NGT6 1315

So is my usual answer in those cases. Do your students also keep asking you what they're supposed to do right after you just wrote their assignment on the board and explained the details?

So that's the first day of school in 2013 over! I was pleased that the pupils were actually fairly well-behaved, aside from the usual "do we have to do this?" kind of discussion. I'm sure they won't be particularly fond of writing their first exams of 2013 beginning tomorrow, though, and to be honest, I can relate to them. I also had a conversation with one boy by the end of the 6th period and found out he likes model railways, and will take over the LGB garden railway from his uncle this year. Of course, I was delighted to hear this, given how model railways probably aren't even close to being among the most popular hobbies among today's youth.

Mornin'... Frosty but no snow thus far, which is fair enough as I'll be off to work within the next half hour. I'm sure I'll be knackered when I return! Enjoy your day, people...

Albert has been playing statue:

Morning all... We're down to -4°C – which of course still is a far cry from the -50 they're currently having in Verkhoyansk, according to the weather app. I but am curious how life in eastern Siberia must be, considering this kind of extreme climate! Off to the bakery in a few...

Morning all... Arctic conditions appear to be settling in over here once again, actually. It's -3°C with a mostly clear sky outside and the forecast predicts equally cold but good weather for the next few days. School will begin again on Monday, so I'll be sure to catch enough sleep in advance! I'm not sure how I would react if I found out any kids in my classroom were being mistreated – aside from raising the topic with my superiors, of course. I guess I'd be feeling sickened and angry, though, as there cannot be any justification for violent upbringing.

Anything you've taken a particular liking to thus far, Phil - both food and beer?

That's putting it very well indeed, Ian...

No need to justify yourself, Bob. I guess it's very rare at best to be able to get everything out in one go, so to speak, as I can confirm from how I felt in situations like these.

I'd just like to second that... I can imagine this to not be pretty to watch, Bob, so let me just wish you all the best in dealing with this situation.

Morning all... It's actually just below -1°C up here, so I'm sat here with a cup of coffee and am glad I don't have to venture out just yet. I'd so like it to be snowing outside as it's been really depressing to be seeing this grey and gloomy kind of weather we've been having recently. SWMBO needs a prescription from the GP, so I'll have to shake her out of bed in time, too. Enjoy your day, everyone!

Oh dear. Could this have been a UFO, this bright thing above the tree to the left? Can't remember when I last saw anything even remotely similar...

Whereas Geordi LaForge would've said, "no problem."

We did photography and photo development in our arts course at school. I actually quite liked this, though even then, I had strongly gravitated towards technically oriented motifs!

I can indeed imagine, Sherry! Squirrel just visited the bird feeder again: Been meaning to write this earlier - the house is kind of dual use capable - as a feeder in winter, and with the side panels closed, it turns into a nesting box.

Morning all... Looking gloomy indeed and I did feel somewhat blue last night, though eventually having dinner and then a glass of whiskey did provide relief. Second that entirely, Robert - if that should make us both sound like angry old men, then so be it. I'd also like to add that in my opinion, you can only put so much on every person's shoulder in terms of work load and responsibility when you want them to still provide a well-enough result. Which is often forgot, or disregarded, in socially oriented professions in particular, and as such a particularly dangerous approach in the long run. Especially so when you consider that there is something which I guess you might call a moral barrier against saying "enough" when you're in a job concerned with educating, or otherwise caring for, other people.

That observation sure has been penetrating!

Morning! Sunrise at 8:20 am, sunset 4:45 pm, 4.2°C and rain predicted beginning this afternoon. Nothing much to report aside from that, so I just brewed me a cup of coffee... Cheers!

Just spotted at our bird feeder/birdhouse: Squirrels are so adorable, aren't they?

Mornin'... Dull, grey and balmy outside indeed and I just had a snack as SWMBO probably won't surface for another two hours at least. She does need her days off currently... Enjoy your day, everyone...

I do hope our students will also be well relaxed and eager come next Monday! Fat chance, I guess...

Rail grinder at work in the light rail tunnel: Rather intense smell of ground steel, too!

Morning all... Fairly balmy outside, but it would seem it'll be getting cooler till the weekend. Finished that paper at long last and will drop it off later today, along with a bunch of books I'll be returning to the library. 14 January over here, at least in the state of Hesse – in all other states, the Christmas break is already over.

Sounds like a cloning manual to me...

Rabbits were having a comfy evening yesterday, it seemed: Though Trude is much more frequently cleaning Albert's fur than he does hers!