Stirrin' Blog

March 2007 13th April 2007

March was so busy that the blog updates just didn’t happen. Here is an all-too-brief update.

Schools have to use budgets up by the end of March and Stirrin’Stuff was approached ‘last minute dot com’ by schools keen to use funds before March 31st. One innovative head teacher organised a parent and child session too, a mother and daughter on stage cooking together had to be excellent stuff.

The food co-operative Suma is very keen to encourage children to cook. Adam, who has had ‘Education Officer’ added to his already long job description, sent a different employee out each day to work with Stirrin’Stuff in different schools in West Yorkshire. Hopefully, as a result of these ad hoc visits Suma will roll out their own project in West Yorkshire in partnership with Kirklees council. It was wonderful to work in integrated multi-cultural schools where dietary differences are catered for at lunchtime but the general healthy eating message is similar for every child. MICHAEL POLLAN, in an article for the New York Times, suggested that we ‘Eat food - Not too much - Mostly plants. This succinctly, is the Stirrin’Stuff message too, with a big stir on the fruit and vegetables and a pinch of fun too.

The last school week of March was spent in Strabane in Ireland, where about 2,400 children watched Stirrin’Stuff interactive demonstrations. I was assisted by a fabulous parent team (Kate and Brian), the uncomplaining, hard working Caroline who washed up a mountain of plates (Kate helped too) and a fantastic assortment of children on stage. Six children assisted during each demo from nursery school age to S3. The irrepressible Lisa, a wonderful young teacher from Holy Cross Secondary School masterminded the event. Lisa is now moving on to Paul Rankin for her grande finale. Lucky Paul Rankin.

I just loved my week – and I managed a visit to the stunning Murvagh beach (Donegal) on my short nursery school day. It was my mini Irish holiday – I love the emerald isle.