mardi 8 avril 2008
Almost one month
... without posting.
Sorry, but I'm afraid not many bloggers are actually dying to read my articles. Anyway, I've been very busy at school. We had to mark our mock exams, to organise "Certifications" for our students in "Seconde". These are European assessments, elaborated by Cambridge University. But we have to do the job in our schools, without getting extra money of course ! That's why we had to negociate so that a few lessons were taken off our time-tables. Or else I wonder how I could have managed considering that I also had to arrange two parents' meetings and attend a meeting at the rectorat, all this over the last days of term ! But right now, I have lots of free time as I didn't have time to plan anything for my holidays and am simply staying at home. I love that sometimes.
I've been twice to the cinema : I saw a children's movie on Saturday, in which you see beautiful Scottish landscapes, but unfortunately many were shot in studios,
and an excellent Afghan movie on Monday : Buddha collapsed out of shame.
You mustn't miss the latter !!!!!
vendredi 18 janvier 2008
My childhood is crumbling
Yesterday morning I was attending the funeral of one of my parents' friends. This man, like all the other friends my parents had managed to keep throughout their life, had contributed in making me who I am today. Yesterday, with a smile in the middle of my tears, I thought of all the games we had played together, his jokes, the interesting comments he always had to pass. I thought of my parents too. They would have been so sad to see their friend go. And when I came back from work at six P.M. I heard Carlos had died too. He too was part of my childhood, even though I was never a real fan. 
samedi 12 janvier 2008
DISAPPOINTMENT
I've just had a slight disappointment. I received a letter telling me I would not be a member of the jury for the cinema festival that is taking place in Anonnay (Ardèche) next month. I had applied without really thinking I would be selected, but as time passed I started to hope. They tell me that they received loads of application letters, all from cinema fans, and that they had to make a difficult choice in order to have a balanced jury as far as ages, jobs, genders are concerned. I suppose I'm far from being the only teacher to apply, and this may be the reason for my non-selection. I'll try again next year ! I'm not the kind of person that you can put off a challenge easily.
If you are keen on cinema and live not far from Annonay, it sounds great ! Go and visit their site by clicking on the picture and you'll find about the programme.
mercredi 17 octobre 2007
I've got a headache
And when I've got a headache, one of my eyes aches. Today it's the left one. I'd feel terribly better if someone could just be kind enough to tear my eye out of its socket !
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ! Just joking !
Anyway, actually it hurts ! I taught two lessons this morning and then met the mother of one of my students. This afternoon, I had to go to my union's office. And by now I should be marking my papers... But I can't. Is the screen better for my eyes than marking ? I doubt it. So, I'm off to bed !
See you !
lundi 8 octobre 2007
Bye Bye China
For 19 years I've been faithful to a Chinese restaurant in my town. They used to be neighbours, then I moved, but have always come back to enjoy their specialities. My favourite is undoubtedly their Spring Roll. It sounds commonplace. But theirs is so subtle, and always fresh.
But Mr L. is retiring soon. So either I will have to find a new place to enjoy nice Chinese food, or I will have to learn how to cook chinese dishes myself !
I will miss the people too. And I wish them a happy retirement !
dimanche 9 septembre 2007
First weekend
My first week at school is over. I've met all my new students, but can't say I know them yet. But I like these first moments at school because everyone tries to do their best, to listen to each other. There are lots of polite and shy smiles, lots of good resolutions made... We all know all this can't be perfect for ever, but everybody enjoys these instants.
I had planned to wear a skirt, look sun-tanned and a little younger and enthusiastic than usual, but the weather hasn't allowed me to do so. Therefore I've been wearing jeans, a tee-shirt and a pullover, changing the colours in order not to look too boring to my audience...
Today I should be working. I'll do my "homework" this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Indeed I'm lucky and will be free every Monday morning. No Sunday-night-stress this year !!!
Last night some teachers from my school came home for dinner. These are a few of those I get on well with at work. There are not so many I wish to invite home. We had a pleasant meal and evening. I cooked a Moroccan recipe, something I was trying for the first time, and I must say it was delicious ! (Olive and lemon chicken tajine). I'm about to share the left-overs with my friend. So, have a nice Sunday, and see you soon !
mercredi 15 août 2007
I'm back !
I want bright colours, I want light. I've just had 15 wonderful days in Britanny, and back at home the weather is just... yuk ! I can't find any words.
Don't you dream of being there too ?
But as I switched on my computer again after two weeks I also had a nice surprise. Someone had come and left a comment ! It's Chateau. She lives in the Philippines. Funny that I should have read a book recently by a an author originally from there but who emigrated to Australia. It's "The Last Time I Saw my Mother" by Arlene J. Chai. On reading this novel I fancied knowing more about the Philippines, and reading Chateau, I understand why she wishes her children could feel like living in their home country forever.
Besides looking at my statistics, I noticed that I had had a visitor from South Africa. That's another country I wish I could know more about. So, South African visitor, feel welcome here, and please leave a comment, I'd be immensely pleased !
mardi 17 juillet 2007
Where does this word come from ?
I had to choose a name. "Serendipity" is my favourite in English, in French it's "berlingot" or "calicot", which doesn't mean they mean the same ! It's just I like the sound of it. 25 years ago or so Allan, a friend who means more to me than he seems to remember, taught me this word. That was in England. My life actually started from that word. Or so I feel. Have you got a favourite word ? A word that means more than its dictionary definition ?
Now I was not the only one... apparently someone else had picked that name before me. So I had to add "plus" at the end of it.
dimanche 15 juillet 2007
It's so easy to be a cat
Don't you think ?