Monday 29th August

August Bank Holiday Monday - the last holiday of the summer in UK which for many signifies the end of the summer.  Children will go back to school soon, work starts again for many and the stories of their two week holiday away will soon fade as will the suntan.  For many the next break to look forward to is the Xmas period which I have never considered very much to be a holiday although nice to see family.

But Lillian and I have sunshine to look forward to, certainly until the end of November, after which we are told its not so hot, although still nice.  I can't wait to be back 'home' tomorrow.  Booked in on-line, case is packed and taxi booked for a 0630 pick up.  Well one small bag and I am ready.  can't say the same for Emily who is coming with me for two weeks of sun lounging.  I expect she will appear from her night out raving and get ready at some stage.

Boston Common in the sunshine

The week away in Boston was very busy, so much so I didn't actually get done the work that I went there to do!  The week before a new school year is always a busy time, but for this school it was fairly manic.  The induction programme had been booked with far too many sessions for the teachers and they were getting overloaded before the school year had even started.  If this was not bad enough, the school computer network was being completely overhauled and as a consequence teachers were without laptops which all needed re-configuring.  As ever that does not always go smoothly and I spent a lot of time helping to troubleshoot various problems.  Two days were spent training on Engage and generally supporting office staff.
Boston is a lovely city with a great mix of old and new.  As the weather was warm with blue skies it was 'eating out time' so many of the restaurants have tables outside.  I ate with Ann McPhee and other colleagues most nights and we tried a full range of places with the highlight being 'Abe and Louie's' on the last night.  The steak there is probably the best I have ever had and that includes the wagyu beef, that I had fairly frequently in Dubai when being wined and dined by Chairman Sunny Varkey.

Boston was preparing for the onslaught of hurricane Irene and I was lucky to get away on the BA flight which left at 0850 on the Saturday morning, whereas colleague Stephen Cox was not so lucky and was stuck as his flight back to Doha was schedule to go via New York