Another holiday!

I have worked for four days this week & just broken up for two weeks Easter holiday,which feels pretty good. I admit to being tired tonight, having had a crampy night last night, which I put down to pride/ wearing high heels yesterday & standing up for the five hours I was teaching.
Flight socks are a good response as long as they tone with the nightwear.
Jamie gave me a lift home as G was having a Thomas day today, which finished much later than a mere teaching day. Jamie brought the cakes, I made the tea & we put KS, if not the entire world to rights for a couple of hours.
The holiday starts here!
We have just had a very nice take-away, organised by G - prawn puri, chicken tikka dhansak & a Pashwari naan.
Tomorrow I am hoping to fit in a visit to Waitrose before tea in Bicester followed by a double whammy babysit at Bicester & Marsh Gibbon.
The weather forecast isn't too good, but it seems a little warmer & the daffodils are in full bloom, so it looks like spring through the windows at least.

Sarah Palin has returned to the campaign trail in the US, supporting John McCain.
God help us!
Lewis Hamilton has been done for speeding in Australia, prior to this weekends Grand Prix - that should herald well for a UK success.
W snr will be taking his new wife & baby home this weekend - we wish them well - they may need more than flight socks to achieve enough sleep.
The clocks "spring forward" tomorrow night - the car clock will be right for the next six months!
Enjoy your weekend.

Well, well.

Well, it was not only Happy Birthday Ben yesterday, but also the birthday of his Father's new baby, B's half sister, Rose Ann, in USA.
What a coincidence.
There can't be that many who have two children with an age difference of exactly 34 years, to the day.
There is the sobering thought that by the time RA is B's age, her father will be 95!

W accused me of writing a boring blog yesterday - the cheek of the younger generation.
I had a great day, topped off with some G&B's butterscotch chocolate, after dinner.
I'm a cheap date!
School again today & tomorrow.
The finance office spotted that I hadn't been payed since October, which is excellent news.
I hadn't noticed.
G is having a Thomas day tomorrow & no doubt snagging P&A's newly decorated kitchen & conservatory. I'll be dropped off at work very early, but have been invited to the Pastoral meeting at 8.00am.

A sad note; my "icebreaker" top, a pressie from W & K 2/3 years ago & really fine & warm, is worn out & has been relegated to decorating wear.

Congratulations to Chris Hoy - another win in the World Cycling Championships in Copenhagen.
W isn't taking part or even spectating this year as he is very busy at work.
Question Time any minute, from Glasgow. It may have controversial panelists, otherwise, bed.
G Osborne is presently responding to yesterday's budget - the Conservatives are "going to empower teachers to maintain discipline in the classroom" - buy shares in cattle prods prior to the election to make a mint!

Happy Birthday Ben.

Ben is now 34.
That is pretty grown up, I suppose, but not as grown up as W.
I hope that he will enjoy the little "objets d'art" that we found as a gift - it almost jumped off the shelf at us, with B's name on it. We will deliver it on Saturday, when we have a double babysitting contract in Oxon.

I had a day off today; the first one for a few weeks or so it feels.
I played tennis for a couple of hours this morning. the first time since November.
It was great fun, fresh & bright.
My shoulder was fine & I was playing quite well but a bit slow at the net.
I was home by noon so that G could go to town for a meeting.
I had a smoked salmon & salad sandwich, spent too long on the internet looking at things to do in Newquay, following up a cheap holiday in Havana & checking weeks of lottery tickets.
No luck there.
I did some washing, hung the duvet on the line to air, cleaned the lounge fireplace to mark the end of winter & cleaned downstairs, just so that G wouldn't think that I had been sitting down all day.
I still have exam papers to mark & the bed to make up.

Was W at the Ballerup velodrome watching the world cycling championships & eyeing up a new bike?
We did watch it for a while, just incase

The Lotus is poorly!

Apparently I didn't blog this - dashboard jemmied off the Lotus by the garage proprietor after he gave it an MOT, as he saw steam from the instrument panel & diagnosed it as smoke.

The fire extinguisher didn't help a lot, so LTS 100M has been at the Lotus hospital for over two weeks with no news of transplants or date of discharge. (yuk!)

We are left with one car, I'm working 2+ days/week & G has meetings.

No problem.

Well, it's usually Friday for me as I finish the working week on Tuesday.
This will be a short weekend as I'm working on Thursday & Friday again as the supply teacher covering for the maths teacher, off until after Easter following a back operation 3 weeks ago, was told that she wouldn't be needed, so she took another job.
She is the second supply covering for him, the first lasted one week.
I shall be working 3 days/week next half term (Mon, Tues & Wed) to cover my 3 year 11 lessons & the rest of the timetable of the NQT who is quitting teaching.

This leaves his 3 year 11 lessons to cover.
Strangely, they are also taking on two other supply staff to cover Mon & Tuesdays for the half term, so that the 2 remaining year 11 classes can be split 3 ways, to give them every chance of success, for their remaining 6 weeks in school. That's about 18 pupils maximum between 3 teachers. That leaves both supply teachers with 7 lessons free at the moment. Mad!
Anyway, I shall be earning my keep.
G has a meeting tomorrow so I shall catch up at home; I may cycle to Coleshill if the weather is good - none of these "slush rides" for me.

Ben has a birthday tomorrow.
I am not old enough to have a son that old!

Work, work, work.

Spring arrived yesterday - bright, sunny & warm, so nice in fact that G spent the day in the garden & only went to P&A's at 5.00pm, to complete the work in the kitchen. I weeded the borders around the house, washed the car & dried two loads of washing on the line.
When G went out I loaded up with bin liners & went to collect the litter in Hollylands & Castle Lane - 4 bags in all - one sneaked into the wheelie bin at the Manor House, one left in a gateway for G to collect on his way home & two carried home & put in the bin. I left a diving gas cylinder on the verge for G to collect.

Today was a school day - not bad at all. G took me & went to the garage to discuss the Lotus.
It will cost a lot & we have no idea how long it will take to get a new dashboard.
We went to Ventura Park M&S after school - I forgot the horror of shopping with G.
I did buy a vest in the sale & some scrummy food, reduced to half price - lamb shanks, smoked salmon, pork loin & Singapore noodles.
I've been asked to work on Thursday & Friday; I may as well as I have two weeks Easter holiday following that & it will pay for my vest.
We have pizza & salad for dinner, I'm not sure why as we rarely eat pizza because of the calories.
I'm starving, so I'll get it ready now.

Sideboards?

We had an early meal this evening as we'd missed lunch, & watched the Six Nations - Ireland vs Scotland, won by Scotland in the last moments with a conversion (I think) by Don Moore, number 10.
The only reason I mention this is that he has long sideboards (facial, not furniture), which I thought may appeal to W for his new spring look.

An article in the Telegraph says that married people are more likely to be obese because they are more comfortable, more likely to eat take-aways in front of the TV, have less s-x & let themselves go because they are not looking for a partner.
Could this be you?
We are watching Quantum of Solace, for the third time; we didn't have a take-away - a luxury for us pensioners - but we are pretty comfortable, apart from G's sore thumb.

We went to P&A's this morning, via Homebase & B&Q, for G to do some prep in the kitchen before the decorator arrives on Monday. I left him there & went to Solihull for some retail therapy - further reductions at M&S (2 T-shirts, 2 special vests & a double down duvet for the bed settee)
This took longer than expected as there was a fire in a lift next to M&S & the place was evacuated just as I went to get the car, so I had to kill another hour.
Tough!

Does chocolate get you comments?

Photos of the flat.

Anyone want to buy it?

See rightmove - Bournemouth.

To return to Gill's Elevenses:

Well, no. Obviously my blogs are too boring to be worthy of comment.
Dull as ditchwater, perhaps.
I drove to Bournemouth straight after school on Tuesday, having had my prayers answered yet again, & my pupil refusing school again.
I arrived at the flat by 6.30pm, G finished his jobs & prepared an Italian meal, with a little help from JS.
After a good nights sleep in bedroom 2, G loaded the car whilst I dysoned through the entire building & cleaned the windows in the entrance hall. Wow, what a difference!
G has done a grand job.
We went to see the estate agent & deliver the new photos, then on to Bicester, to collect T from school. Mandy was at the school gate with a beaming KP.
We did a sleepover with B & E (G's first night under a duvet for a week).
On Thursday KP & I had an adventure, involving going to Banbury on the train, having lunch & coming home again. G & Oscar were meant to join us, but Oscar bottled out.
We'll try again another day.
We had a lovely day with a lot of walking, talking & giggling.
G arrived back from Marsh Gibbon at 8.00pm, we had fish & chips with B & E & came home.
Today was a Thomas day. G had a lie in so we came home at lunchtime to cook a pizza & pick him up, following a morning in the park & a potter along the Stratford road.
G prepared P's kitchen for the decorator - more to do before Monday.
Photos of flat:`

Does chocolate make you fat?

There's a programme on next Monday about the effects of chocolate - I may not watch it.
Presently I am tucking into a little G&B butterscotch chocolate with my coffee, to make up for being on my own, having left G in Boscombe. I shall drive down tomorrow after school, so hope to get away shortly after 3.00pm, which actually means hoping that the two girls who I revise with for an hour after school, do not turn up.
Not very professional, still - I'm not perfect.
I've had a good day at school, teaching & supporting the supply teacher, which resulted in some good lessons, followed by a higher level revision class after school.
I came home for an Alms Houses trustee meeting at 5.30pm, which finished at 7.45pm.
Not a very notable day in all, so I thought that I'd better add some contentious remarks about my hobbies or the weather.
It was pretty cold today, despite the sunshine - we had the meeting in the conservatory, which was warm & bright - the first evening that I've been warm without a fire, ie only one fleece.
I haven't had my bike out this week yet or done any basket weaving, but I'm hoping to catch up at the weekend, failing a snow storm or a willow draught.

Happy Mothering Sunday.

I arrived back from Boscombe last night, having visited B & E, J, but not G, on the way home.
B & T had just come in from the garage, having been working on the car.T looked just like his Dad at that age when he'd been mechanics mate. KP was in the bath, in good voice.
G & I have spent four days sprucing up the flat & public areas in the block before it goes on the market.
It looked really good when we had finished, newly painted, carpets cleaned & dressed for the photos.
G stayed down to finish the work on the entrance, I will go down after school on Tuesday.
We did have time for the odd walk down to the beach & along the pier in the sunshine.
It was pretty cold until Saturday - hats & gloves needed on the prom.

This morning I took Mothering Sunday services at Shustoke & Over Whitacre. OW had "The Birmingham Cavy Society Show" in the church hall - not a tail in sight but parking space on the adjoining field only.
I've shopped at Ventura Park this afternoon as the house was devoid of anything edible & I survived the morning on a cup of coffee & a couple of biscuits after church at Shustoke.
We surreptitiously lifted a report on " The 30 best red wines for under a fiver " from The Times" yesterday, when in a cafe in Boscombe. This included a fair number with big discounts from supermarkets, so I raided JS & M&S for their best deals, before they were all snapped up.
A bit of a dodgy occupation for a Sunday afternoon, I suppose.
When I got home there was a lovely vase of lilies from P, A , J & T.
This morning I found a parcel from B,E, T & KP, which I had overlooked last night, with a lovely top, ready for the holiday.
Thanks to you all.

I only just managed to get Internet access, by switching off the modem at the mains for ten minutes, whilst I filled a hotty & paired up the socks & put them away,then switching on again.
I'm not sure that the activities are vital, but it did work.
I watched a very old "Father Ted" to keep awake - I haven't seen them before & find them very funny.

School tomorrow, followed by an Alms Houses trustees meeting here.
Time for bed.
Have a good week.

D Ream physicist.

We have had a cold, beautifully sunny weekend, so we have accumulated another vast bonfire from G's hedgecutting - G may be lighting it even as I blog.

According to the Telegraph. the Boscombe reef is rubbish because it produces the wrong sort of wave so it has attracted very few surfers. It was only completed in November so perhaps it hasn't been given a fair chance yet.
I certainly shan't be tempted until the weather warms up, so won't be taking my wet suit to Bournemouth next week, just a paint brush & sleeping bag.
Two days teaching & a couple of revision classes to do first.
The Lotus goes for an MOT at Kingsbury garage tomorrow which necessitated my washing the cars this afternoon as we all know that only clean cars get an MOT!
It also necessitates my remembering that the car is at the garage when I come out of school, otherwise I panic as I assume that my car has been stolen & I have no way of getting home.

P, A, J & T stayed last night. They all behaved very well & are welcome back any day.
It is lovely to hear J & T giggling around the house. We fed some very hungry ducks, geese & a couple of swans on the reservoir this morning, walking back across the field from the Lower Green.
The other highlight of the weekend was the pack of beagles that met at Maxstoke castle & followed a runner to the village then across the path that we came back along, across the field to Hollylands.
When they reached Hollylands they were meant to turn right & go back to the castle. Unfortunately, at that moment a hare ran across the road from our garden to go into the field opposite, so they all headed in this direction, some into the garden, some into the field, with the master in hot pursuit, whip in hand, expletives escaping.
They didn't catch anything.
The master admired our pear tree & invited us to the next meet at the castle.

Professor Brian Cox, particle physicist & ex pop star, presents a really good science programme on Sunday evenings - Wonders of the Solar System. It does coincide with David Dimbleby's "Seven Ages of Britain", but you can catch this later in the week.

Grandad sitting.

What a week.
When you realise that you haven't blogged since Monday & then realise that you haven't had time awake to blog that you realise that either it was a very busy week or you sleep too much.
I taught on Monday & Tuesday, giving an hour long revision session after school each day to year 11 students..
On Tuesday evening we went to Bournemouth to see what we could do to help to sell the flat. We couldn't locate any keys for the flat so we had to look for a hotel to stay in.
Unabl to find the one we'd stayed in before, we chose one at random which didn't look too busy - The Grove Hotel. Wenegotiated & were promised "a very nice room".
There was plenty of choice as we were the only guests, so at least 59 empty rooms!
It was OK.
We walked into town & had a nice Italian meal - bread & olives, followed by pasta.
On Wednesday we did some research at the local estate agents before collecting the keys for the flat.
We checked out what work needed doing - mostly in the shared areas & plan to do this urgently as March/April is prime selling time.
We had a potter around Boscombe, a walk along the prom & inspected the new surfing reef, part of which was visible as the tide was low.
We spotted a South Indian/Keralan restaurant near the flat, so we returned there for a meal before driving home, via James & Gina's, to deliver some bits & pieces. We got home at 12.15am.
The meal was brilliant, we shall visit again .
Yesterday I cleaned the house from top to bottom & did 3 loads of washing, dried on the line in the sunshine, & ironing.
This is the first housework since coming home from CPH, so I do not have a compulsive disorder. I do like being in a clean, ordered environment & I love getting into a clean bed with ironed cotton sheets.
I went into school today to do a day's supply & G had a Thomas day, which he enjoyed.
I shopped at Ventura Park afterwards as I finish at 3.00pm, with a bit of tidying up to do.
There was a building fire in Fazeley so the journey took an hour - to Fazely & back, very slowly, & then through Mile Oak & Dosthill.
Some great bargains in M&S,as they reduce today's food at the end of the day..
We've just watched "Embarrassing Bodies" - a lot of problems with bottoms, requiring surgery. Yuk.

Monday, Monday....

I can't actually remember the rest of it; I can hum it.
Back at school today for a rest, after G spent Thursday & Friday moving J & G from Leatherhead to Marsh Gibbon & we spent Saturday & Sunday putting the flat back in good order before the keys were returned.
G worked all through Thursday night, collecting a newly acquired settee, reloading the van & taking a second load, with J, returning to fill the van for a final run on Saturday morning, then taking the van back in Bicester for 10.30am.
We had a delightful night at Margaret's on Saturday, including a 5* dinner.
Does a Marsh Gibbon have webbed feet?
G has had a gentle day & finalised the Almshouse manual with Di.
I find the behaviour at school disappointing, particularly the lack of overall effort to improve the situation. Why should a mere supply teacher fight the battles if senior staff turn a blind eye?
Humanities GCSEs are to be taken in one year from next year.Year 9!
What does that tell you about the demands of GCSE exams?
Spring may have arrived, despite the fact that I had to defrost the car this morning.
I have heard the dawn chorus for the last two mornings

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