Last day of term
A deep rolling rumble sounds accross the college compound like distant thunder.
The thunder storm of last night has left the ground wet and soft and smelling somehow sweet. At 6.30 this morning rain was still pouring down and making that wonderful caravan-holidays-in-the-UK sound on my corrigated tin roof. I cancelled my morning run and rolled over, not to wake again until half past eight! Its so much nicer to wake when the sky is properly light. I didn’t worry about rushing to college. Yesterday, the day of the exam, I arrived at 8:00 and was the first person there. The girls hadn’t even unlocked the staff-room door (normally there are people in the staff room from 7.30). I had a lovely breakfast of porridge (proper porridge with oats, not the local cornmeal one) wiht a spoonful of chocolate peanut spread melted in it and two bannanas chopped up on top! When I arrived at the rainy college the penultimate exam — Desktop publishing with Page-Maker — was gong on in the lab. Everyone was prayig that the power would not fail as it often does during the rain.
But the sond I hear now is not a storm. The skies have cleared since this morning and the sun shines down on Holy Rosary College as its students depart. As they drag their suitcases over the cobbled path their rickety wheels make a sound like thunder. I wave to some. They smile and wave as they put their bedspreads and cases into their parent’s cars. I expect there are many who make their own way home on public transport but I have not seen them go. Their parents didnt park toyotas in our driveway and, most probably, their lugguage doesnt have wheels.
I hardly know them. Only the stage IV javascript class of 12, about half of whom I could call by name. But it does seem sad. These girls are not coming back. I hope they are not, because of they do it will be to do re-sits of their exams. I have just been shown the assignment marks, all collated, to confirm before they are sent off to the university. They have a reasonable chance of getting 50% overall taking these marks into account.
And me, when Im not blogging, I’m updating the Javascript notes for next term.
tygger Says:
so, apart from updating the javascript notes, what are YOU going to be doing for the holidays (and how long are they?). Its easter bank holiday from tomorrow an all i have to look forward to is being in the lab trying to express proteins. ho hum…
good night last night at J’bugs - danced with trigger! But missed you - bunch of fresh faced, never danced before, students were there - and they really needed someone like you to be inspired by … not enough young people on the scene …
anyways, must say your blog is bloody useful - for teaching tips and link gems like the W3school …
Miss you - and Aelvric too!
love
April 8th, 2004 at 1:32 pmtyg
tygger Says:
ahhhh! problem with trigger link! its this …
April 8th, 2004 at 3:06 pmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onlyfools/uncovered/trigger.shtml
Mark Says:
YEah I would have loved to show off in front of the new bods at Jbugs. But not being able to do that is one of the things I had to choose abotu when I decided to come out here.
I just watched the ‘Dark Happy Birthday Mark’ movie on the CD from Jungle Kid. Wow, thank you all, its just so fab its like being right there among you. And the wishes and kisses are very special.
April 8th, 2004 at 5:35 pmtygger Says:
uuuu …. i think i remember that … we had a birthday dance in honour of you at sian’s party … i can’t think what else that "dark happy birthday mark" could be … infact, I haven’t seen it myself - must harass jungle kid for a copy …
April 8th, 2004 at 7:24 pmSophia Says:
Happy Easter, MArk. In good old tradition, I am sitting in DOC (totally desrted today), and writing a paper together with my Italian friends (who are in Torino and genova), and another with Matthew (who is in Bristol).
It is rainign, and cold here, … sunny Afdrica seems very good at the moment!
April 8th, 2004 at 7:37 pmMark Says:
Sophia, welcome! Its deserted here in the lab today. Just me (I haven’t had breakfast because of a long lie-in) and a visiting priest who wanted to use the internet. I’m downloading Adaware and Anti virus tools to use to clean up the machines here at college. At least today I Can download 6.5 MB files in 13 minutes!
Tigger, yes that’s the one. Lots of kisses including a big **mwah!** from you at the end you should remember!
April 9th, 2004 at 11:03 amtygger Says:
its deserted here in the building as well … but here i am purifying proteins (yay! - not …). Hoping to go see mim this evening and have a girlie night in - she was asking after you the other day. Have you read the "shadow of the sun" i gave you yet? She recommened it when she heard you were off to Africa …
neeways, back to proteins … MWAH!!!!!!
xxxTyg
April 9th, 2004 at 1:09 pmDrew Says:
hey mark, do you know strongbad?
Strongbad is a kinda cartoon character wrestler type.
Strongbad answers e-mails people send him:
http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail84.html
(flash, not all of them good to watch but this one I think you will like)
April 9th, 2004 at 3:30 pmeunice Says:
hello mark
you sound wistful in this entry.. really like how i can imagine the scene (with sound!) in my head. very best of luck to your girls, hope you don’t see them back at the college.
tygger - happy protein espressing!
April 12th, 2004 at 7:17 pmLike, Totally Chris Says:
OH MY GOD!
I FOUND A TOTALLY IMPROVED VERSION OF MARK’S BLOG!!! (Read carefully)
(Or try it in Canadian, or hax0r…)
I would like to see this technology built into browsers. What a great leveller. Here’s an alternative (and quite possibly even more offensive) take on Conservative Party Policy, for example.
April 12th, 2004 at 9:23 pmDrew Says:
its quiet here, this early in the morning.
April 13th, 2004 at 6:41 amNothing to report.
Am thinking about writing a fictional entry for you..
Many **hugs**
Drew
tygger Says:
Oh my god!!! like what a great entry chris! Totally! And been listening to garlic dalek over the weekend - totally awesome man! Thank you mark for like loaning it to me … you’re totally da man!
April 13th, 2004 at 1:13 pmFede Says:
Ciao mark,
back from 4 days driving around with mum, dad, luci and robert in normandie and bretagne, it was good, ate so much, drank quite a bit, cidre et calvados tasting and so on, and visited more war stuff, which made me happy…
You have to mail me your addres so i can send cds and stuff!! Ok?
love
fede
April 13th, 2004 at 9:16 pmJan Says:
:confused:well I have to put this back on to somthing more mundane .or should I say hey man etc etc !!so Yo Bro.. how you doing I guess you have been off for Easter and I hope it has been a good time as I know holidays from work when in a totally differant situation can be hard .It is the odd things that makes one homesick .. Denise if you read this I would love a chat anytime if you care to ? thanks .. So mark We are thinking of you and keeping the spar warm for your return !!love and hugs Jan x
April 14th, 2004 at 3:14 amMark Says:
Oh my God! Its like totally busy here when I’m away.
Awesome!
(pronounced "Or-wi-sum" in kenya!)
April 14th, 2004 at 6:13 pmJunglekid Says:
Chris: that rocked. I near as dammit wet myself.
"I discovered on my recent bill that I pay 43p to like, receive a text from abroad, then 53p to like, reply. i.e. nearly ?1 if I receive and reply to like, a text. It is like totally madness."
Mark: Glad you finally got to see the dark happy birthday mark clip. Not that there’s a great deal to see… I’ll show it to you next time I’m around with my laptop, tygger.
Tom
April 19th, 2004 at 11:17 pm