Day 245 - The 4th Emergency Service

Thursday December 17th

An unexpected half day as our day of Maths at university finished at 1pm. This was perfect as we were all flagging after a long term. Unfortunately my plan to meet up with Mrs N was ruined by a puncture on the M3 and spent the afternoon waiting for the AA. Got back in time for a pint with Year 10 tutors and then Alice's carol service at St Cross. M&D came along and it was well worth it. A stunning church and our youngest reading a lesson with an impeccable English accent.

Headed off to the Maths department Christmas party at the Golden House chinese restaurant. Light years away from similar occasions at Diageo but enjoyed it, possibly more because of the absence of excess. Early finish, early bed...good for the soul.

Day 239 - 3 Cans Of Boddingtons

Friday December 11th

So so day. Yet another observation with Year 11 GCSE group this mornng with the Deputy Head. I tried something different, creating a boardroom style table and used mini whiteboards. It worked for 45 mins or so before they got bored with it and started misbehaving. Fortunately, she had left by then and scored myself my second "Very Good" of the week. Tssssssss. On fire.

World Cup draw live on TV. We all got very excited about England's draw. This is concerning, being this excited before a ball is even kicked....disappointment can only follow. I also realised that having agreed to go to Space Camp next summer, it falls in the week of the QFs and SFs. Dilemma.

Went to Alice's football team Christmas party. Priceless. It was at the Conservative Club and featured a bar and DJ. The girls played some fun games, we won 3 cans of Boddingtons in the raffle and the U17 girls team sitting next to us were pounding pints of lager. Only in the UK.

Day 233 - Cup Nail Biter

Saturday December 5th

Doubleheader for Alice this morning as she had cup games for U10 and U11. Her U10 game was a nail biter and went to penalties. Her shot was saved but they emerged victorious. Much better than last game when they lost heavily to an over age Saints team and one of their players told her to f*** off. Classy.

The football has been sporadic since the beginnning of November and Ted hasn't played much at all. He has been training well with Compton so it looks like he'll move there in the new year.

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 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 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.

Day 193 - All In Double Digits

Monday October 26th

Alice turns 10 today and I'm not at work....brilliant

I can't quite believe that all our children are now in double digits and in January we will have two teenagers. Before we know it they'll be gone but my cunning plan to see them more often is working.

Got a call from Ted's coach saying he had been approached by another club to sign Ted. Ooops. It wasn't meant to work like this but we talked it through and agreed to hold off until Christmas. Now we just need to agree transfer fee and signing on bonus.

Mum came over for the day so we made Delia's Christmas puddings and went for a walk into Winchester. The weather was fantastic and we showed Mum the flats in Peninsula Barracks. I got my pension letter through from Diageo and it kicks in from 2029. Twenty years til I can retire to our cosy flat there and rock gently back and forth with my pipe, slippers, blanket and a good book

Day 191 - Fantastic Mr Fox

Saturday October 24th

Haven't been for a run since Wednesday as my legs still feel like lead, probably a combination of fatigue and head cold. Wrapped up warm and headed out into the wind and rain to watch Compton FC play over in Bishops Waltham. A very pretty village but the football wasn't pretty in the weather conditions, although the team is a step up from Wyvern.

Alice had 5 friends over for her birthday party and we went to see Fantastic Mr Fox. I loved that book as a kid and Dahl is such a good writer I can still vividly remember it. The film was not what I expected but very good all the same.

To cap off a great day, I settled down to watch QPR v Derby on TV and watched us come back from 0-2 down to win 4-2. Come on you RRRRRRRRRRs. Premier League here we come.

Day 188 - Early Departure

Wednesday October 21st

Another big day today as I had another 3 lessons to deliver. It started well with my final Year 7 lesson before they go into their sets after half term. We were in the computer room and had some fun with Autograph. Metric Measurements was not so much fun with 8.2.4 but I persevered although still too much talking from me.

8.1.3 was observed by our Deputy Head and I almost had a coronary when she departed halfway through with what looked like a sympathetic smile. I carried on but had this awful feeling that I had screwed up in some major way. It turns out that she had planned to do that and was pleased with what she had seen. I relaxed a bit after that.

Took Alice up to football practice and went for a run but the legs still feel heavy. I managed some hill work and about 5 miles

Day 177 - Transfer Speculation

Saturday October 10th

Cycled over to Bar End for a morning of Alice football. She played U10 and U11, scoring a goal and playing her heart out. Meanwhile back in the States her old team mates were winning a penalty shootout to get to a final in a Columbus Day tournament. The standard is significantly better in depth here. Ted came back from practice and we watched some of his friends playing for Winchester FC....he wants to switch from Wyvern as they've lost all their games and not scored a goal yet. We shall see.

Alice got her new training top with initials but no logo. She's waited so long for it and now this. Turns out she will keep this one AND get a new one

Day 170 - Deep Philosophical Comment...Not

Saturday October 3rd

Today is much better than last Saturday. I am feeling quite relaxed about next week's lessons and whatever is thrown at me. I watched Alice's U11 team win 1-0 in between trying to prepare for next week.

Kate visited this afternoon and our kids entertained each other very nicely around the house and on the trampoline.

I'm happy I'm me. That's it

Day 156 - That Big Girl

Saturday September 19th

We'd never heard our tiny little daughter described as big but given the ferocity of her tackling in both U10 and U11 teams this morning, it made me stop and realise that our baby is almost 10. The year breaks are different in the UK and she has gone from being one of the youngest in her year (December cut off) to the oldest (September cut off). We never noticed this when she played in Hastings as she always played up a year. Ellen and Ted are the same, especially Ted who has adopted a little bit of a swagger since coming home, partly because he senses he's a little bit older and more worldly wise than his class mates.

N&G paid us a surprise visit on their way back from Wales. Dad has been researching his family tree and went back to visit Mumbles, where his parents came from originally. Some fascinating stories emerging about the black leather Baptist bible, bakers, shotgun weddings and pirates....who would have known? I am particularly excited about being related to Captain Henry Morgan

Day 150 - Spiders Webs

Sunday September 13th

A beautiful morning and headed off for a 10 mile run. As I ran towards the rising sun (yes, that early) the light caught hundreds of spiders' webs twinkling with dew in the long grass. Stunning image that I know I could never capture with a camera but definitely worth the early morning slog.

Alice headed off for her first away game and came back very grumpy. She didn't play much and that really doesn't sit well with her.

Mrs N and Alice went to church with Ellen and ran back screaming. Apparently it was a little too happy-clappy and even Ellen was a little freaked out. I think I might have punched someone if I had gone.

I completed two GCSE papers under exam conditions over the last couple of days and I fear that I have been a little under zealous on my subject knowledge revision over the summer. It's times like this that I behave like a 15 year old school boy and not a middle aged man - I am slightly concerned that I am going to be told off for being stupid by my tutor.

Day 143 - Sudden Death

Sunday September 6th

Good run this morning, 5 miles at 6:50.

Worked in the morning on class registers and then took M&D down to watch Alice's tournament. She did very very well, the highlight being her nerves of steel as she slotted two penalties in a shoot out. She was exhausted by the end but has definitely impressed her team mates and coaches. Some lovely kids there but the tattoos and smoking are definitely intimidating

Ted was off with his team all afternoon and has made a couple of friends it seems.

It's now 10pm. Ted and Ellen are in bed thinking of all the things that can go wrong tomorrow at their new school. Me too.

Day 139 - Finishing Touches

Wednesday September 3rd

Ted and Ellen went off with Alex and Helena all day so we had Alice to ourselves. Felt a little fuzzy headed so had an easy morning before biking into the library with Alice. Cycling in Winchester is interesting. There are some nice trails and paths that are every safe from traffic but once you get into town it can get a little hairy. There are also lots of hills, especially up to school.

It started to rain after lunch and didn't stop for the rest of the day. Alice's practice was cancelled but we went and picked up her kit for Sunday...No.9 no less! Spent the rest of the evening ironing and watching "Defiance" - a great story but not sure the film quite hung together.

Went to bed feeling relatively relaxed but well aware of the enormity of what I'm taking on from tomorrow. This week will be an easy introduction as there are no kids tomorrow and Years 7 and 11 only on Friday

Day 138 - 16 + 51 = 1450

Tuesday September 1st

Busy today as I managed a run (decent pace) and finished off my 8 page review of the summer school I went to last week. I packed it full of potential "applications" in the classroom so I am hoping I can use it for my portfolio and/or training. A little longwinded but glad I got it done.

Catherine came for the day so we had the cousins running around keeping our lot occupied. All of them are very different and real characters. Walked into town with them and dropped Alice off at her party. She has definitely gone a little quiet in the run up to school.

Then we headed out for our anniversary dinner with M&D. They hadn't had a drink all month so the champagne went straight to their heads. Good wholesome food in a building dating back to 1450 and then Dad drove us the wrong way down a one way street in the centre of Winchester. No police around which was lucky

Day 129 - Tax Credit Karma

Sunday August 23rd

Long run this morning. Thought about 10 miles but ended with about 8.5

A very calm day, dominated by growing nerves about heading of to York tomorrow. I haven't been away from the family or my own bed for a few weeks now and to head off for a whole week into the unknown is quite the upheaval. I actually planned what to pack and then packed the night before which is very unusual for me.

Completed the Child Benefit forms and Tax Credit application. We get about 50 quid a week for the kids, irrespective of income and hopefully some tax credits as a low income earner. Unfortunately, the form asks for my annual earnings from last year which will bring the credit right down I'm sure. I thought about fibbing as all my earnings have been in the US but as karma has been so good to me so far, I don't want to screw it up with some bad.

Alice had practice this morning so went along and chatted to some of the other mothers. One of them has just trained as a GTP Maths teacher so another good source of information.

England regained the Ashes. Rejoice.

Day 128 - Final Score

Saturday August 22nd

I'm glad I killed the plan to go and get Ted for footie practice this morning at 7am as I really enjoyed my lie in. Pottered around in the morning and then settled down for some serious sport enjoyment. Cricket, football, athletics - Saturday afternoons in England...small boys, jumpers for goal posts, tea, jaffa cakes, final score... all except QPR drawing 1-1 again.

Mrs N finally got her way as we re arranged the TV room. As always she was right as it works much better. We put a few pictures up and then cousin Jane came for tea. I have not seen her since M&D's 50th but she seems very well.

Went down to Brockenhurst to pick Alice up and enjoyed a massive curry and beer. Ellen has been very good the last two days. I wonder why?

Day 125 - Hard Core Retro

Wednesday August 19th

Worked hard this morning on DIY and then a call with Colangelo about S7. Great chatting about hardcore retro and whether S7 could do the same in spirits/whiskey that PBR has done for beer. Enjoyed that and also managed to stay disciplined and write up the report and send it off rather than promising myself that I would do it tomorrow. There is no tomorrow.

Ted and I cycled up to school. It took us 15 minutes door to door, pretty much all up hill. Not sweat inducing steep so I should be good to cycle to work. Headed off to cycle shop and invested in a new helmet and some nerdy bike clips. Nice downhill all the way home.

Dad came and picked Alice up for a few days and Ted heads out tomorrow so soon we will have only Ellen. How can we get rid of her? Hmmmmm