Author Archives: Phoenix

Paloma Bar and Resto, Sanur, Bali.

Deaking with life… in a bar I was welcomed as I had been there before! I sat down with a beer and a menu, and then a pissed up Australian decided I was his mate. He sat opposite me and started jabbering about being born in England but moved to Australia when he was elevenContinue reading “Paloma Bar and Resto, Sanur, Bali.”

Teachers who have a previous career…

Teaching reflections – not in a Physics class. Why do so many people who enter teaching after a failed career somewhere else, feel they know how to run a school? I once knew a Headmaster who started out as an accountant, then trained as a Solicitor, became a school Bursar, then was appointed as aContinue reading “Teachers who have a previous career…”

Arrogant idiots

Dunning-Kruger syndrome I get fed up with stupid people who think they know everything. I see people these days who pick up their phones when I tell them some Historical or Political fact. They feel they have to check what I said. I call that rude ignorance. It takes me back to a former arrogantContinue reading “Arrogant idiots”

Return to Redbeard.

Watching people. Back at the Barbarossa restaurant and bar. This time I see a big group of western men with Indonesian WAG’s. Am I jealous… All very noisy, but thankfully ignoring me. On the menu for me today was duck breast with mashed potatoes and steamed veg. Fabulous. Also this place has the best beerContinue reading “Return to Redbeard.”

St. Kevins Roman Catholic Comprehensive School, Kirkby, Merseyside.

Dating. Though it was actually still part of Lancashire when I first went there in 1968. Two thousand boys. Testosterone City. Fights everywhere, sometimes with the boys, sometimes with the teachers. Priests with a streak of Sadism. There was a ritual you had to go through if you had a date with a girl. ItContinue reading “St. Kevins Roman Catholic Comprehensive School, Kirkby, Merseyside.”

Raging in Sanur.

Regrets! It’s a popular idea that, as you get older you regret the things you didn’t do, more than the things you did. I can go with that. These couple of months in Bali have left me in a very reflective mood. And today, Matthew, I am mostly being Mr Angry of no fixed abode!Continue reading “Raging in Sanur.”

Farts and retirement

Retirement. I’ve tried it a few times now and it hasn’t worked. When I left my school in China as a Headmaster I thought that would be it. I believed I’d done some marvellous investments which were due to come to fruition… I was wrong – still fighting that one 14 years later! After aContinue reading “Farts and retirement”

Long Playing records

I have no idea why sitting at various bars in Sanur, Bali, is making me recall and review so much of life. Maybe because this candle has almost burned down to the bottom, so I have to get it all on record. Which reminds me of records! I am of the era that grew upContinue reading “Long Playing records”

Eye for an Eye

St. Kevins, Kirkby, Lancashire, 1970 We were still in Lancashire then. Merseyside was created April 1974, so all my exercise books said Lancashire County Council, though some did have the school crest on the front and the famous Respice Finem. We used to write A.M.D.G. in the top left-hand corner of every page as weContinue reading “Eye for an Eye”