Fab40 foibles

10 things I tell myself when I'm out running

A very big thank you to mum of three boys for tagging me in her post. I've slightly changed the title (no, don't worry I don't go running every day!) and here are a few things I think about while pounding through the woods:

1. I must do this more often - every time I go running I feel good (at least when I get home) and I wish I had more time for it.

 

2. What a beautiful view/tree in blossom/wild animal, which is usually followed by-

 

3. I wish I had brough my camera.

 

4. What a great idea for a post! 

 

5. I must get a cleaner.

 

6. I must phone/mail soandso and so on.

 

7. I won't shout at my children today.

 

8. I will do more for my psychology diploma - before blogging, twitting and reading!

 

9.I will get round to ordering a new bed - so we can stop sleeping on the floor.

 

10. I am a very lucky person to have such a lovely life.

 

unfortunately I forget it all as soon as I get home, the shower washes all my well-laid plans and great ideas straight out of my head, apart from number 10.

5 Reasons you can tell I'm a teacher

So proud to be mentioned on the lovely Kate takes 5 listography, here are the five reasons you can tell I'm a teacher.

 

  

1. I have a pencil case and I'm not afraid to use it 

Not content with just having a pen on you, I have glue, pencil sharpener, stapler, you name it. All this stuff come in very handy, at the Christmas market  I'm everyone's best friend when it comes to borrowing scissors and sellotape. Embarrassing hole in back of skirt? Stapler will do the trick. Splinter? Pass me mummy's compass. You name it, teachers have got it, somewhere.

 

2. Just call me Tissue Woman

I have a very low tolerance level to the rattling sound of teenage phlegm, one of the first phrases my pupils learn in class is "may I have a tissue please" ( the second is "chewing gum in the bin"),  the low lying risk of a packet bouncing off the side of their head mid lesson tends to keep them on their toes too.

3. I correct friends' grammar mistakes on their facebook status

No, photo, not very many friends left if I continue either. I just have a healthy respect for apostrophes and their use, I must just try to remember that what is one person's love of correct English is another's obssessive wierdo behaviour.

4. The strongest bladder in the West

You probably don't think about teachers' parts that often, but the fact we can't nip out whenever we want, coupled with the usual tea/coffee addiction means that after picking up my own kids in the evening I dash out of the car and up the stairs, pushing them out of the way to be first to the loo. No photo for this one either you'll be relieved to know.

 

5. Never met a teetotaller teacher yet

Enough said.

What would you do as president?

(image - sterlingtimes.org)

With the presidential elections (in France) taking over the TV I’ve decided to present my manifesto, vote for me, you know it makes sense:-

 1. It will become obligatory to serve at least one term as town councillor or some similar local political position – that way we would perhaps realize how hard it is to please all of the people all of the time.

2. It will become obligatory to serve at least one term in a local association, charity, club etc.-I don’t know about where you live but round here it seems to be the same people who do everything (and no, I don’t mean myself!), while everyone else looks on and criticizes  (see No. 1.)

3. Failure to stop at a pedestrian crossing would result in immediate imprisonment - unless I decide to bring back the death penalty.

4. Homework would be banned – I’ve decided this as a parent, as a teacher I’ve decided to keep it, and before you complain that I’m being contradictory, I’ll remind you that as a political candidate that’s normal, if not obligatory.

5. Tests at school would definitely be banned, or at least totally overhauled – why can I phone a friend, Google the answer, look it up in a book  or contact someone better qualified for anything I need to know or do  for my job or life in general, but kids are stuck there with 1066 and company? 

6. Kids would leave school aged 13 and go and work down a mine for a year, or spend all day picking up chewing gum and dog poo – then if they asked very, very nicely we might let them go back to school to finish their education when they’ve seen the use in doing so.

7. Three day weekends would become the norm.

 

So, that’s it so far, I may have missed a couple of things but I think I’ve got the basics covered. I’ll be needing a cabinet so let me know your idea for our manifesto and I might give you a job – what ministry takes your fancy?

 

5 photos that sum up my week

So, here I am, inspired yet again by the subject of Kate's fun listography to share my typical week with you, this time through photos.

 

Number 1

My house has a kind of seventh bridge attitude to dirt, a pity as I'm not into cleaning, and if it wants me to be prouder of it then it will just have to behave better.

If you are thinking about getting a dog, just remember that I took this photo less than 24 hours after hoovering and washing the floor, or simply get a hound that goes better with your colour scheme.

 

Number 2

Another never-ending activity is marking, as soon as I turn my back some sneaky class hands in a test or report, the only time I'm up to date is in the middle of the summer holidays.

 

Number 3

With driving to and from work, football training, climbing and circus class etc. etc. I sometimes feel I live in this thing, it makes me very thankful to darling hubby for the first new car of my life, it's still enough of a novelty for me to appreciate a radio, heating and brakes all in the same vehicle. 

Without the next two I think my life would be groundhog day.

 

Number 4

Running keeps me sane and gives the dog (and myself) some good exercise at the same time. I'm lucky to live near some lovely woods and the peace and quiet here give me a chance to air my head and think things through. The punchbag in the cellar also helps, and I'd like to think I'm a bit nicer to those in my immediate vicinity after some sport.

 

Number 5

By this photo I mean the computer, essential for research, reading blogs, social media and of course writing. Not the mess around it, although with my pink beauty I can get on with my stuff surrounded by the kids' homework and everything else that's going on.

So that's my typical week at the moment, what images would illustrate yours?

Top 5 things that make me happy

A great idea from clever Kate at   Kate takes 5 to remind us to count our blessings, here are a few of mine:

1. A sunny day

2. Runnning

3. Laughing with a friend

4. A hug, especially a "calin du matin", the morning hug with my kids

5. Finding the chocolate my husband has hidden in the fridge

 

5 things I love about the holidays

1. I can go running as often as I want – and am much nicer to everyone when I get back.

 2. We can have a proper lunch - with French husband out of the house I’m free to binge on toasted cheese sarnies, baked potatoes, sardines on toast and all that yummy stuff that doesn’t count as a real meal this side of “la manche”.

 3. Have time to read – at times of day when I don’t squint through one eye as the other one is “resting”, do you also think it counts as half sleeping when you read lying down with one side of your face crushed against the pillow after bedtime?

 4. Not getting dressed in the dark – you would think this would improve my dress sense wouldn’t you?

 5. Not being able to think of an excuse when one of the kids asks “can you play… with me?”

5. and a half - Knowing that they won't last for ever and I had best make the most of it!

 

My favourite mugs!

Gosh, a listography, I've never played that before! Oh well, here goes...

 

Thanks to Kate Takes 5 http://katetakes5.blogspot.com/2012/02/listography-mugs.html here's a list of my favourite mugs that are still alive.

 

Number 1



This is my morning, noon and nighttime mug, twice as big as most mugs, it's just right for a "nice cup of tea"!

 

Number 2

I don't actually buy mugs, hence our eclectic collection, and I love to recieve them as gifts. This is one of my daughter's first presents to me, on a youth club trip last year. It means a lot to me as she was so proud and happy to give it, and had brought prezzies for all the family, she's such a generous little thing.

 

Number 3

This one is slightly damaged ( the "auntie" has fallen out of the middle!) but still very precious to me, a gift from one of my gorgeous nieces from Strasburg, who refer to me as "our English aunty", making me feel like Agatha Christie or similar!

 

Number 4

We have four of these, my daughter and I recieved them last year at a race that takes place every year  through the centre of Geneva in December -the escalade. There was a lovely atmosphere and we ran with a couple of friends and their kids, the car was full of mugs on the way home!

Number 5

Last, but of course not least is my sanity mug, the mug that keeps me going during traffic jams, football matches, school trips, training days, it has even come out on the occasional dog walk when I'm, well, dog tired!

 

So there you have it, my life in mugs! If there's a tie break for a competition out there, I want you to know that I deserve to win, not only did I have to wash my mugs, but also the kitchen table and the wall - so it now has a nasty clean patch !