Supertramp day...

The back terrace taken through the sitting room window.

'It's Raining Again' but at least we haven't had the kind of weather causing chaos, destruction and distress in other parts of the country since before Christmas. No sooner do they see some improvement than another storm or band of rain arrives to add to the misery. The Government seem to be taking the line of 'Crisis, What Crisis'! If only there was a Supertramp track called. 'Too Little, Too Late'!!!

In our little bit of Staffordshire we've escaped the worst of the weather, and in the midst of the greyness we've had some fantastic sunny winter days. We try to make the most of these by going for long walks on Cannock Chase, or around the fields and canal which surround our house. However, wellies are the order of the day!

How much longer can this last?

On the retirement front it seems to be 'all systems go'. My colleagues have been informed as my job is being advertised, with interviews planned for March. My friend Barbara tells me that today is exactly half way through the school year. Today I did the investigations on the reflection of light for the last time ever, and after tomorrow making electromagnets will be a thing of the past. My citizenship lessons based on the 'Boy with Striped Pyjamas' are coming to an end. As usual, there will probably be tears.

It's all downhill from here...

Another three bite the dust ...

A year ago I posted about the retirement of my friends and colleagues Barbara and Sue.

This year it was the turn of SueG, SueH and Jane to retire, and Emily and Lisa to leave. Emily is setting up as an independent artist – she is so talented- and Lisa has moved to another school. We had a couple of great meals to celebrate the occasion.

SueH

Barbara, Corrie and Gaynor

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil!

They will all be greatly missed and the look and feel of our school will be entirely different, not to mention the age profile of the staff and consequently the salary bill - 

 age + experience = expensive!!

We will, I’m sure, miss their wisdom and experience.

Soon (with good luck and a following wind) it will be the turn of Corrie and Gaynor to find room for the 'retirement bench'. Gaynor has just the spot waiting at the bottom of her garden at Le Pre Vert, overlooking the bief ...

In honour of their retirement another track from my Monday Music collection. Kirsty MacColl with her version of the Ray Davies classic, 'Days' ...

Monday music .......... my desert island disc collection part 12

The last day of term was emotional as I said goodbye to two colleagues who were retiring, Sue and Barbara. Our school is a close knit community and both will be sadly missed after 34 years of blood, sweat, tears, laughter …..and EXCELLENT TEACHING. 

 Sue is unfailingly smiling and very positive, and although a mathematician, has been a fantastic teacher of science. Barb is my assistant Head of Science (but more importantly, my friend), and I have worked very closely with her for 27 years. In that time we have job shared, brought up our families, taken holidays together and shared very happy, and also devastatingly sad times. Barbara is one of the best teachers I have ever met, and I feel like half of my 'double act' has gone. I hope my Hardy can survive without her Laurel!

Both are loved by fellow teachers and their pupils. I've chosen this version because it was recorded at Live Aid 1985 (although without Neil Young - which gives me an excuse to choose a fantastic Neil Young track in the future). The coincidence is that Barbara and Sue were both born in the same town and went to both school and college together. Today's choice of music is for Barbara and Sue.

I know that they have both made the right decision, but life without them will be very different .......