The Adventures of Dysfunctional Dan

The summer holidays are underway after what felt like a very long academic year. It was hugely challenging in numerous ways from staff changes to the ever pesky pandemic. Despite this I have found this academic year hugely fulfilling, enjoying working in a team that have really gelled together well and seeing the incredible progress our students have made. I feel quite proud to say that other than two days where we all had to isolate, I managed to be at work every single day of the academic year, through two lockdowns. I'd like to think that this is the last academic year of covid-related chaos but with the way things are, it seems likely we will have a third. Even so, after a rest I am looking forward to what the next academic year will bring. I mentioned a short period of isolation- this happened a couple of weeks back when our class had to close and both staff and students had to isolate whilst we waited for the result of a PCR test. I'd actually been quite up for a period o...

I've written fairly extensively about having dyspraxia here and the way it affects me in my adult life. I don't really think of dyspraxia that much on a day to day basis. I've come up with solutions to most challenges I face on a regular basis and have ways of going about things that work for me.  My colleagues found it amusing as I explained that I use the same space at every place I need to park at. I recognise that this is perhaps not normal practice and share some of the amusement but it works for me- I feel far more confident at parking and leaving the space if it's one I've practiced at and beside, this method means I always know where my car is. The flaw is of course that it relies on the space being empty and a wave of anxiety does wash over me if one some stranger has dared to park in the space I lay personal claim to.  Whilst I do have my own tactics for getting through everyday life every now and then a new challenge comes along. Usually these arrive comp...