Wednesday 5th February 2025

Not having to snuggle up in a duvet at night, waking up every morning to brilliant sunshine, and occasionally enjoying air conditioning in my office because of the intense heat, are just three of the things that I am absolutely loving here in Kurunegala. I find it hard to believe the contrast between what I experienced in Nuwara Eliya in January and what I am experiencing now in Kurunegala, and it's almost all down to the huge difference in altitude between the two.

Another sunny day brought another early start, as I was in school just after 08:00 (tomorrow my first lesson of double Maths is at 07:30!). I co-taught two double Maths lessons today, and also watched two lessons where my key focus was on the level of English in the class - both the teacher's and the children's. You probably know that English is my greatest love in terms of teaching, but Mathematics comes not that far behind, so I had a wonderful time today.

When you have been involved in education all your life, the chance to do an odd bit of teaching here and there in your retirement is genuinely quite blissful. Having been a Headteacher, I find myself more involved at Tea Leaf and at the RIS with helping teachers to improve their teaching, which I thoroughly enjoy doing, and today I was doing that by modelling how to be a good Maths teacher, and it really was a lot of fun, and took me back a good 40 years or more!

Having challenged myself mentally in the classroom, I got back to swimming 20 lengths again this evening in the school pool. I swam on Saturday and Sunday, but I missed the last two days, so it felt good to escape the heat, and get into a pool that was almost chilly, but warmed up pretty quickly once you started swimming. I would be foolish not to make the most of having such a wonderful facility just a minute or two's walk away from my lovely apartment.

Today's photographs are of my Maths lessons today, although none of me teaching, as I never thought of asking the teacher to take one, but I might try that tomorrow if I remember, The final three photos are a view of the sports field with its lovely backdrop of the jungle, the school's brass band practising its parade for the Sports Meet today, and my personal invitation to join the Sports Meet on Friday, where, as I told you yesterday, I am to be the Guest of Honour. This will involve me having to look smart and wear a jacket in the sweltering heat, give a short address to the assembled masses (it will be hundreds of people, so not scary at all!) and give out certificates to the winners!









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