The quiet before the storm

We spent a few days on the Isle of Skye last weekend. It was the final chapter in Tim's three-month gardening leave and the last weekend before I joined my new school. Our hotel is famous for its food, eighty percent of which is grown within a few miles of the restaurant (or swims in the loch opposite). It was a fantastic place and the staff were unbelievably friendly and welcoming. We felt right at home.

Tim had been in Canada for two weeks on the last leg of his grand tour so it was great to have some 'us' time. We haven't been apart for that long in years and it was strange. But it was also a dress rehearsal for when he leaves the UK in April.

When we weren't eating, we were walking it off. Skye has very changeable weather: one minute you are in glorious sunshine, the next it is pouring with rain and you better struggle into your waterproofs pretty darn quick! Luckily, I have all the kit, accumulated over a number of years. I just love being well prepared.

Rain and sun collide!

We walked out to the Macleod's Maidens - these three famous rocks. The 'Mother' is the big one and she has two smaller daughters. The views were spectacular.

March is going to be a big month for us - Tim started his new job on Monday, I started at my new school (all-girls, Catholic). We are moving out of our flat in about three weeks and I have to write an 8,000 word dissertation in that time as well. Hopefully I will have some anecdotes to share with you when I start teaching next week. The girls in my new school are extremely lively!

Half a teacher

As of yesterday, I am half way through my PGCE and half a teacher. I passed the first big milestone on my course, handing in my School Subject Assignment at least 4 hours before the deadline. It feels good. And I am quietly proud of the final product. My topic (talk in the English classroom) was challenging to plan for and assess but the class and I had a lot of fun throughout the five lessons.

I also finished my first school placement last Friday. I was genuinely sad to leave my classes, my year 8 class (who have featured on this blog before) in particular. One of my year 8 students made me a card which she gave to me in our last lesson. All the objects on it represent something that we did as a class over the four months that I taught them. I was extremely touched at the thought and effort she had put into it. Every time I look at it, I get a warm fuzzy feeling. It's very rewarding being half a teacher.

Hoarding

I'm a terrible hoarder. I always have been. I keep letters, cards, photos and books. There are drawers full of pens. Boxes full of beauty products, bottles of perfume. But with an impending move, and our flat nearing full capacity, I can feel myself teetering on the edge of a manic clear-out. Today may well be the day. There is not point in filling a large container, sailing it across the ocean, only to open it at the other end and realise that we have just paid to transport a load of rubbish.

When I waver, I will think of the Dutch bikes. The Dutch bikes that I couldn't bear to leave behind when Tim moved back to the UK because that meant admitting that such a happy time was coming to an end. The Dutch bikes that were transported in the back of the white transit van, deposited in my parents house and haven't moved since. Tim was right, they are completely impractical for the hilly countryside where my parents live, they should never have left Holland. He should have overruled me, but he didn't. And now they sit, reproachful and unloved, and a constant reminder.

I won't let my heart rule my head. I will put sentimentality to one side today. It is not things that hold memories. As always, I am sure I will have multiple dilemmas and second thoughts, but I must be strong. So I don't make the same mistake twice.

Delivering the goods

I have this one year 8 class (12 yrs old) and it seems they always deliver the goods when I need them to. When I was being observed by my university tutor, we had the best lesson we've ever had together and my mentor came away impressed by my progress. Yesterday, I had a Period 5 lesson with them, the first lesson of a series of lessons that I have to plan, teach and then evaluate in an 8,000 word essay on 'talk in the classroom'. Period 5 is the last lesson of the week when you always expect the kids to be a bit distracted. But this class is a top set and they are truly a joy to teach. They are engaged, motivated and enthusiastic in every lesson.

Yesterday, they worked hard, came up with excellent comments and despite my misgivings at the effectiveness of what I was asking them to do, demonstrated that they had met the learning objectives. When I asked the class if they had any comments on the lesson that I could add to my research, three kids put up their hands and said the following:

Pupil A - "I enjoyed the interactive part...like speaking and informing the other person...that helped a lot. The whole interactive part helped."

Pupil B - "I liked that it wasn’t just writing...we did reading and speaking activities."

Pupil C - "I liked that we worked in groups and could find out each other’s opinions and stuff."

These three quotes sum up the main thrust of my essay and bring joy to my heart. This class are total superstars!

I made them think up rules for working in groups at the beginning of the lesson

Bertie and Lionel

We saw The King's Speech yesterday - the very moving story of King George VI and his journey to overcome his stutter. It is a great story and it has been beautifully executed. The three lead characters were fantastic and extremely believable. The very best of British cinema and a strong Oscar contender. I would highly recommend it!

Singapore Fling

It's official: we are moving to Singapore.

During the day, I am excited about the prospect and I can see how and why it is the right move for us. It's a great step in Tim's career; we have wanted to move abroad and now is as good a time as any when we are child and house-less; Singapore is an amazing jumping off point for exploring Asia and we might even make it to Australia and New Zealand; I saw myself teaching in an international environment when I finished my course anyway, so now I will (hopefully) be able to find a job in an international school.

It's a different story at night, normally when Mr G has already fallen asleep beside me. Then the reality of leaving my family hits me and I feel quite melancholy. After a long time living apart, we've had about six years of uninterrupted (apart from a short stint in India) 'togetherness' and I have been very grateful for it. My parents are a short car journey away. I live within a couple of miles of both my sisters and I get to see and speak to them all the time. But perhaps I have been spoilt and I need to get back into the habit of us all living apart. I am sure the time we spend together in future will be all the sweeter for our separation.

Christmas in Norfolk

Life returns to normal tomorrow, after what seems like a very long holiday. We had a wonderful Christmas in Norfolk, and apart from Tim starting a small fire in our bedroom on our last night in the holiday cottage, everything went swimmingly. The north Norfolk coast is breathtaking and it felt like we had the place to ourselves. Here are a few pics:

Twilight in the marshes - "don't look at the little lights!"

our local beach

wrapped up warm against the cold Norfolk wind!

Holkham Beach - featured at the end of Shakespeare in Love!