What’s top of my mind: Clown College in France.
As a parent, I want to encourage my boys to follow their dreams and have a darned good crack at everything they want to do. Evan26 and his mate Will heard about a school for clowns in France, run by a 94-year-old man. This school is way famous in entertainment circles, with many big names in acting having been through its doors.
The boys are going for a short course for a month over our winter. They’ve been scrimping and saving for a year and everything was going well for Evan26 until he came back from a month working at the Adelaide Fringe and found that he’d lost his day job.
“I’ve become a full-time comedian, without meaning to!” he said.
I’ve decided that I’ll be picking up some CRT work next term to fling some cash to him. Clown College doesn’t come cheap and he’s already committed to going. There’s no point letting him do it with not enough money – it’d ruin the whole experience.
Where I’ve been: Parent/Teacher Interviews.
Two very long days – I’m doing the second one today but Monday’s one was loooong.
Five-minute interviews, all on Google Meets (like Zoom), running from 10am – 6pm. Each interview has time in between the next one to set up the next interviews and send the link to the kids and parents. By the time the last one was finished, my eyes were spinning like catherine wheels.
Today’s interviews aren’t as long. They finish at 4:30.
Luckily, we can do them from home, so that makes a huge difference in the quality of our days. Poppy and Scout appreciated the ball-throwing between interviews.
Where I’m going: To see ‘Long Play’ at the Comedy Festival.
If you’re anywhere near Melbourne over the next couple of weeks, please go and see Evan26 in his first solo show Long Play.
It’s a show all about music. He’s a very clever, funny guy who has a beautifully quick wit – you’ll definitely enjoy yourself. I’m heading over on Easter Sunday with Ryan28 and some friends and I’ll be popping in on some other nights as well.
Always happy to have a good laugh!
What I’m reading: ‘I Am, I Am, I Am’ by Maggie O’Farrell.
This is a memoir with a difference. O’Farrell, in 17 short stories, tells of 17 times she dodged death. I read the first one and I was hooked. I’m about 4 stories in and I’m enjoying it very much.
What I’m watching: the last 3 days of my term 1 contract zip by.
I’ve nearly made it!
(This holiday in September had better be worth it!)
What I’m listening to: The same audiobook I was listening to last week.
I’m loving it.
What I’m eating: Uncle Toby’s Oat bars with chocolate chips.
I was running late for work after a HUGE day of Parent/Teacher interviews the day before. Not the best breakfast I could have chosen, but it kept body and soul together until lunchtime.
What I’m planning: David29’s wedding day morning.
Suddenly, all the boys are meeting at mine for the photos to be taken of them getting ready. We’re the first stop for the photographer, because boys are much quicker to organise and set up shots with than the girls.
Then – get this! – I get to ride in the limousine with the boys to the church! I’m the luckiest Mother of the Groom ever!
Who needs a good slap: Whoever put me on bus duty at the end of the day.
Ugh. The one duty where good kids turn feral!
What has made me smile: Kids.
I was sitting in a classroom yesterday, observing a student teacher, when he asked a kid giving a presentation on coastlines, “What have you learned from doing this project?”
“That Indonesia has a coastline!” he said.
I broke the news to my classes that they’ll be having a different teacher for the rest of the year. The number of requests I’ve had to come out of retirement and continue to take their classes was phenomenal.
I wasn’t tempted, though!
Dad joke of the day:
Police have arrested the world tongue-twister champion.
They say he’ll be given a tough sentence.
That is so sweet of your students to want to keep you. It must warm your heart.
I had the lovliest parent/teacher interview with a year 8 boy who I absolutely LOVe. He’s a great kid, but I can easily see him going down the wrong path. His choice of friends lacks judgement, IYKWIM.
He said that I was the only teacher he got along with and he was upset to see me go. A little while later, he said that he was halfway through reading ‘The Outsiders’ and really liked it – the book I practically begged him on bended knees to read.
Going to miss seeing his cheeky grin…
So we’re going to be in Melbourne for a few days visiting our son so I sent him a link to Long Play this morning. . Me ‘Can we go see this. I read his Mum’s blog?’ Just now my son messages me (with a photo) to say he’s scored free tickets after recognising him in the street and ‘telling him ’My Mum reads your Mum’s blog’.!!! Very excited!
You have no idea how thrilled we are!! Wait for my next post…