Peaks and Pits #8
A new set of ‘peaks and pits’! It’s been a week of getting back into routine, coming back from two weeks off teaching (thank you, Easter holidays!). But among the chaos there’s been a lot of sunshine (literally and metaphorically), and I’m holding onto that where I can.
Peaks
1. Portugal, here I come
I impulsively booked flights to Portugal for two weeks, and I am soooo excited. Portugal holds a huge amount of nostalgia, for me—my grandad lived there for many years, and when he passed away, my cousins and I flew out to scatter his ashes on the beach of the little fishing village he loved so much.
It’s also the country where I once washed dishes in a fish restaurant, gazing out at the sunset every evening (arguably the best minimum-wage view anyone’s ever had). It’s the country I learnt to surf: my longest standing hobby. And, of course, it’s the scene of many a wild night out in Lagos, back when €1 shots, bar crawls and dancing on tables were great fun. I have made some silly choices, lost a phone, and watched the sunrise on the beach between the ages of 18-21 in that town.
The word saudades covers my feelings about Portugal perfectly. No literal translation in English, but a sense of longing and nostalgia, sometimes a little sadness that comes with it. Whatever it is, it’s beautiful
2. Sunshine and family barbecues
The weekend brought glorious weather, and with it a barbecue to celebrate my father-in-law’s birthday. Cue another weekend of running around the garden with my three-year-old niece, who somehow has more energy in her little finger than I have in my entire being. Family, sunshine, too much food. What more could you want?
3. Back to school blues, but also joys
I always get a little knot of dread before returning to school after a break. But walking back into the classroom and catching up with my classes reminded me why I love it.
My lovely little SEND class were beside themselves when they saw how much their plants had grown over the holidays. One proudly left clutching a handful of radishes, grinning like he’d won a trophy. Honestly, watching them learn to nurture something from seed to harvest feels like one of the best bits of my job.
4. Morning peace with Olive
Getting back into a routine doesn’t sound glamorous, but it is grounding. Every morning before work, I walk Olive through the local fields, where she bounds around off-lead like a maniac while I sip my coffee and take deep breaths.
It’s early enough that the world feels still—just me, Olive, and the horses quietly grazing in the morning mist. A small but sacred kind of peace before the busyness of the day sets in.
Pit(s) - sorry, usually cap this at one pit, but seriously could not choose when the shit show was this shocking…!
1. Keys? Never Heard of Them
There is a black hole in my house, and it has claimed my keys. I have torn the place apart: down the sides of the sofa, every bag I own, every coat pocket, the fridge (don’t ask), everywhere. They are nowhere to be found.
Naturally, the missing set includes my car key, and replacing it is going to hurt both my pride and my wallet. I have one spare key to limp along with, but I’m fully expecting the original set to turn up in about six months, wedged inside a cereal box or something equally stupid.
2. Schools Are on Their Knees
On a more serious note: the situation with school funding right now is abysmal. Yes, teachers finally got a pay rise after resorting to striking and negotiating, but it’s “unfunded”—which basically means schools were told, “Good luck finding the money for this yourselves!”
And it’s the kids who are paying the price. Staffing cuts, fewer resources, larger classes. Morale across education is on the floor. I don’t care so much about my own salary; I just want schools to have enough money to actually function. To give every child the education they deserve.
It feels utterly heartbreaking to work in a system that’s being hollowed out.
So there we go: a week of lost keys, sun-drenched barbecues, and a small slice of hope in the form of future Portuguese sunsets and surfing.
As always, I’d love to hear your own peaks and pits if you fancy sharing them. Until next week, when (fingers crossed) I might actually find my bloody keys…
F x