Tuesday 15th October 2024 - CCTV and Cross Checking

 Hello all.

Today felt like a whirlwind of tasks, but I’m filled with gratitude as I sit down to reflect. The house is still tidy, though I did find myself picking up bits and bobs this morning. Clothes left out and some stray rubbish here and there—it seems like a never-ending job. Yet, I remind myself that as I continue to keep things clean and organized, I hope the others will notice and follow suit. It’s all about leading by example, and I’m hopeful they’ll start chipping in soon.

Work was a mixed bag today. It wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t go quite as planned. I arrived at my desk to a note informing me that the Nursery’s CCTV wasn’t displaying in their respective rooms. Up a ladder I went, checking each camera, and quickly discovered the culprit: water damage. After years of service, the cameras were finally showing their age. While they still functioned, only the main console could view the footage.

I spent a good chunk of time troubleshooting, checking wires and the cameras themselves. It was clear that the old analogue system was on its last legs. After discussing the issue with the school’s admin team, the Headteacher gave me the green light to explore more modern camera options. It’s a project I’ll dive into tomorrow.

In between the CCTV saga, I worked on cross-checking records for our Teaching School Hub, making sure our Early Career Framework (ECF) data matched up with the funders’ names. Two hours later, I was pleased to find everything in good order, aside from a couple of non-payments to query. My trusty spreadsheets continue to serve me well.

On that note, I raised the idea of creating a proper database instead of relying on multiple spreadsheets. The team had a good discussion about it, though I missed most of it as a flurry of phone calls pulled me away. I think there’s some interest, and I might start designing something in the coming weeks to see if it would work for us.

To top off the workday, a parent emailed questioning a refund on their account. I made a spreadsheet to reconcile payments and calculate what was owed, but they challenged the amount. I sent over my calculations, and I’m confident we’ll sort it out soon.

While the day wasn’t overly exciting, I’m grateful for the opportunity to help, even in areas that aren’t usually part of my job. Whether it’s dealing with finances or security, I’m thankful for the chance to stretch myself and offer support where I can.

Coming home was a relief. Juli had tea nearly ready, and all I had to do was finish it off and serve—chicken pie, chips, peas, cabbage, and gravy. It was delicious and much needed after a long day. After a relaxing bath and picking Fearne up from dance class, I wound down watching Sort Your Life Out while responding to a few emails.

It wasn’t the most exciting or fulfilling day, but tomorrow’s a new one. I’m grateful for what I accomplished and ready to tackle whatever comes next. We’ll see what it brings!