It was a very exciting afternoon at Chateau Lawrence today. A lorry bearing our pallet of stuff various arrived! Twenty-four boxes, two pictures and a TV were unloaded, signed for, copy of passport provided and the chaps were on their way. It had taken a mammoth session of administration and phone calls to get it sorted out but customs were clearly cleared and here our stuff is, including the tickling stick thrown to us by the great Ken Dodd at the end of his Wolverhampton Christmas Show. However I am left with a nagging problem. Who the Hell Is Chrisilia Douglas? On every box that arrived there was a sticky label with the words “Chrisilia Douglas, Cape Town, South Africa” printed on them. Who is this phantom shipper? Anyone got any ideas?
Names and their meanings / usages do make for great cross-cultural humour. I was recommended that when I need a check-up with a reputable dentist that there is really only one chap to go: Dr Ow of Bangsar. I was also pleased to learn about the trips co-ordinator at a nearby school named Mr Goh. But no-where near as pleased as I have been to make the acquaintance of lots of fellow Robins, and a few Robyns. There seems to be quite a glut of these finely titled children in my various classes and I have made a big point of congratulating them.
This week I have read two Bryony Lavery plays. My colleagues and I have agreed to read the same play each fortnight and then talk about it at our weekly meetings. The most recently chosen play was “Wedding Story”, you know the sort of thing, husband and wife coping with alzheimer’s, long lost son returns and a lesbian affair. All good drama stuff. I also read “Frozen.” Serial killer, missing girl and psychologist with added anxious mother. Sounds glum, but a good read and lots of possible monologues for the GCSE and A level students.
Feeling a little bit older today, despite still choosing to be 23, as another one of my former pupils had a baby. Great news and welcome to world, Ava Mae, but things don’t half move on fast.
We have enrolled the children at William and Luisa’s dance school in Sri Petaling. Lexi spent ages looking at lots of possible schools on the internet and chose the one the furthest away because it looked the most fun. The first week was a bit of a false start as the regular teacher was away and her stand-in seemed to concentrate only on one step. Last Sunday Luisa was back and she really made the class fun for all those involved. Various little Lawrence’s clearly enjoyed the jive. It was, once again a reminder to me that there is always a massive difference between the work and results of a teacher and a really good teacher. On that note back to lesson planning.