Category Archives: Uncategorized

As a student teacher I was introduced to ‘lesson preparation’… preparing what I was going to teach and how I was going to teach it. I’ve spent my life preparing for the next activity or event in the family, school, church. The old perceived wisdom says: ‘Proper planning and preparation prevents poor performance.’ Yesterday wasContinue reading “Preparation and Planning”

I walked along the beach this morning. It was beautiful, warm. The sea was calm. I passed one or two fellow early morning walkers. ‘Good morning,’ was with a smile. Many, still at home, through choice or circumstances, weren’t enjoying the morning… A group of paddle-boarders were paddling gently, chatting to each other. A smallContinue reading “Avoiding, Observing, Floating, Immersing…”

When I was a teacher I taught recurring decimals; English teachers talked about recurring themes in books; textile design teachers described recurring patterns on fabrics… At Men’s Shed yesterday we were chatting about politics, holidays, wives… Martin said: ‘My wife Cathy always…’ With family and friends that we know well, we expect certain words, attitudesContinue reading “Recurring Positives”

Yesterday evening we enjoyed sharing with Alec and Carole, celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary. About 40 of us had a meal together at a local hotel. They had a congratulations card from the queen, a special cake and Alec made a speech – in his inimitable style. He described their ‘courting’, wedding on 21st JuneContinue reading “Alec & Carole – Doing Things Together”

Yesterday our holiday ended. We left our hotel and travelled to Munich. From there the 48 of us who had spent a week together flew home – to Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and London… We’d spent a week in the expert hands of our Polish guide Marta who did much of thinking for us… helping usContinue reading “Marta… Enjoying, Deciding, Thinking!”

Yesterday we saw the Oberammergau Passion Play In 1633 the plague was raging in Europe. The villagers of Oberammergau, in Southern Germany vowed that if they were spared further death, every 10 years they would stage a ‘play of the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ’. Since then the people of OberammergauContinue reading “Oberammergau and Reality”

I see trees of greenRed roses tooI see them bloomFor me and youAnd I think to myselfWhat a wonderful world I see skies of blueAnd clouds of whiteThe bright blessed dayThe dark sacred nightAnd I think to myselfWhat a wonderful world I love living in Lowestoft – the sea that changes through the year, theContinue reading “Wonderful World… Great God”

This is Tom. Over the past few days I’ve got to know him. Originally from Chicago, Tom spent many years in the US Air Force. He’s a Viet Nam war veteran… Tom has many tales to tell… where he’s been, what he’s done, who he’s met. After the first few stories I wondered if theyContinue reading “Tom’s Tall Tales”

Yesterday in Austria was ‘Corpus Christi’ – a national holiday. Sitting our hotel room we heard a gunshot. In the distance a band was playing. It was getting closer. A procession of people dressed in traditional Tyrolese clothing were approaching. Some were part of the band, some were carrying religious statues… They stopped at aContinue reading “Corpus Christi in Kramsach”

After Tuesday’s conducted tour of Innsbruck, yesterday we had a conducted tour of Saltzburg. Marta our Polish tour guide has been giving general information as we have been travelling in the coach; in each city we were met by local guides… Yesterday our knowledgeable guide took us round the city. In two hours she gaveContinue reading “The Salzburg Curriculum & Information Overload”