Senior Blog: 3rd December 2020

Welcome to the Katie Jayne Tutors Senior Blog Issue Number 21.

So much to fit in before Christmas, decorations to put up, presents to buy and wrap, Christmas cards to send and lots of Christmas baking to do… We love Christmas…..

We wanted to take time out to remember that some people do not have loved ones to share a Christmas meal with or receive a card from and some children will be waking up this Christmas with no presents under their tree, so take a look at how you can cheer up someone else’s Christmas this year by getting involved in one of the mentioned charities.

We take a look at some very easy items that you can make this Christmas to give to your loved ones…. a gift is all about the thought behind it not how much you spend. Use your creative flair to have a go, you may love it so much that you never buy another gift again!

We have some lovely recipes you take on and our regular ‘Media Chart’ and ‘Feel the Burn’ for you.

Don’t forget we are looking for one of our readers to get involved with our fortnightly blog by writing regular articles. Please send us an example of an article or item that you have written, something that suits the age range 11-18 years of age. We shall look forward to receiving your submissions. You could see your work up in print (so to speak!).

Catch up with you next time.

Sam

A Day In The Life Of…….A Barrister

Do you know what a barrister does?

A Barrister represent clients and solicitors through legal proceedings at court. A barrister’s job is to translate their client’s case into a legal argument. Excellent communication skills are needed as well as a flair for public speaking. So now is the time to join your public debating group.

How and where you practice will vary depending on the area of law you specialise in for example family law is very different to criminal law and cases are heard in different courts around the UK depending on which area you specialise in. You may be working on criminal cases, where you could be defending or prosecuting in a Magistrates or Crown Court. You may also work in civil courts and employment or residential property tribunals.

Administrative and numeracy skills are key. Being able to argue a case is essential, you’ll also advise clients and solicitors on the strength of the case. Most barristers are self-employed and work with other barristers in partnership in chambers.

To become a barrister, you must complete academic training, followed by a work-based stage. This practical experience is called a pupillage.

You can complete the academic stage by gaining:

either an approved law degree – known as a qualifying law degree – at class 2:2 or above

or a degree at 2:2 or above in any other subject, followed by a postgraduate Common Professional Examination (CPE) or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) Either an approved law degree – known as a qualifying law degree – at class 2:2 or above

Or a degree at 2:2 or above in any other subject, followed by a postgraduate Common Professional Examination (CPE) or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)Vocational training

Pupillage

To read what an actual day would like if you were to be working as a barrister follow this link.

You can research more by going to:

The Bar Council

The Law Society

Chocolate Yule Log

Ingredients

For the cake

3 eggs

85g golden caster sugar

85g plain flour (minus 2 tbsp)

2 tbsp cocoa powder

½ tsp baking powder

For the filling & icing

50g butter, plus extra for the tin

140g dark chocolate , broken into squares

1 tbsp golden syrup

284ml pot double cream

200g icing sugar, sifted

2-3 extra strong mints, crushed (optional)

icing sugar and holly sprigs to decorate – ensure you remove the berries before serving

Method

Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Butter and line a 23 x 32cm Swiss roll tin with baking parchment. Beat the eggs and golden caster sugar together with an electric whisk for about 8 mins until thick and creamy

Mix the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder together, then sift onto the egg mixture. Fold in very carefully, then pour into the tin. Tip the tin from side to side to spread the mixture into the corners. Bake for 10 mins

Lay a sheet of baking parchment on a work surface. When the cake is ready, tip it onto the parchment, peel off the lining paper, then roll the cake up from its longest edge with the paper inside. Leave to cool.

To make the icing, melt the butter and dark chocolate together in a bowl over a pan of hot water. Take from the heat and stir in the golden syrup and 5 tbsp double cream. Beat in the icing sugar until smooth.

Whisk the remaining double cream until it holds its shape. Unravel the cake, spread the cream over the top, scatter over the crushed extra strong mints, if using, then carefully roll up again into a log

Cut a thick diagonal slice from one end of the log. Lift the log on to a plate, then arrange the slice on the side with the diagonal cut against the cake to make a branch. Spread the icing over the log and branch (don’t cover the ends), then use a fork to mark the icing to give the effect of tree bark. Scatter with unsifted icing sugar to resemble snow, and decorate with holly.

Gifts From The Heart!

Collect a large glass jar, use one that is going to be thrown away from the kitchen. Save it and the lid, fill the bottom with some colourful shredded paper, and tie a ribbon around the outside with a lovely hand written label to your gift recipient. Inside the jar fill it with things that your loved one enjoys the most…. maybe cakes that you make, or a knitted scarf, a home made paperweight or a drawing that you created for them. This gift can be bespoke and customised just for that person and it really shows that you have thought about your gift.

Why not write out on some small cards, ten things that you will do for that person; like, wash their car, do their homework, massage their feet, do their makeup, make them coffee every morning…. these can be little vouchers that you give – what a lovely surprise!

Take your loved one on gastronomic journey by cooking their favourite, cakes, cookies, meal…. it is always nice to be spoilt, you could lay the table with a lovely cloth and decorate the table with flowers and candles, make your loved one feel spoilt and special.

Write a story about your loved one or for your loved one and present it to them in a home made book. Full of your inspiration and love – add humour, suspense, horror, emotion, you could even illustrate your book.

Speaking Rocks…. I loved creating these with my son when he was little, we would collect some beautifully shaped stones and then paint them, either with pictures or slogans, then when they were dry we would varnish them to make them shine and to stop the paint from rubbing away. You could paint a slogan on your rock that relates to your loved one…. like… ‘You have a beautiful smile’ or ‘You brighten my world’ or perhaps a joke, or a favourite symbol… give it a go.

Lots of ideas here to get your inspirational juices flowing… good luck and use your own imagination to get creative. Let us know what you make and send us some pics if you have time.

‘Appealing Appeals’ this winter!

Would you like to give so that a child receives a gift this Christmas? Helping vulnerable children in the UK. Perhaps you could get together at school to raise funds for this great charity.

Or you could donate a toy to the KidsOut charity follow this link to find out how….

The Children’s Society has come up with a fab idea to allow you to buy children’s gifts online through their website which will then get delivered to vulnerable children and young people.

Media Chart

Music

Ariana Grande is at number one again with her single Positions

Film

With many of the cinema’s not yet listing their usual ‘What’s On’ yet we have picked a few films that should be available through your chosen cinemas downloadable content

A Christmas Carol (2020)

The Family Tree (2020)

Superintelligence (2020)

Odeon

Vue

Apps

VSCO is a creative channel with a creator-first philosophy. For those 13+

Feel the Burn

Joanna Soh has a fabulous workout for teenagers and at only 8 minutes in length you have time to do that while you wait for the toast to pop in the morning before school.

Educational Activities

Everything You Wanted To Know About Dinosaurs!

Paul Barrett Department of Earth Sciences at the Natural History Museum invites you to watch this half an hour video on Dinosaurs.

Science Museum

Book your Free Admission after 3rd December and learn all about the Imax, Wonderlab, Medicine, Mathematics and Antartica to name but a few subjects. Some wonderful exhibitions.

Body Works

Amazing facts that you never knew about animals