May has been a month for completing all the marking and beginning to think about teaching commitments for the next academic year. The marking process is lengthy but is now in the latter stages with reports being prepared for various examination boards in the next couple of months. I know that students wait anxiously for confirmation of grades, so this is an important time of the academic year.

At home, the kittens, or rather ‘cats’, were one-year old. As pedigree pusses, they are house-cats, but following a safe exploration in the back garden, it became clear that they would enjoy the experience of fresh air and some different scenery. So amid much laughter in the family, my ‘other half’ has agreed to build them a cat run – I will upload some photographs here when the run is finished and in use!

Family life was also somewhat difficult this month with a very sad and unexpected family bereavement putting us all in a bit of turmoil.  However, on a more cheery note, family pulled together and we are now all looking forward to the festive break and some time to ‘gather strength’.  December will be a busy time workwise, but with some precious family time built-in.