Day 260 - Happy New Year

New Year's Day

This time last year was the first day of Part 2...can't believe I left it so late. We hadn't really told anyone up til now, certainly not in Hastings. Once we started telling people, the reality of changing career and moving back really kicked in.

An enormous decision but (and I know this sounds like it comes straight from a cheesy American self help motivation book) by setting a very specific goal and telling everyone about it, there was really no option than to see it through. How many times in the past have I said I'm going to do something and then let it slip away through fear of failure, laziness or the safe option of going with the flow.

It's still early days and the next few months will be critical as the weather gets crappier and the novelty of everything wears off. However, I haven't felt this relaxed or optimistic on New Year's Day for a while. Yeuch.

Day 249 - Rest Day

Monday December 21st

A day of rest before the final onslaught of Christmas. It started snowing again and that caused havoc on the streets. Ted had to walk home from Worthy and I had a very festive walk into town for a pint with Kevin.

It's amazing what we got used to in Hastings. A small snow storm in Basingstoke and the whole city shut down with people abandoning their cars. I couldn't get 100 yards down the road without slipping, sliding and getting caught up with other cars doing the same thing. No snow ploughs, no gritting.

Day 192 - Farmers Market

Sunday October 25th

A glorious, glorious autumn day and we walked into Winchester to visit the farmers' market. Wow! the scale and variety was astonishing, especially compared to Hastings. Meat, dairy, veg, fish, baking, beer, wine, craft, garden.....there was loads to enjoy. We bought a piece of pork with crackling for later.

I then watched Ted play against Littleton and he had a very good game. They lost 0-3 and are still searching for that elusive goal but were desperately unlucky. Two of the team have now stormed off so this would not be a great time for Ted to leave. The Compton manager was there to watch him and definitely wants him to join.

I think we may have turned the corner with Ellen. She had 9 friends over today, 3 girls and 6 boys, all very presentable. She has the whole week planned out and not much mention of Hastings at all. Fingers crossed

Long run (10 miles) with Neil, roast pork and then relaxed in the glow of no school tomorrow.

Day 132 - Humility

Wednesday August 26th

Humility is a virtue I am making use of this week. Last night, I made it down to the pub with the party crew. It was fun being back in a student pub but at times an uneasy juxtaposition - between really enjoying the banter and complaining about how fresh the beer was (at 1.69 a pint, who cares?).

I am humbled by how bright everyone seems to be, how quick they are to figure out problems while I bumble around in the dark. I am humbled by how dedicated everyone is and that the lecturers publish books, run competitions and teach all at the same time. I am humbled by Chris who can run a half marathon in 1 hour 11

[an email I wrote to the Hastings running crew this week]

So, I am on a Maths 'summer school' up in York all week and go for my Tuesday morning run at 6.15. I am pleasantly surprised to see a few other runners. In particular I pass a young guy going the other way who is running at a decent pace.

Later in the day I get chatting to him with the intention of suggesting we run together next time. I talk at length about my running, trying to find a track to do some intervals etc. and then ask him if he runs seriously. He says he does a ferw 10ks and Halfs and is training for his first marathon.

I then proudly tell him about the Ragnar and he says he did a 10x10k relay with some friends in Holland and they averaged 32 minute 10ks. I wither inside and ask him what he runs a Half in. 71 minutes he says. A mile? 4:25 he says.

Needless to say, I did not go on to suggest we run together this week

He did also say that the first 5k he did 5 years ago was 24mins and the secret to improving your race pace is lots and lots of interval work - 400s, 800s, miles: building up the repetitions with 90 seconds rest between and NO negative splits, just a steady pace and maybe pushing yourself to the next level on your last one.

Day 126 - How To Survive My First Year in Teaching

Thursday August 20th

Finally, a day to myself. I used to enjoy the 1 or 2 weeks I had on my own in Hastings during the summer while the family were in the UK so it's nice to get the odd day on my own in the new house.

Dismal run this morning where I started to do a mile at pace and then wimped out after 200 yards. Heart and legs weren't in it.

Spent all day working, mostly reading a book about surviving my first year in teaching. Some very good tips on classroom management which is the thing that worries me the most. I have this irrational fear that I will show fear and then be ripped to shreds by a pack of wild children. However, I will perfect my withering stare and arm crossing and see where it gets me. I confess that I had the test match on the whole time (radio) and really enjoyed the relaxed and clever conversation in the background. Better than watching it on Sky.

The Fearns arrived to stay the night and we got through a couple of bottles of wine which I paid for the next morning. We got on to the subject of Ellen and just talking about it helped. It is clear that we think about it alot right now and as with everything, getting it out reduces the anxiety and shares the burden.

Day 103 - Ted Gets In

Tuesday July 28th

Bethan's 20th birthday. I remember babysitting her as a newborn in Richmond.

Went for a run this morning and pushed it hard for 2.5 miles. It felt good but I either need to find some new running buddies or change the music on the iPod.

Almost forgot to call the school but when we did...Ted got a place. The famous twins have confirmed they are leaving so two got in. It was like a large mountain off our shoulders. Ted picked up his uniform. I haven't seen him in it yet but when I do, it will be straight on Facebook.

Now I want to move into the new house and sleep in my own bed. We agreed to wait until Ellen got home but every day is painful in a deflating airbed.

AJ Tarricone had a nasty accident on his bike in Hastings. A very very lucky boy but it shows that the margin between a funny story and a life changing tragedy is very very thin.

Day 69 - One For The Road

Wednesday June 24th

Ellen had a special day today. I have to admit I was less than charitable when I went round to the McGowans to pick her up at around 10.30am and she was lying in bed like a zombie. She keeps banging on around spending these last few days with her friends and it pissed me off that she was wasting it being lazy with Paulina. It was a bad start to a bad day with her and she skulked at Peggy's house all day with us. She wouldn't even go and get her exam results - we did and she did fantastically well in all her subjects so I guess she did more than enough work, despite our concerns.

And another thing... Had a read of Ted's Yearbook as well and when you get past the foul language (from the girls no less) something clicked in my mind about the drama being played out around our departure. There is so much projected emotion from everyone around us that we are beginning to believe it ourselves. I admit that there are certain moments that have made the eyes water ( Ellen softball, Alice concert, Ted's All Stars, telling Debbie and Anthony) but no-one has died...we are moving 3,000 miles away in an age of instant communication. The most telling impact has been on Ted. He has been pretty cool about the whole thing and has shown interest in what the future holds but after all the wailing and gnashing of teeth and I have to say highly charges notes in his year book he now believes he is going to miss Hastings terribly and life without it will be empty. The cultural divide on this point is enormous. In England it would be a polite wave, a "good luck in the colonies, old chap" and a Christmas Card if you're lucky.

Fixed the Tarricones wireless connection tonight and I was so proud of myself I drank way too much beer and whisky. Way too much. The only upside is that I beat Anthony at darts.....twice