Sightseeing in Rome...

Inside the Colosseum

Outside the Colosseum

Sun's out in Rome. so are the tourists at the Colosseum!

Trevi Fountain - great place to enjoy Gelato, YUM!

Inside the Pantheon.

Pantheon Sun Spot

Deceptive on the outside - The Pantheon.

Early Sunday morning at St Peters, Vatican City, before the crowds arrive!

Had a fabulous time in Italy catching up with Ro and John (my aunt and uncle). Met them for the last few nights of the walking tour they were guiding. After my experience of school trips it was interesting to observe how a group of adults behave on a trip. Funny, not much changes as people age! There are always people who don't listen, ask too many questions, tell inappropriate jokes, get lost or stuck in the toilet.

Four nights meant barely a taste, more like a lick, of Italy. I did have time to sample authentic Italian pasta, pizza and red wine. Will have to plan another trip to see more of the country and sample more of the food. Don't think it will be too hard to persuade a friend or two to accompany me!

Cinque Terre Villages

Wandering through the Cinque Terre Villages. This was my favourite day during my recent trip to Italy. I hadn't seen the sea since July in Valencia, nor any decent hills! As you can see from the photos the weather was splendid. An early start meant that the ascents weren't as gruelling in the shelter of the shade.

Lunch in ....

No prizes for guessing where these pictures were taken. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to check out La Torre Pendante! I promise no special photographic tricks were used to take the photo on the right. It really is on quite a lean!

Still faking it...

Don't want to work too hard but have to finance my travels. In the last fortnight I have had two interesting assignments. First was at Impington Village College - very close to home. Three days there in Food Tech - yay back in the kitchen. Even better, the Teaching Assistant did all the work. Laws are funny things. I am getting paid to turn up and keep an eye on things, take the register, but don't really teach.

This week I have again spent three days in Technology or TK for short. Change of focus to resistant materials - that's right - basically woodwork and metal work with the odd plastic project thrown in for fun. So I traded in the knives and rolling pins for vices, saws and chisels. Again, not too much work required on my part. The technician took the lessons and I took care of the register. With classes packed with boys there was no let up on the abuse about the All Blacks early exit from the World Cup. I forgot to mention the reason I found myself filling in as a TK teacher at Soham Village College. Rumour has it that Mr Mason has been suspended. A young year 7 boy was doing a detention using a chisel to remove chewing gum from benches. Detention was cut short when he put the chisel into the side of his face. Ooops. A pretty extreme way to get out of detention!