This week.

It's a busy time of year here. I mark Maths SATS papers (that is year 9 - age 14 in the UK). I have received the training materials and will be going to the marker's training meeting on 6th May. I know that for most teachers marking is a chore, but I actually enjoy the challenge of getting this right. It covers a vast range of abilities - so includes deciphering bad handwriting, trying to fathom just what the pupil was trying to say or do, to quite high level maths for that age.

I will also be going into the school where I used to teach to discuss the training materials with an ex-colleague. This will be interesting but also quite strange. I will update that next week.

In the garden there is loads to do.

1. Broad beans and courgettes need planting out (they are hardened off).

2. Tomatoes need pricking out.

3. I need to plant some more peas - only 2 germinated and a slug/snail got on of them!

4. The morning glories are trying to escape - so need to be hardened off and then planted out. I'll probably plant some more seeds directly into the ground as well.

5. The veg plot needs some weeding, and the first few potato shoots earthed up.

6. The lefthandside border needs some serious attention - overgrown in places - and I'm not sure if the Clematis Montana is alive or not.

7. The front garden is looking really nice but needs weeding before it gets out of hand.

And of course there is maths to do (although I am well ahead) and housework to do! And tomorrow is daughter K's 16th birthday!!