Not much to report on this week.

I did waste a lot of taxpayers’ money by attending a full-day course to certify as a Residential Leader (Lunch was good). I have a valid certificate from 5 years ago, but during the week I was contacted by County Hall who informed me that the school had no certified person on the staff. They decreed my certificate was out of date and that if any class wished to leave the premises for any reason, the situation would be illegal until someone was certificated. As expected, no one on the staff volunteered, and when I pointed out to County Hall that I was retiring at the end of the year and that the new head already had the certificate and he would be arriving in January, they said it made no difference and someone had to go on a course.

So ……….. I went and was then duly informed that there was no time limit on certification, and mine was still valid!!!!!!!! However, I did learn something new, it is now legal for children who go on a residential to also pay for those children who accompany them and whose parents refuse to pay (this is an ever-increasing number). I am absolutely certain that no school publicises that little bit of legislation!

This week I did get some good news:

1. For months I have badgered, insulted, threatened, and tried to coerce various educational authorities to eventually agree with us that one of our children would be better educated in a special school. Much to the relief of everyone, particularly the parents and class teacher it has happened. Why does it take so many meetings, paperwork, phone calls and letters to get something done that is so painfully obvious. I wonder if this only happens in education.

2. Then, after only one letter to a local charity, it was agreed to send one of our mums and her son away on holiday over Christmas and buy the lad some Christmas presents. Why? because they thoroughly deserved and needed it. It took just the explanations on one side of A4 paper to argue the case. County Hall have a lot to learn.

My stepbrother David sent me an email this week (made me quite jealous). He had been to Bulgaria recently and had bought himself a house (with a swimming pool). It is in a beautiful part of Bulgaria (we went there once), located in the mountains, in a small and peaceful village. He and Genya intend to sell their house in Lincolnshire and move out there, returning when they feel like it. I’m a little bit jealous, I fear.

I went to Nan’s this weekend. We visited David and looked at photos of the house etc. I picked the rest of the onions I had planted last spring and weeded the garden. We had Sunday Lunch at the Thurcroft Hotel, you can tell you’re in Yorkshire when the carvery cost just £4.95. The landlady recognised me from my school days, in true Yorkshire fashion she had then wheedled my whole life history over the last 30 years out of me. It seems she was in my primary class all those years ago though I didn’t confess it, I didn’t remember her. I took it as a compliment that obviously I have changed very little since the age of 11.

Charlotte visited Nan on Monday and they both went for lunch in the same pub. She informs me that Suraj has had a pay rise.

Sue worked all week in various schools and has also committed to work every day for the next two weeks. One school wants to tie her down to a contract, but sensibly she is saying no. She doesn’t need all the meetings, courses and paperwork that goes with that.

Jamie hasn’t been seen with Lara recently and when he brought home his exam results from college which glowed merits and a distinction, when I offered to take him and Lara out for a meal to celebrate, he told me not to bother about Lara. I wonder who’s next to cross the doorstep.

I haven’t seen Sarah much this week, but she is still lovely (for a 14yr old). I am saying that because she reads these blogs!