Sunday

I am feeling very, very humbled right now.  I've got another of those 'Leibster' awards, this time from Julie's Mum at Womanunadorned (super blog, I've followed it for a while now, do go and read).
I won't be sending it on for the same reasons as stated before in an earlier post although I approve of the fact that Juliesmum has reduced it right down to three of everything!!  I will answer her questions below.

What humbles me though is what she said about this blog.
"Diary of a Teacher. A lovely lovely blog full of the gentle ups and downs of teaching in a primary school, gardening, cooking adventures and family and friends. Warning: quietly addictive!"

It humbles me and makes me very happy because it's exactly what I want my blog to be.  I love that she finds it quietly addictive.  Thank you so very much, Juliesmum.  I have a bit of a lump in my throat right now.


Here are her questions and my answers.

1. What blog post are you most proud of?
Oooh, that's a very hard one.  I've been going for several years now so there are loads of posts to choose from and I can't remember most of them.  I do remember a time when there was a wee bit of fuss (slight understatement here) in the OUSA (Open University Students Association) conferencing site (FirstClass)  and someone who should have known better, given the senior position they held, had a right rant elsewhere about being [and here I have edited out what I first wrote because it is likely to make the person concerned much more identifiable, which would be unfair] when, in fact, the opposite was the far more accurate account.  I had a bit of a rant at that, speaking out some home truths, but managed to keep my temper which was amazing because I was very, very angry - which doesn't happen very often (being angry, I mean).  I was pleased that I managed to say what I thought in this circumstance without being nasty but I'm not sure 'proud' would be the right word.  And the blog counter went shooting up for the post - funny, that!!

I was well pleased with the 'Living Below The Line project because we raised a lot of money for our chosen charity, The Hunger Project.  That was a brilliant feeling.

I like posts about my class and I like posts about my family.

Beyond that I think it is up to readers to make that judgement.  
Most of my posts are rambly, inconsequentially homey stuff.  Not terribly challenging but maybe 'quietly addictive (I do love that comment!!)
Good question!

2. Have you ever removed a blog post after publishing it, and if so, can you tell us why?
Oh, yes!  And much more before posting!  As time is likely to be at a premium in the mornings I sometimes write a skeleton of the next day's post in the evening and sleeping on things can be a very good strategy!

As a teacher (and a senior teacher at that) I have to be so very careful.  I had a right rant about something LEA-based quite a while ago and posted it, only to delete it several hours later after I had calmed down and realised it was far too OTT.

The thing is, I have a responsibility to my class, my colleagues, the parents and the school and I have to be careful not to do or say anything that would bring any of it into disrepute.  It's a responsibility I accept willingly although it can be rather a tie at times.

3. Who do you secretly hope reads your blog?
I've never thought of this one before.  I would like to think Jack Monroe reads this and my sister blog 'Food Diary of a Teacher' but I bet she doesn't, she's way too busy.  Apart from that I am grateful that around 30 people seem to want to read and seem to enjoy it enough to come back.    I hope they - you - keep coming back for more!


The other news is that I have my PC back again.  It's lovely to have a proper keyboard again rather than something with an annoying touch pad in the middle.  So the school laptop is sitting on the printer having a rest.

Goodness, I don't half ramble on at times!  And now I'm off to think about making some blackberry and apple jam!