Day 137 of 365: Happy Valentine's Day!

This is what wonderful hubby woke up to...and I must say, I'm quite impressed with my presentation. Immediately following his breakfast he was subjected to a brief scavenger hunt through the flat to get to his Valentine's greeting card from me. It made him laugh to read my clues...one was even hidden in the coffee jar.

My gift from him were some lovely roses, which he gave me last night, actually. They're proudly displayed on the mantle...just in time to replace the birthday flowers.

This is also something exciting that happened today...


I had my first driving practice in one of the car parks at the Waterfront by Merry Hill. A HUGE thank you to MIL, Josie, for allowing me some practice time in her great little car (and no worries...the photo was safely taken by Matt before we even started the car).

Also, pay no attention to my chubby cheeks -- I've been experiencing some swelling from a troublesome, impacted wisdom tooth and I was actually smiling through some pain. This cut my practice time short for the night...but not before I had a go on the actual road to drive Matt and myself home.

Day 136 of 365: Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs

Sounds so...official, huh?

Well it is! My National Insurance Number card came in the mail today. I was issued my number about 8 weeks ago, but now I have the card with my name and everything!!

To top things off, schools broke up for half-term today so I have all of next week off! Woo!

Day 135 of 365: Jerk-face

He finally fell asleep after sulking from being told off earlier. We enjoy sleepy Myst.

Day 134 of 365: Behaviour Management

The following is a scenario this book does NOT give the answer to:

• How to respond to an 8-year-old child who tells you "I'm not a slave!" when you announce to the class that it's time to tidy up.

I'm fielding any suggestions on this one...

Oh, and no, punting them across a football field is NOT an option.

Day 133 of 365: American Incognito

If there is one thing that makes me extremely uncomfortable, it's being solicited...by anyone: church groups, kiosk people at the mall, girl scouts -- okay, okay...not girl scouts...

*makes mental note that cookie-season should be here soon*

Today as I was waiting for Matt to pick me up outside my school, I could see a small group of men from a distance armed with backpacks and fliers. I observed them as they would branch off and talk to pedestrians, handing them out fliers, and then re-group as they made their way down the pavement to me. I'm chanting in my head, "Get here, Matt...get heeerrre," as I see them inch closer and closer. Then, I try to be elusive and appear unavailable by fiddling with my mobile when one of the men approach me.

Unfortunately, avoiding eye contact and not moving only works on velociraptors and he starts into his script. Initially I try to act as though I don't hear him, but he walks around me as I turn my back and I can no longer avoid it. Plan B was to pretend I don't speak English...but the foreshadowing I saw was him being able to speak whatever language it was I claimed to be native of, so nay on that option.

He asked if I knew where a certain street was near the bullring and as soon as I said, "No, sorry, I'm not from here," he exclaims, "You're American!" This is where the questions begin with where I'm from, if I've been to A, B or C, etc. -- but I'll spare you. You're welcome. Let's just say that I was able to get off the hook by fibbing that I was just a visitor and I wasn't here after this week -- which is partly true because half-term is next week and I honestly have yet to find out if I will be returning to the same school after the break.

So, successful (for me) end to the conversation and the man was on his merry way. Now I'm forever left with a souvenir from that moment -- until I threw it in the bin after I took the photo. Oops.

Day 132 of 365: Just One of Those Days

A day like mine warrants a bottle of Aleve and a STRONG drink. Fortunately, I have the required naproxen sodium and I expect to be semi-recovered...just in time to return to school tomorrow.

I was in a Year 3 class today that was just...well...lively, to put it mildly -- after all, I do wish to keep this blog polite. Let's just say that as a supply teacher, I have to put up with different children than a regular classroom teacher. C'mon, we've all been there...only WE were the children at the time, right? Substitute walks in the room and you know one thing and one thing only...you can do WHATEVER you please today without the same consequences.

I do try to keep things as consistent with the daily routine as possible and I make it clear from the get-go that I am there to facilitate learning and will not tolerate any non-sensible behaviour. But enough whiny voices bleeting "Miiiiiiiissssss" and "Can I go to toy-luuuuhht?" whilst I'm trying to help a small group of lower performing students on their maths (who also don't have any interest in helping themselves) and it's enough to put me at my wit's end and my tolerance goes out the window. At the end of the day, I'm a stranger to them and I have not earned their trust enough for them to respect why I expect them to still behave. Alas, they really don't care...and it shows when I make simple requests like, "choose a different seat as clearly sitting in that one is causing you distraction," and I get a combination heavy sigh and eye-roll, accompanied with a sarcastic mimic of my own request given until the pupils within that child's immediate vicinity are giggling at their class-clown crony.

Forget the "you have to be firm with this group," how about some simple respect for adults?! What happened to this from when we were all kids?! I even said to one of the boys today, "No you may not go to the toilet because you really don't need to use it, you're just bored and looking for an excuse to leave the classroom." He just looked back at me and grinned, which was confirmation enough that I was right all along.

Please, don't misunderstand, I really do enjoy what I do...but today has just been one of those days, and I'm very glad it will soon be a 'yesterday.'

Day 131 of 365: Attack of the Snowflakes!

This is Matt as we were leaving his parents' house tonight. The snowflakes were seriously ginormous!! Matt tells me this is the first time in years that it has snowed back-to-back like this over the course of a couple of weeks.

Typically on a Sunday we have tea at Em & Daz's, but tonight Matt and myself, along with Em & Daz, joined Josie and David for Sunday Roast at theirs. Like many of the Sunday dinner's I have experienced since my time began in the UK, it was very tasty and sufficiently filled my tummy. Although my in-laws don't live terribly far from us, it is very nice to be able to sit with everyone and just have a visit and a nice chat.

The snow has stopped for now and some moderate fog has settled in. I don't think this will do too much to the morning commute, but we shall see.