A parcel a week goes international...

Last week I kept thinking I would write a blog-post about our trip to Auckland but some how there just weren't the right words to capture all the fun of the birthday weekend and spending time with family.  I never had a lot of children myself but am very grateful to our parents for giving me so many siblings. 

So this week you get to see a parcel a week going international. Yep this little lot is going off to the USA. Apparently marmite is unknown there as are pineapple lumps and New Zealand themed greeting cards. The whole package has to weigh under 1 kilo or else the postage will be terrible. So sadly I have had to limit the junk I'm sending off. However I couldn't resist these two Snoopy's - from weirs ( where else) . One in american and the other in mexican costume. She will need these to brighten up her room I'm sure and to keep connected to her familial wierdness genes .

Walking to work this week has been amazing. The blossom is out and if you look at the ground you could be fooled for a minute into thinking it's been snowing - but really it's just all the blossom on the ground.

These window boxes are very inspiring also. These are on the main street and someone who works inside has gardening style. Don't you love the silver beet and daffodils growing together?  I do. Makes me happy every time I walk past.

Here's to a happy first week of spring. 

cheers Marg

The travelling spoons

Look closely - what can you see there? 

Yes, a bunch of flowers I am still enjoying, but no, take a closer look - peek into that cup. It's full of  travel spoons - those strange little enameled implements that people used to pay a fortune for to prove they had been wherever they had been. Then they would take them  home and who knows how they were used?

What I do know a lot about is their eventual fate.  They end up in the junk shop for sale at $1 or $2 a piece depending on whether they are still in their plastic foam - lined cases.

Then I buy them. Not because I'm after my very own spoon collection but because these are going to be the leaving gifts for my staff.

I considered my budget - about $ 2 per person. ( NO I'm not being a cheapskate - we have a large team.- numerically that is ) And I came up with this marvelous plan of giving each person their very own spoon from me. 

First because they represent some things I like - they come from my favourite junk shop and the price is perfect.

Second each spoon is symbolic. It represents a journey that someone made to somewhere. Some of those places are familiar, some are not. Some of the spoons speak of times  and significant events. 

That's what teaching is like. It takes you both physically and figuratively to places you never thought you'd go before. Sometimes you end up in a place you never could even have imagined. There are always significant times and events as you teach that change you either for better or worse- inspire you or embitter you depending on how it pans out.  

 I plan to pass these wise thoughts along with some suitably silly ones on to my colleagues as I leave. I am sure if nothing else I will be remembered as being cheap and wierd. What better legacy can I leave ? 

 SO Here's to a week of  being cheap and weird. 

 Marg

Brussel sprouts and the strange week.

Help -can anyone tell me what's wrong with the brussell sprouts?  They are not the small  dolls cabbages I was expecting but rather they are all loose and floppy. They don't look delicious at all -I'm pretty sure I'm not going to bother eating them-they look so horrible.. I'm wondering if it is a soil problem ? and as Ive found out this winter the lack of sun to the garden has resulted in very indifferent  growth.

And because you are so interested in brussel sprouts here's another picture for you to look at.  No I get it - you are not interested and clearly there's not enough going on in my life at the moment. 

Quite the contrary -too much so- which is why I'm focusing on the minutiae. 

This week has been quite the most bizarre week. 

First there have been emails from Rosie from the grand canyon. I can't even begin to contemplate the size and scale of that place much less think that it was less than a week ago since she left. 

Second I had to show my successor through my work place and introduce her to everyone which I found very unsettling.  Later I had a very vivid dream that could only be explained by that.  But  very annoyingly it hung around in my mind for several days which unsettled me more.

Then thirdly -suddenly and inexplicably.  I have a 19 year old boarder till the end of the year. I can't quite figure out how that happened and  I'm more than  fine with the arrangement. But I have been reminded of one of the secrets to success that I've learned as a manager. Communicate,communicate ,communicate. And don't be afraid to even if it feels awkward. The capacity to misunderstand another's requests or intentions is enormous. 

so there we are. I hope it will be a BORING and PREDICTABLE week.  Lets look forward to that.

 cheers Marg

Up up and away .......

This weekend just gone in the frenzy of packing and getting all those last things done before Rosie took  flight this morning we managed to fit in a trip to Long beach -one of our favourites. 

I took my new  camera and made a startling discovery  - I can't use it unless I'm wearing my glasses otherwise I can't see the picture I've taken. Look at this dreadful shot above.That is supposed to be one seamless panoramic shot made up of 3 photos taken close to each other. Even I am surprised at my lack of skill there and annoyed that my eyes aren't what they used to be.Glasses are so annoying and I can never find mine at the best of times let alone wear them constantly!!!

That aside I'm  really pleased with the general ability of the camera to take a good crisp picture.

Later when we got home I made another bag for the USA.

This one was an old hospital blanket -lined with impossibly slippery  and sure to fray lining. But who could resist those Russian dolls peeking out at them while sitting in a not so interesting class.

I was nervous about this bag. I know that here in Dunedin you would have no trouble wearing it loudly  and proudly -but I'm not so sure it will be understood down in Southern USA.  Never mind I made it as an expression of my affection -not because it needs to be used.

It was  a muted goodbye at the airport this morning. We  sad but happy - she nervous but so excited. Good luck Rosie -missing you already!!!!   What an adventure you are going  to have.

Here's to a week of dreaming of new adventures.

Marg

 

Groundhogs day........

Do you remember that movie groundhogs day?  I haven't seen it for a long time but it has always been one of my favourites. 

This week  has definitely had that feeling of groundhogs day. It's been the longest dreariest week ever with so much to do at work I could hardly think or breathe.  But here we are it's Friday-  the weekend beckons and I remember the amazing things that have happened lately. 

Look at this. Not much to the undiscerning eye. But let me tell you - this is my new carpet.  Only about 2 or 3 weeks ago I began to notice how threadbare and old my carpet was. Well too bad I thought to myself - it will have to wait. I seriously can't afford new carpet so it will go right down to the bottom of the priority list.  No sooner had I thought that than one of my friends called into work with a carpet sample. All the carpet was coming out of a bank - top quality - commercial grade wool - would I care to have it - NO cost!!!  Hmm let me think about that . Why that would be a yes you are hearing. 

Another friend just happened to know a carpet layer who happily came and last Saturday laid the carpet in the hallway and living rooms. There is also enough in my basement to do the bedrooms as soon as I save for the carpet layer to come back.  Im so grateful for my new carpet. It looks so great. 

In the same way I had been finding my old camera  frustrating. I'm not a great photographer but in anticipation of my new job I'd been vaguely  thinking it would  be great to have a better camera.  And what do you know. An opportunity has arisen for me to upgrade. The new camera is just what I need. Perfect for me. Here's a shot which looks forward to spring that I took on the way to work this morning.

SO even when it's a groundhogs day all week good things can and do happen. 

Here's to unexpected good things. Marg 

teenage-man boy and mini- fork night

  

This last week it has been Tom's birthday. The last year of his teenage years gets underway and has left me thoughtful  about this time of both children leaving their childhoods firmly behind and assuming greater adult roles but at the same time there remains in all of us ( and at times especially me according to the kids) that desire to be and  want to act as a child...

...  So it was much hilarity that Rosie and I searched for silly pictures to adorn the wrapping on Tom's very sensible  grown- up gifts.  Duvet cover set, socks and undies and a lava lamp. How adult  are those presents?   He even expressed a genuine liking for them all - so polite. Well that's what you get I say when you don't offer any sensible suggestions of your own. Still birthdays have other redeeming features like going out for breakfast with your family and then because you are 19 and full of  sufficient self- belief you throw yourself another great party which  your friends later say was the best night out they had for a while. ( something your mother cannot even contemplate doing even in her wildest imaginings)

                                         

                           As I make this post I am having trouble matching up the photos and words so you will have to look down to see where the photos fit.  You may remember several weeks ago my wonderful find of a set of cocktail forks from the recycling shop at the tip for just $1? To make good on that find we decided we'd have a mini- fork party night on  Sunday. 

Here is what you do to throw an excellent most outrageously fun mini- fork party. 

1. Get yourself a set of mini- forks. 

2. Plan a mini - menu. ( cheerios, roast veges cut into tiny chinks, tiny salad tomatoes, and chunks of tiny cheese.)  Desert - a mini fondue - mini marshmallows and chunks of fruit in chocolate fondue made in  mini -fondue maker

3. Set the table with best cloth, nice candles you best mini china.

4. Eat only with mini forks.
5. Tell mini jokes between courses ( short jokes - one liners or knock- knock jokes)

6. Play one party game ( pin the tail on the donkey)

7. Play mini table soccer.

8. Clean up only a mini bit and leave the rest till another day.

Then when you're fully done your grown up part tells you to remember that moment, that time, that day because as the young adults go more than they come those times are fewer and further  between. All the more reason for your childish self to shamelessly cheat at pin the tail on the donkey, and to be the sorest loser at mini soccer. 

Here's to a week of moments to treasure.

Cheers Marg

                                         

The bag of many uses.....

In anticipation of all the spare time I will have when I start my new job I am dusting off my hobbies. ( you know those things that are supposed to make you an interesting multidimensional person)  Last weeks effort was to try a prototype of a bag made from fabric scraps lying around the house.  I was pleased with how it turned out. The bag is for Rosie to take to the States.  Well actually not this one - she thinks it is too loud and won't go with anything she wears - but I disagree I think it suits me quite well.

or do you think it suits Rosie better? How bout this view? The bag of many uses indeed.

I think that's enough of being silly.  I am about to become a public servant - there is a code of conduct to adhere to,  serious matters to attend to. I am surprised at how sad I am feeling about leaving work. It has taken me by surprise.

here's to a silly week


Marg