Wrote this some time after the events and reminiscing now, one of the main events (the surgeon's knife or OFSTED's
big stick, sorry visit, still remains somewhat unpleasant! But, I'll leave you to decide which one, suffice to say I'm glad I'm out of it and before you jump to conclusions, it just could possibly be the hospital!!!
Both the Head and Deputy were on a trip!
It was the start of a very
strange fortnight, at the end of a week of contrasts: The previous weekend the campsite on the
island on which we were staying, warm and snug in a solid granite-built luxury
converted cowshed, had been all but obliterated by a near hurricane, before the
weather turned gloriously sunny for the remainder of the week. That is until the Saturday, when the mist
came down and neither the helicopters nor the small fixed wing aircraft that
would normally be carrying holiday makers across the 28 mile stretch of water
from the Isles of Scilly and the mainland, took to the skies.
By midday it was obvious
that we would not be leaving the islands, as the early boat had gone and the
second boat been filled with passengers from the flights earlier to ours. So it was a case of visiting the Tourist
Office, as refugees looking for somewhere to stay – two adults and a dog! The latter was the problem, but maybe also
turned out to be the salvation, as the only places available that could take a
dog, was Star Castle Hotel, one of, if not the finest hotel on the
islands. Pound signs flashed in front of
my eyes, but fortunately there was a “stranded rate,” which given the nature of
the place was good value, particularly as the dog was thrown in. Duly booked we arrived some time later, wet
and bedraggled, were royally greeted and shown to a magnificent garden room,
with the offer of a four course dinner for just another £15-00 per head. We sank onto the enormous soft bed and
contemplated luxury and later after a sumptuous fish dinner in the Conservatory
Restaurant, washed down with a fine bottle of wine, followed by a visit to the
dungeon bar for a nightcap, felt that being modern day Robinson Crusoe’s wasn’t
so bad after all!
After a fine nights sleep,
lost in the soft waves of the ocean of a bed and after a hearty breakfast, we
waited to board the extra sailing of the Scillonian, hoping that the crossing
would be as smooth as the previous night’s bed.
Departure wasn’t until early afternoon which meant that, with a brief
stop at Plymouth to collect my daughter’s things from uni., we didn’t get home
until gone nine that evening, just in time for my wife to go to work and for me
to contemplate the lost day, when I was due to have updated the school’s Self
Evaluation Form and the following two days.
On my return an appointment had come through for a knee operation that I
had been waiting for a number of weeks, and I was due in early on Wednesday
morning. A number of things would need
sorting over the next two days at work, I’m the Headteacher of a primary school
in Gloucester; diary checked, meetings changed, arrangements made for my
absence and some work planned for my convalescence – after all, they were only
operating on the knee and hopefully despite having to keep my foot up my brain
would continue to function and it would be a good chance for some uninterrupted
quality time to continue updating the SEF.
OFSTED last visited us in February 2003 so the call was due some time
soon.
The two days flew by, and
before I knew it I was sitting in the waiting room of Day Surgery at
Gloucestershire Royal hospital, then on to the ward, pre-oped, put under and
back in recovery, puzzled as to where I was and desperate for a drink, whilst
drifting in and out of consciousness.
Next I awoke back on the day ward, still a little drowsy and certainly
thirsty. The proffered water was hastily
dispatched and the promised tea and biscuits eagerly awaited and similarly
dispatched. Then I felt awake enough to
return to reading my walking magazine, an article about the Lyke Wake Walk a 43
mile stroll, the challenge being to do it in a day! I had done it many years earlier and told my
wife when she picked me up a couple of hours later, after a slight relapse
where I felt very nauseous and had had to lie down and have an injection to
combat the feeling, that if the op were successful I had my sights set on a
repeat of the epic walk!!
As I took those first
tentative steps, on my discharge, a mile seemed a better challenge! I had also been given something of a
surprise, a doctor’s note for two weeks having previously been told I could
return to work after 3 – 5 days, and slightly out of character, my wife when
told confirmed what I said about ignoring it and being back the following
Monday. The short walk to the car was
plenty and the anaesthetic had obviously not totally worn off, as the outside
world seemed quite strange – a little like being drunk but without loosing
other faculties, perhaps I mused a little like being under the influence of
something illicit!! Safely, ensconced in
the car my wife asked me what, at the time, seemed a very strange and
unnecessary question. She asked what
would have been the worst thing that could have happened at school, whilst I
was under the surgeon’s knife? Still
feeling too woozy, I told her that I didn’t feel like playing games, although I
remember a list including: a fatality or a fire or similar catastrophe. She then said: “You’ve had a call from OFSTED
and they’re coming to see you on Tuesday!”
Panic, none of the sort, in my drug induced state I vividly remember the
word “OFSTED” fluttering over my head circling a few times and flying into the
distance and then uttering a fairly feeble: “Oh s..t!” before declining my
wife’s strange request (she would have had me convalescing for at least six
weeks, given her way!!) as to whether I wanted to pick up anything from school
before we went home.
A mile or so down the road, the fluttering “OFSTED”
returned and I thought perhaps I should visit school just to reassure everyone
I was through the op and back in the land of the living. A quick “walk” around school reassured me at
least, that everyone else was all right, but at that point everything remained
rosy and things continued to flutter daintily around me! I waited for my Deputy to return from her
trip, made some forgotten arrangements and left to go to bed, vaguely hoping
that the lead inspector wouldn’t phone too early in the morning, not realising
at that point, that she hadn’t been able to download the necessary paperwork,
so tomorrow was going to be busier than expected. I was also hoping that Monday, and my return
to work, wouldn’t come around too quickly.
It did, but the hour or so waiting for the inspectors to deliver their
verdict took days!!
Back at school the morning
of my op, my Deputy was left to take the call, just before she took her
Reception class on a day trip to the Cotswold Wildlife Park – bet she can’t
remember what animals she saw!! The rest
of the staff? Somewhat shell shocked,
but also now hoping I don’t have another anaesthetic in a hurry!!
Oh…… and the knee? As well as expected – much as the outcome of
the inspection!!
June 2007
