sorry about that

One of the things I love about being a primary school chaplain is the chance to do heaps of childish things and call it work. Silly jokes, special drawing techniques, and string games send the children into a veritable frenzy. I might be old, but hey, when I teach them something new I. am. so. cool.

The craze right now is whistling through the hands. Despite my mother's best efforts to teach me, I never did master wolf whistling (although after discovering the youTube video maybe I can still learn), but I'm a dab hand at whistling through my hands.

After demonstrating the technique once or twice, I am now bombarded every recess and lunch with (mostly) boys asking me how to 'do that thing'.

Put one hand out palm up, place the other hand at a right angle across it, wrap your fingers around each other, seal up all the edges so there are no gaps (hold your hands to the light to check), put your thumbs together, place your lips over your thumb knuckles and blow in a downward direction.

Once so taught, off they go and wander dazedly around the school yard, squinting up at the sky looking for gaps, then, hands at their mouth, they huff and puff for all they are worth. Their studied concentration and determination is quite touching. And hilarious.

I laughed and laughed at the line of them practising hard today (some of them are getting quite good at it) and then hoped they aren't working on it in class. Sorry to all the teachers enduring this new found skill... the thrill will pass soon I'm sure!