Niggles

I had an unsettling telephone call yesterday. The man who owns the flat I live in called about the damage done by a leak in the bathroom of the flat upstairs. This happened several months ago and he wanted to know if everything was now dry so that it could be repainted. He also wanted access to the flat so that he could measure up to fit something. I don't have a problem with this and told him he could get the keys from the school at any time (I've met him and he's a very nice man).

The unsettling part was when he asked me when I was leaving. At first he misheard my 'December' for 'Sunday' but once I repeated it he sounded somewhat surprised and told me the lease on the flat ends in February. I told him he'd have to talk to the school about it (the lease is between the school and the landlord). I went into the school today to raise this with the Director who, unfortunately, had met someone at the airport very early this morning and wasn't available. It also wasn't clear if he'd be in tomorrow. I can't say I'm happy with this situation. I had a quick look at the contract and it does say it's until 28/2/07 (it's in Spanish so I don't know if there's any mechanism for extending the contract).

What concerns me is the surprise the landlord displayed which, coupled with his intention to come in and measure up to fit something, would indicate that he assumed the flat would be handed back no later than the end of February. I was speaking with a couple of my colleagues and one, who had just popped in to say hello was informed by the cleaner and receptionist that a new flatmate is arriving tomorrow. Nobody in management had bothered to pass on this news and they have all our email addresses as well as our telephone numbers. That colleague was hoping to move into a single person flat in March but has heard that a couple who've just arrived have been put in that flat.

Finally, it seems that we return to work next Monday (5th February) and we're expected to be level testing on Monday and Tuesday. The only information I've had is from the DoS of the other school - but hey, we're mushrooms and, it seems, completely disposable. L, U and myself will be doing the DELTA for the remainder of February but a conversation was overheard in which it was stated that we could do the DELTA input sessions and then return to our school to do testing - because we don't need a life, do we?

I have to say the lack of organisation and care for people teaching in the school is beginning to annoy me. The people in charge are so firmly embedded in, they seem to have forgotten what it's like not to have family and friends around you. I've always known that teachers on time-limited contracts are seen as numbers to be played around with. This has happened in all the schools I've taught in but this particular one is by far the worst.

I'm hoping all this is going to be resolved easily and without causing me any hassle but (in light of my experience) I'm not holding my breath. One thing I have decided though, is that I'm not going to worry about it. The school can sort it out and if I don't like the options I may well stamp my foot!