Day 216 - Upside Down

Wednesday November 18th

Mrs N stayed in bed today feeling unwell. Given that I can count the number of sick days she has had in the 20 years I have known and loved her, this is a BIG DEAL. I was therefore on duty and managed to survive three lessons and get Alice to ballet on time. I went for a run while I was waiting and bumped into Neil. Mrs N does not believe this was a coincidence and thinks there is something untoward going on. I think she is delirious.

Going back to my theme of the week about feeling some strain. I had a chat with my mentor about this and I think it is a combination of things. The first cause is obvious - I have turned my professional life upside down and am doing something completely alien to whatever skills and experience I have picked up since 1989. The second came to me out of the blue but is also obvious - I have never trained so hard in my life. I am 10 or so weeks into a new job and am still in training every day, whether it's being observed, having assignments, figuring out what to teach or just adjusting to life in a big school. Of course, I've moved jobs and countries frequently through my career but to be in formal training for that long is something I've never experienced.

Day 215 - The Big Production

Tuesday November 17th

The big production today and our tutor group did not disappoint. They were word and cue perfect. We were given an average 8 out of 10 and a few tears were mentioned. I think I have shown what I can do!!! Not that I'm competitive but the other tutor group did not involve all the kids and their tutor seemed to be doing all of the work. Felt a mixture of relief and pride. They're a very diverse (in the context of a predominately white, middle class, C of E town in the South of England) and sweet bunch of kids.

Reality kicked back in with two lessons after lunch and the realisation that I had three more on Wednesday. No track tonight as a result.

Day 214 -Go On, Define A Reciprocal

Monday November 16th

The post race euphoria was definitely wearing off by Period 3 on Monday but I got through. With 10.2.2 I attempted to do Reciprocals as a starter and it turned into the whole lesson. Oops. Oh well, I think they get it now! 9.2.2 I had in the computer room again and that was relatively straightforward with percentages.

It is now week 10 at school and I can confess to a teeny amount of strain creeping in. First of all it is a long long term and as the weather and nights close in the kids get tired, the teachers get tired and it feels like a long slog til Christmas. For me, there is a little bit of that but not much - I do pinch myself every day to make sure this is actually happening as I seem to have more energy than ever before and enjoying life on a more even keel than ever before.

Day 213 - 1:29:35

Sunday November 15th

I DID IT

I nailed sub 1:30 in the Gosport Half Marathon with about 30 seconds to spare. The last 2 miles really hurt but the conditions were great, the course was flat and what a feeling. To think that I fell gasping over the line in Manhattan in a touch under 1:48 in January 2008. I have taken almost 20 minutes off my P.B. in just under 2 years. I remember running 1:45 in Amsterdam in 2001 and thinking that I couldn't go much faster.

I honestly believe I can dip under 1:25 now and I want to go sub 40 in the 10k and sub 19 in the 5k. I will need to train even harder but with the running club right here, I know I can do it. 6:49 minute miles. Sizzle

Spent the rest of the day in a daze and enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine to celebrate.

Day 212 - Last Minute Merchant

Saturday November 14th

Worked really hard today. After my disaster lesson on Friday, I decide to write a few medium term plans so I knew what was coming up and could discuss with class teachers way ahead of time. This is a really good idea as it takes the panic out of lesson planning the night before. It is such a good idea that I have failed to do it. This is because I am a last minute merchant, because I love exams, because I thrive on the thrill of thinking on my feet and seizing the moment. Maybe in my old job but not in front of 30 children in a subject that you are barely literate in. It is also interesting that other people have this perception of me as a good planner. I talk a great game and then make sure other people do the actual work. I need to learn a new skill!

The weather was horrible so it was nice to stay indoors and listen to the rain, wind and football on Radio 5 Live.

Day 211 - Best of Days, Worst of Days

Friday November 13th

Last rehearsal before the big performance and the tutor group are finally getting ready. I've enjoyed organising them and the best bit is that it is all their own work (well, except the Pink Floyd lyrics).

Very busy after that with a final revision lesson for my re-take class. I served up chocolate biscuits and tea to them as we went over questions and techniques. My whole objective was to try and relax them before the exam. After lunch I had a couple of tough lessons. First up was 922 and an observed lesson which went well in the computer room but pretty draining. That was followed by a bit of a disaster when the lesson I planned with 813 bombed half way through. Our head of department is the class teacher and tried to rescue it, which only made it worse.

As I was licking my wounds, two girls from the re-take class came in and THANKED me for all the help I had given them. they said that they had been more relaxed and answered more questions than they would have done without my help. Now that's what I'm talking about.

Day 210 - Bus Duty

Thursday November 12th

I love Thursdays. One lesson, a little bit of training and then an afternoon of relaxed work in the staff room. I brought the bike up this morning so I could head off early to the dentist. Unfortunately, the heavens opened, I got soaking and decided not to go to my appointment as my trousers were wet through and my shoes full of water, much to Mrs N's derision.

Prior to that, I was on bus duty and stopped a boy who was smoking as he left the school gates. He didn't seem that bothered but he gave me his name anyway. I guess it's not illegal, dumb but not illegal.

Day 209 - Hard Wiring

Wednesday November 11th

My weaknesses are beginning to show - planning ahead has always taken second place to last minute panic and winging it. That really doesn't work in a school, especially when I have three lessons today. My second, related, weakness is lack of discipline. If I give myself an hour to plan a lesson, I will spend 40 minutes doing something else (like this blog) and then killing myself for 20 minutes getting the work done. I keep telling myself to change and on occasion I manage it. When I manage it, it feels good because the work is done, I am relaxed and can enjoy something as a reward. Maybe it's just too hard wired.

Day 208 - High Praise Indeed

Tuesday November 10th

The house is quiet again after our visitors have left and one thing I can guarantee as a teacher is the same classes come around week after week. On both the down and up side, I know what to expect! This morning I embarrassed Ellen as I went up to the front and answered a question in Year 10 assembly. She'll get over it.

A brilliant afternoon, when I did a group task with 10.2.2 on prime factors, which they seemed to enjoy and stay focused on, followed by a shiny new 7.2.1 class. This was interesting as it was my second attempt at teaching sequences. I learnt a lot from my first experience and it went very well. In fact, OSM loved something I did so much, he stole it for his class. That felt very good.

Day 207 - BIG Government

Monday November 9th

A second day at University in under a week and we learnt all about assessment in the morning and more maths in the afternoon. There is certainly a lot of data around in schools, not least government targets, standards, tools and processes. The level of jargon and acronym use would put Diageo to shame. All of it is eminently logical and sensible but the issue with BIG government, as it is with BIG business, is that someone has to apply it all. I do not know for sure but that someone is almost certainly the poor classroom teacher. I am also sure that there are senior management teams put in place to oversee the classroom teachers and make sure they fill in all forms and follow the directives. I must dig out that brilliant powerpoint presentation about the team of rowers.

It was an interesting morning and I managed not to embarrass myself in the maths session. I still haven't sorted out my second school placement but it looks like it could be at a small private school for special needs boys with behavioural and learning difficulties. Should be interesting.

Day 206 - Poppy Fields and Graves

Sunday November 8th

Attempted to run a swift 10k this morning and it went OK, 41 minutes or so. Full pancake breakfast and then off to the Farmers Market. I found out it was Remembrance Sunday this week rather than next week so a little miffed as I wanted to go to a service. We did the 2 minutes silence next to the hogs' ears bucket. A nice touch.

Took Ann off to Ted's game and almost witnessed their first points. 3 minutes to play, 0-0 and they let in a soft own goal. Poor team has had no luck this season but they played with a lot of spirit and Ted was a lock for the Man of the Match but somehow lost out to.....the coach's son.

Back home for roast pork and all the trimmings, a bottle of wine and general goodwill to all man. Another trip to Uni tomorrow so did not have to plan a lesson. Bliss

Day 205 - Burn A Catholic Night

Saturday November 7th

Lots of football this morning followed by a mad dash down to the Old Oak pub in Bank to have a traditional pub lunch with M&D. Sat around a big table drinking Guinness with Dad charming Debbie and Ann before a brisk walk amongst the trees and a cream tea in Brockenhurst.

Rushed home to put on the warm clothes, pick up our sparklers and join the Bonfire Night celebrations in town. What celebrations they were! The flaming torch procession down the High Street was a sight to behold and not a Health and Safety Officer in sight to keep the torches away from flammable clothing, hair products and out of the hands of babes and small children. 22,000 turned up and witnessed a magnificent fireworks display at the recreation ground. Brilliant. Debbie and Ann were very disappointed not to see a Catholic flaming on top of the mountain of old pallets

Day 204 - Mollusc Pace

Friday November 6th

Thank God Mrs N comes home from Paris tonight.

Today was a good day - my GCSE revision class went well and they all sat relatively quietly and worked on past papers. I attempted a group activity with 922 in recognition of their inability to focus on a Friday afternoon. This went quite well except for a couple of the groups, one of which was slow to the point of mollusc paced and another where two of them would have cheerfully strangled each other if allowed to do so. Finally, 813 was fun to finish with although that classroom is very small and claustrophobic.

I watched Ted's team lose on penalties in the national cup in the pouring rain. He soon cheered up and went out to a party. I stayed in and waited for Mrs N to come home late on the train from London. Knackered

Day 203 - Boarding School Memories

Thursday November 5th

Our first November 5th since 1999....

Alice now delights in getting herself to school so I drove up early.

Met my mentee for the first time this morning and got to know each other a little. He is a boarder who only goes home during the holidays. Hmmm, I wonder if I have some relevant experience? Early days, but I hope I can help him as exams seem to be a big issue for him and this is his GCSE year.

The day rushed by and I still did not manage any planning for Friday before I left school. This puts so much pressure on me at home! We sat and watch football on TV while I tried to cobble a few plans together. Too much last minute stuff will trip me up soon.

Day 202 - Sam Loyd's Dissection

Wednesday November 4th

Alice walked down to the bus stop with me and I headed off to Soton for a day of Maths. It was a very enjoyable day and I got a B for my assignment. Yeah! Spent all day on geometry and Ruth gave us loads of great ideas including measuring dolphin fins using triangles...who would have thought?

I still haven;t organised my second placement so agreed with Andy to link up with him and his school in Basingstoke. I had to leave early and almost missed Alice but got there just in time and delivered her to ballet and football on time AND managed a run in between. Ted cooked burritos which were a BIG hit.

Exhausted tonight but feeling good. First night sleeping on my own in the new house without Mrs N. Boo Hoo.

Day 201 - American Invasion

Tuesday November 3rd

Tuesdays go really quickly even though I only teach two lessons. We got our shiny new Year 7 set today and it was great to observe OSM at work. He has a very clear routine for his new classes and he goes about his work so serenely you just have to stand back and admire. What made it even better was that it took the whole lesson so my hastily prepared 10 minutes on sequences was not required.

Rushed home to see Debbie and Ann. They were pretty tired but we kep them up past 9pm. I'm so excited for them all going to Paris. Not excited, jealous. I'm in charge from tomorrow.

Day 200 - Back to School

Monday November 2nd

200 days since I left Diageo. It does feel like another life. Teaching is certainly proving to be hard work especially as I am left to figure much of it out on my own. In many ways the challenges and routines are similar but the most important change is in myself. It no longer feels like my job defines or consumes me. It feels very much like something new that I am having a go at, in the same way as I've taken up running in a big way or taken on a new house in a new city. I'm curious as to whether I can be good at it as opposed to success or failure will define whether my life is a success or failure, a feeling I had many times over the past 20 years in my chosen career. I know this year will be all consuming as I train but once I'm more experienced I can start expanding my horizons and choose what I want to do.

Back to school today and tired myself out in just one day! Not that bad but it certainly didn't feel like we had had a week off. Worked through my two lessons in the morning and then was able to relax. I really enjoyed the lesson with 10.2.2 when we went through the topic test they had done.

9.2.2 are troubling me. I can't seem to get the pitch right with them. If I try and stretch them they go very quiet and just sit there. If I try and make it fun and engaging, they start mucking about. On top of that I have a few kids in there that are just not participating at all. I can't decide whether that's my fault or I need to get tough with them. Sounds familiar from my past life....

Day 199 - Lordshill 10m

Sunday November 1st

Ran the Lordshill 10m in howling gales and torrential rain. Appalling weather but my first outing in the WADAC vest so I worked hard and managed 68:18. Really pleased with the time and how good my legs felt. If I run that well in Gosport the 90 minute half marathon is within my grasp.

However, I did feel tired for the rest of the day! Ted played in goal for the first time and Wyvern scored their first goal of the season and almost got a result. They eventually lost 2-1 to the league leaders and restored a little pride

Day 198 - Halloween England Style

Saturday October 31st

Our first Halloween in England since 1999 and, while it has changed, it bears no comparison to Hastings. This is no bad thing as the thought of Halloween overshadowing and replacing November 5th fills me with horror - a British institution that reminds us of Guy Fawkes' gunpowder plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament versus a commercial horror show that encourages kids to eat enough sweets to rot their teeth and send them into sugar induced rampages with eggs and flour. Mmmmmm.

Day 197 - St Edmunds Pot Luck

Friday October 30th

Guy came over for a run. We did about 10 miles and had a great chat. He used to work at Diageo and jacked it all in and is doing GTP in Slough. He's also a very accomplished runner and triathlete. We shared experiences and they are quite similar. He doesn't care for the lack of management competence he fins in his school and enjoys the "thinking on your feet" challenge of the classroom. I worry less about that aspect but do worry about my subject knowledge. It's there but a little rusty.

Spent all afternoon trying to bring some order to my portfolio and had some success and then we had the long anticipated St Edmunds pot luck. Unfortunately, Simon at Number 1 suffered a heart attack this week so we were down to 3 but we had a good time and will do it again when he is back at full strength - appetizers at Number 3, main at Number 4 and dessert at ours where once again, Ted's magnificent key lime pie stole the show.

Day 196 - The V&A

Thursday October 29th

Trip up to London en famille and what fun we had. Walked across the bridge from Waterloo and had lunch with Benj in Covent Garden so he could see his Goddaughter. Then we got the tube to South Ken and had a speed tour of the V&A. A strange museum but Ted and Alice really enjoyed the architecture and glass exhibit.

Got the bus along the Brompton Rd, past Harrods and Marble Arch as far as Oxford St. Visited the food hall in Selfridges which was very tempting and instead spent a fortune on furniture in John Lewis

Train back and I can honestly say that the Nichols family got on with each other the whole day.