At least the weekend is nearer!

Another sunny start to a day when I don’t start teaching until 10 am.  This does not mean that I can delay my entry as the traffic situation necessitates an early departure from my home otherwise I would inevitably be monstrously delayed by the pressure of traffic.  Leaving home is a matter of fine-tuning and minutes make substantial differences by the time an intrepid traveller has traversed the desolate abyss between Castelldefels and Barcelona!

Our attitude towards the barking, howling, screaming dogs which surround us has now reached tipping point.  As a basically “dog” person (yellow Labrador bitch to be precise) I have to keep telling myself that hatred of the dogs is illogical.  Dogs bark.  Fact.  The proper recipients of any loathing, despite and abomination are the inconsiderate semi-evolved owners who think nothing of allowing their curmudgeonly curs to give full range to their vocal abilities at any time of the day and night with no regard to the sensibilities of their neighbours.

My own reaction to the moronic barking of one (just one of the many that the mad bitch owns) dog next door has prompted us to investigate the proprietary anti-barking products which are available on the Internet.

My first suggestion was a crossbow, but that was rejected as impractical because the line of sight to get at the bloody animals is not conducive to accurate aiming.  This also made my second suggestion of a taser unrealistic as well.

There are a number of versions of an ultrasonic repellent/anti-barking device on Amazon, but the customer reviews give little or no comfort as to an evaluation of their effectiveness.  One particular brand that I looked at had both five star reviews and also one star reviews with comments ranging from “incredibly effective” to “absolutely useless” – and with this particular brand not getting any reviews in between the extremes.  These things range in price from €11 to €70 but what you actually get for your money is a fairly simple ultrasonic gun.  On the principle of “anything is better than nothing”, I am going to invest in one of the cheaper versions and start zapping!  I only hope that the dogs have the capacity to learn that the vague (or even sharp) sense of unease that they feel is related to the sound that they are making – and that I am making it!

We have tried complaining to the local council, but nothing really seems to have been done – or, more likely, the brazen canineophile next door has openly disregarded the justified complaints of those seeking a quiet, dog bark free life because she obviously has more regard for our dumb (!) friends than for her human, tax paying neighbours!

I have found it impossible merely to order a bloody dog disturber and have therefore leavened the order with a few, just a few, art books.  Now that I have embarked on a “book” to accompany my “Making Sense of Modern Art” course, I feel that I have EVERY justification in buying any printed matter than I feel might have even the most tangentially positive element to help me on my way.  I wonder if I can get the school to subsidize my expenditure in any way. 

Pause for thought . . .

Meanwhile school is characterised by yet another bout of examinations, this time Mock Examinations (how apt is that word!) which seem to involve the whole of the school.  Classes have been disrupted and rearranged, teachers drafted in from other sections of the school to help the English department bring misery and despair to the maximum number of pupils and, most disturbingly of all – I mark all the Paper 1s that all the pupils sit.

This is not quite as depressing as it might sound, as the marking is almost wholly mechanical.  Indeed in a more perfect world all the papers would be marked by an optical scanner marker – which in our case we do not have.  The optical scanner marker is me.

To save my sanity I have devised a template which makes life a little easier.  I have attempted to break the back of the burden of marking by trying to get out of the way at least one year of papers from the numbers which have been sat today.  I have managed to do a little more than that by getting the second year kids out of the way and getting a section of the third done too.  I have to be careful about the speed with which I get these papers done because last year, having completed my apportioned lot I was pointed in the direction of a struggling colleague and asked to help with his papers as well!  I shall try and keep a low profile!

Tomorrow: marking and culture.  I am staying in Barcelona after school and going in to the city to visit an art exhibition in the company of Suzanne with, hopefully, dinner as part of the package!