I have acquired a particularly virulent strain of the plague which had me curled up under the covers in jeans, thick socks, a long-sleeved top, and a sweatshirt earlier. Every time I got up, I started shaking with cold, so I spent most of the afternoon there. My mother called from Canada and told me to take something to lower the fever, which has helped, but I still feel disgusting. BF is looking after me and making me bland food and bringing me glasses of water, which is helping.

And at the end of a gorgeous weekend, in which BF, myself, and some friends headed up to the British Motorcycle Federation's annual massive event. There were motorbikes and people racing mopeds in stupid outfits and a Wall of Death and bands and barbeques and all sorts.

Tucking back up into bed now. I do not intend to come out until tomorrow afternoon. I have already emailed my cover work in to school. So there.

BF and I went to France during the half-term break, where we both picked up a wicked flu bug that I am only just starting to get over. It might have helped if I had admitted to still being sick and staying home from work a day or two to recover, but that would be far too sensible and rational, so I have continued to drag myself in.

In other news, I have reports due for my Year 8 students on Friday, not to mention the fact that I am a Year 8 Form Tutor and will be responsible for editing the subject reports of my form kids the week after. At about 10 subject reports for each of the 30 kids in my form, that's about 300 individual pieces of paper.

My only consolation is that this is the biggest round of reports that I have to do this year. Once I get through this, it's clear sailing through to summer.

As well, my massive order of Russian mysteries and trashy romances arrived from Amazon this morning. As soon as I get two classes worth of reports done, I am going to reward myself with an hour on the couch with a book and a cup of tea.

YEAH bitch!!

To continue the Canadian theme -- am dragging BF to see the Tragically Hip tomorrow night at the Astoria in central London. Good and good.

In other news, the observation went well. Although I didn't get the top possible rating (me = overachiever), I did apparently really impress the fellow doing the observation to such a degree that he went out of his way to tell my head of department that I was awesome.

And so.

BF just won $430 US playing online poker. He plays while cleaning, cooking, or working out -- just as entertainment while doing worthwhile but boring things.

On this occasion, he beat out 35 other people to come first and win the big pot. He is pleased. He has paid for half of his ticket to Canada at Christmas with this game.

In other news, one week of school down, 38 weeks to go. Further tales of school and the like to come.

The BF took me to the ZOO today. There were monkeys! Of many descriptions! Lots and lots of monkeys!

Brace yourself for picspam of super-cute baby monkeys of many descriptions as soon as I find the chord to hook my camera up to my computer and upload them.

In other news: one weekend day and two week days left to the end of school. Hells, yeah, bitch!

In other, other news: TOUR. Hells, yeah, bitch!

After an epic THREE DAYS apart, am back at BF's. We are going to Cambridge tomorrow. My BC Whores (which is to say, the two out of sixty-five people I live with that I actually like) went in to London yesterday to buy a dress for the occasion. We are having fancy dinner. And things. With people that are important to said BF and who I must therefore not offend or alienate in any way. My greatest hope is to keep my foot OUT of my mouth.

My dress is very nice, though.

*does not panic*

That said, I will also be spending time with the Stead papers for the first time since last October. I anticipate crying. A bit. Y'know. As I do.

In other news, the old laptop seems to have tanked a little...with all my old Stead and Master's stuff on it still.

Uh.

BF says his dad can fix it.

*crosses fingers*

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAYS ARE MY FAVOURITE. Not the least because I was just not in the mood to work yesterday and really didn't get any of the planning and marking and things I need to get done this weekend even started, so not having to go in today to teach tiny lunatics is a massive bonus.

I am extraordinarily in the mood to work right now and am currently enjoying an all over glow of productivity. We have finally got through the Tudors and Stuarts unit for Year 8, which we began back in September and I was quite sick of, so I can only imagine how the kids felt. We are now on to Black Peoples of the America. It's basicly an examination of slavery in the U.S. up to the point of emancipation and sets the kids up for some of the American history units that take place in upper years History, which focus on the struggle for civil rights for various groups through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

And while I feel bad saying I'm having fun with slavery, I really am. It is an interesting topic and one that I haven't done all that much on before, so I'm learning a lot, too.

That said, I've been letting my Year 7 stuff slide a little due to my enjoyment of the Year 8 content and am going to have to put some serious work in on that today, too.

Am currently curled up with my seven hundred pounds of work at the BF's, abusing his wireless internet to download all kinds of multi-media teaching resources. He has (foolishly!) left me alone here while he goes to get the exhaust on his car fixed. It is raining and I like very little more than sitting inside all warm and dry while listening to it be wet and miserable outside.