It's the simple things

It has been a while now since I last updated the blogging public on the progress of number135 Broombes lane.

Housemates spent aprox. 12hours yesterday working on the kitchen and dining facilities...

Red paint removed -- Check
Magnolia Paint applied (two coats) -- Check
Dodgy electrics repaired --- Check
Floor Boards swept and beaten thoroughly -- Check
Plastic Sheeting laid -- Check
Green (grass like) underlay lain --- Check
Cutting of floor tiles to align with wonky wall --- Che.....

Did pretty well I think!
Walls from the 1930s were never meant to be straight. In fact it is probably best that they aren't. I mean it adds just a little bit more character; particularly when the floor tiles that you just bought require a nice straight wall and now you'll have to spend 2 hours finely, slowly chopping the board so that it lines up nicely, ;)

Lord of the manor seemed to be a little disappointed that the this didn't occur on first try. Crest fallen and in dismay he returned to his hopping and measuring (monkey style), considering the problem closely with the Lord of the Flame. His charm and wit returned only with the onset of the rain, which caused the males to decide that this would be an excellent opportunity to stop work. (I guess you can be electrocuted if you use electrical tools outside in the rain- so fair play - cheers god).

At this point Lord of the Flame looked a little like he was about to fall asleep where he stood. He announced that we needed to go home (Span and I were looking forward to some chocolate factory action ;) ) "We'll collect the tools in the morning". Needless to say, staying up to see the sun rise because you're too pissed to know better the night before 12 hours of DIY does not bode well!

Have just called 135 Broombes lane for an update. Lord of the manor and Father of Span are currently still trying to line up that floor tile and that wall. ... It would seem that half way through the second day the housemates are making slow but steady progress... I'm off to join in and conduct my usual cajoling and bossing (this means that I get into trouble and not Span ;) That floor will be down in just a few hours and that dining table will be sat upon it....

MARK MY WORDS!!!

Dinner at no.15

A big thank you goes out to the residents of number 15 for their excellent chef, wonderful company and general GOOD TIMES. Dinner was provided lst night for "the circle" complet (Soon to be a little disjointed - see previous post) and we munched and chomped on serious culinary delights. Boy that girl can cook.

Several photographs were taken showing the Lord of the Flame looking rather drunk (he couldn't and I mean COULDN'T get into bed until 4:45 this morning - apparently the world was spinning a little too much) as he pounded on tribal drums with "the Father".

Daz received a new bit of technology and made all the women mother him by being completely bamboozled by a mobile that was not the size of a brick and had some street cred. He's promised to text me - because he assures me he can- ... I'm still waiting. ;)

The Lil' one was quite sleepy and a little shell shocked having recently escaped the grip of a small, but deadly, tornado. Thankfully her car was passing it's MOT a little further along the road and her roof IS still on. She did enjoy the food, wine and company and I think gave herself a well earned rest.

All in all a truly marvellous evening with much frivolity and joy spread around an otherwise slightly weary bunch.
Cheers Podre and Co.

It's over!

My bum's a little more numb, (How many certificates can one sports faculty give?) my eyes are feeling heavier, the children have been loaded onto buses and, except for the odd accidental meeting in Co op, I won't see them for 6 weeks.

Time to crack open the wine, put my feet up and sleep! ZZZzzz

This year has been a very trying one for me. I have learnt many things about education at the Catholic School in which I teach. I have had to learn some harsh lessons about the way in which management teams work. I have discovered that I am a confident teacher and that in order to remain so I need to develop a very thick skin.

It may seem to the outsider that a teacher who needs to tell herself that the others are mad, may be deluding herself. Unfortunately for this teacher, at times, the management seems to find ways in which to deceive and demotivate. In fact I am quite convinced that in doing so they somehow believe themselves to be doing someone a favour. Move out of the 1800s!

To my pals in "the circle" I say many thank yous. For your support and belief that there is another way; a much better and more supportive way. I also remind them that they are all super stars and that no-one (and i mean no one) has the right to tell them anything different!

One day more!

HP6 is out of the way, the Dvds have returned to their normal place (by the side of my telly), the children have stopped throwing water and answering back; there’s one more day till the summer holiday.

The last day of school, for me at least, will involve enduring at least 3 hours of bum numbing awards and prayers whilst scowling at pupils who are (understandably really) bored rigid and wishing that they'd tried a little harder to persuade their parents that the last day was a waste of time and they don't need to be there.

The end of the academic year brings about a few changes for our faculty (As usual Someone else is jumping ship.) This time it's not even because they're fed up to the back teeth, they're actually going off to greener pastures to learn even more stuff about English Literature. Daz, the man who campaigns in corridors, founder of ETAP is leaving us. :( In 'the circle’ we are very upset about this departure. There's one less person in whom we can confide and that famous eyebrow will be seen no more!

Alack, I will no more need to worry whether he's just joking, I won't be able to dance along to the funky tunes of the battered "faculty guitar" (Cheers for leaving that for us actually mate!) and we never actually find out where the cue ends and the ride begins.

In short he shall be sorely missed,

In September I have to get used to yet another new dynamic in the faculty. This time it's not caused by a new arrival (We can't replace him!) but by the large gap that will be left behind when he finally cycles off into the distance.

Lord Daz we salute you.
Au Revior.

Two days to go

Only two days to go and that's the end of yet another full school year as a teacher of English and Drama.

Tips for new teachers:

If you're an open person learn to close until everyone around you is trustworthy.
Don't be so enthusiastic that others see you as a threat.
Make sure that you allow that ideal teacher to develop but never forget the reason why you became her.
Allow yourself time not only to reflect upon yourself as a teacher but your relationship with others around you. Macbeth wasn't the only one with a problem. ;)
Make sure that teaching is the most fun thing in the whole world.

A mirror to the old subconscious

There's a girl I know who is truely beautiful. When she goes out she shines. Yet this person looks in the mirror and critisises. This person can not go clothes shopping without coming away feeling awful about how she is "fat".

I just wish that this person would allow herself to see what the rest of the world sees when they see her. I wish she could look in the mirror and tell herself everyday that she was pretty and that anyone who critised her was mad! I wish that she could pick up a size 12 or even 14 in a shop and not panic that she's over weight and ugly.

I have a range of clothes sizes in my wardrobe. I have size 8s to size 16s. All of these clothes fit me right now. Why? Because you always buy the size that flatters you the best. You always buy the size that fits and shows off all your good bits. In some shops that means a 10 in others that means a 14. Clothes sizes mean absoloutly nothing. Try shopping at George to prove that point! lol

What is important is that you are healthy and happy. When I obsessed about being a size 8/10 I spent the entire time feeling miserable and self-conscious. I now have a size 14 hip, a size 12 waist, a size 8/10 bust and I couldn't be happier! If the dress doesn't look right then that's bad tailoring!! Lol If it looks nice then great (regardless of the size on the label!) It's all about a state of mind. It is nothing to do with dress sizes.

I eat healthily. (No frozen, processed food, Only home baked cookies and cakes, very rarely a chocolate bar) I eat what I like. I make it myself so that it has all of my favourite things in. I go to the gym (where I put on weight because i built muscle but lost cms because i burned fat) and I am in love, happy and confident.

I just wish my friend would realise that we love her very much and we all wish she could love herself just as much.
If only this girl could be free too.....

Alls well on the Longbridge/WestHeath front.

Have chopped and tamed another wild garden. It is now smooth and ready to receive many bedding plants and shrubs. It is be-fitting a hammock (Which was my main intention) and will become a place of joy and beauty for many years to come.

Sanding down walls is much more tricky than first anticipated. Especially with the discovery that you have to create dust to suceed. All is well in Broombes lane. I believe that the current residents are making good progress and that it won't be long until my best mate moves in down the road permenatly. Look out vineyards and bathrooms everywhere. This spells trouble.