Let the holidays commence.

I had a lovely last day in Bishkek.  I waited over 45 mins for the bus and was a bit worried when a passing driver said, Niet Marstrutka, which might have meant he was not a bus, which was true, or that no buses were coming,which luckily was not true, but until the bus arrived I was rather anxious, but apart from that everything worked well. I had a quick lunch with my American friend in Bishkek. Had a rest, potted to the Opera and Ballet house, was told that there were no ticket by the woman in the ticket office who firmly shut the booking office door in my face, but the last person she had served, was an English speaker who was happy to sell me her spare ticket. So I sat with her and her children, and we had great seats. At first the production seemed very amateur as The Nutcrackers head came off at the wrong moment and had to be tossed into the sides by Drusselmeyer, and one of the dolls at the party, was rather hefty and fell badly, but after that it had some real tingle moments.  The woman I sat with currently works at the American base in Bishkek, but soon she will be out of a job.  The feeling in Bishkek is that the Russians have leant on the Kyrgyz Government to oust the Americans as the based will close shortly. It has meant work for a lot of locals, the presence of Americans too bringing variety of culture and of course money. And in this volatile area, means a country stuck between China and Russia has lost a potential friend elsewhere.   As soon as the ballet was over I rushed to the Japanese restaurant to have a meal with my colleagues (Japan and Korea seem to have good links with the country)  and we finished the evening watching a rock band in the Metro.     The waiter in the Japanese restaurant helped negotiate a taxi for me which arrived safely on time for me to get to the Airport. There there was an almighty crush of people squeezed into an area way too small, I had my internet ticket clearly labelled boarding card so circumnavigated the crush and headed straight to passports, only to be marched back in no uncertain terms by a man in uniform to the crush, where I waited in the wrong queue to get another boarding card, was then delivered to the right queue, where the staff sat scratching their heads for 10 minutes before giving me the boarding card. By this time the plane was due to be boarding, so I was rushed through the third set of security systems and into a lounge with no information on screens whatsoever. After all that the plane was delayed  so I was still able to catch the flight. But for a while there it was a bit tricky. It was only when I got on the flight and realised that my boarding card said Mr Austen that I realised why they had been concerned about releasing it to me. And I know in future that checking in online in Kyrgyzstan is currently meaningless.   I am now in the UK, dizzy with fatigue and hoping to speak with solicitors and get flat mess sorted out and catch up with my family.  I am pleased to say it seems to be nice to be back.

We are jolly ninjas.

I was up early today, I figured if the children were supposed to start performing at 10 00 I would need to be there by 9. Just as I was about to leave the lights went out at the Ashu, brilliant where is it written that every time we have an end of year gathering, there is a power cut.   My show with year zero needed no electricity, only my dance needed power and we have practiced so often without music that we can do without, but everyone else needed power so again we had to wait. I therefore suggested that before even more of the kids got dressed in their special outfits (see pics) that I do my show for the year 0 parents. However, the teacher said no to wait as we had to do it in the main hall. So along with everyone else I waited and waited and waited. About 11 the lights came back on, and away we went, the year zero did this great show (I hope to have the video soon) but it was such a great show I thought that there is no way I can follow that, and of course somehow no one knew that I was doing a show, so in the end, amidst the detritus of getting dressed etc, I quickly gathered the kids together and we did a version of The Snowman the like of which has never been seen before and never will be again. There were all the kids dressed to the nines, my terrible snowman costume, made of sheep's wool floor cloth with pictures of snowmen attached, for the girl playing the part.    Because the children had not practiced with the snowflakes I have lovingly made them some of them refused to do so, (half had been lost in the hall during the earlier performance) so were in a strop when we started. Two practices ago I had had a definite tingle moment when the kids performed it beautifully and reverentially, but today dressed as spider man, men in black, a prince, a wolf and a heaven knows what and several princesses, the story of a simple boy and his snowman friend took on a whole new dimension. We are jolly snowmen, a song they love to dance to, looked like a fancy dress party instead of a winter wonderland, no wonder none of the parents could understand what was going on. At first I was cross, but now I cannot stop chuckling to myself over this bizarre new version. Luckily I have no film evidence as I was too busy trying to get the kids to go through it all and come out alive. So not quite what I had planned (I must remember to somehow co-ordinate my show and make sure that the Head knows that I am doing something with them and that their wilder outfits need to be delayed till my bit is over)  However, in principle they were good and knew everything so in a way I am glad the parents saw something.

The puppet play was performed and faired both worse and better than expected. 2A did actually deliver most of their lines, except for the one girl who is usually the star in all the Russian productions, I thought she was perfectly cast as the stubborn turnip but she did not even remember to get pulled up at the end, but her inability to recall anything did at least amuse the parents, especially when in exasperation I pulled her up.  While 2B managed it all but only as you will hear on the video cos I was telling them all the lines. Though their turnip did the right thing and actually had some real character. But 2A did the dance perfectly for the first time ever and being dressed in ballgowns and turtle outfits somehow only added to their style While. 2B did it imperfectly but carried on when the music died, which was brilliant and they all performed Jingle Bells nicely.  And year 1 performed their show perfectly. If anything they are over rehearsed so not as energised as I would have liked, but very very professional and the boy who did the wolf howl, who a couple of lessons ago was reluctant to do anything made everyone laugh with his great howl.   So all in all, not a bad achievement and hopefully as you will see when I have the video no less surreal than the rest of the shows.

I was starving by the time all this had finished (2 hours later than planned)  but was determined to try and print my ticket. I was having problems so as the music/computer teacher dismantled bits of equipment around me ready to rush off to BishkekI begged him to help me. He ran off one ticket, but left me to somehow manage the second ticket,however, every time I went to print ticket the screen went through to something incomprehensible.  I gave up and went to eat, grabbed a plate of soup thinking that is funny I thought we were having a special meal and why are all those mums hovering over on the other table with all that food. The minute I finished my plate of soup, the hovering mums took over the space and laid out another meal for us to thank us for our endeavours. Which was very kind of them. We had champers with that, which I am not keen on, but their version is quite fruity, so a bit nicer for me.  I was running out of battery by this time, so cannot show you some of the mums and grandmas sat resplendent with their fur coats and hats on tucking into the cake.  I was tucking into bread and sausage and what I call Russian salad, but locally has a French name, when my head told us we were having a special meal and that would follow.   So having gone for four hours with no food or drink in the space of three hours I was to have had three meals, and be plied with drink.  

Once the parents were gone I headed back to the computer room whilst this third meal was being finalised.  I had just got everything sorted and ready to print, but was still having problems with the totally unintelligible page coming up instead of the ticket, when the power went again.

Luckily we started with salads, and a gas cylinder had been wheeled in to finish cooking what I feared would be besh barmak. We had more of the lovely sausages, banana and kiwi fruit etc, and lovely Christmas tree biscuits that are here New Year's Eve biscuits. We had speeches, and vodka as per usual. But even better as the room got darker and darker we had party games and songs. One of the party games was giving a number, you had to follow a Russian number with a Kyrgyz number if the next person said a Kyrgyz number they were out. I did not join in but could sometimes tell if they had got it wrong, only here could you play such a game, then we were each given a letter and had to answer questions with that letter having T helped me stay into the final.  We were just finishing when the lights came on again. Hurrah so  I went off to try and print, but I still could not get the thing to work, I think because I had stopped half way through earlier the page would not let me re-enter my details. Back in the kitchen I could hear singing so I gave up to return to the party. I had Drunken Sailor ready so was pleased when asked to sing.  Everyone had a go.  We then went off and had a little bop.  Here a bit like in some African countries people dance in a circle and others have to go into the middle and dance. I am not the oldest person on the staff but everyone joined in and despite the terrible disco music it was fun. My colleague in Kerben was obviously involved in something similar but much bigger as she has just texted me to say that " I just came first in a dancing competition with a 15 year old partner in front of 200 people, but at least I earned my partner 20 dollars.I am glad I have vodka in me to blur to memories"   Then it was back to the dinner table for turkey besh barmak, which is a huge improvement on the normal beskbarmak, if I had been hungry I would have eaten a lot.  Then it was onto our Jangle jills, which is the same tune as jingle bells for our new year's hopes and resolutions. My head rescued me and allowed me to get onto her printer and computer and the ticket problem was resolved immediately and then it was back here to the Ashu to pack my things into my box  and get ready for the holidays. So a very memorable end to my second term.

Kids blow me away.

So I got to work early today thinking well if year 2 are going to present tomorrow I will need extra time so I will be ready just in case I get the chance to do more work with them.  I got a lift to work which helped, so was there by 9.30.  But no one came and got me for extra time, so instead I prepared my afternoon teaching and started preparing for next term, I even got a rare moment on the printer. We have subscribed to a website that enables us to print little books, so I have been trying to work through the instructions.  I know from when I worked on the paper that working out double spaced is not easy especially for the spatially challenged. . So I got a lot done, then went to lunch, and went to the classes with year two and thought okay let's see what happened. Two things happened. One thank goodness the head was free so we could go over everything with her help, which helped with some things, but interestingly did not resolve all the issues, two some of the kids have really made an effort. Somehow one of the narrators, usually a very quiet girl, a girl I have noticed has been making quite an effort for the show, compared with the rather bossy girl who behaves like she is set for a career on the stage, has gone the extra mile required and has somehow got her lines (including the stage instructions) written in a sort of phonic English/kyrgyz so is able to replicate the sounds she needs to make and she had shared this version of the script with one of the other narrators, which makes a huge difference. So now they do not have to try and remember they can read the script and present it.

The other class is not so fortunate, they seem to have forgotten their dance moves, but today we at least had speakers, so for the first time they have practiced with the music. They are not perfect, but given that most English country dances are fun rather than accurate, I am hoping that they will be allowed to try and perform with the others. We all get breathless practicing, I think that is the air here, but it is a good work out for me.  

Afterwards as there was no sign of the after school class students I popped back into the year one class.   The group who are performing the lion chunk, includes Aman. Yesterday after their practice he came up to me and said that his mask was too small and that he wanted to make a bigger one.  I had been surprised when he made the original mask that it was so small but  left it at that, but I was really pleased to see that he too had been thinking about his work and wanted to improve on it. So I took him in the paper he needed to make the new one and immediately he and a couple of others started making a bigger mask. Whilst they were doing it a couple of other children in the class came up to me, one saying this is red, this is green, which was good, as I have not deliberately taught them colours, another came up with drawings of all the animals and knew the words,  so I realise that they really are beginning to absorb words and be able to use them. My colleague taught this group last year and that included some colour work, but that is over a year ago, so this is pretty impressive.  In the end it turned out that the after school class ha been cancelled so I piled into the school bus with the same group of children, when one of them lent over and did an action, which I realised is from the Bob the Builder song that they had listened to in September when I first arrived at the school. This will be a good song to learn next term, so I will have to find a way to revisit the video with them so that they can learn it properly, so thank you Siel for helping me with my planning, but it just shows ever time I think that I am not succeeding, the kids just blow me a way with their dedication, intelligence and loveliness.  Tomorrow is the last day of term and it will be presentations and a party, which I am really looking forward to.  Then another term is over.

New Year tree being decorated. 

Preparing tomorrow's meal. 

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas from a snowy Kyrgyzstan.


For the last few weeks I have been feeling very Christmasy what with all the snow. It glitters so beautifully, but last night definitely took the gloss of things. Being threatened with court action is not much fun, especially when from my point of view I am waiting for other people to sort things or get back to me and I wanted until this point for the person who is threatening action to replace the other freeholder, but now do not want to share with either of them. Cursed place.

Anyway so I trudged off to school a bag of oranges for the kids. I figured better today when it would be something different rather than tons of food all on Friday when their official party takes place. But when I popped into the kitchen to get a tea, I was taken aback by the sight of year 0 in Santa hats. Apparently one of the dad's sent them from Russia. The kids were then all given their "generous" orange from me, actually they really enjoyed them, they are tiny but really sweet here.

The kids started talking to me in English, one little nose, two little eyes, showing me that they had learned some of their songs and can use the words elsewhere.  When  year 2 were given them some thanked me in English, which was interesting as I have not taught them the word.  Osmosis. Then I taught year 1 which provided their teacher is there to lend a hand,which she was as you can see, is always enjoyable these days. I send you an example of their work as a Christmas gift.  You cannot tell but when I said Merry Christmas to them before the filming some of them replied.

Flat blues.

The person trying to buy downstairs has just threatened to sue me.  Brilliant. I think that the plans for both our flats are incorrect, so  I am trying to establish if that is an issue or get them correct before the sale goes through as that seems sensible but he is threatening to sue me Brilliant. I need some legal advice please anyone with legal knowledge.

I think that the flat plans are incorrect do property plans have to be correct before a property is sold. The things that are incorrect is no front door showing to either flat, no stairway showing on my place and the front and the access at the front is not shown correctly. I reported the problems to my solicitor re my flat, but they were useless and I only discovered after my sale went through that they had not sorted it out.  I have asked that the owner sort them out so that we can proceed with this sale.  Any ideas anyone?

Dogged support.

I know it might sound daft, but one of my considerations re staying here another year or so or leaving after a year is whether I find friends real friends here. My colleagues are getting that status definitely but they might not be here next year so real local friends, maybe even a boyfriend who knows as although I do not know if I am divorced I am definitely separated. But the chances seem a very long way off as most men are dead in their 60's, but what a hero has come onto the horizon he has followed me from Ashu to school today and sat outside waiting for me. He bounds up to me when ever he sees me and looks longingly at me.   He even fought off wild dogs for me this morning.  So provided I keep putting food in his bin I have a friend for life.   I only give him bits of dried bread but that seems to have been enough. Don't like to tell him I am away next week!

It is lovely today sunny and warm not like cold, wet, windy England, but it has been much colder, which may explain, why the day after taking this shot, this tree has been chopped down. 

Here sledges are not just a children's play thing, tonight, as I was coming home trussed up ready for the pot was a sheep being pulled along on one. 

Stuck.

Exciting end to yesterday on skype.  I had forgotten that half the family were coming together yesterday including the newest member, so it was lovely to be able to see so many people together.

But today has not been so good. Spent three hours trying to unfreeze my computer so no chance of speaking to anyone or to get any work done.

Beginning to think that my year 2 students are not going to be good enough to perform either their song, dance or play on Friday.  I really needed my colleague to work with me on this and although she helped a lot with the puppets, she has only made one class since and unfortunately the children seem to have forgotten the advise that she gave them about the dance. However, the children are not helping themselves, yes they have a lot of words to learn and I know that might be challenging, but because they do not listen to each other or watch me to get guidance as to when to speak they cannot do the work, yet they should in theory know from the work that they do with other teachers that that will help. Year 1 and 0 are actually better at this, maybe because they are younger they just follow me, whereas year 2 follow each other and just get in a mess.   Strangely I found an English book that seems to have come from the Soviet times in the staff room today. It actually includes the play that the children are trying to learn.(or a version of it in English though it is a Russian tale if I understand it correctly)   The book is supposed to be for 5- 6 year olds. I think that it would be very hard for children that young to replicate it, but that does suggest that my 8 year olds should be able to get it or something approximate to what I have given them.

My colleagues all asked how I got on at Talas and then they asked for their package. Package? Apparently they were expecting me to have brought them lots of goodies from the get together, so they were very disappointed that I had returned empty handed, so perhaps I have not worked out the reason behind these doggy bags.

Just listening to the weather forecast in the UK seems like weather there is infinitely worse than here. It is stingily cold, and I think more snow is due, but the days are nice and long, and light and mainly sunny so better here at present.

Talas tales.

Smelly but vital 

I think that this was the fourth toast. 

The Kyrgyz English teacher's very cute son. 

Fancy living here all year round?

Fancy cooking a meal for the whole school and parents with this. 

Translating for my Kerben colleague: the mother of cute baby. 

The frost in Bishkek this morning

It seems unbelievable that it is almost Christmas. Here it has looked like Christmas since  mid November and it was only when I got a text inviting me to dinner on Wednesday and at first I did not twig, but then suddenly realised gosh it is here.  AT the moment though the car I was in was winding its way up the mountains. We could see the wall, but not the drop below thank goodness. En route we saw a few cars, that had skidded into huge snow drifts and people walking around in the bitter cold trying to deal with it, but my 68 year old driver, drove me and 4 others up and across the mountains from Talas to Bishkek in just 6 hours.  My phone only worked part of the way, my ears were popping and going out to the one loo that was very available for the public but as per usual had a long queue of women but no men waiting was blasting, but having got through I am very glad that we crossed the mountains in winter.

We did the journey there on Friday in the same time in the brilliant sun and the views were stunning. There was a moment, when we crossed one mountain pass and there below was just this white valley.  It looked amazing, I could imagine the valley in summer, in the past, with people on horse back living there nomadic life.  Even now in winter there are people living up in the mountains in old train carriages or containers serving food to travellers. I finally got why whenever we go to a do, we are given doggy bags, I am guessing this is something people did all those years ago, when as nomads you left your friends on horse back on a huge journey so food was much welcome. It was also much welcome when in the back of a big white car travelling through a white out.

I had assumed when we set off  that we would drop into the school that we were due to open on Saturday  but then I would be free to find something to eat and could retire to my hotel room.  However, we set off at 11.30, not 9.30 as planned which meant that we did not get there till 5.30. .  So a lot of hanging round in Bishkek, having thought we were leaving earlier, during which I managed to rush to Osh Market, but left the camera behind, and got some credit on my phone, but then returned to the flat in case the car came early,  and enjoyed just dancing round to music vids. Is the one with Ciley what ever her name with a wrecking ball the one that has caused all the fuss.    I also thought that we would probably stop on route and eat something, (I was hoping for more potatos in batter which had been so delicious on the way to Karakol ) but no we travelled for 6 hours without stopping except to look at another possible new Bilimkana school just outside of Bishkek. However, the men chatted to each other, and I was happy to gaze out at the mountains and doze in the sun. But by the time we arrived I was desperate to clean up and go to the loo, so finding myself on the edge of town in what looked like an industrial desert only to be informed that whilst the school was about to officially open the loos did not work and I was expected to meet all the rest of the teachers and have dinner with them I was not the best behaved of guests and did my I cannot cope with this right now strop around.

potential new school and my ultimate boss. 

A flavour of the mountain route to Talas.

  Luckily it turned out that the hotel was moments away so I did escape for a few minutes that way I could deal with the evening. I did impersonate Kenny Everett's I love you all, leap off the chair moment. I did sing Mary Hopkins those will be the Days, which as you will know is based on a Russian tune and Any Old Iron, but others were singing too, so I think I can be forgiven.. They were the only things that came to mind when a krygyz UK song battle was proposed and at least I tried as I got no support in this instance from my colleagues. However, in every other way I am so glad for their support as being able to skype or text them has made this experience much more comprehensible and manageble. However, we are miles from each other so only get to meet up because of  these kinds of events as I came from Chon Kemin, my other colleague came from Kerben and of course the colleague who works in Talas was there and she was able to show us around her new school. Up until now she has been coping in a tiny place, but now they are at the end of town in what was a factory , it has only been open a week, it is huge, and there are lots of staff, but her English colleague has just left, the loo is either outside if you are a man, or in more deserted factory if you are a woman, so I cannot begin to think how tough being here has been makes my battles in Shabdan seem stupid.  She is a very beautiful women, but there are lots of beautiful women here, but with the exception of when I have been with my sister, I have never known a woman have so much effect on men, the Kyrgyz men seem to go quite wild for her, much to her puzzlement (I sadly am totally invisible I have been that invisible age in the UK for years, but in Senegal it was different, here no one is interested in me and I am having to absorb this fact whilst the paparazzi sort of pursue her)   She was exhausted having spent the whole day with her colleagues preparing a Christmas sized feast.  I tucked it, (food is just put on your plate whether you want it or not) but was told off for not eating enough but my plate was then whisked away before I got thirds.  Puzzled that we were not allowed to relax and just nibble, the security guards and builders who had eaten with us, went back to patrolling, and drilling,  the speeches had come and gone, including my own, so I thought that the evening was over, and very quickly. Then the beshbarmak came out.  So that was why the other dishes had disappeared, they needed the plates for another round of food and toasts. More songs followed and it was actually a great evening.(I passed on the Beshbarmak)  For some reason the guy who rented the place to the school seemed to make most of the speeches and what was really nice is that the grandfather, or father to the owner of Bilimkana (who had flown in from the states via I think Vietnam and China for the event) seemed to be at the centre of most of the ceremony. For instance he was given a fur hat, did the first toast and goat the sheeps head. The man who set up Bilimkana seems to have endless energy, and gave speeches, translated for us and was ebullient through out. He was still partying as we wended out way to the hotel.

Greek Orthodox Church

But we were back at the packed school the following day by 10.  It was so full of parents that I saw virtually nothing of the kids part of the welcome and opening ceremony, but  the owner gave a long speech about why he set up the schools and his plans for future schools and we all had to give a little speech in English and then everyone was invited to eat.  It was amazing, full stand up buffet for all. We pushed our way in, were even fed food on a spoon, were given champers by the parents and then just as quickly they all went away the tables cleared and we thought that was it,when yes all the staff sat down and they had a meal with more speeches and more vodka. Having already eaten with the parents we did not have any more drink or food, but it was nice to relax with everyone, for some strange reason I was not asked to perform more songs, but one of the Kyrgyz women was and she was given money for doing it (so maybe like the griots in Senegal) and then one of the Indian builders was wheeled in and sang two songs too. So very eclectic. The acoustics were great. Put out me and my colleague sort of howled two songs but no one was listening or gave us money for they had offered their prayers, so it was at last time to go. I had seen virtually nothing of Talas, but the valley it is set in looks lovely and it is a proper town,b ut my colleague says has no culture, however, I had had an interesting time. Then it was back over the mountains, back to a snowy and slippery Bishkek where I found that all my perfume had spilt all over my clothes somehow on the journey, where I tried going out and buying milk to make porridge, but instead some how bought sour cream (even though I know the Russian for milk) but could not get any credit for my internet dongle and then today failed to find the church my friend attends until too late to get to the service or see any of them.  However, I did momentarily pop in to the Russian Orthodox church so made some use of my fleeting return to the capital.  It is very touching seeing great faith. People genuflecting on entering the gate, kissing the steps, genuflecting on coming into the church, and answering their mobile on exiting. I want to go again because it was a lovely space, not as grand as the Kremlim but interesting.

Russian Orthodox Church

Next week at school it will be prepare and prepare and prepare for the winter festival and then, term two will be over and it will be time to come home for a break.

Back to Bishkek

I am sitting in a boiling hot flat in Bishkek, all on my own.  From the outside despite the play area it looked a bit bleak and the stairwell was very British council property dark and unwelcoming but inside it is all underfloor heating, wood floor and nice size rooms so I feel very luxurious.

 I know these days that things will both happen and not happen and just to go with it. When it was mentioned several weeks ago that our sister school was opening (originally in November) and that we should go, I kind of had the feeling that if this was important it would happen.  But at the beginning of this week my boss still did not know how.  She also said that she was not able to go.  But bit by bit things have happened and so far I have got as far as Bishkek. My understanding when I got on the bus was that I would be staying in the flat of the owner of the Ashu, so I thought I was staying with him and his family, but when I found the place no one was here, so unable to get in phone I rang his son who said have not you got the key.  Key?   Turns out I am staying in his Dad's flat, but that he does not live here, so his daughter rushed over with said key. . And although I was going down with the owner of the Ashu and we were going to leave very early in the morning, , I am now not, and although I was staying with my colleague I am now not.  Here you just have to go with it will  happen, but not in the way I expected or at times is the most convenient, but just go with it. Meanwhile I am enjoying a night in watching music videos and catching up on the news.

Just did two classes today, paper work in the morning, packing and tidying up.  When I went to teach English for some reason the dance teacher was with the students but I asked if I could take advantage of this and get her to explain some of the things that they were getting incorrect, so we did a shared lesson, which was nice.   We still do not have access to the music but again have to have faith that it will happen,, now just need to get all the kids to either know their words or have something suitable to come out of their mouth and we will be okay. Then it is home for the New Year.  Meanwhile more of the decorations in school, this is not a Christmas Tree, it is a New Year tree!

In the deep mid winter snow.

Got to go and pack ready to go to Bishkek tomorrow, it seems very cold and bleak despite the sun's attempt to come out, but I was very warm in my Icelandic sweater (which got caught in the laminator today, but luckily did not get damamged) my thermal leggings and underwear.   New pictures have been done by the children depicting Christmas I really like the one I hope that the internet is good enough to upload.

I had a busy day teaching extra classes, so I can go away,  but they all went smoothly, year 1 like the cut outs of stories that I have done that they can compare with what is in their books and year zero did a really good practice of their version of The Snowman.  They needed very little prompting from me. They were very excited though when I showed them the front of the book we have made together as I have stuck all their pictures on it. I am pleased to say that one little girl can remember the names of lots of the characters so that is nice. She is playing The Snowman as I know she can cope with big parts and unlike the film she will have to say something.

An early Christmas present.

Internet virtually none existent,. have had a lovely day watching the kids make their New Year's Eve decorations which are the same as our Christmas decorations. I have been given a Christmas present, a lovely blue wrap, to replace my old one. That is really kind. The kids have all been practicing and although they all need a huge amount of work it is beginning to come together puppet plays, dances and everyone has learned some of Jingle Bells. I worked a bit more today as the hope is that I can get to Bishkek on Thursday and travel to a place called Talas, where my colleague Alice works as that branch of Bilimkana will open officially on Saturday.  I  have pictures but internet too bad to upload anything.  The students have been very enterprising. Last week I played some of them jingle bells and Can't Buy me Love on You Tube, they recorded them onto their phones, then looked up a version on their phones, and can now sing them and read the words at the same time. The acoustics seem to be good in the new building and Can't Buy Me Love sounds very good when sung by them. The group whose English is the best recorded and edited in class.

Not sure if it is Christmas?

In Bishkek lots of Christmas Trees were being put up and the children at school are putting up what I would call Christmas decorations and doing pictures of a Santa type person, but they do not celebrate Christmas or if they do not till January and yet my colleague was given a load of presents on December 6th and does not know why.

As far as we can tease out, because of the old strong German influence December 6th may be celebrated by some. For most people it is the New Year that they celebrate I guess if you are a strict Muslim though it is not New Year and maybe some Russians will celebrate the Orthodox New Year and there are santa type characters but they have a slightly different function here.  I will be working on Christmas Day and will have to hope that the internet has been restored as dongle only works for tiny amounts of time.

Internet not good enough to upload relevant pics, but this link is relevant. Ayaz Ata who is the Kyrgyz figure the children draw.

When I got home tonight the owner was in the restaurant with his family, some of whom have come down from Almaty, and he was showing them the new gun he has bought his eldest son.  They went hunting the other night and showed me the results on their camera.   Hunting  is very popular here, you can hear the guns going off even in the day, though nighttime hunting is more popular.  Scary being that close to a gun.

Dog tired.

Internet dodgy, feeling homesick but probably the after effect of a night in a pub in Bishkek dancing away to help celebrate my colleagues birthday.

On Friday found a little puppy, it was howling outside a house and had an injured leg. I scooped it up in the cloth that I had round my shoulders instead of my missing wrap and then thought now what do you do, you can hardly take it to the nearest vet. I searched for clues as to where it had come from, debated with myself whether to keep it wrapped up but put it in a box, hovered outside the house it seemed most likely to be connected with and was berating myself for being both stupid enough to pick it up and too scared to knock on people's door when a man appeared in the court yard and I said as best as possible something like please, dog and the man seemed to know that it was his dog, wrestled it from the cloth, and took it inside. Whether it will survive or he will have to put it down I do not know but it was so cold and plaintive.

Cold was not a problem in Bishkek we all had far too many clothes on and were sweltering as we pottered round the shops.  But we did have a lovely Japanese style meal out before heading to the pub, where live music was blaring out.Nice to see these young Krygyz playing some good rock.  I quite enjoyed it as it made it seem like an occasion and by the third band, I could not rseist joining some very nice young people bopping at the front, they were both amused but nice about my presence and I really enjoyed just being silly. But it was a late night.

The hostel we stayed in was very cheap, all three of us in one tiny open room, on bunk beds, just separated from the rest of the hostel with a curtain. We had a shared loo and bathroom for everyone, and a rather tatty kitchen, but fine for one night and otherwise staying in Bishkek is just too expensive as we get only a small amount for our expenses here, but headed back to the Ashu fairly early just because I was too tired to do anything else in Bishkek. It is much colder here and I am missing my wrap, my head kindly went back through all the security tapes at the school and I can be seen arriving on the day I lost it, but without it, which helped me remember that I had visited the pharmacist that morning and to my amusement a group of people were stood outside with the boot of the car up and a bottle of vodka and sweets open on the ledge above the boot and they were having an impromptu picnic. They gave me a sweet which gave me great pleasure but it would seem that tired and distracted and ill that I lost the wrap somehow in all these interactions! Sorry Jennie.   She meantime is on a journey much greater than anything I am on, I hope to know more anon, but I will just leave you with that little teaser.

It was the best of class: it was the non existent class.

I came in late today as I am still feeling very rough.  ( As well as the poor sleep, very coldy, so struggling with the desire to sleep all the time -trying to stave off a bit of M.E?)  I headed straight for the room in which I was marking yesterday before being interrupted to down vodka.  The cook bless her bought me a cup of tea. Then having finished I decided to take the books into year one as they had no teacher with them (colleagues had been doing some cover, but with a small school that is very hard and I had vaguely thought hmmm should I be offering) anyway as soon as I went in they cried out Angliski and grabbed the books off me, so rather than try and dissuade them I figured let's go with this, I have just checked what needs doing this way I can try and go round to each of them while they are feeling receptive and get them to do some catch up work. So that is what I did. The head popped in too so that was nice and towards the end they got restless but as it was not a formal class I did not try and stop those who were fighting and when they got hurt I comforted them and hoped that they might make the connection for themselves.  The head told me that in 10 minutes they were going to see a film and I turned down the chance to watch about the White Ship a story that seems to be connected to the play earlier this week (.http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/366888.The_White_Steamship)   It was only about 10 minutes in that I suddenly realised that I was supposed to be with year two, who urgently need to do their play practice, but they too were in the film.  So yes I had no teaching till 2.20 today so in theory could have been in bed all this time. Never mind. You win some and you loose some.   But tomorrow I will have to do twice as much work as I will need to do the missed classes.

More worryingly there seems to be a great lack of money. I have just had half my expenses, but the others do not seem to be as lucky as me, so that is both worrying for them but also makes me feel very uncomfortable about how much work I do in relation to them. I have unofficially been told how much people earn here and it is not a lot, but they have the land too and live with other family members too all of which helps and my colleagues do not look downtrodden or impoverished, but I do know that money is an issue in the whole valley. The men,who is my eyes, are small holders, see themselves as unemployed, but perhaps underemployed or unable to capitalise on their land is maybe more realistic way to describe them. Anyway I had better find my after school children.

It has been one of those days. I knew that we were due to go to the house of our bereaved colleague after my after school classes, but today it is me who has two classes and my colleague just one meaning she would finish ahead of me so I had wondered how this would play out. Anyway half an hour into my second class she asked me to finish early. I said I would be free in 15 minutes as the students had not done their homework so we could not do what I had been planning and then we headed off to my colleagues. As I grabbed my notebook computer and looked for my wrap to wrap it in, I had an uncomfortable sensation as I could not find the wrap.  (I had only been mulling to myself recently how long I have had this wrap since my sister bought it for me on one of her holidays, it is bigger than local wraps and perfect for wearing here) so whilst the others laughed en route in the car to the house that turned out to be round the corner I festered..  I wondered given their levity whether this meant what I was about to witness would be very merry. but no  As soon as we stepped through the iron door of their plot of land, the mood turned very sombre.  We took our shoes off as is the custom and each of us greeted our colleague, who bless her looked absolutely shattered, then we stepped through the kitchen in which I noticed a urn, people but little else and we entered a room with three low long tables  so festooned with food it could have been Christmasand mats all around and another urn with which to supply us endless tea. There were swirly hair shaped things, with even more tantalisingly  crispy things on top, in each section, a cob loaf type thing, little cholla like rolls, jam, dried fruit and nuts (a local speciality) and Russian and other salads and all joined together with the lovely puffed up dough things that are served for every festive occasion which were scattered the length and breadth of the three tables. They are very moorish. We were each served a tea, but prayers were issued before we were able to tuck in. Everyone was incredibly quiet, and my colleague had given me the crispy thing on top and eating it without one shattering it all over the place and two seeming to make a huge amount of noise was very difficult. I sat in the corner from where I could see a large shelving unit a bit reminiscent of 70's UK, on which sat a photo of my colleagues mum, she looked very like her grand-daughter who is a student in the school. There was also a splendid picture of her dad, all of which reminded me a bit of when Nathan and I went to the funeral in Kenya, behind me was a huge wall hanging and on the far wall there was a carpet hanging.  When we had all finished as ever we said Amen, and I thought that was it, but then we went back through the kitchen and sat in another room, where someone came round and washed our hands, which again reminded me of Kenya, and Senegal just a bowl and they splash water on you, and you rinse of your hands,  I noticed everyone else seemed to know how to rinse their hands just so, and then rub all the water off.  To my surprise then a table cloth was produced (we were in another room with low lying mats all around, and hangings on every wall but the window wall) which was spread out and covered all the floor between the mats.  A broth came round  and I thought it was going to be Rams head time, but no, two large trays of plov with hunks of lamb.  Each of us was cut off a bit, given some fat and some skin and I thought how am I going to eat this and what a shame the dog cannot benefit from this, but although everyone ate some, including me, no one polished off what was on their plate and instead doggy bags were produced for everyone (so yes someone was very happy) and another one with sweets and the lovely puffy things, so I have come home laden again. We washed our hands again and came out, and apparently something like this will happen in my colleagues home on a regular basis for the first 40 days of mourning. Ugh. However, I was very happy that I had been asked to attend and very pleased that I did attend. Just ugh in that it seemed very tense and draining.  One of the nicest things, off the room we ate the second meal in was a blue double door behind which we could hear shrieks of laughter through out as the children of the household played together. I guess this is what it is like most of the time in such a household though perhaps there were other children visiting too, sons and daughters of the bereaved sisters who were all in the house.  Made me realise how quiet Nathan's singleton upbringing had been  and why the grand-daughter did not seem as wiped out by grannies death as her mother.  For her the silent, tearful adults and the food is matched by the laughter and fun.

Magic.

I did a dreadful class with year one, I need to stand back and think again especially while my colleague is off. She was bereaved on Friday, her mother buried according to tradition straight away at the weekend and she is now off work in mourning. Apparently we will visit tomorrow, for which I am pleased as it would be good to see her.  Anyway  so I knew today I would be alone and had a sort of strategy and it sort of worked (giving each group something to play with whilst I worked my way round,) but I feel that it is very same old same old  and that those who put themselves forward are moving forward but that I never get the chance to do what I saw the Kyrgyz teacher do later and just stand in front of them get their attention and give them the  information they need and then get the chance to go round to each of them, or that I get to do anything more interesting with them.

Luckily the music teacher popped in to give them their words for the festival but seeing their slightly unruly behaviour with me, yelled at them and told them why it was important that they behave and practice. ,So though I have tried saying to them this is why we are practising over and over, I think his words got through to most of them them who having realised that they did not know their words then made an effort to remember them. One or two includes including the newly bereaved  grand-daughter,  were very good.  Practice over we went back to trying to get to grips with furniture words and in, on, under. However, I was disappointed that when I showed the two boys a related book neither of them were interested, all that they wanted to do was do another page and keep going.

The kids here love paper work, there may be some learning in it, it is like being given a giant quiz book and just being unleashed with it, but I am trying to install some of the underlying language so that they are actually answering things correctly. . So being half way through their book I split the year 0 kids into two groups one doing a worksheet from another more advanced book and one working with me, separating the letters into groups. Some of the girls were good at the latter, but one boy went into a complete strop until I awapped the activities around and gave them their work sheet. That I was able to get two tables sat down doing two different activities though is huge progress at the beginning of the month this is the kind of thing that caused a riot.   And after followed a lovely lovely moment. I have finally got a copy of The Snowman to show the children the story that they are doing in miniature. I could not stay to watch the whole thing with them but the 10 minutes I did watch them was absolutely magical. It has no language so it is perfect for them.  And they laughed in understanding.  The boy who used to have a lot of behavioural issues imitated the making of The Snowman just as we are doing in our play. One girl  sat just finishing her page was stopped mesmerized, another little boy, who is often very quiet, was even quieter he was so transfixed.   They were engrossed as I tip toed out and later when I saw their teacher, I could tell that even she had been affected by its magic.

I saw her later as it turned out today we got round to celebrating her birthday and the birthday of the woman who helps out in the kitchen and with the cleaning.(Their actual birthday was late November)  So I have yet again had a vodka fueled afternoon. I am beginning to like this tradition of toasting the birthday person as I was able to acknowledge how much my being there puts onto the year 0 teacher, but that sometimes like today working together is magical.

Kyrgyz play

I need to find out a lot more about this little play that some of the year two children put on today with their Kyrgyz teacher.  I thought that the parents were coming but in the end the school sat and enjoyed it instead.  I think it is traditional and because we are a Russian school with English some of the Kyrgyz happens but not quite as publicly but I will share it with you.  I cannot say that they are as slick in English, in fact we need a lot more practice before the winter festival at the end of term, but I thought it was rather sweet and it made a nice change for today.

Making life a bit easier for myself and my students.

I am a complete numpty.


I have mentioned several times the complexity of teaching the children because of the language and explaining things to them. Then last week teaching 20 kids with 1 book my colleague who cannot speak English nevertheless managed to convey to me." Is there really only one book".  Such a sensible question.  Next day I went into the class with the 5 books so one for each table. Boy did it make a difference and with the book I presented little flash cards.  I have a stack of cards that I was provided with some A5, which I have used extensively, and some small which I have used a bit but not consistently. Then after her comment I went back to these cards and realised a bit more about the connection between the books and the cards.  They match. So thereby helping the children match the words, pictures in books and cards. Year 1 children really enjoyed working with them. So today I thought let me try them with the year 2. I will not even bother to teach them the words as I know some they know and I will see what happens. The two boys who can already read a bit turned them over so that they could not see them but then tried to match them, the boys who cannot read, just worked out how to pair them.  And the girls who really worked as a team, got it and got it pretty quickly and matched all the words with no help from me what so ever.  The kids had taught themselves in effect, using what they knew from before, and only at times did they check with me and then work out the right answer by eliminating the wrong answer.  They are beginning to really use all their skills Well done kids and sorry it took me so long to fathom it out.  It will not always work so well as half the words the kids had been pre taught, grandma, grandpa and they know family words  Brat for brother for example is very similar, sister is almost the same as the Russian too, but a model for self learning may be emerging.

My head has been talking with me about assessing the students. Of course it happpened all the time in the UK,  so I understand the pressure to demonstrate learning, however, I also know sometimes it is useful for student to have a bench mark, but so far I have not really assessed or checked any of the after school class student and in the big classes, although I always try and get them to work  in pairs, groups and individually,  the "keen" ones always shout over hesistating individuals so by giving them the answers on the rare occasions that they are listening to each other, so even I felt perhaps it would be useful to see where they are up to, so spent the weekend preparing a quiz that covers the whole of the Headway Book.  As I am not that familiar yet with the book, then actually also helped me focus on the content, and then getting a bit stuck at Chapter 7 as to how to phrase my question I suddenly thought hang on a minute, how come there is not a test provided with t book. And of course there is, in fact there is one for every chapter. So today at Chapter four I gave it to the students. None of them complained, I did not make it tough, some worked in pairs, some worked individually, but it did show some of the gaps, that some are doing much better than I realised and that those who usually shine in class, may have more problems when working in exam situations. So definitely a worth while activity and something I will do again as today I was very very coldy and very very happy to just come home, stuff my face with the food I had been left then tuck myself up in bed and watch a movie on You Tube.

Just a perfect day.

It is a perfect day again. I wish I had asked everyone out here for Christmas as it is so peaceful in the valley and at the Ashu. Today it is warm enough to sit out. Dogs are sunning themselves, small boys are practising the headless ram game with sack, farmers are putting hay out for the animals and the turkeys are out for a walk about.

Daydream day

No internet yesterday but spent the perfect Saturday. Up late, cooked breakfast, walked to the shop, bought the material to make a Snowman outfit, back in time for soup for lunch. Sat out in the sun sketching. Did my washing and ironing, then some work, even spent some time labelling photos from way back when I lived in Dakar, and then bed with a Raymond Chandler short story.  The perfect end to the day.

News from abroad

I could not sleep again last night so about 3 am the news filtered through and I thought I remember hearing the news about Diana about the same time in the night. But this morning I had no internet at home so it was only the internet at work when I tried grabbing a moment to myself (there is no sense of personal space here so even emails read with a small child looking over my shoulder- which is nice sometimes, very nice, but tricky when your brain is not registering things) and I realised my brain had not registered until I read my sisters email. Then on facebook of course I saw all the R.I.P messages. I am glad the old man of Africa was allowed to go home to quietly die.  It had seemed so horrible waiting for it to happen.  He is one person in the history of his life and my life that I would have liked to have seen in person.  R.I.P Nelson Mandela.

To my surprise I was handed a bright red envelop at work today.  A letter that my friend posted to my home address 2 months ago has somehow actually arrived.  I have no idea how as I see no evidence that there is a mail service, but people do send stuff via the bus, so I guess that is what happened.  So I am pleased to say card duly opened at work and laughed at by small child at my side. Now to see if I can keep it in my room or whether it will go the way of all things.  Today I have come home my floor has been swept lovely, my dirty washing has been neatly folded with the result that half of it has not landed up in the washing because I had forgotten it was dirty and the fourth lot of seeds that I have tried to germinate have very kindly been disposed of!   Nevermind I suspect in the 27 years on Robben Island Mr Mandela would have been only too pleased to have a warm room but dirty linen. For once I miss the TV as I know that only one item will be on it all across the world and although nothing will change the situation sometimes just listening and sharing is a good thing.

She always makes me think of the Girl with the Pearl Earring. 

The puppet show is coming along and is bringing out some of the children very nicely.

Snap shots of the day.

I almost forgot to write this today, but on my way to work I was writing it in my head, for I kept seeing things that I wanted to share (one day an electric chip will automatically record these thoughts and I will just download them onto the blog), but in the meantime I have to recall them to the end of the day. First two huge crows sat on the wall like Peter and Paul looking out over the frozen valley and just chatting to each other.   I guess it was the only place without ice all over it. They just had so much character I tried taking their pictures but rotters flew off. Then there was the man, who almost looked like he was cuddling a sheep who was carrying said sheep across the road and the expression on both their faces as they snuggled up to each other was a sheer delight, sheep sort of saying well this is a bit of a laugh, making him carry me. I have a feeling that sheep was not happy for long however.  More sinister feeling therefore was the sight of about four men crouched over a stripped body.  Stripped of its skin that is. The legs stuck in the air reminded me of a woman giving birth, but this was someone's dinner being prepared.  Not a sheep this time, but I guess a bull or a cow.  Or the bird, delighting in the puddle round a burst water main the one bit of unfrozen water in the area. The woman, umbrella up ( I wonder where mine is) against the steadily falling snow wearing elegant high heels but somehow not slipping at all. I would have liked to have taken pictures of all of these things but I was either not fast enough or too discrete.  Anyway it seemed a fun day today, puppets and dancing and a bit of teaching. Tomorrow was supposed to be my colleagues day, presenting all the work the children have been doing over the term.  Instead she has to go to Bishkek and do some training!  So I am not the only one who gets affected by last minute decisions. It means we will be down two members of staff tomorrow Anyway it is almost 5 in the UK according to my computer so definitely time for bed.   How is it I can spend the whole evening doing things on the computer but sadly it seems I can.

Not doing a very good job at sustaining myself.

Could not sleep last night. I am not sure why, maybe still flat after Monday and Tuesday.  Kind of just want to disappear. Yesterday when I went to work the staff checked if I had had breakfast and I motioned to the kitchen in the block where I sleep. Today I felt I had better go to the main kitchen and put in an appearance but after a very bad night's sleep I do not know why I walked in saw all these faces that I cannot talk to and for whom I am just another inconvenience and just walked out again.  


Anyway I had better pick myself up, it is another lovely day in Chon Kemin and unlike the poor mouse I am alive.  I was worried about the staff finding the mouse,(they had rightly been critical of me keeping the apples in my room till I had found a box to store them in) and it was keeping me up, and they put poison down in the kitchen , which I could see was being eaten, so perhaps it is not surprising that I found its dead body when I swept up today.


This evening coming home I was joined by the most able girl from the class I least like teaching. I think it is just cos I do not seem to be able to reach them so that frustrates me, they are a bit too old for the material they are using but for their English it is useful and I guess in school they have shorter class with a strict teacher so just let rip to cope with the 80 minute class they have with me. But in truth the amazing thing is that at 10 they are speaking and reading English and this girl definitely has a bility andshe works hard. So when she started chatting to me it was actually almost like a proper conversation, what is your mother's name, what is your father's name etc. What did I like Bishkek or Chon Kemin.  I know the Russian word for good , okay as a result of my Kazakh student a couple of years ago, it is a very useful word, something like Harashow, and rubbish not too good is something plowkha, but the Krygyz word for not good is something like German!!. Anyway I said that I was going to go to the shop (magasin like the French) to buy and mimed a hair brush and she explained that she had to get chleb (bread which is the same in Polish so again a word I know from England) So we went together the first shop did not have what I wanted but the second did and it was really nice being accompanied for once and not feeling the odd one out and I think she felt very empowered that she could translate for me.  So she has cheered my day.

Exasperated by the flat all this way away.

Internet very intermittent again so a short blog tonight and just about matters overseas.

Prior to coming out here I found out that old neighbours of mine wanted to buy the downstairs flat, which was good news. I sent them a message saying if you are interested have a chat to Nathan as he is at home.  I then got an official letter from a solicitor the garbled contents of which Nathan gave me and they were incomprehensible. So I emailed the solicitor asking for clarification. It took a while to get the right address for them but at the end of October I wrote to them by email asking several questions including how to deal with anything whilst living somewhere with no post, no printing etc.  I also queried the plans as as far as I was concerned the plans given me by my solicitor was incorrect based on the sales information given me by W.H Brown. I gave the solicitors my Skype details too. I correctly informed the seller and the purchaser that I was waiting on the solicitors reply. In the end I wrote to the solicitor again and got a reply and I have been working through that reply ever since. I finally printed the paperwork needed today, like everything else it takes a lot of me leaping in and out of the computer room and praying either that the computer works or that no one else is on it. It is only since the computer guy came back last week that even that has been possible, but today I finally managed to get one of the two copies I need. I am now not sure who to get to witness the paper work as presumably the witnesses should have a modicum of English. I have also asked the the seller sort out the plans prior to the sale going through.  However, despite all my efforts to sort it out, both the solicitors and the buyers seem to think I am the one delaying things.   Well I am not. And it is as per usual really annoying me that I am accused of something when I am not guilty.  

Crashed out

I got back from work today about 5.30 stuffed my face with the lovely food the staff had left and crashed out.  Not just the cold, it is minus 4 but does not feel it, but I guess it takes more out of me than I realise, I have actually been lovely and warm today at school, but sadly once again had a run in with year zero that has left me just emotionally drained. I know it is stupid you would think after 20 years teaching I could cope with bad behaviour but.   Year zero have been much better recently, but today I guess with the snow and everything they were very hyper. Their teacher was in class but busy with reports, so when I had followed the system and notified a child that he is in danger of hitting the 15 minute penalty spot and he still carried on fighting I tried to take him out of the room at the end of the class to spend the time with me and the kid just refused to go. It was really difficult I was trying to get him to come and he was terrified, but rather than helping his teacher just said what will you do with him for 15 minutes, next time.  I thought it was an agreed school policy. And when I had my outburst I made it absolutely clear that it was not fair on the other children to feel that they were learning in an unsafe environment.  So I did not want to drag this child screaming out of the room so I had to give in, but ... Anyway I hate it, I hate fighting with kids, I hate them fighting and I hate that I have to tell my line manager that I have stuffed up and had this child in hysterics almost and then she has to tell my colleague off and to sort it out as it turns out she has not informed the children about the disciplinary system even though that was what was agreed weeks ago.  So her attempt to get on with other work in my class both scuppered my class and her plans, but I am more upset that I still cannot manage the situation. I just get very disorientated when I am trying to sort them out. And whilst the child concerned missed the pep talk that the rest of the kids had a few weeks ago, I had raised my concerns about his behaviour before.  Still feel very shattered that I am not cut out for this.  Teaching is often about confidence and this destroys the little I have.

Anyway I attach some nice pictures to sooth me and you.  Sorry it all crashed before I could do that so just quickly publishing this as it stands and will try and add pics later if the internet stabilises.

Crashed out.

Just wrote a whole tirade which was lost and tried uploading pictures also lost cos signal keeps dropping out, so giving up for today.

Wind, rain and snow.

Yesterday one of the reasons I did not mind coming back a bit earlier than anticipated, was that I knew that the weekend Manager was here and one of his friends, a very interesting woman, who teaches sociology here and who told me about bride kidnapping.  I also figured if they were here, food would be provided.Some time in the afternoon I heard a lot of running around, but did not think anything more of it as I was working in my room. But when I came out two things have changed, one I was the only person in the building and two there was wild wind and rain. Very unusual for here. Rain had been forecast, but this was serious. I rushed out trying to pick up some of the sheets that had been put out to dry but which were now in the puddles, tied up the gates that were crashing about and realised that the others must have left today instead of tomorrow so that they could travel.  The clouds here change giving an an intimation of snow. In fact just seeing clouds hints at this.    So I happily cooked something for myself.  Which was just as well as then the lights went out, then on, then off. Meanwhile I realised I was not alone. I have a mouse in the house to keep me company. I had found a dead one in the kitchen recently, but this one is very much alive and hearing it skit around made sleep very difficult. So I watched as the rain turned to snow instead. It has been falling steadily all night. The heating is off again this morning, but I think that the staff will sort it out, meanwhile I have put on my seriously warm trousers for the first time since getting here, and thermals and hope that the heating is on at the school as it looks very cold out there today.