All done!

I finished my Cert. course yesterday, and am now a fully qualified teacher of English as a foreign language.

Not only did I not screw up, they've offered me a summer job! Enrolment isn't as high as they were expecting so it's only for two weeks, but it's a start. I should really get my arse in gear and apply for other summer school positions because they probably do exist, even at this late date.

That means the CV needs a total re-write, which will have to wait till I've had a few more days doing as little as possible (and sleeping as much as possible).

It's bizarre - I've spent more years than I can count messing up everything I go near, and failing to complete anything that involves any kind of effort. So being able to handle the workload more competently than younger, more healthy, people, actually enjoying teaching and being good at it were somewhat - unexpected.

I didn't even lose it when it started raining in the bathroom in last Sunday's deluge. As many of you know, usually the slightest sign of water leakage turns me into a quivering wreck. I got Jason to clean up the mess and finished up my learner profile assignment.

I got to "fly solo" (teach unobserved and unassessed, at a level I've never taught before) on Wednesday and it went just fine. So fine, in fact, that I'm doing it again next Wednesday.

I've not only got back the confidence the last decade or so has knocked out of me, I suspect I have more confidence than I've ever had before. I might even start writing again, because my brain clearly isn't as dead as I think it is.

As soon as I've had some serious rest, that is.

[book 2007] More John Connolly, Arturo Perez Reverte & a FantasyCon gamble

I did actually read some books during the course, what with all that time I had to spend on the bus every day:

27. Every Dead Thing by John Connolly
The first Charlie Parker novel. Unremittingly grim, but damn good. Pretty much par for the course with the Parker series.

28. The Flanders Panel by Arturo Perez Reverts
I think I have scathe to thank for alerting me to the existence of this book some years ago. It was finally in the library at the same time as I was recently. It's Damn Fine, with two really good mysteries - the characters have to unravel the secrets behind a 15th century painting, and then start to get bumped off. It all revolves around chess, which is something I Just Don't Get, but that didn't get in the way of enjoying the book. I found the end somewhat disappointing, so it hasn't bumped The Seville Communion (same author) off its place as my second favourite book os all time.

29. Rough Cut by Gary McMahon
I picked this novella up at FantasyCon because I liked the look of the cover art. This turns out to have been a good move - although there's not a lot to it, it's really creepy. Haunted disused insane asylum, satanic rituals performed by the makers of bad 70s horror movies and a hidden film that could end the world - what more could you want?