The Speckled Goat
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So Sunday evening draws to a close once more. A weekend of not feeling too good, cold weather and quiet - seems to be the norm lately. Thanks to Anthony for keeping me interested in at least one thing this weekend.
The wheels continue to falter on their axle at Highbury with a 1-1 draw against West Brom. At least Chelski dropped some points too.
Nothing new to report. Haven't heard from Brad in a while, hope all is ok in sunny old Romford.
That's it.
What a thoroughly pleasant day that was. An interesting, informative and some said inspiring course delivered by Dr Mike Waters on Induction Tutoring for NQT's. I have been the Induction Tutor for the school for the past year and it is always nice to know you are on the right track and then be given even further ideas and inspiration.
But what perfected the day was not the course or even the lunch (which was very nice ;)) but the venue. We were lucky enough to be in the members pavilion at the St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury. What a change to not be in the cheap seats! Drinking coffee and looking out as the sun shone down on the lush grass of the outfield whilst the players were put through their paces in the early morning was really a most pleasant experience.
A reasonably timed ending and to the gym before the evening rush, meant being home early enough to enjoy my evening also.
So, thank you to the Kent Schools Advisory Service :)
I feel oddly refreshed.
How to clean the gerbil cage:
Gerbils can make quite a mess kicking their sawdust out of the cage. Here is a handy tip to save cleaning time:
Wait until the gerbils are downstairs in their cage then hoover out the middle layer.
Health and safety notice: Make sure they do not come up their ladder at the wrong moment. If they do disappear up the hoover tube then remove them, put Germaline on their cuts and place them back in their newly hoovered cage. They will be fine.
In addition to this remind little sisters not to leave Sindy/Barbie dolls near the hamster cage. They will drag her in, eat her hair and choke. Rotten brothers will bring up how little sister killed the hamster for many years.
What to do if you run out of hot water and the kids need a bath:
If you have only sufficient water to either wash the clothes or bath the children then kill two birds with one stone and bath the children in the washing machine!
Health and Safety Notice: Only use a twin tub style washing machine for this not a new drum style
To alleviate little sister fears, please do not allow rotten brothers to tell little sisters that they would be put on the spin cycle next.
Sheepdog Trials:
Set up a course of obstacles in the garden. Make sure you include things to go around, over and under.
Blindfold child A
Child B guides child A around the course with commands of 'left', 'forward', 'up', 'down' No other additional commands to be used.
Health and safety notice: Rotten brothers are likely to guide unsuspecting little sisters so that they fall over or end up in the pond. Supervision of rotten brothers is therefore necessary to optimise trialing pleasure for little sisters.
(Border Collie costume optional)
There has been a definite bite in the air these last few evenings. I have even been forced to put the heating on once or twice.
November arrives and it brings cold, darkness and gloom. I looked at Woolwich from the ferry once and it looked cold, dark and gloomy. Must be like living in November all year round.
I love the Woolwich ferry. Ernest Bevin was my favourite. For no particular reason. Just was. I speak in past tense as I have no cause to cross the river at Woolwich these days. There was always something special about the ferry. It was old. It was slow. It was cold and draughty. But it never lost its excitement for me. No matter how regularly I sat waiting in the queue. Being a foot passenger was best. Standing downstairs, leaning from the open windows, feeling the spray of the river being whipped up as the ferry swung around. Trying to spot the name of the boat coming the other way as you passed by. In a fit of romance brought on by a daft film, I once asked a certain someone to meet me there in ten years time as we would be coming from opposite sides of the river. He pointed out that we would have to just wave then as the boats span around eachother... they dont actually meet in the middle ;) Not quite the right idea :) I wonder if he remembers?
For those who have never had the pleasure, you really should think about making the trip - take a picnic. Just a small one though as it is over quite quick and they dont let you go back and forth all day :)
Simple things.