Working Holiday Part 2 : Home from home

After a lovely lunch with my family, eventful only in the spillage of a my pint of Guiness over Four-year-old's magazine by Seven-year-old, compulsory palm readings from Nine-year-old with palmistry book from library, and the sending back of a cheese and bacon burger on the flimsy premiss that it contained no cheese or bacon, we are now installed at our home for the week.  Or, as it turns out, our home until Thursday as we only booked three nights and they are now full up.  Not to worry, I'm sure we'll find a space somewhere.  We've had a great evening exploring a little of the local area and the children have been able to meet and play with lots of children staying nearby. 


It's not all holiday though, and Rich and I had a good first morning at Hadley Learning Community with our summer school group of soon-to-be-year-sevens.  This is a transition project designed to give next year's intake of students a chance to meet and work together before starting in September.  We watched some short movies, played out a couple of silent movie scenes, created some music in garage band and sketched out a story.  Once warmed up, the group were bursting with ideas, and if I tell you that our film looks like being about a lonely, alien teacher flying into space to start a new life, but instead becoming embroiled in a murder mystery in which the suspects include a superhero who is married to a jellyfish and kleptomaniac robot singer, you'll probably be able to name several similar films that you've already seen.  Or not.


All in all, a great first day to the experiment.  I really can't imagine that this could have worked out any better...


Except that on Saturday evening I got an insect bite on my foot.  Not normally a big worry, you might think, but me and this particular bug have history.  Around this time of year back in 2000, it got me at our allotment.  On that occasion the foot swelled up over three days to the point where it was impossible to walk on.  I had to call on my then-employee, Steve Ryan to help me to A and E for treatment and crutches.  Twice since it has struck, and each time the result has been the same.  Except the bit about Steve who enjoyed his visit so much that he now works at the hospital but sadly no longer provides the informal ambulance service.


So I've been lying down quite a bit this evening.  Elevating the foot and watching it slowly swell up.  Taking a cocktail of drugs and regularly applying the antihistamine cream.  Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to find a wheelchair from somewhere and become your friendly, neighbourhood push-along camera-operator, until this subsides.


So in summary; work good, holiday good, insect not so much.

My foot.  Notice innocent looking tiny red dot next to ankle

I love the expression 'free o tread', but it's costing me pain!