Mistletoe's Musings

Well, there it is for another year. The 123rd Durham Miners Gala is over. About 50,000 attended including me and my mam and it remained bright and sunny all day. Hurrah! More for those interested behind

My legs are still OK today and only one more week of work to go. 4 days in fact and it's teeshirt painting all the way.

Il Trovatore arrived in the post today a live version from La Scala Milan in 2000 under the direction of Riccardo Muti. Wow. I love it already and I've only listened to the first two acts and Di quella Pira and the Miserere from Act 3. Scorching tenor and the mezzo is excellent. I feel invigorated.

Work sucked big style this week and we haven't even got to Friday 13th yet. Today was supposed to be Sports Day. It was cancelled because the grass was wet. The entire student body turned up in PE kit without books. Thank God for Happy Feet  which went down a storm with everyone I 'taught'. Needless to say the head of PE and her husband were not the most popular people on campus. Fortunately they are leaving next week for pastures new. Good riddance. The debacle earlier in the week involving the Sports Awards presentation which went on for two and a half hours almost paled into insignificance. They didn't bother to send written invitations to anyone. The Head teacher was not asked to be on the stage and she ended the evening by doing the washing up.

Their notices to staff about the various arrangements included things like Tripple jump and Discuss. I was looking forward to that as it came third in my class's carousal (sic) while the rest period came last, after all the field events and just before the half hour lunch break before the track events. There were no other breaks envisaged for staff or students. Bearing in mind we have a fair number on Ritalin and several diabetics it might have proved interesting for the non-existent first aid provision. There was no sign of the Portaloos either which, considering the decision to cancel was made at 8.15 this morning, 45 minutes before the actual start of the day, is I think significant. Hehehehehe.

Went to the Italian with the two Polish ladies. They were very nice people and it was a shame that the original party who go every month had been hijacked to provide an opportunity for our visitors. Still, it was all right just not the original intention of the group, some of whom didn't go as a result.

Never mind. We went to Yvette's the night before instead and had a damn good laugh and a very nice tea made by her hubby. I really enjoyed that.

Things on the football front are looking bleak. The Baird transfer fell through and he's gone to Fulham instead. Nugent went to Portsmouth and Hearts are refusing to sell us their Scottish international goalkeeper. So far all we have are two squad player nonentities. Is worried.

The weekend brings the annual Durham Miners' Gala one of the high spots of my year. It is a hangover from when the mining community converged on Durham with their banners and brass bands to let down their hair (get drunk) and listen to leading Labour politicians and trade Union activists. My mam and I go every year because I am a total sucker for colliery bands. If I ever work out how to upload music I will give you a sample. But be prepared for major pic spamming on Sunday.