The Fifty-first republic - twice weekly tests and wear masks at all time till Easter

[StaffRepFeistyClub]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff only – a sort of room of requirement. Baiters, haters, goaders, and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

Do not give the staffroom password to others just in case it attracts the wrong sort

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the booze is stashed - Thirsty Tuesdays, Fizz Fridays now in operation. Do not sit on the chairs and wear a mask.

Just to be clear, I have NOT been told to clean up after the builders. Apparently, it's all going to be done (by them)!

We'll see.

Builders cleaning is not quite the same as normal ideas of cleaning ime.

I love the book talk but feel very ignorant! Just had to Google "who is Private Peaceful" .

MsAwesomeDragon, my ds is younger than your dd but he loves the David Baddiel books. I must say, I really enjoyed Head Kid and Animal olm, which had some lovely, sensitively written bits in them.

I've been so quiet on the threads lately, it's just been a rough couple of days. Nothing in particular but just being ground down by everything to be done with work and at home. Still, I have gone for some retail therapy and have a bottle of gin and a pair of knitting needles to show for it. Can any of the crofters on this thread recommend any knitting tutorials? I don't even know how to cast on, knit or cast off so it would have to be for absolute beginners.

I have a yarn stash the size of a small island in my wardrobe though .

Y5 already read Holes. And Wonder.

Are we crofting again? You can get some real bargains on Right Move.

I can cast on and off but use easy methods. YouTube is good.

Sorry . Damn autocorrect.

Loving the book talk - a real trip down Memory Lane along with some inspiration for new material. I am a terrible Weeper at Books and often have to choke back tears while I'm reading aloud to children.

OK book types: can you tell me the name and author of a book about a girl who is sort-of adopted by a rich family and called "Ca" short for Camilla because she looks like their dead (or possibly absent for another reason) daughter? I think it's a YA book and I was terrified and enthralled by it about 35 years ago. Might have been American but not sure...

Good to see you Brie. Sorry things are a bit shit lately and I'm with you on the nothing but everything kind of ground down. Learn to cast on and practice doing an even tension in your stitches. If you learn knit and pearl you can make endless blanket squares. I'm afraid my knitting never really progressed beyond that. I tried to teach myself to crochet but failed.

Does anyone remember the Cherry Ames books? An ancient aunt gave me a set and I wish I'd kept them. Hardbacks, with really lairy dust jackets, about this American nurse who had all sorts of adventures - Cherry Ames, aircraft Nurse, etc.

It’s not an online tutorial, Brie but the Knitty Gritty books are great for beginners.
here

I think "disciplinary" might even have featured in one of our Head's emails. The longer explanation from our head of sixth form included that we would want to save ourselves from having to go back on anything we've said, and cause further confusion, and as we are working on it all at the moment, DO NOT SAY ANYTHING!

There's a special TEAMS tomorrow at 3.30 which isn't obligatory, to say where the team working it out are up to. Associate staff are invited but obvs aren't especially expected. I'm planning to go anyway but am emailing DepH to say I'm going but swear on my life to divulge nothing to my Y11 daughter!

@cornercupboard

OK book types: can you tell me the name and author of a book about a girl who is sort-of adopted by a rich family and called "Ca" short for Camilla because she looks like their dead (or possibly absent for another reason) daughter? I think it's a YA book and I was terrified and enthralled by it about 35 years ago. Might have been American but not sure...

Rings no bells for me I'm afraid , and sounds a bit dark American ?

Thanks, Honey . I love crocheting, been doing it for a couple of years. It's so calming. All I make is squares for blankets though! Currently making granny squares for a blanket for dd. My mum is a brilliant knitter, she makes cardis for all if her friends and grandchildren .

I love all of the book talk. I've got the first Cormoran Strike book by my bed and an Amanda Craig book for afterwards. Ds is currently reading "The Astounding Broccoli Boy" by Frank Cotterell Boyce and dd has just devoured the latest Lisa Williamson book.

The last book I managed to finish was by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Love her books.

I have a shade under 12000 stitches left to do in my appendix out blanket. It's been 6 years....
Oh... and then I have to make the border.

I really liked the Strike books, but I'll read anything. I have kindle unlimited and I read all the things. I'm not terribly discerning for an English teacher!

@Saucery

It’s not an online tutorial, Brie but the Knitty Gritty books are great for beginners. ]]

Thank you 😊!

I still haven't made it to the end of the first cormoran strike book. struggling to get into it.

You can be too discerning! Life needs balance.

Jan yes it was dark... I remember reading it in the bath at my granny's house with that 1970s electric fire on the wall smell and the velour bath pouffe with the towels on next to me, so evocative

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay

I still haven't made it to the end of the first cormoran strike book. struggling to get into it.

I read the first couple but the most recent one has been part read for months now. Not sure if it's the book or me just being too stressy to settle and read. I'd also treated myself to a couple of feminist classics but can't get into them either.

I seem to need to be in hospital or on holiday to be able to read these days.

MrsH you can bring your blanket and work on it while we
• Chill on the Hill
• Style it on the Nile
• Become Unstable on the Tables

oh and not forgetting

• Sob with Bob

Sob for Bob maybe? Donn't think Bob is actually invited, is he.....

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay

I still haven't made it to the end of the first cormoran strike book. struggling to get into it.

I love Strike! Such good characters who I actually care about. The most recent one (Troubled Blood) was fantastic.

The TV series is worth a watch as well-Tom Burke is brill.

I think it might just be me. Maybe I'll give it another go when I've finished The Silk Roads.