catch-up and plans...

It has been sooo long! I keep having ideas about changing the type of blog this is - changing the posts I write. Oh so many plans!

We did eventually find the perfect flat to buy. It was such a great find (we had wonderful estate agents who phoned us when we were on holiday in Zimbabwe in April!) and we love it. We've lived here for 3 months and it's still developing but it's ours and as far as we're concerned it's perfect. I'll post photos when we're all done making it extra beautiful!

And school continues to be a pain. It's such a weird place to be mentally. I LOVE teaching, I love the kids I teach (same class as last year - who make me laugh and frustrated every day! - not that they see the frustration...all the time....), I love the people I work with. I am just tired, sick to death, of being, essentially, bullied by our headmistress. Initially I thought it was just me being over sensitive, which I know I am prone to do, but most of the other staff have commented on it. Some are braver than me and actually stick up for me in staff meetings. I'm not the only unhappy one. Our wonderful Superman Caretaker has finally had enough too - handed in his resignation and decided he couldn't even serve out his notice and left. It's amazing how much being bullied dents your opinion of yourself. I find I have turned from being a creative, spontaneous teacher to questioning a lot of what I used to do naturally. Now I've moved classrooms and am in the room in the attic, which is an extra flight of stairs if She wants to come and find me - which She is doing less now. Especially after I casually, and sweetly, commented on her being rather puffed when she came into my room....
It reiterates over and over again why teachers should NEVER have favourites, and why bullying is such an awful thing.

but onwards -
it's been half term and wow do I love half term. It's exactly what I need after a crazy busy, stressful start to the year. The academic pushing I need to do with my kiddies is huge - seeing as in 8-10 months they'll all be writing entrance exams to their high schools. It's hard work - even more so as these little ones are not hugely academic. They love working - yes really- and they love it when I tell them they've done so well but it's exhausting for them (and me!)
Half term always goes the same way:
I promise myself I'll work hard and get all my planning done, reports written, displays designed and prepared..... and only after that will I read, sew, knit etc.
Instead... I sleep for 2 days, then read for 2 days, then work a bit, feel guilty that I didn't start earlier..... etc.
This year, though, I feel no guilt at all. None!
I've slept, read 2 of the next books of the Game of Thrones (love!), made curtains for the flat, done a spring clean, taken the old lady across the hall for an afternoon tea, started making my first quilt, almost finished crocheting a baby blanket for a friend who is due to pop in 3 weeks, done some baking that actually worked (!!!), made some delicious soups for the freezer for when things get colder, spent waaaay too much time on Pinterest and drawn up plans for a tote bag I want to make myself, a scarf I want to knit myself and 2 more baby blankets for soon to be born nephews (I love my nephews. 2 little ones so far and 2 on the way. Lucky lucky me!), and planned something sweet for my beautiful niece for Christmas. Also booked the car in for a service tomorrow.
wow - I've actually been quite efficient.
and to top things off, today I started writing my reports. And I've had an awesome idea for a Writing display in my classroom. Genius!

And wow am I looking forward to Christmas. Already.