentslikeanyotherfamily.
They will go around the elderly
people’s homes and spend time with them when they
are lonely
But,therearecertainorganisations that can help withthesethings,suchastheSalvationArmy.TheSalvationArmyconsistsofwonderfulpeopleofallbackgroundswillingtogiveupChristmastimeforothersindesperateneed.EveryonehelpingisChristianbutmorethanthat,theyhavethewonderfulcaring personalities that shinelightintothedark
winternights.Theywillgoaroundtheelderlypeople’shomesandspendtimewiththemwhentheyarelonely,and most elderly people are providedwithaChristmasdinner in the centres that are openforChristmaswhichgivesthemachancetomakenewfriendsandenjoythehappyatmosphere.TheSalvationArmywillgoaroundlookingforhomelesspeopleonthestreetstogivehotfoodtoandinvitethemtospendthedayinthecentresand,ifpeoplehavedonatedenough,theremayevenbeabedfortheweek.Poorfamiliesarevisitedandgivensomefestivefoodandsmallgiftsforthechildren.Peopleoftensay that there is an amazing atmosphere and a great sense ofcommunityandmostofallitisachanceforthehomelesspeopletogettheirlifebackontrack.Itsureisahappytimeforeveryone.
So,alotofteenagersouttheremayjustbeexcitedaboutgettingtheirnewBlackberrymodelphone,theirupgradedGHDhairstraightenersand“theawesomenewPlaystation”butnothingcomparestothewonderfulsenseofcommunityatChristmastime.TheChristmasfeelingismagical,allittakesisawalkoutsidetoshowhowwonderfulthistimeofyearis.Withalltheamazing things that happen atChristmas,materialobjectsarenotimportant;itisthespiritofthepeoplethatisthegreatestgiftofall.