No school 'til Tuesday!

'Plop'

I turned to see a bag of humbags land in the bottom of the shopping trolley.

'What are those for?' I asked my sister

'The journey,' she said sheepishly from behind her hand.

This week is a bank holiday weekend which means that, going against current trends, we didn't spend the weekend in Ikea or on the phone to Orange trying to get wireless broadband on my laptop (we got it up and running for about 30 minutes- apparantely my poor PC is to blame). We actually went out for the day.

Penny had done some research into castles in the area- which she later confessed meant typing 'Essex' and 'Castles' into a search engine and waiting. But she came up with the goods. We have spent today at Hedingham Castle- an 850 old year Norman keep in the heart of a pretty village surrounded by gorgeous English countryside.



Not only that but there was a jousting tournament there today- feeling all a bit 'Knight's Tale' but fun we braved the rain and watched the sport.

The sun came out again later and in plenty of time for the falconry.

There was even a jester



and me and Pen were created ladies!

There is a first time for everything I guess! We managed to get rained on and catch the sun all in the one day-- which made it all quite different from the usual Sunday activities.

On Friday I went out with my lovely class

I have had a lot of great students but as a class this has been my favourite- which is no mean feat when you consider that it is also my largest class so far- averaging around 20. This term finishes in three weeks and I have been warning them that they will probably have a different teacher next term. The usual thing is that they don't understand why they have to change teachers if they like the one that they have got at the moment. Neither do I but school policy means that I don't even know what classes I will be teaching next term and probably won't even find out for another two and a half weeks.

Next term is my last one before my three month jaunt to South America!! Yikes! I am lookig forward to it but a little concerned because while I do manage to practice writing Spanish- homework and endless chatting to my Colombian students online (hello Baby Alex if you are reading this!) I have never actually had a conversation in Spanish that has gone beyond roleplays in the class. I just hope that I am able to do it when the time comes!

Until then I shall just enjoy nights like these



though perhaps I should never had told them about the two fingered salute!



Think that I am off to Notting Hill carnival tomorrow- wish me luck!