March and Mother's Day

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day - the day when you show your mother how much you appreciate her. My mother has gone off for lunch with friends... And where is my daughter? In bed! So much for Mother's Day! Luckily we don't put too much store by days like these - appreciation should be showed year-round, not just on one day. So, Happy Mother's Year to all you mums out there!

Currently

One day I'll do it... I'll manage to get my act together and post my Currently at the beginning of the month. I may even manage to get it in on the first of the month if I try really hard. I can't believe where this month has gone already. I haven't blogged since 17 February - how bad is that! Suddenly it's the 10th and I'm just getting my act together with my currently - it's nearly April already! Still, better late than never, eh..?

So here it is...

Listening: today is dull, grey and very cold. It falls short of snow but only just - they have forecast that for tomorrow. It's about 5 degrees outside, but the windchill factor is making it feel like minus 5! Just watching the weather through the French doors is making me shiver. Roll on summer!

Loving: in two weeks we will have our end of term break. Easter falls early this year, so although it's fantastic to have a five week half term, I just know we'll pay for it later in the year. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to two weeks of rest, peace, quiet, gym - and shopping!

Thinking: Now, I love my job. It's been great having a proper, regular wage in line with the national Teachers' Pay Agreement, instead of the very low wages of a supply teacher (I'll save that rant for another day...). It's also a real privilege teaching well over 120 children every week to read, speak and write in English. BUT - I miss not having a class of my own. I am very lucky that my current job is based in my home town (compared to my last job there is very little travelling involved), but this is a very small local authority area (only around 56,000 population), so teachers tend not to move around too much. Jobs here are few and far between. Hallelujah! One has come up and I really need to apply. But the application process here is so long winded - application form, personal statement, covering letter, shortlisting, interview, trial lesson, more interview - there's just no end to it. I really need to sit down and get the thing ready. Anyone want to help out...?

Wanting:  My regular readers will know that I don't bear well in the winter. This winter has been particularly hard to bear, as I suffered with some sort of horrible lurgy thing between the end of October and the middle of January! I thought it had packed its suitcase and headed for someone else, but not to be. It's back! Although I know that the gym will help, I just don't have the energy to get there. I need to motivate myself to lose some weight and get fit - perhaps then Mr Virus will finally get the message...

Needing:  My car has served me well. That said, I think I must have paid for it three times over when I take account of all the times it's been in the garage... It's a bit like a clown's car - you remember them from the circus, don't you? You know, the ones that do a few laps of the ring and then collapse flat on the floor in billows of smoke. So, it's time to start trawling the garages in the hope that I don't buy another puppy.. Watch this space.

Like, Love, Hate: I like spring because it means that the worst of the winter has passed and there are good things to come. I've planted lots of little bulbs that are just starting to poke their way through the ground - can't wait! I love blogging because I've been really lucky to meet lots of wonderful people along the way. There are thousands of miles between some of us, but blogging brings us all closer. Now for my hate - drivers! Not all drivers, you understand, but I have noticed a huge change in the way people are driving recently. Running red lights (they seem to think it's ok for three or four cars to go through on a red...), jumping junctions, negotiating roundabouts with mobile phones pressed to their ears (how on earth..??!?), driving the wrong way down a one way road - the list is endless. And the powers that be don't seem bothered. Perhaps I've missed my vocation...?

Until next time...

Currently . . . A Bit Late

It's only 4th January but already Farley's Currently is up to 370 links! That's fantastic! A great testament to the popularity of Farley's blog. Everyone looks forward to the first of the month - so many new blogs to find and old ones to enjoy. Thanks Farley!

So I thought I'd better tack mine on - although I'm not sure if anyone would find mine interesting enough to read... Here goes. .

Listening - I'm not a huge fan of comedy shows - it's on in the background and I just can't peel myself off the chair to do something about it. It really is time for bed...!

Loving - So I bought myself a new jacket in the sales. I already have a great "wet" coat for those rainy days and for walking, but I needed something a little more trendy if you know what I mean. My new jacket is just the job! So snug.

Thinking - I'm into my 6th week of this virus now, and there's just no shifting it. I'm beginning to wonder if it'll still be around this time next year...

Wanting - I have such a lot of planning to do. Those of you who follow me will know that I teach around 120 kids every week, each of whom must have an individually tailored medium term plan. So Planning Fairy, if you're out there, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease pay me a visit...

Needing - On the last day of term I heard that my contract had been extended for another year. That takes me up to March 2014. I was over the moon. But I definitely need something more long term, and I really need to get me own class again. Which brings me nicely onto my OLW...

OLW - destiny because there's no use fretting about stuff that's out of your control. I am a firm believer that we are in control of our own destiny to a degree, but there are some things (like finding a permanent contract) that are just a little out of my reach. I am also a firm believer that it WILL happen.

Can't stand that comedy show for another minute! Night all . . .

Currently... and a Sale

Where has the time gone...?

I've just noticed that it's been almost a week since my last post. Where has the week gone? When I look back I can't seem to work out how I got from last Sunday to today.. I guess that's what this job does to you - in the nicest possible way of course.

Currently

Although I haven't been very good at keeping my own blog current this week, I am following lots of you, both on the web and by email. I look forward to receiving your updates every day, and I read them all. It's been great reading all your "Currently" posts (thanks once again to Farley for arranging it and for the fantastically designed form), so here's mine:

Sad news in Wales this week, as 5 year old April Jones was abducted from outside her home in a small rural town of only 2000 people. A suspect was arrested on Tuesday and was today charged with April's abduction and murder, although the search for her still goes on. It's every parent's nightmare and our thoughts are with them.

My car is an enigma. It's a Citroen Pluriel convertible - very pretty to look at. But it leaks like a sieve - and not in the places you'd expect... The roof is absolutely fine. The water pours (and I mean pours...) in through the boot lock (truck if you're in the US) - hence the water feature every time I open the boot..

Finally, the book I've chosen is absolutely wonderful. It's the story of Ferdie, who is very worried that his beautiful tree may be sick because it is losing all its leaves. He does everything he can to try to save the leaves - including sticking them back on - and Ferdie feels that all hope for his tree is lost when the last leaf floats to the ground. But a glorious sight awaits him the next day. Your children will love it!

What do you think about a sale...?

I haven't had a sale for a while - haven't really had a reason. But then I thought, heck, I don't need a reason to spread a little love. So this weekend I'll be opening my stores for just a short while and letting you loose on a few bargains. It may mean breaking the unwritten rule and blogging twice in one day, but watch out for the announcement.

Currently in June....

It's been an absolutely jubilicious start to the month here in GB, and it's hard to believe it could possibly get any better. But there's a very small event called the Olympics around the corner... I'm loving reading all the "currently's" you're all posting, so here's my link up to Farley's June party.

For those of you who managed to catch up with any of the events over here, it's been a hectic four days. The fanfare heralding The Queen's arrival at St Paul's today was something special. How do they manage to hold a note...?

In previous years, people wanting to see The Queen et al on the balcony at Buckingham Palace have just rushed forward as fast as they could - quite a scary sight if I'm honest. Now the police do a wonderful job of simply "beckoning" the crowd - it really is a thing of beauty to watch the huge crowds just gently inch forward - a real work of art.

It's been 30 years since we sat our O'Levels (that's graduating Middle School..) - now THAT's a scary thought....   Most of us went on to complete High School before going our separate ways. Many of us made our way back to our home town (it's a Welsh thing - hiraeth (longing)... :-) ) We couldn't let this moment pass without marking it in some way, so we're trying to arrange a get together. Not an easy task, but Facebook is a wonderful thing...

My wish, went and want... Well, I wish I was somewhere dry - anywhere will do. It's lucky that skin is waterproof because this rain leaves nothing to chance! But Hawaii is and always has been top of my wish list. One day.... I went to New York in 2004 when my daughter was 9 - just the tow of us. We had a fabulous time (although there isn't much to do in the Big Apple after dark with a 9 year old...). I'd love to go back there soon. And my want - well, we're trying to work out where to go this year. I'd love it to be France or Italy but it's probably going to be somewhere else. Wherever we end up I'll be sure to post some pics...

Have a wonderful Sunday.

May Linky

It's late and I'm starting to wilt, so I'll keep it short. I admire Farley so much for her wonderfully cute blog and for helping us all to learn a little about each other with her fabulous monthly "currently" linky.  So here goes with mine...

Now listening to the ticking of the clock - and a daughter in full song hammering away at the guitar at 11.50pm... Did I say a bit of peace...?

Yes, I really do need that exercise. I made it to the gym on four consecutive days in each of the last two weeks, but it hasn't made any difference. Although I love running, I think I might need to change my exercise regime, try something different. So tomorrow morning we are taking a 7am stroll before breakfast (not a fry-up...!). I'm also back on the Acai berry juice - seemed to give me a kick start last time, but it tastes yucky!

As for the buzzing in my ear - well, it's more of a droning really, like a distant car engine. It's driving me potty! Talk about Chinese water torture - this is Welsh ear torment (mae clust tost a fi).. I bought some ear plugs today ready for the next time I rehearse with the band - just in case. We are rather on the loud side..

And that brings me neatly around to my pageant...

Night all, enjoy your evening