The Sixty-Fifth Republic - The Covid School Phoney War under way so who will the gold medal and who will get the wooden spoon?

[Staffholidayclubrep]

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 for school staff to let off steam.

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 non-staff as it attracts the wrong sort of crowd.

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.

You can sit on chairs but keep the windows open. You don’t have to upload LFT results during the holidays. You do not have to wear mask - free choice

@DrMadelineMaxwell

Latest st Mary's books wont be out til christmas day (short story) then April.

It's her White Silence series new book called long shadows that is out a week on Wednesday.
I won't make the same mistake of reading that one on my own in the dark when it lands. Scared myself silly reading the first one like that! Completely didn't expect the spooky side of them.

Oh, I thought it was a St Mary’s so that’s a bit disappointing. Never mind, White Silence is good too. Hopefully another Time Police will be out shortly. I’m also waiting very patiently for Phil Rickman’s next Merrily Watkins book. I like spooky books.

I am at the HCP who hasn't been doing any! Everyone else meh.

Finally checking into the new thread, I did manage to drag my backside over the finish line on Friday - despite the school barely being able to operate with so many members of staff off (HT had to cover a class). Am hoping that the undeniable damage to my mental health this year, doesn't stop me from enjoying 5 and a half weeks off. Wishing you all a well-deserved break x

Just had a kindle spree and think I might have have learnt where @DrMadelineMaxwell got the idea for her username from! Different spelling though, so I might be totally wrong??

Am about half an hour into the first one and really enjoying it!

Glad you made it chocolate school must have been in dire straits for the head teacher to teach a lesson

No, you're absolutely right. Different spelling is because there's already another user with the correct spelling.

I messaged the author (she has a Facebook group she contributes to from time to time) once to ask whether she intended the author to be able to be referred to as Mad Max (which hasnt occurred yet in any of the books). She replied that she had. But then hadn't used it early on and now it was too late.

Not the first reply I've had from an author either....love social media.

@DrMadelineMaxwell

No, you're absolutely right. Different spelling is because there's already another user with the correct spelling.

Wehoo- I’m guessing you’re a big fan!

I’m quite excited by the sound of it so far-love history and time travel so am looking forward to reading them!

Hi All. I've lurked since the first republic but rarely post (v.rarely, same sort of frequency with which Gavlar is sighted rarely), but just had to break cover to say this thread is now responsible for an Amazon order of the first St Mary's, the HG prequel and Hamnet (plus the new Victoria Hislop). Now to find somewhere to hide the toddler while I read them...

And I’ve also ordered the Hunger Games Prequel. It’s so nice to have time to read.

@ChemistsHaveSolutions

Hi All. I've lurked since the first republic but rarely post (v.rarely, same sort of frequency with which Gavlar is sighted rarely), but just had to break cover to say this thread is now responsible for an Amazon order of the first St Mary's, the HG prequel and Hamnet (plus the new Victoria Hislop). Now to find somewhere to hide the toddler while I read them...

Like Chemists I have been lurking around since the 1st Revolution. Have just down loaded the first St. Mary's and am hooked. Can't believe I'd never heard of this series, so thank you. Also, huge thank you to all of you for helping me get through the last year or so. There must be many others like me who love this thread but don't post. I was the same with TES - really miss some of the threads which got me through bad times.

Oh, to anyone who hasn't read Hamnet yet, it's fantastic.

Enjoy @Marzipanfruit! I am also looking forward to reading the first St Mary's. Tell us what you think!

And @ChemistsHaveSolutions!

@Beachhuts90

Oh, to anyone who hasn't read Hamnet yet, it's fantastic.

Agreed!

God I wish I could talk about books... I've never been a reader unless it's music scores.

Or about the lives and works of composers.

Marzipanfruit

"Like Chemists I have been lurking around since the 1st Revolution. Have just down loaded the first St. Mary's and am hooked. Can't believe I'd never heard of this series, so thank you. Also, huge thank you to all of you for helping me get through the last year or so. There must be many others like me who love this thread but don't post. I was the same with TES - really miss some of the threads which got me through bad times."

Absolutely agree @Marzipanfruit I don't post often but this is my favourite thread. So much knowledge, understanding, kindness and support. About to go look up some books now!

If Hamnet is about Shakespeare’s son, someone should write about his twin Judith, who was an interesting woman. But the women in Shakespeare’s life are generally disregarded. (Anne Hathaway presumably lived with her three children with her mother in law for years before her husband was successful enough to buy New Place.)

It sort of is but isn't . Shakespeare himself is never named in the text. It's a book about grief and is very moving.

Why would I want to read a book about grief when I could read a cheery novel about kids in an organised fight to the death instead?

I've just started the Wool Trilogy. Intriguing set-up.

The kids at school always ask if all books are misery fests...ermm. Yup?

On the nursery slopes of holiday reading here - thank you for the Skylarks' War recommendation. Thinking of reading the sequel before embarking on something more demanding......

I've just finished Small Pleasures and would thoroughly recommend.

Hi to the lurkers. This thread has kept me sane this year.

Looking into 'The Wool Trilogy' now. Only got half of the hols left as in Scotland so not sure if I have time for more of St. Mary's plus Wool as nothing else will get done! Thanks for the replies feel better about posting now. Here's to happy holidays and sunny days.