Turn, turn, turn
waking up in my old home was a comfort, and a pleasure to be able to get home so quickly. My mum made me a healthy breakfast and as I enjoyed it, she turned on the radio, the Byrds song, Turn, Turn, Turn was playing. This song has always felt significant because, for as long as I can remember, my dad had said it was to be played fortissimo at his funeral. And it was. And as my mum exclaimed 'can you hear what's on the radio?' we both felt a little stunned, not least as it was my dad's birthday. So we stood in the middle room, held each other and had a little cry.
Following that, we got ready and headed off to church for a short mass. I will always feel so welcome and at home there. It is a very simple building, although made slightly less so with the harvest mass greenery around. I was amused by a random apple attached to some leaves, but mostly it all looked very autumnal and warming.
As we sat and prayed, holding hands and me, just about getting used to the new words they've introduced in my time away, I felt grateful for my family, us women, the ones left. I felt the comfort of knowing the women by my sides loved me no matter what and we will be there for each other, through the good and the bad. Family. I wasn't so keen on the sermon, and given the week I'd had I felt I could do with a little less love from the God who knows what I can take, bending not breaking. As my sister pointed out, I feel about bent in half right now. The three of us headed back and drank tea and chatted, updated each other on the ins and outs of life and remembered dad. Later that day, mum and I shopped, laughed, cried and chatted together, a lovely day, spattered with dog walks.
Then for an evening meal with Jo's children, her, Kelf and mum. It was lovely to see them all together and hear more about Jessie's wedding plans. We had lovely food, although I was a bit envious of mum and Kelfie's choice. I sopped up the gravy from mum's bowl, after the meal, mum's treat, we headed home returning to dad's old room for more laughs, booze and some tears, but not many of the last. I didn't go to church the next morning, once a week is quite enough, and then some time with my sister and mum again before a delicious lunch and a drive home. Rejuvenated by the love of my family I went into the arms of my home made ones. And some evening guests who were just as knackered as we were, so that helped to have an easy meal and chats before the very reasonable departure time of 9pm.
The week has become the familiar days of: in for 7:15, a quiet time to work and get admin and lesson planning done and then a day full of uncertainty and some good, some not so good lessons. I was told by a teacher that she hears the students saying how much they love drama, so that cheered me. Home by 5, traffic permitting and I have so far managed to not do a single work thing once I am. Except on Wednesday where I had my coaching session for the NPQH and she made me feel a lot more confident about my skills. So much so that I applied for a deputy Head job yesterday. I tried this week to understand the assessment system the school I'm currently at has and remain none the wiser. Some very strange systems that have left me wondering why we do it at all. I've introduced a scheme for yr 7 based on African theatre. This works well with black history month too. It is a delight to see the excitement in the eyes and faces of many black students who see themselves in the work done. I link it to Efua Sutherland from Ghana, and one girl exclaimed 'that's where I'm from' as she began to read the information on the board, a smile breaking out on her face. I'm now trying to learn more about Asian theatre, I know some very basic things about Noh and Kathakali but not enough to be confident in teaching about it. Given the demographic of this school I am wondering where to get information about Islamic art and theatre, a rare thing I think but I bet there's something I can incorporate.
The girls have had uneventful weeks and lots of homework, which they do with very little complaint and they volunteered to help at their school's Open Evening. They have taken to going to a coffee shop or similar before school. Very cosmopolitan.
BigA has been busy, heading off to Northern Ireland on Tuesday - there and back in one day and some more frisbee when he could. Essex another day and a big event yesterday. He's fully unretired now. He hung some pictures in the front room, making it feel more homely and tried to fix our intermittent TV. It is his birthday next week and Keith and I have been plotting together on his gifts. He'd better appreciate them, and not have bought them for himself already.
I've planted a bunch of spring bulbs in the garden and wonder how they will fair, given that it should really be so much colder right now. But I'm not complaining, happy not to have to turn the heating on just yet! And because the TV hasn't been working I've had a chance to read more of Wifedom and finished it. I think I might go for something that makes me a little less cross with the world. Which means I might not carry on reading the book Rosie got me, because it reminds me how the world has simply been able to ignore women's health. But I have learnt a few things from it, so maybe that's what I'll do.
In case you don't know the song -
I went out with a pal last night and de-stressed from the week. I hadn't been to Angel in ages, lots of fun memories there, of meals, nights out and many a book club meeting, where we rarely talked about the book. Mainly because, and she knows this, Sharon hadn't read the book!
I hope you're well
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