tell me why

 My garden looks much more loved following a visit from Margaret. In fact it was Dan who did the actual heavy lifting, getting the path to the back of the garden to create a makeshift patio area. There is still a long way to go with it but I can once more see just how much potential there is. Margaret really knows her stuff, sorting out the weeds and the position of the apple tree, which had begun to blossom, it shouldn't have. BigA would have helped but he'd headed off to France to watch some rugby with friends he made while living in Malawi. I have photographic evidence that he enjoyed it but was asleep for some of the game. That's one tired man. 

M has been extremely proactive and had a trial in a pub, glass collector, bin empire and food deliverer. She impressed them (and us) and now has been offered some official shifts. I'm hoping A's national insurance number is sorted soon so she can look for something too. So far she's been spending a fair amount of Saturdays at her boyfriend's work making his shift much more enjoyable. They are both finding their place at school. Realising that some of the apparently friendly and popular students are not really that nice and are making an effort to find people they trust to spend time with. Very wise. But overall they are getting on well and I am loving how much they support each other. 

I had to get the bus to work on Monday, the car going in for its MOT and was almost not on time to pick it up again. It needed a little work to pass, but pass it did. I was extraordinarily drenched by the time I got there. Just as I was transitioning from one bus to the next an almighty thunderstorm unleashed the most rain I've seen in London since we got back. Thanks to A and M the garage stayed open so I didn't have to face the bus journey for the rest of the week. It makes the day feel longer being on buses for so long. But there wouldn't have been any stress if I was just heading home that day, it was the panic of not getting to the MOT people by closing. The girls ensured they stayed open. 

My work week was one of the hardest yet, and was a reminder of the difficulties teenagers face day to day and the adults in their lives too. I find it so hard to quite know who I am as a teacher here. The transition from being so well known and respected to the feeling of being a nobody is tough. Although I know I'm doing something right, as a student trusted me to disclose her vulnerabilities and I had a genuinely joyous moment with a yr 7 class where we broke into spontaneous song in response to my question "tell me why" I think inspired by this... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffyKY3Dj5ZE 

 And I've woken up in my childhood home, looking up at the bin lid lampshade, having driven from school yesterday to be with my mum this weekend. It's Dad's birthday today. So I had fish and chips, wine, love and hugs with my mum. Unconditional love planned for all weekend!