'We're not out of the woods yet.' "Yes we are, it's the bugs that are in the woods!"

Back at work now. You would think I would have learnt to actually prepare stuff before this happened but oh no. In my defense, this is my first real start of year beginning here in the UK (it made sense in my head, what's wrong with you?). A varied lot this year, several junior classes, A level bio and chem. Mostly good students, a few ad apples spoiling it for everyone, as usual.

I have a car! Vauxhall vectra for 300 pounds. Runs well, carries lots of stuff, only downside was getting the insurance. First quote? 2000. Second quote; 6000! Finally went to a broker and got proof from back home which brought it down to 1200. Still extortion but at least I am covered and fully comp at that too.

The car came in very handy for the run up to the Maelstrom LRP this month. As usual Sam C and me had plans with Sam H to sort it out and as usual Sam H was late and rubbish with organisation so ended up driving himself up. Still, was a great event with interesting people, situations, drinking, trade, big battles with bugs, tea, and a cake emergency. Once again the Rat tribe and the Squeaky bugs were a highlight. As was being Sam C's escort as two wemics competed for her attention. Now there is six months to go before the extended Easter event and methinks a plan is afoot involving clocks, mechanics and a catapult.

My bike got stolen! Some nerfherder snuck into the garden shed in the back yard and nicked it between the time I rode home around midnight and woke up to ride into town around 9am. Still, the police were very helpful and even though it is unlikely it will come back it made me feel a bit better about the state of this country.

Upcoming events for me are several journey's into Wales for Duke of Edinburgh. Pretty much the next four weekends give or take I am out West in the wilds. Could be fun, could be hell. Only time will tell my friend.

Not dead, just lazy

Been a long long time since I updated last and as such much has happened. It is just a question of whether I can remember it all. So last post in April huh, well school has continued apace with the students continually testing my patience. Character building my mother would call it. Nothing of real significance to report on from that term. I did watch the movie Moon which is really amazing. I definitely recommend it.

Half term break in early June saw my parents arrive in country so we caught the train up to Edinburgh and did a car tour of about half of Scotland including Aberdeen, Cawdor, Inverness, Loch Ness, Fort William, Stirling and back to Edinburgh. A very pretty country but apart from the castles it just reminded me of home. It was good to see my parents again though, despite the many arguments we had during the trip.

Role-playing group has continued to be a highlight of my week with interesting gaming and entertaining conversation. The Mage game finished on a cliffhanger and we are still waiting for a time everyone can make to finish it off. Ben's Wraith game is definitely interesting. We are all dead and we investigate the mysteries of the shadowlands. Can get confusing at times. Beardy Sam managed to get me into the Maelstrom Live Role Play recently. A fascinating concept, several different races in a colonial style era exploring and exploiting the new world but there is also magic and interfering gods. I am playing an avian siege engineer in a foreign legion. First event I stood guard, explored the festival, had a nice meal, got drunk and went to the bawdyhouse (in character of course). Was a lot of fun, and next event will be even better as more people are recruited.

I moved flat back at the start of July. The new place has more people but is nowhere near as flash as my old place. Conversely, it is a lot cheaper. I have been out drinking with my flatmates a couple of times and had a good laugh so it should work out well.

The school year ended with a feeling of 'huh', but I have a contract for next year and am being paid of the summer break which is pretty sweet. I went into Covent Garden for the end of year function with was a lot of fun. So far on my summer break I have been watching movies, playing video and board games, and not spending a lot of time at home. Also went camping on the spur of the moment with Beardy Sam, Lady Sam and Corinne to Wiltshire. We had a good laugh trying to put up the coffin shaped tent, snuck into a tomb in west Kennet at midnight, watched the military helicopters doing maneuvers and puzzled over the magical tractor on the far hill. We also got rained on at Avebury and visited Stonehenge in the blazing sun a mere hour later. A lot of fun packed into 24 hours really.

I am slowing moving up in the TKD world, I got my Yellow tag back in July. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, one of the benefits of having a tough instructor. Although my legs are still complaining after Wednesdays session. Two hours of high kicks and only two students. Still, now I can kick things above my head so the effort paid off I guess.

So hopefully my next post isn't two months later, but the case seems to be the busier I am the less I post.

A rock has no detectable opinion about gravity.

January draws to a close, two weeks remain until half-term break, the bank account is filling up nicely, the days are getting longer, and the weather is improving. Life is good.

Still, I should really explain the last two weeks. The week beginning on the 18th was pretty laid-back, it being my light week and all. I got all of my planing sorted through to the end of the term, learnt a few more of my students names, and finished the week off with a few drinks of the Friday night and saw Sherlock Holmes on Saturday. I thought it was pretty good but I haven't read the books so had no reference there. Nice action and intelligent humour, although the demonstrations of his deductive reasoning seemed geared towards your typical American movie-goer.

This week was full-on in comparison. Started the week with a busy day then went to the pub after the gym for game night. Tuesday was year nine parents evening and I saw bout 20 parents, trying to explain to them pathways which I barely understand (3 is top set, 1 is bottom. How does that make sense?), and the difference between double and triple science (No, double does not they only do two of either chemistry, biology, or physics). Wednesday night saw me taking the train in to London just to take it back out to Hertford (an hour train journey which is 30 minutes by car). All just so I could have a couple of pints in a car while reading my book then getting a card photocopied. Today I Bought myself some new suits to mix up my look a bit and then went to the Galleria with a view to seeing a movie but upon arriving discovered there was nothing good on until late so I walked the ~5km home.

As for my Sunday, revision is on the cards. I really need to get my chemistry down so that my older students can not stump me with questions I am unable to answer. I should probably do some cleaning as well. Oh and also, a cunning plan is brewing. More details once it is put into action.