Winter winds, red cheeks & snot noses

So cold this morning that the gates were closed early and everyone confined to the inner courtyard; down jackets de rigur and tissues/handkerchiefs somewhat optional extras!

Made very welcome this morning in the pink classroom, and invited to start the morning off with our "hello" song, cheerfully followed by about eight tunes with her plonking away merrily on the piano, mega-smile encouraging everyone along & infecting with happiness. Result of I-sensei being super chirpy is that the whole class is well-behaved - even covering mouths when coughing; 8 classmates absent with wheezes today nevertheless.

The younger teachers again making sure I know where the bonenkai will be (thank you!) and I'm looking forward to seeing how this lot look off-duty. I really do not want to have to give a speech though...please don't make me do that?

Horror moment in the main hall, as I could not leap fast enough. Everyone running around like mad, and one girl trips over a leg sticking out of one of the screens they have around - dangerous - and lands cheek-first onto the next one. I could see this in slow-mo and was very annoyed with myself for not reacting quicker. An accident waiting to happen; assistant K summoned into action (didn't believe me immediately but pretty bloody obvious - minus blood - this child had taken a major hit) with the Dragon also swooping into consoling action. Accident report filled in as they waited for mummy or granny to appear & head to hospital - very smoothly managed, I must say. All the meanwhile I-sensei continues to manage the class on her own, seamlessly. Nobody even noticed the pant-wetter & puddle-maker! All dealt with in her stride.

Back in the classroom, The Very Hungry Caterpillar got a run out (app for that?) with what looks like a follow up plan? During the siesta though, I again was subjected to cling-ons & headbangers which made post-lunch a long drawn out affair. Even longer once the aerobics DVD was deployed again in the main hall - hid at the back this time unwilling to look like a hip-hop dork. Exile my behind!