ah cheese

Having spent time at my new school I spent a bit of Saturday working on the schemes, I don't want to change much but I do need to make the lessons my own, and as I'm not going to be able to do this over Easter I thought it made sense to get a Headstart. I managed to do a bit in the garden too and continue to enjoy seeing things grow and come back again, the delicate primroses giving a particularly needed dash of colour. 

That evening BigA and I used a present from my sister to go to the cheese barge for our evening. Neither of us have been to Paddington for a while and certainly not eating on a barge. It was delicious, not just the food but also to have a reason to get out and do something different. We promised each other while in Malawi that we would do our best to find things to do together as this was a highlight of our time there. I'm not sure we're quite the date night once a week type, but I very much enjoyed booking him in advance! We took a slow walk by the canal after and had a drink in a pub situated in a very beautiful part of London before heading home. Delightful.

I did the rookie support again on Sunday, and on skates. I didn't quite feel that I deserved the title 'coach' for it but I was one nonetheless and although I'm not that much better than any of the new skaters I know my explanations and encouragement helped a few out. I didn't stay for the next session as I need to make sure I don't over do it. 

The week has been a strange mix of BigA being away for work back and away again and his mate being here and me popping off to Norfolk. I had an MRI on Tuesday so couldn't host very well - just the next scan of my abdomen this time. A mid week visit does mean you can't just drop everything so we had to chat a bit and then get on with normal plans like choir and my coaching. He was very easy to be around, having come to attend a literary book fair thing so was happy to sort himself out. He is building up his translating work. Very impressive and totally over my head. 

School was fine. A few of the usual lovely encounters and a couple of frustrations one but all told, good. I was 'learning walked' those of you not in education, this is usually a senior member of staff popping into your lesson, looking for about 3 minutes and then somehow writing a full report later about the teaching and learning strength of the school. I know because I used to do them. If you see a disaster then someone else will often come and have a chat. I used to do the chats myself. Given that I've got 8 days left no one would worry really anyway but it was a perfectly fine 3 minutes witnessed so my reputation is safe. And then on Thursday I headed to Norfolk to spend one of my last precious weekends with my mum and sister. (They could even get fed up of my face) Yesterday morning I woke up to a quiet house because mum had gone to church and I was left to wander the rooms, saying hi to my brother, granddad, uncle and dad by way of their photos in dad's old room and then I did a little drama prep again before getting ready to go and get my hair cut. I tell myself this most of the time, I really should maintain a style but I'm a bit lazy when it comes to my hair and can't face spending money on it unless I feel I really have to. We then did lenten lunch with mum at church and enjoyed the nostalgia of the church hall. Many a memory of cups of tea, youth club, parties and more. So many of the women their are the parents of those I knew as a child, many mistaking me for Jo at first. The soup was good and we won some t-bags in the rafle. After I had a real cream cake (I love them). I saw my sister, E and K that evening, C is off jetsetting, well, E is today but she stayed in for a catch up with her favourite aunty. And so, as I lie in bed looking at my childhood light shade I am feeling rather lucky to be content and happy with the world. 

BigA had to go to Liverpool for work this week so he got to see A and her new fella. She continues to make us immensely proud, giving her studies her all and in her most recent feedback, showing she has leadership qualities in abundance as well as all that creativity. I love how much she geeks out about plays and the fact we both are big Caryl Churchill fans, I introduced her to her after all. I get to see her soon too and really am excited to do something out of my comfort zone with her. 

Only 8 days left at my school and that means almost no time before our Japan trip. I've looked up the weather, very much spring weather likely, which given the amount of walking we'll be doing is better than hot. Mum and I have the addresses to teh hotels so we can at least get a sense of distances for some of the planned visits..