Fire alarm

Hi all!

So by the time Bradley appeared through the blasted arrivals gate at Heathrow terminal 4 last night, it was 8.20pm. This meant he had landed two hours ago after a 24+ hour journey from Australia, and it also meant I had been waiting for two hours. Apparently the customs queue was absolutely humongous. Anyway, I was just happy to see him. We had the biggest hug ever and then got the tube! 

Initially he was going to stay at his friend's house but it was quite late by the time we got into town. So he stayed at mine and we ate ice cream and chatted. It was great :)

This morning he walked to the station with me and then we said our goodbyes when I alighted at King's Cross. I headed off to the same school as Monday! Had a great day - I covered the same teacher's classes all day and was in the same room all day. He had left me really comprehensive notes and work to give the classes. Only issue was he had left a note saying a USB would be in the computer with all the slides I would need....it wasn't. So it's lucky I'm a science teacher, because I improvised! It's lucky I know all about designing experiments, accuracy, reliability, validity 30 etc etc etc because I was able to go the whole day answering questions etc without much of a hiccough. The first class was very rowdy but all the others were really nice, especially the middle three. The year 7s are so innocent and kind. They've just started high school and are 11 turning 12. 

Everything went well except that ten minutes into period two, the alarm began to sound. The kids looked scared, I quickly grabbed my supply teacher book and refreshed myself on the fire procedures. It was an intermittent alarm so we had to stay put. Then it became a constant alarm...oh dear. People raced past in the corridor and we had to evacuate the building. I had the register and watched them like a hawk all the way to the basketball courts, where I met another supply teacher who also had no idea what was going on. After ten minutes, we found out it was a drill. A heads up would have been nice!!!!! By the time we got back to class it meant we had 15 minutes left. At least it was a nice day for a fire drill - 22 and sunny again!!!

I was very lucky that my 12.30-1.30 lunch break coincided beautifully with West Coast vs hawthorn. I watched the entire third quarter on my phone. Really hoping the Eagles win the prem - hopefully this is the beginning of the end for Hawthorn :)

Finished the day and travelled home by train. Got to Paddington station and walked to the Hammersmith and City line platform which said.....7 minutes for a Barking train via King's Cross. SEVEN MINUTES! SEVEN! I think that's the longest I've waited for the tube - I'm becoming an impatient Londoner again already!

Got home and got some washing done. Then the stupid neighbours somewhere in the block of flats started playing their crap rap music. So I had an idea. There's was very loud, so I got out my phone and my speaker, and opened YouTube. I played 'Drag Me Down' by 'One Direction' so loud that my windowsill was vibrating. For three glorious minutes I literally rolled on the floor laughing, I laughed so hard I cried! Then when the song ended, magically their song's volume had more than halved. I win!!! I'll be pulling out 'What Makes You Beautiful' and some other beauties next time. That'll fix them!!

Tonight I'm watching 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. It is so much more exciting watching now (didn't know it could get any better!) because every second scene I'm like "I've been on that train!", "I've been on that staircase!", "I've been to that platform!". Woo! I've decided to attempt watching all eight of them before my birthday when we visit the studios in Watford. 

I made garlic chicken, veggies and fried rice for dinner and I've just had some vanilla ice cream with raspberries and blueberries for dessert. Mmmmmmmmm :)

Later tonight I'm meeting Jamie and we are meeting Bradley near Piccadilly Circus for a drink so they can meet! Looking forward to a great weekend coming up :)

Love to all

Claire

Xoxox