Bank holiday weekend

 Malawi had what felt like loads of public holidays, these days are joyous to me, they feel like a little gift of time. Us teachers get plenty of holiday time, in Malawi I almost felt it might be too much, when I was in the thick of term and worrying about squeezing all the events and tasks in and then I didn't when we were on the road heading off to a safari, or the lake or another country. 

This bank holiday we headed up to Rugby to see Margaret and Dick and I also included a visit to my godfather. This was after a Saturday morning getting the last bits of my INSET in my head and some TV watching and some house chores. 

The weather was beautifully spring like, warm in the sun and we ate outside. We also went for great Korean food. A and M love it. I'm not quite as big a fan but I chose well and had a excellent curry. 

It was lovely to see Ian, not only to catch up with him but to remember my dad, and hear about him through his eyes. 

Back with a bump to work, I have to remind myself that things are getting better. The majority of staff were almost on time to start INSET this time and we got more done. Reinforcing expectations has been met with some resistance from a few staff and because we're small it's a lot more noticeable. At least we have staff who get it and are on board. I had a 23 year old man trek me the only person who can tell him what to do is his dad. Shocked doesn't even come close. 

A really tough bit of the week was a disciplinary hearing. I had to put the management case forward. I think it's all been taken too far and was worried that it would mean we lost a member of staff who, despite being odd, is quite good. Happily he wasn't dismissed but now I'm going to have to work on building him up again. He'll have been very knocked by this. But to his credit he has been really positive about next year. 

The same day Governors - more talk on how to get a head for September - more talk of how difficult this will be, especially given the ofsted report. And then the blow that we will lose a funding stream the year after next and that we are projecting a deficit budget. It won't surprise any of you that the money for each student hasn't gone up in 10 years, and all other costs have. 

Despite the 4 day week is felt long and I've still been able to resist having a drink. 

The car looks like it might be buggered - battery light coming on and I was shaken by a very close call when someone overtook on a corner and I was able to swerve and stop to avoid a head on collision. Not nice. So I was so very tried last night and an early night was in order.