Thursday 30 April 2009

Day 212 of 365: Deprived Kitty


He likes to try to convince others that we don't leave fresh water for him....every MORNING.

Guess he prefers a tall, cold one.

Wednesday 29 April 2009

Day 211 of 365:Teacher Perks


We reap the rewards when it's someone's birthday.

Tuesday 28 April 2009

Day 210 of 365: Must. Have. Wool.


I couldn't resist this Aldi bargain tonight.

I mean, c'mon...it sparkles!

Monday 27 April 2009

Day 209 of 365: Girls' Corner


I only have 6 girls in my class and twice as many boys. The girls hang their bags and coats on one side of the room and the boys on the other. You can definitely tell the girls' corner from the boys...mainly by the posters they have up and the fact that they tend to keep their area more tidy.

Sunday 26 April 2009

Day 208 of 365: All Hail...



IKEA!!!

My first trip ever and we managed to snag a kitchen floor cabinet unit and a bathroom cabinet with mirror.

Oh...and a couple hot dogs.

Also, no trip to IKEA is complete...


...without Swedish Fish!!!

Saturday 25 April 2009

Day 207 of 365: I Want!!


We've been eyeing loads of decor lately to furnish the new place. This was a stop at Next Home. Furniture is overpriced, but accessories aren't too shabby.

Although I can't see myself actually purchasing something like this, it was SO incredibly soft!!

Friday 24 April 2009

Day 206 of 365: Weekend Task


Literacy and Numeracy marking!!

Don't hate.

Thursday 23 April 2009

Day 205 of 365: Happy St. George's Day


This was snapped while I was stopped in traffic on the way home from school. In my entire journey back, I think I only counted TWO flags!

It's sad to me how people in this country cannot freely show their patriotism by displaying their flags proudly. Apparently too many are worried about offending other non-British residents.

I say poo on them and fly it high!

Wednesday 22 April 2009

Day 204 of 365: It's Official!


Nothing is official until your name is laminated and posted on a classroom door with blue-tac.

LOVE IT!!

Tuesday 21 April 2009

Day 203 of 365: I Will Survive


Not bad for the end of day one as their new teacher.

Monday 20 April 2009

Day 202 of 365: Charlotte's Web


We had a teacher workday today as the children are still on holiday, and this is what I noticed this afternoon when I got into the car to come home.
I'm almost a little upset that it got ruined (and the spidy was splatted) on my breezy drive home.

Sunday 19 April 2009

Day 201 of 365: Spring Has Sprung!!


I went for a walk across the road today and I think I found a new favourite place!

Saturday 18 April 2009

Day 200 of 365: Why God...Whyyyy?


We don't have a shower in this flat so our only option is a bath. Let me just say this is NOT a fun way to wash your hair...extreme hot or extreme cold.
Take your pick.
I'm sorry, but TWO seperate taps just makes NO sense!

Friday 17 April 2009

Day 199 of 365: I Have Absolute Power!!


Or at least I have keys to my classroom!!

Thursday 16 April 2009

Day 198 of 365: Out With The Old...


Popped to Kingstanding today to do some work in the classroom while we're on our 2-week Easter break.
Spring Break...what?!

Wednesday 15 April 2009

Day 197 of 365: Don't Mind Me


Apparently two days is all it takes for Myst to feel right back at home.

Tuesday 14 April 2009

Day 196 of 365: Meg the Builder?


Matt was back to work today, so I began my morning by taking stock of the tools I needed to build our new canvas wardrobe. I was determined to have it built before Matt returned from work.
Although technically Diet Pepsi wasn't on the actual list, it was a necessity.

Monday 13 April 2009

Day 195 of 365: New Digs


This is what I woke up to in the morning...Myst crawling out from under the duvet. He's never done this before, but his new surroundings are still a bit unfamiliar. Each time we have left and returned to the flat we've spotted a duvet lump...aka Myst.
Poor guy.

Sunday 12 April 2009

Day 194 of 365: Hoppy Easter


Myst takes one final glance from his perch in an empty front room on 1 Beech Road in Kingswinford.

Oh yes...we spent Easter Sunday MOVING!!

Saturday 11 April 2009

Day 193 of 365: Spring Has Sprung


Itty bitty daisy was snapped this morning before Matt and I headed out to B&M Bargains to look for a couple of curtain rods. I was looking out the window of our flat in Kingswinford and noticed lots of little flecks of white across the road in the front gardens of all the bungalows. Now it's really starting to feel like Spring!

Also, with some MUCH APPRECIATED help* from Josie & David (MIL & FIL), the walls in the bathroom and bedroom were stripped tonight and although we started to paper the bathroom, we ended up just short. Unfortunately, tomorrow is Easter Sunday which means...

E N G L A N D I S
C L O S E D !


Unless we come up with a Plan B...the rest will have to be finished on Monday.



*help - if by help I mean they did MOST of the work, which makes us double-infinity in debt with gratitude.

Friday 10 April 2009

Day 192 of 365: Second Coming 2009?


This was our view inside ASDA when we popped in this afternoon for a pack of batteries for my camera. EVERY till was open and EVERY queue was RAMMED! Granted, many places are closed till Tuesday because of the Easter holiday, but sheesh! You might even think Jesus himself were coming to Easter dinner.


Business as usual for us Bennetts. We were in and out of the flat today surveying some damp areas and painting and glossing. We finished the bedroom around half-ten, but I managed this photo from the giant, front-room window before it got dark. Not a bad view, really.

Day 191 of 365: Trolley-Cam


(This post was accidentally deleted and I don't remember what I blogged that day...but this was inside B&Q on a wallpaper hunt.)
1239280927390.jpg - Google Mail

Wednesday 8 April 2009

Day 190 of 365: Hello, Lover!


For the first time in seven years I now own a piece of technological equipment that transcends anything else I have ever owned before! It arrived this morning via the friendly Royal Mail postman who followed my post-it instructions to knock loudly as the flat was upstairs. Say hello to my beautiful T-Mobile G1. I've heard mixed reviews, but I wanted to see for myself...and today I fell in love.


So, previously I had worry that I would not have internet access in the new flat until the end of the month. That concern is now in the past because I have UNLIMITED internet on my new fancy schmancy G1 as well as UNLIMITED texts! The fact that I don't have many people here in the UK to text is another story, but I'm just pleased with it's performance so far. It has functioning Bluetooth, GPS, and lots of little applications that I can download for free. I can even watch movies and tv shows on it if I want.

I may be voicing my praise prematurely, but I am completely twitterpated with this phone!

Tuesday 7 April 2009

Day 189 of 365: Pooped!


With the amount of sleep this cat got today, you would think we made HIM do all the packing!

Monday 6 April 2009

Day 188 of 365: Welcome Home...?


Or not.

We arrived 10 minutes before our scheduled appointment only to learn we would NOT be receiving the keys today. Apparently the electricians have dropped the ball and we won't have the keys back until Thursday.

To lighten the mood, we decided to treat ourselves to Bacon, Sausage, Egg & Mushroom with Brown Sauce "between two bread trucks" as Matt says, from Little Devils. Then when we got home and went to warm them up a bit, we realised we PACKED the dish for the microwave...along with the mugs for a coffee...AND the silverware to stir...

Looks like we'll be here a few more days...with internet. A real shame, I say.

Sunday 5 April 2009

Day 187 of 365: All Packed Up!


We pick up the keys tomorrow...MOVING DAY IS HERE!!!

Saturday 4 April 2009

Day 186 of 365: F'n Saturn!


My affectionate nickname in college displayed proudly on the back of my day-glow orange Lincoln Lagers tee. This was my "assistant coach" shirt for Ohio University Intramural Softball and the only time I wear it anymore is to accompany my PJ bottoms to sleep in. The thing is so hideous and obnoxious, I wouldn't subject the public to it on purpose.

Perfect shirt for glossing the banister though!

Friday 3 April 2009

Day 185 of 365: Interoffice Memo


Notice the words in the middle of the photo...'staff meeting.' No, it wasn't a mistake that I received this memo as I am now the official Year 5 teacher!! The climax of my otherwise short-term, 1/2 day teaching and tutoring post came mid-week when things started a bit cryptic and ended with the offer of the job. Of course I accepted!! The best part is that this will more than DOUBLE my daily pay through the agency and it will give me proper experience teaching in a UK school. I will also be able to continue my one-on-one tuition with students once school resumes after break. Someone will come to my room in the afternoon a couple days a week to take over so I can continue tutoring on an afternoon.

At this point, the post will extend until the end of the school year, which is around the second week of July. I'm hoping that if things go well, it could mean a continued position with the school for the 2009-2010 school year as well.

I was in the class Thursday and Friday, but I wasn't to let on to the children that their teacher would not be returning. They will be notifying the parents over break and upon the return, it will be officially announced.

Things are looking up!

Thursday 2 April 2009

Day 184 of 365: Still a Bit Cryptic...


...but looks as though I will be needing to commit this to memory soon.

Hmm...

Wednesday 1 April 2009

Day 183 of 365: The End??


All will be revealed soon...

*bah nuh nuh nuhhhhh...*