Still not normal service and this won't be a long post. I just came on to say that I have my first guest arriving soon!
Excuse me, I need to go find the Fancy Guest Towels.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Life is not a job*
This week:
I have wondered where the time has gone.
I missed home a little bit.
I have spent more time at school than I thought possible.
I had the best Mexican food.
I had great night’s craic out with Clare, Derek and Paul.
I got a printer.
I went to church.
I saw 36 presentations on life in Ancient China.
I managed to avoid cooking at all.
I therefore managed to avoid dishes.
I got Real Player and Flash on my computer in school (bring on Chris Moyles and You Tube - actually there's some good History videos on You Tube. Can't work out a way to incorporate Chris Moyles in class).
I got a sore head working out timetabling and rooms for workshops and seminars for the entire school.
I was nervous about a Parents’ briefing, but it was all ok.
I ate about 2000 frozen grapes.
I got mail from Kari.
I reached song number 1183 - 'Thriller' Michael Jackson.
I fell going upstairs.
I then quickly did that look round thing to see who saw – no one. Phew.
Sorry for the radio silence, but it all went a bit crazy. I will try to resume normal service, but that will all depend on me getting my work done and not being too tired to not even switch on my computer when I get home.
*This was emblazoned across someone's t-shirt at the parents' briefing. The irony was not lost on me as I saw it when we left school at 10.30pm.
I have wondered where the time has gone.
I missed home a little bit.
I have spent more time at school than I thought possible.
I had the best Mexican food.
I had great night’s craic out with Clare, Derek and Paul.
I got a printer.
I went to church.
I saw 36 presentations on life in Ancient China.
I managed to avoid cooking at all.
I therefore managed to avoid dishes.
I got Real Player and Flash on my computer in school (bring on Chris Moyles and You Tube - actually there's some good History videos on You Tube. Can't work out a way to incorporate Chris Moyles in class).
I got a sore head working out timetabling and rooms for workshops and seminars for the entire school.
I was nervous about a Parents’ briefing, but it was all ok.
I ate about 2000 frozen grapes.
I got mail from Kari.
I reached song number 1183 - 'Thriller' Michael Jackson.
I fell going upstairs.
I then quickly did that look round thing to see who saw – no one. Phew.
Sorry for the radio silence, but it all went a bit crazy. I will try to resume normal service, but that will all depend on me getting my work done and not being too tired to not even switch on my computer when I get home.
*This was emblazoned across someone's t-shirt at the parents' briefing. The irony was not lost on me as I saw it when we left school at 10.30pm.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Two weddings and a staff meeting
Congratulations to Kirsty and Rachel who got married today. Not to each other you understand, to fine gentlemen. I am quite sure they won't read this, in fact I am quite sure they don't know I have a blog, but congratulations anyway! [Oh, and while we are on the subject and before he berates me for not mentioning it, Happy Anniversary to Nicky and Heidi. And like they say on CBBC after they've done the home made Birthday Cards (which, if you ask me, got way too competitive) if today is your birthday, Happy Birthday to you!]
Anyway, today was the first day back and it suuccckkkkeeeeedddddd! But even though I have not done a pick of work tonight, tomorrow will be a better day. We won't have a two hour staff meeting for one.
Anyway, today was the first day back and it suuccckkkkeeeeedddddd! But even though I have not done a pick of work tonight, tomorrow will be a better day. We won't have a two hour staff meeting for one.
Friday, March 16, 2007
I object
I object to time running faster when you are off work than when you are in work. Why?!
Anyway here’s what I got up what I got up to this week. As Paul Daniels would say, 'not a lot'.
Saturday
I tried to sleep in but I had to organise a tour to show the leak on my bathroom ceiling. A plumber with bad teeth, the upstairs neighbour and a security guard whose role was unspecified came to ooh and ahh. The cause of the drip was undetermined so the upstairs neighbour proposed not using her toilet to see if that made any difference. After they left I had pancakes for breakfast using an add water mix. They were especially good. Then I needed to get ready for the St. Patrick’s Day Ball. The organisers failed to realise their error in having this a week early. (More details to follow on this.)
Sunday
Slept in til 2.00pm, this had a lot to do with going to bed at 5.00am. Pancakes for brunch. Well it said to use the mix inside three days. Then off to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The organisers failed to realise their error in having this six days early. (More details to follow on this.) Clare, Derek, kids and I then had Korean for dinner. I remembered that it was one year that I was in Korea.
Monday
I got snared by having to go on a Geography field trip, curse being a First Year Form teacher and living opposite the Nature Park where they were going. It all turned a bit Casualty when a boy was taken to hospital. Why? Swept away in a rushing river trying to measure its depth? Hit by falling rocks looking at the erosion on a cliff face? No. He tripped over himself running down a hill. I teach Singapore’s brightest and best. Actually I cannot mock him. Technically that’s how I broke my arm. After the trip, I tried to do some work in school. It wasn’t so successful.
Tuesday
I slept in til 11.00pm. I had Jo and Sophie coming round at 3.30pm and a plumber at 4.30pm so the proposed plan for going into school was postponed due to not getting my butt in gear. When Jo and Sophie came round, they invited me to go out for dinner. I left my apartment, forgetting entirely about the plumber. I remembered ten minutes later and ran back to be met by my upstairs neighbour who know thinks I am a complete ditz, especially as she reminded me of the visit the night before. Anyway, fifteen minutes later I was on my way to Vivo City for dinner and an all together too long a time in Toys R Us. But dinner was good and afterwards I bought myself a pair of shoes. Well a girl can never have too many. Even if these ones look like they will tear my feet apart.
Wednesday
I woke up early (ish) and went into school. I didn’t do much work and ended up bringing marking home which is still waiting to be finished. I despise marking GCSE questions with all my heart. I think I will stop setting them now. In the afternoon I met Clare for coffee (I had green apple soda) and I toyed with the idea of going to Kuala Lumpur for the weekend with her (but as you can tell I decided not to).
Thursday
I slept in, then met Gina, a fellow teacher for lunch. She rightly pointed out that our names are one letter different so I decided this is reason enough to hang out with her! We had Sushi, I am so cosmopolitan! Despite all my sleep I was really tired when I met her and so when I got home I came home and slept some more. In my prime, I tell you.
Friday
I slept in. Anyone else see the pattern emerging?! I had pancakes for brunch. The packet lied when it said use within three days. Six days later, they were still good and I have suffered no ill effects. I went into school this afternoon to do some photocopying. Then out for dinner. Italian this time, very nice.
One more thing to mention, I am part way through The Big Listen on myPod. I am currently on song number 657. Ok, so I haven’t listened to some of them (who are Hawthorne Heights and how did they get on my iPod? Megann?!) but it has been a week long project that has been kind of fun waiting to see what it will throw up next. I doubt I’ll make it to the end as the need to update might take precedence. Oh, change that, song number 658, Girls Aloud. Julie!
Really should go to bed now. Tomorrow the plumber is coming back to ohh and ahh some more no doubt. Thank goodness I am not paying him.
Anyway here’s what I got up what I got up to this week. As Paul Daniels would say, 'not a lot'.
Saturday
I tried to sleep in but I had to organise a tour to show the leak on my bathroom ceiling. A plumber with bad teeth, the upstairs neighbour and a security guard whose role was unspecified came to ooh and ahh. The cause of the drip was undetermined so the upstairs neighbour proposed not using her toilet to see if that made any difference. After they left I had pancakes for breakfast using an add water mix. They were especially good. Then I needed to get ready for the St. Patrick’s Day Ball. The organisers failed to realise their error in having this a week early. (More details to follow on this.)
Sunday
Slept in til 2.00pm, this had a lot to do with going to bed at 5.00am. Pancakes for brunch. Well it said to use the mix inside three days. Then off to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The organisers failed to realise their error in having this six days early. (More details to follow on this.) Clare, Derek, kids and I then had Korean for dinner. I remembered that it was one year that I was in Korea.
Monday
I got snared by having to go on a Geography field trip, curse being a First Year Form teacher and living opposite the Nature Park where they were going. It all turned a bit Casualty when a boy was taken to hospital. Why? Swept away in a rushing river trying to measure its depth? Hit by falling rocks looking at the erosion on a cliff face? No. He tripped over himself running down a hill. I teach Singapore’s brightest and best. Actually I cannot mock him. Technically that’s how I broke my arm. After the trip, I tried to do some work in school. It wasn’t so successful.
Tuesday
I slept in til 11.00pm. I had Jo and Sophie coming round at 3.30pm and a plumber at 4.30pm so the proposed plan for going into school was postponed due to not getting my butt in gear. When Jo and Sophie came round, they invited me to go out for dinner. I left my apartment, forgetting entirely about the plumber. I remembered ten minutes later and ran back to be met by my upstairs neighbour who know thinks I am a complete ditz, especially as she reminded me of the visit the night before. Anyway, fifteen minutes later I was on my way to Vivo City for dinner and an all together too long a time in Toys R Us. But dinner was good and afterwards I bought myself a pair of shoes. Well a girl can never have too many. Even if these ones look like they will tear my feet apart.
Wednesday
I woke up early (ish) and went into school. I didn’t do much work and ended up bringing marking home which is still waiting to be finished. I despise marking GCSE questions with all my heart. I think I will stop setting them now. In the afternoon I met Clare for coffee (I had green apple soda) and I toyed with the idea of going to Kuala Lumpur for the weekend with her (but as you can tell I decided not to).
Thursday
I slept in, then met Gina, a fellow teacher for lunch. She rightly pointed out that our names are one letter different so I decided this is reason enough to hang out with her! We had Sushi, I am so cosmopolitan! Despite all my sleep I was really tired when I met her and so when I got home I came home and slept some more. In my prime, I tell you.
Friday
I slept in. Anyone else see the pattern emerging?! I had pancakes for brunch. The packet lied when it said use within three days. Six days later, they were still good and I have suffered no ill effects. I went into school this afternoon to do some photocopying. Then out for dinner. Italian this time, very nice.
One more thing to mention, I am part way through The Big Listen on myPod. I am currently on song number 657. Ok, so I haven’t listened to some of them (who are Hawthorne Heights and how did they get on my iPod? Megann?!) but it has been a week long project that has been kind of fun waiting to see what it will throw up next. I doubt I’ll make it to the end as the need to update might take precedence. Oh, change that, song number 658, Girls Aloud. Julie!
Really should go to bed now. Tomorrow the plumber is coming back to ohh and ahh some more no doubt. Thank goodness I am not paying him.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Friday, March 09, 2007
Can you keep a secret?
I got an email from King Nicky today, ‘blog something about Soulmates’ it said. To be honest, even without this royal command I probably would have anyway, but now I must!
Soulmates (which must never be referred to as Junior Autumn Soul*) is an amazing event to be involved in. I say that even though I haven’t been there since 2004 (out of the country, remember?!).
The first year I went was 2000 after Autumn Soul Tour. To be honest I don’t remember that much about it, it was my first time stewarding anything, but obviously I must have enjoyed it. However, I do remember carrying heavy equipment down to another church where one of the seminars was with Linda and having to stop and put everything down because we were laughing so much.
Since then, I have had varying degrees of involvement, the last of which of course involved running a café, my speciality when it comes to Methodist events. Last time I was there, I also had the jolly task of trying to find the next contestants for SoulStars, the talent show. Searching through a hall full of 9-13 year olds and leaders as they chomp on hot dogs and run back and forth to the tuck shop to find Timothy from Inishowen who is going to play the tin whistle whilst Riverdancing does somewhat spoil the enjoyment of the entertainment highlight of the weekend! But then again, I got to stand with them before they went on stage when nerves took hold. Last minute rehearsals when it looked like nothing somehow got turned into something before going on stage. Ok, so not always but when it didn’t it, man, was it funny.
Every event that the Dept. does I think is my favourite publicity. But this is definitely my favourite.
Of course it’s not all fun and games and there’s the business end of the event. Seeing children realise God loves them no matter what is what it is all about.
Not that I suppose you’ll read this until after the event, but if you are going, I hope it all goes well and lives are changed. Who knows, maybe one of them will even be your own?
*I have been known to describe it as that – but only to Presbyterians so that doesn’t count!
Soulmates (which must never be referred to as Junior Autumn Soul*) is an amazing event to be involved in. I say that even though I haven’t been there since 2004 (out of the country, remember?!).
The first year I went was 2000 after Autumn Soul Tour. To be honest I don’t remember that much about it, it was my first time stewarding anything, but obviously I must have enjoyed it. However, I do remember carrying heavy equipment down to another church where one of the seminars was with Linda and having to stop and put everything down because we were laughing so much.
Since then, I have had varying degrees of involvement, the last of which of course involved running a café, my speciality when it comes to Methodist events. Last time I was there, I also had the jolly task of trying to find the next contestants for SoulStars, the talent show. Searching through a hall full of 9-13 year olds and leaders as they chomp on hot dogs and run back and forth to the tuck shop to find Timothy from Inishowen who is going to play the tin whistle whilst Riverdancing does somewhat spoil the enjoyment of the entertainment highlight of the weekend! But then again, I got to stand with them before they went on stage when nerves took hold. Last minute rehearsals when it looked like nothing somehow got turned into something before going on stage. Ok, so not always but when it didn’t it, man, was it funny.
Every event that the Dept. does I think is my favourite publicity. But this is definitely my favourite.
Of course it’s not all fun and games and there’s the business end of the event. Seeing children realise God loves them no matter what is what it is all about.
Not that I suppose you’ll read this until after the event, but if you are going, I hope it all goes well and lives are changed. Who knows, maybe one of them will even be your own?
*I have been known to describe it as that – but only to Presbyterians so that doesn’t count!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Ten reasons why Pez shouldn’t be so great
1. They are tiny.
2. You only get 10 of them.
3. The dispenser is just cheap plastic.
4. You really don’t need a dispenser for 10 sweets, yet they don’t taste as good coming straight from the packet.
5. You have to get your grubby fingers all over them to get them in the dispenser.
6. You end up dropping half of them trying to get them in the dispenser.
7. The other half get turned around putting them in and only your little finger is small enough to turn them back.
8. Technically the sweet is coming out of the 80s cartoon character’s mouth. Surely that makes it vomit?
9. Once they are in the dispenser you have no idea how many are left so the last one is a bit of a surprise.
10. Eventually the spring goes and the dispenser is worthless (you know, because it was worth so much before).
Yet even with all these reasons, I still get excited when I get them, like today!
2. You only get 10 of them.
3. The dispenser is just cheap plastic.
4. You really don’t need a dispenser for 10 sweets, yet they don’t taste as good coming straight from the packet.
5. You have to get your grubby fingers all over them to get them in the dispenser.
6. You end up dropping half of them trying to get them in the dispenser.
7. The other half get turned around putting them in and only your little finger is small enough to turn them back.
8. Technically the sweet is coming out of the 80s cartoon character’s mouth. Surely that makes it vomit?
9. Once they are in the dispenser you have no idea how many are left so the last one is a bit of a surprise.
10. Eventually the spring goes and the dispenser is worthless (you know, because it was worth so much before).
Yet even with all these reasons, I still get excited when I get them, like today!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
The Pursuit of Happiness
I got my heart broken this week. Twice.
Hollywood broke it when I saw The Pursuit of Happyness. Will Smith is brilliant but his son stole the show for me. I suppose it was the pairing of them together actually. Christopher, the son is so trusting in his father as he tried to put a brave face on and work a way out of the poverty trap they were in.
Yes, it is obvious and yes, you know what is coming. But it did make me wonder, when you only have $21 left in the world and no one else to turn to, who is going to stand with you?
That was the first time.
The other time my heart got broken? When I spoke to one of my students about how he was getting on and he told me he wasn’t happy in school.
Still working on fixing it.
Hollywood broke it when I saw The Pursuit of Happyness. Will Smith is brilliant but his son stole the show for me. I suppose it was the pairing of them together actually. Christopher, the son is so trusting in his father as he tried to put a brave face on and work a way out of the poverty trap they were in.
Yes, it is obvious and yes, you know what is coming. But it did make me wonder, when you only have $21 left in the world and no one else to turn to, who is going to stand with you?
That was the first time.
The other time my heart got broken? When I spoke to one of my students about how he was getting on and he told me he wasn’t happy in school.
Still working on fixing it.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Vote early, vote often
I am just picking out my order for the election tomorrow. Ever keen to take part in the democratic process of deciding which people I want to represent me in the talking shop (or lack thereof) that is the Northern Ireland Assembly, father is voting by proxy for me. Of course, this could mean that he goes in the booth tomorrow and votes entirely for his choices, but I trust him implicitly to carry out the wishes of his only daughter.
I really like voting in elections. Moreover, I think it is important to vote in elections. Plenty of people in the world have no say in who represents them, what laws will affect them or how their country will be run. We do. Of course, a lot of our problems come after we put the X (or in the case of tomorrow, the number) in the box and this puts plenty of people off voting.
The way I see it however, if you decide not vote, you are giving up your right to complain about what happens in the world around you. It’s time to sit up and pay attention; every election matters. Never say that your vote won’t change anything. For every apathetic eligible voter who didn’t bother, there’s someone who went out and voted the exact opposite way they would have done.
You have an opinion, you have a voice and you have a hand that can write numbers in a box.
We elect the people to represent us.
I really like voting in elections. Moreover, I think it is important to vote in elections. Plenty of people in the world have no say in who represents them, what laws will affect them or how their country will be run. We do. Of course, a lot of our problems come after we put the X (or in the case of tomorrow, the number) in the box and this puts plenty of people off voting.
The way I see it however, if you decide not vote, you are giving up your right to complain about what happens in the world around you. It’s time to sit up and pay attention; every election matters. Never say that your vote won’t change anything. For every apathetic eligible voter who didn’t bother, there’s someone who went out and voted the exact opposite way they would have done.
You have an opinion, you have a voice and you have a hand that can write numbers in a box.
We elect the people to represent us.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Museums: where History comes alive?!
Don’t you just hate the way weekends just disappear in front of you. On Friday I have so many good thoughts of what I am going to get accomplished and invariably I get a tiny percentage of it done. This weekend was substantially more productive than last however, and I have photos to prove it.
The museum trip on Saturday went well. I got the information I needed and even had time for some shopping. Plusses all round.
How stinking does that river look?
I shall bore you with the museum trip: two pits discovered in 1986 show the Sanxingdui civilisation's burial rituals of burning and disfiguring items before burying them in Sichuan area of China. Sichuan was thought to have been cultural backwater but this proves that it had a very sophisticated culture of bronze casting giving a big ya boo sucky boos to all the nay sayers. It also proves that civilisations developed apart from Yellow River Valley. This mask with its protruding eyes and oversized ears are believed to represent acute eyesight and hearing. The beak like nose shows the importance of birds in their religion. You're lucky, my second years got an afternoon trip and a lesson about this stuff. I'd love to say 'yawn' but I'll toe the party line and say 'History is great!'.
I thought these were more fun bronze statues, looks like it was a bet, 'I'll jump in the river butt naked if you will!'
On Saturday we went for dinner on the west of the island. The land in the distance is Malaysia the lights you can see on the right is from the bridge linking the two. I still cannot believe I am here sometimes.
Apparently people sail into the marina from all sorts of places, Australia, Indonesia and Thailand mostly. Oh how the other half live.
We talked to one of the crew of this beast of a boat (yacht? ‘scuse me Alan if I have that wrong). Three people own it and sail around the place in it, arriving then partying. All a bit James Bond. It has room for 16 guests and 17 crew. We arrived in time to see the night’s takeaway arriving, the chef was on holiday. Oh, that was the other thing, they get six months on board and then two weeks at home. But I suppose while they are away they spend no money and can send it all home.
The museum trip on Saturday went well. I got the information I needed and even had time for some shopping. Plusses all round.
How stinking does that river look?
I shall bore you with the museum trip: two pits discovered in 1986 show the Sanxingdui civilisation's burial rituals of burning and disfiguring items before burying them in Sichuan area of China. Sichuan was thought to have been cultural backwater but this proves that it had a very sophisticated culture of bronze casting giving a big ya boo sucky boos to all the nay sayers. It also proves that civilisations developed apart from Yellow River Valley. This mask with its protruding eyes and oversized ears are believed to represent acute eyesight and hearing. The beak like nose shows the importance of birds in their religion. You're lucky, my second years got an afternoon trip and a lesson about this stuff. I'd love to say 'yawn' but I'll toe the party line and say 'History is great!'.
I thought these were more fun bronze statues, looks like it was a bet, 'I'll jump in the river butt naked if you will!'
On Saturday we went for dinner on the west of the island. The land in the distance is Malaysia the lights you can see on the right is from the bridge linking the two. I still cannot believe I am here sometimes.
Apparently people sail into the marina from all sorts of places, Australia, Indonesia and Thailand mostly. Oh how the other half live.
We talked to one of the crew of this beast of a boat (yacht? ‘scuse me Alan if I have that wrong). Three people own it and sail around the place in it, arriving then partying. All a bit James Bond. It has room for 16 guests and 17 crew. We arrived in time to see the night’s takeaway arriving, the chef was on holiday. Oh, that was the other thing, they get six months on board and then two weeks at home. But I suppose while they are away they spend no money and can send it all home.
I have also got my March 07 playlist underway. I don’t think I have told you about one in a while so this marks the happy return of hearing what I am listening to right now.
Breathe (2am) – Anna Nalick – Grey’s Anatomy has introduced me to and reminded me of more great music this past year than I can remember.
Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton – there was a wedding on at the Marina on Saturday night and the band played this, pure wedding cheese.
Suddenly I See – Is KT Tunstall off conquering America, I haven’t heard a peep from her in ages?
Meaning – Gavin DeGraw – He did the One Tree Hill theme and some other ok stuff.
Here With Me – Dido – Love Dido, what has she done since Life For Rent? Maybe her and KT are off writing together?
Breathe (2am) – Anna Nalick – Grey’s Anatomy has introduced me to and reminded me of more great music this past year than I can remember.
Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton – there was a wedding on at the Marina on Saturday night and the band played this, pure wedding cheese.
Suddenly I See – Is KT Tunstall off conquering America, I haven’t heard a peep from her in ages?
Meaning – Gavin DeGraw – He did the One Tree Hill theme and some other ok stuff.
Here With Me – Dido – Love Dido, what has she done since Life For Rent? Maybe her and KT are off writing together?
Right, I think it is bed time for Tinas.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Sometimes you are just glad to make it through the day
I woke up at 7.14am this morning. At that time I am normally half way to school. Swear words. At least when you start the day that badly, things can only get better (what ever happened D:ream anyway?)
So yay, now it is officially the weekend. Tomorrow I need to take a trip to a museum, occupational hazard I suppose. But I will be doing my level best to sleep in in the morning. So long as that yappy dog doesn't get all riled up. Although, I wish he had this morning, around 6.15am would have been great.
So yay, now it is officially the weekend. Tomorrow I need to take a trip to a museum, occupational hazard I suppose. But I will be doing my level best to sleep in in the morning. So long as that yappy dog doesn't get all riled up. Although, I wish he had this morning, around 6.15am would have been great.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Yay it's Friday! Crap, it's Friday!
Friday is my worst day. I teach 7 out of 9 periods. I have exactly one of those lessons planned (and when I say 'planned' I mean a rough scrawl of possibilities written on the back of another sheet with no actual route through sorted).
Nice one Tina. Definitely winging it then.
Nice one Tina. Definitely winging it then.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
