ironing out the issues......

I have discovered that ironing is the best time to contemplate the world. Actually any housework is a great time to contemplate.

This morning I got up really early and I decided that I would finish the ironing pile. It took me 1.5 hours to finish that pile. Ok, the pile was full of 5 weeks worth of washing. Normally I wouldn't allow this amount to build up but time is an issue at the moment.

I had done an hour yesterday when I was watching "Lady Hamilton" and don't think I would've had the stamina to do close to 3 hours this morning.

During my 1.5 hours I planned what to do with a group of kids I teach who are a little naughty (show me a kid who isn't a little bit naughty!) but it is through disorganisation. I decided what I have to work out with them this week so that we are all back on track. Now to document it all.

Now I will go and vacuum and I might sort out the rest of the issues bugging me. Not one of them is huge but it is frustrating that they have managed to become central focus......grr.

Just so you know, I am feeling quite buoyant at the moment due to the fact that I am sorting it through........and I love the title I gave this. So Witty!

The battle of Trafalgar

My apologies for the last post. I think I did prove to myself that I was indeed, and still am, exhausted.

But this is not the reason for my post - no.....I have just finished watching a very old film "Lady Hamilton" while doing the long neglected ironing. (The ironing pile was almost as half as tall as my washing machine....) It was released in 1941 and I loved every minute of it, from the painted scenery behind the studio built bay windows, to the bad English accents.

Why I am writing about this has nothing to do with my love of old films. It has to do with the thought that came to mind when Lord Nelson (played by Laurence Olivier) died at the end of the battle of Trafalgar. It was an amusing death scene. Lord Nelson had, through the course of the film, lost an eye, an arm and, during this battle, been shot in the back through his spine. He died as a consequence of that shot through the spine BUT only after he heard that the British had won the battle of Trafalgar.

Olivier, being the excellent actor that he was, turned one eye - the good eye, while maintaining a dead look in the lost eye and died. It was excellent acting.

But this death scene reminded me of a reenactment I witnessed at my first Victorian teaching position.

I worked, for 18 months, at Trafalgar High School at the beginning of my teaching career. I owe this school a great deal as they reignited the knowledge that I am a good teacher.

One day I read that there would be a reenactment of Battle of Trafalgar by the Year 8 (I think - can't quite remember which year level) on the top oval at 2.30pm.

I was intrigued and also a little confused. I thought the Battle of Trafalgar was fought on the sea. Fighting on the top oval? I would see.

At 2.30 an announcement came on for all staff and students to come and watch the historic reenactment. We got to the oval and were posted around the sides (which I should hasten is not an oval - more a rectangle). The teacher in charge (sorry that his name escapes me) explained that the French and Spanish would be coming from the street side of the oval and British from the other.

Out came the students -1 class on either side. They prepared for battle by stepping into their carefully painted cardboard boxes and strapping the ropes over their shoulders. Some were large enough to carry two or three sailors. Most had only one on board.

The teacher called them to arm themselves and there was movement below the top level of each box. The teacher got the kids to line up facing each other across the green I mean brine......the buzz around the crowd grew.

At the call the kids ran full pelt towards each other. Once they were within striking distance the ammunition came out. Water balloons and flour bombs. The dust from the flour created the feel of smoke from the cannons. The water ??????

In terms of historic accuracy it left a lot to be desired. The British fleet lost.......which I think had something to do with the fact that kids didn't follow the basic rule that if you're hit, you cannot compete any further as you're probably dead. French and Spanish kids were knocked down but got back up and battled on as, they told me later, they hadn't got rid of all their ammunition. I also believe that many of the 2 and 3 manned boats anarchy reigned. One kid was hit but the other one/two kept dragging them along.

Boats were destroyed and bits of cardboard went everywhere. Scrap from the ammunition lay on the ground. The kids started to battle for the sake of frivolity.....

At 3pm (it was a quick battle as it didn't really get started until 2.50pm) we were all dismissed by the principal - who looked a little concerned. At this stage the year 8s were a little out of control and didn't really want to clean up after their battle. Arguments broke out amongst the kids as to who actually had won.

I walked away not really what I had witnessed but I know I haven't laughed so hard in ages and it is something I will always cherish.

no real point

ha ha ha ha! (I think I am exhausted.... I amuse myself)

I just read my last post - I am not imagining anything......I am imaging. Love my own poor attempt at humour.

Almost at the end of this crazy week - fortnight- term!

tired again

Parent teacher interviews started again last night. We had the senior kids come in with their parents.

Most of mine were really good except for the following situations:

1)

First parent I chatted to, makes me nervous. Has happened every year. I thought she was scrutinizing everything I did. She isn't. I am imaging it. As a result of my nervousness around this parent, my conversation is quite hard to follow. I stumble over words, I look as though I have no coherent examples of the work and generally feel like an idiot. Last night was the first night in 3 years where I registered my emotional connection to the situation.

2)

Had 4 hard interviews with the kids doing group performance. Why? They are getting a little up themselves and are becoming really hard to manage as a group. Individually each kid is fabulous. Together they behave like a bunch of idiots. The reason for this is quite simple. They get together each Saturday to 'rehearse' for 6 hours. What they actually do is muck around for 3-4 hours and then play for a few hours.

They are not sure what questions they should be asking - and they do need to ask them - and then get frustrated as they are not getting answers. This makes them whiny and aggressive. Being together for so many hours they feed of the energy of others in the group. There are many private jokes and it is frustrating as a teacher to get past their jokes and teach.

In amongst this, one kid picked up the subject this year. He hasn't completed the first two units of music, so he is starting from a lower point. He HAS done a fair amount - he began the year quite well - but his behaviour, which is very silly, has changed and he is slipping into his well practiced form. I pointed this out in no uncertain terms to him last night. Trouble is, I like the kid. He is funny and he is keen in my subject. I am just not certain about his dedication to the subject. I am also not sure if he can complete a year of great behaviour.....he is so well versed in behaving like an idiot.

ON OTHER things - there is a week to go until the holidays. I am SO grateful!

A week on

Friday and I am feeling on top of more than I did this time last week.

Year 8 correction completed. (all four classes)

Year 9 correction completed. (only the one class)

Year 12 almost finished but the answer sheets for their homework done.

Choir rehearsal reasonable on Wednesday.

Singing rehearsal with the girl for the production - good! the cabaret singers - excellent in their separate times. I even squeezed in my lunch......being prepared is an excellent thing. I need to do it more often in other areas of my teaching and general life.

In amongst all of this I had a student drop my subject in year 12. The actual thought of him dropping the subject didn't worry me in the slightest. It was the way it happened that concerned me.

This particular boy is quite unique. He enjoys performance but doesn't really like to be criticised.

Herein lies the dilemma. He was doing a performance based subject where 50% of the overall mark comes from one single 20-25 minute performance. My job is to prepare the kids for this performance.

I feel that I walk a very fine line between cotton-balling these kids and speaking the honest truth. Every kid who gets up to perform is a beginner. They are in my room because they have a passion for music in some form. I watch their body language and face expressions to see where they are in terms of their self esteem. Sometimes I get it right and say the thing they need to hear and then there are the days when I step too far and I am too cutting.

I try to praise what I see - but there are days when the kids haven't really prepared themselves. They try to kid me, and themselves, that they have. I try to be positive but sometimes there ain't nothing I can say except "Well done. You got up and performed." That can be it and that sounds so bitchy!

Then I have the situation where a kid does an amazing performance - and it is the beginning of the year - and I need to say "fabulous" but I also need to keep telling them to improve - and sometimes I scratch my head and think "but what?"

So, back to this young man. One day he is completing the set work - one of the few who have handed in their technical work lists and other tasks - the next day he is not in the room. I received no notification that he was gone. An email would've been great.

I saw him after Choir rehearsal and asked him what was going on. He was hesitant at first to tell me but then told me what was concerning him. Nothing he told me was really a surprise. He has been threatening to drop music since the end of year 9.

His major issue was I NEVER said anything positive. I disagreed with that. I didn't really couch it well. All he heard was negative and NO positive. What I said was a little positive and some negative. At first I thought it was just me and I was concerned then he came out with a few statements that gave me an "Aha" moment.

He told me that last year he had another music teacher who was just as critical and was going to drop the subject two times........

He believes that the whole course is ridiculous - I may agree in some areas - and therefore didn't want to lose his passion for performance.

I asked him if he had spoken to anyone regarding his decision. He told me he had only spoken to the coordinators but he hadn't told them exactly what he told me. He had said to them that the subject is something he needs and he has already completed a year 12 subject the year before.

What concerns me is the fact that he had a lot of pent up emotion and had not discussed it with anyone before I confronted him about it. He vented a lot with me. It should have been someone else who had nothing to do with the subject. It should have happened before he made his decision. I wouldn't have changed his mind but we could have cleared the air and he might have been a little happier.

woo hoo

Monday and I am feeling somewhat refreshed.

Today I had the third week of no year 7 class......so frustrating. I will get over it but I was cross for a little bit.

Year 12 class #1 freaked out as I gave them a spot test. "I wasn't warned" - well it is a spot test. "Will this count?" - not to your end of year mark but it will let you know what you know and what you should work on..........

Year 12 class #2 became confused over definitions of Large, Medium and Small scale compositions. Once we broke it down they were fine. They still laughed at my REALLY BAD jokes. Bless them.

Rehearsal at lunch was really interesting. The kid I am working with struggles with reading and then is scared that she is making a mistake. The music is friggin' hard!

What do you get with 25 hyperactive year 8 kids and a class set of djembes? My period 5 class and a BIG headache. Well it was noisy but fun. I got over my headache pretty quickly.

As well I entered 4 kids into AMEB grade 3 theory, I helped organise kids for a publicity shoot tomorrow, counseled a year 12 who has frozen with fear, listened to an outline for the massed singing item for this years Winter Concert and worked on pieces for the Cabaret night.

Now home I am going to look at arrangements for the Year 8 band rehearsal tomorrow and write out a guitar part or two.......

Meanwhile the cd ripping continues.........

lesson for the soul

You know how I said that I was tired? Well I had no idea how tired I was.

Yesterday I was meant to drive for an hour and a half to go to hang out with some people on The Blues Train. Well - it didn't happen. I spent about an hour trying to work out whether to go or not. In fact the two factors that made me decide were - the HEAVY rains that came and the fact that I was close to tears at the thought of travel and mixing.

This is not like me at all. I was feeling overwhelmed at the thought of mixing with others.

So I spent a productive day on the couch nuturing the soul. I listened to Soundrelief (concert for the bushfire victims) and played with the cat. I checked a few things out on the internet. I downloaded music and I started ripping my cds. I did the household shopping and ignored the housework.

This morning I woke up and feel much better. I am still quite tired but not in the bone weary, emotionally challenged place I was yesterday.

I realised that I need to sleep more regularly. The last fortnight or so, I have been going to bed about 11pm - or often closer to midnight, then waking up 5.30 or 6pm. Then I have been trying to teach my crazy load, work with my excellent student teacher, and work with many other tasks outside the classroom. I have also been socialising with new and sometimes, interesting people. I have been trying to do everything.

Note to self. You can't always do everything - but you need to rest if you want to try.

So I have had a good, long chat with myself. "Self" I said "early to bed on school nights. It doesn't matter if the show on tv is halfway through. Sunday to Thursday nights you MUST be in bed by 10pm. Friday and Saturday nights you may stay up later."

I did question myself - "What happens if you are out until 11pm on one night that is a school night?"

"Well, late to bed one night will mean early to bed the night before or the night after."

I also have challenged myself to become a little more focused in attending the gym. I am trying to prove that if you are physically fit you will be mor capable of dealing with more in your day. What do you think?

so tired but still awake

Sheesh! I am glad this week is over.

Well - Sunday I went to a friends bbq and overate sausages and cheese. Not in the one sitting. I ate heaps and then suffered the consequences the next day. Thank goodness it was a public holiday.

Tuesday back on deck and working hard in my year 8 band. My year 12s sort of did the right thing all the day.

Wednesday night the year 8s performed REALLY LOUDLY and painstakingly fast at "Meet the year 7s. Parents and teacher night." I haven't laughed so hard in so long. My Percussion kids took off like a rocket. I did the best I could to keep up with them. Rehearsals were not like this.....their first performance for the year was a hoot. We have had 4 rehearsals on new pieces and the kids have been, on average, playing for about 8 months. I was so impressed. the non percussionists (well the flautists) were trying not to laugh at my facial reactions while they played their instruments.

I had some of the more bizarre conversations with some parents. In fact one dad was doing his best chatting up lines on me. That was fun! Glad his wife wasn't around at that exact moment......got away from that one and chatted to a woman who told me that her daughter had to stop playing the trumpet as it would probably ruin her teeth and therefore her good looks.

Finally got home, after my singing lesson, at 9.

Thursday I taught all day and we had the house music festival during the night. One of my year 9s was caught wagging and finally turned up during the last lesson of the day. We had a chat and he did improve through the lesson. I was impressed by his change.

Thursday night, after talking to a fair few parents, I got home 10pm.

Today my student teacher finished up. She is very, very good. I look forward to working with her when she comes back as an intern. The only downside to her finishing today was the crazy emotional meltdown a student had. It was awful. We dealt with the situation but it was awful.

I got home between 6 and half past. Lying here on the couch. I should be asleep but can't be bothered getting up. will as soon as I have finished the post......

In amongst all of this I have booked tickets for Angelique Kidjo, organised the replacement of the top casing of my laptop and finally got my itunes working for me again. Very happy with my ability to download again.

The back neighbours have had a few LOUD fights at night this week. As I have rearranged the lounge, it is not as easy to hear the statements being shouted from one to another. I miss them.

Next week will be even more crazy. No lunchtimes for me next week. Rehearsals for a main character in the school musical, rehearsals for a girl quartet for the cabaret night and finally standard choir rehearsal.....AND I have to take all my own classes.

urrgh

Please excuse this post.......

I had a decadent day yesterday - I ate sausages and cheese. Not together! You have to understand that I don't eat either very much so I gorged myself on both. Paying consequences today............

Time to sit and ponder the world while battle royale takes place within.

Sorry. Too much information..........I'll stop now.

about last night

So this is something that I have been thinking about for a while and thought I might post about. As I was driving home from another ‘successful’ dinner last night I decided to air my thoughts about dating, or more appropriately getting into the dating zone.

Last night I went to one of those meet at dinner setups. That’s what they really are – a set up. There is nothing real about the whole situation. I have met a few nice blokes through this process and dated a few fellas from there but it is a rarity. Last night was one out of the bag – and I am now busily trying to shove it back in the bag.

I arrived about 5 minutes late and the other 5 were sitting, as requested male/female around the table. It was easy to spot our table through the male/female setting and the awkward smiles etc.

I sat down and realized I recognized one of the other women there from the social group I belong to. This has happened the last 3 dinners now so I am moving with it fairly easily. The last 3 dinners I have met 3 other women who I know and it makes me a little tense but relaxed at the same time.

I waited a few minutes, listening to the crickets conversation then finally decided I needed to find out all the names of the people at the table. After a few moments of discussing if we were getting our complimentary glass of champagne we read our menus. The awkwardness of the beginning of one of these nights is palpable.

The waitress was fabulous. Helpful, unobtrusive and very welcoming.

Suddenly there were side to side conversations taking place. Unfortunately I was sitting next to the worlds second most boring intense man. I found out that he is an accountant (nothing wrong with the industry) but really doesn’t do much else but seems to be really busy. We sort of discussed my day – house hunting – and he offered some interesting insights into offers and counter offers. He, and his family, own a large number of properties around Melbourne and Geelong. So he went up in my estimation – not for the property ownership, couldn’t care less about that, but for his insight into the real estate industry.

We realized that we had nothing much else to talk about so we dropped into someone else’s conversation. The woman I knew and the man opposite. He had moved to Australia from England 7 years ago. He has seen more of Australia than most of the others at the table. I had seen most of the parts he had been to so he and I discussed a few places and the sites there.

In amongst all of this the man to my other side (left) stated his opinion about anything that was mentioned. The thing about his opinion is the fact that he would never stop talking to see if anyone either agreed with him or disagreed with him. He never shut up!

We ordered dinner – I had grilled barramundi on a lentil and bean mix. Very yummy!

Left of me man decided to make comments about what was on the menu. Some of the comments were funny but most were not necessary.

Over the next 2 hours I found out about the man to my left’s occupation and how interesting it was. He is an accountant with an exploratory company for oil and gas fields. I found out his opinion of international politics, national politics, weather changes globally and the state of the world of sport. We also found out the difference between Australia and New Zealand (where he is originally from).

The man opposite me was very good at making conversation with Left man. Right of me man joined in and finally the woman I knew joined in. Her occupation came up often through out the night as a nice pun.

The other woman on the table sat and smiled and allowed her eyes to glaze over. Finally after the main meal was finished and the plates taken away and we were ordering dessert and coffees I asked her what she did for a living. I think by this stage she was shocked by the fact that she was allowed to speak. The tally of words from her lips was 100. Opposite man asked left man what he did and he was off again. (I thought we had discussed this earlier!)

I also think my eyes glazed over and I finally made eye contact with the waitress and got our bills brought over to us. 45 minutes later I left – it was the first opportunity within the conversation to leave. It was 11.30. I had thought of leaving at 9.30 but there was no break in the noise coming from left of me man and opposite man.

I hated last night. It was one of the WORST nights I have ever had. There was no saving grace to last night. The man to my left dominated the whole proceedings and was joined by opposite man. I think opposite man was trying to incorporate others on the table but left man would take control of the conversation.

I did input a few sentences here and there – I think in total I spoke 20 times for the night. More than the very quiet woman but extraordinarily quiet for me. I don’t need a great deal of encouragement to talk but last night I couldn’t be bothered as I was ignored most of the time. I got up and went to the toilet and I think that was the most interesting part of the night. That’s not saying much.

Now although this is quite trivial, no one from the table knows anything about me. It is one of the few nights when I wasn’t asked what I did for a living. I wasn’t asked about anything really much. I offered a few opinions but left of me man pretty much ignored any input from anyone apart from the males and the female sitting opposite him. I personally don’t care that I wasn’t asked anything directly but the idea of being ignored is frustrating. I will always make sure I incorporate all on the table. This fool of a man – shit head – was so arrogant that he only heard the sound of his own voice. Actually I don’t think he even heard his own voice. He was just speaking. The air in the restaurant became quite warm – but that was from the hot air coming from his mouth.

As I left the woman I know and I had a quick chat. Her opinion of the night was more positive than mine but she was just as scathing of the man to my left. I think she made a real connection with the man opposite me – which is great for her – and why her opinion was more positive. She also seemed to have a better night as she was the only female that left of me man would take any notice of.

Now I began this blog with the idea of telling you about my opinion of dating – that might have to wait as this blog became a reflection on the stupid dinner I went to last night.

I will tell you about dating and the strange people I have met. I might just calm down a little first so that I can let you know the funny side of my dates.

I will let the man who organizes these dinners know what I thought of last night. I paid for the set up so he needs to know that I, as a customer, was unimpressed.

Hopefully next time I blog I will be happier.

Happy International Women’s Day.

house hunting

It's interesting house shopping.

You read the ad, which you know is full of very flowery language and decide on properties to view according to a set list of criteria.

Walking into the house you are greeted by an amazingly cheerful agent who takes your details. Here I have encountered the first play. I won't give my mobile number as I am not yet ready to purchase - I am gauging the market. When you offer your email address two reactions are offered. "Excellent/No problem" - in which case you realise they understand your position about purchasing (or that's me just reading what I want to read).

The other is much more aggressive and makes me wary of the company...."Why can't you give me a number?" "I won't be able to contact you easily" (my point exactly). "It's not really convenient for us." (again this is in my favor)

I haven't even looked in the house yet and I am feeling harassed. I like my policy of not giving my mobile until the point that I am ready to really purchase. I won't be changing it. I don't have a message service because you pay for someone to leave a message and then pay to retrieve it. It it is that important they'll call me back. Add into this the fact that I don't take my phone into the classroom - you see my point.

Once I am in the house I look around, up, down, under. Doing all the good things that I should. I have learnt to listen to a few conversations people have as they wander. "Cupboards are small" - type conversations point out to me that I already can see these things. Today I learnt to look for bubbles in the eaves and ceiling line. A building man was telling his client that that was a sign of serious damage. Water sitting in the roof......Glad I listened.

I have started getting good at looking at the pictures of the places before I get there and picking up what type of lens the photographer has used. This makes it easier to see that the place is small when it looks HUGE in the pictures. I am still amazed at the difference of perspective though.

Then there is the issue of renovations. What some people consider to be good taste really is extraordinary. My favourite today was the HOT HOT pink feature wall in the bedroom. It was not a very large room and the wall almost burnt the retinas. I also love the inappropriate coloured floating floor. Dark, dark brown that looks so obviously fake it is not funny.....sounds crap too when you walk on it. Sound is an important element for me as a purchaser.

The asking price is fascinating. Some I have nodded - after I have left the building and I am safely in my car. Others I have almost laughed outright at the thought of it. At one place a couple started asking the agent the asking price - he gave them the printed version and they both asked "Why?" His answer was to do with land value. Hey! These are units I am looking at......What land?

Moral of the story, so far. Keeping looking. Don't purchase yet! Listen to all conversations that take place in the residence on show. Offer very little of yourself to the agent. They are sneaky buggers and could use your information for evil.

Any suggestions from out there?

time

I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed by my workload at the moment. I have a large number of classes that I have to keep an eye on and my eye is getting a little dry and tired at the moment.

I have 3 year 7 classes, 4 year 8s, a year 9 and then 4 Senior school classes mixed over a timetable of 2 places. I have this large number due to the fact that the juniors (year 7 & 8) only have one period of theory/classroom a week and one period of practical a week (band class). In amongst this I run the school choir.

Now I am not complaining about the variety. I love variety - it keeps me versatile.

I'm not complaining about the amount of work it brings in - again the versatility of the curriculum is a joy.

I'm complaining about the lack of time I seem to have to enjoy what I do. I feel as if I am only going through the motions. There are days when I don't have the energy to get things done completely.

Once I am in the classroom I am on fire - well almost all the time. There are times when I am rather brusque with the kids but, meh! Getting to the classroom involves ensuring I have completed all the correction (going in early to get that done today!) and have all my resources at hand.

If you throw in the fact that I have just about finished with my student teacher, who takes time even when discussing issues and not her teaching, then time is scarce. I sit each day trying to socialise with people, and I do so effectively, but all the while I am thinking of the next lot of things that I have to complete before I go and teach or hit the classroom.......oh well!

Off to be a domestic goddess and then attack a pile of correction at work.

visions

Don't you hate it when sleep eludes you?

That was me last night. Asleep for 2 hours! Today I'm very light headed and got a decent headache. I made the decision not to go to work at 5.30am having been awake for 4 1/2 hours. I have slept for another two hours today as well.

I have been working - on year 12 stuff. I just don't think I should have been in control of children. I wouldn't have been in control. I would have been a raving loony!

Probably the interesting thing is the fact that my head of department was absent as was the instrumental coordinator. For different reasons but it meant that no one could take my year 8 band.......oh well. Might only play one piece for their performance next week. We'll see what happens at next weeks rehearsal.

I'm off for a good lie down now.