Going to the zoo today! With 27 5/6 year olds! (And other adults too.) I love school trips because you get to see the kids as they really are, though at this age they are better at being themselves at school too. Still, it’s going to be a long day!
-
-
“Whatever this life is, it’s all we have. And we don’t want it to end.” Mark S
I have this stuck in my head too from the Season 2 finale.
#Severance
-
What if kids had the right to ignore our feedback? Not because they’re stubborn or disengaged, but because they understand it—and decide to make a different choice.
Too often, feedback feels like a demand: Fix this. Change that. Do it this way. But writers? They get feedback, weigh it, and sometimes say, “No, I’m keeping this.” That’s not disengagement—it’s ownership -
I need some new running shoes. Such an easy rabbit hole to fall down.
-
If we want kids to actually use feedback, it has to belong to them. Because the best feedback isn’t what we tell them—it’s what they understand enough to use.
If Kids Don’t Understand the Feedback, It’s a Waste of Time – Pernille Ripp
-
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe” - John Muir
The issue is always that when I write here, I get distracted and want to write about something else and then I lose momentum and tend to stop. It’s not so much of an issue in my journal. I can just keep going.
-
Enjoyed this, even if I wanted more information about the city.
Finished reading: Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano 📚
-
-
The classroom the teacher occupies can be very different to the one their students are in. In the teacher’s classroom there is a sharp focus on the content they want students to learn but possibly a fairly hazy awareness of that students may be thinking or doing.
Yeah, this.
How do I know all students are paying attention? – David Didau
-
I very much enjoyed the Severance finale. So many scenes that are going to stick in my head. But, it makes me think about how little I think about a lot of the tv I watch.
-
Would recommend this cheese latte actually. Like that it’s a smaller milk-based drink since normally their lattes are so big, more like a flat white from other places. The cheese is more like whipped cream cheese, a little sweet and not too strong. Guess this is just a China thing?
-
-
Severance is returning for a 3rd season.
Ben Stiller says fans won’t have to wait three years for another season.
No, we’ll have to wait 5 years! LOL
-
This list of thoughts is amazing.
-
I don’t drink enough…
Two beers last night and I’m feeling it today. Not hugely, but just ‘off’ and I don’t like it. -
After a track from this popping up on the The Morning After mix I just posted, I’ve decided to put this on. Sigur Ros' () from 2002. Apple Music link
-
Today highs of 12°C (53.6°F), next week highs of 31°C (87.8°F) predicted. 🔥🌞
-
The Morning After Mix - Find your escape with this chilled-out curated mix - BBC Sounds
Enjoy some of the tracks on this mix. A Midge Ure cover of The Man Who Sold The World was interesting.
-
And just like that, it’s too late to watch tv. A couple of games of Santorini, a discussion about lice and the kids are in bed. Too late because getting enough sleep comes first. Simultaneously proud and intensely annoyed and frustrated. #parenting
-
My Get Up playlist on Apple Music had some Placebo, Bloc Party and some Biffy Clyro today, so today’s lifting was accompanied by Biffy’s Puzzle. Happy with the lifting too. 73.5kg shoulder press, 82.5kg x 3 push press and 82.5kg push jerk.
-
漏奶华. Diet starts, again, tomorrow…
-
Impromptu pancakes went well. Possibly too well. The kids will be asking for them again.
-
-
Nooooooooodlessss. This is from a chain that has a lot of branches around us., not the very best but still good. Today was, unexpectedly, a little spicier.
-
Sure, there’s a difference between writing a poem and cleaning up a garbled email, between writing a love letter and a Google ad. For some tasks, employing the use of an A.I. assistant might save time without levying a commensurate cost in humanity. Maybe.
-
We’re working every dread day that is given us
Feeling like the person people meet
Really isn’t us
Like we’re going to buckle underneath the trouble
Like any minute now
The struggle’s going to finish us
Kae Tempest - People’s Faces -
I keep meaning to write about this,and likely have in my journal but, well, I don’t have the time…
Teacher vacancy rates at record high in England, report finds | Teacher shortages | The Guardian
-
Make an omelette for Y and then put everything in the sink to rinse. A minute later and I’m makingng coffee and E comes in.
“Can I have an omelette?”
…(looks at wet utensils)
“Of course, darling.” -
After yesterday, I picked this Charlotte De Witte mix on Apple Music. Which they describe as ‘ravey-techno’. No idea honestly, but I’m on board for it. Stand out track is De Witte’s Fourth Dimension.
-
It’s such a strange thing that you can buy debt, though I don’t suppose it should be.
-
It’s coming to pass
My countries coming apart
The whole thing’s becoming
Such a bumbling farce
Was that a pivotal historical moment
We just went stumbling past?They popped into my head today and so that’s what I’ve been listening to. Love this performance at Glastonbury. It deviates from the album version slightly but damn.
Kae Tempest - “People’s Faces” | LIVE AT GLASTONBURY 2017 - YouTube
-
Y: I want cheese on top of my pasta.
Me: It has cheese on top, (points to melted cheese on top)
Y: No I want melted cheese on top.
Me: …
Y:(Gets cheese from fridge)
Me: So you want me to take the melted cheese off the top and then put more cheese on so that it melts?
Y: Yes.#parenting #cheese
-
Played Carcassonne for the first time, with both kids today* and we all had a good time. Nothing too stressful, aside from Elise waiting for a piece that never came, and easy enough to pick up.
*Separately, which I think helped.
-
This is so so so so good. Nearly 10 years old now.
-
Teachers often respond to students in a couple of common ways here:
- They talk about the right answers.
- They ask students to share their answers.
Both responses risk brain death. Neither one necessarily tells students, “There is a task for you here beyond listening.” >Neither one necessarily sets up a shelf in a kid’s mind to help them structure the ideas they’re hearing.
-
Do you often fall asleep? Aside from going to bed, obviously. I realise I rarely do. If I’m sleeping it’s 100% intentional.
(And i’m 90% doing it even though I don’t want to.)
-
-
Today’s workout was 3x1km rows. To go with the 10x(1min row/2min rest) last Friday and the 5km row last weekend. Pushed the first one and then managed to mostly keep that pace for the second and third one. Though it got exponentially harder to do that. Last km was hard work!
-
Was aiming for a sub 20minute 5km row but didn’t have it in me today. 4th km I couldn’t hold the pace and didn’t have enough in the tank for the last km. Next time!
-
Hey, I’d like to stop the ride and get off for a bit please. Is that possible?
-
Yesterday after work 5x5 backsquats (100kg, 102.5kg, 105kg, 105kg, 105kg). This morning, up at 5 for 15kg 10ish km ruck in a little around 1 hour 40 minutes. Bricks in the wall. Keeping fit.
-
It’s Friday, again.
-
Jacob Kiplimo Sets UNPRECEDENTED Half Marathon World Record In Barcelona - YouTube
Decent video about this world record. The splits he runs are just unreal.
-
September 26th 2004. This must be a scan of a photo. My first Flickr photo!
-
Did some work. Another brick in the wall.
-
Rain dances can be satisfying. They feel important and active in the moment, and give you all sorts of little details to tweak and adjust. But ultimately, if your goal is to reap a rich harvest, there’s no avoiding the necessity to get down among your crops, sweat on your brow, and actually work the land.
I think about this a lot at school. Everyone is so busy, at their computers, but I never feel that’s the best thing.
-
Final day not going to the gym, one more day and I think I’ll be up for doing something that isn’t resting. Over not being 100%.
-
Making waffles and doing washing up and drinking coffee and washing up again and watching MOTD and Gladiators.
-
Have been rewatching the Bourne films. I do like how the ending of the second film appears at the end of the third film. 🎬
-
We’ve watched this Harley Cameron promo from Dynamite 3 or 4 times. Elise loved that she spoke Chinese. Would love to see her win at Grand Slam but she’s not beating Mercedes :(
-
Guess, we are a Moana 2 household for the foreseeable future. 🎬
-
Still some phlegm. So long as I’m better by Monday!
-
Still not 100%, but obviously was in school. Thankfully Friday isn’t our busiest day. Came home with headache, so have been sat in bed watching Crown my Run. Which POV Parkrun commentaries, and honestly as someone who hates running has made me want to run.
-
Being sick, sometimes, it feels like the only thing that can break me out of habits, routines of always doing the same things each, even if it’s just for one day.
-
Sick day. Watched 5 episodes of Prime Target on Apple TV+. I’ll stick with it, but enjoyed the start and hasn’t been able to maintain that. Maybe that’s a thing with binge watching something?
-
“My second grader learned calculus on his own. Why aren’t schools like this??!”
-
All phones are getting bigger. Everyone knows the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 and 13 Minis weren’t hits, sales-wise, but the people who preferred them absolutely loved them. I’ll bet some of you are reading this, nodding your heads, with your aging 12/13 Minis still in your pockets, dreading the day you upgrade — knowing that the longer you wait, the ever-larger the “smallest” new iPhone will be.
Daring Fireball: Allison Johnson Reviews the Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus: ‘Incredibly Iterative’
Yup.
-
Taking a day off and resting. (Which I definitely need.) As I get older, I feel less bad about doing it. #teaching
-
Mythic Quest was great this week. 📺
-
-
Walk in door. Still feeling ill, now losing my voice.
Y: Can you make waffles?
E: Can you take me outside to roller skate?Waffles is only the weekend, we went out rollerskating for a bit.
-
Between the three adults in the classroom today we all wanted to write the date differently.
🇨🇳25-2-12
🇺🇸2-12-25
🇬🇧12-2-25It’s obvious which is correct!
-
I’d rather be properly sick at this point. Well enough to work but not really well enough to go to the gym.
The Worst ™️
-
Woke at 12 certain it was the morning. In the night I felt like I should take today off. But, by the time morning came I was feeing well enough.
Perils of teaching small children I guess, always something going around.
-
Currently reading: SEEKER by Arwen Elys Dayton 📚
Picked this up from the library, enjoying the opening…
-
Scroll like TikTok but it’s Wikipedia articles.
-
-
Not feeling 100% so being smart and going home instead of the gym. Still disappointed though.
-
-
Pete Brown said it well, “the vast majority of iPad owners are using the device to read Kindle books, play Candy Crush, and take bad photos.”
-
-
It was on sale and then when we went to pay it was cheaper than the ticket price.
(It was kid’s pyjamas that they probably don’t need, but saved money is saved money, right?)
-
Alternatively, make the batter by blitzing all the ingredients together using a blender.
Of course, put that at the end of the instructions!
-
Man City down at half-time to Leyton Orient to a , a League One side. Still got to fancy them to come back but making it an interesting game!
-
What’s it like to live with just 8 garments for an entire year, and how long do the garments last? - I mean I tend to wear lots of the same things, but still have a few full drawers.
As always, I struggle with letting things go!
-
If Lyra says it’s spicy. It’s spicy. It’s so spicy though, but so delicious but so spicy.
-
Severance. So. So. Good. My favourite line was, “I mean I know there was no actual ceiling, but this is fucking insane.” And it barely touched on the ending to the previous episode!
-
A week of working out. The ai description is “A collage of various fitness activity posts featuring exercise descriptions and images, including rowing, weightlifting, and outdoor activities.” Which sounds pretty good.
-
I’d forgotten I’d chosen Joy as my word of the year. This is me trying to remember.
-
- After the weekend, not a great Arsenal result.
- This Sonny Fodera on Apple Music is amazing. So much fun.
- Parents in today for our ‘Learning Celebration’ and always makes me nervous.
- 加油！
-
The Killers - Hot Fuss turns 20 apparently. I remember buying it on CD in [Fopp]. Anyway, I was talking to a colleague about how I went through a phase a while back of just trying to listen to albums. So I’m going to start doing that again, I think. Started with Hot Fuss yesterday and on to Sam’s Town today.
-
“The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. Do you understand?” - Jack Sparrow
-
Advice for Teachers, Policymakers, and Donors | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
I only read the advice for teachers but I liked the three suggestions. Even if I struggle with the speaking out part.
-
“It’s possible to have strong, lasting regrets about a life choice while ferociously loving — and caring for — the fruit of that decision.”
https://time.com/6966914/parental-regret-children-ro-kwon-essay/
-
What Are You Actually Teaching Them? - The Daily Dad
And of course, you didn’t mean to. But that doesn’t really matter. It’s what they hear that matters. It’s what they see that matters. How easily we end up sending the exact opposite message that we intend!
-
All 29 road tunnels in New Zealand ranked from worst to best
I’ve always ranked the car parks of the shopping malls we go to. Recently, I started stating what my favourite tunnels here too. So maybe this will be the motivation to write a post about it… SO MANY MORE than 29 here though.
-
Grateful for getting out and doing my Saturday morning ruck this morning. Started a little later than usual and was still sore from going hard on Thursday but that’s mostly gone now. Funny that.
-
We, as a family use Apple Music because that’s what I pay for and we’re happy enough. The only thing that tempts me to switch to Spotify is that shared playlists online always use that, never Apple Music.
-
This week will be all about writing reports and supporting new students with vastly different needs to the rest of the class. On top of everything else, of course.
-
Q. What’s the maximum distance I can outsprint a 5 year old on a bike?
A. Not as far as I thought. Also, I tired a hell of a lot quicker. Also, I feel a bit sick.
-
Seth Rollins announcing the CrossFit Open 24.2 was the crossover of 2 interests that I never saw coming.
-
33 Life-Changing Books Summarized in 20 Minutes - YouTube
An interesting list of books by Mark Manson I’ll probably never get around to!
-
We’re enjoying the new Mr and Mrs Smith a lot. It’s strange but I’m really enjoying it.
In the spirit of ‘Stinge Watching’, we watched the original Mr and Mrs Smith last night to drag it out a bit. It was ok but I much prefer the new one.
-
On Apple Vision
-
It’s 8am and the kids are still in bed! BEST START TO THE HOLIDAY EVER! Just half-listening to a webinar on Enhancing Classroom Talk in International Schools while having a coffee and chatting to a friend.
-
I found my breath, in
Life’s busy repetitions,
Hiding in plain sight -
Wonka - We all enjoyed this a lot. Percy Jackson and The Olympians - Fun! We’re reading the books but it’s slow going. Quantum Leap Season 2 - It’s alright, I’ll keep watching it. Echo - We’ve watched the first episode but haven’t found time for the second. 🎬
-
I know the thing in film and tv where breakfast is this giant spread that no one in real life has time. But, the one where they say goodnight to kids and that’s it is the one that gets me, because this is not my experience at all.
-
How long haven’t there been line judges in the tennis grand slams? So strange to see. 🎾
-
Enjoying the The Rest is Entertainment podcast - that I watch on Youtube with Marina Hyde and Richard Osman. Always been a fan of her writing so I very much enjoy this.
-
Just blue shells on Mario was Yumo was a whole lot of fun. It’s like that bike race in a velodrome where everyone goes as slowly as possible but then goes for it on the last lap.
-
Hasn’t rained in weeks. First day of school, it’s tipping it down.
-
I know I should read more but struggling to get into the right headspace to do so. Feel like I’m only capable of browsing.
-
Should have gone to bed earlier.
-
Ha! I haven’t watched BCS but this made me chuckle, comments are good too!
-
Your water is haunted by the ghosts of other people. All the other people.
Things I haven’t thought about before. Where has your water been?
nobody really buys a drink, they just rent it
-
Wordle 412 5/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 -
-
They are always your babies.
The mother of all worries never stops - Parents and parenting - The Guardian
-
Wordle 383 4/6
⬛🟨⬛🟨⬛
⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛
⬛🟨⬛⬛🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 -
Wordle 378 3/6
🟨⬛🟨🟩⬛
🟨🟨🟨🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩Still playing?
-
Quick question: I often see books quotes here in an image with the words on the left and the book cover on the right. How do you do that? Is there an easy or simple way to make it? Thanks!
-
I know I’m not 100% because I slept through to my alarm, which I rarely do.
It’s something that I think I could be worse but making sure my sleep, diet and exercise are good helps.
-
Another poem
-
-
I realised that twice last week that I talked to people about some of the things that are constantly spinning in my head. Living in China and being a Dad. Like, I know I should do it more but…
-
I don’t think I’ve ever rewatched something as fast as I’m rewatching the first season of the Letterkenny spin off Shoresy.
It’s like the Soo, so effing good.
-
Always enjoys Beau’s videos.
Racing an excavator to save this house’s wood from landfill - YouTube
-
I enjoyed this piece about walking the Cotswold since I grew up nearby
And I like the idea of a holiday based around walking and talking.
-
It was 5am. On a Saturday. Of a 3-day weekend.
I’m thinking about my science lesson on Monday.
-
-
Watching some of the students in my class this week I realised you can “pull down” on the iPad keyboard to get the number or symbol the key also represents. Kids today!
-
Elise is loving Prehistoric Planet on Apple TV+. Dinosaurs in a nature programme style with David Attenborough narration.
-
Mornings are the best, but also the worst.
⬆️Morning cuddles
⬇️Losing your patience at the start of the day -
Wordle 341 2/6
⬛🟨🟨🟩🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩Carlton.gif
-
Ask. Our need for help is simply not obvious to others, so make it clear that you want help. Do you hate to ask for help? — Aaron Bieber -
-
Lot on at work this week. I have been trying to not let it overwhelm me (as I do normally). Exercise, family time, sleep (to a degree) are sacred now. Regardless of how much is going on.
This new mindset is hard.
-
7:45pm.
Lost my patience.
Just ran out of steam.
Just annoying.So close to making it.
-
The feeling comes so fast and I cannot control it
I’m on fire, but I’m trying not to show itAs it picks me up, puts me down
It picks me up, puts me down
Picks me up, it puts me down
A hundred times a dayBut I hear the music, I feel the beat
And for a moment, when I’m dancing, I am free -
- When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavor to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.
Ten Commandments For Living From Philosopher Bertrand Russell
-
A night away with Lyra feels like turning myself off and on again.
-
Rewatching Ted Lasso with Lyra. So good to see it a second time around and to watch it again it’s someone who hasn’t seen it before.
-
Our 3 HomePods are all an hour fast. No idea why. No idea how to rectify it. Which is great.
-
Top tip! Want some time alone at the weekend?
It’s easy, get up at 5am. Then when the kids wake at 6:15, you’ve had over an hour to yourself!
-
Wide awake at 5am on the weekend.
-
Sidecar is great. It just worked.
Now I need something to hold up my iPad. Any recommendations for an iPad stand?
-
Pretty good present haul this year. iPad, skateboard, booze, some Lush body spray, French fries and a cold brew coffee maker.
-
Wordle 329 2/6
⬛🟨🟩🟨⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 -
Not sure why I’m shushing the kids as I sneak up on something in Breath of the Wild.
Also, my horse is called Timmy
-
Everything in your life has a tiny string tugging at your attention.
I like this way of thinking about minimalism.
-
Coffee machine isn’t working. Worst day ever.
-
So. My Chinese credit card will work to buy books from Amazon but not digital products like a Nintendo eShop code.
-
-
Wordle 320 6/6
🟨⬛⬛🟩⬛
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
⬛🟩⬛🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 -
When you open Wordle to realise you’ve already solved it.
-
A buffet is not a challenge.
A buffet is not a challenge.
A buffet is not a challenge.
A buffet is not a challenge.Just one more plate…
-
-
Technology is great but the practicalities of trying to manage a class of using it can be “tricky”.
-
Rain or sunshine? reddit.com/r/stoicism
-
-
-
I love Beau Miles videos so much. I could listen to him talking forever.
In his new video he Marathons his Age: Running 42.195kms on his 42.195th birthday - YouTube.
I’m always inspired to to do things when I watch him.
-
Wordle 307 2/6
⬛🟨🟨⬛⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩Already hung the washing I put on at 3am but also already did yhis by 6am. Peaking far too early.
