Malawi & More

 I managed to get A and me off site on Sunday, we went to the same venue but didn't sit anywhere near each other. Both of us with other friends. Then, when we got home, I had a chat with an executive head and it went well. I liked him and the ethos of the school. I'll apply.  Feeling the buzz of a good conversation I got ready for frisbee and had my best game. Getting two goals and feeling like I'd played well. That evening we had a front room full to watch the arsenal V Man united game. Nice to have them around I made a very nice risotto.  The working week was mostly good, I was able to get around lots of classes and did my, now usual, talk to the A-Levels biology students about VHL.  We had a slightly less awkward meeting about the school show, mainly because the member of staff who is not doing what needs to be done wasn't there. And then later in the week I was able to tell him we won't be using the band.  Parents evening, and I was teacher and, when possibl...

  A lazy long weekend, food, frisbee and company. We had a  braai and I spent most of it cooking while the rain fell hard around me. I was unsurprised by the amount of chicken cooked and consumed but that's what happens when your guest list is expat and Malawian. Very few vegetarians to worry about.  Because we didn't have face to face school last week, that meant a busy week, with parents evening, life skills day, whole school meetings and more. It has been an odd week. Feeling like lots and nothing happening at the same time. Ria set off on the Tuesday and we had peace once more. BigA appears to have filled his week with coffee station antics and sport, and work and more work, me with not quite bringing myself to apply for more jobs, having had another couple of rejections.   But work was its usual mix of lovely students, kind staff and some annoying ones. One of the highlights was no doubt the talent show. The atmosphere was so supportive. I am always im...

I once had a pair of beautiful green shoes. I also had a pair of excellent, smart sexyand comfortable beige ones. I know that sounds like a contradiction in terms. Both sadly taken too soon, by a fox.  Today I will wear a pair of old faithful shoes. I've had them about 10 years.  Walk a day in my shoes 

  A rainy morning and frustratingly the garage was shut so no car, instead we did a little bit of shopping, getting medication for the cats and me and also eggs and bread. Then I spent most of my morning putting work onto my online classrooms so that I can spend Monday helping any staff who are stuck without worrying about my lessons. Happily I don't need to worry this weekend as we are open on Tuesday.  I had the honour of being with my friend while we watched her gran's funeral. It was a full Catholic mass and we sang the hymns and said the prayers. The eulogies were, and she agrees, awful. We lost it then and just started laughing and joking. Telling each other stories of family fun. The eulogies went on so long that the other guests for the wake arrived and so we sung the last hymn together and raised a toast to Veronica. We laughed, drank and ate and A and BigA joined us too. It ended up being a really lovely evening, odd reason in some ways but good all the same.  A...

 The last day of 2023 was very nice, we went for an Ethiopian meal and I cooked up what I could of the food in the fridge for an evening meal. A and a friend of hers went off to Annie's lodge and managed to stay away from her dad and Keith who went to watch the football. Despite seeing the new year in asleep, I woke up about 3am to see a few messages UK time and was then kinda of awake all morning. The first day of 2023 was simple. Rest, a good book, which made me cry, liquorice all-sorts  and simple leftovers and beautiful fruit salad too. I hope that I find most of 2023 as straight forward.  On Monday we set off for the holiday part of the holiday. Mumbo Island. It is still a beautiful place, we were here a few years ago. That time with the Wagner's and The Martin/Sacket's. The island is preserved and again, simple. The setting; a deep green tree covered island with boulders and rocks that are a sandy yellow with the marks of distant years when the lake was even higher ...