When I'm not at work...

Today's @teachthought 30-day blogging challenge asks bloggers:

Do you have other hobbies/interests that you bring into your classroom teaching? Explain.

I'm very lucky. There is a big overlap between the things I enjoy and the things I must do in my day-to-day working life:

1. I like tinkering with computers, finding new apps and widgets and putting these to use in the classroom. I just have to be careful that the cult of the new doesn't interfere with delivering the content I need to get across.
2. I spend most of my holidays up in the Lake District. This really is a geographers' paradise. I even weave in a weekend trip up to Borrowdale for an U6th module on glacial geomorphology. Seventh heaven.
3. I really enjoy reading and listening to podcasts. Current affairs interest me and so I am able to make my teaching relevant. Geographers - much maligned as pencil-sharpening rugger-buggers - actually have a lot to say about the world.
4. I keep myself fit and recently have taken to setting myself big physical challenges. Last year I did this, this year I intend to do this. I like to think that these things give me a bit of a spring to my stride and make my lessons more energetic than they might otherwise be.