BLOGMAS – last day of 2020 school

Yesterday was the last day of school for me this year and after some reflection, I realise it was very strange and chaotic. The year started off well working upon my Extended Project Qualification and applying for head student however, soon it took a strange turn. I was not offered a head student role but instead was offered the Centenary position. I flew out to Poland for a day with the Holocaust Education Trust to visit Auschwitz and continued Sixth Form usually until March the 20th when everything changed. Suddenly it was online school, copying from a textbook whilst revising for my year 12 mocks.

During England’s first national lockdown, we were not in school instead completing our school work at home (and sometimes completing an online lesson). We completed our year 12 mock examinations at home. Over June and July, I was able to attend school twice which I blogged about here and here. Then it was the summer holidays before returning back face to face in September, this raised many concerns for me and so I wrote to my school expressing my view.

I survived the first half term and then the second half term where I submitted my UCAS application and applied to American universities abroad. I wrote to my MP and was filmed for the schools Christmas concert. Yesterday was a half day at school so we had virtual events within our form groups. This included completing a virtual Christmas quiz, watching a virtual assembly and watching houses got talent (which my house won!). Overall the day went very quickly and it was a good way to end the strange year. I am now waiting to see what the New Year has in store for school.

BLOGMAS – Christmas food rankings

In today’s blog I will be ranking my typical Christmas dinner giving a my views on each item.

Pigs in blankets – 100/10 these are a stable to a British Christmas dinner where they only appear upon the 25th of December. For anyone who does not live in Britain, this dish is sausages wrapped in bacon.

Roast potatoes – 10/10 when made perfectly they are crispy on the outside being fluffy in the centre.

Cranberry sauce – 9/10 game changing to add a new flavour onto your plate.

Roasted parsnips – 9/10 parsnips are just below roasties due to being just as tasty but never as elite as roast potatoes.

Sage and Onion Stuffing – 9/10 stuffing brings the plate together and is my job to make on Christmas. The secret is to add butter to make it 10x better.

Gravy – 8/10 it is standard for a Sunday roast and adds a good flavour however, sometimes it can be too watery of too thick.

Turkey – 8/10 without this, you cannot consider this dish to be a Christmas dinner. Turkey is the pinnacle of the dish being the base of the other items.

Swede and carrot mash – 8/10 a lot better than normal mash but is more elite.

Brussels sprouts – 7/10 they are average. Could be better, could be worse but I’m not complaining.

Broccoli and cauliflower – 7/10 similar to sprouts, they are average but are needed for a Christmas dinner to be complete.

Bread sauce – 6/10 it’s good but sometimes I am not a big fan if it is cold.

What are your rankings? Leave your opinions in the comments below.

BLOGMAS – Christmas jokes

Howdy Blue here,

I am back with a fan favourite of Christmas jokes this season to spread the Christmas cheer:

Who hides in the bakery at Christmas? A mince spy!

How does Christmas Day end? With the letter Y!

What do you call an obnoxious reindeer? Rude-olph!

What do you call Santa living at the South Pole? A lost clause!

What did the Christmas tree say to the ornament? Quit hanging around

What do Santa’s little helpers learn at school? The elf-abet!

What goes “Oh, Oh, Oh”? Santa walking backwards!

Why is it getting harder to buy Advent calendars? Their days are numbered!

What do snowmen have for breakfast? Snowflakes!

BLOGMAS – a virtual concert

Today at school we have been filming for the virtual Christmas Concert. This year, I am in three pieces with two being part of the Sixth Form Choir (‘A Glad Noel’ and ‘The Colours of Christmas’) and the other piece I am in is The Boar’s Head carol.

During lunch, we filmed out Sixth Form Choir pieces which went pretty well. It was very weird being filmed singing instead of performing live and in a way it was slightly nerving due to having a professional film crew to film each of our pieces. I am very happy that we were still able to put on the annual Christmas concert allowing for a little normal to the current world.

Throughout the day, I was able to send off my UCAS application – which I have chosen to apply for a Mathematics and Computer Science courses. I also spent my break time fixing the Christmas tree lights upon our school stage and did some homework throughout the day.

BLOGMAS – making snowflakes

In today’s blogmas I will show you how to make paper snowflake decorations. You will need a sheet of paper, a pair of scissors and a pencil.

Here are the steps to success:

Finally make as many snowflakes as you desire to hang around and display.

BLOGMAS 2020 – personal development award

Personal Development Award

Last week, I got my final badge from UK Contingent following the end of the 24th World Scout Jamboree. This was from completing the personal development award which I blogged part of my process here.

I love how it features T-bear as well as the design being a cute trophy. The only downside is the badge being difficult to sew onto my blanket.

BLOGMAS 2020 – the Boar’s Head

Howdy y’all and welcome to Blogmas 2020. After a chaotic year, I believe that bringing back Blogmas will help with the holiday cheer. This year I am going to do it slightly differently, with blog posts of Blue teaching and crafting with you as well as an update of my week from me (I may also bring back the fan favourite Christmas cheese jokes!). To start day one off I am going to write about the Boar’s Head Christmas Carol.

the Boars Head

The Boar’s Head Carol is a tradition at my school (and many others) which is sung by the sixth formers in acapella (aged 16-18). This (and last year), I am taking part in singing the traditional song. The carol is about a sacrificing a boar and resenting it at the head of a Yuletide festival. It has been around since the 15th century and has been sung at my school for 100 years. Usually we perform it in the dark with lanterns during the beginning of our Christmas concert however going this year it is being filmed to be shown virtually.

The lyrics are as follows:

Chorus: Caput apri defero. Redens laudes domino. Caput apri defero. Redens laudes domino.

Verse 1: The Boar’s head in hand bear I, Bedecked with bays and rosemary. And I pray you my masters be merry, Quot est-is convivio.

Chorus: Caput apri defero. Redens laudes domino. Caput apri defero. Redens laudes domino.

Verse 2: The Boar’s head as I understand, Is the rarest dish in all the land. Which thus be decked with a gay garland, Let us servire coniuco.

Chorus: Caput apri defero. Redens laudes domino. Caput apri defero. Redens laudes domino.

Verse 3: Our steward hath provided this, In honour of the kind of bliss. Which in this day to be served is, In reginensi a trio.

Chorus: Caput apri defero. Redens laudes domino. Caput apri defero. Redens laudes domino.

Verse 1 repeat: The Boar’s head in hand bear I, Bedecked with bays and rosemary. And I pray you my masters be merry, Quot est-is convivio.