How can May already be in its last days? It’s all very strange here. Cold, grey, frigid winds at this time of year… “Ne’er cast a clout ‘til May be out!” springs to mind, which I believe is an old northern phrase for “Don’t remove any items of clothing until May is finished”. They had a good point back then.
Following our good old roadmap to the new normal… Yes, it’s been weird trying to get back to normal-ish as well. More traffic on our inadequate roads… more teaching work coming – and going. I turned up at a school today to be met by politely managed turmoil and an apology. I wasn’t needed; the school had to close because of a burst water main!
Also, sadly it seems I’m the last of my agency's supply teachers at my regular school, and they won’t be needing me after next week. Seems the impact of their interventions isn't what they'd hoped for, or maybe Covid “Catch-up” funds for schools isn’t stretching very far. Some children are very far behind and the little ones have missed out on crucial months of socialising, routine building and general development. It's a trying time for the profession.
So, I’m keeping my spirits up in various ways. Looking forward to a day (fingers crossed) at a school in my old home town. Hoping that I will get more full-day assignments rather than afternoons, which seem to swallow my entire days. I’m not sorry to be losing the planning which has been time consuming and one of the many reasons I’ve developed such a jaded stance towards our education system. Yes, even in my nice little Primary Art gig, I’ve worked late into the evening on a number of occasions.
The biggest positive is that I will get more time to spend in HQ making beautiful pictures and working on growing my business. After six months of hesitation, thought and careful adjustments, I finally finished my Edward Van Halen portrait today and it was worth the extra time to get his expression just right. Now I just need a bright, dry day to get the best possible photograph of him ready to send off to be printed. What else? I’m wrestling with angles and proportions in my Highlander tribute, trying to work out how best to approach Jimmy Page’s guitar, and planning and scheming for future projects.
It’s a balance – doing what I love and what makes me really happy, and doing what I can to generate income. Access To Business are constantly helpful and amazing. They are based in Wolverhampton so if you’re Black Country based and looking to become self-employed, do contact them. https://access2business.co.uk/ I’m on a mission to get a proper handle on how I can better use my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Helenbenj and Access To Business (A2B) courses are helping me.
So – another weird year it seems, and another case of things going/not going to plan. Much pulling up of socks, stiff upper lip and best foot forward…
“We will meet them in battle nonetheless!”
