Happy birthday, Ciocia. Today you would have been 89. Aged about 2, in Lwów. Today’s date will stick in many Londoners minds, because of the London bombings 20 years ago. I remember the day well because I had taken some children on a school trip, and we were supposed to come back to school by […]Read Post ›
Looking at this bowl this morning as it catches and reflects the light in the most beautiful ways, I was reminded of my sojourn in Reggio Emilia about fifteen years ago. People who knew me then will roll their eyes at this point, because I returned from a week’s educational course so full of unbearable […]Read Post ›
The box I was looking in yesterday has brought up a load of memories. Those tropical brown sheets for a start. They were very expensive. I remember buying them as a little reward to myself for becoming Head of English at Ealing Green High School for boys in about 1990. This was taken in 1993. […]Read Post ›
For all my ex pupils I was a teacher for about 44 years. I started when I was still at school (in those days they didn’t have supply teachers, just willing sixth formers like me) and i loved the job most of the time. At first I taught mainly English to A level, then for […]Read Post ›
This photo came up in my Facebook memories today and it brought up many emotions and thoughts. I was a teacher for many years and from the turn of the millennium to 2014 I worked in a school for children with moderate learning difficulties. When I started there – I’ve written previously how that came […]Read Post ›
Christmas 2012 John pulling a cracker with “Magick” I first met John in 1992 in the grand educational establishment that was known as Walford High School. Set in the westernmost part of London, not the east end as you might expect, it was in many ways a nightmare of a school, but as a source […]Read Post ›
It is exactly six years since Sharon went to meet her maker. Not an expression I would normally use, but her faith was her driving force. Everything she did was for the gleaner glory of God – very unusual in this day and age – but she sowed love everywhere. Fiercely intelligent, ferociously clever, her […]Read Post ›
An ambition fulfilled. Today is the fourth anniversary of Sharon’s death. The last three years there was a lovely memorial mass said for her in Westminster Cathedral – her spiritual and dramatic home. Her funeral there was the biggest production she ever put on, and it was superb. I have written about it before I […]Read Post ›
So I intend to wallow in it. But this week has been busy too. Two days teaching French at the Guru Nanak School. I surprised myself by how much French I still remember – luckily I still know a bit more than any of the pupils I came across. But two days was enough! A […]Read Post ›
“You look so pretty/ In the dark.”/ Oh what a witty Deflating remark! “But you look pretty/ when it’s light.”/ Oh what a pity/ He is so polite. 2/6/78 Picture by Ben
Life Through Basia's Eyes 