This is the shed wot we built!

Job done!

Squirrel Killer!

So...I was back at the Chalk Face today...literally. I hardly sat down all day except to mark worksheets and spent most of my day standing in front of a chalk board giving and writing instructions.But...they were a lovely class and I have to say it was quite an enjoyable day.It was a lovely classroom, up on the second floor. It was bright and colourful and the teacher is obviously well organised and dedicated.I had not been in this class before but a few of them knew about me from me having taught their brothers and sisters in other classes.As they were new I asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up as I took the roll because I always find that interesting. In this class there were a couple of 'War Persons' including a girl and more alarmingly a 'Gun Man' but I gushed praise on the boy who said 'Scientist' and a girl who said 'Doctor' and that put an end to aggressive occupations. Out came the hairdressers and farmers and teachers and Lysander, for it was he, wanted to be a robot! He is the brother of J in Fidget and Toerag's class.I know people say the 'Gift of the Gab' but I think there is also the 'Gift of the Gob!' and J has that and also his brother Lysander.We had lots of maths to do, time - o'clock and half past and then counting in 2's, 3's, 5's and 10's.D sitting at the back  lots of prodding I had been warned and he certainly did. For the first hour he only did anything when I was leaning over him so eventually I moved him away from Jye (?) who he was sat talking too.After that he worked much better and speedier, even when I let him move back to his own place.One of the adults for the reading groups did not turn up again so I had to cope with two groups but the class were so sensible that I could leave one group to work independently while I read with the other.I had a 15 minute duty at 'Morning Tea'. I bumped into Toerag and Fidget who were both shocked to see me....well, I did pounce on them unexpectedly."I'll see you next week" I said menacingly. "Muahahahahahahaha!"At Religion time a mouse-like lady came in to teach the children in my class. She was not a teacher but someone from out of school roped in to do it. She pretended she was a reporter from 'Bible Weekly' interviewing the children about Abraham using a plastic ice cream cone that was supposed to be microphone. She was obviously nervous. She needed some 'get up and go' but her's had long gone!"While we are doing the next activity shall I put that song on?" She asked."Yes!" said two girls next to her but most of the others shouted "No!""You are out voted ! She said to the 'Nays'.The song was dreadful! It was jazzy and was sung by someone with terrible laryngitis and no musical talent whatsoever and it was all about Abraham. No wonder most of them didn't want to hear it again. There was I previously decrying aggressive occupations but by the second playing I was resisting the urge to vandalise her cd player!Thankfully the bell went and the mouse woman slipped away. D quietly slid up to me and quietly stuttered,"I.....I.....like the way you teach.""Thank you very much!" I said and held out my hand and he gingerly shook it.I had no lunch time duty so managed to get most of the mornings work marked and dated.They all trooped in after lunch for 15 minutes of silent reading and then it was back to work.I had noticed the bin was overflowing with used tissues and as I was explaining the next task saw a girl up by the teachers desk collecting two tissues from the box."Is it you?" I asked. "Are you using all the tissues? Do you know where tissues come from?"She looked stunned."Trees. They are made from trees...and who lives in trees?"She looked even more stunned. I didn't heed the warning sign."Squirrels!"Someone sniggered."When they chop trees down to make tissues the squirrels have no where to live and they die. Are you wasting tissues because if you are you Ella the Squirrel Killer!"A few more sniggers but Ella crumpled and her head went down on her desk and she burst into tears.Oh no! It was joke too far!I went up and put my arm around her. "I'm just joking" I said. " I often  make silly jokes. Shall I get you a tissue?"She nodded tearfully. 'Sod the squirrels!' I thought  and I got her two tissues.I felt bad but at the end of the day as I was sending them all home it was Ella who came up to give me a hug. I think she had forgiven me.

The Arrival of 'Jenny'.

So...at last we unlimited power!Today our new generator arrived...now we will have as much light and TV watching as we want and even be able to use the washing machine and even a microwave!Hurrah!

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.