Grey day in the UK

Here I am - finally - in England and having access to the internet. Unfortunately my parents are still in the dark ages and have no internet access at home. Well, at least they have a computer and iPods - even though they still couldn't load music onto them until I came home to do it for them! Bless!

So I'm in Starbucks and had to pay for internet - there's possibly a place a bit up the road where I might have access for free. Hmm...will have to check it out.

Since I landed at Manchester airport and came down to Chester I haven't done that much. Well, the first day I was here I pretty much crashed after a few hours - which was nice as I hadn't slept much on the plane. I've managed to go jogging about 5 times - pretty good since I''ve only been back just over a week. I've watched quite a bit of footie - England just making it through after being plagued with injuries. In HK the commentary was pretty poor - so it's been nice to have some decent commentary and listening to Gary Linekar pre-match, at half-time and post-match (especially during the Eng-Ecu match where he made a slip at half time and said the score was 1-0 when it was 0-0 but the full time score was 1-0! Gift of prophecy?). It was also quite interesting when the camera was in the tunnel for the England Ecuador match- where you could hear a few f words being spouted out of the players mouths - tut tut - hope those little boys who they hold hands with to go on the pitch weren't present!

I've managed to speak to a few friends on the phone. I rang an old school friend who lives down south and she told me she'd just had a baby - i didn't even know she was pregnant - a lot can happen in a year!

I went over to catch up withg the senior pastor over here - he only lives around the corner from me - and I was glad to see his son Garetrh who'd had a stroke the year before - he was looking in good health. We had a good conversation about worship as he's normally down in Chorleywood, London and focussing on worship with folks down there. I've known him since he was about 13 and it's great to see how he's getting on and maturing, but still with that cheeky boy side of him intact. It was good to worship with the people at Northgate church - I only know about 10 people there now, but it still has that family feeling, and I like to catch up with the few that I know.

There was a couple from the States preaching and they were talking about what you focus on becomes your future. I find that I tend to get pulled into different directions with church, school, hockey and socially - especially in terms of having resposibility. It's difficult as there are obviously things that I have/need to do but then what about the rest. I always find that difficult. i feel that right now I could go any way, but it's all a fog - I need clarity in what God wants me to do so that I can get that focus right. I think once I have that focus then I can concentrate on it and I can leave the other stuff. I don't want people to be pulling me towards one thing or another - I just want to know for myself. It's between God and me - I don't care what everyone else thinks I'll be 'good' at- that kind of pressure doesn't help. so, I'm very thankful I can get a break from life in HK hopefully collect my thoughts and pray.

I'm off to Edinburgh tomorrow - must charge up my camera battery! I've not been there before...heard it's very beautiful - hope the weather brightens up. It'll be busy with all the festivals going on.


Okay - I've been sat here long enough - I will go and see what Chester has to offer.

Freedom...nearly!

Yesterday was the last day of school - WOOHOO!!!!!! Students were busily writing in each other's yearbooks as I was trying to figure out what was going on that morning, and struggling to drink my coffee as the requests for yearbook signing came in. We went for our final grade 8 gathering where a couple of homerooms performed Dr Suess' "Sneetches'. We bid farewell to those students who are leaving our school - tears. Then we practiced the entry of all (just under 200) students in the 'Remember the Titans' style - very amusing. Then we rehearsed the dance to Black Eyed Peas 'Pump it' - with only a few reminders for some of the boys to keep it clean.

Before the actual final assembly, Michael told the grade 6s and 7s that we had decided to go to Disneyland instead of the gathering as we had been to Ocean Park the day before. Then the grade 8s entered and it was the best that they had performed that dance.

After the assembly we all went downstairs and many tears came forth and students hugged as we tried to usher them towards the buses for the 'Big Wave'. They finally got on and the buses departed as we waved them off to have a good summer - and no moonies this year.

I spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening eating and then trying to pack up my room for summer school. I now need to go back, finish the job, sign my new contract and sned my goal sheet to admin. Fun.

Marking break

I'm feeling rather sad right now - as in my life is currently in a state of sadness due to infernal marking!!! Last week I was mega busy but managed to mark some websites. I still have about 50 websites to mark, 94 worksheets, 94 homework packets, 94 labs and end of year reports to write. My first plan of action is to get the websites finished - thankfully the kids have an algebra exam tomorrow during which I will do some marking. It's quite annoying as I have a cold too- ugh - kept sneezing today.

I'm still not sleeping properly either - keep waking at about 3:45am. I blame the muggy weather.

Good news today - my and my aunty's flights back to England are confirmed. I can't stand the waitlisting thing...thankfully I didn't have to endure that for long.

So here's the countdown:
8.5 days to the end of term
6.5 days of teaching left
12 days to my friends' wedding
13 days until I fly back to sunny Manchester

Okay - back to marking with the help of Jacqueline du Pre.