Author Archives: jon

The Reason Why We Suck Nowdays

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After last weekend’s shenanigans, we went to town once again today to see James Hollingworth. We were there in good time, and there were a lot more people sitting outside the nearby coffee shop, so expectations were high.

Despite the well-populated area, we failed to see the stage that was there last weekend (just before the beginning of the culture week), which, in light of our previous inability, heightened our suspiscions.

Of course, we had chosen the correct weekend to be here; we were just a day too late.

Freya must have some very strange ideas about James Hollingworth and his concerts. Next time he plays we shall make damn sure we have all the information before getting ourselves, and Freya, all worked up.

The Day I Started Nursery School: By Freya

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I started nursery school this week, and it’s been ‘roligt’. The first three days were ‘roligt’, because Mum came along. I’d been at home with Dad for a long time (something called a ‘year’), so it was nice to spend so much time with Mum, just like the good old days.

Mum was also very pleased, not only because she was with me, but because she got to see what nursery school was all about (maybe she’ll get to go to her own one day), and was really impressed by the tranquility and harmony (eight words a day I can learn: read it and weep!) of the place.

I’ve already learnt to put back things I’ve used, and going to the toilet is dead easy. I’ve also made a few friends, and found a camerade in a girl called Alice.

On the fourth day (Friday) Mum left me to go to work, so I could do lots of things I’m not supposed to, though this is a secret best kept to myself. He he!

So, that’s nursey school over with. I don’t see what all the fuss was about, myself. I just wonder what new, exciting thing I’ll be doing with Mum next week. Maybe this thing Mum and Dad call ‘work’.

Roligt!

The F-Word

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Through vegan.nu Jo found a Chinese food-shop in town that apparently sells lots of interesting foodstuff to consume (a favourite past-time for us).

Although the shop is not much bigger than our bathroom, and filled with Asians (unlike our bathroom) there were more vegan goodies than you can shake a joss stick at.

We came away with drumsticks, pork-roll, shrimps, goose-roll, chicken breast and squid, along with the more usual tofu and veggie dumplings (a variety of our favourite dumpling from our favourite sushi restaurant, Helens).

So far we’ve tried the drumsticks, which are actually quite tasty, and have a bamboo bone for false authenticity. We both agreed that they’d work a treat BBQed, with an accompanying sauce.

This makes me more confident that the other unknowns in our freezer could turn out to be real finds (unlike the orange olives I once bought from a similar shop), though no amount of success will prepare me for the squid.

George Orwell would have gained far more kudos, and a few more laughs, which is sorely needed in his literature) if he’d instead written:

“two legs good, four legs bad, any number of tentacles emetic.”

Back To Work

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I got my schedule for the next year yesterday, my first day back to school after having a year at home with Freya. I had no idea what to expect, though I had asked teach the older children as a preference. It turns out that I am one of three English teachers, and I’ve been “relegated” to teaching 6-10 year olds.

At first I felt a little disappointed, since I enjoy the more active English lessons where the children are trying to use their knowledge in ways I have not taught. With the younger ones I feel that my role is more an instructer rather than an informer, and my choice of words when trying to say things is naturally far more limited. Also, I’ll be unable to show Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings type films under the guise of classic British culture.

However, there is a bright side to all this, in that I shall have far less homework to deal with. Obligatory homework has always been something I have had an opinion about, knowing that the more talented/interested children are the ones that will do it anyway, whilst the less talanted/uninterested ones don’t. This leads to unnecessry stress on my part, since I really cannot be bothered to chase up the many who never hand in theirs. Now, though, I only have three classes to prepare for, allowing me a better opportunity to oversee the general situation.

I also feel a bit better prepared for teaching six year-olds, with a decent library of children’s songs, thanks to Freya. I have also ordered a fox hand-puppet, along with workbooks and a CD, which will undoubtedly make life a lot easier, and quite possibly more enjoyable for me.

Expect a picture of Freddy (I believe that is his name) and me soon.

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The Reason Why I Don’t Go Out Much Nowdays

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At the beginning of this week I received an email informing me that The Streets concert, which I had bought tickets for the day they were released, has been cancelled, due to the singer leaving the band. We were quite disappointed about this, this being one of the few bands we wish to see live.

Not to be too put off by ths news, we looked forward, instead, to a Linton Kwesi Johnson gig, tickets to which I got for Jo’s birthday. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a babysitter in time, which meant that Jo and our friend Chris went instead, leaving me happily at home to take care of Freya.

I got a telephone call about an hour after Jo’s departure, informing me that the concert had changed date to next Sunday. This actually didn’t turn out as bad as it sounds, though, since Jo and I have time to get a babysitter sorted for that date, and Jo and Chris could spend all evening, until 4am, drinking Gin and Tonic.

Still undeterred, we went to town today to see James Hollingworth, a Swedish musician known from the 70’s for creating some absolute masterpieces. Anything that is entitled “The elk are demonstrating”, “I am a toothbrush”, and “Ebert” (with the immortal opening lyrics, “Hello, what’s your name? My name is Ebert and I’ve got a frog in my pocket”) deserves to been seen live, and we were looking forward to all three of us being entertained on this rainy afternoon.

Surprise, surprise: there was no concert. We had completely messed up the dates, and James was probably somewhere miles away drinking tea and eating dainty biscuits, because he is scheduled to play next weekend.

If I were to be pessimistic about the whole thing, I could add that our friends from London went back on Tuesday, Wolves lost 3-1 on Friday night, and I start work tomorrow (after a year of paternity leave), but I won’t.