continued countdown

 With BigA away and A having a lie in I had a very productive few hours in the morning - well I binge watched the rest of 'Queen Charlotte - A Bridgerton story' Thanks to the power then going off I did then set about with my list of tasks I wanted to achieve over the weekend. One of them was to post and sell a range of our things. I was in the zone and was genuinely surprised how popular some items were and the speedy responses from people and having to say 'too late' to quite a few. This was of course a way of me not doing my work - classic procrastination, and although a job that needs to be done, not such a priority. I'm sure BigA will be pleased that he hasn't had to do it. I'm letting it feel cathartic. 

And with the lack of power A and I did another cathartic thing - she was very keen to use her yr 9 school books as kindling for our fire. So we sat and chatted as she threw on her old exercise books, full of her learning and ones she assured me she doesn't need now. 

Sunday was much the same, except I did actually do some of my NPQH work and managed to start my assembly too. My theme is about legacy - inspired by my good pal Rosie, who wisely told me my legacy wasn't in things but in how I made people feel. The sort of thinking our students could do with too. And despite our reluctance A and also decided we should go to frisbee and we even stayed for food so I didn't have to cook. The cheapest veggie burger around. 

A and I did just one shop in the week, mainly getting things for the drama class, last lesson party. It was silly and fun, playing games and eating crisps and cake. Most of her teachers however were still teaching because this week was her last full one, she's now officially on study leave. 

A strange week though, one I've been building up to and explains my dreams, the anniversary for dad. In all my dreams he is well, he is tall and he is the kind and comforting presence of my happiest memories, but the bite of realisation when I wake up is still very hard. I told Jabulani to make sure if I was wobbly I had a colleague able to step in, I was after all the headteacher all last week. Also a week with another online funeral. My not actual but felt like, aunty Ros. It was lovely to hear other things about her but always do strange to see the coffin. We also had a theft overnight on Thursday, some things taken from our garden. The school has been very supportive but it is such a horrible feeling to know people were in the garden at night. We now have a guard who will sit on our garden each night, he's been moved from his spot outside the school library. I suspect he's very happy about the change, especially as BigA immediately got him a flask of tea and a sandwich, showed him where he can plug his phone in and has a comfortable chair to sit on. It could have been worse and we are now having to move stuff inside to keep it safer. Not a happy way to end our time in this home. At least BigA is back safe and sound and he bought cheddar cheese and pesto with him and I shrieked with excitement when he gave me an easter egg. 

The weather has taken a turn into the chill of an African winter, when the sun is shining it is still warm and pleasant, but it doesn't last into the rooms or the night. I will always find it amusing that 16 degrees can feel so cold, when I've sunbathed in similar temperatures when mum and I were determined we would have a beach holiday in Ibiza. 

Last night we went out for dinner with Millie and Joe to one of my favourite restaurants here, and one of my favourite meals. But we can tell they are facing hardships too, margarine instead of butter with the bread, portion sizes a little smaller, and even though the fuel shortage seems to have passed for now you just know it won't take much too happen again. 

Hope you have a lovely week and you get some sun