Come on, come on, and tell me why you're staring...

"Teaching is the only major occupation of man for which we have not yet developed tools that make an average person capable of competence and performance. In teaching we rely on the "naturals," the ones who somehow know how to teach." - Peter F. Drucker (American educator and writer, 1909-)

Ok, first thing is an explanation of my title: it's a song by Smashmouth and I chose it because for about 4 hours a day, I have 20+ pairs of eyes staring at me, it's kinda eerie.

Next is the quote, which I know I don't normally explain, however in this case I feel I need to. I don't want you to read it and think "God, she's full of herself, thinking she's one of these "naturals" that Mr. Drucker speaks about". It's not that at all, being a natural is what I'm striving to do. I want to be good at teaching so badly and it's consuming my life. (Also you may look at that quote and think with a surname like Drucker, you might leave out that your middle intial is F).

I've been teaching now for almost 3 weeks and some days I leave school loving life, loving teaching, loving my pupils, and then there's other days where I'd want nothing more than to pack it in and go home to Canada. But that's what teacher's college is all about. I feel a joy when they understand something that I've taught them, when I watch them struggle and then I change tactics, and I watch the lightbulb go off and it's "Miss! I've got it!" (I now no longer just respond to Laura or Mulrine, my new names consist of either Miss or the Canadian Lady).

However, there's a flipside to this joy, and it's when kids just can't be bothered. It actually breaks my heart that they aren't interested in what I'm teaching, and it annoys me that for my older classes, they've made the choice to study history. They don't understand the importance of the First World War - they think I'm teaching them about machine guns or planes for the hell of it, when really I'm trying to point out that these were weapons of mass destruction killing thousands of people in minutes. But they don't care, they just complain that I make them write too much. Granted there is a lot of writing, but I fill the powerpoints with pictures and then one day a week we do no copying. Last Friday we watched a documentary - I'm comprimising. If I'm being honest, and perhaps I'll sound like a snob but I think history may be wasted on them.

I'm making it seem like doom and gloom, and it's not, it's just sometimes it gets you down. Everyone is telling me not to take it personally, but if we didn't take it personally we wouldn't be human. I did have a proper teacher moment the other day - this is the stuff that you would see in Dead Poet's Society or something, like if they ever make a film about my teaching career, this will be in it. I finished off a class on Trench Warfare talking about how poetry can be used as a primary source and can really aid in understanding history. I didn't choose the usual Dulce et Decorum est or Flanders Fields poetry of the male writers, instead I chose a female poet. I told the kids how women's poetry isn't as well regarded as the men's, how in some cases it isn't seen as literature, but it's still powerful nonetheless. I didn't think anyone was listening to me, but at the end of the class a girl came up to me and asked if I had any more copies of the book I read from. I told her it was my own personal one and she then wondered if she could borrow it because she was really interested in what I'd said. I could have hugged her! I ofcourse said yes and even showed her where I'd marked my favourite poems. I left the class on a cloud, 19 of those pupils might not have taken anything from what I told them, but that one girl, my saving grace was interested in what I had taught her.

So that's how my moods have been - up and down. It makes for a very tiring life. I rarely get to bed before 2am because I'm always putting lessons together. Somedays I don't even get changed I just fall onto my bed and sleep for a few hours. Tonight I finished early and that's why you get a blog entry!

In other news, I finally got a job. I'm working as a host in TGIFriday's right in the town centre. I get to be happy and cheerful all the time and show people their seats. This isn't really a problem for me because I'm generally pretty happy!

I have some new pictures of my niece Frances - she is beautiful and so alert. She totally knows someone is taking a photo of her! Wise beyond her years - and she has my nose :)

So here' s some photos of Frances and I think I may have some of my new nephew Aydan.

Hail! Hail! The Celts are here - and so was I because I've got a season ticket!!

“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” - Bill Shankly (Scottish Football player and manager, 1913-1981)

So I have a season ticket for Celtic Park, and it is honestly one of the best things that has ever been given to me. It is a dream come true. Celtic is my true love and the thought that I get to watch them every week live is simply incredible to me. I've been to four matches now since I've been in Glasgow and my seat is amazing. It's 5 rows behind the Celtic end in the Jock Stein stand. I'm dead centre. If I were to shout to Artur Boruc, he'd hear me. I'm just posting all of my pictures from today's match which we won 4-0!!

Glorious Celtic Park

Scott McDonald

Shaun Maloney warming up.

Scott McDonald again (I love him).

Georgios Samaras

Samaras again

McDonaldDarren O'Dea warming up.

Celtic players.

The Holy Goalie.

The Holy Goalie again!

Hail! Hail!

At first I was afraid, I was petrified, kept thinking I could never live without you by my side...

"Never forget the days I spent with you. Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours." ---Ludwig Van Beethoven (German Composer, the predominany musical figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic era. 1770-1827).

This week has been the first week since I've been in Glasgow that I was not heartsick for St.FX. I thought of my friends there often (as I always do), but I wasn't wishing that I was there with them. The reason for this is that I have made a wonderful group of new friends. For weeks I walked around this place meeting people, but not really making friends as such. This has never happened to me before - I've always made friends really easily, and up until last week I felt as if my social sense had stayed on the plane in Nova Scotia.

And yet this week it all seemed to click. I must admit that I went out quite a bit, and alcohol was consumed, but I had an incredible time.

Tuesday: a girl from history was celebrating her birthday so they texted me to come over to the pub across from our building for a drink. So I went over and there were a few from our class there. We went up to Strathclyde Uni's student union where there were super cheap drinks. We stayed out for ages, and then people had to catch the last train. However, now that I live in halls and not so far out, I didn't have to get a train. So Irish Brendan (there were two Brendans and since he was from Ireland...) and I decided that we would stay out (note: I'd only met him that day). We went back to Strathclyde and had such a laugh! I didn't have lectures the next day but poor Brendan did and he went to his 9:00am class - well done! The next day my mobile inbox was full of texts asking how I was feeling and about what a great night it was.

Wednesday: Celtic were playing in the Champions' League so I went to the pub to watch the game. I didn't drink though because although I wasn't hung over from the night before, I just couldn't face it. I went with some of the other Canadians and was gutted when Celtic failed to produce anything more than a draw.

Thursday: I had an English seminar where I'd been put in a group with a girl called Mairead. You know when you just click with someone? That's what happened with us. We decided to go for a coffee after class, but actually ended up going for a drink near my flat. 3 Strongbows later on my part, and 3 glasses of wine for Mairead left us feeling giddy and we decided to call it a night!

Friday: we usually go out for drinks after history finishes at 5, and this week was no exception. Especially since we found out our school placements this week and won't be in uni for two weeks. Although Mairead isn't in history, her good friend Colm is, and so she came with us, because I invited her. Again we had a fabulous night. The girls and I were sharing pitchers of a cocktail called French Kiss and it was devine! I would definitely recommend it, and would have it again. Irish Brendan was there too and he thought I'd be staying out all night again, but I showed self-restraint and only stayed out until around 1, when Mairead, Colm and I found a place open late to get food. This is my mistake, I don't eat anything before I go out, and am left starving at around midnight. However, this place we went to (I'm ashamed to say I can't remember where it was!) was just what the doctor ordered (if of course there was such a doctor who prescribes greasy food after mass consumption of alcohol). Colm and I both had pizzas which we shared and all was right in the world, or atleast our bellys.

I decided to take it easy today/night because I start my school placement on Monday (EEEEKKK!) I'm going to St. Thomas Aquinas for two weeks just to observe various history classes. I will then return to this school in November where I'll actually be teaching (if you can believe it after all my boozing last week!) I am incredibly nervous about Monday, and am going on a trial run tomorrow to make sure that I can find it properly. I was asking other people if they were nervous and one of my friends (yay I can say that now lol) was able to put what I was feeling into words. She said that it's so nerve-wracking because we've wanted to do this all our lives. Now, we're being given the chance, and what if we fail? What will we do if we can't hack it as a teacher? When she said this I thought EXACTLY!! That's what I've been feeling. Hopefully, I'll be ok!

In other news, I have a new nephew!! He's called Aydan and (from pictures) is lovely! My heart breaks that both Frances and Aydan will be nearly a year when I see them for the first time, but I'm living the dream in Scotland and I'm learning that if I keep focussing on these things, then I'm only going to hinder my chances of success here.

Aydan Jonathon Flynn Gorman

Proud Papa giving Grover a puff of the cigar (children avert your eyes).

The loves of my life, Shayla, Tayler and Aydan (Frances is sadly not in this pic).

Papa with his first grandson - and after 4 daughters, and 3 grandaughters, this must be very exciting for him!

I fully intend to write an entry about my flat and my flatmates, but I would like to have pictures to accompany this, and with the state of my room at the moment, it ain't gonna happen! I'll also write about my walk to uni and that will be picture heavy because it's really a beautiful spot. I have to walk through a park and there's a war memorial that I get to go past every day.

Now, I hope that after reading about my joy at making friends that you, my old friends don't feel you are not important to me. It was just this past Monday that I received a call from James, and then another call from James and the girls and it made my night! I will always need you, will always need to talk to you, and to find out how things are going with you. All I'm saying is that I don't wake up every day now wishing I was back in the Nish. I guess I had to go through a patch of growing pains, but I'm very thankful that it's over! I'm back to the Laura I know, the one who'll talk to people on buses, smile at strangers, make friends in two seconds - and I'm the favourite Canadian!

Baby when you're gone...

“A baby is God's opinion that life should go on.” - Carl Sandburg (American Historian, Poet, and Novelist, 1878-1967)

I am over the moon right now. I am the proud auntie of one Frances Kate Gill, to be affectionately known as "Frankie". I am absolutely gutted that I can't actually see her in person as she's in Edmonton, but I have pictures on my computer and my ipod so I can look at her whenever I want. And now, through technology so can you....

I meant to put loads of pics in here, but for some reason it won't let me, might be my internet connection, so you can all just enjoy this one!

Who says you can't go home?

"You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." - Samuel Johnson (English poet, critic, and writer. 1709-1784)

I arrived in London Heathrow Airport and was soooooo excited. I walked through arrivals and found Alison with a "Welcome Home" banner, and cards from the other girls who couldn't be there. In a way it was a homecoming because London was my home for just under a year, the same way the Nish was my home for 3 years, Innisfil was my home for 15 years, and Glasgow will be my home. I stayed with Alison and it was so great to catch up with her. She is one of those people that I wish I'd met on my first day in England, instead of all the way into second term.

Maya came over that night and after much screaming we finally went for something to eat. It was as if no time had past - a true measure of friendship.

I met up with the girls at Covent Garden for the night market and had such a good time - great food, great shopping, great friends. We found a tea stall and I bought Chocolate Flake tea, and Maya bought, are you ready for this? Popcorn tea!! I'm posting the link for this site because there are so many different/unique teas out there, and if you want some I can try and get it for you.

http://www.teapigs.co.uk/tea/black-tea/chocolate-flake-tea/

Alison and I outside Covent Garden market - this pic took many attempts as people kept walking past and I kept laughing. Maya was nearly run over so that I could have a pic in my blog.

We continued our tour of London and had a blast. London at night is so beautiful, so many lights and things happening. Truly never a dull moment.

Canada House

On my last day, Alison and I, being the history fiends that we are, went to Hampton Court - Henry VIII's home on the range. First, we walked through a park where the deer are the descendants of those that Henry would have hunted. They truly rule the roost around there, and while somewhat fenced in, they just climb under and walk across the cricket pitch.

Hampton Court is incredible. (sidenote of irony, I'm watching The Tudors right now!) We went through the maze there and got only slightly lost.

Alison getting "lost".

Me after defeating the maze.

I also got to visit Mr. Toby Lester whilst in Twickenham, and again it was as if nothing had changed. We talked about nothing of any importance and just got caught up. I even scored a hug out of it.

I had a bit of a struggle getting from Richmond station to the Victoria coach station. I took the tube to Victoria rail station but then had to walk with 2 suitcases, my backpack, laptop bag and purse to the coach station. I was sweating bombs and then had to sit on the bus for 9 hours to Glasgow. The high point of my journey? I met Lucy from Brittany. We sat on the bus together and thanks to her ability to speak English (despite my poor French) we kept each other company.

I arrived in Glasgow just before 8:00am and after being ripped off by a black hack taxi, I made it to Cumbernauld safe and sound.

Peace out brusselsprouts!
(Entry about Glasgow to come soon - I've already given you two what more do you want?)

It was my party and I almost cried because I wanted to....

“All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.” - George Harrison

This will be a very short blog about my birthday (and the shortness is in no way a relection on the wonderful time I had). I left for Nova Scotia on Friday Aug. 8th, well that's when I was supposed to leave. However, since I hadn't slept the night before, I fell asleep the moment I got on the plane, woke up 45 minutes later, and we still hadn't left the runway. Apparently there was something wrong with the brakes so we had to get off the plane and board a new one. I wouldn't of minded but my lovely friends Mick and Scott were already at Halifax airport, but since as I've mentioned that they are lovely, they waited around until 2:00am and we got a hotel room in Dartmouth.

The next day - which was my 22nd birthday, started off with a road trip back to the Nish for one last farewell. We stopped at Swiss Chalet (mouth watering at the thought of that chicken) for a birthday lunch. When we got to Mick and Scott's place, Mick gave me a wonderful birthday present. It was a book of photos of St.FX that she'd taken. I seriously show it to everyone so they can understand why I loved that school so much (however, upon taking a tour of my new uni, it might rival X in terms of architecture). And finally, the piece de la resistance was the birthday cake. I have never seen a cake like this in real life. It's the kind of cake you would see in a movie that looks so delicious and yet they blow out the candles and never actually eat it.

If I could see your faces at this moment in time, I know jealousy would be written right across them.

We met up with Drew and Syl for dinner at BP the next night, and then had lunch with them again and BREANNE!!! Throw a few Star Wars movies into the mix, and it was easily one of the best birthdays I've ever had. I was worried as this was my first birthday away from home (yes I'm a big baby), but my friends made it incredible.

I was sad to leave the Nish again, and as usual, tears were a must for the occasion. However, this adventure in the Nish laid rest to my fears of my friends moving on without me. I know they will grow and change, and I won't be there to see it all, but our bond and relationship will never change.

Just sit back, relax and enjoy

"How full of trifles everything is! It is only one's thoughts that fill a room with something more than furniture." - Wallace Stevens (American poet whose work explores the interaction of reality and what man can make of reality in his mind. 1879-1955).

Here it is, the much anticipated blog about my recliner. I love this chair more than any other piece of furniture. It resided in my family room for over a year and oh how I coveted it. I was so pleased when we got the new couch because that meant that the little recliner that could would become a permanent fixture in my very own room.

I used this chair to watch several episodes of American Dreams, and also used it to play super nintendo, yes I kicked it old school, and yes I won. Super Tennis was my game of choice, and I could beat the computer every time, I'm that good. I stayed up super late playing this game, but it was so worth it. A dose of childhood before I enter into the real world.

This is my game...

This is my chair...

My next entry will be about the wonderful birthday I've had, but I'm kind of tired right now and wouldn't be able to do it justice.