Overeducated & Unemployable

We're currently putting the last bits and pieces in the car for the big trek West. We even have to do this thing with a car on a train through a tunnel under the sea. I'll see you all again at the other side of the water. I'm not quite sure when, but will let you know as soon as internet access is restored. Oxford isn't the end of the world and six weeks isn't that long. I'm not really looking forward to the months after those six weeks and the constant travelling between two countries, but we'll manage. It'll be an adventure!

P.S.: Anyone in the Oxford area who wishes to meet up, can contact me through franceslievens at gmail.com. I'll read my email frequently.

The tribute to Michael Jackson by Belgian radio station Studio Brussel got a bit out of hand. Eternal Moonwalk is taking over the web, and the viral campaign to make your own moonwalk-vid and post it to the site is travelling around the virtual globe.

A little letter from E., 10 years old, that came together with a present she gave me at the end of the school year:

"For the best teacher in the world who's sweet and who's fun. Who's that? Miss Frances."

Actually I need two bags. Not because the other ones are completely worn out, but simply because a girl never has enough bags, hasn't she?

Wait, that's wrong. Both bags have been carried around for years, and show the inevitable proof of being used. The messenger bag I take with me to music class comes undone at the seems. My school bag has one zipper that sometimes opens on its own. And now I want new stuff. I want perfect bags in which I fit everything, but not too much, that have compartments for my mobile phone, keys, purse... and that don't have me carrying an extra bag around to put my money in.

Maybe I should be more specific.

Bag number one is my music class bag, but sometimes doubles as an oversized handbag when I go shopping or go to the library. It has to carry several score books. Most of those are A4-sized (or a bit smaller). Eastpack carries several messenger bags, but none of those close well enough to secure your purse, keys and mobile phone in there. I always travel by public transport, during rush hour. Eastpack bags leave too much possibilities for the pick-pockets of Brussels. Now I've been looking at smallish laptop bags from Belkin (cheaper at Amazon), but maybe those scream too much "I've got a laptop inside me. Pick me! Pick me!" And really I don't want to loose my score books to some stupid thieving wanker...

On to bag number two: my every day school bag. Right now it's big and always filled to the brim with books, my binder with lesson plans, lunch, iPod, speakers... You name it, I've got it in my bag and more (I believe I've got a couple of dice in there as well). When I teach I'm some sort of Mary Poppins. But Mary Poppins never showed the load she was carrying. Miss Frances on the other hand, sometimes stoops from all the weight on her back. And on days she doesn't carry her lunch around her bag is only half filled. What do I need? A rucksack that has space for a binder and several books, is easy to carry, and again not easy on the pickpockets. I am considering buying a smaller model than I have now, and carry my lunch around in a different bag, just so I don't have the half filled thing on half filled days. By the way, my current school bag is responsible for my love for laptop bags. It's a Samsonite laptop rucksack. One of the first laptop travel bags from back in the days. It easily carries a 17" laptop. And weighs a ton to drag all the way to school when I take P.'s old 12" Powerbook with me.

So what do you recommend? Or what do you like to carry around?

frances_lievens is well aware that her default icon might be a bit too wintery for the time of year.

So I've got this really sweet and loveable daughter. She hardly ever cries and when something bothers her or she's woken up from a nap she simply whines a little while she waits for someone to come and get her.

But this weekend she's trying to drive me nuts! It seems she's come to realise that when Mama's gone she's, ooh, not there. So every time I leave her alone to go fetch something, and she can't see me any more, I end up with a screaming and crying baby. Probably the heat has made it worse, because she's tired of not having been able to sleep properly the last couple of days.
Added frustration is the fact that she can move about quite a bit (LB rolls over and then she can easily turn 360° on her belly), but she can't crawl. The only thing she manages in that department is pushing herself backwards. So whenever she wants to grab something that's just out of reach, she only ends up pushing herself further away from her toy. Enter frustrated cries and yelps. And Mama not knowing what's wrong with the little one.

She's asleep again now. Here's to hoping she's in a better mood afterwards.

Poopfest when Mama is trying to cook lunch and no-one in the house to take over...

The Summer started with too much laundry to iron, a messy desk that needs tidying and lots of cleaning to do preferably before we leave next week.

I've also got one tired kid sleeping in the next room and one too hot body wishing to do the same on the balcony.

In short: the holidays started wonderfully. I hope the same for you.

I listened to the first radio play I made with my 8-year-old pupils, and I sort of like it, in all its amateurism.

Last week of school is one of many things to do. My radio play is going well. I'm almost finished, but put many man hours into it. There's another one waiting for assembly, and CD's are to be written etc. etc. Much fun was had. I hope the kids will like it on Monday and Tuesday.

My Summer holiday starts on the 1st of July. It'll involve lots of packing and cleaning and laundrying. We'll be leaving for Oxford on the tenth. Anyone in the area who wants to meet up: please do contact me and we'll arrange something. We travel by car, so I can actually drive somewhere if that would be convenient.

The family is well, apart from that horrible cold doing the rounds. Currently I'm listening to the thunder before going to bed. Working late on the computer, has made me very awake.

And I had my hair cut today. It's short and breezy, and "très mignon" (according to the elderly lady at my hairdreser's).