Author Archives: Sitting comfortably with andy daly

Wonders will never cease.

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I once taught a boy called Roque (Pron. ‘Rrro – keh’) He insisted, as did his mother too, that it was to be pronounced ‘Rocky’ (as in ‘Balboa’  – Stallone, you remember?  The film about the boxer … the one with the music) Well this lad Roque was a real shit. Very bright, but extremely disruptive.  He was skilled at orchestrating chaos. I had loads of bust ups with him over the years and had to withdraw him from numerous lessons in the department. He was always in trouble, and it was always something unpleasant: like bullying, or swearing at a member of staff. He was no Artful Dodger, no ‘loveable’ villain. He was a nasty piece of work; and from the ‘knowing glances’ he would now and again shoot you, he knew it and revelled in it

He wasn’t my favourite character, I have to say. I didn’t like teaching him or as a result, sadly, the class he was in. I just grit my teeth before every lesson and went into battle, trying never to lose my sense of humour. The Parkinson’s was begining to ‘bite’ by then, so it was difficult. I wasn’t what I once was. However, I do remember on his last day at school, he insisted on having a picture taken with me – much to his friends’ astonishment (and mine!)

When they sneeringly asked why, he just said ‘Oh he’s alright he is …’

Anyway, it comes up just before Christmas time that I am at the local petrol station. I’ve just put my twenty quids worth in (They don’t bother with the pumps nowadays – they just leave a thimble next to the tank and let you get on with it ) when I noticed said Roque (pron ‘Rocky’) inside the shop. He had just paid and was about to leave. I was very self-conscious because I was a bit ‘Dyskinetic’ (fidgety uncontrolled movements; a Parkinson’s drug, Leva-Dopa side effect,) nevertheless I plough on.

“How’re you doing?” He says, genuinely pleased to see me “You’ll never guess what I’m doing” He was right. I couldn’t. “I’m at uni” He said proudly. “Good for you” I said, genuinely pleased, which I was.

“Yeah” He says, “It’s really hard, I don’t know if I’ll be able to stick it out, but I’m going to try” (I’m not altogether sure to what he was referring here – the work, the drinking, the late nights …) He asked about me, so I told him about the Parkinson’s, the early retirement, the battles with drug side effects People only ever ask me  once. He listens intently.

“That’s bad news, I’m really sorry. You know, you were alright, you. I’m really sorry”

Then suddenly out of the blue, he hugs me! … Not a limp, insipid hug – like a wet raincoat, but a robust, manly, thumping on the back to signal It’s ‘Time To Release’ sort of hug.

And with that he was gone! The cashier had to come out from behind the till, slap my fallen jaw back up into place and take my twenty quid. It was a good five minutes before I could move. Amazing!

Wonders will never cease.

© Andy Daly  2010

Staff Football

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A snippet from the Queensmead School Staff Bulletin 1994

Queensmead 4. Douay Martyrs 1.  

Queensmead are back and back in style. Despite going behind 0-1, Queensmead fought back and played some excellent football to convincingly defeat the Douay Martyrs School Staff Team 4-1.

Forget all that media talk about Shearer and Cole, EI Tel needs to come to West London and take a good look at Cosby and Daly,  probably the best combination seen in Britain since Torville and Dean. Poise, balance, natural skills and grace: C and D have got the lot.

The Queensmead victory would have been even greater if Pete Chadwick  from the Maths department had not missed a penalty.   Apart from that one blemish, Chopper, as he is affectionately known by his team-mates for the obvious reasons, had a smashing game in midfield.

The nasty head injury sustained by one of the Queensmead strikers (Me as it happens!) on closer inspection revealed nothing more serious than a few emerging black roots and some split ends. (And an evening in casualty having it stitched)

He should be fit for Friday’s game, against Haydon School Staff, 21/10/94.

(With thanks to Paul Simpson)

C and D

 Phwwoar! look at that fine collection of beefcake!

(The rest of you don’t look too bad either …)

  © Andy Daly  2010

McEnroe and Borg

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On the afternoon of one of the great McEnroe/Borg finals,  me and My Best Mate Aky spent a side-splitting  afternoon in the off licence he ran on Seven Sisters Road,  coming up with the definitive tabloid headline for the following day’s editions.

Winner was (I’ll never forget it)

                          “Ice Borg sinks Mac the Strife in Titanic struggle”

© Andy Daly  2010

Tulips Evening light

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I could do with a splash of colour in my day.

© Andy Daly  2010

Yet Again

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Yet again, ‘Good Friday’ turns out to be a bitter disappointment. It wasn’t ‘Good’ at all. In fact it was bloody awful most of the time.

There was one Golden Nugget, however, which made me laugh like a drain. My eldest, 18 years old, fit as a butchers dog, is vacuuming the room, giving me a hand tidying the house. As he works he is listening to his I pod: Loud. Mainly to drown out my Aswad CD: Even Louder.

‘That’s interesting…’ I thought. ‘Why is he doing a ‘dummy run with the vac?’ I motioned to him to stop, which he did. Sarcastically, I said: ‘It works much better when it’s switched on’

Immediately, he pulled off his headphones: ‘Oh no! How long has it been like this?’

 ‘I haven’t heard any noise for about 15 mins’ I said.

“Bugger” it. said As he bashed about in the cupboard, that means I’ve got to do it all again!

He had ‘hoovered’ almost the whole of the downstairs of the house without turning it on!

Bless him! Now if only he would do something about those soppy jeans he wears halfway down his arse …

Learning to Drive

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Me? My dad gave me lessons on the beautiful country lanes (deathtraps) round Seascale  In the Lake District. One day, after sitting in the car for a few minutes, looking out of the windshield at clear blue skies, listening to a grinding, whirring sound as it slowed and faded: The sound (I think you’re there before me) of  front wheels that no longer have contact with a road surface, but which are running free and gradually losing momentum. They were able to do this as the fuschia Hillman Avenger .. It was the 70’s! ..  that we were sitting in had come to rest, yours truly behind the controls, at an angle of 45 degrees after taking on a dry stone wall and fence. My Dad turned to me, stiffly – It may have been the whiplash – and said. “Right! I think that’s enough of that!” We swapped places, he reversed it back onto the road and he never mentioned it again. It was however the end of my father’s tuition.

Avenger – almost the same colour!

 So it was at the age of 26 while living in Bromley by Bow in the East End of London that  I eventually learned to drive. The streets of Whitechapel, Mile End, Old Ford and Stepney being my training ground. I must confess, I had my doubts about my instructor: not because she was a woman, but because one memorable lesson she told me (This is true!) to drive up the off-slip of the A12, Blackwall Tunnel road just to the north of East India Dock road. All my instincts said ‘This doesn’t look right’ and I voiced my concern but she wouldn’t have it; till we got to the apex of the tight loop that the road makes to find two lanes of traffic bearing down on us. I think it probably prompted the quickest three point turn I’ve ever done.

My first car was a 1971 1.8 Marina coupe: GLD 967J. It was like shit off a shovel that car…. I tuned it: well fiddled with the carb jet and float – as if it made any difference. It still did what it wanted. I remember the day I bought it and went to pick it up. An icy December morning, I was also moving flats from Bow to Sudbury Town, Wembley. I had to tube it at what seemed like the crack of dawn, from Bow to Ickenham to collect it, then drive (my first solo drive!) down the A40 into and through central London back to Bow to load up, then back  through central London and A40 again to Wembley.

Look at that! 1.8 Coupe. Like poetry in motion. Sorry that should read pottery in motion

Incidentally, you know the stretch of road that runs from Kings Cross, past Euston, Baker Street and finally onto the flyover at Edgware Road? Well I’d not been driving long when one night, coming back from Hackney I managed to get from King’s Cross onto the A40, without a single red light! (Okay some were a bit amber, even slightly red-tinted…) But, honestly I stayed within the law. Mind you, I didn’t look at my speed. Couldn’t do it now of course. Too many new sets of lights. Like I said: shit off a shovel.

© Andy Daly  2010

Waxing lyrical

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Cynically adapted by Y. T. (as in ‘Yours Truly’ ) from a news item about Crayola. You remember them from school? The crayons in the little tins.

Crayola ‘wax lyrical’ over the celebration of its 50th year with the introduction of a commemorative 64 crayon box. To celebrate the anniversary, Crayola introduced eight new colors selected by children to tell a story about what’s important to today’s youth: knives, guns, cheap skunk.

© Andy Daly  2010

Marc Forni

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Congratulations to Marc and his wife on the birth of a baby girl at 2:10pm today.

To mark the occasion, published here, for the first time – giving a real insight into the complex dynamic between Newly Qualified Teacher, Observer, and Students is a copy of the observation record of Marc’s groundbreaking Art lesson 15/07/04

Lesson Observation Form for Newly Qualified Teachers

 Name              MARC FORNI

Date    15/7/04                   Subject: Art                                   Lesson/Class  P.1

Teaching Group          YEAR 8 M/A

Planning and preparation

Good. Your lesson was meticulously planned and prepared. Your written documentation clearly highlighted the importance of making sure I got a cup of tea beforehand. (The omission of brandy is put down to pre-observation nerves: but remember, this could happen for real with ofsted. So be prepared)

The lesson was divided into 3 parts and involved

  •  Looking into the kiln (at a temperature of close to 300 degrees C) and forlornly exclaiming ‘We didn’t have enough time! They are a bit hot’
  • Making paper folders
  • Looking at students wandering around aimlessly.

The objectives were met and satisfy the school’s criteria for an ‘excellent’ lesson.

Seating plan would have been used had there had been enough stools.

Teaching content – style and strategies

The first 25/30 minutes was taken up with trying to clear mess left by the Head of Department, which although impressive, was over – long and meant that many students lost interest. You did not take the opportunity to pose questions or allow the students to question you. Try to break this aspect of the lesson down into smaller ‘chunks.’

Communication skills

Good classroom presence. Clear voice. I particularly thought you got through to the students in a very special way with the middle finger to Student X and the no-nonesense ‘Yes girls, I’ve got 4 earrings, now piss off’ comment. Sadly however, these are both approaches which although effective, are not fashionable these days.

Learning environment and use of resources

No resources were prepared in advance: A sign that you have truly found your feet at this school.

Classroom organisation and management

Students lined up outside the room and took off their coats in an orderly manner on entering the room. (I think, I was still drinking my tea)

Pupil response

  •  Minimal. Their response to your lesson did, frankly not reflect the time and effort you put into it. (Why was this?)
  •  You have reservations about your ability to meet the needs of all pupils. You are right. On the whole you don’t meet any.
  •  However, you are teaching Art, so no one gives a toss.

 Use of prior assessment to support pupils’ learning

What?

Subject specific comments

 You clearly have good subject knowledge in Art and are confident with it.

Recommendations

  •  Try to make your teaching a little less didactic. Encourage more active learning. For instance, students could have been given the initiative to use blue, or even black paper for their folders.
  • Use questioning more. For instance: ‘Why am I here?’
  • Finally have you thought of teaching a more popular subject, say RE or ethics for example?

NQT signature………………………………                                       Date……………….

Bike

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David Mason’s GM  speedway Bike photographed yesterday at Rye House practice session.

Engine is a  single cylinder, 499cc 4 Valve 4 stroke air-cooled single overhead camshaft. Weighs 26kg. approximately 80+ BHP, dry clutch, runs on Methanol. 0 – 60 in under 3 seconds.

Beast!

© Andy Daly  2010

Bird

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Swan: genus Cygnus,  family Anatidae. Photographed 2 days ago at Amwell on some canal or other. Length:  approx 1.5 m (60 inches) Wingspan: 3 m (10 ft) Clutch: 3 – 7 (eggs) Runs on roots, tubers, Mothers Pride, Hovis, Warburtons. Mess with its clutch and there’s a good chance you’ll do 0 – 60 in under 3 seconds.

Beast!

© Andy Daly  2010