I am exhausted after a busy week last week, a late night on Tuesday coupled with many big changes here at school this week (and I know that I am absolutely not alone in that exhaustion), however I think it is fair so say that I am in ‘flow’ because I am energised at the same time. I feel a little like I have been drinking a well-known alcohol-caffeine drink combination because I am wired yet shattered (not that I have ever drunk it by the way, just served enough during my time behind the Queen’s College bar for the smell to turn my stomach to his day). Along with being a control freak, a recovering perfectionist and an organiser to the nth degree (just ask me about my trip folder!), my natural state is to be ahead of the game wherever possible. These last few weeks (and months!) have taught me that if you always try to do that, you end up making plan after plan after plan and I just don’t have the time to do that. So, I have been delaying and rolling with decisions. I have somehow made a pact with myself not to let myself get het up over things outside of my control and (at the moment) it is working. I wrote last week about having an amazing team and goodness me it is so true. Each and every one of you have had a part to play in making my job more enjoyable because we have been working together. Is it easy? No. Is it fun? Sometimes. Well, mostly. I love my job, I really do.
On Wednesday, I went with Rob to deliver his Oracy workshop. Nominally, I was there to support Rob (he didn’t need it by the way, any more than any of the other workshop presenters have), however I was actually the person doing the welcome and thank you speeches instead of Andy. No pressure there! I felt I said some vaguely sensible and polite things at the beginning to introduce the session, but it was at the end that I felt I nailed it. It wasn’t the first time I had heard Rob speak, nor was it the first time I had thought about what he was saying, but there was something that resounded with me and really made my academic brain kick in, filter and process. This meant that I was my authentic self when I spoke about our school, our families and what we do; I spoke with passion, enthusiasm and joy. I wanted to shout from the rooftops that everyone should choose BISS because we’re the best, and I may have told the parents that we are the best school… (One parent said she thought that might be the first time she had heard a Head teacher say that… I think she thought I was quite brave!) We are great and we do amazing things. Rob may tell a different story by the way, so instead of asking his opinion I shall just believe my own narrative😊.
I have had some really great conversations with colleagues too this week, appreciating others and what they are giving to the school and how the children spark of their teachers’ enthusiasm. One of our teachers is taking learning an instrument alongside the children very seriously and the children are loving it. I have been accosted several times by small people wanting to search my office for shiny scales or ask me if I have hammers and nails, once making me late for an interview (only by a couple of minutes I hasten to add) and it was wonderful because those little faces reminded me why I sit in this chair and why I put myself forward to make the difficult decisions. We have had some painful goodbyes this week and the ones who have coped best? The children. Gosh I’m proud and I’m proud beyond words.
I don’t like things being lastminute.com, and for those of you who are like me I am sorry and I feel your pain, but sometimes that’s just how it is I’m afraid. Some more last-minute things before Monday but they’ll be coming out officially. So it just leaves me with one final revelation… I really don’t like Ed Sheeran! I am listening to Pop Acoustic on Spotify and hearing to some great new artists. I really didn’t expect to enjoy Rag N Bone Man (or for him to sound like he does) but I did and I’m now listening to Home Together by Ella Henderson and Tom Greenan after fast-forwarding the two Ed Sheeran songs on the playlist so far. As you know, my musical tastes are pretty eclectic and, with the exception of Bryan Adams, it’s rare I say I like most of a particular artist’s music but it’s basically unheard of for me to say I don’t like ANY of an artist’s work. Not sure what to think!
I think I’ve rambled enough for one day, so I’m just going to say that I hope you have a great evening and leave you in peace.
Happy Friday!
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