I've managed to break the internet and now (thankfully) I've fixed some of it, but there are still big chunks that I can't access. Like my email. Pah. I suspect there's another 45 minute phonecall to customer services ahead of me. Waaah.

It must be summer: Test Match Special is back! Hurrah for crickety goodness.

Last night was the annual CCF mess dinner. Like every other mess dinner that I've been to, the wine was flowing. However, the port got stuck at the other end of the table, so I did a commando roll across the floor (so I wouldn't get noticed by the RSM) to liberate another bottle. I've now got another drinking injury to add to my collection: carpet burn.

For those scientists out there, the evening can be summed up thus:

slight "dead badger" taste + wobbly head + drinking injury = top night out

Teaching this morning will be fun, though!

I got to go on a Gold D of E practice expedition this weekend. Yomping over Bleaklow and Kinder Scout was good fun, but I could now sleep for a year, if not more. Tomorrow is the deadline for internal 6th form reports, and I have rather a lot to write. Today could be a long day. Pah.

I'm sitting outside, on the small strip of grass that separates my flat from the carpark, enjoying a) the first day of REAL summer weather; and b) the delights of outdoor wireless geekery. The cats have managed to haul their fat bums outside and are now collapsed in the sunlight as a result of their exhaustion. This afternoon's excitement is "The Most Meanignful Of Sports: Rounders" (as it is officially known around these parts) which is a good thing, as today's weather is ideal for getting out first ball and then lazing in the sun in support of your team-mates. The only downside is the need to go watering things in the garden later on. Tough life, eh?!

For the first time in a couple of days I've broken free from the pile of marking and have a moment to myself to blog. Well, I say to myself, but I'm actually surrounded by my GCSE group who are busy tapping away at computers writing up some market research. It's probably as close to solitude as it gets this term!

I feel a bit adrift really - there's just so much to do that I can't cope with doing things on time. Wedding, GOLD, and moving house have taken over all the spare time that I used to use for doing Guide admin and general cleaning up in the flat. If it weren't for the fact that Rob does a lot of the washing (in frustration at the mounds heaping up, I suspect) I'd have to resort to the "turn inside out and spray with deoderant" style of laundry. There's also a good debate warming up over potential projects for next year, but I haven't had time to get my thoughts in order to contribute yet. Hey ho.

Anyhow, my moments of peace are drawing to an end - three minutes until the bell goes - so I'd best be off.

My pupils' little tests* draw ever closer and life has turned into whirl of invigilating mock exams and marking practice papers. I'm drowning slowly under a mound of stripy paper covered in scrawly hurried writing, and I'm almost doing marking in my sleep. Luckily Rob's not yet woken covered in red-pen ticks, but I fear that day will come, and perhaps sooner than he realises!

In four weeks' time, the bulk of the panic will be over and the kids will either pass or fail without my help. There's a grim inevitability about it all, and I still get wound up wondering how they will do. I think I might do something a bit different this year to take my mind off the worries of exams. Perhaps a party. Maybe I should even buy a new outfit for it. I might even make a cake for it. What a great plan! I reckon there's a weekend free at the end of this month....

a.k.a. AS and A-levels

When I first arrived here at school, there was a really good social aspect to life in the village. At my previous school, staff would get together on a Friday evening for a swift half at the end of a week's teaching; here, work never seemed to end, so we just drank on any old day of the week. This constant frivolity dropped off two years ago, to the detriment of general morale (but to the benefit of our livers, I suppose). This means that life is now boring. Last term we made a concerted effort to revive our social life with the invention of ImbSoc - "Imbibing Society". We meet on a Tuesday and Thursay at 6.00pm (in line with school's alcohol policy, which prohibits drinking before that time) for a quick cup of tea half or two. It makes life seem far more sociable, as we get to talk about things that aren't school related; we get to share all the scandal and gossip; and we get to have a good giggle about things that need laughing at.

It does make Thursday evening on duty quite fun though.

'Twas the second briefing weekend for our gOLD project this weekend, and also D of E expedition. Talk about torn between competing commitments! As it happened, I ended up at GOLD (not just because I fear the GOLD lady more than I fear the headmaster...) and had a good time. Am sleepy now, but that might be to do with the late night last night and the substantial number of pints that I drank this evening in the company of good friends. It might even be related to the hearty mutton stew I ate too. Best go and collapse soon, given that I'm meant to be teaching about the balance of payments tomorrow, and that subject scares me at the best of time. Hey ho.

I';ve just had some spam mail from a bloke called "Pythagoras Shoe". I'm now considering changing my name by deed poll.

School and lessons and things start again tomorrow, so tonight we went out for several pints and a big fat curry. At least, "big and fat" is how I now feel. Perhaps I ought to do some healthy eating for a bit, especially given the frockage that's due to happen in a few weeks' time. I'm not sure I'm looking forward to the next few days: there's a lot happening that I need to deal with, and I'm not sure I have time. It will all be ok by Monday though.

I've just been cat-slapped by My Cat, and I wasn't even huffing her. She's a contrary madam at times. Mind you, it was a cat-slap with love - not a claw in sight - so I reckon I can forgive her.

Guide camp starts tomorrow morning. I haven't packed yet. I have found all sorts of other exciting things though, because trawling the interwebnet was more important than stuffing my sleeping bag. Harrumph. Will have to start early tomorrow morning instead.

Why is it, when I have two major loads of paperwork to do and a pile of coursework to mark, that I am so bloody good at procrastination? I hate being unable to prioitise. Pah.

I was icky-sick yesterday and instead of spending the day sorting out Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and Guide camp I spent the day huddling under a duvet (and sometimes under a cat) whinging and feeling down-ight sorry for myself. This morning I feel far more chipper, and also very very hungry - I've not eaten since Sunday evening. It may be good for my waistline but it's not good for the soul. Harrumph.

Holidays are such fun. I get to eat, drink, sleep and generally mooch around in a dressing gown all day, which manages to occupy my time quite nicely. Yesterday, however, Julia, Jerome and I headed to the hills, hired bikes and had a good 12-mile ride. My bum aches now.

Before then, we headed down to the big bright lights of Reading and London, where we went to various museums, gallaries, theatres and restaurants. We also did a survey of posh-shop food halls: I was disappointed by both Harrods and Fortnum & Mason, as there was nothing for sale there that we can't get in good local delis. In the end, we got to Borough Market and spent a very happy two hours walking, looking and eating: cheese; salami; bread; ostrich burgers; scallops; and Rob had an oyster. We bought an ostrich egg for Anthony (Rob's brother) which proved to be a good source of amusement at his Green Wing party on Friday night.

We're off digging this afternoon (compost to move, potatoes to put into soil, peas and the like to plant) and then I have a big pile of GCSE coursework to mark. I'm looking forward to that one!

My Cat obviously ate all of the cat smack at breakfast time, as Your Cat is spending most of her time harassing me and licking my hands to get much-needed sustenance. I, of course, am ignoring her: she's fat enough already, and if she was really hungry she could go and catch something. Instead I'm reading other people's allotment/garden blogs and looking forward to next week when gardening starts again. Woo hoo!

The end of term has finally arrived, and it's been very pleasant spending the weekend doing normal things pretending to be people with normal jobs. I've spent much of today being feckful - I've even tidied up the sitting room!

We're facing a dilemma at the moment, and it's occupying quite a lot of time trying to think through the issues. If you're able to shed advice or opinions, it would be good to hear other views. We are due to move out of the Boarding House flat this summer. The Head thinks that he will be able to offer us another school flat in the village, although I reckon that it probably won't be as nice as the one we have now. Let's call this Property A and, although we'll have to pay rent, it will be well below the market rate. The problem with this property is that it won't be very big, and we would certainly need to move on if/when we have children. I don't think that it will have a particularly large kitchen and I'm not sure if it has a garden/outdoor area either.

On the other hand, I've found a potential house for sale - three double bedrooms, good-sized garden, big kitchen, let's call it Property B - on the outskirts of Burton. It's within our budget (just) but there's plenty of room there for chickens, children... The only problem is the area, where most of the houses are ex-council houses and the ACORN profile suggests that most people are on lower incomes. The area is not particulary pretty or desirable, and the local secondary school is not good either. However, it's a LOT of house for the money, and the vendors are prepared to include things like a gas range cooker, a washing machine, curtains and furniture with the price. Apart from the location it ticks all of the boxes.

We're completely torn. Is it better to have a nice house that would be suitable for many years to come, even if it is in a less desirable area? Or should we choose the school flat with the intention of moving on to our own place within a year or two? There have been very few other properties that have come up locally that tick all the boxes, so do we take the risk that there may be nothing as good as Property B in a year or two's time? HELP!

Report writing is ick.

I made a girl cry today, not once, not twice, but four times. In the space of twenty minutes. All I was doing was pouring water. Or eating cranberry jelly with my cehesecake. Or pretending to be innocent. How was I to know that she would blart her eyes out. Still, at least she found me funny, I suppose.

In other news: the report-writing database (ironically named PASS) has failed. Things aren't good, but will be better soon.