Greece is *definitely* the word.

So last week - or the week before, I forget - A and I headed out to Greece for a while to celebrate the end of my course/the end a really tough stint at work for him (I'm sure you'd love more information, but I don't have it. He doesn't even tell me what all the code names mean. Sometimes I wonder whether he actually works for MI5).

Greece was hot, beautiful, exciting - just what we needed. Last time we went on a watersports holiday, I was only working towards a PADI qualification which meant that A and I were sent on different dives. This time, though, we got to dive together! Plus, with only us and the instructor (a friend, who made sure we got 'special' treatment and weren't sent on the diving company's official dive with ten other tourists) we got to really examine the scenery.



We sailed out to these rocks, which, close up, look like this:



This is where we spent our day diving and chilling out on the boat in between dives. The water was clear and really warm - it was great. Check out this beautiful little guy:



Even though I KNOW you shouldn't... We picked him up. He was really soft, and far more beautiful in real life. We also held sea urchins (dead) and some of the biggest shells I've ever seen; explored caves and tunnels formed by rocks; hovered and watched an octopus for a while... and plenty more.
Asthma means I use my air up quite quickly though, so after only about 40 minutes (it flew) we had to ascend to exchange my tank. On the second dive, I got so carried away watching the octopus that I didn't keep a close enough eye on my supply and had to share an air tank on the way back. Oops...! Still, that's what you do the drills for - it wasn't really a problem.

When we weren't diving, we spent our time sailing mostly - on separate boats, since we want different things out sea. I like to sail along merrily and watch the beach/waves/jellyfish/people and generally chill out/catch some sun. A likes to sail 'properly' and throw himself off the side of the boat - like this:



Too much like hard work for me! (Although so good for the abs...).

Evenings we relaxed and sampled the cocktails, working our way through the menu systematically. When we got back we went on a quick shopping trip (and I really do mean 'quick' - A makes sure we have a fully-stocked bar here at all times - fab!) to pick up a few extra bottles and we've been drinking cocktails non-stop* since.

We had a cocktail party at ours last night, which was great fun but especially amusing was looking at the queue of bleary-eyed, bed-headed boys shuffling around, zombie-like, waiting to use our showers this morning and trying to determine who was fit enough to drive them all to work. Meanwhile I just padded around in my PJs (no work = no rush to get up in the mornings, yay!) providing orange juice to those who looked like they might actually die and make a mess of my carpet.



*Clearly not quite non-stop. Last time I drank and drove I ended up with a lovely, terribly suspicious-looking stain on my driver's seat. It seems that drinking whilst stationary at traffic lights is actually more complicated than it seems... It was clear water, for crying out loud, but the stain sure is stubborn. The garage-men were a little concerned when I took the car in following my (pathetic) crash at Christmas!

Anyway, I have definitely rambled enough. I didn't set out to write an essay... Carried away, as usual!

Backflips and Breakthroughs

Easter holidays are here!!

Drove home in the sunshine, pile of books/tests/mocks on the passenger seat beside me, singing along to the radio and feeling *good*. But Skinny Love comes on the radio and the next thing I'm wondering why I can taste salt. I hadn't realised I'd begun to cry.

I've heard that song a few times since Tom's funeral and whilst it takes me back it doesn't always make me cry. It's never caught me so unexpectedly though. Maybe it's because I'm tired. Scrap that - I'm exhausted. Never in my life before yesterday have I gone to bed at 6pm (admittedly I got up again at 7.30 to eat/do work, but I just couldn't carry on without sleep first!). I am so ready for this holiday.

The kids were WILD today! And I do mean, wild.* For a moment I knew how nursery teachers feel. And monkey-trainers, although my apes didn't appear to be even remotely trained. Where is the 'dislike' button?



(Weird, huh? I hate monkeys.)

*Having said that they were wild, today we had no backflips, which meant that my heart rate remained largely normal for the entire hour with that class. (Seriously, Monday's lesson - I discovered I have most of the school gymnastic team in my class. And they decided to showcase their routine for me. Their ordinary teacher LOVED it. I was panicking like a... crazy, panicky thing... "No no no don't do it! [Oh, can't watch!]" The lighting in that room is LOW. Their backflips were HIGH. (They tried to do them off the desks, initially, but I managed to override the class teacher on that one). So they settled for doing them on the floor - safer, right? Well, maybe, but everytime their hair brushed the carpet I felt a little more sick. It was the kind of routine you would pay to see. But I would willingly have paid them to NOT do it during my lesson...).



But, today everyone remained in their seats - bonus! AND I made a major breakthrough with one child who is surrounded by C.P. issues: he spoke to me. He arrived early to my lesson - presumably trying to avoid being in the crowded corridors. I smiled, said 'morning' - cue awkward silence whilst he stared blankly at me and I carried on setting up my laptop, trying to look busy and hoping other kids would arrive soon. After a while, I heard "It's nearly the holidays, miss." Didn't recognise the voice. Turned round - still only him in the room. He doesn't sound at all how I imagined he would. Still - A.Mazing. On the way out, a quiet "have a good birthday miss". My word C, I could have hugged you.


But anyway, who decided it would actually be a good idea to put the end of term assessments (in exam conditions) on the last day of term??
When I am fully qualified, the last day of term shall be reserved solely for DVDs. I shall choose a few of my then-favourite films, whack them onto the projector at 8.30am and allow kids to file in and out every hour until it reaches 3pm. I may even share my popcorn with the lucky ones.