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Yes, it seems pretty clear that I've changed quite a bit in the two or so years since I've last seen many of my relatives. They are greatly impressed with the amount I've managed to shape up since they last saw me. As such, I'm rather baffled by attempts to press huge amounts of food upon me. Maybe it's their way of expressing love; I don't know. What I do know is that I've now realized one of the reasons why I got so big in the first place *chuckle*
Ah well; this time 'round, it seems I'm prepared with some measure of self control and *gasp* an exercise regime that seems to be keeping up with the lobster, crab, donairs (not quite like UK kebabs (and, ummm... those are my fault)), turkey, clams, lobster sandwiches, goodies, pleuys (thin buckwheat pancake thingy), drink (though exported Strongbow sucks) and travel munchies. I've actually managed to slim down a bit.
Meanwhile, I've enjoyed a relaxing vacation that has brought me in touch with family that I haven't seen in a long time, in some cases, decades. It's also brought me in touch with some long forgotten maritime roots, especially through hikes along the beach and clam digging. I've also done a few wee bits of sightseeing, including a trip to Magnetic Hill where an optical illusion allows you to believe that your car rolls uphill ($5 well spent!). I also plan to see the Hopewell Rocks and the Bay of Fundy. Speaking of natural wonders, I've also been witness to some pretty amazing lightning storms (and frequent torrential downpours). Aside from that, though, it's mostly about relaxation and time with family.
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Scruffy lookin' nerf herder
Jul. 21st, 2007 10:02 amYep, I haven't posted in a while.
A couple of weekends ago, I went to the Star Wars Celebration Europe convention in London with a friend. 'Twas my first sci fi convention of any kind and it was, ummm..., interesting... Clearly, it was an event for collectors, though the die hard fans dressing up costume made the thing quite entertaining. The Force was strong amongst them (as well as the Farce). ;) Clearly though, if you had any form of Star Wars (or any other sci fi) merchandise to sell, this was the place to sell it. Amongst interesting things seen were: a venue selling a host of original props from a variety of films (I saw one of G'Kar's face prosthetics!), storm troopers of all shapes and sizes, the actors for both Hollys from Red Dwarf, and a fun costume competition hosted by Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok). The day was topped off by dinner at Chillie's with my friend. 'Twas a good day!
As for the nerfs I am herding, they're still pretty wretched. Two of my classes are shaping up a bit, but the other two are proving quite problematic. One class is filled with kids who seem wholly immature both mentally and emotionally. There is something seriously wrong when about a third of the class demands C-V-C (consonant-vowel-consonant words like cat, dog, etc.) spelling sheets because anything else is too difficult. And two of them even struggle badly with those! As for their behaviour towards one another, let's just say that the first few weeks of the next term will be spent purely on conflict resolution and anger management.
I'm not trained as a primary teacher!
It hasn't been all bad. As I discover what does and doesn't work with my classes, I've had some better lessons with them. And yesterday proved to be an entertaining distraction. Courtesy of some additional funding made available to the school for the purpose, we celebrated cultural diversity. We had workshops on steel pan playing, Indian dance, music, French bowling games, batik and even an introduction to didgeridoo playing (led by yours truly!), amidst other events. 'Twas good fun!
The remaining two and a half days of next week will likely be taken up by worksearches and other light stuff. I'm certainly not going to fight to get really productive lessons out of this lot! *chuckle*
There will be some improvements next term: I will no longer be in a crappy room with crappy furniture as the crew is just about finished knocking two small rooms in the English department to make a large one, I will regain use of a projector and white board setup, support will be more consistent, and I've been told that the new year 7s I'll be receiving, whilst still being pretty damn weak ability wise, are much better behaved than the lot of year 8s I now have.
Still, we're running low on TAs (they're not being as readily replaced when they leave or retire) and we're losing a vital member of the staff, our current deputy head, who is retiring this year. THAT is going to be a blow that may send the school spiraling downwards. There isn't a lot of confidence in our new head teacher. A lot of teachers are saying that they'll see how things go this term/year and, if it gets really rough, they'll be leaving. I'm currently of the same inclination. My plan will be, during the next term, to save up a ticket to anywhere and, if this ship starts sinking too fast, jump. I've already done three tours of duty in this country and I don't need to prove anything to myself; if my job gets too crappy, I'm gone.
In other news, this weekend will be spent doing a lot of cleaning, laundry and such, in preparation for my departure to Canada (east coast, not west - sorry!) near the end of next week. Yep, I'm headed back to spend time with immediate family and my grandfolks. I imagine that revisiting many of my childhood haunts will likely prove to be quite restorative to my spirit. I'm certainly going to enjoy spending some lazy days camping on the beach!
A couple of weekends ago, I went to the Star Wars Celebration Europe convention in London with a friend. 'Twas my first sci fi convention of any kind and it was, ummm..., interesting... Clearly, it was an event for collectors, though the die hard fans dressing up costume made the thing quite entertaining. The Force was strong amongst them (as well as the Farce). ;) Clearly though, if you had any form of Star Wars (or any other sci fi) merchandise to sell, this was the place to sell it. Amongst interesting things seen were: a venue selling a host of original props from a variety of films (I saw one of G'Kar's face prosthetics!), storm troopers of all shapes and sizes, the actors for both Hollys from Red Dwarf, and a fun costume competition hosted by Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok). The day was topped off by dinner at Chillie's with my friend. 'Twas a good day!
As for the nerfs I am herding, they're still pretty wretched. Two of my classes are shaping up a bit, but the other two are proving quite problematic. One class is filled with kids who seem wholly immature both mentally and emotionally. There is something seriously wrong when about a third of the class demands C-V-C (consonant-vowel-consonant words like cat, dog, etc.) spelling sheets because anything else is too difficult. And two of them even struggle badly with those! As for their behaviour towards one another, let's just say that the first few weeks of the next term will be spent purely on conflict resolution and anger management.
I'm not trained as a primary teacher!
It hasn't been all bad. As I discover what does and doesn't work with my classes, I've had some better lessons with them. And yesterday proved to be an entertaining distraction. Courtesy of some additional funding made available to the school for the purpose, we celebrated cultural diversity. We had workshops on steel pan playing, Indian dance, music, French bowling games, batik and even an introduction to didgeridoo playing (led by yours truly!), amidst other events. 'Twas good fun!
The remaining two and a half days of next week will likely be taken up by worksearches and other light stuff. I'm certainly not going to fight to get really productive lessons out of this lot! *chuckle*
There will be some improvements next term: I will no longer be in a crappy room with crappy furniture as the crew is just about finished knocking two small rooms in the English department to make a large one, I will regain use of a projector and white board setup, support will be more consistent, and I've been told that the new year 7s I'll be receiving, whilst still being pretty damn weak ability wise, are much better behaved than the lot of year 8s I now have.
Still, we're running low on TAs (they're not being as readily replaced when they leave or retire) and we're losing a vital member of the staff, our current deputy head, who is retiring this year. THAT is going to be a blow that may send the school spiraling downwards. There isn't a lot of confidence in our new head teacher. A lot of teachers are saying that they'll see how things go this term/year and, if it gets really rough, they'll be leaving. I'm currently of the same inclination. My plan will be, during the next term, to save up a ticket to anywhere and, if this ship starts sinking too fast, jump. I've already done three tours of duty in this country and I don't need to prove anything to myself; if my job gets too crappy, I'm gone.
In other news, this weekend will be spent doing a lot of cleaning, laundry and such, in preparation for my departure to Canada (east coast, not west - sorry!) near the end of next week. Yep, I'm headed back to spend time with immediate family and my grandfolks. I imagine that revisiting many of my childhood haunts will likely prove to be quite restorative to my spirit. I'm certainly going to enjoy spending some lazy days camping on the beach!
(no subject)
Aug. 28th, 2006 11:41 amBy now, my folks are about half way across Canada. They're on their way to see my paternal grandfather, who is dying of cancer and has been told he hasn't much time. They have to drive as they really can't afford airfare, but the driving really cuts into their available time for this trip (which isn't really all that much before my father starts work again). When I last spoke to Mom, she was a bit stressed out about the whole thing as there was so much to do before they left.
Before they left, I asked for my grandfather's telephone number. I'm not sure if I'll call or not; I picture the whole thing being quite awkward between the two of us (especially given that we do not share a language of proficiency (he is solely French speaking and my French "est la merde")). On top of that, we haven't really given a damn about each other for over a decade. In those years, the only conversation we've had (if you could call it that) was when I would answer the phone on the rare occasions that he was calling my father. Any attempts to engage in even simple conversation ("How are you?" "I am fine.") at such points met with failure. Just to be clear, I don't bear him any malice; I just don't really bear much of anything for him. I'm guessing the feelings are mutual.
But the opportunity to speak with him is now coming to a permanent close. And that finality is making me question whether or not I should break the silence. If I call him, what would I say? ("Hi, how are ya?" "Merde, I'm dying.") It's not like we can really sustain a meaningful conversation, given language differences (even with the translation help of my mother when she arrives). Should I even call? Would calling him give him him any comfort, knowing that I've thought of him or that his grandson has finally achieved some measure of success in a career? Or would it just uncomfortably remind him of the long standing distance between us? It's a bit of a conundrum.
I've still got a couple days to think about this, before my parents arrive back east.
In the meantime, I'd best get on with enjoying the last week of my vacation.
Before they left, I asked for my grandfather's telephone number. I'm not sure if I'll call or not; I picture the whole thing being quite awkward between the two of us (especially given that we do not share a language of proficiency (he is solely French speaking and my French "est la merde")). On top of that, we haven't really given a damn about each other for over a decade. In those years, the only conversation we've had (if you could call it that) was when I would answer the phone on the rare occasions that he was calling my father. Any attempts to engage in even simple conversation ("How are you?" "I am fine.") at such points met with failure. Just to be clear, I don't bear him any malice; I just don't really bear much of anything for him. I'm guessing the feelings are mutual.
But the opportunity to speak with him is now coming to a permanent close. And that finality is making me question whether or not I should break the silence. If I call him, what would I say? ("Hi, how are ya?" "Merde, I'm dying.") It's not like we can really sustain a meaningful conversation, given language differences (even with the translation help of my mother when she arrives). Should I even call? Would calling him give him him any comfort, knowing that I've thought of him or that his grandson has finally achieved some measure of success in a career? Or would it just uncomfortably remind him of the long standing distance between us? It's a bit of a conundrum.
I've still got a couple days to think about this, before my parents arrive back east.
In the meantime, I'd best get on with enjoying the last week of my vacation.
Man, I need a vacation from my vacation! It's been almost non-stop activity from the end of school including the staff buffet, at least two dates with a new lady friend, two visits to Aylesbury (one for stuff to bring to my new apartment and one to visit for Christmas), a Pagan Solstice social, a ceremony celebrating the re-birth of Mithras (yes, being closer to London is making it MUCH easier to attend such events), Christmas morning mass with D. and her boy (recently arrived in the country), a showing of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a Christmas party, seeing a friend off at the airport, multiple train and tube rides, and probably other stuff that I'm simply forgetting. And there's STILL more to come! (yergle!) Despite the hectic pace, Christmas has been, so far, quite pleasant. I've enjoyed a lot of great company, received generous gifts from both D. and my parents. The only real sour notes have been the nasty cough I got stuck with and the fact that ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mionemione's gift didn't arrive as it is now apparently "unavailable" from the Sears catalog site I ordered it from (it was supposed to be a Hermione towel with MIONEMIONE stenciled on it; she was so disappointed that she wasn't going to get it (sorry Sis! Back to the drawing board...)).
Currently, I'm debating whether or not to stay another night in Aylesbury in order to try and visit a couple more friends who will be arriving much later. Tomorrow, I'm headed out on another train trip to visit my new ladyfriend overnight (hence one of the reasons why I'm hesistant to stay another night; all these two-train-trip days are starting to get to me! (chuckle)).
All the best to everyone this holiday season!
mionemione's gift didn't arrive as it is now apparently "unavailable" from the Sears catalog site I ordered it from (it was supposed to be a Hermione towel with MIONEMIONE stenciled on it; she was so disappointed that she wasn't going to get it (sorry Sis! Back to the drawing board...)). Currently, I'm debating whether or not to stay another night in Aylesbury in order to try and visit a couple more friends who will be arriving much later. Tomorrow, I'm headed out on another train trip to visit my new ladyfriend overnight (hence one of the reasons why I'm hesistant to stay another night; all these two-train-trip days are starting to get to me! (chuckle)).
All the best to everyone this holiday season!
Goodbye Chip...
Apr. 16th, 2005 03:41 pm(sigh...) I just got an e-mail from my mother; poor Chip, the family dog of nearly fifteen years, had to be euthanized earlier this week. It is kind of hard to imagine that the little bundle of energetic joy is now quiet forever. I feel sad, but, given how much he has been deteriorating in the last couple of years, I knew this day would come eventually. The poor little guy had bad back, was losing both sight and hearing, and, I'm pretty sure, was going senile, too.
For those who didn't know him, he was the cutest, friendliest pomeranian imaginable. He didn't have the buggy, chihuahua-like eyes that many have; instead, he closely resembled a husky puppy, albeit with a lot more hair. He also had a matching puppy-like enthusiasm that he would carry with him well into his twilight years.
Now, I can no longer look forward to hearing his joyful barking as he jumps up and down excitably at the door, eagerly waiting for me to enter. Somehow, the world seems a little dimmer.
I will have to be sure to make voice contact with home; his passing has been difficult for my family.
For those who didn't know him, he was the cutest, friendliest pomeranian imaginable. He didn't have the buggy, chihuahua-like eyes that many have; instead, he closely resembled a husky puppy, albeit with a lot more hair. He also had a matching puppy-like enthusiasm that he would carry with him well into his twilight years.
Now, I can no longer look forward to hearing his joyful barking as he jumps up and down excitably at the door, eagerly waiting for me to enter. Somehow, the world seems a little dimmer.
I will have to be sure to make voice contact with home; his passing has been difficult for my family.
