'Confusing an education with cold stone...'

First, this past week at work flew by ridiculous amounts. Aside from the terrible start to the week, the staff seemed to keep a rather high moral about them. Every day I teach I find new and interesting ways to keep my students engaged and behaving properly. I don't let the small things bother me any more (or at least I try not to). My biggest issue at this point is the fact that my year 13s are making excuses as to why they have come to my class unprepared for the past two lessons (not reading the book, not ordering the book, not doing the homework etc.) I ended up having a lesson with TWO students last week because I had to send out four of them because they came unprepared. Irritating. I told them I'm going to start treating them like college students. If they showed up to a class unprepared at University then they would be sent out (by British standards we would be talking about their seminar--the lectures require no talking and all note taking). Hoping this week proves to be yet another enjoyable one! 

This weekend was really great. The first time since I got back from America where I can say I went the entire weekend without feeling like crap. Friday I began by going for about a 4-5 mile run (I don't know exactly how long but I know it was within that frame of distance) and then took myself out to dinner. Yes, that's right, I took myself out to my favorite Italian restaurant in the City Centre (called ZiZis) and it was fantastic. They always say that going out to dinner on your own gets  you awkward stares from the wait staff and others eating around you. To be honest there were no eyebrows raised, no indiscreet stares, no 'wow I feel bad for that woman eating all on her own' glances. I had my meal in peace, with my newest Richard Dawkins' book, and felt completely at ease. It was actually quite nice that I could eat with others around me and not have to interact with anyone. Anyway, all in all I enjoyed myself. 

Saturday I got up early and headed off to Oxford. What a city--such culture, such beauty, such history! I decided to do a walking tour that lasted for about 2 hours; for 7.50 you couldn't beat that! Our tour guide was beyond knowledgeable, to the point that it seemed as though he had written a history book about Oxford himself (I never got a chance to asking whether or not he had, but I did find out that he went to Oxford at some point for his degree). We got into four of the colleges, and saw a fair amount of the city. Realizing that I was walking the same paths that Chaucer, Locke, Shelly, Elliot, Lawrence, and other true greats of their time, strangely shook me to the core. There's something in the atmosphere of Oxford; it lets you know that everything that has been researched, revealed, written, is still alive and breathing amongst that city. As our tour guide said, 'Oxford is a shirt, a pair of trousers, a pair of shoes. It is a city, a university, a home. Oxford is who you are if you happen to be amongst the lucky to live within its walls.' (Roughly quoted). On a lighter note, I did a bit of shopping and got the cutest dress and jacket at next. All of the pictures, including what the new outfit looks like, are (per usual) up on facebook :) After a long day I headed back to MK for a night out with a few of my friends from work (Those are also up on facebook along with some hilarious videos).

Today was productive as I managed to clean the house (yes...the house and this does include my room surprisingly enough), plan two weeks worth of lessons for year 7, read more of the dead school, speak to my family members, and even update this thing.  I didn't go for a run today (oops) but I'll get that in tomorrow.

Must be off to clean up from dinner and settle down with more reading :)