A kick in the nuts - lasts all day if you get it right

Footy this am not much cop, Napoleon as usual expecting everyone to give him the ball & let him wallop it from 3 feet. Twat. (I would have thought the same thing when I was his age, so I think the word is appropriate. Wrecks any sense on enjoyment for everybody else because he 'owns' the ball. It is not my place to directly adjust this state of play, but for the children to confront/negotiate a way out. I feel frustrated because even at my age I find this kind of in-your-face bully-boys hard to tackle. I have always gone around, using superior ball skills and vision. The got thumped on the bus.)

Green & listless with Fski; Sitting at the back as the uncoordinated boys misbehave, with added bollock-ache from a full-handed slap across the nads in the yard. Just the left one, but enough for general nausea & need for a lie down. Have I any use for them these days, though?

Stole lunchtime upstairs to refresh memory Super Simple Songs' Xmas playlist, need lesson plans for Dec. Think 3/4 of them should do the trick + video for Dec 24th show?

Some went apple picking, older other half went to see their next school. Not I. Find a place to be.
Going to try & get my Brazilian Don Juan here Dec 5th.

Apples

Let's not do anything spontaneous

Organised scrumping today, as we hopped on the bus to the school's orchard out in the countryside, which is run by a nice little old lady. By the time we got there I already had a headache though, being squashed into the awkward seat at the back. Awkward as in set 90 degrees off, so a sore neck plus the constant shouty boys shouting & variously poking, prodding & low-level repetition torture of being confined in a small space with a dozen 5/6 year olds...

Staggered off the bus, dazed & confused, but sniffed the apple-flavoured air & drifted back to memories of contract picking in New Zealand, all those years ago...frosty morning starts with numb fingers, lung-bursting crisp air, and the spectacular scenery of Otago by the River Clutha. Here, apple varieties are Fuji & an Orin for the domestic table; Shinshu Gold exported.

 

Massive fruit, tiny hands

The kids were allowed to scrump an apple each, which was very exciting and challenging, low-hanging large fruit a premium! Unfortunately, we did not pay attention to anything else, and missed the chance to talk about why the vegetable here & there are important - in NZ silverbeat was grown between the trees on purpose, and I am sure a similar reason here for the spinach (?). 

A team bow & thank you to the orchard lady, and a sample slice to keep us going - very crisp, cold & tasty. Clutching our spoils in both hands, bussed back to base. More headache inducements...

Miso mackerel with footballing little Atsushi for lunch back at base. This lad is a gifted player who is my regular morning colleague in the playground, who for is age is very special in being able to 'see' a pass and move into space (the opposite direction to most ball-followers). Inside the building he avoids me like the plague and will not speak to me!

 

More acceptance of my role here as I became the proud owner of the school trackie top. Felt very guilty at early home time, as the Dragon gave me a shopping bag with apples in it for the family - was worried I was going to have my pockets checked!

 

Spoils of scrumping

Lost patience again today being used as a climbing frame, relentless nagging/jumping up/hand-grasping. Asked to perform English for a full two minutes just before the clock ran out on the day - professionally satisfying afternoon?

What is it with leaves & raking up?! Everywhere I looked today, old people were swooping with brooms & dustpans, ridding the footpaths, playground etc of falling biota. The intensity of this pursuit would have you think they were toxic - might very well be over in Fukushima?