Lock down Week 5

Time is moving both incredibly fast and as slow as a snail at the same time.  Matt's first week at his new school has sped by, yet my friend mentioned today that school kids have actually only missed 15 working days (due to the Easter holidays).

Matt's first week at school was a bit odd, since he is still getting up very early to teach online in Shanghai.  Then he had to get to know his new classes in New Milton via Skype, which is tricky.  The teacher he is taking over from teaches in a very different way to Matt, so he will definitely be changing some things around next week, when he has the class to himself.  He's also been helping his new school with some data things, since he has lots of experience in that from Shanghai.  A tricky start, but at least his first week is over and done with and he can now relax for the weekend.

We have been going for walks after dinner this week, in the beautiful evening sunshine and warmth, which has been lovely, and is not something we would normally do.  Getting lots of fresh air is definitely one of the positives of the lock down situation.  As is speaking more frequently to our families and friends.  We had another of Matt's family quiz nights on Saturday, which was great fun.  On Saturday, I spoke to Charlee and Lou, Mum video called her friends, Matt spoke to his friends and Dad spoke to Uncle Trev, so everyone has had a very sociable day.

We had a delicious BBQ on Saturday, even though the sun had disappeared by then.  Typical; a glorious week, while Matt was stuck inside working and then chilly and cloudy as soon as the weekend appears!

I have been at work this week, which was nice.  My girl that I taught crochet to last time I was in, had purchased her own set of crochet hooks and was raring to go, trying to remember how to make granny squares.  I'm so proud!  Though I think I may have created a crochet monster!  It's actually  nice to be working at the moment since it gives the week a bit of structure.  We seem to be getting a few more kids signing up for after school provision,so we may be a bit busier in the next couple of weeks.

Otherwise, it's just been crochet and sunbathing, which is actually fine by me!

Sunshine and Rain

It's been an interesting week.  All these photos are of nice things that have happened; sunshine by the beach, cuddles with Lola, walks with Lola and next door's dog, Button, Dad making bread.  Then there's also been, Mum making lemon cake, Harris family quiz night via ZOOM (Matt and I came second), chatting to Charlee and Louise, working on Monday - which was really good fun in the lovely sunshine, and spending lots of time going on lovely walks with Matt.  I've also spent lots of time doing cross stitch in the garden, which has been very peaceful.

Then, I had two days of stress.  On Tuesday morning I had a big seizure.  Let's look at the positives - I got an aura, so I knew that I had to sit down.  This meant that I was able to get out of the shower and sit on the floor, rather than falling down and hurting myself.  This has never happened before, so I'm really quite pleased.  I spent most of the rest of the day sleeping it off and was OK by Wednesday.

On Wednesday, I got an email from occupational health saying that I wasn't cleared to work in a school due to my epilepsy.  This was a bit of a surprise, since I have been working there already for a month.  The Head Teacher did a risk assessment with me on my very first day and everything was fine because I am never alone with children.

Occupational health claimed that my doctor had said that I shouldn't work with kids, but when I spoke to my doctor, he hadn't even been contacted by occupational health.  My local doctor, who I have been with for a month apparently just confirmed that I have epilepsy, nothing else.

Once occupational health realised I had already started doing the job they backtracked and said that they would change their form to ask if people had done a risk assessment at work already.  I don't really understand how that should make any difference whatsoever.  I can clearly do the job without endangering children.  There are measures in place for if I have a seizure at work.  Why does it matter if I have started the job yet?  The Head Teacher had even phoned me to say he was sorry I wouldn't be able to work there any more!

Matt wrote an excellent email to occupational health and after several phone conversations with them, they decided that it was in fact OK for me to keep my job!  The Head Teacher was very pleased and said that Matt's email was brilliant.  He had to wait 6 weeks for occupational health to get back to him, yet one email from Matt and they phoned me within 30 minutes!

I just don't understand what on Earth they were thinking!  I'm still baffled, but am very pleased that I get to keep my job because I like it very much!

So, a very stressful two days.  Things improved after that, including the weather, which had been wet and chilly for a couple of days.  The sun is now blazing down on us.  Matt and I have been going out for lovely walks along the sea front and enjoying being in each others company again.

Matt starts his new job, via e-learning tomorrow.  I'll update you on that next week!

Happy Easter!

Look at all these photos.  So many reasons to smile and be happy right now.  I know the world has gone to ruin, but there are still so many things to be thankful for.  Matt is home!  He managed to get on a flight at 4am Shanghai time on Friday morning.  He only found out that he would definitely be on the flight 12 hours before flying.  There were 8 people on his flight, so social distancing wasn't a problem!

It's been a very stressful week, not knowing if Matt would be coming home or not, so it's great to have him back.  It sounds like he was on the very last flight for quite some time.  Heathrow was completely empty too, which is a bit eerie!

I was working on Friday and will be working tomorrow too.  There are a few students at school who have key worker parents so school has stayed open for them.  Instead of 7 teachers coming in for 4 students, we of the after school and holiday program have stepped in.  Friday was actually a really lovely day. The kids are very sweet - 3 siblings and one other, and we had fun making paper mache easter eggs and going on an egg hunt.  I wasn't needed in the afternoon, so I managed to get home by 1.30 about 10 minutes after Matt arrived home!

For Matt, this week has been 'half term' in Shanghai, so his lessons online start again tomorrow.  I am in all day tomorrow, but that's it for me for the rest of next week.  I plan on just enjoying the sunshine and enjoying having Matt home.

Here is a random assortment of photos from Matt's travels and the photoshoot I did with Lola in the garden on Thursday!

Happy Easter!

Day 14 of Self-isolation

We're two weeks in and we're all still alive, which is excellent news.  I don't mean that it's good that we don't have the virus (which is obviously great news), but I mean that it's good that none of us have killed anyone else yet.  Actually, it's not been too bad.  We're all keeping busy.  Our favourite time of day is dinner time, which we look forward to all day, followed by watching 1 or 2 episodes of the West Wing, which we are all thoroughly enjoying.  Mum can quote every episode pretty much word for word.

We decided not to walk the dog yesterday, since the weather was so warm, we were worried that lots of people would be going out.  Richmond was absolutely heaving with people apparently. Some people are such idiots!  Why can't they just be sensible like most of the rest of the country.  We did pop out for a quick walk with Lola today, because she kept staring at us, waiting to go out and we felt guilty!

Yesterday, Mum and Dad washed and clipped the pooch.  We're doing plenty of reading and cross stitch and crochet.  I was at work on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon.  We only had one child in and I taught her to crochet.  You can see what she made over on my Creative Faye blog.  It really cheered me up!

Matt is doing well in Shanghai.  He's been out and about seeing a few people and tying up loose ends in China.  He's doing lots of packing and the flat is starting to look quite bare.  The kitties are doing well and Snowball has recovered from whatever it was he ate that meant a trip to the vets and lots of tests.  He is absolutely fine now.

Hopefully Matt will be flying back home next week, landing on Friday.  Fingers and toes crossed for him getting home safe.  The kitties will be going back to their cattery until they are allowed to fly home.

I'm not in work until next Friday, when i'll be doing a full day of 'easter camp' on bank holiday Friday and Monday with the 3 kids booked in to school.  Also, no more e-lessons in China.  Friday was my last day working at Dulwich Shanghai.  It was sad to say goodbye to my students this week, but their new EAL teacher will be great.  He sat in on all the lessons this week.  My office even threw a surprise leaving party via Skype, which was super sweet of them.  Joy has drawn an amazing picture of me holding Sooty, dressed up for Halloween as a black cat! 

It's not exactly the goodbye I would have wanted if I was still in Shanghai, but it's better than nothing!