This year I declare it to be a draw.

Normally I am thrilled by the wildlife in my garden, even when my resident toad decides to lope past the front door whilst we are sitting outside eating our lunch. I was not even too upset when a mouse started to share the bird food, BUT, and its big one, I was very cross last year when the blackbirds ate all my redcurrents. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM - its was not funny.
This year I have picked a colander full and there are still many left to ripen on the bush, so I reckon we're quits. I keep intending to net them, in fact I did one year and it just served as rather a lovely safe haven for them to eat the fruit, after all the cats could not touch them!!

What an experience.

Yesterday was the regional final for this year's Teaching Awards. I had been nominated for the Award for Working with Business, I don't know who nominated me but that in itself was lovely. To get through the next screening process of interviews was incredible and yesterday's ceremony was awesome.
There were people there who are working in schools which actually work together with everyone - the children, parents, grandparents, the community etc etc. That must be incredible to have the support and encouragement of everyone concerned in the education process. I felt as if I was in a daze listening to all the commendations, except for a mischievous moment or two...!
However, I came away with a Distinction Award which is now sitting on my desk and it still feels unreal. So, sorry if this reads as if I am boasting, I am just rather (no, read extremely here!) chuffed!

And today's reason

Two fighting male blackbirds just would not stop their argument for me this morning - they cavorted all over the road, hopping up into the air, then dashing down to attack the other. Very funny to watch such anger in two handsome birds!

How many excuses can I find!!

What for? Writing reports, or rather not writing them - I would far rather talk to parents and explain my points about their children instead of using the technical lingo that we have to use now. I know when a child won't question their results in science and maths work - they simply are not that kind of person however much I hammer on about it!
I hate this part of my job! (Imagine that written out 100 times...... I know, I'm being silly now.)

cars...

Some months ago I fell for a little blue car that was parked in Newport, I have since identified it as a Pilgrim Bulldog. It was everything that a car shouldn't be for me!! (Well, I think I can safely leave reason behind now.) Have a look at this site -http://ulster-kitcars.org.uk/gallery.htm

However, in today's paper there was a whole article about a car that can be built out of cellulose and run on ethanol. Spare parts can be bolted on - rather like my favourite car the 2CV and when it is finished with you can compost it!!Wow - I wonder if they have a waiting list for them because I would really like to try this out. It resembles a green frog!
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22549-1649776,00.html

Traffic Jam on the way to work

Do you remember Reggie Perrin and his entry into the office each day? Traffic jam on the M whatever and so on each time, well I have told you about the daily pheasant sighting, but he didn't really cause a traffic jam.

This morning I could not get out of my little estate, there was a tremendous build up of cars and a lorry right down the lane. The reason? A swan - who refused to walk anywhere except down the middle of the road! The car drivers were very patient and drove on the grass verge but the blooming lorry driver kept revving up his engine - NASTY man! However, the swan stepped to the side and let him past and then she walked onto the grass.

I don't know whether this is on a par with the day when three race horses got loose on the road to Eccleshall, and yes the school had great difficulty believing that one! But both are more interesting than the arrival at the corner of a narrow lane - at the same time, of a tractor, a car, a landrover and a lorry. That is the type of traffic jam that I normally face on the way to school!

What a meal!! 31 for 7 -WOW!

This post was going to feature my delicious dinner. Local Asparagus with Herefordshire butter melted on it - you can just see the steam rising from the spears?


Closely followed by a lobster salad - the salad was all local fare, the lobster of course was not!!

I can't remember the last time I ate some lobster, I suspect it was when we went to Oman and I ate locally caught lobster three nights in a row. (That's the piggish side of me!) Pudding was feshly picked strawberries with local yogurt,



then Shropshire blue cheese to finish. Now this meal deserved a wine - even though it is Monday, I could not drink water with this!! So firend, forgive the lapse into the past, but I could not resist this wine for the name alone!!




However, that turned out to be just a side dish - the main course was England's thrashing of Australia in today's 20:20 game, it just took the meal (about 30 minutes) to keep Australia to 31 for 7, ohhhh what an accompianment to the delicious food, nothing could improve it - apart from a performance of some live music and a delicious companion. (I'll dream on...) I just hope that while I light the fire (it's cold this evening) the match lasts until I sit down to listen to the final overs.
Ohhhh well done England! Here's to the Ashes - may they stay here this year!
8 for 67 - just downloading the photos - this is even quicker than the Botham Test Match!
(After downloading the photos the score is now 78 for 9 in the 14th over. Go England!!) They have just won by 100 runs - the Aussies bowled out for 79 - ignominious - what a word!

Anything but...

I had a clear day yesterday to do lots of work on the dissertation - did I? Hah! I put up the new shelf for my computer which gives me far more moving room in my tiny study, I can also get to the drawers, open them and see what's in them - useful really!
Last night was a night for the girls and some gossip - we went to my local pub which now has a new landlord. Isn't it funny how you either like people or you don't? Well. he was a great laugh, we were examining his legs and ordering double Virgin Mary's and generally causing mayhem - all very amusing!
So today I am off to Devon - to Ottery St Mary, to see some Luxembourgish friends. This is the village that has the tar barrel race each year. It is an incredible sight apparently, one day I hope to see it, - perhaps that could be an apres dissertation weekend!

I'm so pleased to be seeing them again - we haven't met for years, so this hould be fun. Then its back to see my daughter's final presentatiofor her garden design course and that is also something I am very excited about. Must take the camera. So, back soon folks.

How did I do?

All done !! Every single job on the list is ticked off. Which means that I have to spring clean the bathroom and my bedroom before Wednesday when the person is coming to look at my ideas for the bathroom - and what's more it is someone I know - arghh, so the mop and bucket have be resurrected! (OK, don't panic, that's for the bathroom floor - NOT my bedroom!!)

I have put up the wooden supports for the new computer worktop, now if they would only deliver the stuff that could also be ticked off. I keep reading that a tidy home engenders a sense of calm and ordered living and working, it would be so good to get to that state of mind. Perhaps the impossible is not something I am ever going to achieve! But hey, I keep trying.

And its raining here, so no gardening today. As for the ironing, it was a mountain of the stuff and I hate doing it.