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Early Risers.


Mr.S.corn78

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I get enough Sunshine cutting the grass - another Vit D user on Doctor’s orders.

 

Best, Pete.

The "wear less clothes" was the locum GP but the endocrinologist said I was in need of more than that provided by sunlight alone. He was happy with my diet so the capsules were prescribed. It was interesting because something else was being investigated and the low vitamin D levels were observed. The specialist suspected I had been low in vitamin D for some time. I can't say I feel any different for having these supplements but it is nice to be nearly "normal" I suppose.
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Jock re teaching.  

 

I agree with the sentiments.  I went late into teaching, ending in FE, where I noticed that each year we had more students who struggled to add up and spell yet alone write sentences.  The FE sector were promised 'equality' with school teachers but it never happened and more and more cuts were made. We are told that education is the key yet 'second chance adults' have no chance of learning other skills and I heard today that a local college has made a number of redundancies (have not confirmed that) but the real problem that made me glad to go was the increasing 'stats and regimentation' leaving far less time for preparation and educating.

 

Yes, there are some bad disinterested teachers, but, most I fear are struggling under the incessant restrictions being placed upon them to make them 'conform'.

 

As an aside I was told at one time that I was too old to go into teaching at 50 plus because "we will not get enough years out of you to justify the expense of training you".  The reality is that in one way or another I managed over 20 years ... more than many of the youthful entry!

 

Polly we have met and our condolences go with you and your family.  In our case we are coming up to an 'awkward birthday' - my FiL died on my wife's birthday so celebration is always twinged with sadness.

 

Peter

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POETTD...........

 

Trainspotting Day.

 

Every now and then, the local papers oop North have an offer with Northern Rail that for the exchange of two tokens and £10 gets a  day ranger for all Northern Rail services. By combining this with a similar offer from Cross Country Trains who have a "friends and family" [*] day rover for £10, I'm off out with a mate to sample Blackburn/Leeds/Derby/Nottingham/Burton/Tamworth/possibly Brum/ HST back to Leeds and then home. Hopefully taking lots of pics along the way. Realtime trains will be essential reference material tomorrow.

 

[*] A good friend is a driver for Cross Country.

 

Despite a busy driving day today, I've managed the first cut of the jungle back garden - it now resembles a well used school playing field.

 

As Mrs NB is away and I'm home alone until Saturday, the kitchen and conservatory have temporarily been converted into a baseboard workshop whilst I carry out some woodworking additions to my new layout. Hopefully, by Saturday teatime, the sawdust will have gone from the kitchen and only the conservatory will be in use as a layout scenic workshop.

 

Off to find out what's she's left me in the fridge.

 

Back later.

 

Cheers,

Mick

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' Evening all.

 

Just popped in to let you know Mum passed away in her sleep last night. 

So many mixed up feelings at the moment so I'll just leave you with

a few pics from our outings to Kew Gardens (where she always loved to go)

in thanksgiving for her life and love.

 

attachicon.gifIMG_0888 Palm House.JPG

 

attachicon.gifIMG_0889 Glory of the Snow.jpg

 

attachicon.gifIMG_7695 Lake.JPG

 

 

' Night all, nos da and God bless.

Sorry to hear that News Polly, all the best, and our thoughts are with you.

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Until the early 1990s comparing Aditi's FE contract with my teacher's contract showed that FE lecturers had a better deal. More pay, longer holidays and clearly defined working conditions. These disappeared about the time Matthew was born in 1992. Aditi refused to sign the new contract until Matthew was 4 and a bit and started school. This meant she didn't get a pay rise for those years. The new contract which was sign or be sacked when she did sign was very different to the old style school contract. When she went to Newham the contract was tougher but she got paid more.

Edited by Tony_S
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Until the early 1990s comparing Aditi's FE contract with my teacher's contract showed that FE lecturers had a better deal. More pay, longer holidays and clearly defined working conditions. These disappeared about the time Matthew was born in 1992. Aditi refused to sign the new contract until Matthew was 4 and a bit and started school. This meant she didn't get a pay rise for those years. The new contract which was sign or be sacked when she did sign was very different to the old style school contract. When she went to Newham the contract was tougher but she got paid more.

 

Tony,

 

How things have changed .. FE still had to teach at night and this was the time when the then 'second chance adults' or those who had to leave school to get a job to support a 'home' family succeeded in working 'up the ladder'.  Since then of course engineering, when a lot of the part-time lecturers with experience were employed has faltered,  ... where has it gone? (Incidentally a better paid job circa 1910 than doctors at the time).  You may have gathered that it was after the early 1990's that I entered but in spite of what was going on thoroughly enjoyed the experience. 

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Evening all. I have been lurking for a little while reading all of the education based posts. Sadly, as a current teacher, I see at first hand the problems with the current education system. The fact is all schools are at the mercy of political agendas, changes and meddling. Right now we are getting to grips with a brand new curriculum and an alien assessment structure which currently does not even have a clear acceptable standard.

 Schools have to put up with league tables, value added / average points score grades, evaluation of impact records. Any of which could trigger an Ofsted inspection if they drop. No wonder staff are feeling the pressure. Last night's meeting was all about the new writing assessments. In the infant class alone the top infants have to meet approximately fifteen different areas of achievement to be given the expected standard. These are recorded in a tick grid. If any items are not achieved then the children do not get the standard, and they have to tick each area on several occasions. These areas focus purely on grammar, punctuation, spelling and handwriting - but nowhere does it mention correct structure for a story, poem, set of instructions etc. In effect a child could now reach the standard by writing a collection of sentences that collectively make no sense, yet have correct punctuation, spelling and handwriting. No wonder so many teachers are leaving the profession. Last night I was sat with a teacher, who has been in the job 5 years compared to my 16, and she was trying to talk her final year student out of going into teaching.

 When you consider all of this - you can understand why the sight of a young, attractive student can brighten the day a little!

 

 Anyway - rant over! I hope the day finds you all well. Great to hear that things are going a little better for Jock. Great to see more pictures from our friend in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

 

 Today I have had more police stuff with another visit from the DC in charge of the case to arrange for some final signatures on my statement, whilst the witness support people have been in touch. I have asked for a pre trial visit so I can see the court and its workings.

 

Have to go and collect Sarah from her mum's shortly so I will wish you all a pleasant evening.

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I've put this in the driving standards thread, but for those of you that don't frequent it, this was part of my day today.

 

https://youtu.be/-YHlrp9BHJQ

 

In the words of Andrew C - "Hoofw*nking arsebiscuit" of a truck driver.

 

My learner did very well........

 

Cheers,

Mick

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Tony,

 

How things have changed .. FE still had to teach at night and this was the time when the then 'second chance adults' or those who had to leave school to get a job to support a 'home' family succeeded in working 'up the ladder'.  Since then of course engineering, when a lot of the part-time lecturers with experience were employed has faltered,  ... where has it gone? (Incidentally a better paid job circa 1910 than doctors at the time).  You may have gathered that it was after the early 1990's that I entered but in spite of what was going on thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

 

What I am really worried about now is the huge cutback in FE. When I was a secondary school teacher there were always students who were going to need the FE sector to make good what had gone wrong in school. My son Matthew really benefitted from a sixth form college but they are now threatened. If you don't succeed in school now things are quite difficult. Aditi did 41 years in FE and HE so saw many initiatives and schemes. She had to re-invent herself many times but survived. Interestingly when she started the age question was that perhaps she was too young to work in a FE college. She was only just 21. My dear wife was one of those clever people who got bumped up a year at secondary school.
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I've put this in the driving standards thread, but for those of you that don't frequent it, this was part of my day today.

 

https://youtu.be/-YHlrp9BHJQ

 

In the words of Andrew C - "Hoofw*nking arsebiscuit" of a truck driver.

 

My learner did very well........

 

Cheers,

Mick

Possibly a good job there was no audio?
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... No wonder so many teachers are leaving the profession. Last night I was sat with a teacher, who has been in the job 5 years compared to my 16, and she was trying to talk her final year student out of going into teaching..

Matthew went to Vietnam a few years ago to teach English in an orphanage. It is a sad reflection on how his Mum and I view teaching now that we hoped he wouldn't come back fired up wanting to follow us into the teaching profession. Fortunately he didn't, as he recognised he doesn't have the whatever it is to be a teacher, or at least with children. He does want an academic career in HE though and does seem to have whatever it takes to succeed in that environment.

Tony

Edited by Tony_S
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Thanks for the reminder. It is Thursday, which is the day I have designated as take vitamin D day (20000 iu) as it would appear the sun isn't enough for my body.

Broadsheets cover you better than tabloids when your curled up on that park bench. :jester:

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So far a great evening drinking beer in the Rake at an Irish beer fest without a single drop of Guiness.

Some superb stouts, Irish Weisse beer that is actually red plus many other beers. Had a chat with the bar man who laid on a superb Hungarian beer tap take over on Tuesday that brought on many fellow country persons and apparently they all sang the Hungarian national anthem at 8 pm after we had gone and all barrels drunk that evening. He's trying to arrange another such do at one of Londons smallest no crap on tap bars.

The very same venue we met Andrew C in quite a few years (many beer years) ago whilst talking Digitrax. Never been the same since!!

 

Anyway we are back on Southern feeling quite happy so haven't a clue if we we on time or not, probably not as things go but at least the disabled toilet isn't at the moment.

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The very same venue we met Andrew C in quite a few years ago whilst talking Digtrax. Never been the same since!!

.

I spent a very pleasant afternoon drinking with Andrew in New Cross after (during?) a model railway exhibition. I an very pleased to say I haven't been the same since either! I found your and Andrew's Untapped app pages. Matthew was seriously impressed. Mine is relatively sad. The only social media site where my child is my "friend" is about beer. Am I a bad parent?
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Polly. Deeply sorry about your Mam. As long as you remember all the good times she'll always remain alive in your mind and the minds of those who loved and continued to love her.

Jock; glad the day went well and I hope things keep going as best they can. Your inbuilt Ayrshire stunbornness serves you well, my friend. And thanks for supporting the G&SWRA from a grateful member.

Dave; thanks for the lovely High Peak images.

Mike; thanks for keeping the wheels of government in my wee country turning.

A lot of observation on education here and I'm with Tony; don't place much faith in what you read and at least read beyond the sensationalist headlines. You might find that the actual article tells a different story to what the headline implies.

For a century, education was the driver of social mobility but it appears that this is no longer any kind of desired objective for those who lord over us. I fear this is reflected in what they system is becoming.

Minor grump of the day involves my insurance claim for a large patch of fallen rendering on my gable end being rejected.

Physically, quite a busy day; I did the full four mile river and park walk with Abi today. Whilst not conducted at full 'mainline' speed, the pace was steady with a long uphill gradient on the return. No shortage of steam whatsoever. I also had a tentative first drive today. Wrist is still tender so I don't think I'll be driving any great distance for a few more days which I guess rules out going back to work next week. Purpose of the journey was to get my discharge and prescriptions paperwork down to the surgery for my GP and to get the sick line squared up.

Had another short walk after this along the old Brunthill to Parkside section of the old Waverley.

Quick trip to Aldi on the way back to pick up some essentials.

The day felt like it was catching up with me on the way back to the car carrying the back so no more exertion for the day. Suspect tomorrow will need to be a bit more low key!

Made a nice stir-fry with prawns for dinner.

Gey wabbit now so an hour at the bench then Steam World Archive 13 (North East) and a couple of mugs of rooibos to finish the day.

Hopefully a good, undisturbed kip tonight!

 

Here endeth the doggerel! :-)

 

Dave.

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