The smell of ̶c̶h̶e̶e̶s̶e̶ fear! II

So...I was back behind the counter at the Cheese Factory today.I was only in for three hours from 11.00 until 2.00 to cover the lunchtime rush.I avoided the till at first but later faced my fear and got stuck in. I did not make any mistakes on the till today however two girls came in and ordered milkshakes and cheesecake but I did not ask them if they were takeaway or eat in. I assumed they were eat in but they turned out to be takeaway.Poor Georgia had plated up three lovely cheesecakes only to have to put them into takeaway cartons. I felt such a fool.I think I have to try and relax a bit more and not rush manically about looking fraught...that is if they ask me to work again.

Brexit II

So...it turns out that they were having problems with their computer but did eventually find me on the Electoral Register and at my old address in Penrith.It was too late to sort out a postal vote so I have to do a Proxy Vote. I was sent the Proxy Vote form so filled it in online and emailed it back but no...it is not as simple as that.I have to print the form out, fill it in and sign it, then scan it and then email it back but they also want you to send the one you scanned back by post!I did all of the above and popped the original in an envelope and headed to Ballandean Post Office. Ballandean is not a big place so I did not know what to expect. The Post Office there is open from 9.00 until 5.00 pm every week day which is pretty amazing given the size of the place.The Post Office is basically a wooden shed and looks like it was built by Captain Cook. A sign outside said "Get your potatoes and pumpkins here!" I was just hoping they sold stamps.I walked in across the wooden floor to the counter. No one was about but I heard someone stirring out the back. I half expected them to walk out in crinolines and a bonnet but they didn't.It was an elderly lady but doubted they would allow one of the first convicts to run a Post Office."I'd like to send this to the UK please" I said sliding my envelope across the counter."That will be $2.75" she said."Can I send it express?" I asked."Oh," she said looking around a bit perplexed, "I think you'll have to send it in this." She held up a huge A3 sized envelope with 'International Express' written on it."That will be $46.""$46?" I said."They just changed everything in April. I used to have all sorts of sizes of envelopes and now there is only this one. Let me just check. She tapped away at a computer...Yes! They had internet!"Yes," she said " I think that's it. It won't go until 3.00 pm Monday anyway.""Should I go to the Post Office in Stanthorpe?" I asked."Yes," she said "Pop in there and see what they say."I should have gone to Stanthorpe first anyway I thought.Stanthorpe Post Office is very grand with its tall clock tower."I want to send this to the UK please."The woman tapped away on her computer and said,"$2.75 will take 8 days and $46 will take 4 days."Captain Cook's mother was right!I couldn't believe that the two options were $2.75 and $46!$46?!....What? Does it travel in the lap of a Princess?I sent it for $2.75.

Rain!

So...we often are promised rain by the weather forecast and mostly we are left disappointed but the forecast for yesterday was right. After weeks of dry weather we finally got some rain...and just after the shed roof was completed.It started about 1.00 pm but there were only showers yesterday afternoon but in the evening there was thunder and lightning and heavier downpours.It rained quite a lot in the night and we were woken by a 'crash' about midnight when one of the pictures on the wall fell off...it's screw fastening loosened by water trickling down the inside of the wall in the corner.There was just over 24 mls in the rain gauge this morning and the temporary wheelie bin Will had placed to collect rainwater off the new shed was full to overflowing. I reckon we could probably have filled three. We need to get those water tanks quick.The dam is looking higher than it was though still not as high as it has been. We could do with so much more but are thankful for what we got. 

Roofer.

So...while I was working today Will fastened on the roof of our shed...just in time!

Metalinguistic Awareness and Subitising!

So...today I was back in the Prep (Reception ) class that was my first foray into supply teaching back in February.The class teacher was going on a course at the school but she had sent me the planning the night before and was there in the morning to talk me through it.It was all pretty straightforward but I wasn't sure what the PMAP  work was so asked about that."Oh that's our Prep Metalinguistic Awareness Programme" said the class teacher."You are kidding me, " I said.She wasn't.She explained my activity even if I didn't understand it's overarching title. I was making Pterodactyl nests with sticks. The children got a stick to add to the nest if they could think of a word that rhymed with another word picked randomly."I've had to take the word 'duck' out of the pile," said the class teacher."In maths we have been subitising" said the class teacher. "Do you know what subitising is?"I had to admit I didn't." I had one parent come into me and say you've made that word up haven't you? But I haven't" said the class teacher. "Subitising is when you look at a group of things and know how many there are without having to count them."I have to say, despite all the metalinguistic awareness and subitising, the day went very smoothly and I think I almost enjoyed it. J, Z and little Sh were still there but oh, how they have changed. Z especially was a different boy and not a bit of trouble, J was still J and reminded me very much of Fidget and as for little Sh, well he was hardly a little Sh anymore and more  of a big Sh.There was a new girl, V who had just started this week. I couldn't understand a word she was saying as it was complete gobbledegook but surmised from her expression and the general nature of the conversation what she was saying."Tanadotollet?" ... was of course, "May I please relieve myself in the appropriate facilities?"I asked them all if they thought my hair had grown since I last saw them but they didn't think it had.I was out in the Bear Garden at lunchtime again, on duty. It actually started to rain but only a few spots. One girl came up to me in a flowing yellow rain cape."I'm pretending to be Santa," she said."Well, Santa," I said, " you look more like a big banana in that cape."A bit later Santa came up to me again. She was crying. J in my class had pushed her over.I found J and lead him to Santa."You've upset Santa!" I said."Sorry," he said sheepishly."I don't think that is good enough, " I said, " I think you should give her a hug."He hugged her."Would you like him to marry you now?" I asked Santa.I was surprised that she tearfully nodded."Will you marry Santa?" I asked J.He shook his head."Oh no!" I said, " Now you've upset Santa again."The day seemed to go a lot quicker than the last time and before I knew it it was the end of the day.I told them I thought I would have been back before now but their teacher was obviously far too healthy."Next time she's looking a bit peaky" I said, " say to her have a day off and call Mr Allen. Will you do that?"They said they would."Bi...Amtudoundabus" said V at the door.So I smiled and sent her off on the bus.Heck! I hope that's what she said.