So, it's been a while...
Feb. 28th, 2021 10:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
graculusHonestly, I was absolutely convinced I had posted sometime this year but apparently not. Not since September! What is time anyway?
So, on with the update. We managed to carry on teaching in-person in term 1, running up to Christmas, though we were restricted about how many people we could have in a room at time (usually, classes are 12-14 people and me coming in twice a week but the sheer size of the rooms we use meant 5-6 people plus me at most - we ended up doing the teaching equivalent of split shifts). That meant setting much more work for people to do in their own time, which varies wildly about whether people have the space, time and just the mental capacity to do it. We'd already back-pedalled on how many people were due to take exams in December, so that wasn't massively taxing.
Roll on January and we're back in lockdown, so back on Zoom. *sigh* That's where we still are, even though our March exams are looming and the schools are re-opening. The current plan is back to in-person teaching in April, after the Easter holidays, though I expect restricted numbers in rooms again. I find teaching on Zoom so much more tiring, so personally I can't wait. At least, I have to say my employers have been excellent all the way through this, with relatively minimal demands - much more understanding than some, from what I hear.
No fencing at all. One club I was fencing at managed to get back for a few sessions in the autumn term but that didn't last long and I had put on too much weight to fit in my kit, so I couldn't have joined them even if I'd wanted to. I miss it desperately, to the point that when I put on a Youtube video of a bout, just the sound of blades made me have to stop, to the point where I'm tearing up a little even thinking about it. This time last year was the national veteran's competition and I fenced really well. I wonder how long it will take me to get back to that level, both in terms of overall fitness (don't ask) and in terms of bladework? At least 18 months is my prediction, assuming the gyms reopen and we start fencing properly again.
Yeah, this has not been good for my overall health. I've put weight and also really struggled to get out of the house, even when the weather has been good enough to allow it. I respond better to the structure of needing to go to the gym and go to practice, free-form 'getting some exercise' really doesn't work for me all that well (or at all!). I've had to buy a new inner tube for my bike but it's the back wheel, so I need to a) sort out enough space to replace it indoors and b) get a new pump because the one I have is knackered. Needless to say, both of those impediments have been an issue for a few weeks now.
I didn't get around to doing a proper end-of-year post on here, so I'll probably try and do that in order to make myself keep posting and showing proof of life. In particular, I've fallen well and truly down the k- and c-drama rabbit hole, so any excuse to witter on about that is welcome!
Oops, forgot to say (in case anyone was wondering), the ferrets are both fine - currently some beautiful winter coats, as they spend most of their time in a hutch/run outdoors, and lively as anything.
So, on with the update. We managed to carry on teaching in-person in term 1, running up to Christmas, though we were restricted about how many people we could have in a room at time (usually, classes are 12-14 people and me coming in twice a week but the sheer size of the rooms we use meant 5-6 people plus me at most - we ended up doing the teaching equivalent of split shifts). That meant setting much more work for people to do in their own time, which varies wildly about whether people have the space, time and just the mental capacity to do it. We'd already back-pedalled on how many people were due to take exams in December, so that wasn't massively taxing.
Roll on January and we're back in lockdown, so back on Zoom. *sigh* That's where we still are, even though our March exams are looming and the schools are re-opening. The current plan is back to in-person teaching in April, after the Easter holidays, though I expect restricted numbers in rooms again. I find teaching on Zoom so much more tiring, so personally I can't wait. At least, I have to say my employers have been excellent all the way through this, with relatively minimal demands - much more understanding than some, from what I hear.
No fencing at all. One club I was fencing at managed to get back for a few sessions in the autumn term but that didn't last long and I had put on too much weight to fit in my kit, so I couldn't have joined them even if I'd wanted to. I miss it desperately, to the point that when I put on a Youtube video of a bout, just the sound of blades made me have to stop, to the point where I'm tearing up a little even thinking about it. This time last year was the national veteran's competition and I fenced really well. I wonder how long it will take me to get back to that level, both in terms of overall fitness (don't ask) and in terms of bladework? At least 18 months is my prediction, assuming the gyms reopen and we start fencing properly again.
Yeah, this has not been good for my overall health. I've put weight and also really struggled to get out of the house, even when the weather has been good enough to allow it. I respond better to the structure of needing to go to the gym and go to practice, free-form 'getting some exercise' really doesn't work for me all that well (or at all!). I've had to buy a new inner tube for my bike but it's the back wheel, so I need to a) sort out enough space to replace it indoors and b) get a new pump because the one I have is knackered. Needless to say, both of those impediments have been an issue for a few weeks now.
I didn't get around to doing a proper end-of-year post on here, so I'll probably try and do that in order to make myself keep posting and showing proof of life. In particular, I've fallen well and truly down the k- and c-drama rabbit hole, so any excuse to witter on about that is welcome!
Oops, forgot to say (in case anyone was wondering), the ferrets are both fine - currently some beautiful winter coats, as they spend most of their time in a hutch/run outdoors, and lively as anything.
no subject
Date: 2021-03-01 07:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-03-02 09:14 am (UTC)One club is more likely to open sooner than the other, as it's in a leisure centre - the other is in a church hall and who knows when they're going to be able to open again.