Jobs and stuff

I'm just about to come to the end of my 1 year fixed term contract at work, and was beginning to wonder what next year would have in store. Today I found out! It would appear that all the cockups I've made during the last 12 months have gone unnoticed, and they've given me a full time job as 'Lead Tutor'. I think that means I get a bigger stick to hit the students with, and maybe even a clipboard to make me look more important. The course I teach on will more than double in size next intake, and the company as a whole is growing at a pretty scary rate, so it's looking good for the next couple of years.

I've decided to add to my meagre collection of qualifications by studying for an Adult Teaching Certificate, and I'm also investigating doing a Psychology degree extra-murally with a view to specialising in 'the learning process' & learning styles. Hopefully that'll keep me busy for a while.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we're addicted to watching movies on the 'big screen' now. Better than going to the pictures! Still got heaps of decorating to do, but I suspect it will all get left until after Christmas when we come back off our hols. Putting the screen up was a big mistake. "Should we do some decorating, or should we watch a movie this evening? Hmm.... tough choice..." Needless to say, we haven't lifted a paint brush in anger for a while - although Helen is sorting out the fireplace in the dining room.

Right, I've got to go and teach sex ed to a bunch of 17 & 18 year old girls now. Should be an interesting afternoon! :)

Cape Town Pics Part 4

Here at last is part four of the Cape Town Pics. I'm far too tired to write words of more than one syll now (as you can see) so I'll add the text when I'm more with it.

Kirst 'N' Bosch gards.

scuplts at work

me not at work

a view of the gards.

real pap. reeds - Hey, I'm in Af!

bird sculpt.

fish sculpt.

Doing up the house

Sorry I've not posted in a while but I've been incredibly busy. Mainly with work, but also with house restoration-type stuff. I haven't forgotten about posting the next installment of South Africa photos, but John the Floor Sander finished work yesterday and I thought you might like to see some before and after photos.

the hall floor before

and after

The floorboards aren't perfect - there are lots of old woodworm trails - but they look 500% better than the old cheapo rent-a-slum carpet. As well as the hall, we've had both bedrooms and the dining room done, so we've been sleeping on the sitting room floor for the last five days and living in the sleepout.

Well, we were living in the sleepout until yesterday, when we made the decision to move the home cinema room from the second bedroom into the sleepout, as it offers lots more space. Iain has already made the room lightproof, and we are currently trying to solve the problem of how to hang the screen and mount the projector. It will mean a lot of extra work, but when we've finished we should have a much, much better cinema room, with enough space to invite friends over to watch films with us.

As soon as the floor varnish has fully cured (in about ten days) we're going to start work on decorating the dining room. I can't say I'm looking forward to doing it, but I am looking forward to finishing!

Helen