Danau Batur

This is one of the first pictures I took when we had reached the peak of the volcano in Bali. How awesome is that view! I still can't believe I climbed it!

(Part of my professional development is learning how to upload photos to the net. Admittedly Blogger has made it very easy, but still at least I am doing it.)

Sophie-pops

Isn't she gorgeous!

What to do...

I had a little bit of a stress last night. I managed to achieve very little on my study day yesterday and was really starting to panic, and really had a bit of a 'ahrgh!' to one or two friends. It seems to take me so much more time to do things than it should, and I feel rather behind with things. However the aforementioned friends offered me a little advice, and considering one was at a party, and probably was a little tipsy, I thought they did well, and I'd hope that somebody might get something from the things I have listed below...

1. I fear failure, therefore I procrastinate so I don't have to risk failing, and can blame it on my lack of work done.
2. When at home for the day, I should work as if I was at Uni. Sit at the desk and do work, even if I daydream- just sitting there will make me do something!
3. I lack a designated deskspace (I use the table). Not quite sure how to solve this one in my little house
   
4. Set myself realistic targets, prioritise tasks
5. Realise that perfection is impossible. Only one person has ever managed perfection
6. Get confidence!
7. Tick things off as I do them
8. Ask for advice
9. Set deadlines, set a designated amount of time for each task.
10. Listen to 'The Muppet Show' song played live down the phone on tenor sax by a guy dressed as Paganini wearing 18th century costume and white-painted face (Ok, maybe this one was just a lucky one-off!)
11. Finally, the obvious one- pray!
    

My favourite jokes...

Inspired by Welshy I thought I would share the jokes with the world that most amuse me*.

Ahem...


What do you call a cloud with legs?


A Sheep!



Aaaand....


What do you call a sheep without legs?




A cloud!

I would tell the one about the hills, but that would take far too long.


* You are not allowed to mock me for my poor taste in jokes.

Global footprints

I was thinking of not blogging anymore. I read something which made me think about whether I should be blogging, and made me think that perhaps it was a rather egostical thing to do and questioned whether it was something really I should be using my precious time with and as a Christian. However, I do think that as a relatively new Christian, I have been greatly encouraged by the blogs of other Christians, young and old, and I have learnt a lot. (That saying, most of the blogs which I really like, aren't really blogging much at the moment! Come back!!!). Also, any opportunity to talk about Jesus has got to be a good thing, though of course, I am aware that it can sometimes be taken in the wrong way, I could be wrong and misleading in my understanding of the Prince of Peace.
I am still unsure of whether I will do it so much, but will contemplate more.

Again, I have been contemplating my environmental impact on the planet, and our stewardship of this amazing world, and how we treat this privilege. Through our Geography introduction in the Foundation subjects, we had a look at our global footprints, you can do the same here for either your self, your school, your organisation etc and I recommend it. To be honest, I always thought that I was very environmentally conscious, but I have still have so many ways in which I could improve. And though many may cry 'what can one person do?', I always remember that many drops make an ocean, though it will be hard to change those ways in which I still lack. There are great sites for encouragement and tips on the internet- I particularly like a year of generous living (introduced to me by Rach). It's no good to say that these things don't matter- they do.

Twas a tumultous weekend for me. You learn new experiences through your life. I am feeling very much in need of the Father's comfort and care, and he is with me. What would I do without him?

Never despair

In suffering, let us learn wisdom
In poverty, let us gain heavenly riches
In failure, let us see a different path
In illness, let us see hope
For no matter what trials we see
Our beloved Father sees us through
For he died upon a cross
And nothing I face can compare to that
And when others might give in, alone
We have a friend upon a throne.


I am really blessed. I have not really seen much pain in my life, I have not encountered many of the trials that those I love have encountered, it's important for me to remember that. Yet, I know that, what ever I might suffer, he suffered more. Our God is not aloof, he is not someone who we cannot come close to, he does not ignore our pain. He knew pain, he suffered a criminal's death, though pure and innocent. And he has come into his glory- given sovereignty over heaven and earth. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and being certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11). How can I despair, knowing the hope of his promise. How can my soul despair? He is there, to be found if we truly seek him. And if all else is torn away, taken, all seems lost? He is our hope, there will always be Him. He is, and was and shall ever be.

Right decisions

I don't know if this is because I only had 3.5 hours sleep last night due to trying to get my school experience write-up and portfolio finished (mental note to self- USE the self-study day to do work, not to work elsewhere) but I was just feeling really unsure about whether I was doing the right thing today. Can I really be a good teacher? Will I be able to cope with this workload? Am I organised enough? Am I analytical enough? I found that I did not have a lot to say in the debriefing session, and felt like there was a lot I didn't understand. It is incredibly different to a music degree. I really need to hone my observation skills and focus on analysing the lesson in more in-depth areas. I just suddenly felt rather out of my depth today. I felt that this was what God was calling me to, but today, I just feel I've wasted the last month not doing what I should be doing, and wondering if I will catch up or not? I'm not being very coherent here, but just about to go to bed, but I would appreciate if anyone had any thoughts.

On a positive note, I get to have a go on an interactive whiteboard tomorrow! Smartboard here I come!

I'm an eensy-weensy bit excited!

This probably sounds like a little boast, but I don't mean it to, I'm just rather excited and want to BEAM on blogger! I forgot to mention yesterday that my old boss received the first copy of his book on violin-making which he has been writing for the last three years, it had its big launch in the summer and now the books are ready for their sale. Anyway, it looks fantastic, and it's so amazing to see that it is finally finished and in print, because I've seen it (and did a tiny bit of transcription for it) over the last couple of years, and...

my name is in the acknowledgements!!!!!!!!

School experience...

It's over now, and I have the weekend to prepare my portfolio for showing on Monday. It's been a very useful experience and I really enjoyed it. It was write-up day today, but I actually went back to my old work to cover for the day as my successor has left unexpectedly. It was really lovely to go back there and see people and the double takes that everyone did when they saw me made me smile! It felt very weird also, but nice weird!

Anyway, back to school...
The contrast between classes was very pronounced. Year 3 were absolutely lovely and I really loved working with that class. Year 5 were horrid!

I read some of 'Bad Becky' to Year 3 at the end of a numeracy lesson, which went surprisingly well considering I only had a few minutes to prepare. They laughed at all the right points, and seemed to like it when I did 'angry teacher' voice and 'simpering Araminta'.

The school has a really good policy of insets every week, where a different issue is covered- which was great, as one was on Phonics (my knowledge is presently limited) and the other was on the use of ICT for SEN pupils, which I hope that my school will offer when I am on my next placement.

On Thursday we had a visit from a Theatre duo who did a production of Rama and Sita which was great- I've seen (and taken part in!) a variety of productions of this story (including watching Rama and Sita - the Panto in Indonesian!), though it was weird to see it without any Kecak! (which by the way we are doing in the Barbican foyer on Saturday pre-concert if anyone wants a laugh?)

One particularly interesting thing for me was my focused observation on two children. It's surprising the amount of time they can spend off task. I was also amazed by the amount of attention both my children received from the teacher (who did not know I was observing the child- I'd make a good spy!), and indeed the incredible skill the teachers have in making sure that they make it round to all the children. I really warmed to the children that I observed- they were both really lovely children. I worried that perhaps my observation was slightly too detailed in the wrong places i.e.
"9.17 R fiddles with jumper, picks nose and eats it whilst still listening". Child no.1 yawned an incredible 8 times in 15 mins.
Child number two pulled out her ponytail and redid it 7 times in 5 mins!

One thing I encountered which I haven't met for a long-time (adults don't notice!) was the fact that children seem to pick up on my 'left-eye vision' problem (I only have partial vision in my left eye and it sometimes does a little wandering on its own, though not too much!) Some children when I talked to them would look behind them to see if I was talking to someone else (the problem of not being acquainted with everyone's names) and it took a while and a good-deal of pointing to get them to register that they were the focus of my attention. Some kids in one class (the usual naughty wannabee-comedian types) would look at my eye and snigger and whisper to each other. I suddenly wondered how I might address this with my pupils, as another popular reaction is for people to say 'what's wrong with your eye?'. I figured I might play on the Harry Potter link and pretend I am like Mad-Eye Moody with a magical eye that is watching their EVERY move even when I am facing the other way! Or maybe not!

If I am honest, what I am finding hard is actually being motivated when I come home to get straight on with my work and write-ups. I feel utterly exhausted when I get home, so I really just need to make myself do it. Does anyone have any tips?

Confession time: I am mean :(

As Welshy recently blogged, I am feeling a bit guilty and ashamed at myself. I shouted at Katy our white cat. It was earlyish on Sunday morning and I had gone into the conservatory to get the washing out the machine to hang it up. And left the door open.

Now as I hung, I noticed a distinct lack of white cat, though I had not heard the cat-flap go and she'd meowed at me as I went out there.
And I realised she'd got in the washing machine clinging to the clothes that were in there. I was so shocked at the thought, how if I hadn't noticed, I would have just shut the door and she'd have been stuck in there that I yelled at her. Then she wouldn't get out, so I had to haul her out of the machine with socks and stuff attached to her claws. She's always had this fascination with getting into small spaces which she shouldn't go into, anytime I've left my filing cabinet open, she's climbed in a drawer and crept into the backbit (though with her size now, I think even she would struggle to do that). Anyway, I felt really bad about shouting at her, I shouted before thinking, and I would like to here register my sorrow and regret...