it hasn't been terribly inspiring for me of late, no brilliant reds. just the put-putting along of wolf blass' budget offering to the masses, the inconspicous eaglehawk merlot (2005). damn unhappening, just a little better than a jacob creek's merlot or cab sav i reckon... doesn't even enhance the taste of ya pasta... decent budget wine but definitely not inspiring for the senses at all. and yep, not like jamieson rum's coonawarra cab sav (2001) was that good either. sighs.
well, thankfully, there's other sources of inspiration apart from the wonderful world of oenology, such as the myriad of themes and ideas that only celluloid can deliver 
i guess as an educator, ya're predisposed or swept wilfully against your well-meaning cineaste/celluloid preferences to a mishmash of movies glorifying the education profession or even highlighting the issues that blight it. afterall, its not only to trawl for ideas and pedagogies but perhaps to stay 'in-tune' with ya students...
anyways, the history boys deserve a mention. despite its 80s' setting, the issues the boys and their teachers face are a 'real and present danger'. yes, a tonne of cliches from the movies. but hey, till i find a better red or cool crisp white that brings me into another realm; that will do. the pressure by the headmaster on the teachers and students to raise the educational prestige and image of the school, the dilemmas the teachers (hector and irwin) face over the 'right' philosophy and pedagogies to employ in aiding the students to do their best, et al. and also, the flaws and fallacies teachers live with and create - how does that make them more human and perhaps, a better educator? i don't believe the movie answers all these questions and more, but it does give the educator much to think about: what kinda teacher should i be? hector or irwin? or a combination of both... hmmmm.
whats interesting to note about the movie was the lack of ICT apparatus in the school and ability of the teachers to engage their students in their subject but more so, the inculcation of love for language, for words as words are a mean to meaning... ahhh, the lost art of socratic and roundtable discussions. gone never to return amidst the declining attention span of our youths and the ever-rising tide of ICT utilisation that threatens to swamps us all...
anyways, enough of of my verbose verbiage. perhaps, its time to move along and find that illusive wine...
