Drop a crush from your youth

Me: Let’s visit the farm shop. Also me: There’s absolutely no way I’m paying £5.50 for a jar of jam or chutney. Me 2 minutes later: Oh, 2 for £10.00. Ok then. #HolidaySpendingDoesntCount

Not sure about this potential substitution…

Fantastic tour of the conservation work at #ChatsworthHouse today. We had a really knowledgeable and entertaining guide. The shop did alright out of us too because I clearly needed more Pride and Prejudice merch, and AlienGrandson needed more books and toys 🤷‍♀️

Love it when a hotel plays their part. Part 2 of AlienHusband’s ‘big birthday’ treats after Les Mis last weekend. #PeakDistrict

Half term life … Finished a parental SAR (although I know full well it’ll be criticised for being incomplete. It’s not.) Now to read reports.

Somebody is going to have to explain to me how the 15+ hours I have spent on a SAR for a parent is doing anybody any good. I have so much else I need to be doing, and the parent already has all the information.

Doh! Forgot to turn my alarm off!

Gold!!!!!

I was already not going to see the new “Wuthering Heights” film, and these costumes have confirmed it. I mean, really? @psalisbury.bsky.social just hunker down and pretend it’s not happening.

Whooop whooop 🥇👏👏👏👏👏

My palms are sweaty going into watching the final of the snow board cross. Come on Huw and Charlotte! #WinterOlympics

Great day out. #LesMis and dinner for AlienHusband’s impending big birthday.

I’m no figure skating expert but it wasn’t just the falls, Ilia Malinin was lacklustre and dull tonight.

The way some parents treat schools, and headteachers* in particular, is just disgusting. They should be ashamed of themselves. *not about me, about a colleague.

If anyone knows where I put the book I want to read next, let me know.

So calm and eloquent. So awful that he had to say all this. Sky presenter on Trump's racist post news.sky.com/video/share-...

Steak dinner and Hamilton. Perfect birthday-eve Friday night 😊

RIP. Such a joy to watch.

Doing the weekly shopping list is such a boring chore.

Very strange staff meeting today. The first since I announced my retirement. Knowing that any decisions we made could potentially be overturned in a few months time.

Why do I have so many American body builder posts appearing? I’m not interested!

That was an interesting week … announced my retirement! The end of my career draws near. 37 years, 35 in the same school, one term short of 19 years as HT. It’s been a blast.

This picture has broken me tonight. He’s 5 years old. Where’s the humanity?

Jess was the best friend of one of my nieces. If you know something is wrong - be persistent. Jess's Rule to be promoted in all GP surgeries in England www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🚨By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party - lets get this to the 100,000 signatures needed petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

Jess was the best friend of one of my nieces. If you know something is wrong - be persistent. Jess's Rule to be promoted in all GP surgeries in England www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Really stretching the grey matter tonight seeing Prof Brian Cox live. Can’t pretend I understand every single word, but it’s fascinating nonetheless.

My overly-expensive soup maker was such a good buy.

Not a fan of spending Sundays on policies and website compliance. I want to spend my time doing things that will actually help the children and move the school forward.

Just got a text reminder about a hospital appointment I didn’t know about 🤷‍♀️

AlienHusband’s first retirement job done …

I don’t really know what lounge trousers are, but I’ve bought some and it’s entirely possible I’m never taking them off.

First book of the year finished. @janicehallett.bsky.social has done it again. A great fun read and the perfect antidote to the back to work blues.

It’s New Year’s Eve, so it’s time for the AlienHouse marathon viewing of The Lord of the Rings extended editions. Alternatively I could just watch this bit on loop for 11 1/2 hours …

The whole family have been staying here for a week. Now they’ve left and I feel bereft.

Our current SEND system is systemically cruel. Putting children functioning at 6-12 months, 12-18 months, into mainstream classrooms is cruel. That’s the word that’s stuck in my head. Cruel. How are we doing this to children?

Very tense in the AlienHouse watching the Grand Prix.

Had my first car crump today. I’m fine but feel a bit all over the place. Not fun.

The postie wasn’t wearing shorts. Strange happenings. #EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt

Pouring rain all day. Children in pjs all day. Children hyped for discos all day. Four different discos going on until 8:30, then the clear up. I must have done something very bad in a previous life.

Feeling very smug having made my Christmas cake today. The earliest ever I think. Not going to be out-smugged by people who made theirs ages ago!

Half term - slept like a log every night for a week. Last night - awake every two hours. Go figure.

🧵 I’ve been thinking about this statement from the DfE about the increase in support staff in schools. We have way more than double the average % of EHCPs, most of whom do not bring in enough funding for us to support them. A new child arrives in reception, 4 years old, clearly traumatised 1/

What a fabulous half term break. Duran Duran in Nottingham, with a flying visit to @stella-b.bsky.social , and then the best week at Center Parcs with Alienhusband, AlienSonTheElder, @missvlbishop.bsky.social , AlienGrandson and AlienSonTheYounger (just missing MrsASTY). Just perfect.

From the DfE as they tell schools to cut costs and fund the next three years of teacher pay rises. Of course we need more support staff. The increase reflects the rapid rise in SEND needs in schools. It’s not rocket science.

Hey @theheadsoffice.bsky.social I’m beating you to it today! #3goodthings 1. Lunch with AliensonTheYounger 2. Lovely visit with @stella-b.bsky.social 3. About to see Duran Duran live

I have to write my HT govs report tonight, including things to celebrate. All I’ve got in my head are ridiculous parent emails, stupid govt targets, an unsustainable workload, struggling families, and staff/children who desperately need support I don’t have the capacity to give them. #tired

Not enjoying the golf anymore. What’s happened to Europe?

Reading Pride and Prejudice for the umpteenth time. The ultimate comfort book.