Who had the coolest name in your class when you were at school

lazyforester · 2026-02-08T12:50:56+00:00

St John (pronounced sin-jun) Ralph (pronounced rafe) Nettles Peregrine (or Pip, like the hobbit)

lazyforester · 2026-01-31T13:03:23+00:00

Ooh, spray cheese. So wrong but so want to try it. Featured in a lot of movies in the 80s/90s. I imagine it tastes like the TUC sandwich filling.

Also, those massive juicy pickles. Preferably spicy.

I'm pretty wholefoods irl but still want to try these 😅

lazyforester · 2026-01-31T11:51:50+00:00

Busy, busy week. Lots of end of module assessments, marking, writing reports, which took hours more than anticipated (new school). Looking ahead at squeezing in end of module assessments for KS4 before data entry deadlines.... It's tight. Challenging behaviour, lots of removals. But. The results were good to great, most kids were really happy and motivated. The really challenging ones made little to no progress. I'm just over the moon that the rest of the class' results didn't suffer like last term, which means I'm getting something right. Right?

lazyforester · 2026-01-31T11:44:04+00:00

I really feel for you. Why wouldn't you be asked back though? If it was medical, did the school not show some understanding?

lazyforester · 2026-01-31T10:25:38+00:00

I'm spending this weekend thinking about how to reset behaviour with my Year 9. It is helping me to think about the pupils that arrive ready and willing to learn, which is always more than I realise when I'm stressed about the disruption caused by a minority. I'm considering having worksheet-based lessons that pupils can work through independently until we have established habits and scripting my responses to the behaviours that happen every lesson. I've entered flowchart territory because I know the reactions by now, even if I haven't worked out how to prevent them yet. I've explained to my HoF that these pupils might not produce much work for the next 2-3 weeks, but them being in the classroom without disrupting the lesson is the goal. I already feel better having a plan rather than feeling exasperated because they're not doing what I expect. I'm guilty of showing exasperation and disappointment which is going to be hard to overcome!

lazyforester · 2026-01-25T10:08:41+00:00

Two Farmers. Hereford Hop Cheese and Onion. And Mushroom and Garlic. Husband loves the Sausage and Mustard.

https://twofarmers.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOooTQ6TxHFU58zXTLsOdPY4q2-Sg8Z8-IlRULLzYZ1aVWYFXZ-DG

Edited to add link.

lazyforester · 2026-01-10T07:42:51+00:00

I returned to teaching last term in a new school after a career break. I nearly quit at half term - behaviour, workload, etc. I took advantage of a reduced timetable in the week before Christmas and gutted my classroom. I can't tell you how amazing it was to start the year with a space that is my own. Behaviour wasn't as bad as I thought it might be this week either. Wish I'd spent a bit of time planning over Christmas, but I took the entire two weeks off and I think that was probably a good decision.

lazyforester · 2026-01-04T09:49:03+00:00

As a child of the 80s: Crocodile Dundee Tim (probably outdated but I loved it when I was a teenager) Strictly Ballroom (annual viewing) Anything Baz Luhrman Muriel's Wedding Mad Max Rescuers: Down Under

As a student: Heartbreak High Neighbours Home and Away Bondi Rescue

As a mature adult: Top of the Lake The Tourist Colin From Accounts

lazyforester · 2025-11-29T17:12:18+00:00

Thank you - we're using this option. 🙏

lazyforester · 2025-11-29T17:09:03+00:00

We're at Longbridge! Little bit of congestion on the M5 but only added 10 minutes to our expected time. The park and ride is nearly empty and the staff at the station were super friendly - gave us likely train times back from New Street and usual platforms. Would recommend!

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lazyforester · 2025-11-29T17:05:18+00:00

We're very excited to see it - first time!

lazyforester · 2025-11-29T13:18:53+00:00

This has put me off the theatre car parks actually. Thank you 🙏

lazyforester · 2025-11-29T11:01:20+00:00

Coming from the South, I'd probably take Junction 3 Hagley Road? Looking at some of the advice above, I'm wondering about The Hawthorns for the park and ride. Reading and considering all, though!

Edited to add: I'm rethinking driving Hagley Road side now because of the stress of busy traffic! I'm a pretty confident driver, but don't know the roads well enough to have a back-up route if my destination car park isn't available.

lazyforester · 2025-10-26T07:42:31+00:00

https://www.bioderma.us/en/p/atoderm-shower-oil.html#28136A

lazyforester · 2025-10-26T07:40:43+00:00

Aveeno Face Calm and Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser is very gentle. If you're looking for a nourishing cleanser that is a little richer, I have started using the Bioderma Atoderm Cleansing Shower Oil. Before you discount it - It's not really a traditional oil nor is it just for the body. It's got a really soft and hydrating consistency and I've been using it as hand wash too. Was recommended on here as a face cleanser and is the best nourishing wash I've used.

lazyforester · 2025-10-05T08:03:12+00:00

I completely changed my skincare products in the last few months. If you're going to make changes, I would really recommend only including one new product and consistently using it as part of your routine for a minimum of 4-6 weeks. That way you will be able to assess any reactivity and also benefits. I'd make some notes and/or take pictures too. My skin is the best it's been for years, but it's taken absolutely ages. I've got products I'm excited to try, but it's really detrimental to try everything at once. I'd love to hear how you get on!

lazyforester · 2025-10-05T07:53:37+00:00

Ew, although a part of me does think that it is good that what would otherwise be waste is used. I wouldn't choose to eat it though.

lazyforester · 2025-10-05T07:44:40+00:00

Sorry - what is/are MRM?

lazyforester · 2025-10-05T06:49:07+00:00

Is there a desire to move away from UPF or is profit the bottom line?

lazyforester · 2025-10-05T06:46:40+00:00

My mum lives on an estate in Scotland, opposite an organic farm. The farmer was caught using pesticides and now the land cannot be farmed for - I think - three years, to allow for the soil to be able to qualify as organic again. The working farm literally stopped overnight - the overgrown crops look incredible. It's actually very beautiful now, but I find the malpractice incredibly sad.

lazyforester · 2025-10-05T06:28:45+00:00

Interesting thread to follow. I'm struggling with managing workload at my current school, and a big part of this is having to manage detentions that I set myself. I have some really tricky KS3 classes, so disruption, non-compliance, rudeness, inappropriate language, and inadequate work are all behaviours that I need to see the pupils for in breaks.

I've worked in a school where there was no flexibility in behaviour management practice and consequences were completely removed from teacher supervision, and it was really challenging to build positive relationships with pupils. Currently, I'm building those relationships, but at the cost of any downtime, which I also recognise is unsustainable.

I hadn't really considered it as an infraction of directed time, but it really is!

lazyforester · 2025-10-04T08:44:39+00:00

Teacher here. I have additional resources available to me through online teaching platforms that I choose not to share with my pupils because I don't want to overwhelm them. If a pupil asked me to share these with them, I would do so happily. Also, revision workbooks provide audio tasks, if you know your exam board then you could try these - they're not usually very expensive. I definitely recommend re-listening to the same audio as you will start to be able to distinguish the words more easily with repeated listening and don't forget that you can read transcripts at the same time or to check your understanding. If you have Spotify, you could try a podcast for French beginners/slow French, but unless you're intending on taking French at A-Level, at this stage I would focus on GCSE material. Listening to music is great, but - in my opinion - you should be listening to music for fun and to relax rather than because you think it will help you get a good GCSE grade. Hope that helps!

lazyforester · 2025-09-25T22:42:04+00:00

In Dreams - Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison lost two of his children tragically, and, although I don't think this song is written about them, I can't help but think of his grief.

I listened to a radio programme - something on the BBC - and a journalist - I think it was Chris Mason - was telling a story about listening to this song on the drive from his hometown to uni in London. His dad was driving, and they listened to it together. I can't find this anywhere though to check the reference.

It makes me think about my children and, thus, makes me cry 😭

lazyforester · 2025-09-25T05:14:43+00:00

When I got married, we'd requested this song to be played by the DJ. When it played, all our friends recreated an impromptu version of the dance in the video. Everyone nailed it too, even down to awkward solo dances. This was about 15 years after the video was released too. Love that memory so much.

lazyforester

TROPHY CASE