The Final Count Down - digga duhn dun, digga dun dun dun

Wowsers!! Unlike my Canadian friends back home - it is not quite summer holidays in this neck of the woods :P I am very excited for the prospect of only 20 more teaching days!!!!!! AND to be clear it's actually only 16 teaching days, 1 professional development workshop, 1 Dept planning day, and 1 Arts College planning Day before I sneak off and fly out on Friday the 13th back to Can-adia... (that's how some of the less informed youth at my school refer to Canada.... hah hah!) I've actually almost survived. AND my school still has another week of classes after I flee the country before the little monsters - I mean darling pupils are set free to the summer wind.

The worst of it is I found my cracking point/first ever teacher melt down in the past two weeks - so this final term has been a rough start. I think the finish line in sight is what keeps me going. I hear first year teaching is all about bearing down and getting'r done - so put on the tunnel vision goggles and prepare for impact! The good news Is I still recieve a salary over the summer months.. so it's paid vacation (well actually a percentage taken from the other 10 months of the year when I'm teaching)... but still super sweet.

What have I been doing?? well this months all about balancing my budget. I'm the first to admit I'm aweful with money - so tackling Student loans and a Visa bill should give me some perspective on effective money management right!? the jury's still out on that one although i've effectively made all Student loan payments to date :-) that's more than $500 canadian a month eh! I deserve a pat on the back or something lol.

My last three weekends should be sweet, next weekend is wind surfing on a lake, followed by Canada Day carnage in london the weekend following, and finally a Birthday BBQ
Bash in Coventry the final weekend before I fly home on the Friday after that :-) :-) :-) I just can't believe it's all starting to come together. This year's been quite the escapade - AND i'll sooooo take some life lessons into next year's Academic year :P

In a festive spirit i'd like to end off with a Congrats Haiku for everyone who is wrapping up their first year of teaching. It's been hard work and feels like running a marathon where you'd like to cheer but are too busy dealing with the double vision and lactic acid.....

First Year Teaching Done
Children laughing; marking ends
Teachers are set free

I climbed a Mountain this weekend :-)

thought you'd all enjoy the view ;-)