Categories: uncategorized
Date: 18 November 2005 16:27:17
Up.. down... up... down... who's for a ride on the roller coaster?
Sinusitis is back with a vengeance so I'm back on the antibiotics and waiting for the rhinos to depart from my skull. Honestly, guys, there isn't really room for the twenty of you to hold a party in there, really there isn't. And the dancing is a bit heavy-footed, if I may say so. Still, I had a couple of days peace and quiet in between, apart from the frog which has taken up residence in my throat.
Dad's coming home on Tuesday. It will be strange not to go venturing off to Shankling most afternoons (and not having a good excuse to eat out far more often than is really economical), and strange to be back into the old routine of getting up at the crack of dawn and sleeping with the telephone by my side. It's been a real rollercoaster ride emotionally, seeing him so ill, and then getting better, but then realising that he's not going to get back to his pre-op level of fitness and mobility, probably ever. So far he's handling that thought fairly philosophically, but I'd guess that once he's home and the constant stream of cards and visitors dwindles and there aren't the nurses fussing around him all day, the depression at finding himself less mobile instead of stronger may begin to sink in. Shame it's the dark and wintery days setting in. But on the plus side, he's agreed to have someone come in once a week to help him shower (I'll do the other bathroom duties) and to have some of his meals delivered from Wiltshire Farm Foods (highly recommended by our friends.. I'm looking forward to trying some of their rather tempting looking puddings!). Having spent an evening mourning the fact that he'd be housebound, unable to leave the bungalow because of the steps, we're now delighted to report that they've got him practising on a little flight of stairs in the home using a pair of crutches! Hooray!!!!
Returning to school was interesting - One good thing about being off sick is that it reinforces to senior management how difficult my classes are to teach and how the air of calm and hard working atmosphere in my classroom is actually down to a lot of hard work by yours truly (and my able assistants M and S and D). Needless to say, my little groups were in turmoil. I think the best moment of my return was hearing one lad, who's a real trouble-maker and makes my life hell most of the time, greet me with a smile and whisper under his breath "Yes, Miss W's back!!!". But the best news of all is that the little group I was teaching last year and had to hand on to another teacher while I worked as a support teacher in another teacher's lessons (which I must admit I am really not enjoying, and they can tell!) is going to be returned to my tender mercies as of Monday. It means more preparation, teaching, marking, reports to write but I'm delighted. I even did a "happy teacher dance". Wonder if the kids will feel the same way when they find out!