Work and play

Well I've finished up my teaching position at St. Catharine's. And it was interesting to see the reactions of my classes when I told them I was leaving. My Year 7s were so upset, and started a petition to 'keep Miss Slocombe' which they delivered with 60 signatures to the Head of Science! My nightmare Year 8 class didn't seem to care one way or the other, and some of my Year 9's cheered! Ha ha, they were the ones I'd come down pretty hard on for their total laziness and rudeness. But then one of them said "you're not half bad...and that's a compliment". So overall I think I did a reasonable job there. But no wonder those kids end up the way they are, there's absolutely no stability for them in the classroom - with 3 teachers in only 2 months. Crazy. Anyway, since then I've been back doing the rounds of daily supply. I've just been doing Primary Schools, and it's been hilarious!!! I've had everything from dealing with a teary, distraught Nana (yes, that's her real name) cause Nadine isn't her friend anymore, to attemping to teach handwriting (anyone who has seen my handwriting must realise what a ridiculous notion that must be) to being massaged by 8 year old Abukar in the 20 minute massage-to-music session which the Year 4's in one school do after recess every day. I have read aloud countless Roald Dahl poems, played Charades and Hangman, and taught one group words like 'dunny', 'bonza', 'fair dinkum', 'you silly old galah' and the words to 'Give me a home among the gum trees' cause they were doing a literacy piece on Australia!

So what else has been going on. Celebrated Canada Day in Covent Gardens with Ange, Matt and some of Matt's friends...Lea, Gabriella and I scored another free concert in Hyde Park, which was headlined by 60's rockers 'The Who', as well as Razorlight, The Zutons and Ocean Colour Scene (another MEP band from Emma)...got extremely excited when I received a signed copy of Paolo Nutini's new single 'Last Request' personally addressed 'To Amy...Love Paolo' (thanks Emma!) - Gabs and I are just a little bit crazy about this guy, so much so that we're flying to Glasgow in September to catch one of his gigs! Caught up with my cousin Jess and her boyfriend Wez for birthday party dinner and drinks on their balcony...had a housemates dinner party...and got up early on Saturday morning to watch the first tri-nations game at the Temple Walkabout with James, Sam, Gabriella and Nicoline. The pub was absolutely chockers by the 8.30am kickoff, and the majority NZ crowd were all pretty happy with the result. Sat arvo Gabs, Nic and I headed out to Camden markets, I spent Sat night with other counsins Yvette and Gordon, followed by family BBQ on Sunday! So it's all been happening! Here are some pics...

This is Gabriela and I with my signed copy of Paolo's new single!


Jess and I on her balcony for Wez's birthday drinks


Nothing like rugby and beer in a crowded pub at 8.30am on a Saturday! James and Sam soaking up the atmosphere.

This weekend is the 'Toast' Festival in Regents Park. It's Toast New Zealand on Saturday, and Toast Australia on Sunday. Wez is working there so Jess, Ange and I have got free tics for Sunday's event, which is awesome (they're £35 otherwise). It's basically a showcase of all things Australian, with lots of Aussie beer, wine and food on offer, as well as good old Aussie entertainment and sporting stars in the form of Roy and HG, David Campese, Paul Kelly and others. Should be a good time.

And then it's not long till Ange and I head off on our summer holidays. We fly next Thursday to Bordeaux, to stay with our French boatie friends Damien and Elodie, then back to London for a night before 2 weeks backpacking around Croatia and Slovenia. Awesome. I then come back to London for about 7 hours before jumping on a bus with Lea for a 12 hour trip up to Inverness, northern Scotland, for the 2 day Belladrum Festival, which we're going to with Emma. That should be fantastic. Then it's down to Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival, where we'll hopefully be staying with Celena, who's working there again. Catching Xavier Rudd and Michael Franti in Edinburgh before we board our 0.01p flight (yes, that's 0.01p!!) to Paris!!! A few days on the Brittany coast with my French mate Eric before venturing off into Eastern Europe again, possibly around Bosnia. Can't wait, should be fantastic.

Then there'll only be 6 or so weeks left before we head back to Aus! The time has flown by sooooo quickly, but I'm loving every moment.