As mentioned previously in this blog, I have become a very keen amateur photographer. Actually a really annoying, incessant, obsessed and determined photographer. Most weeks I take around 500-800 photographs. Lots don't always work but many do. And, each time I take one, I think I learn something about how to make it a bit better. ISOs, apertures, shutter speeds, settings and lenses are all becoming increasingly familiar although still far from automatic.
Anyway I have decided to prepare a sort of year book for the kids - especially B - as he is leaving this year and I wanted him to have a sense of closure which is incredibly rare for expats as well as a lasting memento of his time at the school.
So I checked with the headmaster that it was ok to embark on this project. I called all the parents and asked them if they would mind if I took photos of their children. I took photos of all of the children in his class, and then emailed them to all the parents. I asked for feedback (just to be polite...what do I care what they think is the best photo - most of them have no idea and chose the worst photo out of them five to ten that I sent. If one was the slightest bit fuzzy, you can guarantee a parent chose it.)
Anyway I then loaded all the photos on a web page, found a company that could print them, did a dry print run, passed it around, redid the print run in alphabetical order and then had them bound in perfect binding.
Perfect bound books, shiny paper, glossy cover, title page and really cool graphics, head and shoulders photos of all the kids in their school uniforms. Nice background bokeh in all of them. All pimples airbrushed out.
I charged £20 per book and ended up donating almost half of this amount back to the school library as well as to the end of the year party. No one helped at any point. No one contributed anything. Most of the parents couldn't be bothered to answer emails or phone messages. For thirty children I sent over 250 emails cajoling responses and begging for replies.
And what do I get from one of the mothers? One of these unemployed, housewife mothers. Who wear cardigans from Boden and their mother's pearls to do the school run. And pale pink lipstick.... with blue eyeshadow?
"Oh yes, hello, I saw the book. Quite a good effort."
In this soft condescending voice.
A good effort?? Give me a break. This from the mother who said to me: "James would like his puppy included in the school photo. Can you arrange that?"
No. I can't. This is a book that I am doing for my son and I just happen to be giving you the opportunity to purchase on of your own. You are doing nothing to help this booklet get produced. Nothing constructive and this is the best that you can offer me by way of thanks? By way of the twelve photos I took of your son with a portrait lens? A condescending "quite a good effort"?
Give me a break . It was a feckin fantastic effort to inspire this by to smile. To airbrush out his pimples. To email her all these photos, to call her back cajoling her for a response, to not get annoyed when she said that he hated the photo and then be polite again when she took a photo on someone's mobile and wanted that included - of her son with a yellow curtain behind his head dissecting it in half.
"I haaaate the photos!! I look ugly in them."
Well you know what? Unless you are prepared to get off your butt and do something you have absolutely no right at all to complain about something that you could never have achieved.
It's always the ones who don't make the effort themselves who criticise others.
I really think though that criticising someone who achieves something is totally unfair unless you are prepared to do better yourself.
Put up or shut up.
There. That's off my chest now.
And I am off to school to pick up the kids and , unfortunately, probably see Mrs Quite Good.
Argh
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
In or not?
Tomorrow we find out how B has done in his exams - whether or not he has got high enough marks to gain entrance to the chosen boarding school. And even though I don't want him to leave and go away, I know that he desperately wants to go to this school.
He has tried really hard for these exams and has spent an awful lot of time studying. This is probably one of the first times that I have ever seen him really knuckle down and approach something with a specific goal in mind.
Z is normally the goal-focused one of the family, and these past few weeks it has been B who has sat down at the dining room table with his books, B who has asked questions about English and B who has queried how mathematics problems are solved.
He brought home one of his exam papers yesterday and he worked through it again in his own time and then asked the banker to double check it and the banker, being a banker of course, could do this. B did very well.
So tomorrow we find out, and my heart is just itching to know and really, really hoping for good news for him.
Although it will break my heart to send him away.
The mother's dilemma!
He has tried really hard for these exams and has spent an awful lot of time studying. This is probably one of the first times that I have ever seen him really knuckle down and approach something with a specific goal in mind.
Z is normally the goal-focused one of the family, and these past few weeks it has been B who has sat down at the dining room table with his books, B who has asked questions about English and B who has queried how mathematics problems are solved.
He brought home one of his exam papers yesterday and he worked through it again in his own time and then asked the banker to double check it and the banker, being a banker of course, could do this. B did very well.
So tomorrow we find out, and my heart is just itching to know and really, really hoping for good news for him.
Although it will break my heart to send him away.
The mother's dilemma!
Saturday, 9 June 2007
Sign Offs
We are getting sign -offs.
Finally!!
The Grand and OmnipotentPooBah of Money has approved the deal. Vice President of Banking Confusion has also approved it and The Global Head of Things the Bank does to Obfuscate and Delineate has just signed off.
It is just up to Chief Evangelist of Mission-Critical Portal Deployment to sign her name and we are in business.
I can't wait to see what the banker's title will be but I do think it needs to be something incorporating all of the words below at the very least!!
Finally!!
The Grand and OmnipotentPooBah of Money has approved the deal. Vice President of Banking Confusion has also approved it and The Global Head of Things the Bank does to Obfuscate and Delineate has just signed off.
It is just up to Chief Evangelist of Mission-Critical Portal Deployment to sign her name and we are in business.
I can't wait to see what the banker's title will be but I do think it needs to be something incorporating all of the words below at the very least!!
| Lead Senior Direct Corporate Dynamic Future Product National Regional District Central Global Customer Investor Dynamic International Legacy Forward Internal Human Chief Principal | Solutions Program Brand Security Research Marketing Directives Implementation Integration Functionality Response Paradigm Tactics Identity Markets Group Division Applications Optimization Operations Infrastructure Intranet Communications Web Branding Quality Assurance Mobility Accounts Data Creative Configuration Accountability Interactions Factors Usability Metrics | Supervisor Associate Executive Liason Officer Manager Engineer Specialist Director Coordinator Administrator Architect Analyst Designer Planner Orchestrator Technician Developer Producer Consultant Assistant Facilitator Agent Representative Strategist |
Freedom
The exams have finished!!
Thank God.
It has been a hard slog getting the kids to focus and then helping them to commit to this for the ten days off that they had from school. These exams were very important for two of them - they are entry points for schooling and getting a good (or at least reasonable) result means that they are much better placed as far as education is concerned with more choices and options, regardless of where we will be living.
For B, in particular, these exams were important, as many of the schools are selective and for him to get admittance he needs a specific grade point average across all subjects even those ones that I am not really motivated or fussed about such as religious education. Previously he was sitting at a rather spectacular 40% in RE but this time he had to get a minimum of 55% . So rather than attempting to teach him something that I don't really know about or care to focus on, we addressed the specifics of exams techniques, how to memorise facts, summarising, preparing charts, mnemonics, exam techniques, comprehension, studying strategies etc. B was pretty keen about it all and spent around 4 hours a day studying which I hope will make a difference.
Z on the other hand made the whole process as much fun as pulling teeth. Just getting hm to sit still on a chair felt like a feat of achievement. He squirmed and fidgeted and twisted thrugh the entire ten days but now, as the results start to come though, he must have been absorbing something as he has done better this year than in previous years. A solid performance which is pleasing: around the high 70% for most subjects.
H was fixated on a project involving kookaburras - twigs, feather, clay, sellotape all disappreared into her bedroom only to emerge as a heavily laden cardboard sheet encrusted with various examples of a a kookaburra's life.
Right now though things are lovely. All the study folders and papers have disappeared from the dining room table, the sun is out and we are on the countdown to sumer holidays. I don't have to nag or cajole anymore and the only thing on at school are fun activities - sailing, swimming, arts, surfing.
A summer hiatus.
Thank God.
It has been a hard slog getting the kids to focus and then helping them to commit to this for the ten days off that they had from school. These exams were very important for two of them - they are entry points for schooling and getting a good (or at least reasonable) result means that they are much better placed as far as education is concerned with more choices and options, regardless of where we will be living.
For B, in particular, these exams were important, as many of the schools are selective and for him to get admittance he needs a specific grade point average across all subjects even those ones that I am not really motivated or fussed about such as religious education. Previously he was sitting at a rather spectacular 40% in RE but this time he had to get a minimum of 55% . So rather than attempting to teach him something that I don't really know about or care to focus on, we addressed the specifics of exams techniques, how to memorise facts, summarising, preparing charts, mnemonics, exam techniques, comprehension, studying strategies etc. B was pretty keen about it all and spent around 4 hours a day studying which I hope will make a difference.
Z on the other hand made the whole process as much fun as pulling teeth. Just getting hm to sit still on a chair felt like a feat of achievement. He squirmed and fidgeted and twisted thrugh the entire ten days but now, as the results start to come though, he must have been absorbing something as he has done better this year than in previous years. A solid performance which is pleasing: around the high 70% for most subjects.
H was fixated on a project involving kookaburras - twigs, feather, clay, sellotape all disappreared into her bedroom only to emerge as a heavily laden cardboard sheet encrusted with various examples of a a kookaburra's life.
Right now though things are lovely. All the study folders and papers have disappeared from the dining room table, the sun is out and we are on the countdown to sumer holidays. I don't have to nag or cajole anymore and the only thing on at school are fun activities - sailing, swimming, arts, surfing.
A summer hiatus.
Monday, 4 June 2007
Exam time, cram time...but in which country?
The kid are studying right now for the big end of year exams. These results will help determine which school they go to, only the big question remains unanswered ... in which country?
How can I inspire them to study for exams when we are still in a muddle about where we will be living? The fact that we don't have a written contract yet is weird. Is the banker's employer they just dragging their heels and particularly slow, or is there a problem?
We have no idea and I am now so over this whole process. It has been about eight months of total uncertainty and confusion.
In the beginning, there was the talks with the kids about "we'll be leaving here soon" so we didn't book sumer holidays, sign up for school trips in 2008, make plans to bring family over because "who knows where we will be living?"
And of course all these conversations were parcelled up in bright tones and happy faces to try and inspire the children to look at this upheaval in a positive way.
"Won't it be so exciting?" And "Where would you like to move?" and "Won't it be fun to be somewhere new?"
The answers varied. Some times it was a very disgruntled and curt "no."
Other times there was some marginal excitement. If there was a bad day at school, then there was a definite "Yeah, I can't wait to leave here and the sooner, the better!"
After that we progressed to the "let's get things sorted out stage". We cleared out old papers, culled clothing that didn't fit and passed on toys that were of no use to hospitals and homes. We did inventories and started doing research on possible places and countries we may be relocating to.
Then we moved to the "let's make do stage".
"Sweetheart, I know your school uniform is a bit small but we can't really buy a new one for such a short period of time. You'll just have to make do until we get to the new place."
After that came the "let's eat everything in the freezer stage." This was shortly followed by the "let's drink everything in the drinks cabinet stage".
Baked beans, beetroot, canned tomatoes and rum cocktails for dinner. Very surreal meals have been gracing our dinner plates as we plough through odd cans, packets and bottles amassed over the last three years. Why did I ever buy so much miso? Or dandelion tea? How do I use mackerel, quinoa, and wakame all washed down with tequila, scotch and Kahlua.
Then we had the excitement stage "only two months and we should know something. Things are getting closer to a decision!"
"Soon we will know."
"Maybe next week we will know."
"Dont bother us, we'll let you know when we know!"
Then we had the "Oh my God I think we have an answer!" but this was almost immediately followed by the "let's wait till we have something in writing" stage.
We are still waiting though....
Now I am at the ostrich stage. I'm just going to ignore this whole messy, complicated, powerless, worrying, stressful, complicated process and carry on as though I am living here forever.
Large jars of peanut butter on sale at the supermarket? Yep, I'll buy two. New clothes? Yep bugger it, I'm buying new school clothes.
Drag me out when I am good and ready now.
You've mucked us around for far, far too long.
How can I inspire them to study for exams when we are still in a muddle about where we will be living? The fact that we don't have a written contract yet is weird. Is the banker's employer they just dragging their heels and particularly slow, or is there a problem?
We have no idea and I am now so over this whole process. It has been about eight months of total uncertainty and confusion.
In the beginning, there was the talks with the kids about "we'll be leaving here soon" so we didn't book sumer holidays, sign up for school trips in 2008, make plans to bring family over because "who knows where we will be living?"
And of course all these conversations were parcelled up in bright tones and happy faces to try and inspire the children to look at this upheaval in a positive way.
"Won't it be so exciting?" And "Where would you like to move?" and "Won't it be fun to be somewhere new?"
The answers varied. Some times it was a very disgruntled and curt "no."
Other times there was some marginal excitement. If there was a bad day at school, then there was a definite "Yeah, I can't wait to leave here and the sooner, the better!"
After that we progressed to the "let's get things sorted out stage". We cleared out old papers, culled clothing that didn't fit and passed on toys that were of no use to hospitals and homes. We did inventories and started doing research on possible places and countries we may be relocating to.
Then we moved to the "let's make do stage".
"Sweetheart, I know your school uniform is a bit small but we can't really buy a new one for such a short period of time. You'll just have to make do until we get to the new place."
After that came the "let's eat everything in the freezer stage." This was shortly followed by the "let's drink everything in the drinks cabinet stage".
Baked beans, beetroot, canned tomatoes and rum cocktails for dinner. Very surreal meals have been gracing our dinner plates as we plough through odd cans, packets and bottles amassed over the last three years. Why did I ever buy so much miso? Or dandelion tea? How do I use mackerel, quinoa, and wakame all washed down with tequila, scotch and Kahlua.
Then we had the excitement stage "only two months and we should know something. Things are getting closer to a decision!"
"Soon we will know."
"Maybe next week we will know."
"Dont bother us, we'll let you know when we know!"
Then we had the "Oh my God I think we have an answer!" but this was almost immediately followed by the "let's wait till we have something in writing" stage.
We are still waiting though....
Now I am at the ostrich stage. I'm just going to ignore this whole messy, complicated, powerless, worrying, stressful, complicated process and carry on as though I am living here forever.
Large jars of peanut butter on sale at the supermarket? Yep, I'll buy two. New clothes? Yep bugger it, I'm buying new school clothes.
Drag me out when I am good and ready now.
You've mucked us around for far, far too long.
Friday, 1 June 2007
We spoke too soon!!
Its all on again. We are still not sure what is happening and things are still in limbo. The fact that they haven't signed off on things even though they have done all the gentlemanly handshaking and back slapping is giving us cause for worry.
If we don't get a contract then where are we? Where are we living? And what are we doing? What is happening?
It's all on again.
Shit.
If we don't get a contract then where are we? Where are we living? And what are we doing? What is happening?
It's all on again.
Shit.
Unbelievable
The banker's employer drags their heels so much. I can't believe it. We are still waiting for this contract to be presented. Still waiting for them to get themselves in order so we can start the process.
Still waiting.
I feel like I have spent the last eight months waiting for them to get themselves organised.
I mean how difficult can it be? I have been organised for five international moves to be done at the drop of a hat. I have booked schooling in five countries, paid deposits,, checked out accommodation and organised immunizations. I have done full itineraries of the house labelling and quantifying everything. I have taken digital photos of every item, filed it by room and added a variable so it can be calculated according to currency changes. I have sorted out rooms, culled possessions and had car boot sales. I have prepared children, sorted guinea pigs and arranged dog vaccinations. I have alternative plans in every country of the world and, yep, we are still waiting for them to insert his name into an employment contract.
Sigh.
Still waiting.
I feel like I have spent the last eight months waiting for them to get themselves organised.
I mean how difficult can it be? I have been organised for five international moves to be done at the drop of a hat. I have booked schooling in five countries, paid deposits,, checked out accommodation and organised immunizations. I have done full itineraries of the house labelling and quantifying everything. I have taken digital photos of every item, filed it by room and added a variable so it can be calculated according to currency changes. I have sorted out rooms, culled possessions and had car boot sales. I have prepared children, sorted guinea pigs and arranged dog vaccinations. I have alternative plans in every country of the world and, yep, we are still waiting for them to insert his name into an employment contract.
Sigh.
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