Monday 20th May

We’re all up early this morning, and after breakfast variously consisting of cereal, toast, croissants, tea and juice, ready to face the day. The Perry household uses a teapot at breakfast and has done for a few years now. It used to be just Mrs P and me which means we got a mug and a half each. Recently the eldest has joined us in the morning tea ritual which means it’s now one mug each. It’s lovely to see her growing up and getting new tastes, but she is in danger of generating a tea addiction, especially when at home revising. Still, as a parent of a teenager I’ve got to be pleased if that’s the worst it gets.

I’m invigilating this morning and we’ve got c120 kids in for English Literature. They are well behaved and the time passes smoothly. It must be a reasonable exam as most are writing until close to the end. Then I’m off to see a friend whose birthday it is, to treat him to a birthday coffee. Nothing too flash mind, so we’re in a local Mac’s (coffee only, no food) and once again astounded by the amount of trade they’re getting. Lots of workmen, business people and young families.

After lunch with Mrs P and the eldest who had General studies AS level this morning, which meant she left the house this morning carrying all of two black biro’s, I’m back to invigilation. It’s Biology this afternoon, for which in addition to a black pen you need a calculator and a ruler. Out of c60 kids, half don’t have a ruler and half don’t have a calculator, and some don’t have either. Baden-Powell would be turning in his grave.

The ailing one came out of hospital today. Just four days after a triple heart bypass he is home. Great news for him after exactly four weeks in hospital, and great news for mum who doesn’t have to travel for visiting every day. Modern medicine really can be wonderful, in days gone by in his situation, you’d more than likely have been dead sooner rather than later. I pop round to visit and he’s looking ok given what he’s been through, now it’s just a case of taking one day at a time.

In the evening Mrs P and I are off to the theatre to see Priscilla Queen of the Desert, with Jason Donovan no less, and it’s a delight. As camp as christmas and great fun, I find myself alternately laughing out loud and singing along, a very nice evening out for us.

The teenagers are of an age they can happily be left together, and we reuturn to find the youngest has emptied the dishwasher and set the table for breakfast. Now we just need to work out how to get his sister that well trained.

Yours singing along to disco.

Jay