I've been telling the student teachers for weeks that they need to take a risk in their lesson plans... mostly they have been teaching very teacher led (boring) lessons, which is fine, they've only been in school for 4 weeks, but its a good school and now they have more confidence they should be able to try some more creative ideas and not have to worry too much about behaviour.

So Thursday was a training day. We had a session about writing a TLA, and the whole school focus on questining, then some time in departments where we discussed what we would do for our TLA's (its basically a small research project, write an action plan, carry it out, write a 1500 word essay. I did one last year, its not big deal)

In the afternoon we had two sessions. The second one was quite dulll but the first was on POWER TEACHING! I know the link is maths, but my school thinks it can be applied across the curriculum... Sounds exciting, Huh? Well it definitely sparked off my imagination. Basically you put the kids in teams of 4, and the team is responsible for co-operative learning, team is rewarded rather than individuals. They have a name and come up with cheers, you put your hand up for "zero noise" and give out points for co-operation... all strategies we've used with the cubs and scouts for years, so I'm confident they will work.

Well the major problem is my classroom... the desks are arranged in rows facing the front. I'm lucky as mine is one of the older style labs, which has individual tables you can move. The sinks and gas taps are fixed in place and there are 5 of them in the room, three near the front and two at the back. Rows are not that great for group work, so I often let the kids move the desks. So on Friday afternoon, Year 8 were doing group work, so I let them move the desks...We put them into squares around 4 of the sinks, so there are 8 kids around three of the sinks and 6 around the other one.

I'm not sure it was successful... in fact, the rest of that lesson and the form time at the end of the day were crap! So on Friday I was unsure about keeping the new arrangement. It will mean new seating plans for all my classes, but realistically... the students are teaching Year 7 (and I'll give them the option to move things back, especially since their university tutor is in on Tuesday...) Year 8 is only once a week, Year 9 is only two lessons a week, Year 10 are being resetted after Christmas and Year 11 there are only 14 of them and they are angels anyways! I suppose my main concern is not having them all facing me... its silly really, but I've never, in my 5 years of teaching had the seats in anything other than rows. I need to take a risk for learning... I keep telling the students to! (Oh and they are great, nothing like the nutcase they sent last year!

I've finally finished knitting the twinkletoes for BabyGiggles... It took me two attempts to pick up and knit the ribbed edging, because I had the wrong number of stitches the first time and the second time I picked them up on the wrong side of the cast off edge (and then I think I knitted it around backwards...)

I was eager to finish them so I could begin work on a pair of Mrs Beetons. After a disastrous shopping trip to Leeds last weekend... nowhere in Leeds sells Rowan yarn! in fact nowhere sells mohair, that I could substitute for the kidsilk that the pattern calls for... So yesterday we went out to Embsay and I got the right yarns... I bought kidsilk haze in a creamy vanilla white, and kid classic in a lovely strawberry pink. I got beads to match, the small ones are metallic pink, and the others are frosted pink with gold linings.

I threaded the beads on last night... no mean feat! Size 11 seed beads are tiny little buggers, and fluffy mohair yarn makes it very tricky! I've now sat for over an hour... trying to cast on 108 stitches in a place bead, cast on 2 pattern... I've tried bamboo needles in the size it says, my circular needle in the size it says and a bigger aluminium dp needle... I finally got them done, but it turned out I had 115 stitches, I can't just rip them out because then there are loads of beads left over... I figured I could just knit them together in the next round, but when I put them onto my bamboo dpns, I got all twisted and annoyed and had to rip them out again! I wouldn't mind but a pair of Mrs Beetons was my 3rd project ever and they came out fine! I even used Mohair loop for them , which should have made them more difficult!

I bought a lovely cerise coat the other week and it is just crying out for fluffy soft arm warmers... Grrrrrrrrr!!!

Well, here I am. End of two weeks holidays and I have done no school work. I don't really know why I kid myself that it will get done. Anyways, TheBoy has gone out walking (which is mental because its absolutely pissing it down) so I'm home alone, with nothing to distract me, except the whole internet!!!

I'm rebuilding my memory stick, since my pink slidy one got broken in the last week of term. Annoying, as I usually back it up every half term. So I lost just about as much work as I possibly could have done! I've bought a new orange one and its 16GB!!! for just £22.99!!!! That's incredible, and so small... technology is amazing.

I was hoping I would have completed marking Yr 11's Coursework and prepared the revision resources for their January resits. I need also to figure out what I am teaching Year 7... so that I can tell the students tomorrow what they will be teaching on Friday... *evil laugh* I thought it was fairer to tell them this week, rather than have a whole two week to panic about it. I brought home a pile of Year 8 homeworks to mark and I suppose I better plan something for double Year 13 first thing in the morning...

We're out for dinner tonight to Tom's... We often cook for Tom as he's single and most of us are couples and he's in his NQT year (thats the first year of teaching after you train), so needs some support.

I'm making the starter, which is going to be soup... I haven't go a recipe, its more a make-it-up-as-you-go-along soup. My plan was to hollow out an Acorn Squash and a Sunshine Squash. Dice the flesh and roast it with diced carrot, sweet potato and a cooking apple. Then I was planning to throw the whole lot into my slow cooker, with some vegetable stock (and soem herbs, maybe sage, probably paprika) and let it cook for a while... I may add some potatoes at this point too. Simmer for a while, blend, and I may or may not add cream... There are 5 of us for dinner, but my plan was to make lots of soup and serve some on Saturday at our Halloween Film and FoodFest.

Not sure if I will make bread or cheese straws to go with it... I might have to make a trip to the supermarket.

The Miss Dashwood hat is finished... earflaps and ties are sewn on and buttons added. My frill edging kinda curls up and I think it will need blocking (never done that before...) I had enough yarn left over, so I whipped up the other half of the pair of TwinkleToes and it just needs the rib edging to be finished. Lucky BabyGiggles!

Zac's Aunt Enid and I have been emailing this week... mostly about my GoodFood Magazine subscription, which she is going to renew as my Christmas gift this year. i mentioned Zac's new job and how things were going much better and she replied with...

"Lovely to know that Zac is smiling again. Long may it continue. I've been worried about him but sometimes I hardly dared ask. You've been brilliant in supporting him - can't always have been easy.

Just a short note... but it really means a lot. I know I didn't do it so that everyone would pat me on the back in the end, but it does help that my hard work and effort was recognised.

Zac was in the pub last week with some Scouty friends, and he thinks one of them is suffering visits from The Black Dog too... takes one to know one, and I hope everything works out for him. He's a single bloke though and that isn't going to be easy. Zac is taking him out for a few beers tonight and is gonna talk to him about it...

I had planned to visit Giggles and Charlotte this half term, but it now looks like I can't. I had mentioned it originally in the summer holidays, but like most things in my life it got left until the last minute. Now the only convenient time for me to visit is early next week and the train ticket will cost over £100... Now I really want to go, but I can't really stretch to that! The only other alternative is to drive, but its about 4.5 hours... and the furthest I've ever driven before is Manchester (about an hour away) and that was only about a month ago.

So I'll have to post the hat... but wait... there is a postal strike on. So it could get lost... and there is another one on next week too... So it might just have to be a Christmas hat.

I feel crappy about it, and to make matters worse, Zac's office is moving next week, so he went out for a drink after work. He said I could go join him, but after the drinking incident at Nat's party I wasn't really up for it. Plus he never told me what time to meet him. Well turns out he finished work at 4. He arrived home at 7 and rather tipsy... now its not even 10pm and he has gone off to bed, leaving me feeling miserable.

I checked my bank balance to be certain I couldn't afford to go to Southampton, and just realised its another week until PayDay and he wants to go Christmas Shopping in Manchester tomorrow...

What a crappy end to my day.

I'm having a great half term. I think all my tiredness was compacted into Sunday Night after camp and that has meant I could get up and get things done! Monday and Tuesday I went tidying crazy! Tuesday was Craft Day on QVC, so it was quite easy to stay in the living room (in front of the TV) and get lots done. I didn't realise QVC sold Martha Stewart goodies, and I was veryvery tempted to buy some of the Christmas papers... But alas, I am still poor. Zac seems to think we are rich now he is working... and I suppose he has slightly more disposable income. But despite my pay rise last month I'm not feeling any better off. We had to replace the TV (£250...) and the car wipers meant the whole engine had to be removed to change the linkage.... and they found the handbrake was dangerously corroded... (another £250...) so yeah... feeling poor. I don't really know where all the money goes :(

Wednesday I didn't get much done, as I was downloading games from shockwave.com and wasting my day that way! At Scouts I got my Wood Beads presented!!!! That means I've finished my Scout Leader training... only been at it since 2004... Go me!

Yesterday was a lazy day... I woke up at 12... got up, pottered around and finally got in the bath at 3.15... I read my latest Good Food magazine cover to cover and pampered myself with a facemask and leg shaving... I got dressed after that, so all in all a very lazy day! We went to the pub quiz at 9, I kinda wish I hadn't bothered... we missed the first 8 questions, as they started it a bit early, and then everyone was in a rush to get back to see Question Time, so we left at 10.10pm. I think the whole thing has been blown out of proportion, and I have to agree with the BNP spokesperson on the radio this morning...

BBC NEws website: "Mr Griffin told BBC News too much of the programme had been a "beat up Nick Griffin programme instead of Question Time".He added that of the 25 or so allegations made against him in the programme - he was only allowed to answer four or five of them and that was "grossly unfair".
And a BNP spokesman complained that the programme had focused entirely on Mr Griffin's views and ignored newsworthy stories such as the postal strike, Afghanistan and Europe.
"This was not a normal Question Time," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "It was 'let's have a go at Nick Griffin time'."

I can see that Nick Griffin has hideous personal views and he is trying to thrust them onto the public. I can also see that people voted BNP for the European elections, because they thought there were no other viable options form the mainstream parties... but I'm just not that interested in Politics... Judging from a lot of Facebook statuses, people are just jumping on the bandwagon to give Nick Griffin a good bashing (one that he does deserve admittedly, but I'm not certain QuestionTime was the right place to do it. Oh and what was with all the Smirking!?!

Today I'm going to get more tidying done, then meet Zac for PizzaHut Buffet lunch at 12.30.

( I try to get something done something before the PizzaFest! )

I'm alive... well just about. The last week has been madness, but Camp went well. (Cutting a long story short, it was our Group Camp, thats 8 Beaver Scouts aged 6-8, 19 Cub Scouts aged 8-10.5, 10 Scouts aged 10.5-14 and 4 Explorer Scouts aged 14-18, plus 9 leaders... I was Camp Leader, not bad for my first camp planning experience!!!)There were a few hairy moments because we were 3 leaders down in the end (all with good excuses, but short notice excuses never the less...), Oh and an incident in which a sharp axe met a Scout's finger... but other than that, it was all good.

I basically ran the whole of last week on empty. From Tuesday I didn't have a moment to myself, knowing that it was half term this week and I could catch up then. Monday was tutoring, Tuesday was an afterschool meeting and trip to the Supermarket, Wednesday was Cubs at 6pm and I was still there at 9.30pm, getting things organised for the weekend. Thursday we got everything out of the Tower and loaded the minibus and drove it to the campsite and unpacked it all again. Friday I got in from work at 3.15pm, packed the bags, loaded everything into the car, picked up Dan and still made it to camp by 5pm. The kids arrived at 5.30pm, and by the time they were all in bed (after Midnight) and we were having a meeting to organise who was doing what on Saturday, Linda said "Are you chairing this Jenn?" and I just looked at her all... Nuuugh... and she said "Ok, I'll chair it then" I went to bed soon after that, but slept badly as I kept hearing kids talking all night. And then to top it all off my period started on Saturday! In the middle of a field! With just a crappy old toilet that drains into a septic tank and took me all weekend to get the hang of flushing!

We got back on Sunday night and I was exhausted! We both had a bath and that helped...I went early to bed, but I was still tired on Monday so I had to cancel tutoring and do that tonight. I was hoping to go over to Mum's tonbight to play Bingo... but tutoring meant I couldn't.

I've been super busy with my to-do list for the last couple of days, and slowly but surely I'm getting there. I mostly did kitchen on Monday, Living room today, so I'll tackle our bedroom tomorrow... Thursday I'll pop up to school and grab a markscheme for the SAT's test I have to mark... Friday I might see if Mum fancies a shopping trip. Saturday, Zac wants to go to Manchester. Sunday should be a quiet one.

Oh and on the subject of Autumn... its here! This last week or so I've really noticed it getting colder, being darker in the mornings (clocks go back this weekend!!!)and all the leaves are going crispy and falling off. My veg box arrived today all full of yummy autumn treats... Bramley Apples and Pears (will become a crumble), Bananas, Carrots, Parsnips, Spring Greens, Potatoes and Onions. I've ordered Pumpkins for next week... Mmmmmmmmmmmm!

I feel crappy... The healthy eating things is going ok... starting to feel a bit deprived of cake. I keep telling myself I don't want it because I want to be slim, but since I'm also on my period this week I really feel like I'd rather have the cake! I did lose a bit of weight, but now (and I know I shouldn't have weighed myself this week) its all come back on again... Damn you water retention!!!

I stubbed my toe last Thursday, and it is really badly bruised. I've been wearing trainers at work the last two days (no one seems to have noticed!) It's getting better, but still really hurts, so I can't go to the gym, so I feel even more crappy.

I made a horrible meal for tea today, so bad I chucked it in the bin, so now I'm going to have chips and feel even fatter. *le sigh* It was meant to be stuffed squash, but it was pattypan squash, which I've never cooked before. All the internet recipes said to cut it into pieces and roast it for about 15 mins, it also said they were usually 6-8cm across and this one was more like 15cm. I brushed it with oil and garlic, and gave it about 25 mins. It tasted of nothing and had a sort of foamy texture... Not good. The mince was veggie mince and somehow came out tasting all wrong, kinda sweet... even though I hadn't added anything sweet (unless you count paprika... which I don't) I feel bad about wasting food... even though it was not very nice. Starving children in Africa and all that... My bloody mother has a lot to answer for in this...

On my way home from work it seemed like I was the only person in Bradford who could actually drive... I encountered someone using their indicator as if it was a kind of forcefield, just put it on and pulled out without even looking; someone who undertook me, using the bus lane and a car who followed me so close to my bumper I felt like slamming on the brakes just to piss them off (I didn't though!) There was nothing good on the radio, and my iPod must be in a bad mood too, as all the songs it picked were crappy! Plus all the paint is chipping off it so it looks pants, because I lost my lovely knitted case.

Nuugghhh... It's TheBoy I feel sorry for... having to put up with moody crappy old me!

I'm really bad at making friends... I always have been. I've never had many friends at a time and when I do I tend to have one best friend and the rest are really just people I know.

So my friend Liz, we met when I started working at my old school which is about 3 years ago. We worked together for 2 years and then we both got jobs at different schools. I've not seen her since before August bank holiday... and I'm wondering if we're still friends. I know it sounds really childish, but every time I text her to arrange to do something she can't make it. I'm trying really hard not to over react, but its been happening for almost 3 weeks. First off it was things like we couldn't meet up on Wednesday because neither of us had the car, Thursday it was because of presentation evening then Friday she couldn't meet me for coffee after work because she was going to see the in-laws. She skipped out on me at the Gym on Monday because she was tired, but then went on Tuesday without asking me. (It was her facebook status) Tonight she can't meet me because she is fasting for school. I feel really odd about just asking her straight out if we are still friends, but its really getting to me. I've always been the one who extends the invitation, and every time there is an excuse.

Am I just being paranoid?

I lost my best friend from primary school over some misunderstanding or another, and since my wedding (18 months ago) I've only spoken to my bridesmaid about twice. I don't feel like I should always be the one making the effort, but I don't want to lose friends because I am being selfish.

*sigh* Plus its that time of the month... :( I really hope things get better soon.

I'm feeling much better... More on that in the next update.

House is being inspected by the letting agent tomorrow... and I need to get(  all this done )

Finger update: So after the crappy doctor couldn't lance my finger last week, Zac took me back up to A & E in the evening to get my finger drained. Re dressed and in a comedy bandage. I had to wear it to the wedding, but we were distant friends, so hardly the centre of attnetion. Wednesday this week I saw the doctor for the appointment she made last week and it didn't need draining and is healing up nicely. No longer using iodine dressings, as its healed over, but keeping it clean and dry with just a plaster on.

Swollen face: Wednesday I had toothache, Thursday I had a slight cheek swelling. Saw the pharmacist last night when I went for more painkillers and he said it could be an infection/abcess. I thought that was odd since I've just finished two courses of antibiotics for the finger, but apparently they are for skin infections, not oral infeections. Today I look like half a hamster. Not in much pain as I'm taking double dose of ibuprofen and double dose of paracetamol (on pharmacist advice of course). Had an argument with Zac this morning about going to work. I feel fine (even if I look a little odd) other than the awkwardness of a swollen cheek. so I was determined to go. He shouted at me that I needed to see a doctor and my health was more importatn than work. He thought I should phone up school, sack it off until 8am when you can ring up for emergency appointments that day. Only trouble is the windscreen wipers on my car packed in at the weekend, and I was getting a lift at 7.20am so I had to go then or it would be difficult (two buses, or train and long walk) to get to school. I left in a huff, and he phoned me at 7.45 when I had just arrived at work. He was in a total panic because he had been on the internet and diagnosed me as having meningitus... I have no rash, no aversion to light and was immunised against it! So I phoned up NHS direct. She said it was very very unlikely I had it and arranged for a nurse to call me back. (thats how it works) In the meantime I phoned the doctor and got an appt at 10.30. So I had to leave work in the middle of my Year 11 lesson (they were fine and just doing coursework) and not get back until half way through my Year 7 lesson (the first one ever!!!) So I had to go beg the woman who sorts out the cover to get Science teachers to cover me... and then set my cover work, and photocopy all the sheets... all before 8.30, when I had to register my form! Chaos!

So I have another course of antibiotics... and some thrush treatment since the finger antibiotics have upset the natural balance!(both on prescription and cost another £14.40, which is ok, since thrush treatment is about £12 by itself) I'm drinking Muller Vitality (yogurt drink with pro and prebiotics) and my new porridge is prebiotic too in the hopes of staving off a stomach upset. I only need my cold sores to flare up and I'll have the full works!

Apparently its common with root canal that if you have an infection it flares up too... Not sure what happened the first time round, as I figured the swelling was a reaction to the anaesthetic.

Send hugs and sympathy!

Which do you think is the biggest commitment, getting married to someone or having kids with them?

So the Finger of Doom...

Saturday's dressing change at the hospital, my finger was all healed and the swelling going down. Saw the district Nurse on Tuesday to change the dressing and its all swollen up again. She gave me a prescription for more iodine dressings(£5.40), and put a plaster on it instead of the comedy finger bandage. She said it probably needs antibiotics(£7.20), so called my doctor who put me on a huge dose (that the leaflet says is for severe infections or post surgery!!!). Picked them up yesterday and have taken 3 so far.

This morning the swelling is spreading down past my next knuckle and the bottom knuckle is beginning to get warm. I can't bear to put a plaster on it as its so swollen and have gone back to a single layer of padding and a thin tubular bandage. Its not leaking, so the iodine dressings aren't necessary. . I wish it was... the pressure is killing me! Went to see the doctor and she put me onto more antibiotics(another £5.10)... Yeast infection and stomach pains here I come! She can't do "minor surgery" eg lancing it again, so has made me an appt for next Wed, to see a proper doctor who can do it if it's still needed... but that's a whole week away.

I'm back at work tomorrow... I'm taking two types of antibiotic 4 times a day and pain killers the same. I could taxi up to hospital and see if they will lance it.....

I'm worried about school, I'm going to be grumpy and there will be all the questions... and this stupid barbecue my boss is having on Sunday, plus a hair appt and wedding to go to on Saturday. I just want to curl up in my bed until it all goes away!

Well there is a surprise eh? I didn't get up until 1pm... Then I ate a cheese sandwich and moped around watching QVC. Zac came home and I fell apart... there wasn't much food in, overdraft issues etc...

I think we overcelebrated him getting a job with our weekend in York, then had to buy a new tv and renew the house insurance. Damn... But I get paid on Friday, and September paycheck is a rise! Oh and my wipers are going very very slowly on the car... they will need seeing to soon.

I guess its giving me a healthier attitude to my overdraft. I extended it to cover things like this. I earn good money and will just have the be more careful next time. I am not SuperWoman remember.

So... since I did very little yesterday and I'm sick of being ruled by this dumb finger... I had to take paracetamol yesterday night and this morning... It hurts still!

I did manage to clear off my desk... looking good.

( A list... in which I start small, and may add to later )

I spent my Tesco giftcard last night on new stationery for school.

I bought all these goodies...

Plastic press-stud folder with butterflys, purple Oxford project book, 10 pack of double ended Stabilo Trios, Pack of signo gelstick 0.7 (like i had for the guestbook signing at the wedding), pack of 5 mechanical pencils, tippex and a 12 pack of Sharpies!!!

So I'm pretty much all set for school. Just need to wash my pencil case. Zac reckons I can throw it in the washer... we'll see!

In the event of my being dead and not needing them anymore... Yes I would. My Dad and I had a conversation about this when I filled in my drivers licence. He said they could go to a murderer... Unlikely!

As for randomly whilst I was alive, if someone asked me then I would get tested. I think its unlikely a stranger would ask, but you never know.

Arrrghhh... its driving me crazy. The iodine dressing under the bandage is damp, and make it feel like my finger has been in water for about 4 days solid... its all damp and sweaty under the bandage... Yuck! I want it off now... or at least something smaller.

I can't get it wet, so cooking, washing up, taking a shower are all a huge effort or need assistance from theboy. He did no washing up last week, despite me not being able to do any since Thursday, so my kitchen is grotty again. Not that I can enjoy cooking, since I can't get wet and rubber gloves are all too small for it!

I can't type or use the mouse for longer than about 45 mins without it being uncomfortable. I've mostly been reading and finished Five Quarters of the Orange today... I'll probably call in at the charity shops tomorrow after my bandage change. I really want Blackberry Wine.

I suppose I should be getting ready for school (start on Friday), but my pencil case needs washing out and its awkward to write with the finger of doom, so thats not working out too well.

I watched a fair amount of QVC this afternoon, Bought myself some very expensive face wash... and very tempted by the Disney Couture jewellry... apparently its all the rage with celebs in the US, but I like it because I lovelovelove Belle and Ariel and Tinkerbell. More at asos.com Silver Tink earrings and Beauty and the Beast Rose Pendant If only I wasn't penniless! (by that I mean actually into an overdraft, which is technically worse than penniless... September Payrise here I come!)

So Wednesday night the edge of my finger was a bit sore... nothing much. I took an anti-histamine in case it was an allergy and didn't think much about it. It felt a bit sore during the day yesterday, and when we went to ASDA I called in at the chemist. By now it was twice as big as the index finger on the other hand and really quite sore. Chemist said it was infected. I needed to see my doctor in the morning for antibiotics and it would be ok.

Went home, put it on ice for the swelling, didin't really work. I felt miserable, Zac started fussing. We went up to bed at about 9.15, Zac took one look at the finger of doom, and made us get dressed again and drive up to A&E (Accident and Emergency, Casualty, whatever it's called in your part of the world.). I drove, so I was hardly dying...

(  Cut for DevonJo, the most squeamish person I know ) Then they bandaged me all up and now I have a huge comedy index finger. No school work for me today!



And so my to-do list is as follows:

Sleep in as long as possible in the morning

Take regular paracetamols, for the inevitable pain of recovery. This won't be needed, its not too bad atm.

Sit on the sofa eating chocolate brownies and feeling sorry for myself Bored of this now

Drink copious amounts of tea. On my third cup

Avoid the computer... I have to use middle and ring finger on the mouse as my index finger is out of action!...

Make arrangements for dressing change tomorrow.... waiting for district nurses to get back to me.

In other bad news... All of this does mean Jo, that I'm unlikely to be able to come and see you. I need a dressing change tomorrow, and have a Camp meeting on Weds that I forgot about. I am back to school on Friday... Sorry!

In slightly better news... The girl I was tutoring for Yr12 Chem, got a C overall... Considering she got an E in her January exam, and she got a C in the resit an in her other exam, I'd say we did a pretty good job. Also means she will continue to next year... and I'll earn more pennies! One of the women-I-do-Scouts-with's son is doing Yr12 chem... I've already mentioned I do tutoring, so we'll see how that goes. If that one pays off I'll be rich,rich,rich!

( The list... )

I'm gearing up for that post over on thinmuffet I bought a book yesterdayfrom the charity shop for 60p... whats to lose? Basically it says I am fat because I eat too much,(No shit!) and sugar is the devils own food. Its more diet counsellor than actual diet book. Not so veggie friendly... Protein without fat is tricky... I might have to try quorn again, now I am a good cook I could probably make it nice. *flutters off for breakfast*