This week my namesake Sally picked the word book. It made me think of a slang phrase I like to use, "Let's book" - which made me go away and look at where it came from. Interesting!
I grew up in a book house. At work, we often try to guess how many of our pupils are also growing up in book houses, meaning anywhere where books are valued and collected. I hypothesise that they are the ones who don't write in the text books, or tear corners of their exercise books out to write notes, since they have been taught a little more respect for tomes than that.
I currently live in a book house, too. I have a shelf above me as I sit here, full of all my university text books (which, if I'm honest, were not well thumbed during my degree and have been even less used since) and a random selection of History textbooks I keep for when I need to set cover. Donwstairs is another heaving bookcase, which holds them two rows deep. I am getting rid of them, a few at a time. I love having lots of books around and in an ideal world I would have a library, but we don't have the space for that really.
Of course, now I have my Kindle, so the need for actual books is diminished. I have lost count of the number of people who have said, "But it's not like a real book! It doesn't smell like a book!" which is very true. However, it is better than a book for me, because I keep it with me all the time and that means I read more, which makes it a winner in my eyes.
Unfortunately, it does not fulfill the secondary purpose of books - to sit prettily on a shelf, looking inviting. I think growing up in a book house creates an unusual love for this secondary purpose. I would spend hours staring at my parents' bookshelves, and my grandparents' bookshelves, and my aunt and uncle's bookshelves. I was in the library every month, and up in the adult section by the age of 12, having exhausted the paltry 15 shelves of teen literature. Being around a lot of books is calming, and reassuring, and full of promise. And can create familiarity in unfamiliar surroundings - when I went to Cornwall with my friends last month, I was delighted to walk into a bedroom with two walls lined with old testimonials and Methodist texts - it was like being back at my gran's house. I was up late that night re-reading From Witchcraft To Christ.
Good word this week! Pop along to Sally's blog to read the other entries and find out who'll be hosting next week.
Friday, 29 April 2011
Monday, 25 April 2011
Where I have been
It has been a straight month since I checked in. It has been a long road back to a point where I wanted to talk about myself again! March completely kicked my backside for a large number of reasons. Luckily since then I have had a few fun trips and recharged my batteries.
We had a knitting retreat to Shaftesbury, where I finally finished the little blue baby slipover I was volunteered to knit for a friend's sister's baby (look, I know it was small and I agreed to do it, but it totally sucked all the joy out of my hobby! So no more commissions for a while...) and therefore found my knitting bug again. Since then I have knitted a little baby jumper for a friend...
I know, I know, it sounds like it should have killed knitting for me again, but it was different. This was a surprise gift, and to my favourite pattern, and using half yarn from my stash....although I bought two balls of the pink and ran out 6 rows from the end of the second sleeve, I kid you not. Error.
I have also been knitting away merrily on the Camellia shrug in Lorna's Laces Honor (I only spell it incorrectly because that is the way the makers spell it, people) which has been dyed into a smorgasboard of blues and named Royal Wedding, after soon-to-be Princess Kate's engagement ring and blue dress. It is a thing of joy and I am almost done with the back after less than a week.
So yes, firstly I have been knitting.
Secondly I have been SKIING!
I know every year I come back and say it was the best trip ever so I won't disappoint this year: it was the best trip, ever. We had a paltry 18 students between six of us and we were a bit worried to begin with as there wasn't really any snow to speak of, and we had to be bussed round the mountain to the only resort in the area with any lifts still operational.
The reps were gloomy. On the third day, it rained. We started to mutter about being bussed to the glacier, but then - miracles - the rain turned to snow and it did. not. stop.
Behind me is the off piste I skiied into. I fell over, became mired in snow up to my thighs like a turtle stuck on its back, and had to crawl back up the slope to the piste, throwing my skis ahead of me. It took nearly 15 minutes! That's why I'm a little rosy in this picture.
Incidentally this is the first year I have worn that helmet liner which I knitted nearly four years ago.
It was still snowing when we left. So, on day 4 we were skiing knee deep in fresh powder; on day 5 we got a crack at it after the piste bashers had done their thing; and by day 6 I was so enamoured of the entire thing that I chose to ski through lunch.
That deserves its own line. *I* chose something over food....and it was a sporty something, too. Amazing.
We had fancy dress day....
We had to dress each other. I made the WonderWoman outfit for Cara. I was dressed as a butterfly. The wings were amazing but the helmet cover was definitely my favourite bit! Skiing in costume got us quite a bit of notoriety in Leogang, and we had some nice comments from kids from other schools saying they wished their teachers were as fun; and the next day an Austrian man brought me my ski after I'd fallen over and said, "Hey, I know you! You were the dragon from yesterday!" - I assume he meant dragonfly; it was nice to be recognised!
Here's a video of me fluttering down the slopes, though it may be best avoided if you get motion sickness.
Finally, I have spent the last 5 days hanging out with my bff Jen in Sheffield. Jen is getting married next february which is really exciting, so we talked a lot about that and enjoyed the company of her extremely cute two year old daughter Abi, and yesterday I wrote my school reports while she and her fiance cleared out the loft; it was all very relaxed and just perfect for going back to work.
Yes, because work begins again tomorrow. I can't see any reason why it would kick my backside as much this term, though I perhaps should not tempt fate. I found another job to apply for; in fact, I was invited to apply for it by the deputy head of the school it's at, so I feel quite confident about it. Before the end of term I was a dead cert to apply, but then the ski trip happened and now I don't know. I got to thinking about what the good bits of my job are, and one of the amazing things about my school is the network of support I have from my colleagues. They inspire and boost me daily, and I find myself wondering if that isn't really what it should be about, rather than promotion. After all, I have another 30+ years of work left to apply for promotion. Also it would mean taking a pay cut, for more responsibility. That should probably be tabled as a factor.
Here are some of my work bezzies and me on holiday in Cornwall in March. That was just what was required, too.
We had a knitting retreat to Shaftesbury, where I finally finished the little blue baby slipover I was volunteered to knit for a friend's sister's baby (look, I know it was small and I agreed to do it, but it totally sucked all the joy out of my hobby! So no more commissions for a while...) and therefore found my knitting bug again. Since then I have knitted a little baby jumper for a friend...
I know, I know, it sounds like it should have killed knitting for me again, but it was different. This was a surprise gift, and to my favourite pattern, and using half yarn from my stash....although I bought two balls of the pink and ran out 6 rows from the end of the second sleeve, I kid you not. Error.
I have also been knitting away merrily on the Camellia shrug in Lorna's Laces Honor (I only spell it incorrectly because that is the way the makers spell it, people) which has been dyed into a smorgasboard of blues and named Royal Wedding, after soon-to-be Princess Kate's engagement ring and blue dress. It is a thing of joy and I am almost done with the back after less than a week.
So yes, firstly I have been knitting.
Secondly I have been SKIING!
I know every year I come back and say it was the best trip ever so I won't disappoint this year: it was the best trip, ever. We had a paltry 18 students between six of us and we were a bit worried to begin with as there wasn't really any snow to speak of, and we had to be bussed round the mountain to the only resort in the area with any lifts still operational.
The reps were gloomy. On the third day, it rained. We started to mutter about being bussed to the glacier, but then - miracles - the rain turned to snow and it did. not. stop.
Behind me is the off piste I skiied into. I fell over, became mired in snow up to my thighs like a turtle stuck on its back, and had to crawl back up the slope to the piste, throwing my skis ahead of me. It took nearly 15 minutes! That's why I'm a little rosy in this picture.
Incidentally this is the first year I have worn that helmet liner which I knitted nearly four years ago.
It was still snowing when we left. So, on day 4 we were skiing knee deep in fresh powder; on day 5 we got a crack at it after the piste bashers had done their thing; and by day 6 I was so enamoured of the entire thing that I chose to ski through lunch.
That deserves its own line. *I* chose something over food....and it was a sporty something, too. Amazing.
We had fancy dress day....
We had to dress each other. I made the WonderWoman outfit for Cara. I was dressed as a butterfly. The wings were amazing but the helmet cover was definitely my favourite bit! Skiing in costume got us quite a bit of notoriety in Leogang, and we had some nice comments from kids from other schools saying they wished their teachers were as fun; and the next day an Austrian man brought me my ski after I'd fallen over and said, "Hey, I know you! You were the dragon from yesterday!" - I assume he meant dragonfly; it was nice to be recognised!
Here's a video of me fluttering down the slopes, though it may be best avoided if you get motion sickness.
Finally, I have spent the last 5 days hanging out with my bff Jen in Sheffield. Jen is getting married next february which is really exciting, so we talked a lot about that and enjoyed the company of her extremely cute two year old daughter Abi, and yesterday I wrote my school reports while she and her fiance cleared out the loft; it was all very relaxed and just perfect for going back to work.
Yes, because work begins again tomorrow. I can't see any reason why it would kick my backside as much this term, though I perhaps should not tempt fate. I found another job to apply for; in fact, I was invited to apply for it by the deputy head of the school it's at, so I feel quite confident about it. Before the end of term I was a dead cert to apply, but then the ski trip happened and now I don't know. I got to thinking about what the good bits of my job are, and one of the amazing things about my school is the network of support I have from my colleagues. They inspire and boost me daily, and I find myself wondering if that isn't really what it should be about, rather than promotion. After all, I have another 30+ years of work left to apply for promotion. Also it would mean taking a pay cut, for more responsibility. That should probably be tabled as a factor.
Here are some of my work bezzies and me on holiday in Cornwall in March. That was just what was required, too.
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
I'm still here
I was going to have to do a Tuesday Ten on why I love my job but then I realised, it's been less than two months since the last time I did that. Work is not a happy place at the moment. Ten reasons why work is not a happy place at the moment...
1. RUBBISH ski company, cancelling my ski course at three weeks' notice. That's the ski course I have been going to personal training to ensure I am fit enough to complete, since September.
2. RUBBISH ski company, telling me they are behind on all my trip paperwork because they have someone on long term sick. We leave two weeks on Friday. I don't even know what time we get back yet. I understand long term sick is a problem, but unfortunately, it is not MY problem. I do not have time for this problem.
(I think RUBBISH ski company will have to provide an awesome incentive if they want my booking next year).
3. Governor shizzle. So secret, I can't tell anyone at work. I hate the pressure. I'm constantly worried I'm going to blurt it out.
4. The possible upshots of all the governor shizz, and worrying about them.
5. People who are ungrateful for the huge amounts of work I put in on their behalf.
6. People who expect me to be able to work miracles, over things that are NOT EVEN MY JOB.
7. A2 students who expect me to spoon feed them their coursework and look shocked when they turn up for class, without completing their assignment (that's zero for nine, people) and I don't think it's really funny.
8. ...and then have the audacity to ask me if the coursework deadlines are always so tight. DO. YOUR. HOME. STUDY. Then it won't be so tight. Also, don't ever question my methods. I have two degrees and years of experience. I was so good at coursework at uni, that my professors let me write a second dissertation instead of attending a taught unit in my final year. You can't even remember to bring a pen to class half the time. I know who most people's money would be on.
9. Having the additional pressure of trying to prove I am worthy of a meaningless label, in three weeks or less.
10. There is too much to do. I haven't blogged in nearly a month! Rubbish.
Nice knitting weekend away this weekend though, and thank goodness for that. I have almost forgotten how to knit.
1. RUBBISH ski company, cancelling my ski course at three weeks' notice. That's the ski course I have been going to personal training to ensure I am fit enough to complete, since September.
2. RUBBISH ski company, telling me they are behind on all my trip paperwork because they have someone on long term sick. We leave two weeks on Friday. I don't even know what time we get back yet. I understand long term sick is a problem, but unfortunately, it is not MY problem. I do not have time for this problem.
(I think RUBBISH ski company will have to provide an awesome incentive if they want my booking next year).
3. Governor shizzle. So secret, I can't tell anyone at work. I hate the pressure. I'm constantly worried I'm going to blurt it out.
4. The possible upshots of all the governor shizz, and worrying about them.
5. People who are ungrateful for the huge amounts of work I put in on their behalf.
6. People who expect me to be able to work miracles, over things that are NOT EVEN MY JOB.
7. A2 students who expect me to spoon feed them their coursework and look shocked when they turn up for class, without completing their assignment (that's zero for nine, people) and I don't think it's really funny.
8. ...and then have the audacity to ask me if the coursework deadlines are always so tight. DO. YOUR. HOME. STUDY. Then it won't be so tight. Also, don't ever question my methods. I have two degrees and years of experience. I was so good at coursework at uni, that my professors let me write a second dissertation instead of attending a taught unit in my final year. You can't even remember to bring a pen to class half the time. I know who most people's money would be on.
9. Having the additional pressure of trying to prove I am worthy of a meaningless label, in three weeks or less.
10. There is too much to do. I haven't blogged in nearly a month! Rubbish.
Nice knitting weekend away this weekend though, and thank goodness for that. I have almost forgotten how to knit.
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Tuesday Ten
Ten Pictures from the last Ten Days
1. Batman prepares to ski, Les Diablerets, Switzerland
Unfortunately, Batman did not take to skiing.
2. Skiing with Sib and his girlf
It snowed all night Saturday night and all day Sunday, so we had tonnes of fresh snow to work with by the time we made it to the slopes on Sunday afternoon. Indeed, too much; Sib, who has only had a week on snow, and that at the tender age of 13, found it exceedingly hard going and in the end gave up and walked the rest of the way down. Even I only managed one good run from the top of the bubble before I was cold and wet through (my waterproof jacket proving to be not waterproof) and not in the mood to continue.
Still! It was skiing, therefore I mainly loved it. And so beautiful in amongst the trees!
The snow was also good for Les Diablerets, which has been snow-poor so far this season. Elise's sister, who walked into town Sunday morning for fresh baguettes, said she had never seen so many smiley, happy people.
We had a bit of a time finding it, though. In my efforts to jet-set, we flew to Switzerland from work on Friday night, arriving at our hire car at 11pm for a 2 hour drive. Neither of us brought a map, or had access to SatNav. This was how we ended up driving up a road which appeared closed (neither of us speak French so it may have been closed, or just closed to dog sleds). The road wound up, and up. We passed skidoos. We were nervous. We were grateful for the winter tyres. Then we had to stop because we came to...a piste.
When we eventually figured it out, we discovered Les Diablerets was the other side of the mountain and we had to drive all the way back down to Aigle and begin again. So, it was around 3am by the time we arrived. I said sorry, a lot.
3. Blue Lagoon, Iceland
This was a school trip. We had to get up at 3am to get to school and then on the plane; we went to the Blue Lagoon straight from the airport. It couldn't have been a better first stop, from the obligatory hot naked shower beforehand, to the smooth silica mud we scooped out of the troughs and smoothed on our faces, to the ice creams they served from a booth by the lagoon. It even snowed while we were in there. Awesome.
4. Geysirs
Picture absent for now...unbelievably, I managed to leave behind both cameras and my phone on the first day, which I had helpfully packed all in the same pouch and left on my hotel room bed. Geysir picture to follow, when I can get one from a kid.
The amazing thing about these geysirs (and I have seen a lot of them, having visited Yellowstone...and yes, the spell it differently in Iceland) was how close we were allowed to get. The regular spouter has a small fence around it but if you stand upwind of it, you will more than likely be showered in water and enveloped in steam, which is what happens when you neither read signage nor pay attention to nature. I must say, I enjoyed the experience more in a culture devoid of superfluous lawsuits. Not only was I able to get close enough to really see what was happening, but we also found a little place where a geysir is definitely on its way. Little baby steam vents have appeared in the ground, and a teeny bubbling hole, right in the centre of the path. That path's route may have had to change in 10 years' time.
5. Columnar jointing
Spectacular! Columnar jointing is formed when lava of enormous depths cools. It forms long pillars which bang against each other and create hexagonal shapes. Seeing this in action is amazing. I spent quite some time staring at it and photographing it, and managed to pick up a lovely piece which had dropped off in the shape of a claw, although this sadly broke up into many pieces on the journey home.
6. Maybe the most beautiful beach ever
And I really love beaches. I consider myself something of a connoisseur. This was totally up there. There is no landmass to break these waves between this shore and Antarctica, so they are big, powerful breakers, which make pure white foam that covers the black sand (Iceland is almost all basalt) and provides the most awesome of contrasts. At this point, the pupils had gone over the hill with the guide and I had snatched a moment to myself to walk down to this beach. I am so very glad I did. Moment of the trip for me - and there were many other moments.
7. YARN!!
I was napping on the coach when it came to a stop, and the girls behind me said knowingly, "Bring your purse Miss - this is a wool factory!" They weren't kidding. I very nearly spent an awful lot of money, and considering my luggage ended up almost impossible to zip closed and almost half a kilo overweight, it was just as well I managed to stop myself at 12 balls of Lopi and a big, chunky pair of socks. There was a yarn factory behind the shop with a viewing gallery, although they were machine knitting the colourwork designs in big pieces of fabric and then cutting and stitching them into garments. There were plenty of handknits in the shop, though. I am fairly sure my socks are handknits.
8. Eating ice from a glacier
On Saturday morning, the coach turned off the main road and onto a snowy, rocky, single-land track, which wound alongside a river separated from the road by an increasingly steep bank and little else. At the end of this track, six enthusiastic Icelanders waited to fit us with harnesses and crampons, and arm us with ice axes. We then set off walking on the glacier. At this point we were in a crevass, hacking out some 800-year-old ice and having a taste. Pure!
9. Standing behind a waterfall
OK, I am in front of the waterfall here; but since the picture of me behind it has be backlit, you can't actually see me. It was wet and chilly, but extremely impressive. Iceland is known as the land of 10,000 waterfalls. To start with, we tried to count them as we saw them, but this proved impossible, as there were so many.
10. Hopping across continents
This trench marks the plate boundary between the Eurasian plate and the North American plate, which are moving apart at a rate of around 4cm a year. Iceland is basically formed due to this divergent, or constructive, plate boundary. It's amazing to see this in action: the cliffs either side of this trench are layered with the products of countless eruptions.
There were so many awesome moments in Iceland, my pictures and stories just don't do it justice. Unfortunately we missed the Northern Lights, due to the windy and snowy and cloudy weather; but the night we spent at the youth hostel (which was WAY more comfortable and pleasant than the hotel) we did have occasional flashes of sky, containing more stars than one might imagine existed. I think I saw even more stars that I saw from Death Valley. We had sun, hail, rain and snow - sometimes all in the space of an hour.
Also, if anybody loses their passport abroad on the day they travel home and this also happens to be a day their Embassy is closed, I now know what to do (thankfully, it wasn't me - but I might have had to spend an extra 2 nights in Iceland if we hadn't have found a way round it). My best tip: Keep a photograph of your passport on your phone/camera.
Unfortunately, as well as some good rock specimens and the yarn, I also brought a nasty bug back from Iceland and have been off sick for two days. I struggled with it from Friday but it didn't manage to cast too much of a shadow on what was an amazing trip. If you get a chance - go.
I am now 3 weekends through my marathon of 5 weekends away, so I may continue my relative blog silence for a little longer. I miss Weekword, though! I'll see what I can do for this Friday.
1. Batman prepares to ski, Les Diablerets, Switzerland
Unfortunately, Batman did not take to skiing.
2. Skiing with Sib and his girlf
It snowed all night Saturday night and all day Sunday, so we had tonnes of fresh snow to work with by the time we made it to the slopes on Sunday afternoon. Indeed, too much; Sib, who has only had a week on snow, and that at the tender age of 13, found it exceedingly hard going and in the end gave up and walked the rest of the way down. Even I only managed one good run from the top of the bubble before I was cold and wet through (my waterproof jacket proving to be not waterproof) and not in the mood to continue.
Still! It was skiing, therefore I mainly loved it. And so beautiful in amongst the trees!
The snow was also good for Les Diablerets, which has been snow-poor so far this season. Elise's sister, who walked into town Sunday morning for fresh baguettes, said she had never seen so many smiley, happy people.
We had a bit of a time finding it, though. In my efforts to jet-set, we flew to Switzerland from work on Friday night, arriving at our hire car at 11pm for a 2 hour drive. Neither of us brought a map, or had access to SatNav. This was how we ended up driving up a road which appeared closed (neither of us speak French so it may have been closed, or just closed to dog sleds). The road wound up, and up. We passed skidoos. We were nervous. We were grateful for the winter tyres. Then we had to stop because we came to...a piste.
When we eventually figured it out, we discovered Les Diablerets was the other side of the mountain and we had to drive all the way back down to Aigle and begin again. So, it was around 3am by the time we arrived. I said sorry, a lot.
3. Blue Lagoon, Iceland
This was a school trip. We had to get up at 3am to get to school and then on the plane; we went to the Blue Lagoon straight from the airport. It couldn't have been a better first stop, from the obligatory hot naked shower beforehand, to the smooth silica mud we scooped out of the troughs and smoothed on our faces, to the ice creams they served from a booth by the lagoon. It even snowed while we were in there. Awesome.
4. Geysirs
Picture absent for now...unbelievably, I managed to leave behind both cameras and my phone on the first day, which I had helpfully packed all in the same pouch and left on my hotel room bed. Geysir picture to follow, when I can get one from a kid.
The amazing thing about these geysirs (and I have seen a lot of them, having visited Yellowstone...and yes, the spell it differently in Iceland) was how close we were allowed to get. The regular spouter has a small fence around it but if you stand upwind of it, you will more than likely be showered in water and enveloped in steam, which is what happens when you neither read signage nor pay attention to nature. I must say, I enjoyed the experience more in a culture devoid of superfluous lawsuits. Not only was I able to get close enough to really see what was happening, but we also found a little place where a geysir is definitely on its way. Little baby steam vents have appeared in the ground, and a teeny bubbling hole, right in the centre of the path. That path's route may have had to change in 10 years' time.
5. Columnar jointing
Spectacular! Columnar jointing is formed when lava of enormous depths cools. It forms long pillars which bang against each other and create hexagonal shapes. Seeing this in action is amazing. I spent quite some time staring at it and photographing it, and managed to pick up a lovely piece which had dropped off in the shape of a claw, although this sadly broke up into many pieces on the journey home.
6. Maybe the most beautiful beach ever
And I really love beaches. I consider myself something of a connoisseur. This was totally up there. There is no landmass to break these waves between this shore and Antarctica, so they are big, powerful breakers, which make pure white foam that covers the black sand (Iceland is almost all basalt) and provides the most awesome of contrasts. At this point, the pupils had gone over the hill with the guide and I had snatched a moment to myself to walk down to this beach. I am so very glad I did. Moment of the trip for me - and there were many other moments.
7. YARN!!
I was napping on the coach when it came to a stop, and the girls behind me said knowingly, "Bring your purse Miss - this is a wool factory!" They weren't kidding. I very nearly spent an awful lot of money, and considering my luggage ended up almost impossible to zip closed and almost half a kilo overweight, it was just as well I managed to stop myself at 12 balls of Lopi and a big, chunky pair of socks. There was a yarn factory behind the shop with a viewing gallery, although they were machine knitting the colourwork designs in big pieces of fabric and then cutting and stitching them into garments. There were plenty of handknits in the shop, though. I am fairly sure my socks are handknits.
8. Eating ice from a glacier
On Saturday morning, the coach turned off the main road and onto a snowy, rocky, single-land track, which wound alongside a river separated from the road by an increasingly steep bank and little else. At the end of this track, six enthusiastic Icelanders waited to fit us with harnesses and crampons, and arm us with ice axes. We then set off walking on the glacier. At this point we were in a crevass, hacking out some 800-year-old ice and having a taste. Pure!
9. Standing behind a waterfall
OK, I am in front of the waterfall here; but since the picture of me behind it has be backlit, you can't actually see me. It was wet and chilly, but extremely impressive. Iceland is known as the land of 10,000 waterfalls. To start with, we tried to count them as we saw them, but this proved impossible, as there were so many.
10. Hopping across continents
This trench marks the plate boundary between the Eurasian plate and the North American plate, which are moving apart at a rate of around 4cm a year. Iceland is basically formed due to this divergent, or constructive, plate boundary. It's amazing to see this in action: the cliffs either side of this trench are layered with the products of countless eruptions.
There were so many awesome moments in Iceland, my pictures and stories just don't do it justice. Unfortunately we missed the Northern Lights, due to the windy and snowy and cloudy weather; but the night we spent at the youth hostel (which was WAY more comfortable and pleasant than the hotel) we did have occasional flashes of sky, containing more stars than one might imagine existed. I think I saw even more stars that I saw from Death Valley. We had sun, hail, rain and snow - sometimes all in the space of an hour.
Also, if anybody loses their passport abroad on the day they travel home and this also happens to be a day their Embassy is closed, I now know what to do (thankfully, it wasn't me - but I might have had to spend an extra 2 nights in Iceland if we hadn't have found a way round it). My best tip: Keep a photograph of your passport on your phone/camera.
Unfortunately, as well as some good rock specimens and the yarn, I also brought a nasty bug back from Iceland and have been off sick for two days. I struggled with it from Friday but it didn't manage to cast too much of a shadow on what was an amazing trip. If you get a chance - go.
I am now 3 weekends through my marathon of 5 weekends away, so I may continue my relative blog silence for a little longer. I miss Weekword, though! I'll see what I can do for this Friday.
Monday, 14 February 2011
Bad Wife
It's Valentine's Day today. We don't mark it. I have concluded that Valentine's Day is marked according to the preference of the female in the relationship: if she says no, it's no. If she says yes, it's yes. This explains why my circuits class tonight was half empty, and the half that were missing were the men.
Anyway. When I got in Mr Z expressed that his intention had been to cook a surprise three course meal with prawn cocktail and everything, but that the Mitten* was ill and he had to take her to the vet. When he got back, he said he'd just have soup or something, so I decided I'd get pizza from the supermarket after class. I thought I'd pop home first though, and discovered he was part way through cooking an extremely healthy low fat Chinese stir fry, and had concocted 100-Island-Dressing for the prawns in an attempt to meet my health-kick criteria.
And so what did I do? Well, I pouted, because I had set my heart on pizza by then. So he is going out to get me pizza while I have a bath. This is troo devotion. After I had pouted, he showed me the oven-cooked pork, and the star shaped carrots, and had me taste the 100-Island-Dressing, and so then I got bad wife guilt for being so ungrateful. I said sorry, a lot. "Oh, go and blog about it or something!" he said, before peeling me another grape.
Now I have to think of a way to make it up to him....
* She's fine now.
Anyway. When I got in Mr Z expressed that his intention had been to cook a surprise three course meal with prawn cocktail and everything, but that the Mitten* was ill and he had to take her to the vet. When he got back, he said he'd just have soup or something, so I decided I'd get pizza from the supermarket after class. I thought I'd pop home first though, and discovered he was part way through cooking an extremely healthy low fat Chinese stir fry, and had concocted 100-Island-Dressing for the prawns in an attempt to meet my health-kick criteria.
And so what did I do? Well, I pouted, because I had set my heart on pizza by then. So he is going out to get me pizza while I have a bath. This is troo devotion. After I had pouted, he showed me the oven-cooked pork, and the star shaped carrots, and had me taste the 100-Island-Dressing, and so then I got bad wife guilt for being so ungrateful. I said sorry, a lot. "Oh, go and blog about it or something!" he said, before peeling me another grape.
Now I have to think of a way to make it up to him....
* She's fine now.
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Four Things Tag
I have lately become a fan of the Lazy Designer and her blog, which is all about her adventures in a little Italian shop, her cats and other aspects of her life in Italy. I am a fan of Italy. We went there on our honeymoon. I like the fact that each of the four places I have visited there were almost unique, like they were different countries. Venice, Lake Garda, and two ski resorts in the Alps; those of course were quite similar, but totally different from the other two. We do a little background on the formation of Italy during A-level History at my school, so I can well understand how this is the case.
Anyway. Bobbi didn't tag anybody specifically, so I am going to neb in on her tag and do this for myself, as a break from marking.
4 shows I watch
Glee
Skins (original British version, and not least because it is filmed in Bristol)
Human Planet, an epic documentary series on the BBC at the moment looking at communities living in extreme environments
The Big Bang Theory
4 things I'm passionate about
Live and let live
The colour blue, in all its wondrous variety
Spelling and grammar
Travel
4 words or phrases I say a lot
So....
Oh!.... (I seem to begin the vast majority of my sentences with one of these two words).
Man up.
Oh YES! I am loving that.
4 things I have learned from the past
Don't be afraid to hoe your own row.
The truth is almost always a lot less painful in the long run.
If the doctor says you're not sick enough to refer, get a second opinion.
Too much vodka is A Bad Thing (or at least...I assume. I don't remember.)
4 things I did yesterday
I went to knitting group at Get Knitted.
I was called a rude name by a bad driver who changed his mind at the last minute about the way he was turning, and therefore nearly ran me over.
I caught up on some TV shows I haven't had time to watch.
I did lots of backreading for my team. Yawn.
4 places I'd like to go
Machu Picchu, Peru
Skomar Island
Bucharest
To bed...
4 things I'm looking forward to
The end of exam marking, on Tuesday.
Skiing IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!
Iceland right after that, and seeing the Aurora Borealis, I hope.
Thursday knitting group weekend away at the end of March.
4 things I love about winter
Not being too hot all the time.
Hoar frost building up on the trees.
Beef stew and dumplings.
Christmas!
4 things on my wishlist
I want a little Mac Book Air. I really do not need one.
A third shelf for my knitting room.
A new pair of Uggesque boots, but with a decent, sturdy sole that copes with snow.
A woodburner.
4 bloggers I'm tagging
There are a lot more than four bloggers I would love to read more from. I always think these sorts of answers are a bit of a cop out but I cannot narrow it down to four! Please consider yourself tagged if you are reading this, and respond on your blog. And tell me if you do! I am not allowing myself into Google Reader before Tuesday, when marking finishes, so I might miss it otherwise. I sneaked a little peek earlier and saw the tag, but now I have wasted nearly an hour of good marking time and I really must be strict tomorrow!
Anyway. Bobbi didn't tag anybody specifically, so I am going to neb in on her tag and do this for myself, as a break from marking.
4 shows I watch
Glee
Skins (original British version, and not least because it is filmed in Bristol)
Human Planet, an epic documentary series on the BBC at the moment looking at communities living in extreme environments
The Big Bang Theory
4 things I'm passionate about
Live and let live
The colour blue, in all its wondrous variety
Spelling and grammar
Travel
4 words or phrases I say a lot
So....
Oh!.... (I seem to begin the vast majority of my sentences with one of these two words).
Man up.
Oh YES! I am loving that.
4 things I have learned from the past
Don't be afraid to hoe your own row.
The truth is almost always a lot less painful in the long run.
If the doctor says you're not sick enough to refer, get a second opinion.
Too much vodka is A Bad Thing (or at least...I assume. I don't remember.)
4 things I did yesterday
I went to knitting group at Get Knitted.
I was called a rude name by a bad driver who changed his mind at the last minute about the way he was turning, and therefore nearly ran me over.
I caught up on some TV shows I haven't had time to watch.
I did lots of backreading for my team. Yawn.
4 places I'd like to go
Machu Picchu, Peru
Skomar Island
Bucharest
To bed...
4 things I'm looking forward to
The end of exam marking, on Tuesday.
Skiing IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!
Iceland right after that, and seeing the Aurora Borealis, I hope.
Thursday knitting group weekend away at the end of March.
4 things I love about winter
Not being too hot all the time.
Hoar frost building up on the trees.
Beef stew and dumplings.
Christmas!
4 things on my wishlist
I want a little Mac Book Air. I really do not need one.
A third shelf for my knitting room.
A new pair of Uggesque boots, but with a decent, sturdy sole that copes with snow.
A woodburner.
4 bloggers I'm tagging
There are a lot more than four bloggers I would love to read more from. I always think these sorts of answers are a bit of a cop out but I cannot narrow it down to four! Please consider yourself tagged if you are reading this, and respond on your blog. And tell me if you do! I am not allowing myself into Google Reader before Tuesday, when marking finishes, so I might miss it otherwise. I sneaked a little peek earlier and saw the tag, but now I have wasted nearly an hour of good marking time and I really must be strict tomorrow!
Friday, 4 February 2011
Weekword
This week, Scribbles whispered, in a soothing tone, "Therapeutic."
There has been a dearth of this type of action at Bunny Towers this week, thanks to the additional pressue of the GCSE marking (see below). But next week I will be all about the therapeutic. Here are some things I like to do.
1. Baking
Easily the most relaxing thing I can find to do. We catered our own wedding buffet, and I made all the cakes and desserts. People were amazed, but it was literally the best way to keep myself calm in the days leading up to The Big Day.
2. Baths
I get my best ideas floating in the tub. In fact, I shouldn't limit this to just baths, because I find water in general to be extremely relaxing. I remember swimming across the lake and back in Wisconsin, when I did Camp America, and it was twilight; a huge turtle suddenly surfaced in the water by me and swam with me some of the way. One of my favourite water memories, and one which never fails to calm me.
3. Knitting
The regularity of it; the repetitiveness: it's very predictable, and if you follow the rules you know what you'll end up with. It's nice to have something utterly within my control. I also find that my knitted items hold good memories from when I was knitting them, but mysteriously not the bad ones.
4. Reading old books from my childhood
Things that are easy and take minimal brain power and effort, but that don't leave me feeling a bit soiled and lazy, like cheap trashy novels do; I'm currently re-reading What Katie Did Next on my Kindle (it was free!) I love the 19th century American take on Europe.
5. Mr Z
The husband is a very calming chap. He has taught me not to sweat the small stuff, although I still do sometimes. He's also very good at providing blankets, slippers, hot water bottles, fans, cold drinks, hot drinks, hugs, supportive words, soothing words, sleep-inducing petting, amusing distractions and healthy hot meals, and he runs a mean bath. I think I would be a basket case without him.
6. Paul, at work
I don't talk about specific work people much, but Paul has been very therapeutic for me this week. He has tremendous and unshakable faith, as well as being extremely passionate about, and good at, his work, and this is a huge inspiration for me on both levels. I find talking to him always makes me feel better; I am very lucky to have such good colleagues. I don't share my blog with work friends so he's unlikely to ever read this, but hopefully he realises how much I value him. We might get to work together on a project soon...
...I went for "a chat" with the deputy head about this project yesterday, which turned out to be an actual interview, which was a surprise. I wish I had known in advance. Paul had his today so I prepped him thoroughly beforehand. We're hoping they will tell us we can share it. We find out on Monday.
In between now and then, there is a LOT of marking. I can look forward to something therapeutic at the end of it. Maybe not something from my list, though. Maybe gin and a nap, my favourite pick-me-up.
Next week's weekword is over at Junebug's, and it's a doozy! Leave a comment over there on Monday to take part.
There has been a dearth of this type of action at Bunny Towers this week, thanks to the additional pressue of the GCSE marking (see below). But next week I will be all about the therapeutic. Here are some things I like to do.
1. Baking
Easily the most relaxing thing I can find to do. We catered our own wedding buffet, and I made all the cakes and desserts. People were amazed, but it was literally the best way to keep myself calm in the days leading up to The Big Day.
2. Baths
I get my best ideas floating in the tub. In fact, I shouldn't limit this to just baths, because I find water in general to be extremely relaxing. I remember swimming across the lake and back in Wisconsin, when I did Camp America, and it was twilight; a huge turtle suddenly surfaced in the water by me and swam with me some of the way. One of my favourite water memories, and one which never fails to calm me.
3. Knitting
The regularity of it; the repetitiveness: it's very predictable, and if you follow the rules you know what you'll end up with. It's nice to have something utterly within my control. I also find that my knitted items hold good memories from when I was knitting them, but mysteriously not the bad ones.
4. Reading old books from my childhood
Things that are easy and take minimal brain power and effort, but that don't leave me feeling a bit soiled and lazy, like cheap trashy novels do; I'm currently re-reading What Katie Did Next on my Kindle (it was free!) I love the 19th century American take on Europe.
5. Mr Z
The husband is a very calming chap. He has taught me not to sweat the small stuff, although I still do sometimes. He's also very good at providing blankets, slippers, hot water bottles, fans, cold drinks, hot drinks, hugs, supportive words, soothing words, sleep-inducing petting, amusing distractions and healthy hot meals, and he runs a mean bath. I think I would be a basket case without him.
6. Paul, at work
I don't talk about specific work people much, but Paul has been very therapeutic for me this week. He has tremendous and unshakable faith, as well as being extremely passionate about, and good at, his work, and this is a huge inspiration for me on both levels. I find talking to him always makes me feel better; I am very lucky to have such good colleagues. I don't share my blog with work friends so he's unlikely to ever read this, but hopefully he realises how much I value him. We might get to work together on a project soon...
...I went for "a chat" with the deputy head about this project yesterday, which turned out to be an actual interview, which was a surprise. I wish I had known in advance. Paul had his today so I prepped him thoroughly beforehand. We're hoping they will tell us we can share it. We find out on Monday.
In between now and then, there is a LOT of marking. I can look forward to something therapeutic at the end of it. Maybe not something from my list, though. Maybe gin and a nap, my favourite pick-me-up.
Next week's weekword is over at Junebug's, and it's a doozy! Leave a comment over there on Monday to take part.
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