Purple gloves, a challenging book and the reality of life

Hi you gems

This comes with much love for 2008 and hoping that I will see some of you for coffee, tea, cakes, wine and lunch in the coming year.

I know there is a massive gap between this blog posting and the last, but actually it has been one of the worst starts to a year that I have ever experienced. This is primarily because a former colleague, who was my line manager, died after being ill for ten days and I, along with so many others, was devastated. I loved her to bits and frankly I owed her so much. We as a Department would never have accomplished what we did without her. She was a remarkable person and her sons captured the essence of her so well, as did the deputy head who shared an office with her. There have been so many others too and it has left me feeling exhausted mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally.It seems apt that I have been reading Pete Greig's book God on Mute which I would strongly recommend, as he does not pull any punches! Just as it should be. I also saw Shadowlands with about 50 others in London and would recommend it. As we walked over the bridge near the Novello, we saw the wheel, and the Theatre, whose name escapes, me all bathed in purple, the Oxo building in green and St Pauls looking ethereal ( spelling?). How cool is that!

You might know that I felt since 6th February 2007 that I would continue at Dr Challoner's but never knew how it would happen. Anyway it has and I have all new classes since January and, as I have an appalling memory I have become very frustrated by my inability to remember names. This is from someone who USED to have 1000 names and faces in her head. It must be an age thing!!

I also celebrated a year at the school recently and asked people to wear purple and some did including tights, ties, shirts, scarves etc. I also took some wine in, or rather the bursar provided it, and I paid for it. I have also given out about 60 marbles to people as they are complete gems and, as I cannot give gems, they have purple, green and blue marbles. No doubt some of them think I really HAVE lost my marbles but who cares!!



I have emailed Thuzar to see whether Burma is feasible in either Easter or summer. I want to go to Chin State so we shall see if you know WHO is in it. I could do with a Burma fix and miss it so much. There is so much going on there but, as blogs are being clamped down on there, and people are being arrested I must refrain from saying all I want to say.


I have been watching the Choir which is a great programme. At the moment they are in Cambridge and, as I was there on Friday seeing the amazing Claire and David and meeting Beth and her fiance Tim for the first time, it seems appropriate to be writing this now. They are singing Handel at the Albert Hall and he is so uplifting as a composer. I often listen to him or Bach whilst walking to get a lift at 6.55 a.m with the birds singing in the background on frosty mornings!


I am on half-term this week so that has been good to have some chill out time as I was emotionally rung out.It has been a real joy to catch up with some friends I have not seen for months so thankyou Lisa, Janette and Janet for meeting me. I was also in London for lunch and found an absolutely gem of a classical CD store recommended by a colleague's husband at school. It is Harold Moore's in Great Marlborough Street at the side of Liberties in London. I bought Monteverdi, Allegri and Palestrini on the same CD for a bargain. Two trips to the Grove IN THE SAME DAY for a cuppa on sunlit days were also uplifting too.

Yesterday I was in Berkhamsted seeing a colleague for lunch. I do not know her well, but she is chilled, incredibly efficient and has a great sense of humour. I also spotted a book which I will not tell you the title, but it is challenging me big time!

I wonder how many of you know who this lady is! She is Evelyn Barberolli who died recently at 94 and of course she was married to John but was an accomplished oboist in her own right. Qualities such as generosity, modest, without affectation, shiningly honest, vivacious, warm, great sense of humour and loving came up time and time again. I want to know more about her and will look out for a biography or even better an autobiography of seemingly a remarkable lady.

So to the purple gloves!You may remember that I had a pair of purple gloves which my sister gave to me and I lost them! If anyone has them let me know! One Saturday I was in a shop in Watford and found a pair in my size but felt I should not buy them as I had just received loads of things for Christmas. I put them back and forgot about them and did not say anything to anyone. On Sunday morning a parcel arrived through the letter box from one classy amazing friend and what should be inside but the PURPLE GLOVES!! N had seen them a few hours after I had seen them and thought I would like them. WHAT an INSPIRATIONAL choice!!

So I am sorry this is not the happiest of blogs but all will be well. Gratitude is such a key in life and I have so much to be grateful for, including all you amazing people.
Take care
Much love as always,
Flissxxx