It's all happening here!

Hi kids,

Thought I'd give a we blog update. Things are going fine in the teaching world - I have a permanent job in a decent school and most of my pupils are decent kids. I think I've settled in well to the new school and the other teachers are nice. The school is a faith school, which to be honest I'm not sure I agree with, but my bank balance rules over my morals. What I cannot dispute though, is that there seems to be a lot of evidence that faith schools have better behaviour and achievement than 'normal' schools in the same catchment area.

The new job involved a move and I'm now renting a nice wee one bedroomed flat in a wee town not too far from Auld Reekie. My OH lives in Auld Reekie so that's made things a lot easier.

I'm still running but I don't seem to run as much as I used to - I'll definitely run the London Marathon again next year though.

So what else has been happening in the world? Well, I haven't blogged much recently so I haven't commented on the whole Maddie nonsense that's being going on for what seems like years. I've got my own thoughts on the matter but I think I'll probably keep them to myself as far too many people are chucking in their two bob's worth, and we probably don't know all of the facts.

I'm still on holiday - this must be one of the best things about being a teacher. I managed to get out of bed at about lunchtime, after reading a Chomsky book for a wee while. After lunch i read a bit more then went out for a 45 min run. Since I move out of Glasgow on Monday, I guess that'll be the last time I run that route. Ho hum. Since the run, I've not really done much, and I'm now having a sandwich. Virtually everything is packed for moving on Monday - it'll be weird leaving Glasgow for sleepy Linlithgow. I'm looking forward to it though. And it'll be good not having to share a flat.

My OH gets back from Lisbon this evening so I'll be picking her up at the airport later - I'm looking forward to seeing her. Other than that it's been a run of the mill day.

So, I'm still living the life of luxury (another week and a half till I go back to work). I'm still in bed and liustening to a mate's radio show.

Yesterday I went for a wee run in the morning and then met some fellow teachers on holiday for lunch and a few drinks. It was great to catch up with them. We were all probationer teachers in the same school and it's a shame we won't be working together again. We all managed to get permanent jobs, which is good, and we're all pretty nervous about starting them! I was full of great intentions about preparing loads of resources but it hasn't really happened. My new class has an interactive whiteboard and I've never used one before so I really should be finding out how they work!

Yeas, I think it has been so long since I blogged that I haven't wished anyone in blogland my best wishes for 2007.

So what's been happening? Well, I was doing my probationary teaching year (which we do after being a student teacher up here) an it was a damn busy (but ultimately successful) time. It was also very enjoyable and it's a shame I won't be going back to the same school next term (although, due to a merger and radical changes, it's also a blessing I'm not going back - very long story!). I got myself a permanent job after a number of interviews, and I'm looking forward to starting in a couple of weeks. The new job is nearer Edinburgh than Glasgow so I'm moving a new flat - it'llbe weird leabing Glasgow after all these years. My girlfriend lives in Edinburgh so it'll make things easier in that respect.

The past year really has flown by, and it's amazing how much has happened - I completed my probation year, learned lots about teaching (and PLENTY about the politics in teaching), found a girl that can just about put up with me, and made some excellent friends. I wish I'd kept my blog up to date as there were so many stories that I could probably write a book.

It's been great having a relaxing summer. I had a faaaantastic weekend at T in the Park with some friends, and am just back from Portugal with Mrs Faaaantastic. We spent time in the Algarve, Lisbon and Porto. What an amazing country with lovely people.

Anyway, I hope all you folks are having a fine Monday.

F.

Just popping in to say 'hello'. Not be blogging much lately as I've been pretty busy! Been marking every prelim exam paper in the world (well, that's what it seems like), so I'm going to head off to bed I think. Only 6 working days till Holidays!!! Well, that's if the last week actually counts as working days...

Hello,

I haven't blogged in ages! I've been busy teaching and trying to keep up with my running. How is everyone? I had a cold for a wee while and I think I'm getting another one - pesky kids.

I can't belive it's December already. Only 3 weeks till the Xmas holidays - woo hoo! I can't wait! I seem to have been absolutely shattered for the past 2 weeks and have been going to bed at 9pm. In fact, it's 8.30pm just now and I'll be off to bed soon! Where has my life gone??? Oh well, at least I'm happy.

Woo hoo! It's Friday!

Had quite an enjoyable week at school - it was quite productive. I think I'm maybe (just maybe) getting my classes under some sort of control (although they have an inability to hand in homework). I was teaching one of my classes about the structure of the atom and had them finding out about scientists who discoved the structure of the atom. I was telling them all about Niels Bohr, and his discovery of electron energy levels. I then pointed out that he lost both legs from the knee down in a laboratory accident. The pupils found this quite sad, until I said that that was how he got the name "Neils". They groaned a lot.

Anyway, tomorrow I'm on a course to be a Level 1 athletics coach. Hopefully it'll be fun, but it's 0845 till 1715 so it'll be a long day.

So last week was my half term break, so I headed off to the Lake District for a few days with some friends. It was great fun - the weather was mostly OK and we got plenty of hillwalking done (and plenty of wine drinking too).

So tomorrow it's back to school. I really can't be bothered ironing shirts but I suppose I should...

Woo hoo! It's the October Week! Looking forward to having a week off. I'll be heading down to the Lake District on Sunday for a relaxing week of hill walking, drinking and eating (and no doubt I'll do some running) with some friends.

The week turned out OK despite Tuesday's blip. I marked the tests of my 2 third year classes and they generally did OK, so they must be learning something. Today was a non-uniform day as well as the last day before a holiday, so I abandoned all ideas of trying to teach anything as there was 2 reasons for the kids to be hyper. I went over the test with my third year class, made both my first year calsses make posters on recycling, and took my second years outside to see how many decibels they could scream into a volume measuring thingy (they are just starting work on sound so there was a reason!).

Anyway, tomorrow I'll (hopefully) watch my team win, see my lady friend, and then on Sunday I'll run a cross country race then head to the Lakes. Canny wait!

...was a good day. My pupils were well behaved (unlike yesterday) so I enjoyed it. They sat a test and a lot of them did very well, which is good. Maybe they are learning stuff!!

And Scotland came back to Earth with a bump! 2-0 to Ukraine!! Argh! Oh well.