Monday 28 September 2009

Fishing

The weather all weekend was fantastic - and I do mean fantastic, as in unbelievable. The end of September, yet it was warm, sunny, the sea was calm and there was almost no wind. People sat on the beach, swam in the sea.

We took the kayak out.

As always, we journey in hope with a fishing rod and a line. In truth, I'd almost rather not go with it: we have to be wary of shallow water as the hook catches on the rocks. There is a myriad of rocky islets along our coast, varying with the state of the tide.

Occasionally, the rod bends and we get excited. Usually the hook has deftly caught some attractive seaweed.

Yesterday, we failed to catch significant chunks of weed. Instead, we caught fish. 3 times in an hour and a half: that's pretty good for a fisherman and his wife. 3 pollock, the largest weighing almost two pounds, landed in our little kayak. 2 came home with us and jumped straight into the frying pan.














Generous as ever, we shared with Mpira. Initially suspicious, he carefully lifted up one of the discarded heads and carried it away to eat at his leisure. He is not a dog who buries bones, preferring instead to choose his dining area. It did not take long to convert him to the taste of fish.


















He sits and gazes with longing at the kayak, now hanging in the garage, waiting for the next fishing trip.

It might be a long time before we catch any more.

Thursday 24 September 2009

Living a different life

Life is different now that Jonny and Cat have gone back to uni.
The house is quiet, texts and emails occasional as we all get busy.
Too busy, sometimes, to really miss each other with sharp pangs.
More like a dull ache.

Loss of their presence sits heavy, peering over my shoulder.

I live with this as my life is full of other people's lives.
Children I teach; their parents; my colleagues; my friends; my church family.

I live with this as my life is full of tasks.
Lessons to prepare, books to mark, courses to study, assignments to complete.
Housework and cooking work, walking the dog work, cycling to work. Shopping work.

I live with this presence, relieving the heaviness with the lightness of texts, emails and phone conversations.

The sky lightens.

Tuesday 15 September 2009

A deep breath

I've taken a deep breath today.
The beginning of the school year is always tremendously hectic, and I feel as if I'm running on a treadmill: and for someone who hates running/can't run anyway, that is a truly frightening feeling!
Now I've committed to undertaking a professional development course.
It's going to be a lot of work.
I feel tired already.
Will I make it without running out of steam?

Autumn

Blissful days of endless summer.
Every sunrise is a benison, as warmth spreads across still fields, wisp clad.
A calm sea is a surprise.

Then comes a rising wind
bringing a wash of rain in hurrying footsteps.
Autumn stomps in, bad-tempered.

Friday 11 September 2009

End of the summer

I've written a post with this title before. Can't remember when, why or where.

After the amazingly good weather at the weekend and earlier in the week, we are now into the beginning of autumn. Wind, cooler temperatures, more cloud.

The weather cements a reality into me.

I feel I have to accept that I HAVE started back at school, that I DO have to get on with teaching, and that Jonny and Cat ARE returning to university tomorrow. The weather tells me that these things are true and I cannot deny them any longer.

The weather brings this sadness.

Saturday 5 September 2009

25 years
















25 years ago, Richard and I were married - on my birthday.

I can't believe we've got this far together.

Not that splitting up was ever an option - far from it. That day was the beginning of the best time of my life - and it's still fun. No, it's just that 25 years - a silver wedding anniversary - is what happens to OLD people.

So how come we've just celebrated that?!














Ian and Jane Langlois celebrating with us - two weeks later. Fish and chips and pink champagne, with the chimenea which Jonny and Cat gave us.

Wednesday 2 September 2009

Why I love teaching

This is why I love teaching.

First thing this morning, first day of term, a parent arrived half an hour early. Saw where her son had been placed in class, and who he was sitting next to, and informed me that the position would not work.

I thought I'd give it a go and see what happened.

By the end of the day he had informed me that he was very happy to be sitting next to his companion. Seemed okay with being right near me, too.

Satisfying, to know that my professional judgement was, after all, okay.

That's not all.

The question was: What are you most proud of?
The answer: Getting to Year 5.

School obviously seems like a life sentence to some.

Weather report

The rain started at lunchtime.

By mid afternoon it was pouring down.

Now, this evening, it has been lashing our little island for hours. The roads are flooded, the wind unabated.

Unbelievable that two days ago we were sweltering in near-tropical conditions.

Tuesday 1 September 2009

End of the summer

The 'first' day of school today. Staff meetings, preparing the classrooms, then INSET on Child Protection - most of which was irrelevant or over-lengthy.

Yet yesterday felt like high summer. The sky blazed blue hot all day. Most of Guernsey seemed to be on the beach or in the water - me included. It was fabulous.

Even in the evening, folk were still swimming in a glassy sea.

Even this morning, clouds scudded and wheeled across the sky, freshly rain washed in warm air. It felt like an early morning in Mombasa.

Now, this evening, the weather has turned. It is very windy, cool, with the threatening of rain for tomorrow.

Back to school indeed.