The Garden House

My weekend was lush... Despite getting stuck in traffic, mum and Jo got here for lunch and we wandered off to The Garden House which is now 'our place', given that mum and I have been twice. It does lovely Turkish food and we were stuffed. A joined us after her shift and we all enjoyed the food and company. Encouraged by the sun we got very indulgent cakes and prosecco on the way back and spent the afternoon sitting on our new garden furniture and wobbly patio. The best part was seeing A and Jo get to know each other better and discovering how much they have in common. Later, when they had headed home A remarked on it. In the genes! I could see how happy it made her to have that family connection. 

Sunday morning and BigA kindly offered to take the girls to volleyball practice. The girls have been asked to take part in London Youth Games in a couple of weeks. Except it wasn't on so back they came, I was making lunch for Margaret and Dick and they arrived with arms full of plants and Margaret's enthusiasm. The afternoon was then spent weeding mainly, me learning what plants to be ruthless with and which ones are good to keep. The garden is really something we are enjoying even though someone forgot to tell the weather it is now summer. So thank you again for giving us this again gift of a beautiful garden. When the weather is so disappointing it's easy to miss Malawi, although it's the cold season there now. I guess I haven't had to worry about watering it too much! 

This time a year ago we had an almost empty house and were preparing for our return. Having a weekend where our family could pop and see us, just spending a few hours or days reminds me why the move back was worth it. It has been sent too to be so far away when the country has experienced the tragedy of the death of the Vice President and 9 other people in the plane crash. 

Last week I'd reached out to a few teaching pals, those I hoped might have some good schemes for me to share with staff here. I know that staff have never really taught in a sequenced way, this because the year groups are so often mixed up, so each year similar lessons are taught with a similar level of challenge. One of my missions is to change that. I've never really had the need to ask pals and ex-colleagues to give me stuff because the teachers I've worked with have always sorted it themselves. Here and now, with the looming possibility of another 9 days of strike action in this month I figure I might need to find it all. I do quite enjoy planning a scheme of work, but for subjects I know and not for a whole school! I started official lesson observations this week, the first time I'll be able to see full lessons. I am trying to change the culture, move towards a real sense of learning with each other. It's a long journey ahead. 

We had a bad student fight this week, outside of school with the younger ones. It saddens me how much violence they talk about and see as normal. I worry about the fallout from this. 

Along with a Governors meeting and more potential Headteacher visits, I've been feeling the uncertainty dwindling in some ways. What will be well be. No news on if any candidates have been successful. 

BigA has been over to Wales this week and tried to do lots of frisbee. His ankle played up so I had to rescue him. 

The girls had a very normal week. They had a games night last night. I wasn't there, I've woken up in Kent. I'm spending the weekend with my pal Anna, another long term friendship that we have both hung on to. She's a teacher too and so, with a very sensible amount of wine we bemoaned the state of systems and agreed that some SLT really are wankers (not me of course) and today we intend to be infinitely sensible and middle aged.