Thursday 30 April 2009

2007 Upper Deck Masterpieces

Way back in 2007 I was sent a pack of these cards and have tried earnestly to get my hands on some more without much success. Its now 2009 and I was pleasantly surprised to find a blaster cheaply on e-bayUS.
The base set consists of 90 cards.
There are inserts: Captured on Canvas, Captured on Canvas Bronze, Captured on Canvas Green, 5x7 Box Toppers and Strokes of Genius
There are parallel sets: Blue Steel, Hades, Rusted, Ironised, Bronze Ore, Black Linen, Deep Blue Linen, Green Linen, Persian Blue Linen, Red Linen, Artists Proofs, Serious Black, Pinot Red, Winsdor Green, Celestial Blue and Urban Grey.

Pack 1:
#23 Roy Campanella Dodgers
#24 Jackie Robinson Dodgers
#37 Miguel Cabrea Marlins
#49 Albert Pujols Cardinals

Pack 2:
#35 Joe Mauer Twins
#46 Michael Jordan White Sox
#55 Cal Ripkin Jnr Orioles
#81 Chris Chambliss Yankees
Pack 3:
#22 Babe Ruth Red Sox
#42 Ripken Jnr / Gwynn
#68 Akinori Iwamura Bay Rays
#85 1969 World Series Champions Mets

Pack 4:
#3 Bill Mazeroski Pirates
#33 Chase Utley Phillies
#48 Randy Johnson Mariners
#65 Alex Gordon Royals
Pack 5:
#13 Brooks Robinson Orioles
#61 Jason Bay Pirates
#72 Alex Rodriguez Yankees
#78 Tom Glavine Met

Pack 6:
#11 Bucky Dent Yankees
#26 Sandy Koufax Dodgers
#62 Luis Aparicio White Sox
#88 Chase Utley Phillies
Pack 7:
#7 Don Larsen Yankees
#39 Frank Thomas White Sox
#52 Johan Santana Twins
#75 Richard Nixon President

Pack 8:
#9 Roger Maris Yankees
#30 Derek Jeter Yankees
#82 Tim Lincecum Giants
#87 Roberto Clemente Pirates

I still really like this set even though there was only 1 Red Sox card ( and 5 Yankees!)

Trade with Charles from Blue Jays Cards

Finally! I say that with enthusiasm. Finally there is a Blue Jays collector on the Blog circuit. When Charles contacted me, via my good friend 'Big B's blog Waxaholic, to say he had started a blog on the Blue Jays and would I like a trade for some Red Sox. I couldn't reply with a YES quicker. I had searched for a Blue Jays collector for months and the pile of cards was growing. Eventually in February I contacted a Blue Jays blog and put a APB for someone (anyone) who was interested in some Blue Jays cards. I was contacted by Jonathan, from Toronto, who had incidentally just started to collect again after they installed a card vending machine in his local bowling alley. I sent him a rather large stack of Blue Jays cards. As of yet he hasn't sent anything back but I have found people to be true to their word. Charles however is a rare find, he posted straight away the entire 2009 Upper Deck First Edition Red Sox set. Included my first Jacoby Ellsbury of 2009. I am glad to find a home home for all my cards and to find a trade buddy for the Blue Jays is brilliant.
Charles sent these along, all 2009 UD First Edition:
#SQ8 David Ortiz
#SQ13 Josh Beckett
#34 David Ortiz
#35 Jacoby Ellsbury
#36 Coco Crisp
#37 J.D.Drew
#38 Daisuke Matsuzaka
#39 Josh Beckett
#40 Curt Schilling
#41 Clay Buchholz
#42 Dustin Pedroia
#43 Julio Lugo
#44 Mike Lowell
#45 Jonathan Papelbon
#46 Jason Varitek
#47 Hideki Okajima
#48 Jon Lester
#49 Tim Wakefield
#50Kevin Youkilis
#51 Jason Bay
#52 Justin Masterson

Thank you Charles and welcome to Baseball Card Blogroll.

Tuesday 28 April 2009

Trade with Ryan from Trader Crack's


A surprise package from Ryan at Trader Crack's this week and a nice one it was too! Straddling a decade are cards from the impressive 'Stadium Club ' Topps issue.
Ryan sent:
1993 Stadium Club #179 Aaron Sele
1993 Stadium Club #251 Danny Darwin
1993 Leaf #494 Jeff Russell
1993 Leaf #518 Aaron Sele
1997 Fleer #26 Jose Malave
1997 Fleer Tiffany #24 Mike Greenwell
2001 Stadium Club #1 Pedro Martinez
2001 Stadium Club #24 Nomar Garciaparra
2001 Stadium Club #40 Manny Ramirez
2001 Stadium Club #53 Hideo Nomo
2007 Allen+Ginter #AGR-CMS Curt Schilling Relic

Sunday 19 April 2009

Trade with Matthew from Heartbreaking cards

It has been amazingly quiet on the trading front for a few weeks now. So quiet in fact, that the postman, who I am now on first name terms with, handed me this package and said 'This has been the first package for a while from the US'. Actually its the first package full stop for a while, as there are no baseball cards of any note on e-bay UK either.
So this was a welcome package from Matthew at Heartbreaking Cards of Staggering Genius in return for a pile of Mariners cards.
Here are the cards sent from Lawrence Kansas.
1986 Topps #60 Dwight Evans
1986 Topps #749 Ed Jurak
1987 Fleer #33 Rich Gedman
1987 Fleer #37 Bruce Hurst
1987 Fleer #38 Tim Lollar
1988 Score #250 Don Baylor
1989 Fleer #89 Rich Gedman
1989 Fleer #91 Bruce Hurst
1989 Fleer #96 Jody Reed
1989 Fleer #633 Hot Hitters Wade Boggs
1990 Fleer Sticker Boston Red Sox
1990 Fleer Update #U72 Dana Kiecker
1990 Fleer Update #U73 Tim Naehring
1990 K-Mart #19 Wade Boggs
1990 Upper Deck #393 Lee Smith
1990 Upper Deck #729 Jeff Reardon
1990 Upper Deck #782 Billy Jo Robidoux
1991 Bowman #127 Tim Naehring
1991 Donruss #306 Greg Harris
1991 Donruss Rookies #40 Mike Gardiner
1991 Leaf #488 Roger Clemens
1991 Score #24T Danny Darwin
1991 Topps Traded #22T Jack Clark
1991 Upper Deck #214 Wes Gardner
1992 Pinnacle #158 Jeff Reardon
1993 Topps #4 Roger Clemens
1994 Flair #264 Tim Naehring
1995 Upper Deck #162 Aaron Sele
1996 Score #318 Erik Hanson
1996 Topps #305 Rick Aguilera
1996 Topps Stadium Club #376 John Valentin
1996 Topps Stadium Club #530 Mike Macfarlane
1997 Leaf Limited #175 Scott Hatteberg
1997 Leaf Rookies and Stars #234 Derek Lowe
1997 Leaf Rookies and Stars #279 Donnie Sadler
1998 Pacific #48 John Valentin
1998 Pacific #50 Tim Wakefield
1999 Skybox Premium #127 John Valentin
1999 Skybox Premium #138 Jose Offerman
1999 Skybox Premium #280 Nomar Garciaparra
1999 Team Best #78 Juan Pena

There is the first part of cards from the 1980's and 1990's , there is another stack from 2000's to follow. Thanks Matt - cracking cards.

2004 Flair retail


If you are at all like me, I like opening packs. Don't get me wrong cards are great but opening your own packs makes you child like. So I succumb and bought some packs from the US. I tried to look for packs I had never opened before and I understand that most of these packs have probably been searched and the 'hits' gone.
First up is 4 packs of 2004 Fleer Flair with a big RETAIL written across the top.

The set consists of 60 base cards and 22 Class of '04 (# to 799).
There are parallel cards: Fleer Collection Row,
There are inserts: 35 Hot Numbers, Hot numbers GOLD.
There are various game used memorabilia/autograph inserts.

Pack 1
#3 Jeff Bagwell Astros
#6 Tom Glavine Mets
#30 Andruw Jones Braves
#50 Hideki Matsui Yankees
checklist
Pack 2
#8 Barry Zito A's
#23 Shannon Stewart Twins
#27 Angel Berroa Royals
#51 Jim Thome Phillies
Pack 3
#1 Brandon Webb Diamondbacks
# 4 Shawn Green Dodgers
#32 Sammy Sosa Cubs
#48 Adam Dunn Reds
Pack 4
#14 Alfonso Soriano Rangers
#33 Dontrelle Willis Marlins
#38 Scott Rolen Cardinals
#41 Jason Schmidt Giants
#HN-MT Jim Thome Hot Numbers Jersey

Well no Red Sox, but surprise, surprise a Game Used Jersey. Very nice indeed.

Thursday 16 April 2009

1964 Topps

I watch many cards on e-bay and never actually bid. Cards from this, dare I say, Vintage arriving on e-bay UK are a rarity. I watched these 1964 Topps cards because they were from the year of my birth. I baulked at saying Vintage cards as that would mean that I am also Vintage, perhaps classic cards would be a better term and never old as that just a little too painful.
This mustn't be a collectible set as I won without a challenge. Not really a stunning design but Topps kept it simple-capitalised team, big picture, players name and position. The back of one of the cards had a 'Magic Answer' section. Simply follow the directions and rub a Nickel or Dime over the box to reveal the answer. Nickels and Dimes? 1 and 2 cent pieces? I have heard the expression on Wall Street:
Gordon Gecko tells Charlie Sheen's character to -


' Buy some of the nickel and dime stocks..'


presumably meaning cheap.

I don't want to start another pursuit, but wouldn't it be nice to own the set of cards from the year of your birth. My brother bought some expensive Para port and champagne from his year of birth (1960) with the view of consuming it on his 50th birthday.
Me? Personally I would prefer the cards.

Tuesday 14 April 2009

1991 Topps Baseball

The third and final helping of Junk Wax from Big B.
There are 792 cards in the base set.
The sub-sets (inserts) are: Record breakers, All-Stars, Managers, First draft picks and Future Stars.
There are parallel sets: Topps Micro, Tiffany and Desert Storm (or Shield as it was known then).

There are 15 picture cards and 1 stick of bubble gum per pack.

The pack:
#80 Fernando Valenzuela Dodgers
#196 Jim Vatcher Braves
#204 Herm Winningham Reds
#334 Todd Benzinger Reds
#351 Joe Torre Cardinals
#361 Scott Garrelts Giants
#466 Charles Nagy Indians
#537 Jose Lind Pirates
#587 Jose Offerman Dodgers
#719 Keith Miller Mets
#736 Dick Schofield Angels
#745 Doug Jones Indians
#769 Tim Sherrill Cardinals
#780 Randy Myers Reds
#785 Scott Fletcher White Sox
A couple of close calls; an ex Red Sox and a soon to be Red Sox, but no actual Red Sox cards.
I was reading the Instant Win Game card included in the pack and was surprised to see that as a celebration of 40 years of card sets, Topps was giving away all 40 years of Topps baseball sets-that's 'EVERY' set they had ever produced. (ARV $125,000) surely they are worth more than that! They also inserted one of every card from the past 40 years in retail packs, chances of obtaining one are 1in 1000 packs. Sorry the 1952 to 1956 cards are redemption cards with instructions on how to obtain the card, expiry date 04/01/1992. Imagine pulling one today.

Monday 13 April 2009

1991 Fleer Baseball

The second Junk Wax pack from Big B. Interestingly there is a advertisement on the wrapper for the 'Fleer Pro-Vision Sports Art Cards'. There are 12 to collect, they are limited edition and packed randomly in wax packs. Every star player portrait features bright, distinctive artwork that will make the set collectable (sic) for years to come. Anyone collect these or still trying?Apparently they are collectible for years.

There are 720 cards in the base set.
There are inserts: 10 Fleer All-stars, 12 Fleer Pro-vision.
There are two 'special' inserts only available in certain packs: 9 Wax Box cards and 8 World Series cards.
There are 14 cards and 1 sticker per pack.

The Pack:
Sticker
#30 Stan Belinda Pirates
#88 Tom Brunansky Red Sox
#137 Bobby Thigpen White Sox
#165 Frank Viola Mets
#186 Todd Stottlemyre Blue Jays
#194 Tim Belcher Dodgers
#381 Mike Walker Indians
#437 Jerome Walton Cubs
#461 Mike Schooler Mariners
#440 Steve Wilson Cubs
#534 Craig Lefferts Padres
#573 Gary Thurman Royals
#644 Bryn Smith Cardinals
#649 Milt Thompson Cardinals
There is just too much yellow on this set.
One Red Sox though.

Sunday 12 April 2009

1990 Fleer Baseball

Big B over a Waxaholic sent me three packs of 'Junk Wax', although I personally wouldn't call any packs junk, particularly since packs are a rarity(here inthe UK).

There are 660 cards in the base set consisting of 620 players, 7 checklists, 14 major league prospects, 10 player of the decade and 10 league leaders. The packs had 15 cards and 1 sticker.


Dayf sent a Red Sox free packet of these in January. Here's hoping I do better this time around.

The Pack:
The sticker
#122 Frank White Royals
#194 Mark Williamson Orioles
#197 Blaine Beatty Mets
#205 Keith Hernandez Mets
#244 Alex Cole Cardinals
#314 Ruben Sierra Rangers
#339 Greg Vaughn Brewers
#417 Eric Davies Reds
#440 Greg Cadaret Yankees
#487 Jerry Browne Indians
#501 Joel Skinner Indians
#552 Don Carman Phillies
#593 Lonnie Smith Braves
#594 Pete Smith Braves
#638 AL All Stars Mattingly McGwire
Another pack of 1990 Fleer without a Red Sox card, but that is two in row that has the Mattingly/McGwire card.

Saturday 11 April 2009

1980 Topps Baseball Vacancy List

The 26 cards I need are: (updated 8th August 2009)
390 Fregie Jenkins,
435 Don Gullett,
437 Joe Niekro,
448 Jim Wohlford,
485 Mickey Rivers,
492 Todd Cruz,
493 Jerry Martin,
496 Silvio Martinez,
500 Tom Seaver,
501 Rennie Stennett,
507 Leon Roberts,
512 Jose Cardenal,
514 Steve Ontiveros,
519 Steve Nicosia,
520 Steve Rogers,
577 Bob Mattick,
578 Scott Sanderson,
580 Nolan Ryan,
587 Garry Templeton,
630 Larry Bowa,
637 Joe Simpson,
659 George Bamberger,
667 Martin/Paschl/Qsnbry,
676 Macko/Geisel/Pagel,
684 Frazier/Herr/O'Brien

Update 26th September 20 cards from e-bay ~ 178, 185, 190, 192, 196, 202, 204, 214, 227, 228, 230, 241, 244, 532, 533, 556, 565, 573, 602, 621
Update 30th September 50 cards from e-bay ~ 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 32, 38, 39, 42, 44, 47, 49, 50, 51, 56, 57, 60, 68, 69, 71, 73, 76, 78, 79, 84, 87, 89, 95, 97, 99, 101, 102, 700, 704, 705, 722
Update 3rd October 20 cards from e-bay ~ 104, 203, 235, 244, 281, 305, 315, 321, 459, 570, 589, 605, 615, 620, 644, 646, 688, 705, 715, 719
Update 11th October 25 cards from e-bay ~ 25, 30, 42, 46, 50, 53, 55, 56, 65, 75, 80, 89, 90, 91, 111, 114, 118, 121, 249, 565, 597, 619, 649, 706, 713
Update 21st October 25 cards from e-bay ~ 76, 84, 85, 106, 170, 175, 185, 196, 204, 227, 228, 237, 272, 298, 299, 434, 490, 533, 537, 555, 558, 617, 622, 635, 636
Update 1st November 20 cards from ebay ~35, 95, 105, 201, 260, 532, 550, 610, 640, 646, 648, 654, 655, 660, 671, 701, 704, 707, 710, 726
Update 13th November 44 cards in trade with Shane ~ 109, 136, 142, 157, 254, 263, 312, 325, 327, 330, 342, 345, 352, 355, 360, 377, 397, 402, 410, 414, 419, 427, 429, 430, 472, 486, 491, 499, 503, 515, 518, 576, 585, 592, 640, 648, 655, 660, 662, 665, 674, 677, 685, 687
Update 25th November 8 cards in trade with Greg ~ 2, 4, 40, 125, 265, 320, 400, 590
Update 5th December 7 cards in trade with Cliff ~ 144, 158, 372, 391, 407, 423, 551
Update 6th December 102 cards from e-bay ~ 28, 29, 33, 37, 92, 108, 119, 120, 137, 138, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 158, 159, 163, 164, 166, 172, 195, 219, 223, 224, 229, 231, 239, 240, 243, 250, 255, 257, 258, 261, 262, 264, 266, 267, 268, 276, 277, 278, 285, 286, 287, 289, 293, 294, 295, 297, 306, 307, 309, 311, 313, 317, 319, 323, 324, 329, 332, 333, 334, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 407, 408, 416, 588, 594, 612, 613, 616, 624, 625, 626, 627, 629, 631, 633, 637, 645, 664, 668, 670, 673, 675, 679, 680, 683
Update 12th December 2 cards in trade with Steve ~469, 481

Update 18th December 2 cards from e-bay ~ 417, 421

Update 21st December 75 cards from e-bay ~110, 116, 1117, 126, 127, 128, 131, 132, 133, ,139, 156, 161, 167, 236, 296, 326, 343, 346, 364, 376, 380, 382, 386, 387, 396, 401, 409, 411, 421, 422, 428, 432, 436, 441, 443, 444, 446, 447, 458, 461, 463, 465, 466, 467, 473, 475, 476, 478, 483, 488, 530, 534, 535, 542, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 569, 574, 581, 583, 586, 593, 623, 632, 641, 652, 663, 678, 686, 690, 695, 698

Update 23rd December 87 cards from Jeremiah ~ 3, 5, 19, 21, 31, 41, 45, 58, 64, 66, 67, 74, 82, 86, 115, 116, 117, 124, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 139, 145, 146, 147, 148, 156, 161, 162, 165, 167, 184, 191, 205, 207, 217, 225, 236, 253, 273, 275, 280, 282, 292, 295, 296, 300, 308, 310, 314, 316, 318, 326, 328, 331, 341, 343, 344, 346, 348, 350, 351, 352, 354, 357, 359, 361-365, 367-371, 374, 375, 376, 378

Update 23rd January 2009 1 card in trade with Greg #160 Eddie Murray
Update 28th January 2009 64 cards in trade with Dayf ~ 33, 41, 74, 119, 124, 136, 141, 148, 149, 150, 155, 158, 219, 224, 268, 275, 277, 285, 287, 293, 295, 297, 313, 317, 318, 331, 328, 333, 344, 363, 368, 372, 374, 375, 376, 388, 394, 395, 423, 451, 453, 456, 467, 469, 494, 495, 498, 506, 511, 523, 525, 527, 541, 546, 548, 554, 559, 566, 567, 571, 582, 594, 624, 629
Update 2nd February 2009 36 cards in trade with Mark ~ 232, 290, 302, 383, 385, 389, 395, 440, 457, 462, 479, 489, 494, 498, 504, 505, 508, 509, 510, 511, 516, 517, 525, 527, 528, 529, 538, 543, 546, 547, 548, 559, 579, 584, 643, 682
Update 3rd February 2009 7 cards in trade with Chuck ~ 1, 210, 232, 290, 335, 450, 600
Update 4th February 2009 14 cards in trade with Dan ~ 259, 274, 404, 425, 426, 457, 462, 470, 484, 526, 529, 545, 591, 689
Update 21st February 2009 2 cards in trade with Steven ~ 77, 270
Update 16th April 2009 2 cards from e-bay ~#70 Gary Carter, #651 Rollie Fingers
Update 30th April 2009 1 card from Greg ~ #206 1979 Strikeout Leaders
Update 13th June 2009 1 card from e-bay ~#521 Ken Brett
Update 23rd June 2009 1 card from e-bay~ #482 Rickey Henderson
Update 1st July 2009 4 cards from Matt~#384 Joe McLaughlin, #393 Ozzie Smith, #431 Mike Krukow and #650 Joe Morgan
Update 7th August 2009 1 card from e-bay~ #540 Pete Rose
Update 8th August 2009 1 card from e-bay~ #100 Johnny Bench

Trade with Big B from Waxaholic

My friend Brain from Canada and Waxaholic sent along another great package of cards. The customs declaration said 'Baseball cards- ENJOY BUD!' Enjoy I did, not only did Brian send cards but packs too! I will post the packs here.
As for the cards he sent along:
2002 Topps 206 #198 Johnny Damon
2008 Baseball Heroes #19 Mike Lowell charcoal
2008 Baseball Heroes #21 David Ortiz charcoal
2008 Baseball heroes #23 Jonathan Papelbon
charcoal
2008 Baseball Heroes #24 Jacoby Ellsbury charcoal
2008 Baseball Heroes #29 Clay Buchholz charcoal
2008 Baseball Heroes #34 Wade Boggs charcoal
2008 Baseball Heroes #177 Carlton Fisk, Carl Yastrzemski charcoal


Thanks Big B for the great cards and packs. More stickers on their way. I know you love those stickers.

Friday 10 April 2009

Trade with Ross from Sports Card Info

In the movie 'Fever Pitch', (the movie was called 'A Perfect Catch' in the UK, I presume the name change was because there had already been a movie called Fever Pitch based on the book of the same name by Nick Hornby. The book is a good read. It is about his obsession with Arsenal Football club. The movie was OK-ish.) Jimmy Falon's character is introducing Drew Barrymore's to the world of Red Sox baseball and mentions No, No Nanette, Green Monster and Pesky's Pole. I had always intended to find out what that was all about. Some of my questions were answered when this card arrived from Ross at Sports Card Info.
He also sent along this fine selection:
2008 Donruss Threads #6 Carl Yastrzemski
2008 Donruss Threads #7 Carlton Fisk
2008 Donruss Threads #8 Wade Boggs
2008 Donruss Threads #10 Johnny Pesky
2008 Donruss Threads #11 Jim Rice
2008 Donruss Threads #12 Fred Lynn
2008 Donruss Threads #56 Lars Anderson
2008 Donruss Threads #57 Josh Reddick
2008 Donruss Threads #58 Luis Exposito
2008 Donruss Threads #62 Jon Still
2008 Donruss Threads #76 Jeff Corsaletti
2008 Donruss Threads #88 Stolmy Pimentel (What a great name!)
2008 Sweet Spot #36 Dustin Pedroia
2008 Sweet Spot #62 Josh Beckett
2008 Tristar Prospects #41 Pete Hissey
2008 Tristar Prospects #138 Pete Hissey, Bryan Peterson, Ryan Mestmoreland
2008 UD SP #MM-2 Josh Beckett
2008 UD SP #AA-50 Josh Beckett
2008 UD SP #5 Daisuke Matsuzaka
2008 UD SP #65 Josh Beckett
2008 UD SP #91 Jonathan Papelbon
2008 UD SP #93 David Ortiz
2009 Topps #50 David Ortiz
2009 Topps #112 Hideki Okajima
2009 Topps #257 George Kottaras
2009 Upper Deck #470 J.D.Drew

Thanks Ross. Fantastic cards as usual.

Thursday 9 April 2009

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks

I picked this item up om e-bay recently. It is unusual for two reasons. Firstly Cracker Jacks are not available in the UK so the seller must have bought these back-unopened- from the US in 2003 (sell by date 14th October 2003) with the intention of eating them or keeping them to sell in the future on e-bay. Furthermore the auction was for 1 unopened box, an opened box and 11 cards plus 5 stickers. The picture is from the auction and is exactly what I received.

So now I am in a quandary, to open or not to open. The contents are from 2003. Do Cracker Jacks go off?

Wednesday 8 April 2009

Time Out


I would love to say that I had been here!

The reality is more like this.

This is Westgate Beach a short hop from my house.
But I haven't been on holidays, it was a self enforced break to concentrate a little more on my job. What? Your occupation, surely not! I hear you cry.
As a teacher we are often checked on our performance, through a lovely group of individuals called OFSTED. These are past heads, teachers and members of the community who visit the school, observe lessons, read policies, check the paperwork, look at children's books, talk to teachers, children, parents basically leaving no turn unstoned. The experience is a little stressful but is ultimately meant to improve the school. This is not the reality and a visit from OFSTED has lead to a few school closures, early retirement of heads and negative feelings towards the whole affair. A school should be visited every 3 to 4 years. We have known for a while that we were due an inspection. I actually teach in a pretty good school but as our head beautifully put it,

"Your house may be very tidy, but when relatives come to visit
you make sure the skirting boards are dusted and the pictures are straight."

I have taught for over 20 years and this is my 6th OFSTED inspection. My first inspection, in 1994, the school I was at was given 3 months notice and the inspection lasted 5 days. The process has changed since then and for the current inspection, the school was given 2 days notice and the inspection lasted 2 days. I am responsible for special needs in my school and was given a 1 hour grilling by the lead inspector, whose job title is very impressive, he is called Her Majestys Inspector, HMI for short.

So the upshot of all this is a spent time dusting the skirting boards and making sure the pictures straight and not writing about baseball.

Its good to be back.