Well, I’ve been distracted again…

Audiobooks this time – John Wyndam’s ‘Day of the Triffids’ being the best of the lot but I’ve also cycled through Arthur C Clarke’s 2001 & sequels.

I’ve more to do, but I’ve elected to type this morning; not because I’m aware that I’ve neglected things, but because it felt ‘more right’ to do so.

I think I’d left with going to parent’s evening at Jack’s school. Because there’s a lot more pupils the set up is a lot more …efficient. You need to locate the teaches dotted around various locations around the school – boy’s gym, hall or girl’s gym. They sit behind a desk in such a location with various other teachers of that year & you get 5 minutes or so at your allotted time. All went well – we didn’t miss any one & we were earlier for others (so managed to dib in & get done. Starting with Geography: Jack is a good pupil, attentive & always willing to contribute; able to answer queries put to the class (ale to see the lead of conversation from teacher to pupil & extrapolate the right answer – something that is ‘easy’ in Jack’s view). Things went on in a similar vein all the way through. The German teacher made me uncomfortable because he suggested that Jack teach me German… I really should take Jack up on that… Didn’t see the Art teacher (as the cookie crumbles) but we got to see most all the main ones.. No, I’m sure all the main ones.. English was an interesting fellow; businesslike in his delivery of matters, but still there was a slight touch of the playfulness that Jack professes is there on class. The Maths teacher was interesting because he’s a young teacher & less used to the formalities. Evidently nervous & aware that we knew that Jack had expressed worry over his brusque behaviour in class. He was a little forcibly jovial (attribute this to nerves) but on the whole he seemed fine to me. Discussed with Jack on the way home, Jack said that he was not ‘like that’ in class. We pointed out to Jack that the poor man had huge bags under his eyes & some mild eczema – suggested that he doesn’t get enough sleep & is somewhat stressed because this will be a demanding job (the nature of the school & the demands of the pupils) & to try to cut the fellow a little slack; basically although he’s a teacher also remember he’s human.

Next day was parent’s evening at Jude & Eve’s school. I took them back home wile Louise dealt with matters… That is after we’d purchased something from the book fair; assuaging their acquisitional desires: Jude got a ‘Where’s Wally’ book, Eve stationary & Esme… Oh, something.

So, Eve is a star & conscientious & bright & willing. Poor Eve is basically very good; a diligent student & a caring person & although the teachers like this there is not a lot more that they say; she sometimes seems to get a raw deal just through being good.

Jude is interesting. Interesting that this comes from the teacher with whom Jack did not get along so well with. Jude is the neatest student in class, good at maths & also good at art. Now, I hadn’t noted that last one so well & it may be that I’m guilty of underrating him in the melee of the daily routine. He does sit down & he does do stuff, but I’m not the one he shows a lot to & I’m not sure he does so much. He does interesting stuff though… When asked to do a picture of his house late last year he drew all correct, but then he started drawing in the rooms through the windows, which Louie & I thought was a very nice touch, but apparently this was an unusual step. The thing that most strikes me about Jude’s art is the level of care & detail he puts into things… I guess he thinks about stuff.