I almost ran the same teenager over twice.
TWICE I tell you!
The second time I politely pointed out to him that in future he might wish to look where he's going.
His reply as he whizzed off on his BMX?
"Farkorfffff!!!"
Pretty much exactly as I would have done in 1988.
Monday, March 31, 2008
High tea
While I'm on the subject of truly great reasons for Norfolk in the spring, here's an aerial picture of a stupendous afternoon tea that was recently served up to us by our dearest chums, the chesnuts of the shire.
We will shortly be hosting them and serving homemade burgers a'la 'Bonnies' of Fifth Avenue.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
This one's for Weasel
Sunset at Hempstead, near Holt.
Early morning at Sheringham.
Brilliant gloom at Hempstead.
Some shots of a few days in gorgeous North Norfolk (only 45 minutes flying time from Amsterdam)
Monday, March 24, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Politically unreliable
Hey, each to their own, but when a coworker publicly praises Oswald Mosely and Enoch Powell.
I should be concerned shouldn't I?
I should be concerned shouldn't I?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
J ' Gagne!
I won the Teacher's section of the school Easter bonnet competition!!!!!!!!
I have no pictures of my splendid creation but imagine if you will, a Napoleonic style hat covered in brightly painted cardboard bunny rabbits (I've had a thing about bunnies since reading Watership Down)
The children had to vote by a show of hands in front of loads of parents and all the other teachers.
A public vote.
And I won!
It was like being a Communist Dictator and I loved it!
Yeah!
In the children's section the kid in my class who treats school as an optional debating club won. He's a practising Pagan, intensely competitive about religion and was delighted to win "the Christian Easter thing" adding "I'm only here today because I know there's chocolate somewhere". In another category two other Pagan kids won! It's a church school but, like, whatever!
Oh did I tell you?
I won!
And I had an acceptance speech in my pocket.
I have no pictures of my splendid creation but imagine if you will, a Napoleonic style hat covered in brightly painted cardboard bunny rabbits (I've had a thing about bunnies since reading Watership Down)
The children had to vote by a show of hands in front of loads of parents and all the other teachers.
A public vote.
And I won!
It was like being a Communist Dictator and I loved it!
Yeah!
In the children's section the kid in my class who treats school as an optional debating club won. He's a practising Pagan, intensely competitive about religion and was delighted to win "the Christian Easter thing" adding "I'm only here today because I know there's chocolate somewhere". In another category two other Pagan kids won! It's a church school but, like, whatever!
Oh did I tell you?
I won!
And I had an acceptance speech in my pocket.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Crap job interview
I should have known when Mr Golden Wonderful Amazing Fantastic Superb Marvellous walked in the door.
I also think I got on the interviewer's nerves.
In case you were wondering, no I didn't get the job. Stupid job.
That's me on the right.
I also think I got on the interviewer's nerves.
In case you were wondering, no I didn't get the job. Stupid job.
That's me on the right.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday, March 03, 2008
How to distract teacher
Comments overheard after the class noticed what was going on just outside the classroom door.
"Are they?"
"Jordan's cat is going to have kittens"
"Get a room!"
"Cat's don't get rooms, they get bushes"
"That poor lady cat"
"Is that legal?"
"This is even worse than the hares." This refers to the wildlife video we watched which began with frolicking hares and ended in bunny porn.
The most amusing thing was this show carried on, the two cats in question indulged in their sexual adventures outside the door, a few minutes later outside the window (the blinds of which I attempted to close but they jammed which attracted the attention of the whole class. Again). After break they were at it agin, on a picnic bench by the peace garden. Nice.
"Are they?"
"Jordan's cat is going to have kittens"
"Get a room!"
"Cat's don't get rooms, they get bushes"
"That poor lady cat"
"Is that legal?"
"This is even worse than the hares." This refers to the wildlife video we watched which began with frolicking hares and ended in bunny porn.
The most amusing thing was this show carried on, the two cats in question indulged in their sexual adventures outside the door, a few minutes later outside the window (the blinds of which I attempted to close but they jammed which attracted the attention of the whole class. Again). After break they were at it agin, on a picnic bench by the peace garden. Nice.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
I'm alright Jack.
Five years away from the Union.
Five years spent realising how valuable they are.
Now this.
Book learning. Crisis point.
It's time for a novel.
Something light and funny.
Let me tell you why.
I began this book last February. That's right, 2007. I got halfway through, was enjoying it, in the way that one does enjoy an examination of perspectives on mental illness and nineteenth century cultural values. Then I left it on a train (Arrgh!! The eternal romance of leaving books on trains!) So I purchased another copy which I then left at my parents house (I was still living in New York at that time). During the summer I picked it up again and was delighted to discover that I had completely lost my train of thought. It's still by my bed. I really should pass it on. But to who?
Crumbs! This one almost took off. I absolutely loved Roy Jenkins's biography of Winston Churchill and have always been interested by W.E.Gladstone. You'd think this would be easy. Right?
WRONG.
Gladstone used to disappear from London for months at a time. He led an astonishingly slow paced life and he wrote excrutiating letters to people who I care little about. I tried to see the bigger picture and was desperate to get to the juicy bits about Ireland and Disraeli. But not desperate enough to wade through page after worthy page about economic conditions in 1859 or his unease about the different strains of nonconformist thinking at Oxford University. A good read for some, but alas, not for me.
I still love Lyndon. I can't understand why anyone wouldn't. But this book was just too heavy.
No, I mean it weighs a great deal. I am not able to read this at night, in bed, as it hurts me.
I was given the hardcover edition as a birthday gift a few years ago. A couple of years later, Listmaker gave me a paperback edition.
I really, really wish I had kept that paperback edition.
One of the big things I miss about New York is the ammount of reading that takes place on public transport. Listmaker always used to say that he got some of his best reading done on the subway. Damn right. Until I fix my ridiculous commute I'm not able to read half as much as I used to. I would have almost certainly got on with any of these great books had I been able to hop on the Q to Union Square a couple of times a week.
It's not all doom and gloom. I've just stolen something interesting from the shelf at my parents house. It's quite thin and looks like it could be fun. We shall see.
Something light and funny.
Let me tell you why.
I began this book last February. That's right, 2007. I got halfway through, was enjoying it, in the way that one does enjoy an examination of perspectives on mental illness and nineteenth century cultural values. Then I left it on a train (Arrgh!! The eternal romance of leaving books on trains!) So I purchased another copy which I then left at my parents house (I was still living in New York at that time). During the summer I picked it up again and was delighted to discover that I had completely lost my train of thought. It's still by my bed. I really should pass it on. But to who?
Crumbs! This one almost took off. I absolutely loved Roy Jenkins's biography of Winston Churchill and have always been interested by W.E.Gladstone. You'd think this would be easy. Right?
WRONG.
Gladstone used to disappear from London for months at a time. He led an astonishingly slow paced life and he wrote excrutiating letters to people who I care little about. I tried to see the bigger picture and was desperate to get to the juicy bits about Ireland and Disraeli. But not desperate enough to wade through page after worthy page about economic conditions in 1859 or his unease about the different strains of nonconformist thinking at Oxford University. A good read for some, but alas, not for me.
I still love Lyndon. I can't understand why anyone wouldn't. But this book was just too heavy.
No, I mean it weighs a great deal. I am not able to read this at night, in bed, as it hurts me.
I was given the hardcover edition as a birthday gift a few years ago. A couple of years later, Listmaker gave me a paperback edition.
I really, really wish I had kept that paperback edition.
One of the big things I miss about New York is the ammount of reading that takes place on public transport. Listmaker always used to say that he got some of his best reading done on the subway. Damn right. Until I fix my ridiculous commute I'm not able to read half as much as I used to. I would have almost certainly got on with any of these great books had I been able to hop on the Q to Union Square a couple of times a week.
It's not all doom and gloom. I've just stolen something interesting from the shelf at my parents house. It's quite thin and looks like it could be fun. We shall see.
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