Froglet

The science planning/took way longer than I’d intended. Am taking a short break (need to rest my eyes from the screen) before tackling RE and SEND.

Lots! I have been working since 7.30, have taken an hour off lunch and am just about to get back into it. Now is the tricky time - I am so not an afternoon person. Lots of jobs have been ticked off the list today though so hopefully that success will keep me going.

That's a good plan. I have already broken into my tub of crystallised ginger (bought to make iced ginger shortbread) so maybe the actual shortbread making or perhaps a takeout Indian feast for tea tomorrow if everything I need to is done!

Long walks and Easter egg hunts and time with grandchildren sounds lovely. Lorries thundering not so much. My sister has messaged to say that they have arrived safely in Nepal. I have been singularly unproductive again today. I'm frustrated with myself now because although it's easy to say there are more important things and the TDL will still be there I would rather get it done. I think I will have an early tea (I'm hungry!) and have another look at the TDL to see what must be done then tonight try to cross off some of the mindless things that are fairly easy but time consuming (I need to do a price comparison for our two main stationery suppliers for example) but will make a big difference down the line. The planning (which is neither easy, nor quick and rarely fun) I might leave for tomorrow... Wish me luck and please send all the motivation inducements you can! Going in to school for long days wasn't exactly how I'd have chosen to spend my holiday but I have fewer excuses to procrastinate there! In more positive news I have finished my latest pair of socks, finished the book I was reading last night and finished off the raspberry jam puddle chocolate brownies I made!

That’s just where I’m heading - time to try out the new bubble bath I bought the other day. A cosy crime book and I’m sorted!

Me too! The TDL is still epic and I am determined not to work at all next week so I must do some more but I think my body has decided for me today. I had covid for the second time last week so did quite a bit of sleeping then too. Today I have have successfully booked my car in for its MOT and that’s about it. My sister and her family are off to Nepal to see in laws for the first time in 5 years tomorrow. I’m currently debating whether to get dressed at all today - maybe just change into different pjs at bedtime!

Hello everyone! I know it’s not Friday but… I’m on holiday! I finished last Friday but have spent the last three days in school 6 till 6 doing some significant sorting out - the kind of jobs you just can’t do when the children are in. TodayI was going to be a paperwork day but I slept badly last night so instead have had a pj day drifting between dozing, sock knitting, reading and mindless TV watching. It’s lovely! Hope you’re all ok whatever you’re up to.

Congratulations Sunnyday! Enjoy your celebrations!

I find it fascinating the difference that different ‘neutral’ colours can make to a project when used for things like borders.

Me too. I have what I call my ‘to do’ book. I divide a page into 8 labelled with days of the week. The 8th is labelled new things and that’s where I try to write own things so I don’t forget.

Apologies Mousie and FM I have only just seen your replies. Thank you - really useful to see how other people approach things. Last weekend I did empty my head and prioritise according to when I needed to get things done. I totally failed to do most of it but I did feel better for having got it all in one place!

I love the mix you get at groups like your knit and natter too Sunnyday but the way a common craft joins everyone. I think the complexity of the blanket calculations is that it isn’t really just area (at least not in my head!). I divided the wished for side length by the size of the square to give the number of squares for each side then multiplied together. On an unrelated note I was wondering if any of you have experience of regularly wearing ear plugs or knowing other adults who do in the way that children who struggle with noise sensitivity or sensory overload wear ear defenders. I have been finding environments like staff meetings where there are lots of people talking at the same time particularly difficult recently and was contemplating something to help block some of the sound out. Ear defenders felt a little too dramatic though!

Thanks Panders - just busy but finding it a little hard to ‘rise above’ things at the moment. My new head is lovely and it is making such a difference. My self-esteem has been somewhat knocked for various reasons in the last couple of years but he is doing a lot to build it again. As for numberle - it’s not easy but it is satisfying! It’s more about logic than hard maths!

I loved all the blanket calculations! Has anyone else discovered numberle - the number equivalent of wordle? I am glad it’s the weekend! Middle niece has a dance show this evening which I’m going to. Her school had to dress as superheroes for comic relief yesterday and she chose to be Malala Youfsafzai - she looked stunning. Littlest niece wore a clown costume cape thing originally intended for a baby so it’s now more of a hat, lots of red and sent us videos of her telling jokes giggling hysterically. Unfortunately heard from my brother at 4 this morning that she was having breathing difficulties last night so they took her to A&E. She seems to be ok now just exhausted so I hope it stays that way. My school TDL is just silly at the moment. It’s also been one of those weeks where the team I lead has been dropping quiet when I walk into a room and being cross about ‘stuff’ they think I have or haven’t done whilst not actually coming to talk to me about it or appreciating the things that do to support them. I lost all my PPA time this week - supporting staff with challenging children, supporting the trainee who was having a wobble and covering for the head who’d unexpectedly had to go out but then the following day when I was meant to be getting leadership time to work on a specific project I gave a chunk of it so one of my team could have her PPA and she never said thank you. It is what it is and it’s part of leadership but I’m a bit frustrated and fed up. On a positive note my headteacher told me earlier in the week that something I’d done was exactly what he needed from one of his leaders and yesterday he rang me in the evening just to cheer me on with something he knew I’d find difficult. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Very belated happy birthday from me! It sounds like a wonderful day!

Oh FM, I am so sorry to hear that. Sending good thoughts to the family and yourselves. Times like this are tough.

How brilliant Sunnyday! I wish I was near enough to come along!

Sounds like a lovely plan Sunnyday. I have been working this morning but then needed a nap! I’m just about to make my menu plan for the week then go shopping before more work. My aim is to get it all done today so I can have a school free Sunday.

Lovely idea Sunnyday and I really like the colours you’ve used.

My brother was in a similar situation during storm Arwen - the went without power for four days. My niece went to a friend’s for a play date and a bath!

Glad to hear you’re ok. My brother-in-law (a tree surgeon) was getting lots of calls yesterday! I’ve had a productive morning doing some decluttering in my dining room and putting some new storage in my downstairs toilet/utility room which has made a huge difference to how organised and tidy it looks. It’s very therapeutic! I have discovered though that I have to go food shopping as there is nothing at all sensible to eat in the house. I’m debating doing that, tidying the mess that results from the decluttering and crafting for the rest of the day.

I’m impressed at your perseverance Cait - it looks lovely! I’m crocheting a shawl for myself at the moment - it’s from someone hand-dyed yarn I treated myself to a while ago. The pattern is a nice balance of easy enough to lose myself in but complex enough to keep my mind going!

It’s actually ok in the midlands at the moment - just a bit blustery but it is freezing - the fire is on, I have just filled a hot bottle for my feet and any second now will be wrapping myself in a blanket!

Thinking of you all.

Thank you both. I do need to learn to delegate more but my scope for doing that is pretty limited. You’re right, the world won’t end if I didn’t do everything but I am generally pretty good at getting the essentials done. Time out the classroom isn’t really an option. In theory I do have a regular morning to do KS1 lead stuff but that didn’t happen last term due to staff absence. I need to find ways to ‘work smarter not harder’ I think. I do borrow/plagiarise where I can but it feels like so many things can’t be - staffing solutions, assessments, IEP reviews, trip planning, writing a sports strategy are all on the list of things that need doing…