Summer accelerates.
The last term of the year is always incredibly busy and time rushes by
faster and faster. By the end of the term, I feel like the cartoon character
running off a cliff, its legs still running in the air before it realises there
is no solid ground beneath its feet and it goes crashing down.
It’s a good metaphor, actually. Adrenalin keeps us all going
and we manage to fit in the sports days and swimming galas, concerts and
prizegiving, leavers’ service and parents’ lunch.
This year, our two deputy heads decided we needed more
training in essential subjects in the last week of term. They benefit from belonging to a dedicated,
professional, highly supportive and polite staff team, because this really was a big 'ask' in the last few days before the holidays. Class teachers were literally frantic with
ensuring that the children ended their year with satisfaction and contentment
but there were no complaints, just faces growing ever wearier by the day.
Oh well. Holidays now. I’ll get to tidying up my classroom
properly shortly before the new term, read through the new curriculum and
create new planning for the new system and resources.
Not much to do, then.
#ironyandsarcasm Now, I need to rest and recuperate.
But the best bit of the end of term was Cat and Andy’s visit.
Arriving earlier than originally planned, we were blessed to have them for a whole
ten days. TEN DAYS! It went by in a
blur, of course, but it was such a special time as we caught up with one
another and just enjoyed being together. They saw our new house and entertained
around thirty or so of our close friends who also know Cat – it is over nine
years now since she left Guernsey. Andy
insisted on cutting hedges and lawns before he left: we know, already, that he
is an extremely capable and kind man but were touched by his thoughtfulness and
willingness to help.
Apart from sharing chocolates, chatting, hanging out
together and drinking lots of coffee and tea, we went on an epic bike ride
through the lanes of Torteval and St Peters; cycled into town to catch the boat
to Herm; strolled round the harbour in the evening, wandering up the pier at
Castle Cornet; and explored various cafes dotted round the coast.
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| Andy and Pickle become acquainted with each other |
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| Drinking tea and planning |
Cat and Andy ran most of the cliffs, up and
down countless steps; went shopping for clothes for his brother Jon’s wedding
in Ireland later this week; and visited the ancient burial tomb of Le
Dehus, one of my favourite spots to show
visitors. (It is a many-chambered burial
mound made of ancient stones, completely covered over with soil and turf.)
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| Guernsey cows |
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| Slope soaring off Torteval cliffs |
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| A restored World War II gun emplacement |
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| Last brunch at L'Ancresse |
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| Supper at L'Eree |
We feel we have given Andy an overview of some of what
Guernsey has to offer. Fortunately, the weather turned from rain and fog to
bright, sunny and warm: for the first couple of days of the visit, our Guernsey
summer had resembled winter in New Zealand – never a good thing.
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| Moulin Huet - after the cliff run. #CatandAndylookingridiculouslyfresh |
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| Fish and chips on the beach |
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| On the Herm ferry #rememberingouttriptoWaihekeisland |
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| Herm |
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| Herm |
Their visit was over all too soon. I can’t explain the depth
of sadness I felt on waving them goodbye.
Sometimes, tears just aren’t enough.
