Our Eid holiday is nearing its end now, and we've had a lovely time.  My eldest daughter caught up with a couple of friends who've recently left her school and the next daughter had her friend come over to play, so that they could discuss tamagotchis and play on the game boy together.  The twins were thrilled to be taken to a new play area; I can't get over how brilliant the new rides are, with a computer screen that lets you 'drive' around and tells you about all the things you pass.

And, unusually, I'm looking forward to going back to school!  It's nice to finally feel happy at work.

Well, we've now been back five weeks, and I have to say that I am really enjoying this term!  I didn't think I'd say that, having spent the last weeks of the holiday dreading going back, but it's been surprisingly good.  I like my classes - Grade 3 are lovely, well behaved and good fun to teach, while Grade 5 are lively and amusing.  I have to work really hard to keep the noise level down in there, but I still enjoy going in to teach them.

The boy I had in my class last year who was very difficult to deal with is now in another class, and is continuing to be difficult to deal with; I know it's mean to be glad that he's awful for everyone, but I feel vindicated.  They can't say I was down on this one boy just because I didn't like him or any such nonsense.  It wasn't some personality thing.  He's a difficult and disruptive boy and that is the end of it.  Our school is fiercely academic and very formal; if only some parents would realize that their children would do so much better in a school that provides more scope for the children to explore art and music and do more sports.

And Ramadan is passing, which can't be a bad thing.  I haven't fasted, but I try not to eat during the day.  My older children are fasting and have done really well.  I'm proud of them!

The best thing of all is that we will get a holiday for Eid, in about two weeks!  How I shall enjoy that!

We heard on the news that Ramadan is to begin in the gulf countries tomorrow.  That means we get an extra half hour in bed in the morning, and school finishes an hour earlier than usual.  Can't be bad!  So Ramadan Kareem to everyone else who is celebrating!

So the first week at school is over.  The children were fine, even the twins, about whom I was worried.  One was rather iffy about school for a good part of last year and the other decided that the new teacher she is to have this year was scary.  However, both seem happy enough, so that particular worry is over.

The two elder ones are not especially impressed with the homework side of school, and I think there will be some battles over that.  Both prefer to watch television!

I have grade 5 to teach now, a change from grade 2; my other class is grade 3.  I'm just teaching English and Social Studies this year.  It's odd to have no maths to break up the monotony of endless reader and vocabulary lessons.  Grade 5 are all right so far.  Long may that last!

It is so difficult going back to the early mornings and early nights.  I was up at five this morning, which is a pain.  It's a shame that one's body clock doesn't automatically set itself for the weekend! 

This morning I finally made it to the Immortals on the Global Challenge for the first time ever!  I'm really pleased to be there, but relieved, too.  Now I can stop getting up early just to make sure I don't miss a set of quizzes and I can stop planning all my outings around the competition.  I'm glad I put in the effort this time, but equally glad it's almost over.