And today's crisis is....

Picture the scene:
It's 8.15am, first day of the new term. Panicky teacher appears at my prep room door.

PT: My computer won't start. I don't think the power is working in my lab.
Labtech666: Have you checked the electrical shut off? (It's a switch which kills all power to the plug sockets in case of emergency)
PT: Yes, I think so.
Labtech666: Well that's strange, all the other labs seem to have power. Let me take a look.

I walk into the lab and turn the switch, resetting it.

Labtech666: Try now.
PT: Oh wow, it's working!!

*sigh*

Funny

This made me laugh

From a fab website of sciency and geeky cartoons: xkcd

Hi ho, hi ho, it's back to work we go!

Was that it?? Is the Easter holiday really over already? Damn it!

Inset today, in other words loads of boring meetings, then the kids are back tomorrow.

Not that I'm counting or anything, but at least it's only 4 1/2 weeks to half term. :)

Sonisphere


Sonisphere TV

Vatican Observatory

So, the trip to the Vatican Observatory has been completed. A couple of hitches along the way, but mostly very successful.

Originally this trip was supposed to happen in december, but Gatwick airport was closed for 3 days due to heavy snow so we had to cancel. Actually this was probably a good thing, because Rome in april is lovely!
We had trouble getting hotel rooms as Rome appeared to be full, so we ended up at an allegedly 4-star hotel in some distant suburb. Not the best place I've ever stayed, but it did the job.

We were due to visit the observatory, which is located at the Pope's summer palace 15 miles south of Rome, on friday morning. Unfortunately we discovered that there was a train strike so we had to change our plans again and friday became sightseeing day instead.

Saturday was 3rd time lucky and we finally made it to Albano where the observatory head quarters are located in a former nunnery just off the town square. We were met by Brother Guy Consolmagno, the curstor of the Vatican's meteorite collection, who gave us a tour of the building, including his workroom



and showed us some of the books from the observatory's library, including a second edition of Newton's 'Principia' which did make me squeal with excitement ever so slightly (yes, I'm a geek!)

After a walk through the pope's gardens, we went into the papal palace where the telescopes are on the roof. One of the dome's was having work done on it, so we couldn't see the refractor telescope, but we went to see the double astrograph

which was awesome, and somewhat more impressive than the telescopes we have back at school!

I think the kids really enjoyed the whole trip and I definitely did.

Now to relax and enjoy the Easter hols!

Home again...

Just got back from a tiring, eventful but very worthwhile 6th form trip to Rome and the Vatican Observatory.
Details to follow