The Beginning of the End

Even though there has been some good parts to today, it has also been tainted with the odd moment of anxiety, as shown in these two illustrations. I managed to get out this morning and do some shopping for one of my schools, finding some really good components for child-size puppets we are going to make and things to make personalised boards for each child in another class. Carrying all of it to the bus wasn't easy, but I managed, and felt some satisfaction from getting it all when I got home. I think we will pull off some good creations on this project.

However, at my other school, things are not flowing quite so well. As much as the staff are nice to my face, they are not all terribly supportive. Don't get me wrong. I have a wonderful teaching assistant who has been inspiring to work with, but the structure and assistance I need is lacking from those a little higher on the ladder. I have been waiting for materials for weeks now, so I mailed two members of staff to make sure that all I asked for will all be waiting for me tomorrow. I have received no reply. If it is not there, I will need to pull something else out of the hat for my three classes tomorrow. I don't like working in this kind of way. I like to be prepared for my lessons or they fall to pieces.

I planned to work on one alternative project this afternoon, just in case what I ordered has not arrived. I thought the students could design swing tickets and other branding for the t-shirts they have designed, as it will make them look all the more professional when they are in the exhibition. However, my sick computer had other ideas and would not boot up properly for over two hours. This left me feeling like the guy in today's first card, who is holding his head in sheer frustration. I didn't cry like the second young man by the beach stairs, but with no way of accessing important emails or being able to print stuff out for the morning, I was getting more and more anxious and irritated. This is what I think today's draw is centred around. My computer decided to turn itself on a short while ago, so I have had a chance to print out some things for the morning, but I do think that it is the beginning of the end for this machine. My boyfriend drove me to the local PC store this evening to gage what kind of replacement I should buy. It looks as though I will need to pay around £800 for a decent graphics computer. Just when I am earning some money to carry me through the great rains of July, it looks as though I am going to have to shell some of it out for a new laptop. Isn't it always the way?



Illustrations from The Dark Beach Oracle by Prince Le Normand