He proceeds to walk into the water and subsequently bumps into the preacher. The preacher turns around and is almost overcome by the smell of alcohol, whereupon he asks the drunk, “Are you ready to find Jesus?”

The drunk answers, “Yes, I am.” So the preacher grabs him and dunks him in the water.

He pulls him up and asks the drunk, “Brother have you found Jesus?”

The drunk replies, “No, I haven’t found Jesus.”

The preacher shocked at the answer, dunks him into the water again for a little longer.

He again pulls him out of the water and asks again, “Have you found Jesus my brother?”

The drunk again answers, “No, I haven’t found Jesus.”

By this time the preacher is at his wits end and dunks the drunk in the water again — - but this time holds him down for about 30 seconds and when he begins kicking his arms and legs he pulls him up.

The preacher again asks the drunk, “For the love of God have you found Jesus?”

The drunk wipes his eyes and catches his breath and says to the preacher,
*
*
*
*
*

“Are you sure this is where he fell in?”

Further enquiries leads me to believe I’d be wasting a week doing it. People … i.e. teachers doing the course view it as a week’s holidays trapsing up and down the countryside snapping at this and focusing on that!

I am interested in photography and learning how to use my camera properly but the thought of ‘wasting’ time isn’t appealing to me at the moment.

The reason teachers do summer courses (generally) is to get their entilement of E.P.V. (Extra Personal Vacation) days that they can take when needed during the school year. Most teacher do a course of a week’s duration giving them 3 E.P.V. days. Usually school authorities have no problem with teahers taking course days but normally don’t like them being taken at crucial times during the school year like the month of June for example.

Til now … you took a day …. no substitute teacher cover …. usually other teachers took your class and that was it. D.E.S. would get back to individual teachers if days were taken that weren’t allowed.

This year there’s a change … a new circular has issued …. Circular 0035/2009.

It states:

all teachers who attend a summer course will be issued withn a certificate of attendance and completion of the course which must be presented to the Principal at the beginning of the school year, as evidence of completion of an approved summer course and entitlement to EPV leave. On receipt of this certificate, the principal may approve EPV leave for the teacher in accordance with the terms of circular 37/97. The principal must retain copies of the certificates within the school for future audit purposes.

Big Brother (D.E.S.) is finally cracking the whip.  Incidences of ‘ghost attendees’ should drop …… I wonder what’ll they’ll do about teachers (and others … sons, daughters etc. ) doing online courses for others while ‘others’ are off in sunny Spain sunning their lily white buttocks?

Farrah Fawcett, one of the original Charlie’s Angels succumbed to her cancer today.

She had been battling it for the last three years.

She had an amazing smile.

I hope she becomes a true angel in heaven.

Rest in Peace Farrah.

According to different news sources Michael Jackson died today at the age of 50.

Cardiac arrest appears to be the cause of death.

A sad end to a sad life.

The man had it all but he let it slip through his fingers.

Wealth … fame … adulation.

It turned to  …. accusations …… health problems …. financial woes.

The King of Pop is no more.

I hope he can rest in peace now

Sometime when you’re feeling important,
Sometime when your ego’s in bloom,
Sometimes when you take it for granted
You’re the best qualified in the room.
Sometimes when you feel that your going
Would leave an unfillable hole,
Just follow these simple instructions
And see how they humble your soul.
Take a bucket and fill it with water,
Put your hand in it up to your wrist,
Pull it out and the hole that’s remaining
Is a measure of how you’ll be missed.
You can splash all you wish when you enter,
You may stir up the water galore,
But stop, and you’ll find that in no time
It looks quiet the same as before.
The moral in this quaint example
Is do just the best that you can,
Be proud of yourself, but remember—
There’s no indispensable man.

This was the favourite poem of Jim Reeves.

Its meaning has significance to me at this moment in time.

The writing is on the wall for the school. Long term it has no future.

My job is safe. The only thing I don’t know is where that job will be.

Or when it will be.

My ‘retirement home’ purchase is in limbo at the moment. The vendors are having some difficulty with title deeds and I haven’t heard anything from them in the last two months.

My salary has dropped 14% meaning that the price I agreed to buy the house at is no longer affordable to me. I have indicated that to the vendors through the auctioneers and they have said that they are willing to renegotiate. I doubt they’ll accept the drop I’m looking for but one can only ask. It would be a hard thing to have to walk away from the place because it ticks all my boxes and would help me to fulfill my desire to downsize my life.

Me, my dog, my laptop, my menagerie of animals, my vegetable plot, my books, a bit of D.I.Y., mountain walks, sea air  …… no wonder Kenmare is one of the top places in the world to retire to!

I’m on autopilot until the 1st of July.

Hopefully, with the distraction of school put to one side for July and August I’ll be able to do some self-evaluation and set out some goals for myself then.

You might have noticed an increase in ads here …. the poor old blog is getting a right old mash up in experimentation!

I’ve found a cool plugin that allows me add videos to my site.

Check it out on the videos page!

On page one I like:

• Discover Ireland … an ad I know but I love the music ….. and the scenery!
• The Chieftains - Women Of Ireland (Mná na h-Éireann)
• Metallica - Whiskey In The Jar (Dublin Ireland, 2006) …. good man Phil!

And page two:

• Luke Kelly Song For Ireland ( slide show) …. an amazing singer … Rest in Peace Luke.

I’ll stop there ….

If you’re interested the plugin is called tubepress.

Demolition Call is courtesy of Magpie via Grannymar.

You’ll enjoy it. Tis a good one!

Thanks Magpie.