W, MK, J & DK arrived on Friday teatime, shortly after I arrived home from visiting JR in Cambridge shire. It's been great having them here & the boys have been fun.
Unfortunately I have had a very busy week, two services on Sunday & school on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday with a Parents' evening tomorrow evening.
G has excelled this week spending Mon eve and Tues with JRB in Cambridgeshire arriving home yesterday evening nad up early today, taking J to P & A's to look after Thomas. (photos later maybe).
All went well & they all enjoyed the day - Barbara stood in for a couple of hours whilst G went to the dentist for a crown. (tooth, not regal).
W & MK took DK to Manchester for a check up; his feet are "perfect"
Brilliant.
A day off tomorrow to spend with the family, DMP if the weather holds & W can cope with the "Chavs".
Time for bed .
Wednesday 28 April 2010
Wednesday 21 April 2010
Friday at last.
These three day weeks are pretty demanding if enjoyable, on the whole.
I must admit to a feeling of abandonment after school on Wednesdays, added to by the fact that I don't have to take a revision class after school that day, so I can go home when I like.
Today, I liked at about 3.30 pm as I had a bag to take to the Charity shop in Coleshill & some vacuuming to do & beds to make up before 6.00pm when Kristian was coming for chemistry coaching.
It's all done, G has mown the laws & done some work in the spinney as the weather has been so good. The forecast is good for the next week so , hopefully W, MK & family can enjoy an English spring rather than the snow in DK next week.
We are watching a programme about the747 that had the engines fail in a dust cloud 10 years ago. I can't think that anyone would want to risk going through what they went through, whatever the cost - I saw the first plane I had seen for a week as I drove home.
I must admit to a feeling of abandonment after school on Wednesdays, added to by the fact that I don't have to take a revision class after school that day, so I can go home when I like.
Today, I liked at about 3.30 pm as I had a bag to take to the Charity shop in Coleshill & some vacuuming to do & beds to make up before 6.00pm when Kristian was coming for chemistry coaching.
It's all done, G has mown the laws & done some work in the spinney as the weather has been so good. The forecast is good for the next week so , hopefully W, MK & family can enjoy an English spring rather than the snow in DK next week.
We are watching a programme about the747 that had the engines fail in a dust cloud 10 years ago. I can't think that anyone would want to risk going through what they went through, whatever the cost - I saw the first plane I had seen for a week as I drove home.
Monday 19 April 2010
Back to work.
So how do you spend a day to yourself after a hectic few weeks with little time at home?
Yes, you sort out the kitchen & laundry cupboards.
To be honest, this started because I had emptied the tall pull-out so that G could mend it as it had got out of balance & wouldn't stay closed. Having checked all of the sell-by dates, I continued in order to impress W & MK - there was little to be ashamed of, the odd packet of tapioca, jar of lemon curd, etc.
Feeling self-righteous, I then found that I had a pretty good sermon on Sunday's gospel - Jesus directing the disciples as to where to cast their net for an amazing catch.
It was a beautiful day so I went to Coleshill, with the top down on the Lotus, checked out the charity shop, the antiques fair at the Town Hall & did a little shopping, then home for a nice cup of tea.
G arrived home late, with more work to do, so he went back to P & A's on Sunday whilst I did church, marked maths papers & prepared lessons. G came home at 9.00pm so we ate late & went to bed.
My year 11 maths class results were so much better than when I took them on in Jan so I live in hope of them getting some reasonable grades.
Today went well - taught for 5 hours then did a revision class then did a quick shop at Ventura Park as food was scarce at home. We had the first ever joint Church Council meeting this evening - all four churches in one.
A busy week ahead, I had to decline an extra day at school.
Nick Clegg is more popular than Winston Churchill following the TV debate last week.
I wonder how the question was worded in order to arrive at this conclusion.
Yes, you sort out the kitchen & laundry cupboards.
To be honest, this started because I had emptied the tall pull-out so that G could mend it as it had got out of balance & wouldn't stay closed. Having checked all of the sell-by dates, I continued in order to impress W & MK - there was little to be ashamed of, the odd packet of tapioca, jar of lemon curd, etc.
Feeling self-righteous, I then found that I had a pretty good sermon on Sunday's gospel - Jesus directing the disciples as to where to cast their net for an amazing catch.
It was a beautiful day so I went to Coleshill, with the top down on the Lotus, checked out the charity shop, the antiques fair at the Town Hall & did a little shopping, then home for a nice cup of tea.
G arrived home late, with more work to do, so he went back to P & A's on Sunday whilst I did church, marked maths papers & prepared lessons. G came home at 9.00pm so we ate late & went to bed.
My year 11 maths class results were so much better than when I took them on in Jan so I live in hope of them getting some reasonable grades.
Today went well - taught for 5 hours then did a revision class then did a quick shop at Ventura Park as food was scarce at home. We had the first ever joint Church Council meeting this evening - all four churches in one.
A busy week ahead, I had to decline an extra day at school.
Nick Clegg is more popular than Winston Churchill following the TV debate last week.
I wonder how the question was worded in order to arrive at this conclusion.
Friday 16 April 2010
End of holiday treats.
We went to Bicester on Wednesday evening for a sleepover with B & E to avoid an early start on Thursday morning as T, KP & I were having an "adventure" before T goes back to school on Monday.
We walked to Bicester North, took the train to Banbury, lunched in Macdonalds, pottered around the shops, then returned to Bicester, spending ihalf an hour in the playground on the way home.
This may sound mundane, but to us it is high excitement, especially when KP's Macdonald's balloon blew out of her hand on Banbury station & went onto the rails. Some minutes later it blew into the air & was rescued by a couple of lads, who returned it to a beaming KP.
We travelled home in a "quiet" carriage!
G walked into Bicester with us before going to Marsh Gibbon to do some gardening for J & G.
Today E came over with T & KP for a final end of holiday treat with J & Thomas; we went to Drayton Manor Park & spent 5+ hours in Thomas Land,including a a picnic lunch in the adventure playground, watched over by the dinosaurs.
Great fun & good weather - the children were all delightful& had a rally god time together.
We were all tired by the time we came to look for the cars - E spotted them eventually, closely followed by T
G spent the day working at P & A's, putting in skirting boards. I swapped him for J & T at about 7.45pm.
Time for bed & a lie-in tomorrow before preparing Sunday's sermon, marking exam papers & doing the odd bit of housework.
G has skirting boards to finish for P&A.
Thomas reckoned that he saw a plane today - I reckon he was mistaken.
It's been so peaceful without them; shame about A stuck in Dublin since Thursday.
We walked to Bicester North, took the train to Banbury, lunched in Macdonalds, pottered around the shops, then returned to Bicester, spending ihalf an hour in the playground on the way home.
This may sound mundane, but to us it is high excitement, especially when KP's Macdonald's balloon blew out of her hand on Banbury station & went onto the rails. Some minutes later it blew into the air & was rescued by a couple of lads, who returned it to a beaming KP.
We travelled home in a "quiet" carriage!
G walked into Bicester with us before going to Marsh Gibbon to do some gardening for J & G.
Today E came over with T & KP for a final end of holiday treat with J & Thomas; we went to Drayton Manor Park & spent 5+ hours in Thomas Land,including a a picnic lunch in the adventure playground, watched over by the dinosaurs.
Great fun & good weather - the children were all delightful& had a rally god time together.
We were all tired by the time we came to look for the cars - E spotted them eventually, closely followed by T
G spent the day working at P & A's, putting in skirting boards. I swapped him for J & T at about 7.45pm.
Time for bed & a lie-in tomorrow before preparing Sunday's sermon, marking exam papers & doing the odd bit of housework.
G has skirting boards to finish for P&A.
Thomas reckoned that he saw a plane today - I reckon he was mistaken.
It's been so peaceful without them; shame about A stuck in Dublin since Thursday.
Tuesday 13 April 2010
Only Thursday.
Last term I only worked on Monday & Tuesday, so Tuesday was my Friday.
This term I am working on Wednesday as well, so that will be the new Friday.
I'm replacing a full time teacher, rather than teaching some classes along with some small groups withdrawn from classes.
Today I stayed until nearly 7.00pm, putting the classroom to rights to make the changeover obvious - it was mucky, badly arranged with piles of old books on the shelves that you might want to use.
No more.
Sheila (cleaner of long standing, parent & grandparent of children I taught), swept up as I rearranged furniture.
A few parents of particularly rude pupils still to be phoned & a set of exam papers to mark.
Off to Bicester tomorrow evening for a sleepover then a day with T & KP on Thursday.
This term I am working on Wednesday as well, so that will be the new Friday.
I'm replacing a full time teacher, rather than teaching some classes along with some small groups withdrawn from classes.
Today I stayed until nearly 7.00pm, putting the classroom to rights to make the changeover obvious - it was mucky, badly arranged with piles of old books on the shelves that you might want to use.
No more.
Sheila (cleaner of long standing, parent & grandparent of children I taught), swept up as I rearranged furniture.
A few parents of particularly rude pupils still to be phoned & a set of exam papers to mark.
Off to Bicester tomorrow evening for a sleepover then a day with T & KP on Thursday.
Monday 12 April 2010
Back at the chalk face.
I can't bore you with reports of any cleaning activities today.
Up early & off to school to take over the timetable of the NQT who despaired & left at Easter.
I have kept my own year 11 GCSE maths group, for 3 lessons on Monday & Tuesday, the other classes were fine after new seating plans & an explanation of life to year 8.
I did a revision class after school & then a coaching session in chemistry with the son of a friend from the village when I got home.
Six hours teaching is enough for one day.
The diet started today as we had all put on weight in New-Quay, Lord knows how with all that climbing up from the beach as well as some reasonable walks. G & P even went for a long bike ride; I don't do vertical slopes, up or down, so was not tempted. P is skinny &ultra-fit & put G through his paces.
We are watching Joanna Lumley on the Nile, on TV. I hope that J & S & aj are watching as all have plans to do a Nile cruise this year. I shall base my wardrobe on JL's for my next trip although, I am rather younger than her.
Whilst we were away, the buzzard took possession of our bonfire in the field, so we have to leave it unlit & admire Buzz in it's higher reaches.
Up early & off to school to take over the timetable of the NQT who despaired & left at Easter.
I have kept my own year 11 GCSE maths group, for 3 lessons on Monday & Tuesday, the other classes were fine after new seating plans & an explanation of life to year 8.
I did a revision class after school & then a coaching session in chemistry with the son of a friend from the village when I got home.
Six hours teaching is enough for one day.
The diet started today as we had all put on weight in New-Quay, Lord knows how with all that climbing up from the beach as well as some reasonable walks. G & P even went for a long bike ride; I don't do vertical slopes, up or down, so was not tempted. P is skinny &ultra-fit & put G through his paces.
We are watching Joanna Lumley on the Nile, on TV. I hope that J & S & aj are watching as all have plans to do a Nile cruise this year. I shall base my wardrobe on JL's for my next trip although, I am rather younger than her.
Whilst we were away, the buzzard took possession of our bonfire in the field, so we have to leave it unlit & admire Buzz in it's higher reaches.
Saturday 10 April 2010
Whew, what a scorcher!
We have returned from New Quay in West Wales, where we have had a lovely week's holiday with half of the family.
We stayed in a lovely 5 bedroomed house, with a playroom in the cellar, about 3 minutes walk from a delightful beach (10 minutes coming back, but the climb did us good)
The weather has been good for the last few days, today was brilliant, so we stayed until tea-time before loading the cars & driving home.
New Quay is a really pretty little town with wonderful views across Cardigan Bay, 3 beaches & an old harbour wall. Dolphins, porpoises & seals visit the bay when you're not looking & a myriad of sea birds nest on the cliffs.
G & I did some walks - along the beach to Llanina this morning, the grandchildren have spent most of their time playing on the beach & in the sea, aj has relaxed, read & practised her crossword skills .
We did go out onThursday, to the Teife Valley railway, a great hit, only 20 minutes drive away.
Even the journey home was delightful, through some beautiful parts of Cardigan, Powys & Montgomeryshire.
We should have loved to have stayed for another week, with more sunshine promised, but it's school on Monday, for me at least.
T cried on leaving - he loved the cellar!
We stayed in a lovely 5 bedroomed house, with a playroom in the cellar, about 3 minutes walk from a delightful beach (10 minutes coming back, but the climb did us good)
The weather has been good for the last few days, today was brilliant, so we stayed until tea-time before loading the cars & driving home.
New Quay is a really pretty little town with wonderful views across Cardigan Bay, 3 beaches & an old harbour wall. Dolphins, porpoises & seals visit the bay when you're not looking & a myriad of sea birds nest on the cliffs.
G & I did some walks - along the beach to Llanina this morning, the grandchildren have spent most of their time playing on the beach & in the sea, aj has relaxed, read & practised her crossword skills .
We did go out onThursday, to the Teife Valley railway, a great hit, only 20 minutes drive away.
Even the journey home was delightful, through some beautiful parts of Cardigan, Powys & Montgomeryshire.
We should have loved to have stayed for another week, with more sunshine promised, but it's school on Monday, for me at least.
T cried on leaving - he loved the cellar!
Friday 2 April 2010
Welcome home M100LTS.
A spanking new dashboard & instruments & a bill for £1800, paid by the insurance.
I think that most of the cash was spent sourcing the parts for an old car.
I have shopped, cooked, sewed buttons on my best jeans, but not packed yet.
Aj is very pleased with her new wellies - a little tight around the calves so G has cut them down, making a pair of rather snazzy matching cuffs.
Enjoy your Easter Holiday, whatever you plan to do.
I think that most of the cash was spent sourcing the parts for an old car.
I have shopped, cooked, sewed buttons on my best jeans, but not packed yet.
Aj is very pleased with her new wellies - a little tight around the calves so G has cut them down, making a pair of rather snazzy matching cuffs.
Enjoy your Easter Holiday, whatever you plan to do.
Thursday 1 April 2010
Happy Birthday G.
Okay. so G has a very memorable birthday.
I may have got the present almost right this year as he did say that he would like the book written by Ian Gardiner, one of the lecturers on MV Discovery.
I bought two (different ones) & some olive spoons.
We had lunch at "The plough & anchor" (how's that for a mixed metaphor?) at Kingswood, where E took B to celebrate his birthday. It was very good.
We happened to be in the Bicester area as we went to see JR in Cambs on Sunday, stayed overnight, Set off for Bournemouth on Monday afternoon, & stayed until this morning, doing a few final jobs at the flat, including emptying the garage, then putting all remaining artefacts, including dirt & insect life, into the car to take to J & G.
The weather was pretty amazing - frost on the car this morning, cold wet & windy yesterday.
We went for a bracing walk along the cliffs, intending to return along the prom but unable to do so because of the sand storm at beach level.
We did a couple of trips to Bournemouths best kept secret, the "Recycling Centre".
I spent over £3 on the phone, trying to get an address, before deciding it would be cheaper to just follow their map - the A348 between Ferndown & Boscombe with a road off .
Great.
G is not at his best when lost - strangely enough it is always down to me at such times.
We repeated the lost bit on both trips. The second trip was better because we did not have two mouldering mattresses on the roof. I did have a large jar of old engine oil between my knees, hands clamped around it's neck & a bootful of junk.
Last night we went to the BIC & saw "The Soldiers" - 3 soldiers who sing, very well. We followed this with a visit to Wagamammas", for a nice bowl of noodles, as it was opposite & we hadn't eaten since lunchtime.
A very good pre-birthday treat.
The Lotus is better & ready to come home - that's tomorrow morning taken care of.
It's good to be home.
I may have got the present almost right this year as he did say that he would like the book written by Ian Gardiner, one of the lecturers on MV Discovery.
I bought two (different ones) & some olive spoons.
We had lunch at "The plough & anchor" (how's that for a mixed metaphor?) at Kingswood, where E took B to celebrate his birthday. It was very good.
We happened to be in the Bicester area as we went to see JR in Cambs on Sunday, stayed overnight, Set off for Bournemouth on Monday afternoon, & stayed until this morning, doing a few final jobs at the flat, including emptying the garage, then putting all remaining artefacts, including dirt & insect life, into the car to take to J & G.
The weather was pretty amazing - frost on the car this morning, cold wet & windy yesterday.
We went for a bracing walk along the cliffs, intending to return along the prom but unable to do so because of the sand storm at beach level.
We did a couple of trips to Bournemouths best kept secret, the "Recycling Centre".
I spent over £3 on the phone, trying to get an address, before deciding it would be cheaper to just follow their map - the A348 between Ferndown & Boscombe with a road off .
Great.
G is not at his best when lost - strangely enough it is always down to me at such times.
We repeated the lost bit on both trips. The second trip was better because we did not have two mouldering mattresses on the roof. I did have a large jar of old engine oil between my knees, hands clamped around it's neck & a bootful of junk.
Last night we went to the BIC & saw "The Soldiers" - 3 soldiers who sing, very well. We followed this with a visit to Wagamammas", for a nice bowl of noodles, as it was opposite & we hadn't eaten since lunchtime.
A very good pre-birthday treat.
The Lotus is better & ready to come home - that's tomorrow morning taken care of.
It's good to be home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)