Multi-tasking

It's a habit I got into in my teens, when I regularly did my homework whilst also watching the television, much to the disapproval of my parents, and maybe they were right. Maybe if I hadn't,  I would have ended up with three 'A' levels at grade A and gone on to be a brain surgeon - or maybe not, but I have continued with the habit ever since. During the years when I was working full time and had four growing children, plus a dog, two cats and numerous rabbits and other small vertibrates, it seemed the only way to get everything done in the measly twenty four hours a day, seven days a week that I was allocated but, truth to tell, I still find it amazingly difficult to focus on one thing at a time. Even accepting that we women find multi-tasking so much easier than mere men - yes, Yorkshire Pudding, it's true so live with it! - I can see that concentrating on one thing at a time would probably be a better way to go. At least that way, when I asked Keith a question, I would actually listen to the answer and not have to repeat the question five minutes later.
Anyway, this morning, after the usual dog-walking duties, I have been mainly listening to Radio 4, drinking coffee, responding to emails, in between reading blogs, stroking dogs and buying and downloading 'Clever Dog'  by Sarah Whitehead for my Kindle via Whispernet.
And the handy thing about a Kindle is that you can be reading it while you are waiting for the kettle to  boil and listening to the 1947 film of 'Brighton Rock' by Graham Greene.
Yes, I know - doing everything at once and nothing well...

Teddy

Elder Daughter found this little fellow while doing a clear out at her house over the weekend. This was her first teddy, made and given to her by my mum, who at the time, did a lot of soft toy making. He's looking rather worse for wear now but he is over thirty years old and got a lot handling in his early days, hence the loss of an eye and the almost disappearance of his nose. Hopefully, he will once more have pride of place somewhere in her house!

OFSTED cometh

Actually OFSTED has already been - to Younger Daughter's place of work, a high school in the Gateshead area. They had been expecting it and, as these days, only a few days notice is given, the staff had been preparing since September. They and the support team from the local authority felt that the school was performing well and indeed, the last inspection had resulted in their being graded as 'good'. but things have changed. Under the new inspection framework, whereas 'satisfactory' used to mean 'good' (Don't ask!), now it means 'unsatisfactory' and as their grade this time round is 'satisfactory', which means it isn't, they can look forward to another inspection in 12 to 18 months. Even if they had got another 'good' it wouldn't be any help to them, as Michael Gove has indicated that schools have to continually improve. How that plays out when they get to an 'outstanding' is a point for discussion.

It seems that the staff of the school overwhelmingly felt that the OFSTED team were inconsistent in their approach and are feeling pretty annoyed at the whole experience to say the least, but I have to feel a strong sense of pride in the way Younger Daughter has picked herself up (her only gripe was that she didn't get any feedback!) and made a list of all the things she and her department need to do before the next visitation.

You see, if that were me, I would be saying something along the lines of "Sod 'em!"

Which could explain why I never got further than deputy head...!

The kid

Looks so cute and innocent here, doesn't he? He isn't!

I think Jenny's too busy to write posts at the moment - I've heard her mutter darkly about Jake going back to where he belongs (wherever that is), as she mops up yet another of his 'little accidents' on the dining room floor. What's the problem with him? He's six, for heaven's sake; that's middle aged in dog terms and at that age, he should have perfect control of his bladder - like me. 

Mind you, that's not all. He's quite sneaky too. Last week, Jenny caught him nicking one of the TV remote controls and hiding it in his basket and then there was the incident the other day. Keith has an electric massage thingy for his legs, which he had left on the floor under NASA, still plugged in and guess what the canine idiot did? He decided to have a chew on the lead and nearly electrocuted himself!

Guess he won't be doing that again in a hurry!

The aftermath

This is how it looks here after the two (separate) walks, Paddy whining at the window while I take Jake out, a hectic charge around the living room, play-fighting with Paddy's orange rope and a lengthy scuffle around Keith's legs.

Peace at last!

I did take them both out together the other day.

I won't be doing that again in a hurry!

Customer service

This is a guide for all postal delivery services and in particular, good old Royal Mail and Parcel Force:

1.  When delivering a parcel, ensure that you don't actually make contact with the door knocker or bell and that you manage to post a 'you were out' card before the householder has any chance of spotting your presence. It is even better if you can arrange for this to happen on two consecutive days.
2. Ensure that information on the  card states that the parcel cannot be picked up within the next twenty four hours   (no need to say the postman is taking it home to bed with him.) 
3. Even better, state that the householder cannot arrange for re-delivery but must traipse all the way to whichever post office the delivery man has decided to take it to, to pick it up in person.
4. If you are going to allow the householder to ring up and arrange for re-delivery, ensure that it is impossible to get through on the 0845 number you provide and play an annoying message every few seconds suggesting that arrangements can be made online.
5. When the householder finally gives up and goes online, as suggested, it is vital that you make sure that the website is 'experiencing problems' and that it is thus impossible to use.
6. Finally, if you have required the householder to go to collect the parcel, probably at some inconvenience, make sure you have a bright yellow sticker plastered all over it with the logo 

CONVENIENT DELIVERY

Oh, and next time you appear at that address, make sure you are wearing your hard hat.

We do not forget!

Hi speed train?

"Birmingham to London - 45 minutes!" announced the newsreader proudly on this evening's news.

Wrexham to Mold (by bus) - 45 minutes.

Chez Jennyta to Wrexham (provided you manage to find a bus) 45 minutes.

Main road through mid Wales - practically a country lane.

You get the idea?

Of course, it makes complete sense to chuck so many millions at one, single route just to shave about 20 minutes off the journey time. Oh, and they will be extending that to Manchester and Leeds in due course, when they get round to it.

For the rest of us, back to pony and cart, I guess...