The Return

 And just like that government announced we're all headed back to school and tomorrow is suddenly my last day of this "term". Earlier this week is was projected that my class would resume back in the classroom at the end of October. Well that has all changed, yet again and I now will start with everyone else on the 14th of October. To begin with I was told I would only get one week's break while everyone else gets two. I'm afraid I dug my heels and insisted I also get two weeks. My class don't write the government exam ZIMSEC or the Cambridge exams so at this point it really doesn't make a difference to them if we have two weeks and I need the break!! As do they. They were a rebellious bunch in the first term (uprisings usually only happen in the third term from my past experience of grade sevens but my lot started being mutinous in February!)

So tomorrow I go into school and collect this week's marking but I don't have to do a Zoom class or distribute work for the weekend or next week. The school has to be sanitized and it looks like I have to have a test for COVID. I then have to get my head around planning for a fourth term. This school year feels like it will never end. I am keen to maybe try get away to Nyanga or the Vumba before school reopens. I really would love to get out of Harare. Will see. Feels like Zim is getting into mode for 'normality'. We see what happens. My sister is wanting us to think about using our flights booked for the UK. The UK though has gone back into lock down again and we have to pay a top up on our tickets. A return ticket on Ethiopian Airways is currently at US$ 3500. I guess if more travel paths open up the price should come down, but that is pretty steep right now.

I am dog sitting currently and enjoying walks with Snowy, the black setter like pup. It is nice to have my own space and the uncapped wifi is a definite bonus. Have got into the Netflix series The Crown. Although it is a little weird to watch someone who is still alive's life being portrayed. 

Mojitos or mosquitoes and my sister has a baby

 My week definitely improved since my last post and it ended on a good note, with a trip out to Wild is Life with the children I au pair for a ninth birthday party. We saw Marimba the pangolin and fed the giraffes and had a yummy tea on the lawns of the sanctuary under tents. I wished I had taken my proper camera rather than just using my phone. Hindsight is a wonderful and frustrating thing.

Our school might not start back in the classroom until after the planned October break. This suits me, although online is just not working for some of my students and it is really going to be hard trying to work with what we have to the end of the year. It does look like I might be au pairing in the afternoons which would be good. I might have to do my personal training in the early morning before school - eeek. Will be a long day, we'll see.

Am house sitting again as sadly a friend has cancer and has to go down to Joburg for treatment. It was touch and go getting clearance to travel down as the borders are still closed with COVID but they left today. I was on stand by since Thursday. Am looking after Snowy the dog and the twelve chickens. Snowy is getting used to me. They have uncapped wifi so I can watch Netflix and play music on YouTube - nice!

Had a friend's birthday braai this afternoon in Pomona. Was nice and chilled and she made very yummy mojitos at the end. Left before the others as had to feed Snowy and put the chickens in the coop. Got back to a message from my sister which simply said they now have a baby!? So they have been wanting to have a cat for a while and finally bit the bullet today and got a kitten. Haha, not a new niece or nephew but it may take that unofficial status. No name as yet.

Uncertainty

 This last week has been a hard one. My anxiety came back, along with a dose of depression. It looks like schools are starting to reopen with exam classes coming back. While this is necessary and needs to happen it also spells out the end of my job in Borrowdale Brooke and my better salary. This has left me feeling very low and a bit panicky about what next. I am also feeling a bit worn out from having to just keep going. I got some reprieve when the family in Borrowdale Brooke asked if I would consider doing the au pair job in the afternoons when schools go back. This did significantly lift some of my worry. It is going to be a juggle though and will have to work out when I will be able to fit in photocopying. It looks like two more weeks of online learning and then I am back in the classroom.