By the Skin of My teeth, November

In the teaching profession, it seems that November is the turning point - you make it to December and you'll make it through the rest of the year...

This month alone, I've sat through three 1.5-hour speaking exams in a fortnight, kept my cool overall despite multiple outbreaks in class with mild-mannered young men turning into monkeys and then monsters, written 16 200-word articles on teaching, vetted 12 exam papers (some multiple times), redrafted part of an exam paper and dished out my first detention this year.

Haaaaa...

On some days, I have just gone home and slept it off. On other days, I resorted to indulging in shopping therapy (supermarkets! Food). I've gone through two jars of coffee since September. I have been yearning for a holiday since November began, but will have to wait till December.

I know this strength comes from patient colleagues, decent students, a supportive family and, above all, my lord and saviour, Jesus.

Can't wait for a breather.

Until then, am surviving on popsicles, sleep, random novels, Twenty-one Pilots' 'Heathens,' Two Cello's concert album, Joe Hisaishi's work for Studio Ghibli and Provokiev's "Dance of the Knights"... No notebooks or substantial creative writing till December at least!