You Know You Have Worked Too Much When....

OK so last night I did some work. Not unusual for the amount of stuff I have to do but in particular last night I was just going over my planning for a year 9 lesson I have this afternoon. I had taken home the video I wanted to show them so I was completely clear on what they would get out of it. Now at the moment I am looking at the Battle of the Somme and in particular Field Marshal Douglas Haig (see picture below!)

The disturbing thing about this though is that when my alarm went off at 6.45 this morning, 91/2 hours after I had finished the video and sorting out my lesson, I found myself thinking, well if I pause the video here they will be able to note this point and if I continue until this bit etc etc.

So, you know you have worked too much when..you wake up thinking of a man who is responsible for killing thousands of people and who has a ridiculous moustache!

8 facts which may or may not be interesting!

OK so I have been tagged in this more than once so really should do it.

1) I am typing this from a chool computer, I cannot access my personal emails or facebook but blogging I can do!

2) I have never broken a bone in my body so far although have dislocated my right knee twice so far.

3) I have been in ambulance twice (see above reason!)

4) I am afraid of mice and human bones

5) I hate being on my own, I need company, conversation and noise

6) I went to university and in my three years there never went to a purple Wednesday (big event at student union)

7) I am the oldest child in my family and the oldest grandchild on one side of my family

8) I would choose savoury food over sweet food every time!

I now tag Becca, Sarah and Kirst

Back to School

That's right after six years of not going back to school this September I have been back. I have just completed my first three days as a graduate teacher in a secondary school and I have survived!

Highlights of my week:-

1. Finding out what happens on a teacher training day although the day itself was not that thrilling!!
2. Planning a lesson. Very scary but my lesson plan worked. Woo!
3. Receiving my Teacher's Planner. It was the highlight of my day and I got very excited. I am almost a proper teacher!!!

Funniest moment of the week had to be yesterday when a year seven asked me where a room was and I had no idea. Funny but embarrassing. I did manage to direct them in the end to where they needed to be for wet lunch, phew!!

All Coming Together

For a while now I have been trying to figure out what my career needs to be, what I want to do when I am a 'grown up', where I can use my skills and my education and for the past six months I have been applying for positions that would make it all come together and at last it has paid off. As of September I am going to be training as a teacher in a secondary school in Havering teaching History. I am possibly doing one of the hardest routes into teaching but at last I have a destination.

The past year since leaving university has been a struggle in many areas the main one being on the job front. I just had no idea what I wanted to do and what I should be doing. All my friends had jobs they loved whereas I was just going from one temp assignment to another and often finding myself out of work for a few weeks but now I'm sorted. I can say I have a career, I am nearly a 'grown up' and this entire idea scares me a lot but I am now a firm believer that prayer before interviews really does pay off.

Obsession

Ok so it has been over a month since I last blogged but was struggling with what to say and this morning it came to me. People who plan weddings are obsessed!! OK so I am planning a wedding but even my crazy planning is not as crazy as these people.

I have joined a forum on one of the websites of a popular wedding magazine for the date I am getting married and there have been tips shared and interest and information being swapped about and then today it went to a whole new level. I received an email saying more posts had been posted on this forum so I log in and have a read and I have discovered true Bridezillas!! People have their own websites for getting married. Now I know I am a crazy planner and have two books and have a countdown on facebook etc but to create my own website about the day surely that is taking things one step too far?

I just needed to blog this as I can't believe it is now the fashion to do this. What is the world coming too!!!

Love!!

OK this may be a slushy post so apologies if it is but felt I needed to say this. Tonight I am sitting at home on my own, my mum is away on holiday so I am spending the week alone in my house. I have just said goodbye to my fiance(!!!!!!) as he goes back to uni and although I spent the weekend with him and will see him again on Friday I sobbed all the way home and then when I opened the door sobbed again and then when washing my hair sobbed again. Now normally I am not this bad. True I hate saying goodbye to him but normally I know I am going to see him in a matter of days and there are no tears. So why has it affected me so badly this time? Is it because this is the first time we will be apart since getting engaged? Is it because we have just spent four weeks together? Is it because I cannot plan any more of the wedding until I see him? Or is it simply because I hate being on my own and am hating the idea of not having company for the week that it has forced me to realise how much I love him, I like being with him, how involved he is in my life and how much I just want to be with him everyday?

Apologies again for the slushiness but it just crossed my mind why do we or should I say I never appreciate the people in my life until I am on my own and lonely?

Going to be a Mrs

OK so this post is just another outlet of my excitement that I AM ENGAGED!!!! After four and a half years I was proposed to and am now the proud and excited owner of a very beautiful, very sparkly ring!!

I appreciate many of those who read my blog already know this news but it also gives me a chance to say to my little sis I am missing you being with us as much as you are missing being with us and it's only 3 weekends!! Also to my girls 2 weekends till the giggles and screams begin.

I love you all but to those inparticular you are always in my thoughts and I can't wait to share this moment with you.

Changing Tracks

At work I am often in the office on my own as my boss is attending many meetings in various parts of the south east of England and so I often listen to Radio 1. I have become addicted to the Chris Moyles show and find him absolutely hilarious and often laugh and sing along in my car and the office. Anyway after the Chris Moyles show comes Jo Whiley. At first I wasn't sure whether I like this show or not and then I discovered a feature she does every day.

Every day after 11 o'clock she does the feature Changing Tracks. This is her relating peoples stories of how their live have changed with a song. This is a very emotional feature. People write in telling all sorts of problems. Everything from eating disorders, to cheating on a partner, to moving away from friends. Whilst listening to this feature it got me thinking. Would I feel comfortable having my problems broadcast on national radio with a life changing song? What makes these people do it? Also what would my life changing song be? As a Christian should my life changing song be a Christian one about the grace of God?

Just some thoughts that go through my mind at about 11.10 when I listen to the radio.

Uncertainty and Confirmation

At the moment I feel very much in an uncertain place. I am waiting for lots of things to happen in my life and I am being forced to consider big questions on my future in all aspects of my life. Then on Sunday this was the closing song in Southampton's meeting and it took all my restraint not to jump up and down in affirmation because it doesn't matter what is going on in my head as

I'm in His hands,
I'm in His hands,

Whate'er the future holds,

I'm in His hands,

The days I cannot see

Have all been planned for me;

His way is best, you see;

I'm in His hands.

Still alive!!

This weekend I did something I had never ever done before. I cooked. Cooked from scratch a main course and a pudding. What is even more impressive is I am still alive and so too is the person I cooked it for!!

Reason for cooking? Well my boyfirend and I do not really get to spend all that much time together when we are both home and so my mum was out and I thought it would be nice if we did something different and took advantage of the space and spend some quality time together. I suggested cooking and my boyfriend got quite excited by the idea of being grown ups so then I had to do it!! I looked in recipe books borrowed from a friend and surfed the internet until I found a simple recipe that would look like it was complicated!! On saturday afternoon I began the task of cooking and by Saturday evening we had a barbecued chicken with fried rice and chocolate swirl cheesecake. All made from scratch and it even tasted quite nice!

Point of this blog? Well I am alive and so is he. I can now say I can cook without poisoning anybody!!

New Year, New Me?!

OK so it has been a while since I have blogged, this is mainly due to the fact I have not had anything to say, until today that is. Whilst at work bored I suddenly thought of something I could share with you all, I cannot promise it will be interesting but at least it's something!

I have decided this year I need to lose weight. I am not the only one in this I am sure but it has occurred to me recently that in the past four years of my relationship I have expanded and now is the time to stop. I am not however going to diet. Oh no. I do not believe in dieting, it just makes you hungrier, plus for it not to make you hungry you have to spend a lot of money a month to join the consumer diet world. This is money that I will be needing to spend on something else but that will be a blog for later in the year. So as I am not going to diet how exactly am I going to lose weight. A question I am sure you are eagerly awaiting the answer for!! I am going to exercise. Yes that is right little sis I am going to exercise. I do currently belong to a gym however have been once in the entire month of December. To not go is throwing money away and so that is why in this New Year I am going to make the most of my gym membership.

The question is though can you lose weight just by exercising? Can I go back to the size and figure I had four years ago? Can I be less than that?

The answer I am hoping is yes as I have lots of important engagements coming up this year, from friends 21st's to graduation balls and ceremonies (not mine but I still get to go!) to a friends wedding, and these are just the ones that I know of.

So please keep your fingers crossed that this is achievable and if you have any advice or tips they would be greatly appreciated.