Getting back into the swing of things

After 3 years of being at home and a previou 6 years as a headteacher, it has come as rather a culture shock to find myself back into the role of a classteacher.  It is a job I always loved but in the way of the world, if you are good at something, the powers-that-be generally stop you from doing it andput you into another role!  I am very aware that things have moved on slightly but good teaching looks like good teaching always has done so I am hoping that somewhere along the line, I shall stop worrying about the planning geerally settle down into enjoying my class and the teaching.  No doubt I shall keep you informed!

 I spent several hours today getting my class ready for next week and working with my new colleague.  She seems a lovely lady so I am very lucky.

I have to say that it is very nice to have adult sons at times.  Today I met Tom in Sainsburys as he helped me with my shopping.  We then hit Jones the Bootmaker's shop so that we could get a new pair of shoes for him to wear with his snappy new suit - great bargain - before coming home.  Joy of joys, he is preparing dinner for me - shepherds  pie.  Sometimes the investment of time and effort pays itself back.  He has become a great cook and has fab presentation so you feel that ou are havig a great treat.  What a nice way to finish the day. 

Just going to put my feet up this evening and do a bit of quilting.  Very nice!

New Year, new times

So here we are.  2009!  It's like looking at a blank page on a canvas - except of course that canvas already has a few splashes on it!  One of the biggest splashes on my own particular canvas is a job.  Yes that's right!  I have a job.  A teaching job and I am very pleased.  I shall be teaching for 3 days per week in a local school where I worked many years ago and I have the 7-8 year olds.  They are lovely at that age - like little sponges, ready to soak up everything you can give them.  Whether of course I feel quite the same way in a few weeks' time, remains to be seen but at least it is a good starting point.

I am hoping to be disciplined and try to keep work at work and home separate.  It would be much better for me to be able to get marking and preparation done at school than allow it to spread into the days when I am officially not working but the road to hell.................!  Anyway, I am looking forward to it and hoping that it will bring a different dimension to life. 

The last couple of days in the year were spent with a friend at East Wittering.  What a lovely place and we had a fantastic walk on the beach for an hour or so.  Monty absolutely loved it.  He tore around, off his lead, trying a paddle (didn't like it!) and sorting our some feisty seaweed - a good shaking usually brings them to heel! - and eventually collapsed into his basket at home and slept for the rest of the day.  A lovely end to a difficult year.

   

I've been busy during the last month.  I have created a quilt and have made a Christmas tree skirt - neither of which I have shown you so I am putting some photos here for you to see.  I enjoyed making the tree skirt very much as there was a lot of beading on it and that was a new departure for me.

 

The quilt is still in progress.  The fabric is from the Moda Swell range and I used a jelly roll to create the top.  The pattern is called Friendship Braid which made it very very suitable for Nikky.  It isn't great to offer a present to someone and then ask for it back as it isn't finished!  But Nikky took it very well so I am quilting the top using the machine. I'm hoping it won't take too long to do.

   

Here is a great list I found on several blogs this week and thought it quite a good thing to include so that I can set myself some nice things to aim for during the coming year.  What do you think?  Anything on there that you have done/would like to do???

 
Things you've already done:bold
Things you want to do:italicize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1.started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band
4. visited hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to disneyland/world
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped
12. visited paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taughtyourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. walked to the top of the statue of liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the mona lisa in france
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch hiked
23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden a gondola in venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or sunset
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise
33. seen niagara falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seenthe leaning tower of pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen michelangelo's david in person
41. sung karaoke
42. seen old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. visited africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. had your portrait painted
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seenthe sistene chapel in person
50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris
51.gone scuba diving or snorkelling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theatre
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of china
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies.
62. gone whale watching
63. gotten flowers for no reason
64. donated blood
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a cheque
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in times square
74. toured the everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guard in london
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the grand canyon in person
80. published a book
81. visited the vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible
86. visited the white house
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone’s life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. losta loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the alamo in person.
96. swum in the great salt lake.
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee

Plenty of food for thought when planning for the year ahead.  Looks like I might book a trip or two!