Half way to 'three score years and ten'...

The new school year started with the now traditional flurry of helium filled ballons as we gathered on the new astro turf which was still being worked on for its final touches. The school was looking ship shape with a new coat of paint and refurbished pathways. My new class is quite challenging because of the spread of abilities and I am having to be more organised than ever as the school continues to polish up its policies and procedures to get everything really tight. The weather is still generally fine, with a bit more rain than last year but temperatures remaining high enough for it to still feel like summer.

Today is my birthday and of course I am glad for it being on a Sunday. Jess has been preparing a feast all day, ready for a quiet afternoon with just a couple of people we know. Thirty five years old... where does the time go? Half way... so much to do and see.

Half term may give an opportunity to visit Uzbekistan, using up the only remaining visa from our failed bike trip through Central Asia. Samarkand, Bukhara, Tashkent - but not on a motorbike of course. I've seen one advertised locally though, so there might be some adventures still to come...

Thanks to everyone for birthday wishes... can I stop counting now?