Final Reports

I've finally finished reports for Semester 2. That means I can go to a movie this weekend, or hang out all day and read the papers, or have a long lunch....that holiday feeling is approaching. Our staff end-of-year bash is next weekend - we are doing "barefoot bowls" (the lawn kind of bowling, not the alley kind) which should be fun, but as I somehow became the event organiser, is actually feeling stressful at the moment. People with Scrooge-like tendencies should NOT organise Xmas parties! I'll be leaning heavily on Eliza's skills to pull it off. She's already arranged the food, now I have to think of nibbles, and decorations, and games to enliven the bowls - do we form teams? How do you score? What can we award prizes for? Prizes! Another thing for my list. Any lawn bowlers out there? Heeeeelp.....

We are one...

and we are many... today was "Heritage Day" at school. Everyone dressed in their traditional dress, or the colours of their flag or national sports team. The day had students from various backgrounds giving talks about their country; Indian girls doing 'Bollywood" dances in their beautiful saris; my class presented a film of a play they acted in (and I wrote) about multiculturalism; and at the end of the day they shared food from their culture with each other

( and one very over-stuffed teacher). I didn't want to upset any child by not having some of their food, so I've eaten samosas and spring rolls and dumplings and Indian sweets and Greek olive bread and tandoori chicken and lots of things I can't name. All delicious!

The picture is from Sculpture by the Sea. The artist was pleased that children were interacting with it, although it did have a deeper meaning than it appears. (click to enlarge - it's worth it)

Happy Birthday to meeeee...

What a wonderful birthday I had last week! Not only did Eliza arrange to take me to Wicked, but Paull just happened to get a trip home for work, arriving at 7am on my birthday. We booked a room in the city so that we could all get together and enjoy ourselves. A visit to Bondi for Sculpture by the Sea filled the afternoon; next, dinner together in a well-known Chinese seafood restaurant; then Eliza and I enjoyed Wicked while Paull caught up with friends at the Rocks. The next morning, after one of those lovely hotel breakfasts, the kids went to work and I went to Yoga - in a beautiful location overlooking the harbour. Lunch with Anne at Woolloomooloo by the water finished my city sojourn - and a picnic on Sunday at Rushcutters Bay Park with the whole family was the icing on the cake. Best birthday ever!

The Big Lebowski goes to Ikea

As I've mentioned, I've been overdosing on the Lifestyle channel. So the bar had to go. I found a builder/handyperson who shared my vision for a bar-less living room, and he knocked it out quickly and cleanly. So then I arranged and rearranged the furniture several times (on my own) (yes my back hurts). Finally, it all came together - nearly. It required a rug. Off to Ikea I went, with a vague feeling that it had to be red and as long as the dressser. I found it, a one-off hand made in Iran, red & blue wool rug. I took it to the cash registers. I waited 25 minutes. I finally had it scanned.

"You can't have this one, it is the display rug".

"But - it is the only one....."

"Yes, it is the display rug, you'll have to take it back and see if they have some in stock"

Feeling caught in a catch 22, I started back to textiles. Have you ever tried walking BACKWARDS in Ikea? Once I'd extricated myself from the warehouse section (lost) I started pushing past families, jumping over trolleys and toddlers, and finally made it back to textiles.

"They said I have the display rug"

"They are all display rugs, they're one-off"

"They said I couldn't buy it"

"Tell them to ring us- don't queue again, just go straight back"

Back I went, at least swimming WITH the tide this time. Then I had to "push in" in front of people who had been waiting for 25 minutes. I contemplated leaving the rug and going home rug-less. But the rug and I had bonded in this time, so I pushed in regardless. I bought the rug. And I think you'll agree, it really pulls the room together!

Cake it away...

Eliza (my daughter) has always hankered after being a cake decorator, so I paid for a course for her for her recent (24th) birthday. She didn't miss one class, and has taken to it with gusto. Her first commission was a one-year-old's birthday cake with butterfly theme for her friend's daughter's first birthday party. Despite the cake overflowing in the oven, we all survived, and I think you will agree, it turned out beautifully!

Well Rested

I've had such a nice break, I'm almost ready to go back to work. No, seriously! I've done nearly enough schoolwork, lots of housework, rearranged the furniture (too much Lifestyle Channel!) and:

• Had seafood in the sun
• caught up over cappuccino
• seen memorable movies
• cocooned on the couch
• found time for family
• laughed, loved and lived

Back to work renewed and replenished.

Party on..

A great start to the holiday week was a good friend's 50th, with a roaring 20's theme. What an elegant era that was - the men looked great too, in suits, braces and gangster hats; one young man was in tennis whites, another in Plus Fours. And the birthday girl's husband? Resplendent in a neck-to-knee striped swimsuit, which left not enough to the imagination!