One day down...

I survived!! Graeme survived! Nellie survived! One day down... hundreds to go.

Although I had to fluff some lessons, I got through the day fine. It all felt a bit shambolic, but I got through without too much hassle. The boys seem lovely on the whole, although there are always going to be the troublemakers. I think I've already sussed who 2 of them will be. We'll see how things progress. I'm not too worried about the obvious ones - I'm worried about the ones who will be more subtle about their shenanigans, and in a school like this, there are likely to be more of them.

The head announced in assembly this morning that I would be there till Christmas - so it seems he's going to make it difficult for me to leave. I'm not sure how I feel about that. On the one hand it's really nice to be wanted. On the other, I really don't know whether I want to stay in teaching.

My HoD was asking me this afternoon whether I'd had any thoughts about it. I just laughed and said something to the effect of 'you've got to be crazy!' I just don't know how to play this one. I asked him to give me some time to think it through. He apparently had a conversation with the head today, and it seems the head is very determined to make me a full time member of staff - however he can. Apparently the post I'm covering has been filled for next year, but the head is prepared to make space for me, combining with science and/ or maths/ or whatever, to ensure that I stay. I'm not quite sure how to say that I'll stay if they pay me decently.... not to my HoD anyway. I could probably say that to the head if he asked me outright....

.... but I really missed Nellie today. I don't know how I feel about being full time and missing out on her growing up as a permanent thing. I might ask about part-time options for next year. Ag, I don't know - so many things to consider! Maybe I need some food in my stomach to help me think - and some sleep. This getting up at 6am is for the birds!

One thing's for sure - I LOVE being surrounded by Cape Coloureds again (I have no idea now what the PC term for them is, so I just hope they'll forgive me if calling them that offends them!) - they just have such joy in their approach to life. They're fun to be around, and I've really missed that camaraderie with pupils.

Who knows - maybe teaching in the UK was so soul destroying that I need this school to make me fall in love with teaching again. I just don't know right now. And I'm not going to be pushed into making that decision just yet. Time for food!