And I believe he's in session with Zane tonight

I haven't got tagged for this on Facebook yet but I've seen and ever keen to avoid coursework marking I thought I'd give it a go and post it here instead. If you haven't seen it, armed with nothing but random Wikipedia, Quote and Flickr pages you have to create an album cover for a fictious artist/band. Here's mine:

Not so fussed on the artist name (a dead Icelandic journalist don't you know. I know my brain struggles to remember all the late great Icelandic journalists so I imagine you are much the same) but doesn't the album name sound exactly like something Snow Patrol would come off with? And Flickr, you consistently exhibit outstanding pictures, I don't know why I don't visit more often.

One other funny thing from today, I had someone ask me about what the cavalry was. When they furthered it with 'horses?' I couldn't help myself but sing out loud 'horses, horses, horses' a la Meg Ryan, 'Sleepless in Seattle' style. It's fair to say they had no clue what I was going on about. I hope you do otherwise I will have just embarrassed myself with that for a second time today.

Not Bryansford

We had a teacher retire last week in school. Weird time of year but when you can go who would wait around for June? He'd worked for the past 38 years and since the early 70s in the same school. When he took 20 minutes out of lessons for his thank you/farewell speech, no one in the staffroom was prepared to walk out, he'd earned it. As I was leaving on Friday afternoon, I said cheerio to him and wished him well. I asked him what he'd be doing Monday morning instead of coming into school and he said he'd be anywhere but home, 'probably Bryansford'. This Monday morning I was not in Bryansford. Only another 32 years til that dream becomes reality. Oh good.

So what did I do this Monday? Well, I worked all the live long day, probably much like you. In fact I am just about to reconvene my work. Well after 'The One Show'. I have my priorities sorted out alright. Chris Moyles is on tonight, it's like my morning and evening routines meshed together!

In other news, my Student Loans Company disaster continues. I don't think I've mentioned it on here but the highlights are they are still charging me what they did when I was away. No, you're right, I have been home for MORE THAN A YEAR!! Something they haven't managed to grasp. I think it's only the fact that every representative has a pleasant Scottish accent which has held me off writing to 'Watchdog'. That and their assurances that they've got a handle on the 'complexities' of my case. I'll give them complexities alright. The latest episode tonight included a nice girl who actually seemed to know what she wasn't talking about and hopes are high with both parties that a resolution can be reached. She even understood my explanation of why I shouldn't take part in the customer service survey. 

It was a glorious moment of bridges being built.

It was all going so well

I was having a good day yesterday. I even rocked it at the gym (making up for Monday's disaster) by doing 3k on the treadmill. Then came the evening when I had to watch 'Mamma Mia' and a road diversion that took me miles extra. By the time I got home even our slow coach of a toaster pissed me off.

I'm over it now. But 'Mamma Mia' next time I see even your titles, I shall be walking out. I despise thee.

Four for four! It's like the days of NC!

The trick is to keep the momentum going.

I'll start this post by saying it probably won't be the most profound/funny/interesting, I just wanted to keep going.

So what waffle to fill it with?

1. I am flipping well tired. I need to be more strict with myself about getting to bed. Ridiculous o'clock is too late for me to go to bed, especially when my alarm goes at quarter past silly. I was so good in Singapore. I'd even miss prime time Oprah to go to bed, yet I got up at a similar time to now.

2. I was supposed to work after my last class came left today. I didn't. Instead I talked with another teacher which was definitely less productive. Useful in its own way I suppose.

3. Had the last batch of burgers tonight for dinner. Upon reflection they look best and indeed homeliest (yes, I made up that word) when raw. Another damning indictment upon my actual cooking skills I think. Although I don't think the taste was impaired in any way.

4. You should iPlay the programme 'Disco Babes' from the other night. Hil-ar-i-ous!

Alright, I think that's me.

Three for three

That never happens any more!

I'm watching the Brits by the fire pretending to 'work'. And by work I of course mean I'm dossing on tinternet and eating cinnamon lozengers. 

I would consider myself pretty mainstream but watching this has made me realise how much I'm not (and I don't say that to make me sound and cool and alternative. Clearly, I'm just about to make the move to Radio 2. Which means, by my calculation, Radio 4 is only ten years off. Oh boy.) Katy Perry got an award right at the start and I swear I'd never seen her before in my life. Kings of Leon are just off and I wouldn't be able to pick them out of an identity parade. And that's after having seen them.

My other thoughts on the 'British Music Industry Awards of the Year'.

-U2. Hate that song, beginning to dislike them too. Maybe they've always come across as arrogant and I just haven't noticed.

-Natalia Imbruglia. Seriously?

-How small is Jamie Cullum? He made Jamie Oliver look tall.

-Paul Weller? Is this a joke?

-How old is Duffy? Is it just me or does she look old? Oh my, she's only 24!! I feel bad now.

-Kings of Leon again. Maybe I will recognise them if this keeps up? Is it wrong to be suspicious when a big international star/band are there and win stuff? Same at the BAFTAs and the like.

-I'd like to have been a fly on the wall where they decided on Take That's performance.

As much as I'd like to continue this for the next hour, I really do have work to be doing. David Hasselhoff may have pushed me over the edge. Plus the cat needs letting in.

I am wonderful

I really like this song at the moment and I much prefer this video to the actual one where he's running so I thought I'd share it with you.

A shower? Luxury!

I was just reflecting on my teenage years when we didn't have a shower. No, not because I am that old and the technology didn't exist but because our bathroom was shockingly awful. I spent most of my teenage years washing my hair over the bath or in the sink. I know! Like a weekend at Autumn Soul, except longer.

I was showering after a particularly poor performance at the gym today. Karen Next Door (training for the marathon don't you know!) would be ashamed of me. I mean, sure I might have run more than her today but as she is out injured that's not hard. It was a poor, poor effort on the treadmill. As Paula Radcliffe once said, 'I just didn't have it in my legs', the only difference being mine came after like 5 minutes.

In other news, half term has been and gone. I was just getting into the swing of it when we had to go back to school. Boo.  But I did get to do some nice things, including making Jamie's Cracking Burgers.


Take my word for it, it looked much better in real life. This looks a bit like fake meat substitute that vegetarians eat.

This was definitely the easiest thing I've made thus far so I think I shall be repeating it and definitely before barbeque season kicks in. Although I think it's fair to say that I will never be one of those people that says 'I like to cook, it relaxes me'. I find nothing, nothing relaxing about cooking.

I also got to see little John. Sadly though my plan to make Jamie's Chicken Hotpot was replaced by seeing my two nephews as it was Josh's Dedication Service too. It's like that advert, 'Daddy or chips?' 'Jamie's Chicken Hotpot or little baby nephews?' Sure, maybe not as catchy but an easier call to make than that rambling little girl had to make.

John all geared up for the game! This isn't the photo I wanted to post, but in the other one David looks (and I stress looks) like he's picking his nose. If I were to post it here there's a chance he might suspend my visitation rights. A chance I just can't take.

It was hard to know which John was more excited about, seeing Cool Aunt Tina again or watching his first full game of rugger. I want to say the first, but that O'Driscoll intercept quite literally had him poo his nappy with excitement

What kind of week has it been

Pretty good. See previous postings about that.

It's even better because it's officially half term now. We just had two training days which were good enough, time to stop and take a breath. It must be nice to have a job where you have nothing to do for the next day in work. I worked like a trooper today in order to get a little bit ahead for next week so these few days I can enjoy somewhat. It might be time to break out Jamie again and make something exciting. Then of course I must take the opportunity to go see the little chap himself. The (grand)parents have made more excuses to go up that I thought possible so I have some catching up to do!

I might also watch a bit of daytime TV. Boy, I know how to spend my holidays!

Check him out!

It's a great day to be alive

Well done John! You made it! Don't let all the bad news going around at the minute put you off, it's a great place, I think you'll like it.

In what seems like years from now I'll be telling you all about the day you arrived. How I got phonecalls and text mesages (I know, text messages! There were no 'brain trans-thoughts' back then) while I was teaching in school. I'll tell you how one boy I taught joked with me that you were named after my 'favourite History student' (not true, but you'll probably know the story of your name by then) and after having a fight with the photocopier, how I raced home through traffic and over icy roads to get my first look at you.

Then the pictures will come out. And you'll groan a little bit and say 'is that really me?' And I'll say 'yes, yes it is. You really were that small'. You had tiny tiny fingers, and very cute feet. And I'll tell you about how I held you while you slept and you didn't cry because you were so tired. We also might talk about that fist-in-mouth trick you did. Maybe you'll be able to teach me?

I'll tell you all the stories about your dad that he won't tell you, or that he'll downplay. I'll tell you about what we used to get up to when we were 'your age'. I'll tell you about making bases in the TV room and sliding down the stairs in sleeping bags, and about morning daredevil runs through our neighbours' gardens (not sure Nana and Granda know about them yet. Sssh). 

When Daddy shouts at you for licking your ice cream bowl in front of other people I'll tell you that he does it. When you want to go out at Hallowe'en I'll show you his banger box and (only when you're old enough to be responsible) I'll tell you how to make sparkler bombs better than any firework like he taught me. Ok, probably not those cool holographic ones they make, but good old fashioned fireworks are still a sight to behold. Especially when you've had 200 caps go off in your hand in the making of it. In fact, aside from today obviously, I can't recall a time when I've seen a prouder look on your Daddy's face.

I'll tell you about he looked out for me because I am his little sis. How my first drive on a motorway was under his tutelage. But I'll also tell you about how we fought all through our teenage years like you wouldn't believe. 

I'll tell you that he's smarter than me and better at sports than me. I'll tell you that he was crap at clarinet and rubbish at French but somehow managed to pass the exams. In fact, I'll show you the picture of his clarinet teacher running round our garden as the forfeit for saying he'd fail.

I'll tell you about how he didn't really want to go to uni to live in Chaplaincy. But how when he did he met Mummy. I'll tell you about how the nicest, most down to earth girl in the world fell in love with your Daddy. I'll tell you funny stories about them, like how when they were setting off half way around the world, they started the trip by going to the wrong airline to get checked in with (Don't worry Granda will have taught you all about airports and planes by then). I'll tell you about their wedding and standing on the beach for the big group photograph because Mummy loves the sea. Again, you'll already know this about her by then, but you'll smile because you know I'm telling the truth.

Soon we'll have gone full circle and I'll be back telling you about today and how excited I was. I'll tell you that Daddy said he was a little bit scared, but that I knew, from day one, that your Mummy and Daddy would be great parents.

I cannot wait!

Lessons in being careful what you wish for

Earlier this week I was getting thoroughly hacked off with everyone in TV and radio talking about snow, how terrible it was, how much there was, how transport was affected, how people took days off, how £6 trillion was lost (which I hold was actually saved), how schools were off, how Lily Allen was out playing in it, how we should be careful driving in it. 

I'm sure I wouldn't have been so annoyed had we in NI had any. Maybe I was just annoyed at the mentality that London/South East England news is national news. Like that time some sort of smell drifted across the Atlantic. Not to me it didn't.

Anyway, aside from wishing for a more regional awareness from the BBC, I wished for snow. And today (depending on where you were of course) it happened. Kind of, but not really and I'll get to that later. 

I felt like I was in the West Wing...this is what today is going to be about.

It started with having to have 15 or so extra students in my class because they had no teacher, so that was that period out the window but then as more teachers made it in, more students decided they were off home. 

'There's no point being here Miss, we're not working.' 

That quickly descended into 'seriously Miss, we're not working today, there's like 10 people in our class!' 

Emm, actually there's 4 people not here so we're fine to carry on. 

'But Miss, it's snowing outside!'

And your point is....? Pretty sure it snows in Norway, in Sweden, in France, in Canada and yet they have fine schools that carry out lessons in such conditions.

And this bring me back to the start of this post, if the show off in England hadn't gone off on one about their 3 feet of snow or whatever it was, my students today wouldn't have thought it was so noteworthy as to suspend lessons.

I wouldn't have minded (and before you call me a Scrooge, or whatever the snow equivalent would be), but ours wasn't even decent snow.