#MayWriteABit 2020 #5
A day late, but hey, the thought was there. Random ramblings from ‘Captivity’:
Lockdown continues, and every day is a weekend. I’m a pretty self-contained old bird, I love messing about on FB, reading, sewing, cooking, eating, hanging out with my wife…so this has been no great burden to me.
[1]Exercise schmexercise. I have wonky hips- congenital deformity of the hip sockets, which was only diagnoses at age 49, when they started locking and doing odd things. I had the worst one ‘resurfaced’ which lasted almost a year before needing a full replacement. Not ideal. The other has some deterioration and has a multiply-torn enlarged ligament [apparently] which causes different issues. All of this impacts on my gait, and causes some knee problems. Joy.
Anyway. I had a hard fall at work in January, and slammed my knee into a cement floor, leaving me in pain and limping for some time. It hasn’t healed properly, and if I forget and kneel on that knee, it feels like there’s a lump of lego just under the skin. Unpleasant, to say the least. My replaced hip is also ‘clunking’ and affecting mobility to the extent that I had to start using a wheely-support thingummy for some weeks until I got straightened out a bit.
All of this means that going for a daily stroll in the local area, which is VERY steep [we live halfway up a hill, meaning either direction isn’t easily negotiable] is not on my agenda. I hate exercise, so this is no great loss, but I would appreciate an occasional stroll along a fairly level surface. We’ll see if we get round to FINDING one, and driving to and from it, in due course!
[2]Toothache. I bust a bit of an old filling some months back, presumably grinding my teeth in the run up to lockdown, as every day working in a large comprehensive school was nerve-wracking for most of us. It’s started to HURT. I hate dentists at the best of times, and this isn’t the best of times. I’m making do with painkillers, salt water rinses, clove oil [home made] and a ‘light application’ of spirits from time to time. It’s in a down-phase right now, so just an occasional dull ache. Fingers crossed it subsides.
[3]Work- work is being set online, and we’re marking and feeding back online too. This is not easy- ever tried typing mathematical notation? In Google documents? Argh. I’m surprised at how many students are sticking with it to be honest, either they are unusually dedicated, unusually bored, or their parents are desperate to get them to sit down and shut up for a bit! Probably a combination. I think most parents will be less critical of teachers when this is ‘over’. I had to spend some time reassuring a panicked 6th former who is terrified of making the wrong university choices and ‘ruining her life’. It’s more than just chalk and talk folks [although I am much in favour of chalk and talk]
Meanwhile, more sewing, more Facebook pointless games, more DVDs. It’s fine!
[4] The cooking is good- I’m not eating more [unlike my wife who can be a little piggy at times] but that’s just as well, because, exercise. See above! Last night we had a venison sausage cassoulet, with kale and buttered leeks. Oh yeah.
The cooking is also boring- at home for more meals a day, makes for more thinking about it. I was quite fond of the sarnies my wife made for me every day!
I have started picking off recipes I’ve always planned to make, but never got round to, like those delicious churros. I found a delightful little [very little] Korean cook on Youtube yesterday, and definitely want to try out some of her recipes…but not wearing a candy coloured manga wig!
[5] My NHS scrubs count is now up to 54, as previously stated. My target of 60 by my 60th is now too easy, I’m going for 100. Maybe even 120, who knows? IT’S SO BORING! People who’ve praised my efforts have called me an angel or a hero. NO. I am not enjoying this one bit, I like selfish sewing, but it has helped make me feel that I have a little control, and that my skills have some use. Aristotelian to the core, my altruism is what benefits me by making me feel altruistic lol
I want to get back to my ‘cake’ sewing, and finish that rose-sleeved shirt…
If you want to contribute to my fabric buying, the Gofundme link is here gf.me/u/xva4nc
What a grouchy post!
Meh write a bit.
thedementedfairy 
Whew, so many topics.. You’re right that teachers are getting so much more appreciation from parents right now. I am not sure it’ll actually translate into better working conditions in the long term, alas, but it should get you better cooperation from even the nastiest parents for a bit.
Meanwhile it’s good that you don’t have to run around after the kids physically so much. Although as a former resident of San Francisco I totally get the difficulty with hills.. During a bout of rehab I would drive down to a flatish path around a lake, with regular benches all around so I could rest at progressively longer intervals without committing myself to a final steep bit when I was already too tired. Every town should have something like this really, but maybe yours had some variation of those old lady circuits? Beats indoor exercise, which drives me totally bonkers.
As to the teeth, I think your situation qualifies as urgent. I have a cracked tooth as well which is hobbling along. But mine is not causing me real pain or liable to cause a life-threatening abcess. You might call up your dentist and discuss options. Or another dentist if yours is indifferent. Enduring too much can get you into real trouble here, since the end is not really in sight
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know…but I REALLY don’t like dentists and always wait til the last minute. I’d rather have a tooth out than a filling which is mad. My last bit of growing up still to do…
LikeLike
On the marking up the math problems, can you do do hardcopy and post a picture? I have never used a Google docs so I don’t know, but I am all about using a reasonable tool for any job. And since auto correct always helps me, taking pics has reduced a little of the family laughter when Mom texts.. they have actually sat themselves down to open my texts to see what comes out, after the auto correct… almost always shoot! Best of luck slogging through
LikeLiked by 1 person
for A level full worked answers that’s what I have to do- I write it up then photograph or scan it. FOr lots and lots of smaller answers, it doesn’t work well in google docs for the worksheets we’re setting, so I have to faff more. I’ve developed a doc for the kids to use with lots of basic stuff already formatted and they can copy and paste it in. still slow though! It is what it is. STill better than dealing with adolescent bullshit form day to day though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not grouchy. Well, not very grouchy. I think we’re all getting a little bit grouchy at the moment. I agree that teachers will be among those valued more now that parents have been trying to fill your shoes.
Food is a great part of what we’re concentrating on too. I’m definitely going to be larger on completion of restrictions despite trying to run more consistently. Yoga just ain’t burning the calories 🙄
LikeLiked by 1 person
tbh I’m surprised we’re not MORE grouchy. Just got the yarn in for a very-unusual-for-me knitting project. Best pal at work os sprogging in September so I have plenty of time for this little project,,,assuming my increasingly arthritic hands cope. we will see! I predict much swearing based on utter boredom
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was surprised to see you say it was a grouchy post at the end. Where was it grouchy? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
it felt like I was griping… maybe not lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
First time poster, but long time reader here. Thanks for many happy moments reading your blog! Like you, I’m a maths teacher who loves to sew. We are also teaching remotely here in Australia, so I completely feel your pain. I’ve taken to using a virtual whiteboard called Miro (they offer free accounts for teachers always) to write mathematical notation. Best thing has been getting my remote students to collaborate with me on them so I can see where they are going wrong or need more help.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lot of maths teachers have these creative habits I find…it’s dimensional awareness I suppose! We are not currently allowed live links with our students, but have to communicate via Google classroom which is stifling. Sigh! Glad you joined the convo though, keep ’em coming. I’ve made so many online friends through this and sewing fora
LikeLike