Polly - phonic ringtone

I've spent my first couple of nights in the house and discovered a couple of things.

• 'A drink' at a particular neighbour's involves not less than a few large glasses of red wine and numerous generous Irish whiskies. Everyone goes off to work the next day and I am the only one feeling worse for wear.
  
• Anything that looks easy is difficult. Anything that looks difficult is impossible.
  
• The parrot at the same neighbours can do faultless impressions. It's current repetoire includes 'silly parrot' and 'slappers'. But by far it's most impressive impersonation at this early stage is that of my home phone ringing. The sod.

Anyway I am sans broadband at the house currently so updates will be a bit sparse. I hope to post one soon after the exclusive housewarming event this weekend.

Teachers, animated

A few things to report from the classroom this week. I'll try and save the best 'til last.

I have frittered away the final week of this half term by littering my lessons with Darth Vader quotes. They were relevant and difficult to spot at the start of the week (eg 'apology accepted' and no homework='you have failed me for the last time'), but are getting more blatant (feedback on my teaching methods='I find your lack of faith disturbing'). No one has picked up on it yet, so presumably they all think Mr T has lost it.

In second place, a totally unexpected event I have already bewildered most of you with. The story of a lad who got 'over stimulated' during a lesson on simultaneous equations. I'll tell you more on that one face to face.

But the outright winner involves the website youtube. Yes, it seems some young wag has created a video animation with musical accompanyment featuring the school and a selection of teachers (thankfully I have escaped), however the head is not best pleased!
To find the video, go to youtube, type in the name of the school I teach at (all one word) and also the word 'animation'. Turn your speakers up!!

Master of Flags

A school related post this time. I am beginning to get my name known around the staffroom. Last week it was European Day of Languages in the school. This meant tacky continental music being piped around the corridors, croissants in the staffroom, trying to teach a part of my lesson in a foreign language and a competition to identify all the flags on a banner in the staffroom.
With flags that seemed obvious to me (Bulgaria, Croatia etc) the temptation to show my worldliness prevailed and I entered. The results were announced in an all staff morning briefing (circa 80 people), and I was victorious. Amongst mutterings from my colleagues I collected my prize from the Headteacher: a bottle of US(?) wine.

Although this has got me known, I am not sure in what light I'm regarded. The fallout has been numerous comments from random members of staff in the corridor suggesting I keep a book of flags at the side of my bed, others ask how the hell I knew the flags and an unconfirmed rumour I was the only entrant in the competition anyway!!