Over Hill and Dale by Gervase Phinn (English) Paperback Book

Description: Over Hill and Dale by Gervase Phinn Phinn returns to the Dales for a second slice of Yorkshire life.Continuing where "THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DALE" ended, Gervase Phinn begins his second year as a schools inspector in Yorkshire. His colourful cast of characters are now becoming firm favourites - the mostly mad staff at County Hall, the teachers who range from saints to stand-ins, and of course the children themselves who find ways of embarrassing school inspectors with innocent ease. Gervase's colleagues rag him unmercifully about his faraway look whenever the name of Christine Bentley of WinneryNook Nursery and Primary School is mentioned, and he realises it is time to take action - but how to put the question? Gervase Phinn has an extraordinary talent to entertain, and "OVER HILL AND DALE" will make you laugh out loud. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description This sequel to "The Other Side of the Dale" continues the story of Gervase Phinn working as a schools inspector in the Yorkshire Dales. Many of the same characters appear again: his fellow inspectors, quirks and all, the local landowner-cum-school governor, the eccentric caretaker at the staff development centre and, of course, the lovely Christine from Winnery Nook school who turned his head in the first book. But the real stars are the children, whose not-so-innocent remarks made that first volume so popular. Notes Paperback edition of Phinns follow-up to The Other Side Of The Dale, which recounts his misadventures and hilarious encounters during his second year as a Schools Inspector in Yorkshire. Being touted as "the new James Herriot", Gervase Phinn is now a major author for Penguin, and this will be backed with a major consumer advertising campaign. Back Cover THE SECOND VOLUME IN THE BESTSELLING DALES SERIES Miss, whos that funny man at the back of the classroom? So begins school-inspector Gervase Phinns second year among the frankly spoken pupils and teachers of North Yorkshire - the sight of Gervase with his notebook and pen provokes unexpected reactions from the children and adults alike. But Gervase if far from daunted - he is ready to brave the steely glare of the officious Mrs Savage, and even feels up to helping Dr Gore organize a gathering of the Feofees - just as soon as someone tells him what they are! He is still in pursuit of the lovely headteacher Christine Bentley, but will she feel the same? This is a delectable second helping of hilarious tales from the man who has been dubbed the James Herriot of schools. It will have you laughing out loud. Author Biography Gervase Phinn is a bestselling author and poet, teacher, freelance lecturer, educational consultant, school inspector, visiting professor of education and, last but by no means least, father of four. The majority of his time is spent in schools with teachers and children. He is best known for his autobiographical accounts of his time as a school inspector in the Yorkshire Dales, which have been likened to James Herriots books. Review "Gervase Phinns memoirs have made him a hero in school staff-rooms." --Daily Telegraph Review Quote "Gervase Phinns memoirs have made him a hero in school staff-rooms." Excerpt from Book Dr Gore, Chief Education Officer for the county of Yorkshire, smiled like a hungry vampire, the sort of thin-lipped, self-satisfied smile of Count Dracula before he sinks his fangs into a helpless victim. And how are you, Gervase? he mouthed softly, showing a glimpse of teeth. Oh ... er ... very well thank you, Dr Gore, I replied, attempting to sound cheerful and relaxed. Good, good, the CEO murmured. He stared for a moment over the top of his small, gold-framed spectacles and then, resting his elbows on the large mahogany desk in front of him, steepled his long fingers and nodded thoughtfully. And how have you found your first year with us in Yorkshire? he asked. His voice was soft as the summer breeze. Oh ... er ... very well, thank you, Dr Gore, I replied for the second time and shifted nervously in the chair. He continued to smile and steeple his long fingers without saying a word. In the embarrassed silence which followed I heard the slow ticking of the clock on the wall, squeaking footsteps in the corridor outside, the distant hum of traffic on the High Street and a slight buzzing of a faulty fluorescent light in the outer office. I think, well, quite good actually, quite successful ... my voice trailed off. I sounded incredibly inarticulate for the County Inspector of Schools for English and Drama. Not too bad, I said finally. Good, good, the CEO said almost in a whisper. I expect you are wondering why I sent for you so early in the new academic year? he continued, smiling and steepling. Yes, I was wondering, I replied nervously. The morning had started off so well. I had arrived at the Education Office in Fettlesham that first day of the new term, bright and early and keen to be back at work. A warm September sun had shone in a cloudless sky, the air had been fresh and still, the birds singing and everything had seemed right with the world. Over the summer break, while the schools had been on holiday, I had managed to clear my desk of the mountain of paperwork. Reports had been completed, guidelines written, courses planned, correspondence dealt with and documents had been filed away neatly. I had surveyed the empty desk with a sense of real satisfaction and achievement. It had been a fascinating first year, occasionally exhausting and frustrating, but for most of the time full of variety and challenge. The colleagues with whom I worked and shared an office had been immensely supportive during my induction into the profession of school inspector. There was Dr Harold Yates, the Senior Inspector, Sidney Clamp, the unpredictable and larger-than-life creative and visual arts inspector and David Pritchard, the small, good-humoured Welshman responsible for mathematics, PE and games. We got on well together and were supported and kept in order by Julie the inspectors secretary. That first year, I had worked alongside teachers in the classroom, organised courses and conferences, directed workshops, rum seminars, and attended governors meetings and appointment panels. The most interesting part of the job, however, had involved visiting the small rural primary schools in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, to spend a morning or an afternoon observing lessons, looking at the childrens work and reporting on the quality of the teaching and the learning. As I sat at my empty desk, thinking about the quiet, uneventful, stress-free day ahead of me, I heard a clattering on the stairs, telling me that a moment later Julie would totter in on those absurdly high-heeled shoes shoe was so found of wearing. In my first year Julie had been invaluable. Not only was she very efficient, good-humoured and extremely comical. She had those qualities often possessed by Yorkshire people - generous to a fault, hard-working but with a blunt nature and a fierce honesty, characteristics which often got her into trouble. With her bright bubbly blonde hair and bright bubbly nature, Julie was a breath of fresh air in the drab and cramped office. That morning she struggled into the room, breathing heavily and loaded down with assorted bags, papers and files. I jumped up to help her. I feel like some sort of peripatetic car boot sale! she cried, dropping her load noisily on the nearest desk. Before I could open my mouth she continued, I started off with a handbag and a bit of shopping but collected all this little lot on my way from the bus stop. As I was passing committee Room 1, Debbie - you know, the big woman with the peroxide hair who always wears those awful pink knitted outfits - asked me to take Mr Pritchards briefcase which he left there last term. Forget his head if it wasnt screwed on. I mean, that briefcase has been there for six weeks. It wouldnt have done Debbie any harm to bring the briefcase up herself. The climb up the stairs would have given her a bit of exercise. She could do with losing a few pounds. Anyway, when I got to the Post Room that Derek - you know, the gangly lad with the spectacles and big ears - asked me to pick up the inspectors mail since I was going that way anyway, Then I had these confidential staffing files pushed into my hands when I reached Personnel. They weigh a ton. I dont know why Dr Yeats didnt pick them up himself. I must have looked like an old pack horse, stumbling along the corridors on County Hall. She shook her head and breathed out heavily. Im too good natured by half, thats my trouble. And Ive snagged a nail. She began to root about in her handbag and continued chattering on without pausing. Anyway, how are you? I attempted a response but without success. I had a nail file in here somewhere, Im sure I did, she continued. I dont know about you, but I could murder a strong cup of coffee. Without waiting for an answer she disappeared out of the room. Good morning Julie! I shouted after her, at last getting a word in. I thought of the wonderfully descriptive and rather unkind Yorkshire expression to describe a person, just like Julie, who so enjoys talking about anything everything that it becomes almost a running commentary: Shes got a runaway gob - talks and says nowt and shes said nowt when shes done. A few minutes later, when I was sorting through my mail, Julie returned with two steaming mugs. I watched as she set one mug down on my desk and cupped her hands around the other. youre very quiet today, she said. Is something wrong? Nothing at all Julie, I replied amiably, putting my letters into the in-tray on my desk. Then I asked a question which I immediately regretted. How was your holiday? dont ask! Not too good then? I hazarded, looking up and reaching for the coffee. Awful! I went to Majorca with my boyfriend. It took months to persuade him, because Pauls about as adventurous as a dead sheep when it comes to holidays and, of course, his mother has to put her two pennyworth in about foreign food, plane crashes and hijackers. Anyway, the flight was delayed so we had a four-hour wait at Manchester Airport with him moaning and groaning. Then I was stopped at customs by a horrible little man in black. I got Spanish tummy the day after I arrived and Paul fell asleep in the sun and woke up like a lobster with an attitude problem. The he came out in blisters the size of balloons and wouldnt leave the room. He said he looked like something out of a horror film and when I agreed he didnt speak to me for two days. The hotel was only half built and the pool was full of spoilt, screaming children. We had karaoke every night until two in the morning with a tone-deaf Dutchman singing "I did it my way" at the top of his voice and a woman from Dudley who sounded like a sheep about to give birth. And if you got down after eight oclock in the morning you could say goodbye to the sunbeds. Well go to Skegness next year in his aunties caravan. Anyway, what was your holiday like? Oh, very restful, I told her. I managed to get away for a few days and - before I could elaborate, Julie dived in with her characteristic bluntness. And did you see much of that sexy teacher you were taking out? Unfortunately, not a great deal, I replied smiling and thinking of what Christines reaction would be to Julies comment about her. I had met Christine almost exactly a year earlier when I had visited the infant school where she was the Headteacher. She had appeared like some vision and I had been bowled over by those large blue eyes, warm smile, fair complexion and soft mass of golden hair. After a long period spent summoning up the courage and with constant nagging from my colleagues in the office, I had asked her out. We had been to the theatre and the cinema, to a concert and various school events and as each day passed I felt sure I was falling in love with her. When I had first met Christine she had had a boyfriend - miles. He was everything I was not; strikingly handsome, with the sort of sculptured features of a male model. He was lean, athletic, sophisticated and suave and he was also very wealthy. But Miles had those flaws of character often possessed by men who are rich and handsome: he was arrogant and self-centred. To my delight, Christine had, in Sidneys words, given him the old heave-ho, which was when I had chanced my arm and asked her out. Over the recent summer holidays I had not seen very much of her. She had spent three weeks in Chicago, staying with a cousin and a further week writing up a dissertation for a masters degree. We had enjoyed a day walking on the North York moors and been to the theatre and out to dinner a couple of times. This term I was determined, I was going to see a whole lot more of her. So whats happening with you two then? asked Julie. Details ISBN0140281290 Author Gervase Phinn Pages 352 Publisher Penguin Global Language English ISBN-10 0140281290 ISBN-13 9780140281293 Media Book Format Paperback DEWEY B Year 2003 Publication Date 2003-11-30 Imprint Penguin Books Ltd Place of Publication London Country of Publication United Kingdom Edition 1st Short Title OVER HILL & DALE Residence Yorkshire, ENK DOI 10.1604/9780140281293 Audience General/Trade UK Release Date 2009-09-24 AU Release Date 2009-09-24 NZ Release Date 2009-09-24 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:627263;

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