Over the past 24 hours the new term has settled gently across the village. The Houses have turned from hulking shadows to vast sources of light and noise; the smell of school food lingers in the streets; the pavements are filled with kids clutching files and books. The morning began with an abrupt start, with the nasty realisation that hitting the snooze button would only lead to tears, with the hunt for suits and shoes not worn since last year. At the moment, everyone is fresh: the beginning of term colds have yet to descend; the teachers are still smiling; the kids yet to complain about the excess of homework that they've been given. It's good to be back.

The early night didn't arrive quite as intended but I spent the time cooking magnificent pasta-n-slop for Jen, so they were hours well-used. I suspect that I'm now too full to sleep, but I'll give it a damn good go anyway...

Working hard went well (after a computer reboot and some nice words and gentle caresses to the ADSL modem to get the radio playing again!), as did the meetings and post-holiday catch-up. One more meeting to go, at 9pm, then an early night methinks. My, this term's going to be mighty exciting if it continues in this way... < /irony >

Have finally dragged myself from the Pit of Duvet and Pillows, with the intention of working hard in the 2 hours remaining before the staff meeting. However, I can't get Secret Agent radio to play on this damned computer, and I'm in severe need of aural stimulation... eeek!

Oh dear. 'Tis late, but feels later; am drunk, but feel drunker. Parties for the teaching staff are a good idea, but SOOO not a good idea. It has been an evening of contradictions, but of obvious truths. Have been wearing my lovely plum-coloured jumper but am now too hot: it went beautifully with my hair but now clashes with my wine-reddened face. Tomorrow, I get to sleep in: our first official engagement is at 5pm. However, I still have my Upper 6th planning to do, and marking to complete, so may contemplate getting up earlier; but maybe not.

It's late, sooo laaate. Or early, depending on your perspective. Have eaten, drank and been merry. Now am sleepy. Off to bed...

Over at Mal's, I read this story with concern. Having read pulp friction, I feel far more at ease.

I went out in Birmingham last night, and although I used the cunning ploy of driving so I don't feel hungover now, I'm still pretty sleepy. Which is why, when my mother phoned me at 8.30am, the conversation went something like this:

Mum: Oh - you're awake
Me: Eurgh
Mum: I wasn't expecting you to be up this early
Me: Eurgh
Mum: It's just your dad wants to print something in Publisher and you've not installed it on my computer. You've still got the CD there haven't you?
Me: Eurgh... eurgh...

And so on for another five minutes, which included talk about printer drivers, installation of the aforementioned programme and her friend's son's A-level choices. Eurgh. Am off to drink tea.

There I was, innocently mooching through the internet - as one does on a Friday afternoon when one's not excited about the prospect of planning lessons - when I discovered this. It's very amusing, but probably not work safe.

Not chocolate, as it turns out, but port, port and more port... a 9am start tomorrow is looking doubtful. Have fun...

I feel very crap. There are lots of things that I should be doing that I'm not doing. I think the rollercoaster of life has just taken a plunge towards the ground. Perhaps this calls for chocolate...

I currently have a man. In the kitchen. Admittedly he's a temporary fixture, and he'll disappear just as soon as he's finished fixing my gas boiler, but he's a man nonetheless. *And* I'm not going to die of carbon monoxide poisoning, so that's an added bonus. Hurrah!

(It sort of makes up for the fact that I "forgot" to wake up until 11am. There goes another productive morning - sorry, Ian!)

Achievements of the day:

• Writing three schemes of work for this term, and associated prep-sheets
  
• Balancing on the work surfaces to create dust-gunk-free cupboard tops
  
• Using a silly voice to answer the phone - and scaring three of my colleagues in the process
  
• Persuading someone to go out on the lash with his mates, even though it's a week night.

Of the four, I'm most proud of the latter, although I suspect it didn't take much persuasion. Maybe I could become a full-time corrupter?! :-)

Before disappearing off on my Christmas holiday jaunts I promised Ian, a colleague, that we would spend this last week of the holidays being 'normal' people: working 9 to 5, having lunch together in a designated lunch hour, going out to pubs n clubs at the weekend.

I'm beginning to regret this.

Admittedly I've done lots of preparation and have eaten more sensibly than normal, but I'm struggling with the 9am starts and I'm finding it hard to resist the lure of Private Eye/the newspaper/tidying up/the internet/wandering aimlessly/gazing out of the window. I've become addicted to the Secret Agent radio station, I've cleaned the top of my kitchen cupboards, I've procrastinated in nearly everywhichway possible. I guess I'm just not cut out for working in the mornings.

Fkin hilarious (found via Wherever You Are)

Amy writes:

Mad, thats as bad as me wearing a bra under me bikini! Aims xxxx PS are you sure you didnt corrupt the undergraduate?!

Quite sure - after all, you know me: would I do such a thing?! ;-)

As I thought, photos from New Year are starting to emerge. The beach party took a little imagination, given that we were staying in a youth hostel in the middle of Dartmoor, but was a resounding success (helped, in part, by the barrel of beer thoughtfully provided for our consumption). It was a tad nippy, even with the wood stove burning merrily, so I opted to wear my thermals under my party outfit.

One of the current undergraduates there introduced me to Dooley's - a toffee drink not unlike Baileys; it's not often I get lead astray by young boys, but here's the photographic evidence!

Ever been to Italy? It's one of my favourite countries, and I have another two Italian trips organised this year. This will be an essential part of my preparations. Bua-ha-ha!

I am a firm non-believer in New Year Resolutions. I fail to get excited about New Year's Eve as the start of an All New And Improved Time Period. I do, however, get carried away by the prospect of parties and social gatherings. I often get carried away at parties too, and start suggesting things like playing Trivial Pursuits at 3 in the morning,* or doing impressions of a giant, butch guinea pig. Luckily I have a very tolerant group of friends, who also appreciate being taught the art of drinking Port through Cadbury's Fingers. Photos, no doubt, to follow.

* Needless to say, I was on the winning team. The braincell's currently feeling very full of useless but interesting information, especially about binturongs.

My packing's nearly done and I'm off out of here to the dim, distant wilderness of Dartmoor. Have a great new year - I shall be at a beach party. Enjoy...