I've only been back at school two days and I'm already feeling frazzled. I've had comments about my haircut, I've been asked if I whiten my teeth, asked if I smoke (I don't), asked if I'm sure I don't smoke because I smell of it (I really don't - perhaps it was just steam coming out of my ears), I've had my hair ruffled and have generally been run off my feet.

Somehow I'd forgotten that it's not all plain sailing in the classroom.

One of my form turned up yesterday wearing a 'fancy' belt. We don't have a strict guideline on the maximum thickness of belts but if it looks remotely fashionable then it's probably not allowed. What I don't understand is these wide belts. I'm not an expert on such things so stand to be corrected but as far as I can tell they don't actually have the property of holding up trousers as they don't appear to be connected to anything. But if a girl says their trousers will fall down without it then it's not something I'm willing to put to the test. Answers on a postcard please.