Professor Eddie Carmichael

Fuck.

Someone remind me that going on a camping trip with a young girl and an older woman is a lot of hard work. I like being the only man around most of the time, but I am plum knackered from doing the bulk of the work this past week. It was true camping, too. I'm not sure how we all survived it, given that my little sister AND mother are not fans of the outdoors.

I shouldn't complain too much. It was nice to get away from the city and enjoy some fresh air and different scenery.

This summer is going by far too quickly. I'm hoping to get in some pick up games of Quidditch the coming week and maybe even attending a faculty meeting this weekend. First, I need a shower and some sleep. I have a knot the size of a grapefruit in my lower back from sleeping on the ground for seven days.

I believe this is the slowest summer I've ever lived through. I have a lot happening starting in a couple of weeks, but the beginning has been a bore. I've tried to fill my time with reading books that I put aside and said I would read when I had time and I can't seem to concentrate on them. I've been spending loads of time with Amy and it's astonishing how mature that girl is for her age. It's almost scary. Apparently my mum has been letting my father take her for a few days at a time and that makes me uneasy. I'm not going to fight with my mother over it, though. It's her decision and I have to respect that. I have noticed that Amy talks about him more often and I'm not sure if I should try to explain to her why I dislike him so much or just nod and listen to what she says and appreciate the fact that she's naive enough not to worry about such things. I'm fairly sure that she's had a difficult time dealing with the split between my parents, so I figure I may have to address that with her eventually.

( Private )

My flat smells like pie. I don't believe I've ever baked anything since I've lived here.

Who hijacked my flat, made pie, left and didn't leave me any?

I'm a relatively smart man. I grasp ideas and concepts quite easily. I take pride in the fact that learning comes naturally.

So, could someone please explain to me what in the world this swine flu is and why I should be worried?

My mother is in a state of panic and she is convinced that my sister has symptoms of it. Oh, and she's sent me an entire case of those surgical face masks, which I refuse to wear.

Before anyone even asks, I don't dance. At least not well.

Also, I am going to try to be better at writing in this journal. It's beneficial to get some thoughts down on paper, but the last month and a half has been quite busy and nothing of interest has happened. Not much to say, so not much to write.

Well, I suppose one thing did happen. My birthday was four days ago. I didn't forget about it, but I'm at the point in my life where having a celebration has sort of lost my interest. A few 'happy birthdays' and a case of beer works for me. Plus, I'm thirty, so definitely not in the mood to shout that from the rooftops. Don't know why I even bother to write it here.

Right, so, that's all I have to put down at the moment. Tomorrow is Friday and I am looking forward to the weekend.

( Private to Chloe )

( Private to Lindon )

( Private to Self )

I fail at keeping a journal. I've nearly hit the month mark since the last time I wrote something personal.

So...something personal! I can do that. Maybe.

I spent Valentine's Day with Amy. It was nice. She says I have large ears and now I'm feeling a bit self-conscious about them. Are they really that big?

Anyway, she made me this card out of construction paper and while it's not the most beautiful thing, it is quite interesting. I feel like it's a mini-masterpiece. Why are kids so brilliant at being creative and I'm complete rubbish? I can barely draw a straight line with a ruler! I need to get some sort of portfolio to put everything in that she's made me because it's seriously taking over my flat. You can't even see my fridge anymore for all the paintings and drawings.

Ella, we should definitely talk more about taking Amy and Jamie out for a day. I mentioned the idea to her and she was excited.

And that, my friends, is the end for now.

Hermione, I just wanted to write a quick 'thank you' for helping me sort out the disaster that happened today. I know you are an impossibly busy woman and I do apologise for it happening in the first place. I am fairly confident that the last of the smell is gone and there's no reason for Potion classes to be canceled again tomorrow.

Having said that, I have to tell you that the Third Years are really starting to try my patience. I've done everything that has been suggested to get them to mind and they just refuse to do so. I was wondering if you would permit me to have a conference with their parents? Or just to write home informing them about the discipline problems that I, and other professors, have been having. The incident today was just one of the many recent mishaps and while I do take full responsibility for it, I am unsure that I can one hundred percent promise that it won't happen again.

Sorry everyone! Had a bit of an accident this morning and I haven't had much luck getting rid of the smell!

Damn third years.

After Adrian's epic bit about the word 'fuck', I doubt I will be able to hold the attention of anyone, but I just felt like I should probably use this for something other than just responding to other people's writings.

First day back. It was interesting, to say the very least. I'm quite sure that the homework that I'm about to grade that was assigned over break is going to be an absolute pleasure to read. My monster class, the third years, seem to have come up the shortest so far. I counted in class and I only got half a dozen papers from them.

I am having a very hard time grasping what can make students go from being complete angels one year to absolute hellions the next. Sometimes I think that I wouldn't mind school being year-round. At least then I would see the changes and not be completely floored when a few months pass over summer and the kids come back as strangers. Has anyone else had this problem with the third years this year? I'd hate to think it was just me, but if it is then it is and I have to fix it.

I guess it's time that I try some new teaching techniques.

In the meantime, I doubt I will have trouble sleeping tonight.