Happy Birthday to me!!!

I've been looking through the parents old photos, here is me a couple of months old with my parents and grandparents.
(To see my great birthday cake, click here!)

Wordless Wednesday

Tomorrow I am off to see Starlight Express with Mum as my birthday treat. It should be great!

Which Harry Potter Character are you?

I am ...

Which HP Kid Are You?

Wordless Wednesday - Term is over

Last School Day

A strange and emotional day today. The last proper school day, tomorrow we just have prizegiving in the cathedral and then a party back at school. No lessons today, I taught my last lesson on Thursday, the girls were all out on trips on Friday. I got some lovely presents and cards from some of the girls, one of them who is leaving even wrote all her teachers really sweet notes about how much she would miss us and what great teachers we are (that was the point I was closest to crying today!), I'll be hanging on to that to remind me when I'm finding it tough to get used to my new school.

Today we had final assembly, which included all those little traditions I have become used to over the last 10 years. Every school has their own traditions and you become rather attached to them. I was determined not to break down and kept biting my lip to keep back the tears. I had to go up and get a bunch of flowers (we already got presents at the staff leaving do over a week ago now). There are so many of us leaving this year with the school merging, that it was nice not to have too much attention on me, but we all got our acknowledgment and farewell. I coped quite well even though loads of the girls were crying, in fact there was some quite loud sobbing! I did ok until we got to the school prayer and hymn, when I was struggling to keep singing. Then just when everyone was getting very emotional the fire alarm went off! It gave us all a chance to recover ourselves whilst waiting on the tennis courts to discover it was just a fault with the system, though some have suggested it was the ghost of the first headmistress (she wouldn't be happy with the merger and the school going co-ed!), I'm not sure about that but it was certainly strange timing to happen right in the middle of the school hymn.

My Personal DNA

Wordless Wednesday

I have spent most of this week packing up the Maths Department at school, I am fed up with boxes! Then in a few weeks time I will have to do the same thing with my flat!

Kylie in Doctor Who

Apparently Kylie has a starring role in the Doctor Who Christmas Special! Sounds like it should be good. Freema will be back for part of the new series, after a few episodes of Torchwood, as well as there being a new companion for the Doctor. I'm not sure how I'm going to wait until then!

Doctor Who is up for Best Loved Drama Series and DT for Best Actor in the TVChoice awards, you need to get voting!!!

Doctor saves the world again!

Another great Doctor Who episode but I can't believe the series is over already. How am I going to survive until Christmas? Still we should get the new series of Torchwood in the autumn, so maybe Captain Jack will get me through it!Don't want to spoil it for you if you haven't watched the episode yet, but can I just say Face of Boe?!?!?! I never saw that one coming.

Photo Hunt - Sweet

Two sweet little girls, me and my sister from a few(!) years ago.

Jigsaw Puzzle

Addicted to Blogging?

58%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Internet Problems

I have a lovely shiny new PC and its great but I forgot that no matter how wonderful your computer is, if the internet is playing up, you are stuck! A frustrating few days but all seems to be functioning correctly now so maybe I'll actually manage to do a bit of blogging.

Four Generations

I have recently got a new computer and a new all-in-one printer/scanner. So I have been able to scan in this great photo which my uncle gave me at Christmas. This is me with my mother, grandmother and great grandmother, taken a few(!!) years ago. Don't I look sweet?

My reports are finished!

Free Animations!

Family of Blood

Now that had to be one of the best Doctor Who episodes, exciting and moving, I loved it. If you loved it too pop across and tell Paul Cornell, the writer.

The Smith and Joan romance was so lovely and so beautifully played, they are both such great actors, I confess I cried!

Photo Hunt - Art

Don't have any art of my own so here is some pavement art by Julian Beever

Friday's Feast 145

I've been blog silent for a while; its that time of year preparing for exams. I have Year 11, Lower 6th and Upper 6th this year so loads of marking to do, along with extra sessions and after school help. Thankfully it is now half term so I can have a rest for a few days.

Appetizer: Name a sound you like to hear.
I love seaside sounds; waves and seagulls.

Soup: What is your favourite kind of cheese?
Not a big cheese fan, love it cooked but not really into it otherwise, generally I have cheddar or I admit I do like processed cheese slices!

Salad: Do you sleep late on Saturday mornings? Why or why not?
I love to sleep late on Saturday to make up for getting up early all week. I like to slip out of bed for a cup of tea then climb back in and read a good book for a few hours.

Main Course: When was the last time you forgot something? What was it, and how long did it take to remember it?
So busy marking things for my GCSE and A level classes, I forgot to mark my year 9's books this week, remembered when they started shouting for them!

Dessert: Fill in the blank: I notice _____ when ______.
I notice the mess in my flat when people are coming to visit!

Baptist Assembly

I had a great time in Brighton at the Baptist Assembly. There were a couple of thousand Baptists from all over the UK and there is something so good about being together with so many other Christians. The worship sessions were really inspiring and the teaching was excellent but also challenging. I have come home with lots of things to think about, I may have to get some of the talks on cd so that I can listen to them again.

A lot of the focus was on Freedom and on the abolition of the slave trade. I certainly learnt a lot! At the exhibition we met Norman Kember, who was a hostage in Iraq last year, he was on the Baptist Peacemakers stand and has also just written a book about his experiences. It was a privilege to meet him.

I don't know exactly what I will be doing this time next year, so I'm not sure whether I will get to go to another assembly for a while. I'm glad I took the opportunity to go this year, even though I probably could have used this weekend to catch up on all my piles of marking!

My Daemon

Wordless Wednesday

I'm off to Brighton for the Baptist Assembly this weekend, it should be great.

Photo Hunt - Rare

Rare sighting of a mermaid!

Blogging Scavenger Hunt

Why don't you come and join in the Blogging Scavenger Hunt over at Amy's blog? Its going to start on May 1st and will involve reading blogs and answering questions, all to earn points. Of course, we all know "Points mean Prizes"! It sounds like it should be a lot of fun, a chance to read some different blogs and to get some new readers for your own blog. You know you want to join in, so pop across to Amy's blog now and sign up!

Friday Feast 141

Appetizer: How fast can you type?
Not as fast as I could in the past but I can use all the right fingers so I'm not too bad!

Soup: What is your favourite online game?
I like Bejewelled and Chainz. In fact loads of games at Big Fish Games.

Salad: On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), how intelligent do you think you are?
Won't this seem a bit big headed if I pick a high number? Maybe an 8, I don't suppose a maths teacher can claim to be unintelligent!

Main Course: Name three of your best teachers from your school years.
The first one that comes to mind is my infant teacher Mrs Hooper, she was great and let me read her own books when I'd read all the class books. Mr White, my headmaster at junior school, who always encouraged me in my maths. Tricky to pick a third, lots of my senior school teachers were very good, I'm not sure I can pick out an individual, but the science and maths staff all helped me a lot.

Dessert: What are your plans for this upcoming weekend?
Saturday looks like it will be marking, marking and more marking. But we do have a church lunch on Sunday, so that's something to look forward to (and not just because it means I don't have to cook!).

Hallelujah.

I heard this on Radio 2 recently and I think its great so I thought I'd share it just in case you haven't come across it before.

Singing Messages

I've found a great site where you can type in a message and it sings it to you. Great fun and quite a big vocabulary. Have a try at Let them sing it for you.

Friday Feast 140

Appetizer: What is your favourite kind of bread?

No particular favourite, I love to make whatever sort I feel like in my breadmaker. Good ones are cheese and bacon, chocolate, banana, cinnamon and raisin, ...

Soup: When was the last time you bought a new pillow?
Not for a while. Probably a couple of years since I bought any.

Salad: Approximately how many hours per week do you spend surfing the ‘net?
Too long, it wastes far too much of my time. I'm too scared to work out exactly how much time I spend online!

Main Course: What’s the highest you remember your temperature being?
I have absolutely no idea! Do some people out there keep a record of such things?

Dessert: Fill in the blanks: When I ____________, I _____________.
When I start a new term, I start counting down to the end. (I think all teachers do this!)

Photo Hunt - Hobby

My photo hunt is late this week because my broadband decided not to work yesterday!

Like my sister, my hobby has been knitting since we both started at Christmas. This is the back of a cardigan I am making and its taking ages, because it is in double knit not chunky like the first jumper I made, but I'm persevering!

Friday Feast 139

Appetizer: When you were a child, which crayon colour was your favourite? Probably yellow, can't really remember.

Soup: On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest), how likely would you be to change jobs if it required you to move? I'd have to say 10, since I am changing jobs in September. I will be in Dorset which means moving approx 120 miles!

Salad: Take all the numbers in your birthday and your phone number and add them up, one by one. What’s the total? Strange question! Mine is 73.

Main Course: Have you ever “re-gifted” anything? If so, what was it and who did you pass it on to? The only time I've given away gifts is if the kids at school give me bath stuff, because I'm allergic to a lot of perfumed products, then my mum or my sister usually take them off my hands.

Dessert: Name something you need from the store. Lots of things, was going to go shopping this morning but didn't quite get round to it!

Quaker Summer

I've been reading another book to review here on my blog. This one is Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson.

Here's the book description:
Every year I think there must be more to life, and every year, despite a new car or a trip to a new land, new milestones and triumphs in my son's life, or a redone deck, a pool, a spa, or entertainment system, I take stock and think once again, I was made for more than this. But I love my stuff.

Heather Curridge is coming unhinged. And people are starting to notice. What's wrong with a woman who has everything--a mansion on a lake, a loving son, a heart-surgeon husband, and soapstone countertops--yet still feels miserable inside?

Yet when Heather spends the summer with two ancient Quaker sisters and a crusty nun in a downtown homeless shelter, she suddenly finds herself at a crossroads.

Sometimes you have to go a little bit crazy to find the life you were meant to live.

I confess at the beginning of the book I wasn't feeling too much sympathy for Heather, she seems to have a great life and not to appreciate it at all. But once you get into the story you start to think about what is really important in your life. For Heather she is always buying new things for her home, for me its books and cds and gadgets, maybe for you its clothes or shoes or some other things that you feel you need. Do we really need them? I don't think I'll be coloured dotting all my things but at the moment I am thinking about the things I have as I'll be moving somewhere smaller in a few months. When you stop and analyse all your junk you realise that is not the best way to live, there has to be a better way. But the question is can I actually step out and change things? Or will I just buy another gadget because it makes me feel good?

My advice; if you're looking for a comfortable read, don't try this book! However, if you are looking for a thought provoking read (and a good story) get hold of Quaker Summer.

Martha Jones

Tonight was the moment of truth, how good could Freema Agyeman be? Well, she's not Rose, but I think she might be a good companion for the Doctor. Great opener to the series, lots of fun and excitement and it can never be a bad thing to have David Tennant back on our screens! Don't you just love his grin? Its great to have some decent Saturday night tv, especially with Doctor Who Confidential on BBC3 too.

Photo Hunt - Water

This is a view of the Cwm Rheidol Reservoir in Wales, part of the largest hydro-electric scheme in England and Wales.

Wordless Wednesday

Its the end of term!

Photo Hunt - Empty

This an empty electric train. It runs along the front in Brighton,
which is the oldest electric railway in the world still operating.

Friday Feast 136

Appetizer: Who is your favourite news anchor/reporter? Why?
I don't have one, don't tend to watch tv news. I listen to radio or read it online.

Soup: Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer.
Loads of stuff in my freezer, I'll take a look ... first 3 things I saw were pork chops, oven chips and haddock fillets.

Salad: If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it?
Really not sure about this one, perhaps something Doctor Who related! Gallifrey? Dalekville? Tennant Town?

Main Course: What will most likely be the next book you read?
I plan to read Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson as I received a free copy the other day, which I need to review here on my blog. If you haven't read any of Lisa's books yet I can highly recommend them, recently read Tiger Lillie and that was great.

Dessert: What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?
I think a nice smile is important, then you know they are someone you can relax and have fun with. David Tennant has a gorgeous grin!

Wordless Wednesday - Coming Soon!

BBC One March 31st!

Valley of Betrayal Blog Tour

I'm taking part in the Valley of Betrayal blog tour so welcome to anyone new who's come to visit.

In case you haven't read any Tricia Goyer books before, she is an American Christian who has previously written a series of books set in World War II. If you are looking for good historical fiction with strong christian values get hold of the first in the series, Dust and Ashes, its a brilliant read and you'll definitely want to read the rest of the series.

Valley of Betrayal is set in the Spanish Civil War and I have to confess I didn't know anything about it before I read this book. That's one of the things I love about good historical fiction, a great read and I learn something new. At the beginning of the book the main character, Sophie, was on her way to Spain to be with her fiancé and I have to say I wasn't sure if I was going to like her too much but she is changed by the people she encounters and the war she finds herself in, soon you are really caring about what happens to her and the other characters. The events of the civil war are brought vividly to life, so if you're looking for a cosy, comfortable read this won't be for you, but if you are looking for a great read, characters you care about, challenges to your faith and the way you view the world and to learn about a period in history that seems to be largely forgotten, then read this book.

You can read the first chapter on Tricia's blog. I have an extra copy of the book to give away, so if you are in the UK and think you'd like it, let me know in the comments and I'll pick someone at random to send it to.

My Visual DNA

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Photo Hunt - Drink

My tipple of choice is Baileys but I am British so most of the time
what I really want is a nice cup of tea!

Friday Feast 135

Appetizer: Name two things that made you smile this week.
I confess I did laugh this week when one of my pupils asked "Where does the Loch Ness Monster live?" and today in the UK is Comic Relief so today we had "Bling Day" at school, some of the girls outfits made me smile.

Soup: Fill in the blank: Don't you hate it when ________?
... you want to read your book/watch tv/play a game but you have a pile of marking to do.

Salad: When you can't go to sleep, what is your personal remedy to help yourself drift into Lullabyland?
I always find a glass of Baileys helps! Failing that a mug of hot chocolate and a few chapters of a book.

Main Course: What is something about which you've always wondered but have not yet found a good answer?
I suppose its the whole heaven and hell question. Don't get me wrong I believe in heaven and hell but what exactly are they like, angels playing harps on clouds doesn't seem right to me! Is hell really a fiery furnace? There seem to be a lot of theories and I know I'd prefer to be in heaven but it does make me wonder sometimes.

Dessert: What is your favourite pasta dish?
I'm a big fan of lasagne, we have gorgeous lasagne at school, I will miss that in my new job!

You can join the Friday Feast.

Photo Hunt - Architecture

This is the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.
There is a wonderful view from the top and an amazing
glass floor which I used in a previous Photo Hunt.

Happy, Happy!

This has been a good week:

1. I have a new job for September so no more uncertainties
(and no more interviews - hooray!)
2. In my AS modules I got an A and a B
(the B was 1 mark off an A!)
3. My friend Lydia is getting married
(Congratulations, Lydia and Mark!)

Why no posts?

I don't seem to have posted anything much lately apart from photos. Mainly this is because I am on a job hunt at the moment and its difficult to know what to write about interviews, especially when you haven't heard the result yet (who knows who could be reading this!). With the whole school merger situation there are so many things I could whinge about but lots of confidential issues and it wouldn't be fair to the future of the new school. Anyway, I'm feeling quite a few frustrations at present and I worry that if I start writing about them on here I will say something which will just get me in trouble in the future! What I can say is please pray for me, lots of unknowns in my future right now and I'm a lot happier when I'm feeling safe and secure.

Photo Hunt - Salty

This is a beach in Wales where me, my sister, niece and nephew spent a wonderful
day in the summer, playing in the sand and swimming in the salty sea.
Sorry we didn't get photos of us swimming, you'll just have to believe me!