What’s top of my mind: I’m having the CRT day from hell.
I suppose it had to happen sooner or later.
The day at school is divided into 6 periods. Today I’ve been put onto 3 periods of sport (YUCK), 2 periods of Maths (also YUCK), and 1 period of sex-ed with one of the worst classes on campus.
To add insult to injury, I was also given yard duty at the canteen for the first half of lunch, when the kids are hungry and feral.
I’m starting to wonder what on earth I did to upset the Daily Organiser…
Where I’ve been: rethinking my life choices.
Do I really want to earn Evan26’s Clown College fees??? Today has been absolutely no fun.
Where I’m going: England and Ireland in September.
I’m keeping this trip in front of mind today. I need something to look forward to!
Last night Corinna messaged me about a stage show we’re hopefully going to while I’m in London with her. It seems so far away, but before I know it, I’ll be stepping onto that plane.
What I’m reading: Elektra by Jennifer Saint.
I finished this novel on Saturday night. I couldn’t put it down. I snuggled up on the couch with the dogs, a shiraz in hand and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the house as I galloped through the story.
I only had the haziest idea of Elektra’s story before reading this. I really enjoyed the way Sant entwined the perspectives of Cassandra and Clytemnestra as well as Elektra in her retelling of the ancient myth. Ever since reading The Firebrand when I was in my teen, I’ve had a soft spot for Cassandra. SUCH a good book!
I’ve also been reading Tricia Stringer’s books. They’re easy to read, family saga-type books that I can listen to when I commute, or pull up on my iPad if the class I’m in front of is quiet and doing their work and I don’t have to watch them like a hawk. She must be popular – my local library has a heap of them available!
What I’m watching: my life dwindle away.
I have just one more period to go. The Maths kids are doing a test, so the room will be quiet and miserable, just the way I like it.
What I’m listening to: Kids doing revision for their test.
It’s some kind of algebra and they seem to enjoy competing with each other to get the right answer the quickest.
It would be my idea of hell, but this group seems to enjoy it.
What I’m eating: What’s left in the meat drawer of the freezer.
Later this week I’ll be stocking up on meat again, but for now, we’re eating what’s lurking in the meat drawer. We have some prawns, some salmon and some chook carcasses that I make into stock for the chicken and veggie soup Ryan28 and I like to have for lunch on the weekends.
Last night I made a simple pasta sauce and threw some prawns in. Delicious!
Every now and then, it’s a good idea to eat down what I’ve stored in the freezer. It’s too easy to just keep stocking it up, but then it ultimately leads to things getting freezer burn and being wasted. It’s strange to see so much empty space in that drawer, but soon it’ll be full again and the ‘Ma Ingalls’ part of my brain will be happy again.
What I’m planning: my wardrobe for my trip.
I’m only taking carry-on for my 5-week trip in September, so I’m beginning to think about what I’ll be taking with me. It’ll be autumn in the UK, so things will be getting a bit wet and chilly. I’m starting to look at merino clothing, like I did for Antarctica. There’s a lot to be said for merino as part of a travel wardrobe.
Who deserves a thumbs-up: a young PE teacher.
He used to be a student at the school and he knows full well that I’m not cut out to take a double period of soccer on the oval. He conflated our two classes and ran the double, while I mopped up things around the edges. If he hadn’t stepped in, that double period would have been an absolute shit show.
I said that I owed him one, but he said he was just paying me back for teaching him some great drama games that he uses when he needs to keep kids occupied. Those lessons would have been nine or ten years ago!
Sometimes, I guess that teachers DO get their reward here on earth.
What has made me smile: lunch at Evan26 and Jenna’s place yesterday.
It’s handy having weekdays off. Ryan28 and I went across town to organise a medical thing for him, and after that, we dropped into the kids’ place for lunch.
We don’t get to see a lot of them, as they live on the other side of town, so it was lovely to loll around on their couch, stuff ourselves with dips and crackers and just talk.
On Sunday we went to spend some time with David29 and Izzy. Married life seems to agree with them.
It’s a fine thing to see your adult children so content with their partners. 🙂
Dad joke of the day:
Before I read this I was thinking how great it would be to do CRT work! Well it’s never going to happen for me as I’m not a teacher doh but I think I’d love the flexibility. I have every Wednesday off which makes this working life bearable. I don’t know how the rest of my colleagues cope. I was tempted to retire last Christmas but then convinced myself another year of saving was probably a good idea and I’ll reevaluate at the end of this year. I couldn’t imagine taking carry on for a 5 week trip – I thought I was incredible doing carry on for 4 nights in Melbourne ha ha ! Aldi have Merino jumpers in their special buys next Wednesday and I’m going to have a look as we are having another cold winter up here. I’m sure I felt warmer in Melbourne. I’ve been channeling some Ma Ingalls too but mostly the pantry and fridge rather than the freezer – challenging myself all week to not go to the shops until next month. Glad you survived the day from hell!
The CRT seems to have slackened off, thankfully not before I’ve managed to pay for Clown College. (I have a day or two to go, but I’m booked for 3 Wednesdays so it’ll all be done.)
I’m needing some days to myself, with nothing to hear but birdsong – and Cavalier snores.
Your motivation and fortitude are admirable regarding the CRT work. I kind of hoped I’d be doing a bit of that but my friends, who are still in the trenches, are finding that difficult due to all the changes, so I’m sure I wouldn’t last a full day.
I’m still working on my freezer overload since January!
I’m sure that there’ll come a day when I’ll walk away from a CRT job and say, “NO MORE!”
It hasn’t quite come yet, so I’ll harvest the easy money until it does. 🙂
If Six is stil playing in London, I highly recommend it. A musical about Henry VIII”s wives that is innovative, engaging and fast paced.
I missed it in Melbourne – I’m seeing something about Guy Fawkes in London with Corinna from Antarctica.
Highly recommend Smitten Merino! Their range of stuff is comfortable, stands up to the washing machine and doesn’t stretch. Also looks effortlessly professional!
(I just lurk usually, fellow Melbournite here!)
I’ll have to have a look. I’m embroiled in discussion on the Wool& Facebook page about which size to order. Another brand might be a palette cleanser!