I never wanted to be King, Wallis...

So said Edward Fox to Cythia Harris, in the ITV production of 'Edward and Mrs Simpson' when faced with the need to abdicate.

I have had similar feelings to Edward's when considering my new role at school, as 'I never want to be Headteacher'. However, I have not chosen to abdicate and will be headteacher of the Secondary school in September with one slight change.

Our Principal had decided that he would be leaving us at the end of the year, but has realised that he can't live without us and so will be staying after all. This will not change my job as I will still be headteacher of the Secondary school. and all other terms and conditions will remain the same, but we will still have a Principal! I am really pleased as this is the arrangement I have wanted all along.

Apologies for the delay in an update, it has been a combination of too much work and a fairly unstable internet connection of the last week or so.

The external examinations have started in earnest, which means some very long days. Last Thursday, for instance, I didn't leave school until 8pm having arrived at school 13 hours earlier! We are busy doing all the things that the end of the year entails, exams, reports, presentation eveings, etc. All this, and trying to get ready for next year, which means everywhere I look there is something to do.

I have also been very busy with our school swimming team. We have be able, for the first time,to enter a swimming competition, namely the Sindh Sharks Invitational, which was held yesterday. We entered a team of 21 and if I do say so myself we did really well. We came third out of four teams, but we did manage to win several events. It was a good experience for all the swimmers and will help us to prepare for the next event which is the Sindh Open in October.

One useful side effect of the swimming competition is that I have finally found a swimming pool close to the house, which I can use, and so I am hoping to get some much needed exercis

Another concern at the moment is the military action going on in SWAT and its repercussions. The government have started an offensive against the Taliban and this has caused nearly 1.5 million people to flee the area and become Internal Displaced People (IDP's). Many of theses IDP's are heading south and some of them are heading for Sindh.

Most of the IDP's are Pathan and there are already a large number of Pathans here in Karachi and they are fighting with the MQM, who is one of the main political parties in Karachi. The MQM don't want anymore Pathans here in the city and this has led to violence, and some deaths. Please pray.

The temperatures are permanently at the top end of the 30's or bottom end of the 40's all the time and the humidity is making for some very sticky weather. This has resulted in some days requiring three showers a day just to stay comfortable!

Five weeks from now I will, Inshallah, be sitting in the flat over the Music Box enjoying the wonderful British weather and no doubt referencing the inevitable Manchester rain in my first blog...

p.s. Paul get on with your revision!