Well there you have it. All over for another year. Where has this holiday gone? I have had more visits and more to do than any other summer break. So thank you to those who have kept me amused.

I have worked my little hooves off today. Sadly, due to new planning formats, it has largely been copying and pasting from last years plans so unbelievably mind numbing and to be honest it feels like a total waste of my time. However, it needs to be done so it's all the same for any advisors/inspectors who want to nose about in it.

Tomorrow we have a development day and an all day course. Mary and I have promised another trip to the gym tomorrow evening and then it being Wednesday, a trip to see Drew the Rotweiller. We shall see which one we make after a busy day back at work ;)

Better get back to work I suppose. *yawn, stretch.

Posted by kary at 09:18 PM | Permalink

'Phone me back quick, it's great!' Squeaked my mother to my answerphone, 'We are all coming to see you'!

'All' was the Dagenham/Chigwell contingent of my family. Aunt, Uncle, cousin, mother, mother's friend...They arrive some two and a half hours later, the designated driver claiming to not know I had moved to the coast and therefore detouring via Tonbridge. We had a perfectly pleasant afternoon/evening being tourists in The Bay. Walk along the beach, fish and chips (not for me), beer, arcades (help!) then more beer before they headed off late in the evening. It was really nice I don't see much of them and it was nice to be reminded that I am part of a bigger family. So thank-you :)

This morning I awoke early to the sound of a growling Ashley who had somehow caught a bird. Quite a big bird at that. He was holding it in his mouth, growling and looking at me from the bedroom door, 'Look what I got you Mummy!' Being a nice person, I freed the bird (who was alive and miraculously unscathed) and gave a very proud Ashley a cat treat. How the bird got in I have no idea. Once I had liberated the bird, I grabbed my stuff and headed off to the gym. I am now back and trying hard to avoid the work I have to do today. Back to work this week - where did the holiday go?

Posted by kary at 04:17 PM | Permalink

Something strange happened yesterday,

If you know me at all well you will understand.

I joined a gym. I did that excercise stuff. Today I do NOT hurt. Tomorrow I am going to go again.

What happened there? A shift in the space time continuum i think. It must be something like that.

Surely?

Posted by kary at 10:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

As I arrived at Highbury on Wednesday evening there was a different atmosphere to the place. Usually silent spectators said 'Hello', we managed to get a beer in the ground and there was a greater than usual undercurrent of anticipation. Could we do it? Could we break that record?

Fat bloke and I had a good old chat before kick off. As the team was being announced I let out an unintentional 'Aw he tries' when they said Cygan and I even allowed him a small applause. 'Don't do that,' said Fat Bloke, 'He needs two big boots and a red nose.''Yes he does' I agreed, 'but he really does try hard.' Fat Bloke allowed himself a small smile. ' I suppose you will say Lehman is ok too?' I thought for a moment 'He has lovely curly hair' I said with an equally small smile. 'And his gloves are always white and he is good to his mum I suppose?' Fat Bloke replied, clearly amused by his own little joke. I laughed along with him and at the fact that I have clearly reached proper girl status as I was watching football and commenting, without thinking, on the players hair. ' I sound like a girl don't I' I observed to a still amused Fat Bloke. 'Yes but you were right about the line up for Sunday. What do you think about Figo and Spurs then?' Girl/football fan ratio balanced just fine I think.

As Kick off approached I looked up to bargain with the footballing God as usual and above the Clock End was the most spectacular rainbow. I would have been a tourist at that point had I taken my camera as it was amazing. 'It's going to be our day,' said Man one along from Dad as I pointed it out and Arsenal fans settled into their seats feeling optimistic. We WERE going to break that record.

When we put the first goal away Fat Bloke turned to me and shouted 'Yeeees!' with clenched fists, when we put the second away he swung round, grabbed hold and hugged me, when we added the third I panicked and hugged Dad :)

The song of 'We're making history' rang out around the ground as the final whistle drew near and it felt just fine. Did we really doubt we could do it?

The Record

Posted by kary at 02:28 PM | Permalink

I have just returned from Highbury for our first home game of the season and what a game it was! It was a peculiar feeling to be 2 goals down. Highbury was in shock temporarily before hauling ourselves out of it and singing loud enough to wake the team up once more. Which we duly did and finished 5-3 winners to equal Nottingham Forest's all time unbeaten record...I will be at the Blackburn game Wednesday to see them beat it :) (over confidence on the back of today's come back, I should utter something about counting chickens now shouldn't I?)

It was nice to be back there for a third season. The usual faces all saying their hellos, a few new ones soaking up the atmosphere and Alan Davies' hair long and curly once more. No matter what turmoil is going on elsewhere in my life, fat bloke will be fat bloke, irritating bloke will talk rubbish and I will get that twinge when I ascend the steps and catch the first sight of the glow of the velvet-like Arsenal pitch. It is good to know.

Posted by kary at 10:21 PM | Permalink

Before I begin, a small round of applause as this is post 100 since Speckledgoat got its new look :)

Returning to the man Stan(ley), things go wrong for him and he just accepts it. The bulletin board falls from the wall and makes him flat. 'Fine' says Stan and his family. You are what you are, as long as you are happy then all is well. The real world is not like that sadly. His parents would be trying to sue the company that made the bulletin board, Stanley would have been bullied at school, his teachers blamed for not educating Stanley and his family better into the dangers of bulletin boards and a shocking appearance on 'Trisha' would surely have featured - life would not have been good for our little hero... the kite company would be taking him to court for copyright and the postal service would have chopped him up and put him in a little bag saying 'sorry an accident occured with one of our machines'and his remains arrived 5 years later than expected. The sneak thieves would have claimed compensation for the emotional trauma they sustained and the two policeman participants in the 'yo-yo' incident would be signed off work with post traumatic stress or something similar.

'When Stanley got used to being flat, he enjoyed it'

Until the novelty wore off. Then he wanted to be like everyone else. He wanted to be round and normal and accepted. Being different and special and unusual isn't what it is cracked up to be is it. There comes a time when the protagonist of every story wants to be round and normal and accepted, just like our man Stan.

I know how he feels.

Posted by kary at 12:27 AM | Permalink

My mother has been visiting this week and it has reminded me how there are times when you just need your mum. No one else will do. Thanks Mum. I think that 5 hours non stop shopping was quite an achievement :)

When we were kids she introduced us to the most wonderful children's book ever. For those who know it and for those who don't (and all the children I have taught do!) that book is 'Flat Stanley' by Jeff Brown, who sadly died last year. When my brother and I were little we used to beg Mum to read it to us over and over. It is simply the story of a boy named Stanley Lambchop who has a picture board accident and wakes up one morning totally flat. Half an inch thick. He has lots of mini adventures before he decides that being flat is not all it is cracked up to be and his brother assists him in regaining his correct shape. Doesn't sound amazing but it stuck with my brother and I for many years. So you can imagine my surprise when a small parcel dropped through my letter box containing a 40th Anniversary Special Edition. It had no message, no name. Just that. It transpires that it was my brother who had seen it and ordered us both a copy. Inevitably it made me cry. Which in turn made my mother tearful as it was clear how much the two of us had loved the book she had chosen for us all those years ago. So thank you Mother for choosing it and thank you Dan for sending it.

Posted by kary at 09:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Synchronised Diving #2

I have been considering this at length and have now decided that Sychronised Diving is a valid and worthy sport after all ;)

Posted by kary at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Olympics have begun it would seem and the cricket being over for the day, I turn to find out what's on...synchronised diving. If making up countries for the opening ceremony wasnt enough - they make up sports as well. Let's opt for silence I think.

Yesterday saw an early start and a fair few miles coast to coast to move Mary and Harry back to The Bay. Surreal moments when watching two 18 month old girls having lunch. One with liver, bacon, potato, onions and cabbage and chomping away like it was heaven and the other eating prawns. Whatever happened to dairylea sandwiches? ;) Much moving of stuff led by a dynamic dad and Mary was home. Welcome back :) Battered bruised and tired we headed off for celebratory beers last night and the surprise appearance of Keith and Jen was lovely. An emotional and tiring day all round I think.

I didn't manage to sleep and was up and ready to collect an Anthony and bike at 6.30 this morning. Panic ensued as we noticed the time was wrong but we got him there, with the help of some ruby slippers anyway :) Then dropped him off to archery and my little red car to Tesco and home in time for the start of the day's cricket. Bike and paraphenalia safely delivered back to Anthony on his return and then the best of intentions to visit the art market failed when Freddie and I curled up and fell asleep :/ (sorry Nik)

I am now sitting watching the sun begin to set from the window with only the sound of Freddie's purring and Ashley's sleepy sighs in the room.

Housework on the agenda tomorrow, Arsenal's first game of the season (with Paddy still an Arsenal fixture), cricket, F1. Perhaps real people will feature too at some point? Although with tourists arriving I doubt it.

Why do I still feel like I am driving?

Posted by kary at 08:10 PM | Permalink

Once again two letters have seen my stress levels rise instantly. Those two letters are 'RM'. How one company can make me so angry so often is beyond me. Anthony and I headed into school again yesterday for another attempt at getting the computers working. (Thanks again Anthony) We managed to tick another job off the list and now they all have the correct drivers for the graphics cards which means that certain M$ Office packages are now functioning correctly. All 16 machines now work and are ready to go. The issue comes once again with the RM element of the deal. On my second phone call to their 'support' people, I was informed that 'this happens sometimes, not sure why, luck of the draw I think' and told that they would burn me another copy of something else that 'usually works ok'. So off home we trundle once more just for me to have to head in yet again to finish the job...that is of course providing the new stuff works as the RM 'support' person only said 'usually works' Grrr

I may be wrong and I may be harsh but it angers me that they repeatedly charge schools ridiculous amounts of money for software that 'usually works' and think that this is acceptable. Just because theya re dealing with schools does not mean it is ok to sell shoddy software and provide a useless so called 'support' service at premium rate phone charges. They treat us teachers like we know nothing and do not allow us admin rights to our own machines unless you stamp your feet and make threats (which I did obviously). Schools deserve and need better than this. Hopefully next time when I recommend we have nothing to do with RM when setting up a school network the message sinks in somewhere.

I could rant for considerable time on RM as I know most other teachers in my position could also. However it is late, I am on holiday and the cats are looking at me anxiously.

I will breathe deeply, smile and remind myself that I am a sea of calm and nothing can stress me...

Posted by kary at 10:41 PM | Permalink

This evening has brought much rain and for the second time in recent weeks, the most spectacular of lightning. I am not a fan of storms as a rule. Being a total wimp, I don't like the noise or the obvious threat of frying. I can appreciate the beauty of it however and it is nice to sit and watch from my window. When I was a child there was a particular storm late in the night. It as like nothing I had seen before or since. Clearly we were right underneath and it struck the road next to the house setting off house alarms and car alarms and we could hear sirens in between the enormous claps of thunder. Even my dad was ill at ease as this massive energy fulminated on anything in its path. My brother and I were scared and crept into my parents room and we all sat and watched it from the window. There were four of us then. This time there is just me. The cats having hidden safely under the bed.

My supermarket quest continued today. Today's chain of choice being ASDA. It gets more marks than Sainsbury's, but still didnt match up. Olives but not pitted (pain in the neck), baby plum tomatoes (stupid expensive) and a lack of Quorn chicken (probably had it but not in the right place). I am so undeniably sad to be a creature of such habit at my age.

*Sigh. I need to be more spontaneous but I think planning spontaneity rather defeats the object.

Work tomorrow - watch my blood pressure rise to ridiculous levels once more.

Today has been so dull that I can not even find a news story that has interested me. So here is a very poor little goat game instead... 965 but I think that was as I fell asleep ;)

Posted by kary at 11:19 PM | Permalink

Well the season opener is done and dusted and if history is anything to go by we lost the league title today by lifting the Charity Shield. An impressive 3-1 victory over United and our youngsters looked good. Some telling words from Bergkamp, Henry and Wenger on how much we did not rely on Paddy...hrm...how long until he goes? As I said the other day - one man doesnt make a team and all that.

London Zoo did its bit for the ginger cause today. What a sweet little monkey he is too!

Another quiet weekend in the sunshine and a slightly busier week ahead. Where does the time go?

Posted by kary at 11:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Thanks to Ryan and Anthony for a good day yesterday. Shame about the weather though, was too damp for much stone throwing :(

Just time to say a HUGE well done to Ryan for passing his exams. I am proud of you babe - I know what you went through and you still got there. I told you so ;)

Too nice to sit here, I am off to do something more entertaining. :)

Posted by kary at 07:54 PM | Permalink

I watched a film on my return from the pub this evening. At one point all my problems were explained in one line (or as near as I can remember)...

'It would be tragic to be wearing the wrong shoes when you meet the right guy'

At last, a(nother) reason for my failure! Shoes! Now I know why I have so many! All I need to do is get the right combination and all will be just fine ;)

A quiet couple of days have passed. I have been reminded of how much I loathe bad manners and ignorance but little else has occured. Ryan is down tomorrow, which I am looking forward to and life progresses at its normal snail like pace.

Football season starts soon. The traditional season opener of the Charity Shield is on Sunday...will Paddy be there? Both clubs have gone silent so I am anticipating an imminent announcement.

*sigh. People come and people go. One man doesn't make a team after all.

Take that to mean what you wish. Most people assume to anyway.

Posted by kary at 12:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I found myself returning to the genius of Morrissey today. I am sure I mentioned before how he manages to hit the proverbial nail on the head each time. Well done that man.

As usual when there is a test match on, I have invested many hours this weekend in supporting England. (Even if just by TV viewing - Birmingham is a long way). Some more superb performances and England go two up in the series. Flintoff, Giles and Trescothick to name just three. That's 8 from 9 now, keep it up. My only complaint is that in all the hours previously invested and being forced to miss the conclusion due to work - this time they finish on the Sunday!

Went to see the West Country, tea drinking, musical Hobbit and his mate last night - very entertaining. I am proud to discover Herne Bay is exciting enough to have a bar for those with 'alternative lifestyle choices' Who needs Brighton eh? ;)

Today I attemped to continue my supermarket crusade ...so got up and headed off in search of an ASDA - Sorry to disappoint you lovely readers, but I can not fill you in on the wonders of the chain as it was closed for refurbishment. They knew I was coming and decided to pull their socks up I reckon :) I am most disappointed as Anthony reminded me of chicken noises when he visited today. And about the young guy that turned it off when I pressed it last time :(

Silence is an odd thing - you can say you are sorry until you are blue in the face and mean it - but still it remains silent. It is sad. People make mistakes :(

Posted by kary at 07:09 PM | Permalink