Project #366 Week 36

First week of the CertTESOL course has gone well. The weather has meant that the trainees have bonded while sitting outside in the sunshine during their breaks. It has got warmer and warmer as the week has progressed :-)

Sunday 2nd September 2012

Paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork! I really wish I could do a totally paperless course, but the Trinity moderator would have a few words to say about that, I'm sure. On a walk I spotted some Jersey Lilies. They are beautiful flowers, and they have no leaves. They stand majestic on long stems of dark red, and smell heavenly. While Out, I was interested to see a trail from a plane which looked as if it was flying straight up into the sky

Monday 3rd September

Nice group, all looking like they will gel well. When Nell comes in to do the Unknown language, which is actually Korean, much to Cairis's delight, I am free to go off on my own. As I made it the session before lunch I have plenty of time to go off for a walk. Today I started by walking down to the village to buy some lunch in the Deli. They are now selling Guy and David's sandwiches and salads :-) I walked down the old railway walk, and was lucky not to be mown down by a family with 5 small kids on push-bikes! The Parish hall is looking particularly lovely, all decorated in flowers. The other side of the road, the harbour, is at low tide and the boats look like they are sitting in deep mud!

Tuesday 4th

Today I picked up my lunch and ventured further afield. I drove up the hill towards the headland at Portelet, and parked to eat my lunch in peace. I was right next to a bank of wild blackberries, which are not quite ready for picking.

The view from up there is lovely. The island in the bay is known as Janvrin's tomb. The story goes that Captain Janvrin and his crew were returning home from a long sea trip, but they had the plague on board and the islanders wouldn't let them land.They holed up on the island, until one by one they succumbed- and died.

Wednesday 5th

Surf's Up!

Today I drove round to the West coast- it's only a short drive from the college. There were surfers in the water and the sky and sea were beautifully clean and clear. I took this shot of a surfer making his way back to the car. His dogs were having fun too:-) This was at the northern end of the bay of St Ouen, a place called L'Etacq. I decided to eat my sandwich on a bench near the beach. I'm really enjoying the timetable this week :-) Normally these lessons are in the final afternoon spot, and I don't do anything except go home.

Thursday 6th

Sand dunes

Round tower

 Slight change to my plan this morning. I drove Cairis in, planning to do some paperwork, and discovered that one of my colleagues was sick and that changing around the classes was going to mess up my trainees. I had organised some visits to my own colleagues' classes and the trainees were going to observe their lessons. I had to offer to teach, in order to not to have too many changes- well, I was free, and I had previously taught that particular private student, who likes the unplugged approach,- so not too difficult, all-in-all. After the lesson I escaped, in case they asked me to do another one. I have really valued my free time in the middle of the day this week. I went back to St. Ouen, but this time to the southern end, La Pulente. On one side of the road are sand dunes, on the other- sea. On the horizon I could see Guernsey, although my camera is not powerful enough to show it :-(  This time I  found a very beady-eyed seagull on the wall by the beach- a better place than the centre of town!

Friday 7th

Today I had to go down to the East of the island to organise the set up for tomorrow. We are going to supply the music for the Grouville Church Fete. Les Pres Manor is going to be open to the public for the first time in 40 years! The building has been there in some form or another since the 11th century, but it is now a mellow pink granite, with a higgledy-piggledy inside, which has been added to over the centuries. I really love the gardens and the pond at the bottom has both white and black swans.

 

 Saturday 8th September

No work today, but that doesn't mean that I can loaf around:-). I dropped Malcolm down to the boat so that he could take part in the Regatta. I returned to make my teaching roster, and when Cairis surfaced we drove down to Les Pres in time to open the fete. As most of our musicians are off-island I was slightly concerned about who would turn out to play. I needn't have worried as we had plenty of people. The music was piped round the fete and we were asked to play for longer as the next group had sent their apologies. We were given vouchers for tea and cakes and wandered up to the far end of the garden to the tea stall, and then had a look at some of the other ones.

All-in -all, a nice week ! We finished early enough on Friday to go down to the pub, which is always a good team-bonding experience. My trainees are  lovely, and they all did well during their first week. If the weather continues as it is I'll be happy, but my poor M is a bit disgruntled because there was not enough wind for a good race, and the boats just drifted around the bay, so he and the others abandoned the race and had a swim in the sea instead- not the end of the world exactly:-). Looking forward to the return of #ELTChat next week. I'll be able to watch the trainees teach properly, except on Thursday when we'll be doing something else- watch this space :-) 



Project # 366 Week 35

The weather has been a bit up and down this week. I probably noticed it more as I was at home and  the painters down tools the minute the rain comes!.

Sunday 26th August  2012

This morning we were surprised by a lady who rang our doorbell. She wanted to paint her house in exactly the colour we have, and came to ask the name of the paint:-)
Today I had a panicked call from a friend whose washing machine had died- just as her son decided to give her a year's supply of washing. Okay- slight exaggeration- but you know teen aged boys! I spent the day being a good friend, doing her laundry and laughing with her. She brought me the most amazing bunch of lilies as a thank you. The smell is a bit overpowering, but they look fantastic.
Monday 27th August
Started a bit damp, but I was only expecting to do one lesson and then return home to prepare for next week. The best laid plans......One of my colleagues was sick, and I was there, so I ended up teaching a nice group of intermediate teens. No painters today- it was the last Bank holiday of the year. M. went down to play with his boat and Cairis helped me mark the phonology tasks which came in the post.We went out for a bite to eat, as it was a holiday and I was feeling hard done by, after working most of the day. The bronze statue of 'freedom' next to the new mall was lit up. It was opposite the restaurant we chose- although being a bank holiday there was not much choice:-)

Tuesday 28th August

Same as yesterday, I taught the youngsters and then left for home. It was sunny today, and the painters were painting the white edging round the windows.I mentioned the lady from Sunday, and they laughed and told me that they had been giving a painted piece of cardboard to 2-3 people a week, since they started working on our house. We now have a coat of paint on the garden walls too.

Wednesday 29th

Having worked the previous two mornings, I negotiated the rest of the week off. This gave me time to prepare the timetable for the course and to organise some last minute paperwork. I also interviewed a couple of people for later courses. I managed to drag Cairis to the Gym with me- it's much more fun when you have a buddy to go with:-) In the evening it was great to watch  the paralympics opening ceremony. I stayed up until midnight to watch it, everyone else went to bed and left me with the cats:-). I found a couple of old lanterns when I was clearing out a cupboard. They were a bit rusty, so I sprayed them gold and will be able to use them as the nights begin to draw in.
Thursday 30th
The painters said that they could probably finish the high bits today and the scaffolding might be able to come down at the weekend. The white markings round the edges of the windows, and the window ledges, make the house look clean and fresh. Cairis says that it looks like lemon meringue!

White nectarines- a treat!

We decided to do a large shop, and put some food in the freezer for next week. That will make life easier, as Cairis is going to do my course and there will be no-one at home to start dinner. I got out into the garden while I had the chance, and there are some flowers I don't know the name of. Perhaps someone will be able to help!

Friday 31st

Today there was a 'blue moon' which I hoped to see later, but it was shrouded in clouds.The painters put a coat of the door colour round the edges to see if we like it- of course I do- I chose the colour ! I'll be happy when it is all finished.I'm going back in to work to set up my room for next week. The group is 12 strong, so I'm having one of the larger rooms to allow them space to spread out. I need to move all my equipment and files upstairs! Cairis had to take her laptop to the Computer Hospital- luckily she can borrow mine for the start of the course next week!
 In the evening we went down to the Smugglers to play music. We were supposed to go to the Farmer's inn but they had a function on. I noticed that the grapes in the garden are slowly staring to change colour- that means that Autumn is on its way :-) The colours will be fantastic.
Saturday 1st September 2012
Well, disappointingly, the scaffolding hasn't gone. We spent the morning watching the paralympics- the athletes are amazing!

I noticed that the honeysuckle flowers have turned into berries, and I have seen a lot of other berries around the island- folk legend suggests that is the sign of a hard winter to come :-(

Project #366 Week 34

The week started in bright sunshine and finished in driving rain. We had a huge thunderstorm, directly overhead at one point. Maybe the summer is coming to an end!



Sunday 19th August 2012

 Today we did our bit for the Walk for Marc, by playing music at the end for them. On returning home I found Maisie asleep in the garden and disturbed her when I took the photo, poor cat! Miles came to dinner as usual and the we relaxed in front of the tv.

Monday 20th August

This is my short day at work and normally I like to go home and have a coffee before doing anything else. Today I arrived home to find that Cairis had invited her friends round. They are a really nice wholesome group, who enjoy playing board games around the dining-room table. They do drink me out of tea, but that's a small price to pay:-) Half a dozen six-foot-tall young men stood up to say hello. I decided to make myself scarce and went down to the garden centre, where I had my coffee in peace and did a little shopping.

Tuesday 21st August

Today Cairis mentioned that it was her friend's birthday, and the gang wanted to organise a party for him. She asked if we would mind eating out, as we live on the outskirts of town, making our house the most central location for their evening.

I picked M up from his office and we went down to the Yacht club for a drink, then dinner in a local pub, and back to the yacht club for a nightcap. We did our best to stay out and let the kids have their fun. Eventually we sneaked in and up the stairs to our bedroom, where we watched something on the ipad and went to bed.

Wednesday 22nd August

 

Towards town

Away from town

The painters had been busy. When I got home the house had had a first coat of the yellow paint. At first I thought it was a bit sharp, but I'm getting used to it now. It's hard to know what it will look like until it is finished, really.

Thursday 23rd

A very busy day at work. This is almost the end of the week, and I had certificates to write for the students who are leaving, and a couple of interviews to finish for the October course. I was pleased to be inside as the rain was rather unpleasant. I feel sorry for the people running the Hobie Cat championships, as the weather is not conducive to having a great time. The sea was wild, with white horses and water breaking over the wall of the hermitage at the back of Elizabeth Castle.

Friday 24th

Urban seagull

Yippee, the end of the week. I now have a week to prepare for my September course and then it will be all seasons go! I just got home before a monstrous thunderstorm! It was right overhead, which is slightly uncomfortable when the house is surrounded by metal scaffolding poles! Both cats were inside, cowering under the table, and even Cairis looked happy to see me home:-).
In the evening we braved the weather to go out to the pub to play music. Carl was in hospital, having his hip repaired, so we were a small, but select, group and it gave us a chance to try out some new tunes. Cairis mentioned that she would quite like a tablet, or something, for her birthday, which is coming up in a few weeks.
Saturday 25th
We started the morning by popping up to the tech centre to look at the tablets available on the market. Cas doesn't want an ipad as she hates everything Apple! We went to see what else was out there- and I think she is leaning towards the Google nexus!

In the afternoon I had to go to La Mare Vineyards to set up for a wedding ceilidh in the evening.The weather is still wild, and we are hoping that our fiddle player will make it back on the ferry from France in time. If she does, she will probably look very green! The vineyard is a lovely setting, although it is nicer when the sun shines.