Aaaargh!

First, a few words of sympathy for our teachers. With the current state of covid-19 they find themselves in a really difficult position; as do the senior leadership teams of their schools. Of course, we all have our opinions of teachers – we’ve all been on the learning end, so feel able to judge. However, I would argue that unless you’ve been poised at the whiteboard of an unruly class, or at the end of a week of lessons, break duties, marking, preparing, detentions, phone calls to parents/guardians, data collection and report writing, then I’m not sure you can call them left-wing wusses. The eight months I spent in a state school maths department proved one unassailable fact: teachers are hard-working, hugely patient, kind, competent, tireless and do the very best for your children. They want to teach; and they want to teach well. They like children. Of course there is the odd one who breaks that mould, but that’s the same in any occupation. So, please, give them some grace. [For those of you reading for the first time, I did also spend 8 years teaching at a private school … they’re under the same sort of pressures at the mo.]

spot the halo

We’ve not broken our routine. Other than a quick dip into the local Tesco Express for some bread, the last time we visited the shops was on the 21st December. C plans to go again tomorrow. Other than that we’re on the walk/run daily cycle, with some fab walks down by the Severn when Mrs Sun has decided to put her pants on.

With that, we have reflected, as we often do, on how lucky we are. I don’t work, not in the conventional sense (interestingly, I had an exchange a couple of days ago with a new school who may be offering some leadership consultancy this term). As such we’ve really been able to cut ourselves off from society as we wait for the vaccine, or for things to improve, as we did earlier in the year. Having that freedom is priceless … and for those of you having to mix with others by way of work, please stay as safe as you can.

we’ve had some lovely walks

But with that freedom does come responsibility – to yourself, especially at this time. It would be quite easy to dig in, watch TV, eat, drink, sleep, nap, sleep some more and become morose. I guess it’s a bit like leaving your car on the drive. If you don’t take it for a spin, the battery will go flat, the rubber seals will disintegrate and the brakes will rust on. I suppose that’s why we’ve opted for a regime, even if the weather is rubbish. And that’s why I’m working hard with my new guitar.

Have you heard of the 100,000 hours’ rule? I think it may be an urban myth, but the view is if you practice something, anything, for 100,000 hours you will be able to do that thing professionally. (My bag of fag packet sum realistically puts 100,000 hours at 55 years’ worth of practice, so you would hope to be good just before you retire.) But the premise holds – of course it does; practise makes perfect. And, for activities where there’s the need for physical actions, the clear advice is start slowly. That is, do the action – such as strumming a guitar – really slowly to begin with. And then gradually speed up. Hopefully this advice is factored into the 100,000 hour rule, otherwise 100,000 might be an underestimate.

So, much to C’s annoyance in our v small house, I’m learning percussive guitar. That is to add bass and snare drum effects on the body of the guitar whilst you’re playing. It’s a technique that’s been around for hundreds of years … I learnt some flamenco yesterday, and that involves slapping the strings with a flat hand – at speed. And I’ve applied the ‘start slowly’ technique, combined with the ‘practice a lot’ mantra and, having almost given up about a week ago, I’m getting there.

It’s a completely new skill. The guitar is a two-handed instrument. Your right hand plucks and strums … your left hand presses the strings against the fret. On the face of it, I’m an adequate player. And without an real practice since we left the school seven years ago, I’ve not got any better. Until now. But it’s not been without exasperation. Slapping and tapping the body of the guitar with your right hand, when for 30 years it’s been used to plucking and strumming, is a whole new skill, especially when you are expected to do both at the same time. In many ways it’s like learning the guitar from scratch. Your brain is shouting at your hands, and they’re not responding. And then when you eventually get the percussive sound mixing with the strumming/plucking, you have to divert your attention to your lefr hand which you’ve forgotten about – the one actually making the notes. And then when that does the right thing, the left hand goes to jelly. Aaaargh!

100,000 hours. That’s all it takes. Ho hum.

hello from South Korea

Stay safe everyone.