This week has been the last full week of summer holidays for us teachers. I have mostly filled it with dog walking, reading, eating out with friends and suppressing vague feelings of panic. The new term approaches and, as ever, the feeling of being completely unprepared has started to encroach. I know in the sensible part of my brain how to deal with this: plan lessons, plan resources, organise time better, do more reading, do more writing, and make phone calls. Six little things all of which I know I can do quite happily on their own, or grouped together in pairs… And I have been doing each one in dribs and drabs over the summer holidays – but when those essential first days start looming over the horizon it's very hard not to just put one's head back underneath the duvet and refuse to come out.
I am very excited about returning to university. In fact I really can't wait! The only drawback is knowing that my lectures start at 6:30 PM and go on until 9:30 PM, on a school night. Now, if you have read my other blog, or just happen to know me (which I'm fairly sure most of you will!) You'll know that it is aroundabout the 6 PM mark that I like to start considering getting out of my wheelchair and wrapping myself up in aforementioned duvet. I'm strongly of the opinion that if I do not get my recommended daily dose of duvet, much like medication from the doctor, I will suffer for it and all those around me! Hence why it is even more important that I get myself Organised. So, dear readers, with this in mind I have in fact purchased A Wall Planner. I have stolen the philosophy of "Units of Time" from Nick Hornby's About a Boy, and assigned each day a certain number of units. To cope with all this frightening PAaBP* there has been much chocolate eaten (two units), alcohol consumed (four units), and an unheard of, nay, unprecedented amount of moaning (8 units).
*Plan Ahead and Be Prepared :-)
Sunday, 31 August 2014
Monday, 25 August 2014
Diary of a Dire Wolf
Dire Entry 16
It is three paws forward, two paws back with my human, diary. I thought I had managed to teach her how I like to be fed but instead of simply putting my food bowl down and letting me at it she seems to have ideas of her own grandeur and has the audacity to eat first! She'll even then make me sit and wait whilst food is put in my bowl! Doesn't she realise, dear diary, that I must show her how annoyed I am by making her feel my claws that I've had to wait?! For the meantime, until I can find another way of showing her how cross I am, I will make do with my noisy Howls of Complaint as I am doing my "sitting" and lying "down". I swear sometimes I feel like a performing seal in a circus!
Yesterday was a very busy day for me, diary. There was a lot of gardening in need of happening. I felt that there were just too many weeds, too many plants in pots and that the grass needed extra soil sprinkled across it. Although winter is approaching and as a wolf I don't actually understand anything about growing seasons, I felt it important that my human had many holes across her lawn into which she may put her spring bulbs. I know how she loves flowers, and I know that she knows how much I love to eat them when they are at their prettiest… I also felt that the fencing needed my particular attention. My human may think that the special bamboo fencing put up against the cold metal railing works well as a"disguise". She is wrong. I personally believe that bamboo fencing is ideal for my ever ongoing teething pain and I very much enjoy how it's refuses to come away from the railings – I have such fun playing tug-of-war with it!
Oh dear, I hear her calling me now. Diary, I must go. The suspicion that she may have treats awaiting me is too great for me to resist. I will heave myself off this comfortable bed, ears back, tail up and curled… It's so important she believes I am pleased to see her. That way I will get more treats – this I have learnt from her behaviour! Adieu for now, dear diary.
Yesterday was a very busy day for me, diary. There was a lot of gardening in need of happening. I felt that there were just too many weeds, too many plants in pots and that the grass needed extra soil sprinkled across it. Although winter is approaching and as a wolf I don't actually understand anything about growing seasons, I felt it important that my human had many holes across her lawn into which she may put her spring bulbs. I know how she loves flowers, and I know that she knows how much I love to eat them when they are at their prettiest… I also felt that the fencing needed my particular attention. My human may think that the special bamboo fencing put up against the cold metal railing works well as a"disguise". She is wrong. I personally believe that bamboo fencing is ideal for my ever ongoing teething pain and I very much enjoy how it's refuses to come away from the railings – I have such fun playing tug-of-war with it!
Oh dear, I hear her calling me now. Diary, I must go. The suspicion that she may have treats awaiting me is too great for me to resist. I will heave myself off this comfortable bed, ears back, tail up and curled… It's so important she believes I am pleased to see her. That way I will get more treats – this I have learnt from her behaviour! Adieu for now, dear diary.
Wednesday, 20 August 2014
Welcome to WheelyWobbly
Welcome to WheelyWobbly – my new blog! On this site I hope to share extracts of my ongoing learning curve into the realms of becoming a writer along with taking on the challenges of raising a puppy direwolf, matched with the challenges of working/teaching as a tetraplegic.
The first thing I really wanted to share was the overwhelming sense of having bitten off more than I can chew so to speak… And having to do the thing I hate the most: Be Proactive and Plan Ahead. However in the half a decade (OMG has it really been that long already?) Since I became actively disabled the BPaPA approach is really the one that works best for me.
From what I have found out regarding The Writers World, it's very important apparently to have an "online presence" be that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blogspot, Bebo, Foursquare, Google+, and PinInterest. Most of which you will in fact be able to find me on! For those who are actually interested, and have not followed me so far, you can read about my journey dealing with life as a tetraplegic/wheelchair-bound woman returning to work/life/friends/family here: http://tingletetra.blogspot.co.uk/
As I have been suffering with something of writers block I thought perhaps it was time to have another crack at blogging, which is also another handy hint I have received for helping breakthrough the gooey melted mind and actually write things. I do feel very much as though I am a bit like a high wire act, juggling 16 difference items high up in the air, often without a net beneath me should I fall. Hence where the title for this new blog has come from… WheelyWobbly (see what I did there?! ;-) )
So, I hope to see you out there as feedback is so so encouraging – even if it's not that positive – it's just great to know that there's someone out there reading your stuff… Whether it be on Twitter or Facebook or wherever.
So for now I shall say thank you for reading my rather long introduction and I hope to see you next week :-)
PS this is Arya, my dire wolf…
Ahem yes, totally ripped off from Game of Thrones. I am something of a modern day fan girl… I just thought I'd introduce you as you will no doubt be hearing a lot about her in the coming weeks and months!
The first thing I really wanted to share was the overwhelming sense of having bitten off more than I can chew so to speak… And having to do the thing I hate the most: Be Proactive and Plan Ahead. However in the half a decade (OMG has it really been that long already?) Since I became actively disabled the BPaPA approach is really the one that works best for me.
From what I have found out regarding The Writers World, it's very important apparently to have an "online presence" be that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blogspot, Bebo, Foursquare, Google+, and PinInterest. Most of which you will in fact be able to find me on! For those who are actually interested, and have not followed me so far, you can read about my journey dealing with life as a tetraplegic/wheelchair-bound woman returning to work/life/friends/family here: http://tingletetra.blogspot.co.uk/
As I have been suffering with something of writers block I thought perhaps it was time to have another crack at blogging, which is also another handy hint I have received for helping breakthrough the gooey melted mind and actually write things. I do feel very much as though I am a bit like a high wire act, juggling 16 difference items high up in the air, often without a net beneath me should I fall. Hence where the title for this new blog has come from… WheelyWobbly (see what I did there?! ;-) )
So, I hope to see you out there as feedback is so so encouraging – even if it's not that positive – it's just great to know that there's someone out there reading your stuff… Whether it be on Twitter or Facebook or wherever.
So for now I shall say thank you for reading my rather long introduction and I hope to see you next week :-)
PS this is Arya, my dire wolf…
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