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!