Fitness Fanatics

Today we finally met the Principal, Anthony Cashin, another Aussie. He seems nice and friendly. Um, yeah, that's it... can't think of anything else to say about him, except that he's got a rather impressive looking house.

Marcus has decided to help out a lot with Geography, which has only recently been added to the school curriculum; I'm mainly dipping into Secondary English and Primary school classes. I sat in on double Economics with Nigel yesterday, a cynical chap with a sardonic sense of humour: he also showed an impressive loss of temper which had even me quaking in my boots, but then I realised that I wasn't one of his students... phew!

I do actually feel like more of a teacher than a gappie. Why? Because a coffee obsession has hit me, and hit me hard. I imagine it's the same scenario at every school in the world... teachers flocking to the staff room for their caffeine fix at morning break and after lunch. Well I've joined them. Next thing I know I'll be studying for a PGCE...

This evening saw the weekly dose of staff football. I've been looking forward to this occasion for a few days, but have also experienced a sense of trepidation, because pretty much every teacher here is a fitness fanatic. This fear was well founded - I was the youngest one there by a margin of some 10 years at least, but boy was I the most unfit. Not that I consider myself fit, but having rings run round you by gents who look about to retire is worrying. Our team did win though... hurrah!

After that we had a nice evening, driving to the nearest town with Andy Taylor, the head of boarding, and the boarders themselves. There we had a quick wander before settling down to a drink and some shisha.