I was fretting about a photo and I suddenly thought…hell, why not? It’s not a school night, in fact there are no school nights for nine days. It’s half term here in Blighty and I intend to have a few days off. After all, I have been driven into the ground for this course and sooner or later, you have to kick back a bit and relax.

It’s going to be nine days before I see my little people again and I’m worried they may have forgotten me in the meantime. I’m also scared my teaching skills will have been obliterated in the interim. My limited competence is not yet good enough to survive a gap of this length! Yesterday, a little soul put up her hand and waited patiently to be chosen to speak. When she did, she said “Mrs Mingay, I LOVE your topic lessons. I have learned so many exciting things about Brazil.” Honestly! I could have scooped her up and hugged her for giving me a boost to my poor, crushed, battered and bruised confidence. There is no chance that a trainee teacher could ever develop ego problems – you are stamped on so often you spend most of every day licking your wounds and worrying whether your injuries are life-threatening.

The reason for this line of soldiers is that when I asked Clazuk what her new man drank she said “beer… he’s not fussy but I made him drink Doom Bar and he liked it”. On the basis that if he liked Doom Bar he’s going to like this, coupled with the fact that it’s on special offer in Aldi at £1.25 a bottle (super BIG bargain), so I despatched DM off to purchase some for our guest to enjoy…only hope there is some left by then – I’m in the mood for some serious R&R tonight. I have earned every moment and every sip.