A few Scotland pics & the REAL life of an inner city London teacher!

Before I start my rant of the last two weeks, I thought I'd put up some pictures I recently received from Diana of our trip to Scotland! A month or so late, but still, here are few!

They certainly do not capture Scotland as it is seen in person, in fact I feel like they are a bit of an injustice to one of the most beautiful countries in the world! These pictures are in no particular order as they were a pain in the rear to actually post!

These are my wet feet. After hiking during a day that couldn't be any wetter it didn't matter where my feet ended up. I hadn't even noticed I was soaked because my feet were numb! Only when I looked down did I realize and decided to take a picture!

This is outside of the Glasgow Cathedral. This was one of the coolest places I've ever been! A very eerie, gloomy, creepy, Medieval church! We just don't get to see things like this in Canada!

Hiking in the highlands. This was such a spectacular view and quite the hike to get there, but clearly well worth the effort. I've seen pictures of this area in the summer and when the sky is blue, the sun is shining, and the hills are the greenest of greens, I am sure it gives a much different feeling.

The photo of me to the left is in Glenfinnan up in the highlands. My feet are absolutely soaked but I am so happy! This was day 4 of the trip and possibly one of the best days of my life!

Here is the now famous Glenfinnan Viaduct! Otherwise known to most as the bridge the Hogwarts Express travels on in the Harry Potter films. It was very exciting to see it up close! We hiked right up to it. It's absolutely massive!

There are still plenty more pictures I have but I guess I will have to slowly post the blog can only handle so many!

So, I guess it's been almost two weeks since I've posted a proper blog. I apologize to anyone who may be cursing at me for not doing so! I've been VERY busy. After Ofsted, which I survived somehow, things have just become more and more crazy at work. To put it bluntly, they have been lousy. Unfortunately, I've really been struggling with the lack of support I receive at this school and am just left to drown on my own. I usually think I am pretty good at figuring things out by myself and do fine being left to my own resources, but not when I don't know anything about anything when it comes to UK procedures and assessment. Not only does it GREATLY vary between Canada, but also different boroughs in London have different procedures its impossible to get it all under wraps. Bottom line, no one is answering my questions, offering any sort of support, or even giving a damn that I am confused! They don't seem to care one bit that I am a new teacher and even newer to the UK. No one seems to care about anything and it's really disheartening. Well, besides the paperwork end of it and all of its nonsense... my students are feral. In ONE week I was BIT twice by two different students. They are absolutely mad. I could go on and on for forever and a day about the behaviour I have dealt with, but I will spare you that. Being bitten is just an example of what I've dealt with so far, use your imaginations.

So, needless to say, I've had a good chat with my agent and I plan on sticking it out until Christmas and then move on to something else. I'm a very determined and dedicated person, but I know that life is too short to be unhappy and when the bad days consistently outweigh the good, it's time to move on. I sure am learning a lot though!!

As far as my social life goes - I make up for lousy weeks with exciting weekends! I've been going to watch gigs, visit museums, going on walking tours, and just catching up with friends. Today there was an open studio where I do pottery, so I went in to see everyone and enjoy some pie and mulled wine. It was very nice! Pottery is becoming my release - I am really developing a love for it. This week I am learning how to glaze my finished pieces before they go in the kiln! Only two weeks of this session are left... but I think I will continue on in the new year. Or, maybe I will do something else!

My sister Ali is coming in 12 days!!!! I CAN'T WAIT! It will be SO good to see her! My other sister is doing well with her new baby. I hear Gabe is adjusting well to having a new little sister so that's good news!

Well, I know this blog is mishmash of things - but know I am still VERY happy and nothing is going to change that! I am also happy because there is NO SNOW here and today was still about 11 degrees celsius outside! HAHA! It does rain a lot, but I don't have to shovel rain! I hope you are all well at home. I will be thinking of you all as the holidays roll around!

Much love,

~amy