Current mood - pissed off (I’ve never been more pissed off)
Current music – Vertigo by U2 (very very loud)
I overheard a classic conversation between some 12 year old pupils today…
1 have you got it?
2 What?
1 Have you got it? You know?
2 What?
[I fail to catch what was muttered. I become involved.]
Me (to 2) Well, have you got it?
2 I dunno
Me (to 1) What has he got?
1 Mayfair.
Me Mayfair?
Time out here. I’m thinking porno. Yes I was 12 once I and know what has currency in school.
2 Oh Mayfair. No.
Me Mayfair?
1 Mayfair. It’s at McDonalds. You know, Monopoly.
Me No, but it doesn’t matter.
3 I thought he was talking about cigarettes.
I told my pal and we pissed ourselves laughing. Given the shit that landed on me soon after I’m glad it happened otherwise this blog entry would have been about other people saying things that I might have later regretted.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Sunday, March 26, 2006
#63 on the half full/half empty cliché
Current music: Albinoni’s adagio
Current mood: up for it (work for work complete)
Yes I’m back for those who noticed (which cuts out most of the world’s population) and those who care (which cuts out most of them) from a particularly intense period of life in which I’ve pinned my colours to the mast of my school and applied for the position of Deputy Head Teacher. Hopefully I’ll get an interview and I’ll keep you posted on how it all goes.
At church today my good friend confided in me his lack of confidence in his sermon and I said that it would speak to someone’s heart. Who could of known it would have been me?
The gist of it was (remember it’s mothering Sunday) that we only develop the vocabulary for describing how well our parents tried to parent us later on in life. It’s actually easier to recall times when our parents were pretty crap at it and not recognise the love they show(ed) for us in the mundane day to day existence. Heaven knows I can think of reasons to recall when my parents (my dad in particular) was unbelievably crap at it. I could make a list of the holes in my experience when he simply should have been there and could embark upon some deep psychological treatise on why that was and how it has so deeply affected me. I could, honestly I could and indeed (usually to myself) I have, but hey, and this is the point of the sermon for me, fuck it, there were other times when he was doing his best and I just never realised. He probably was bored and a bit shit at fatherhood by the time I came along but I turned out alright and my kids will do ok by me too.
He’s dying of cancer now. I’ll not see him again. I want to make some sort of peace with him but the problem is I think he is at peace with himself, selfish cunt, and so I’ll just have to say that my glass is not half full, nor is it half empty; there is no glass, just a man who did his best and son who is doing his best too.
Current mood: up for it (work for work complete)
Yes I’m back for those who noticed (which cuts out most of the world’s population) and those who care (which cuts out most of them) from a particularly intense period of life in which I’ve pinned my colours to the mast of my school and applied for the position of Deputy Head Teacher. Hopefully I’ll get an interview and I’ll keep you posted on how it all goes.
At church today my good friend confided in me his lack of confidence in his sermon and I said that it would speak to someone’s heart. Who could of known it would have been me?
The gist of it was (remember it’s mothering Sunday) that we only develop the vocabulary for describing how well our parents tried to parent us later on in life. It’s actually easier to recall times when our parents were pretty crap at it and not recognise the love they show(ed) for us in the mundane day to day existence. Heaven knows I can think of reasons to recall when my parents (my dad in particular) was unbelievably crap at it. I could make a list of the holes in my experience when he simply should have been there and could embark upon some deep psychological treatise on why that was and how it has so deeply affected me. I could, honestly I could and indeed (usually to myself) I have, but hey, and this is the point of the sermon for me, fuck it, there were other times when he was doing his best and I just never realised. He probably was bored and a bit shit at fatherhood by the time I came along but I turned out alright and my kids will do ok by me too.
He’s dying of cancer now. I’ll not see him again. I want to make some sort of peace with him but the problem is I think he is at peace with himself, selfish cunt, and so I’ll just have to say that my glass is not half full, nor is it half empty; there is no glass, just a man who did his best and son who is doing his best too.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
#62 on failing to use new words in conversation
current mood - overwhelmed
current music - 'Toxygene' by The Orb (that's internet radio for you)
Well my use of ‘manse’ was forgotten today in the rush that is the crazy world of Year 7. We learned to paint with powder paints (a skill that I correctly guessed had not been taught adequately to this bunch of impatient end-gainers who have no time for laying down layers of paint when felt tips or poster paint straight out of the (expensive) bottle and slapped on to the paper will do for me thank you very much).
So please allow me to make amends by telling you that my dwelling could not possibly be described as a ‘manse’. Nor a hovel. Somewhere in between I suppose. Let’s call it 'home' for the sake of argument, complete with children, rooms in need of decoration and paperwork in piles large enough to call furniture.
Tomorrow I shall try with my new word of the day – ‘uxorius’. No you’ll just have to look it up for yourself.
current music - 'Toxygene' by The Orb (that's internet radio for you)
Well my use of ‘manse’ was forgotten today in the rush that is the crazy world of Year 7. We learned to paint with powder paints (a skill that I correctly guessed had not been taught adequately to this bunch of impatient end-gainers who have no time for laying down layers of paint when felt tips or poster paint straight out of the (expensive) bottle and slapped on to the paper will do for me thank you very much).
So please allow me to make amends by telling you that my dwelling could not possibly be described as a ‘manse’. Nor a hovel. Somewhere in between I suppose. Let’s call it 'home' for the sake of argument, complete with children, rooms in need of decoration and paperwork in piles large enough to call furniture.
Tomorrow I shall try with my new word of the day – ‘uxorius’. No you’ll just have to look it up for yourself.
Monday, March 13, 2006
#61 on using new words in conversation
I’ve decided to widen my vocabulary. So each day I shall try to introduce a new word in conversation. Dictionary.com a going to send me a word a day.
Tomorrow I shall try to say the word ‘manse’ in the correct context.
I may even include these new words in my blog. In fact I shall and you can try and guess which word it was.
Reminds me of a drinking game – each player has a bottle of scotch to drink. Then one player leaves the room and the others have to guess who it was.
Tomorrow I shall try to say the word ‘manse’ in the correct context.
I may even include these new words in my blog. In fact I shall and you can try and guess which word it was.
Reminds me of a drinking game – each player has a bottle of scotch to drink. Then one player leaves the room and the others have to guess who it was.
#60 on filling out application forms
Current music: ‘Iris’ by Goo Goo Dolls
Current Mood: daunted
The process for filling out an application form is immense. I can’t go into specifics about the job itself suffice it to say that I’m looking at a couple of hours each evening this week just to get the bastard typed. My supporting statement is looking like it will run into 1000+ words and I’ll need to design a CV from scratch. But some friends have each agreed to take a look at it this weekend and constructively criticise it. And there’s nothing like a deadline to motivate me!
All in a week when I’ve loads of Greenbelt stuff to sort and a house that needs to be see a hoover and duster raised against it in anger.
So there’s a little bit of excitement in there as well. I’ve gone through the ‘there’s no point in applying’ frame of mind and am now in the ‘I’m gonna make my application and interview performance good they’ll have no choice but to appoint me’ place.
I’ll keep you posted.
Current Mood: daunted
The process for filling out an application form is immense. I can’t go into specifics about the job itself suffice it to say that I’m looking at a couple of hours each evening this week just to get the bastard typed. My supporting statement is looking like it will run into 1000+ words and I’ll need to design a CV from scratch. But some friends have each agreed to take a look at it this weekend and constructively criticise it. And there’s nothing like a deadline to motivate me!
All in a week when I’ve loads of Greenbelt stuff to sort and a house that needs to be see a hoover and duster raised against it in anger.
So there’s a little bit of excitement in there as well. I’ve gone through the ‘there’s no point in applying’ frame of mind and am now in the ‘I’m gonna make my application and interview performance good they’ll have no choice but to appoint me’ place.
I’ll keep you posted.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
#59 on the use of technology in church services
current music - 'in constant sorrow' by the soggy bottom boys
current mood - cross (with self) because didn't get done all i'd planned and will have to get up early tomorrow.
Led worship at church today. Enjoyed the preparation and the delivery much more than preparing and delivering a sermon a couple of weeks ago. Hooked up with some resources from the Wild Goose Resource Group, rewrote some of the liturgy and made the whole service about the communion meal rather than letting the communion become a bolt-on at the end of the service.
The PA system didn’t work.
The laptop and projector worked just in the nick of time. By the way I think Songpro is a piece of shit.
The music for the band arrived just in the nick of time.
But the service went well nevertheless.
It made me wonder…
How on earth did the early church we so idolise and want to emulate (a futile mind set in my opinion by the way) ever survive without an overhead projector?
current mood - cross (with self) because didn't get done all i'd planned and will have to get up early tomorrow.
Led worship at church today. Enjoyed the preparation and the delivery much more than preparing and delivering a sermon a couple of weeks ago. Hooked up with some resources from the Wild Goose Resource Group, rewrote some of the liturgy and made the whole service about the communion meal rather than letting the communion become a bolt-on at the end of the service.
The PA system didn’t work.
The laptop and projector worked just in the nick of time. By the way I think Songpro is a piece of shit.
The music for the band arrived just in the nick of time.
But the service went well nevertheless.
It made me wonder…
How on earth did the early church we so idolise and want to emulate (a futile mind set in my opinion by the way) ever survive without an overhead projector?
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
#58 on the great year seven project
Work is fun at the moment. Part of the great Year Seven project is to free up time to release teaching time for more topic based cross curricular stuff. So at the moment the children are gathering stories for a school news magazine and plans are being drawn up for the children to present their work from the French Trip as a web site.
It’s really god fun seeing the children get into these activities and their improved behaviour (by and large) is a worthwhile trade off. I’ll keep you posted as the results come through.
It’s really god fun seeing the children get into these activities and their improved behaviour (by and large) is a worthwhile trade off. I’ll keep you posted as the results come through.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
#57 On having an electronic diary...
My latest train of thoughts and ideas has taken me from getting a new phone that incorporates a PDA as well so that I can ditch my diary and notebook, to running outlook on the PC at home and at work so that I could synchronise what’s going on with them and now I am mucking about with customisable desktops that raid bits of outlook and stick them in the corner of the desktop for me to keep an eye on.
I’ve tried a few programs tonight, DesktopX being my favourite so far. I’m told by people in the know that Windows Vista, if and when it ever arrives, will do all this automatically but who knows when that will be.
Kinda takes me back to the days when you’d get a floppy disk off of the front of a magazine and run a program that would animate all your icons in Windows 3. Course it drained every last drop of memory out of your system and nearly drove it into the ground but then life itself was slower back then. Come back 386, all is forgiven.
On a separate note, I finished ‘Dead Air’ last night. Brilliant. But with Iain Banks in the driving seat it’s what you’d expect. Can’t say too much for fear of spoiling it for readers who come along to The Reading Circle, but for those who have read it I have to say that Ken Nott, the central character is so like me in thought and word but so not like me in deed. Ken said what I think and believe so much it was uncanny but it did make for a great read.
Good plot, great climax, satisfying ending.
I’ve tried a few programs tonight, DesktopX being my favourite so far. I’m told by people in the know that Windows Vista, if and when it ever arrives, will do all this automatically but who knows when that will be.
Kinda takes me back to the days when you’d get a floppy disk off of the front of a magazine and run a program that would animate all your icons in Windows 3. Course it drained every last drop of memory out of your system and nearly drove it into the ground but then life itself was slower back then. Come back 386, all is forgiven.
On a separate note, I finished ‘Dead Air’ last night. Brilliant. But with Iain Banks in the driving seat it’s what you’d expect. Can’t say too much for fear of spoiling it for readers who come along to The Reading Circle, but for those who have read it I have to say that Ken Nott, the central character is so like me in thought and word but so not like me in deed. Ken said what I think and believe so much it was uncanny but it did make for a great read.
Good plot, great climax, satisfying ending.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Diablo
An attack of diarrhoea has left me feeling low and a bit sorry for myself today so I decided to take it all out on some skeletons, goblins and some nasty looking things that look a bit like the great big monster Muppet whose name escapes me.Yes, now and again (usually when one is too ill to do much else, a game of Diablo is required to cleanse one’s soul and remind oneself how good it feels to beat the brains out of baddies on the screen.
Long live computer gaming. Problem is to play these games requires a long life.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Through His Eyes
Spent two and a half hours travelling from central London to Kew Gardens today as engineering works closed a section of the District Line that I wanted to travel on. But the journey by train, bus and foot was worth it (and the £10 entry price) to see the most wonderful collection of orchids. Their beauty was matched only by their fragility and I felt as though I wanted to hold my breath as I wandered around the exhibition.
But my entry today, dear readers, is not about me but my beautiful, if not reckless, son S who ran up and down and in and out paying no heed to petty grown up rules at all. Rope barriers were to be swung on, dirt was to be grabbed, leaves were to be rubbed against a cheek. There was not a moment of vandalism or malicious intent but instead a careless abandon of any civil respect for stuffy, British behaviour. And as I charged around after him apologising to tourists as he slid down steps on his tummy, I wished that I could see the world through his eyes.
But my entry today, dear readers, is not about me but my beautiful, if not reckless, son S who ran up and down and in and out paying no heed to petty grown up rules at all. Rope barriers were to be swung on, dirt was to be grabbed, leaves were to be rubbed against a cheek. There was not a moment of vandalism or malicious intent but instead a careless abandon of any civil respect for stuffy, British behaviour. And as I charged around after him apologising to tourists as he slid down steps on his tummy, I wished that I could see the world through his eyes.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Two Hats
Current Mood: brain-dead – not stopped working since 7:30 this morning
Current Music: ‘Use Me (live)’ - Bill Withers
Went to see N in his debut role, Mr Gumpy in the Reception Players hilarious production of Mr Gumpy’s Outing. I was so proud. A was so proud. N did so well. But with his mother’s performer’s blood and my exhibitionist blood coursing through his veins it’s hardly surprising.
I also found myself mentally ticking boxes about his speaking and listening skills.
That’s what comes from wearing my teacher hat and parent hat at the same time I suppose.
‘Dead Air’ has been started and I’m quite enjoying it so far. It’s quite an easy going first person narrative tale. The cover and blurb made me feel that it would be more aloof but not so at all.
In fact I am now going to go to bed and read some more.
Current Music: ‘Use Me (live)’ - Bill Withers
Went to see N in his debut role, Mr Gumpy in the Reception Players hilarious production of Mr Gumpy’s Outing. I was so proud. A was so proud. N did so well. But with his mother’s performer’s blood and my exhibitionist blood coursing through his veins it’s hardly surprising.
I also found myself mentally ticking boxes about his speaking and listening skills.
That’s what comes from wearing my teacher hat and parent hat at the same time I suppose.
‘Dead Air’ has been started and I’m quite enjoying it so far. It’s quite an easy going first person narrative tale. The cover and blurb made me feel that it would be more aloof but not so at all.
In fact I am now going to go to bed and read some more.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
When Intelligent People Gather to Discuss Intelligent Books
Current music: ‘On the Hunt’ – Lynard Skynard
Current mood: self satisfied (just done a super poo)
Another great ‘Reading Circle’ tonight. Readers of previous posts will know that I only managed to get my hands on to the book (‘The Time-Traveler’s wife) a few days ago so I had not read very much of it at all. But that did not spoil my enjoyment of the excellent discussion that went down tonight.
Next month is film night allowing us two months to read ‘Dead Air’ by Iain Banks. Looks pretty meaty but I quite fancy it.
Oh no, that looks and sounds like a food reference. Bugger.
Current mood: self satisfied (just done a super poo)
Another great ‘Reading Circle’ tonight. Readers of previous posts will know that I only managed to get my hands on to the book (‘The Time-Traveler’s wife) a few days ago so I had not read very much of it at all. But that did not spoil my enjoyment of the excellent discussion that went down tonight.
Next month is film night allowing us two months to read ‘Dead Air’ by Iain Banks. Looks pretty meaty but I quite fancy it.
Oh no, that looks and sounds like a food reference. Bugger.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Situation Vacant
Current music: ‘Between the Wars’ – Billy Bragg
Current mood: tired and hungry
Interesting experience tonight, short-listing applications for the post of leader of our church, after Jesus, that is.
I was brought up in a church tradition where leaders were not chosen by the membership; in fact we had no say at all in whom we had appointed to lead us and they had no choice in where they were sent. So it has been an eye opening experience wading through application forms deciding who is a yes, a no or a maybe.
I can’t say much more because the process is entirely confidential and whilst it is fair to say that it is not a small world we live in, it is a small church we worship in.
Never felt so much like I was on an edition of ‘Blind Date’ as I did tonight.
Current mood: tired and hungry
Interesting experience tonight, short-listing applications for the post of leader of our church, after Jesus, that is.
I was brought up in a church tradition where leaders were not chosen by the membership; in fact we had no say at all in whom we had appointed to lead us and they had no choice in where they were sent. So it has been an eye opening experience wading through application forms deciding who is a yes, a no or a maybe.
I can’t say much more because the process is entirely confidential and whilst it is fair to say that it is not a small world we live in, it is a small church we worship in.
Never felt so much like I was on an edition of ‘Blind Date’ as I did tonight.
Monday, February 27, 2006
My son (wot I love)
Current music: ‘Someone to hi to’ by Sarah BettensCurrent mood: Contented
I mentioned yesterday that N has started to type on his own little laptop and it occurred to me that he should keep his own blog. It will be a great investment in recording his life through his own eyes as he grows.
When he (and his brother) were dedicated we bought an amphora for each of them and asked family and friends to post notes inside for them to read upon their coming of age. This is N’s chance to return the favour.
So a blog has been created and link on this site added. Sorry Liz and Steve and Danny, your links have got knocked orf and I don’t know why but I’ll put them back soon.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Napster, Laptops and the orgasm of Camden Market
Current music: Mozart Piano Concerto No. 5
Current mood: mellow – it’s Sunday afternoon
Just coming to the end of a crazyade bonkers month of unlimited downloading from Napster due to a free month courtesy of The Independent. Now I remember why we take the papers! I’m not sure if my ISP is best pleased about the goings on with the bandwidth but it’s all coming to a close now.
I’ve been pretty disappointed with Napster it has to be said. They were pretty good for the bulk record collection that has largely eluded me although of course I cannot listen to it anywhere apart from this computer. But as I have come across new names either on last.fm or as entries on other people’s blogs the results from Napster have been scarce to the point of non-existence.
Never mind. It’s better than nothing. And who knows, maybe one day the solution will be found to allow me to do more with what I found.
Now I could do with some advice. Conversation turned today at our church lunch to the whole laptop versus desktop and apple versus windows debate. My friend pointed out that since he installed a wireless point in his house and sorted his kids out with laptops they are now to be found in the living room and taking a slightly more active role in their family life. I cannot deny that I spend much of life in front of this enormous desktop system and wonder if it’s really quite worth it. It needs a bit of an upgrade and I wonder if now is the time to flog it to my mum who has been on about getting a computer for yonks and using the money on a laptop. And if do, should I get a Mac or PC. Thinking to do. Advice required please.
As for me and my household…
Talking of Apple laptops, N is currently playing with his new Apple laptop. Work were chucking out a load of redundant hardware including a couple of Apple Emate 300 machines. Any geeks among the readership, apple geeks at that, may know that the Emate 300 was Apple’s first foray (in partnership with Newton) into the world of laptops. Anyway these machines are now consigned to the league of PDA and are only good for basic word processing and drawing plus a few other applications downloadable from geek websites but it is perfect for young N. It also includes a stylus for drawing on the screen so he can do little drawings as well. Even as I type I can hear him tapping out ‘I want to be a rabbit in Mr Gumpy’s outing.’ It’s a reference, by the way to his school assembly on Thursday (in which he is already a rabbit) not some bizarre cloak and dagger plot to expose one of his teacher’s sexual preference. His own blog. Bless. So result there. The battery is shot but Ebay should be able to fix that one hopes.
S is watching Toy Story 2 in the other room. Always having been one to enjoy his own company, he is quite happily re-enacting the movie next door using his Woody and Buzz dolls to act it out. It’s really charming to see him at work. He is even mouthing along to some of the words which is very encouraging too.
A is in the kitchen cooking something which smells quite divine. Some of you will know that I am dieting once again as the previous effort only revealed that I am seriously overweight and need to sort it out before my health takes a nose dive, plus as I said in a previous post, whilst I don’t care that much about how I look or what size I am, I do care greatly about being fit and healthy for my children. So I shall not be tasting the wonderful smelling food, which is a bummer I do not deny it but is all in a good cause. For those who care I have just got my BMI down to under 30 and my target is 23. I’ll keep you posted on that.
B has just got home from a night spent at her sister’s place. She has been to Camden Market today and cannot tell me any more about her experience without her eyes going all flickery and her saying, ‘oh my God’ repeatedly. I’m going to take that as a positive sign.
And I am in front of my computer typing this post. The blogger plug-in for Word is an absolute godsend. Soon I shall begin typing my plans for school and then I shall retire early with ‘the time traveler’s wife’ which needs to be finished for Wednesday night when The Reading Circle comes around again.
Current mood: mellow – it’s Sunday afternoon
Just coming to the end of a crazyade bonkers month of unlimited downloading from Napster due to a free month courtesy of The Independent. Now I remember why we take the papers! I’m not sure if my ISP is best pleased about the goings on with the bandwidth but it’s all coming to a close now.
I’ve been pretty disappointed with Napster it has to be said. They were pretty good for the bulk record collection that has largely eluded me although of course I cannot listen to it anywhere apart from this computer. But as I have come across new names either on last.fm or as entries on other people’s blogs the results from Napster have been scarce to the point of non-existence.
Never mind. It’s better than nothing. And who knows, maybe one day the solution will be found to allow me to do more with what I found.
Now I could do with some advice. Conversation turned today at our church lunch to the whole laptop versus desktop and apple versus windows debate. My friend pointed out that since he installed a wireless point in his house and sorted his kids out with laptops they are now to be found in the living room and taking a slightly more active role in their family life. I cannot deny that I spend much of life in front of this enormous desktop system and wonder if it’s really quite worth it. It needs a bit of an upgrade and I wonder if now is the time to flog it to my mum who has been on about getting a computer for yonks and using the money on a laptop. And if do, should I get a Mac or PC. Thinking to do. Advice required please.
As for me and my household…
Talking of Apple laptops, N is currently playing with his new Apple laptop. Work were chucking out a load of redundant hardware including a couple of Apple Emate 300 machines. Any geeks among the readership, apple geeks at that, may know that the Emate 300 was Apple’s first foray (in partnership with Newton) into the world of laptops. Anyway these machines are now consigned to the league of PDA and are only good for basic word processing and drawing plus a few other applications downloadable from geek websites but it is perfect for young N. It also includes a stylus for drawing on the screen so he can do little drawings as well. Even as I type I can hear him tapping out ‘I want to be a rabbit in Mr Gumpy’s outing.’ It’s a reference, by the way to his school assembly on Thursday (in which he is already a rabbit) not some bizarre cloak and dagger plot to expose one of his teacher’s sexual preference. His own blog. Bless. So result there. The battery is shot but Ebay should be able to fix that one hopes.
S is watching Toy Story 2 in the other room. Always having been one to enjoy his own company, he is quite happily re-enacting the movie next door using his Woody and Buzz dolls to act it out. It’s really charming to see him at work. He is even mouthing along to some of the words which is very encouraging too.
A is in the kitchen cooking something which smells quite divine. Some of you will know that I am dieting once again as the previous effort only revealed that I am seriously overweight and need to sort it out before my health takes a nose dive, plus as I said in a previous post, whilst I don’t care that much about how I look or what size I am, I do care greatly about being fit and healthy for my children. So I shall not be tasting the wonderful smelling food, which is a bummer I do not deny it but is all in a good cause. For those who care I have just got my BMI down to under 30 and my target is 23. I’ll keep you posted on that.
B has just got home from a night spent at her sister’s place. She has been to Camden Market today and cannot tell me any more about her experience without her eyes going all flickery and her saying, ‘oh my God’ repeatedly. I’m going to take that as a positive sign.
And I am in front of my computer typing this post. The blogger plug-in for Word is an absolute godsend. Soon I shall begin typing my plans for school and then I shall retire early with ‘the time traveler’s wife’ which needs to be finished for Wednesday night when The Reading Circle comes around again.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Brown Stains
Now it needs to be said, up front, that our house is in a pretty good state of repair and décor apart from the lack of flooring in kitchen, loo and laundry and general state of bathroom. The flooring will be sorted hopefully after I’ve had another confrontation with Magnet. (One day I’ll blog the whole saga of our kitchen, suffice it to say, for now, that no one, absolutely no one, not even people who work for Magnet, not even their shareholders, not even people who are masochists, not even people who have been brainwashed by the ‘Magnet are Good’ religious sect should ever be so stupid as to think about selling you a kitchen let olone darkening their door.)Anyway, the bathroom. It’s a bit of a shit hole, it has to be said. We chose not to have it renovated when the rest of the building work was done because we didn’t know if one day we would get a loft conversion; a fact that is still true today. It turns out that logic was mistaken. You see having been forced into doing a bit of investigative archaeology it turns out that the original tiling work was the usual 2 foot’s worth around the edge of the bath and that the rest (for those who don’t know our bathroom the whole room is covered in horrible white tiles) was done later. It would seen the original work was of a reasonable quality. It would also seem that the rest was put up by a person who cannot tile using flour and water as adhesive and grout.
The investigation was prompted by the fact that dirty great brown patches are appearing on our hall ceiling and they are spreading. So this afternoon A and I undertook an intricate scientific experiment. Our hypothesis – water from the shower was getting behind the tiles and soaking the floor under the bath. Method – I took off the board along the edge of the bath (watching carefully for spiders) and peered at the wall while A squirted water from the shower at the wall. Observations – water pissed all over the floor under the bath. Our conclusion – water from the shower was getting behind the tiles and soaking the floor under the bath. Bugger.
So I quickly nip to Homebase to pick up some grout and tools and some spare tiles rushing back in time for the rugby (great match, crap score) and then proceed to scrape what’s left of the grout away. Finding a tile that was held up by, well frankly nothing more than the power of prayer, I pull it away to see the plaster behind it absolutely soaking, having the consistency of damp sand than of hardened plaster. Bugger. A couple of other tiles shortly follow to reveal that, where the plaster is dry, it’s in an ok state.
So what to do? An insurance claim could be filed, FFS that’s what we pay £40 a month for but what should we do if they cough up? New bathroom in a place that will probably become the stairway to a new loft? New set of tiles around the shower zone? I dunno it’s all a bit too recent to have thought it through.
So for now we have decided to let the whole thing dry out and ban showers and exuberant bath play (by the kids). But I need some advice please. Is that a good plan or is the plaster shot and I’m just wasting my time hoping that drying out and then re-grouting is going to somehow work.
Comments on the back of a £50 note or by email please.
Friday, February 24, 2006
The Best Laid Plans
I’d like to think I was a source of encouragement. But today I was largely shite.
Firstly my friend and colleague was umming and ahhing about going to the gym. So I used all of my persuasive charm to talk her into going. Which she did. And then she texted me to say that after having arrived and undressed, she discovered she’d left her kit at home. And then she texted me to say she’d gone home and gone out for a run and hurt her leg.
Secondly, another friend and colleague who is dieting at the moment needed some encouragement to stop snacking on bad food. Found out today she’d had 3 bags of crisps. The logic being, well if I’m going to be bad and have one, I might as well have 3.
And thirdly, I finally caught up with my old pal R tonight. Long time no see. Played snooker at a local snooker hall and talked all around why his marriage is not so good at the moment, but that’s what men do. By the way, R beat me 2 frames to 1. I swear the balls are bigger than the pockets. Oo-er missus.
All joking aside, all three of these chums are good people who I’m happy to be acquainted with. Long may these friendships last.
Firstly my friend and colleague was umming and ahhing about going to the gym. So I used all of my persuasive charm to talk her into going. Which she did. And then she texted me to say that after having arrived and undressed, she discovered she’d left her kit at home. And then she texted me to say she’d gone home and gone out for a run and hurt her leg.
Secondly, another friend and colleague who is dieting at the moment needed some encouragement to stop snacking on bad food. Found out today she’d had 3 bags of crisps. The logic being, well if I’m going to be bad and have one, I might as well have 3.
And thirdly, I finally caught up with my old pal R tonight. Long time no see. Played snooker at a local snooker hall and talked all around why his marriage is not so good at the moment, but that’s what men do. By the way, R beat me 2 frames to 1. I swear the balls are bigger than the pockets. Oo-er missus.
All joking aside, all three of these chums are good people who I’m happy to be acquainted with. Long may these friendships last.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Beyond belief
Whilst I thought that there was a dire and hysterical logic to the actions of Muslim extremists I find it incomprehensible that Sunni’s would stoop so low as to attack a Shia mosque.Martyn Joseph sang, “do we really do these things to one another, do you see why now dolphins make me cry.”
I lower my head in shame and sorrow when I hear of another roadside bomb or suicide bomber and more troops killed but this act has upset me far more deeply. It’s the hatred, the pure, unrefined violence; the sacrilege, the scorn of any sort of respect.
I just don’t think I can take it anymore.
But I will, I suppose. I’ll get up tomorrow and hear of more reprisals, more killing, more shit.
I dedicate this psalm to all Muslims that this might be their prayer tonight
I look to you, heaven-dwelling God, look up to you for help.
Like servants, alert to their master's commands, like a maiden attending her lady,
We're watching and waiting, holding our breath, awaiting your word of mercy.
Mercy, GOD, mercy!
We've been kicked around long enough,
Kicked in the teeth by complacent rich men, kicked when we're down by arrogant brutes.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Allez, allez, allez
One of the more enjoyable aspects of my job is leading the annual french trip to, er, France.
Each year we bung around 45 bright eyed 11 and 12 year olds on a coach and a ferry across Le Manche to enjoy the all the cultural delights that France has to offer. And this year is no exception.
We are going to stay in a youth hostel kind of accommodation in Poissy on the outskirts of Paris to allow us to get to the city centre and Versailles with the minimum of fuss. It’s going to be great.
And what’s more, the children have to set their own tables and do their own washing up! They’re not going to know what has hit them.
So tonight it was my great honour to host a meeting of the 6 members of staff who are going to accompany these dear little children to France and back and not throttle them in the process. We had a great meeting in which we planned the itinerary and discussed all the things we’ll need to pack in addition to 43 children and our own luggage. Top of the list was snacks for teachers which included chocolate hobnobs (my personal choice), all manner of M&S snacks and (and this was my favourite addition) pickled onion monster munch. You can keep your French cuisine, us Brits know how to party.
I’m feeling really excited about the trip now. It’s not long until we go and as long as I have no more scares about the collective passport (the passport agency wrote a capital lettered request to call them – to sort out a date of birth) I’ll be in the starting blocks along with the rest of the staff team and pupils in April.
I’m also getting quite excited about Greenbelt too. I Spent the rest of the evening (after the French trip meeting) sending off emails left, right and centre trying to organise a light entertainments programme and if (and boy that’s a big ‘if’) the programme comes off in the way that I’m planning, this year will turn out to be one hell of a shit kicker as far as light ents is concerned.
So book now while tickets last.
Each year we bung around 45 bright eyed 11 and 12 year olds on a coach and a ferry across Le Manche to enjoy the all the cultural delights that France has to offer. And this year is no exception.
We are going to stay in a youth hostel kind of accommodation in Poissy on the outskirts of Paris to allow us to get to the city centre and Versailles with the minimum of fuss. It’s going to be great.
And what’s more, the children have to set their own tables and do their own washing up! They’re not going to know what has hit them.
So tonight it was my great honour to host a meeting of the 6 members of staff who are going to accompany these dear little children to France and back and not throttle them in the process. We had a great meeting in which we planned the itinerary and discussed all the things we’ll need to pack in addition to 43 children and our own luggage. Top of the list was snacks for teachers which included chocolate hobnobs (my personal choice), all manner of M&S snacks and (and this was my favourite addition) pickled onion monster munch. You can keep your French cuisine, us Brits know how to party.
I’m feeling really excited about the trip now. It’s not long until we go and as long as I have no more scares about the collective passport (the passport agency wrote a capital lettered request to call them – to sort out a date of birth) I’ll be in the starting blocks along with the rest of the staff team and pupils in April.
I’m also getting quite excited about Greenbelt too. I Spent the rest of the evening (after the French trip meeting) sending off emails left, right and centre trying to organise a light entertainments programme and if (and boy that’s a big ‘if’) the programme comes off in the way that I’m planning, this year will turn out to be one hell of a shit kicker as far as light ents is concerned.
So book now while tickets last.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
knackered
Truth is I’m knackered.
To work early to get some paperwork done. At work all day then dash home to take No for swimming lesson. En route a discover a colleague standing rather forlornly by the broken down car. So I drop N off at pool, drive back to assist colleague and then dart back to pool to collect N. Then it’s a dash home to do some extra work before dashing off to church for a music group rehearsal. Then home to blog and kip. Phew!
Suburban life ma be mediocre but it is sure as hell busy.
To work early to get some paperwork done. At work all day then dash home to take No for swimming lesson. En route a discover a colleague standing rather forlornly by the broken down car. So I drop N off at pool, drive back to assist colleague and then dart back to pool to collect N. Then it’s a dash home to do some extra work before dashing off to church for a music group rehearsal. Then home to blog and kip. Phew!
Suburban life ma be mediocre but it is sure as hell busy.
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