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Nov. 28th, 2010 06:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_poppyA quiet Sunday morning is a wonderful thing. The frost on the windows softens the light on the ward and lends everything a peaceful hue.
I don't have any early risers, just row upon row of tousled heads poking out from mounds of blankets. I like it crisp of a morning, but that always makes my sleepers burrow more deeply for their last hour of dreaming.
I haven't much to report. Bumps, bruises, coughs, the lot.
I'm treating far too many cases of exposure this term: I seem to spend all my time reminding children that they must think to refresh the warming and impervious charms on their cloaks and gloves if they must be out of doors for a sustained period. But they forget. One can scarcely expect them to remember in the midst of a Quidditch practice, during an exciting session at the Creatures' pen, or in the midst of an Astronomy observation, and, of course, their teachers are no better once they are wrapped up in the meat of a lesson.
We've had an awful lot of extremely nasty weather this term, and I'm convinced it's made worse by the presence of those miserable Azkaban guards, lurking out beyond our bounds. Or we're made more vulnerable. I realise that not everyone believes they've any effect on the weather itself. Nonetheless, I've been forced to re-order chocolate twice, and I fear that's put a large dent in my budget. As you know, medicinal grade chocolate must be imported, and it's correspondingly dear. But I'll save that lecture for the governors, shall I?
The Dementors are taking a toll in many ways. Homesickness is up this term, and for the sufferers, it's grown worse and worse rather than abating as they've settled in and made friends with whom to enjoy this castle's many recreations. In fact, I'd venture to say that it's been harder for the children to make and sustain friendships this year. They seem much more apt to be dreadful than kind to one another. If the teachers are to be believed, they've had more than the usual troubles with discipline. And then there's Professor Brutka, who has warned us all that the creatures are suffering as much as the rest of us. Certainly, he's sent me no fewer cases than usual, five or six of them quite severe.
As an aside, I can report that he and Mr Dawlish last week had a tense parlay with the centaurs, who warned of trouble within the forest. I learned this much from Dawlish when I treated him for a very nasty Bowtruckle lash suffered on his way out to that meeting. Missed his eye by a hair's breadth. And left him a bit more talkative than usual, though only a bit.
And, of course, it is not only the students and creatures inflicting their moodiness upon us: their elders are as testy and unpredictable as if they were revisiting adolescence. That, however, may owe less to the Dementors than to the presence of a certain new member of staff. Not that he himself is ever anything less than genial, but he has an unfortunate effect on others. Including some I'd have thought too level-headed to be affected in that way.
All in all, then, I'm glad for a quiet morning when one presents itself.
Or a nice tea with a friend. Dora, I did so enjoy your visit. Tilda says she'll always have room for you should you want to return. Seems you were the 'easiest' guest she's 'ever lodged'--her words--'such a merry one, bless her cotton socks; send me more like that!' To be fair, I think Tilda's had to put up with more than one of our school governors on occasion, and they are not the kindliest souls.
I trust you are all well, whatever you are about.
I don't have any early risers, just row upon row of tousled heads poking out from mounds of blankets. I like it crisp of a morning, but that always makes my sleepers burrow more deeply for their last hour of dreaming.
I haven't much to report. Bumps, bruises, coughs, the lot.
I'm treating far too many cases of exposure this term: I seem to spend all my time reminding children that they must think to refresh the warming and impervious charms on their cloaks and gloves if they must be out of doors for a sustained period. But they forget. One can scarcely expect them to remember in the midst of a Quidditch practice, during an exciting session at the Creatures' pen, or in the midst of an Astronomy observation, and, of course, their teachers are no better once they are wrapped up in the meat of a lesson.
We've had an awful lot of extremely nasty weather this term, and I'm convinced it's made worse by the presence of those miserable Azkaban guards, lurking out beyond our bounds. Or we're made more vulnerable. I realise that not everyone believes they've any effect on the weather itself. Nonetheless, I've been forced to re-order chocolate twice, and I fear that's put a large dent in my budget. As you know, medicinal grade chocolate must be imported, and it's correspondingly dear. But I'll save that lecture for the governors, shall I?
The Dementors are taking a toll in many ways. Homesickness is up this term, and for the sufferers, it's grown worse and worse rather than abating as they've settled in and made friends with whom to enjoy this castle's many recreations. In fact, I'd venture to say that it's been harder for the children to make and sustain friendships this year. They seem much more apt to be dreadful than kind to one another. If the teachers are to be believed, they've had more than the usual troubles with discipline. And then there's Professor Brutka, who has warned us all that the creatures are suffering as much as the rest of us. Certainly, he's sent me no fewer cases than usual, five or six of them quite severe.
As an aside, I can report that he and Mr Dawlish last week had a tense parlay with the centaurs, who warned of trouble within the forest. I learned this much from Dawlish when I treated him for a very nasty Bowtruckle lash suffered on his way out to that meeting. Missed his eye by a hair's breadth. And left him a bit more talkative than usual, though only a bit.
And, of course, it is not only the students and creatures inflicting their moodiness upon us: their elders are as testy and unpredictable as if they were revisiting adolescence. That, however, may owe less to the Dementors than to the presence of a certain new member of staff. Not that he himself is ever anything less than genial, but he has an unfortunate effect on others. Including some I'd have thought too level-headed to be affected in that way.
All in all, then, I'm glad for a quiet morning when one presents itself.
Or a nice tea with a friend. Dora, I did so enjoy your visit. Tilda says she'll always have room for you should you want to return. Seems you were the 'easiest' guest she's 'ever lodged'--her words--'such a merry one, bless her cotton socks; send me more like that!' To be fair, I think Tilda's had to put up with more than one of our school governors on occasion, and they are not the kindliest souls.
I trust you are all well, whatever you are about.
no subject
Date: 2010-11-28 04:21 pm (UTC)I'm so sorry I've not been in touch. I meant to drop you a note to thank you so much for your help and let you know I'd got home safely. It's just, well, we've been a little preoccupied with .. other things. I'm sure you understand. Cheers though, for everything.
no subject
Date: 2010-11-28 08:58 pm (UTC)I suppose that you're stocking up on holiday-themed items in the shop now that we're on December's doorstep.
And trying to open a second business as well? I'd say you have good cause to be preoccupied, ellipsis points aside!