I am addicted to books and I have decided to start a new blog about the good books I have read (well, probably not all the good books as I have hundreds). Its called "The Bookshelf", why not have a look and see if you agree with me, or if you know of any other great books that I haven't discovered. Looking forward to hearing from you.
I've just come home from a meal out with my Head of Year, so I'm feeling quite full and bloated! It was a gorgeous carvery, with lovely pork (sadly no crackling which was a bit disappointing) and then a lemon cheesecake to follow. It was all very tasty. However, I probably shouldn't have had school lunch today too, but I felt so hungry at lunch time I just couldn't resist.
I am happy to say I have handed in my reports, hopefully they won't come back with loads of rewrites. Now I have to focus on my year 9's as they have a GCSE module on Wednesday, so lots of last minute panics to deal with. They should be fine, well the ones who have done all the practice papers will be fine, the others may find it a learning experience! Once that is over we have Sports Day, so I have to sort out the spreadsheets for all the results and get the laptops set up. After that I am away for a week with the activity holiday. Not long to the end of term though, then I can relax.
I've had this song going round in my head since we sung it last night at church.
| Your Brain is 53% Female, 47% Male |
 Your brain is a healthy mix of male and female You are both sensitive and savvy Rational and reasonable, you tend to keep level headed But you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve |
I got this from Suzy's blog.
1. Grab the book nearest you, turn to page 18 and find line 4.
"Yes."
2. Stretch out your left arm as far as you can. What can you touch?
Books on the book shelves
3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
The Big Brother eviction
4. Without looking, guess what time it is.
10:30am
5. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time?
10:49am
6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
SheDaisy album - FortuneTeller's Melody
7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
Haven't been out yet today, walked home from school yesterday.
8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
Amazon
9. What are you wearing?
Jogging bottoms and a t-shirt
10. Did you dream last night?
Don't think so
11. When did you last laugh?
Yesterday evening - something on TV
12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
Calendars, clock, pictures
13. Seen anything weird lately?
My Dad sent me a photo of black pudding frying in a frying pan, that's a bit weird!
14. What do you think of this quiz?
First time I've done one of these, its actually harder than I thought
15. What is the last film you saw?
Shall We Dance? (Richard Gere still looks good!)
16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?
houses and cars for me, parents, sister
17. Tell me something about you that I don't know.
Well, I got this from my sister who knows virtually everything about me! She doesn't know I just bought a Nintendo DS though.
18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt and politics, what would you do?
End world poverty and inequalities in the world.
19. Do you like to dance?
Not really
20. George Bush: Daddy Bush -; Baby Bush -
I guess this is an American questionnaire, George Bush doesn't seem like a great president to me.
21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
Beatrice
22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
Gideon
23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
Yes, thought about it but think I would miss my family and friends, can they come to?
24. What do you want God to say to you when you reach the pearly gate?
Not sure but I hope I can say "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
25. Name 3 people who must also do this quiz in their blog
I'm very new to blogging so I'm not sure I know 3 people with a blog to put it in! Anyone reading this should do it.
Yesterday I had a school trip to Techniquest in Cardiff with year 7. Its not a bad trip, I like all the hands on things and they usually enjoy it, but I have done it a few years now and it doesn't change much. We always go when the Mathamagic exhibition is visiting so they get a maths talk and puzzles as well as the science. This year it has changed a bit as there is a Musicquest section with all sorts of musical instruments and experiments. The trouble with school trips is the travelling which leaves me exhasuted and I missed some free lessons when I usually get a lot of work done ready for the week ahead.
It was back to a full day of teaching today and this evening was finishing another set of reports, so I'm a bit brain dead now. Only one more set of reports to get done and then I'll have my form's reports in for checking. I've just got to keep going, not many weeks now! We had 2 ex members of staff in today and they looked so healthy and relaxed compared to us, who are all stressed and exhausted, I know neither of them miss writing reports.
I've been spending many hours in the exam hall over the last few weeks invigilating the GCSE and A level exams and its got me thinking (there isn't much else to do in the exam room) about doing some more study. After Uni I wanted to do an MSc but couldn't get any funding so had to change my plans. I got the OU prospectus but its very expensive so I'm thinking that maybe I could do an A level, I'm not sure what at the moment but there are a lot of options. Once reports are out of the way I'll have to decide what I want to do.
I find I am guilty of a sinking feeling sometimes when I wake up on a Sunday, its not so much that I don't want to go to church (honestly I usually do), but its just that I have to go. I remember when I first moved here I could choose if I went to church or not and even where I would go, and I still went virtually every week. However, the more you get involved the less choice you get, first I found myself on rotas, then I joined the worship group, then I became a deacon and treasurer. I know you are thinking I chose to do these things (having said that you seem to end up on the rotas whether you like it or not - I wonder if a church exists without rotas?), but it still means I can't have a lie-in unless I have arranged it several weeks in advance which doesn't help much when you wake up with that stay in bed feeling! For some people sunday is a lazy day, I wonder what that is like!
This morning our service had a Leprosy Mission theme, when I think about what people go through with the disease I realise I am petty to be moaning about being on rotas. It also makes me wonder about what I am doing with my life, Eddie Askew and Dr Paul Brand are both associated with leprosy mission and have made a difference to people's lives. I guess as a teacher I am affecting children's lives but not in a very meaningful way, I'm not sure how much better their lives will be because I have taught them to solve equations or to do trigonometry! I'm not sure what I think I should be doing but I'm thinking I should be doing more.
I could write a lot more but you've guessed it, I'm on the rota for stewarding tonight so its time to go!
I can see that blogging could get quite addictive. I'm not sure what it is, but there is something about writing down your thoughts. I always used to keep a diary as a teenager but the weird thing is that then I would have been mortified if anyone read it yet potentially this could be read by anyone anywhere in the world (not that I think that anyone much is ever going to be interested in me!). I am struggling a bit with what I should or shouldn't write; on the one hand it seems like a good thing to write about the things that are stressing me but on the other what if my colleagues at school read this or even worse my pupils. My sister is a prolific blogger (Hi sis!) and seems to write down all sorts of details of her life, some of which frankly I don't need to know, and reveals all about herself. I'm not sure if I'm being a bit paranoid by wanting to be more anonymous or do other people feel the same. Maybe its part of being a teacher, there are times I do need to think about what I say or do even when I'm not in the classroom. I guess I will just have to avoid details. Anyway, as usual I am trying to avoid working, so I guess I'd better leave this and go and do some marking!
Just came across this article called "So, Why Aren't You Married?" in Christianity Today, certainly made me think. I always tell people I'm happy to be single and most of the time its true but sometimes I look at couples and families and wonder why I can't have that. Its something I struggle with at times.
I'm so glad to get to Friday, this week has seemed long. Had the fun of going over the exams, which isn't the best way to spend your time but one of those things that has to be done. Then its back to work, trying to persuade the students that they still have to work even though the summer is nearly here. Still I shouldn't complain, only 2 more weeks of teaching then its off on an activity holiday before the last couple of days of term. This weekend I need to get my reports finished and then it will be time to check my forms reports, after that life should be a bit easier. Right now I'm exhausted! I think its Big Brother eviction then bed.
Well, here goes with my first ever blog. Not too sure about this, seems a strange idea to post your thoughts on the internet for all to see, but so many people are doing it there must be something in it. Don't want to be seen to be following the crowd, but decided to give it a go - who knows I might decide I like it! Its something else to do when I know I should be writing reports. I wonder if there are any teachers who actually enjoy writing reports, I've yet to meet one but you never know. Personally I'm always looking for an excuse not to do them, even though that means I end up rushing to get them finished the night before the deadline. Every time I promise myself I am going to be better organised but it must be a character flaw of mine, I just can't do them early and try to find every possible distraction. This seems like it might be a great avoidance tactic!
