Going to the docs

When you go to the doctor here, you also get the drugs included in the cost of the consultations (about 4 pounds). The docs tend to self dispense and you get all the little baggies. Wonderful stuff.


This is the pic after you've taken your drugs.

What a lovely day...

I went to a presentation during the Easter holidays to see a Year 8 student celebrated for his excellent work at the Center (sic) for Talented Youth. It was a fabulous occasion and I’m very glad to have been there. It is run by Johns Hopkins University.

There were about 500 children from the Pacific Rim being awarded and my student was the top achiever for maths.

His SAT score of 770/800 is near perfect, (to put this in context only 4 of the 500 scored over 700). SATs are the US uni entry exam. An 18 year old achieving this score would be admitted to just about any college he chose. My student is 12 years old.

It is very difficult to explain the measure of this giftedness, it goes beyond the profoundly gifted.

I'm glad I went to represent the school. It was so lovely to be so respected for an afternoon. Here is my name tag...


Isn't it fabulous? It is silk too, so I can keep it forever.

Everyone was saying, "Oh your a teacher? How wonderful." I was placed front and centre in the audience and asked to stand at one point for a big round of applause for my fine work!!
What a change from the usual "You teach maths? Why would you want to do that?"

It is too easy sometimes...

This actually takes all the pain out of mozzie bites.
It is too easy to giggle at naming of things here. There are so many.

fulgora candelaria linnaeus

Look what was wondering about last week. It is the "elephant leaf" insect.
Hard to see just how big it is from the image - about 2 inches long.

Very cool caterpillars

I went to check the damage to my tomato plants this morning. I knew they would be battered by the typhoon. What surprised me most was this:
And this:


And this:


This last one is about to pupate. And when it finishes up will look like this...

A Death's Head Hawkmoth - just like the Hannibal Lecter one.

Here is the lifecycle online: Death's Head Hawkmoth The 5 instars are further down the page.

Typhoon Molave

Last night Typhon Molave made land fall directly over Hong Kong.

We've got tree confetti everywhere. Looks like someone emptied a 40 footer of salad over the house. Anyone have a drum of olive oil and vinegar?


Whilst some of us were shaking in our beds, some silly buggers decided to video it:

Video of Typhon Molave

My own room

I have my own teaching room from August. It's very exciting. I have space allocated for pupils' work, but also have a lot of places for little bits and pieces. Though I might add these.