Hockley Heights Gazette

What a full week - er, as usual I guess. I shuffled off to school on Monday but to be honest could not find the stomach to repeat the process on Tuesday. In the meantime we had a call from Lucho and Susan who, together with Ignatio, wanted to come down to visit us from London where they had been holidaying for the last few weeks. So, after the boys sat 3 hours of testing at Westcliff High School for Boys (a local Grammar, or selective, school), we picked up the Alarcons at the Wickford station and spent a very pleasant afternoon. Even so, it was a little weird to break bread with such good friends SO many kms from home. Plus, to further weird us out, Anne and Ross sent a few SMS messages from HK as they prepared to fly out back to Oz. Good friends, and family; a welcome change from the last few weeks.

Today (Wed) I had another, ahh, sick day - and we spent some time looking around the area and doing a spot of shopping. Proper TV arrived today so bring on the Ashes now! Also we ordered broadband, but it will take a couple of weeks.

Apropos my working life, Kym spent a fair portion of yesterday filling out paperwork to convert the working permit visas of myself and the boys to a more flexible settlement visa. If that happens, I will no longer be tied to Greensward College. Further to that positive development, stay tuned to this space for some honest reflection regarding my current working environment...and perhaps the state of "state" education in this country.