Friday

Good morning!
Well, it was a very good course indeed yesterday.  Lots of confusion cleared up, lots of clearly defined expectations, good handouts and a very nice lunch.  I feel a lot more prepared to mentor now.  They have changed the system since the last time and very much for the better, I think.

A great shame I was only concentrating about 90% because of other stuff.  Beth and Alex have the norovirus (I reckon that's what they have) and Alex has damaged his knuckle to the extent that he will need an op.  He's dehydrated so they can't operate straight away but they are treating the sickness which is very good news.  Fingers crossed for the next four or five days.

It is at times like these that I am truly grateful yet again for working in such a caring and supportive school.  I whizzed back when the training finished to have a chat to the deputy head who immediately agreed to give me today off (this was before I knew they were intending to operate next Tuesday) without any hesitation whatsoever.  As it turned out, Beth refused my offer to help saying she didn't want me to get the virus (I agree, I don't want to either, not with a Christmas Show to produce) and that they would be OK and stay snug indoors.  So I will be in school today but will not forget the kindness that immediately agreed to give me a day off without any ifs, buts or maybes.

Thursday

I feel as if I have been given a holiday.  Today I am not in school; I'm off to a PGCE mentor training day at our local university.  The training starts at half past nine and goes on until four so lunch is provided, as is coffee, tea, biccies, etc!

Now, usually, when I am on a course I go into school at the usual time, wait for the supply teacher to turn up, go through the pre-prepared and copiously detailed notes I have made for the day and then dash off, late and a bit (or a lot, depending on where I have to go) stressed, for the course.  Supplies are not noted for turning up early, I fear!

But the worm has turned.  No more!  After all, agency supplies are qualified teachers and ought to be as capable of interpreting planning as I am, especially planning that goes into as much detail as mine does.  They ought to be able to photocopy sheets, find resources and generally manage a class, especially one as delightful and well trained (I have to say that, don't I?) as mine.

So - I have annotated my usual planning, placed all necessary resources on an accessible part of my laptop (route also annotated), placed a necessary sheet for photocopying on the planning sheets and won't be going in early tomorrow.

Instead I have another two and a half hours at home before setting out into town.  Bliss.  And as I didn't know which nearby long stay car parks don't get totally clogged up early (some do), I have done something really shocking.  I have ordered a taxi!  There, isn't that decadent?  The thing is, I get travel sick on buses and my gammy knee isn't going to like it if I try to walk into town.  That's my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it. 

Even worse, I will be getting another one home again.  Bad, bad me!

Hope the training is worth it!