Today I've mostly bin...

[giraffe]

I suppose to a southerner Stockport and Stockton are one and the same place. I always think Stockport ought to be on the coast.

[clvrlad]

well i suppose oldham where it gets printed is south of me

[LAT]

...packing!

Off in the morning to see daughter in Italy.

[giraffe]

Have a good time.

[giraffe]

..... painting woodwork in the bathrooms.

[Bunnylump]

Poor you! I hate painting woodwork!

[giraffe]

The smell is horrendous. I might move into K's room tomorrow night when I do our ensuite!

[Bunnylump]

I find that the smell of gloss paint gives me a thumping headache. That's my excuse for never decorating...

[LAT]

Yes I don't envy you giraffe.

Today we have been travelling home again.
We enjoyed Puglia. As well as Bari we visited Trani, a pretty port town, and Alberobello where there were hundreds of Trulli houses. Apparently Trullo in Italian means silly!

Trulli 1.jpg (38.77 KiB) Viewed 2640 times

[Bunnylump]

They're pretty!

[LAT]

They are pretty - and amazing when there are hundreds in one small town. My daughter calls them hobbit houses.

[giraffe]

They do look silly, but pretty too.

[Wulfruna]

It is such a reward when one finds gorgeous places like this hidden away and just waiting to reveal their surprises!

[Laura]

Today I've filled in the exam entry forms for this term's music exams. I've got one 11yr old girl doing grade 5 clarinet and grade 5 saxophone on the same day. I think at this point it's safe to say that I'm MUCH more scared about it than she is!!!

[Bunnylump]

I can imagine! I think the trouble is that you invest so much effort into students' learning, you can't help but build up high expectations of them. The thought of them not reaching their potential is like a personal "blow." If they do achieve what you want them to achieve, then it's all worth while and you get that fabulous sense of satisfaction. But when they don't put the effort in (or something else goes wrong) then it's dreadful and you end up feeling like it's YOU that has failed.

I have serious concerns about some of my students this year, and I can assure you that it's not for MY lack of effort or dedication!

Who'd be a teacher, eh?

Anyway, I'm just TIRED. My friend and I decided to try to get a bit fitter, so we have been making a point of walking 3-4 times a week after work. It's just that today we got a bit carried away and didn't get home until after 7pm. Possibly a bit much after an exceptionally long week...just starting to wonder when I will begin to feel the benefits of all this exercise rather than just feeling exhausted?

[Scurra]

The problem with exercise is that you have to do more and more of it the fitter you get in order to actually feel any benefits. It's easier not to bother.

[Bunnylump]

Well, that's all right for those of us who don't have an ounce of surplus fat on them, mentioning no names, Scurra!

The REALLY unfair part of this is that I spend most of my day running around too! So why I am quite so unfit and fat seems exceptionally unreasonable...

[giraffe]

..........travelling. Arrived in Glasgow and enjoying our "Sea view room" (Looks like a river to me!)

[LAT]

Maybe it should be a 'See view' room instead - it's less specific.

[Scurra]

Well, that's all right for those of us who don't have an ounce of surplus fat on them, mentioning no names, Scurra!

I wish. Sadly, my middle-aged spread has begun to, um, spread...