...and the coach really was a pumpkin after all ...

You may recall in the Cinderella story how the young scullery maid went off to the ball in a pumpkin magically turned into a golden coach. On the stroke of midnight  the coach once again became a pumpkin rolling sadly and unnoticed down the royal driveway. 

Today as I walked over the swampy summit my mind turned to this story as I thought of the recent events of this last week's budget announcements.

For a long time early childhood education was the scullery maid of the education system. For 10 short years it got to ride in the coach and go to the ball but since the budget of last May and now this budget the sector has once again been returned to scrubbing the flagstones and wishing it were a princess.  Since May 2009  there have been eleven things taken away from early childhood  and the latest news is a severe setback.  Not only has our funding been cut but also there is no longer funding to employ all fully qualified teachers. Apparently there is no evidence to suggest that a full complement of qualified teachers makes a difference to children's learning. 

I would beg to differ.  I have seen the difference.  

What is to be done? 

I guess if centres like ours wish to retain our full staff of qualified teachers our fees will go up. We probably won't pass on the next round of salary increases in July as anticipated which will further widen the gap between our salaries and those even of kindergarten teachers. Worst case scenario will mean we will cut staffing which will increase teacher workload.   Still we will work it out! people who work with little kids generally do it because they love it not because they get well paid for it or have great working conditions. 

On a happier note - it was beautiful winterish day here today. Leaving pigeon flat at the top of the northern motorway around 9 this morning a group of us then walked across swampy summit and down the pineapple track to the edge of the Ross Creek reservoir. It took us 3 hours so I'm guessing it was about 10 or 12 kilometres. It was a lovely walk. I really enjoyed it. No matter what life is sweet. 

here's to a sweet week . Marg

Do what you love to do .......

These are some of the beans that got away. Hidden in the bean stalk they are now encased in green hides as tough as old boots - totally inedible you would think but Miriam suggests taking these and saving some for seed and making a bean feast with the rest. Apparently the flavour is so delicious - nothing at all like dried beans.  I just love how beautiful they are - nature sure has got a way with colours - green and purple together looks great and I do so wish they were magic. Then I could get rich the easy way.

I wanted to tell a story this week that I hope Doug and Rosie don't mind me telling.  Oh well it's a family blog so too bad.  When Doug and Cath lived with us last year we would often go out walking in the evenings. As well as admiring all the houses and gardens along the way the walk would also involve much admiring of lampposts.  Like this

and this .....


Being a linesman Doug knows all the nuances of a lamppost - all about their size shape, age and what different kinds of lampposts do. And may I add all of this is truly interesting information and if you'd been walking with him you would have admired them also.  Now Rosie who likes to live anonymously and as a normal human being in Wellington has so far managed to keep this lamppost interest under wraps but last week she reported that she was walking with her flat mate when she stopped to admire a lamppost.  If she had been with anyone else she would have been accorded freak status so she sent Doug an email blaming him for this curious obsession. This is his reply - which I found very funny

Dearest R Chops ,it may very well be true that you have crossed a line
> and become a hard wood power pole pervert.Brace yourself All the clues
> are there , you carnt fight it, like it or not it's all about DNA ,you
> are your gradads gran daughter. I can trace my obseson directley back
> to him and your only one step behind me. You have grandad to blame ,i
> mean thank. On the bright side you have access ,consider yourself
> lucky , unlike myself who lives in a land with only soft wood round
> poles , you however can enjoy every day contact with your square hard
> wood faverates ,should you choose to do so you can visit a lovely
> power pole daily, where as all I have are memories.Still with my new
> lap top and google street scene I to am able view the beauty of my
> favorates as and when ,but only on the Internet It's not the same
> Dont forget God has opened your eyes, you are now a member of a
> handful of select people,so select I'm the only other one. Now that
> your hooked may I surgest a visit to an Australian rain forest to view
> first hand these magnificent trees before they are cut down. REMEMBER
> your not a
> Tree hugger your a power pole lover!
> All I ask is you pat them,talk to them nicely before any photos are
> taken. Your friends will understand
> Love Doug
> Ps send me your bank details and if I'm not sacked before the months
> end I'll buy you dinner.


So here's to a  week of indulging your interests -  no matter how strange.


Cheers Marg

Happy Mothers Day Margi Moo she said .....

Happy mothers day to all mothers out there - especially to my own mother and to my sisters and sister in law who are some of the most amazing mothers I know. 

Today Rosie sent me a text which said "Happy mothers day Margi-moo", then Tom and I went off for a lazy breakfast at one of our favourite places from a former life- Port Royale Cafe in Port Chalmers. A warm autumn day with no agenda after what has been a hectic and at times gruelling week.

Just what can one dollar buy you these days?  Hardly anything. It wont get you a ride on the bus, maybe it will buy you 2 fizzy lollies, 15 minutes parking in the central city, perhaps a k- bar, a single fresh tomato or maybe 3 grapes. So I know you will be very impressed with this salt and pepper set bought for just one dollar - yep just ONE!!  Isnt it wonderful. I bought it especially for good luck because Rosie was waiting to hear if she had been accepted for the USA exchange and the waiting was excruciating. I thought if I put these in the parcel they would be symbolic of a positive outcome. 

I've been away for work again but while I was away the message came through in capitals. I GOT ACCEPTED. So well done Rosie - you and your friend Liz are off to America for a semester at Georgia Tech University.That's so wonderful. You have both worked so hard for this.   Tom has been working hard too. Last week he passed his heavy traffic license and is just waiting  for the apprenticeship to come through. In the meantime he cleans bouncy castles and does dishes. But hey - work is work and pay day is always sweet.

This weeks parcel also went off with a tin of homemade chocolate chippie GF biscuits (Edmonds recipe book)  , GF pizza bases, jelly just in case there was going to be party with party food; and one homegrown carrot from my garden. Apparently it arrived complete with earwig!!  

Heres to week of knowing that being a mother is always worth it ( at least to me)

cheers Marg.

Autumn comes to town ....

I've been really enjoying the changing of the seasons both here in the town and also the virtual tours provided by other bloggers.  Miriams detailed accounts of her changing garden and Donalds photos add a dimension to autumn that is quite unlike what you see here. One of the things I love about my walk to walk are the many sights I see along the way. These shots are all taken on High Street. What I love is the way people garden around here even with the smallest amounts of land available.  Take a look at these 

Giant sunflowers..... ( that's a second floor balcony in the background)

last of the tomatoes ...

This tree stands alone totally hemmed in by pavers and a metal grille. Kind of like a lone monkey at the zoo but it is so lovely - the leaves I noticed are much thinner today and browner and by the end of the month they'll be all gone. Then it will feel like winter.  My reputation as a wierdo is firmly cemented as I try to sneak my photos as all the morning traffic hurries past. Luckily Dunedin is such a HUGE city that you can be totally anonymous. 
Still at home I can click away to my hearts content. This last weekend as well as going to see the Wellington International Ukele Orchestra - which I would 100% recommend to anyone to go and see if they come your way - I sewed a sumo cushion for Rosies flatmate. It's her birthday and a request was made for me to make one. This guy is rather fun. A long time ago I made one for my sister MaryAnna . That was when she was a single girl and I made him as a hot water bottle cover for her.  

...and of course I packed up a parcel. ... You know I'm thinking of changing careers. I'm sure I could start a business specializing in food parcels to students.  Wealthy mothers could pay me to box up parcels of food and annoying second hand shop junk and write personal notes to their offspring.  Rosie assures me that parcel day is eagerly looked forward to.   On a serious note I am thinking of changing careers.


Have a great week. Cheers Marg

When time stands still....

h 

Hi there - I thought this week I'd start with some ideas for those of you intending to send food parcels now or some time in the next 20 years. Healthy fruit snacks and herbal tea go down well when assignments are due and every living person should have a packaged hamburger to go in their civil defence emergency rations kit.  You know for when the big earthquake strikes as it is due to do any year now. 

This last week just gone I accepted an invitation at short notice to go for a 4 day walk at Cape Campbell.  2 days walk across farmland to the lighthouse and 2 days back again - about 54 ks in all.    I'm so glad I said yes to this trip. At first I thought I was way too busy and then my breathing reminded me that there is only this moment to live so off I went.  The scenery was stunning, the wind was like nothing else and somehow it felt good to be so drawn into the elements.  So there we were - good friends, going for a good walk -  we ate good food and between us we were a secondary , primary and early childhood teacher. So there was plenty of heated and hearty debate -  Along the way there were these quirky huts to stop at and make a cup of tea and rest a while - That little hut on the right really was on that lean - the wind was so terribly strong along the coast it was a wonder we weren't completely blown away!! And somehow the four days seemed like 4 months.  It did feel like time had stopped for a bit.  I'm not sure why that  happens but I think it's got something to do with being totally in the moment and having no other priorities beyond walking and talking at that time.  Whatever the reason - it was a great trip to say yes to. 

Here's to a week of saying yes to good things. Cheers Marg

 

Mirth and Mockery...

Now tell me please what does a person have to do these days to be taken seriously.  Anyone who reads this blog will know now that for several weeks I have been extolling the virtues of deep breathing as taught by Saga from Christchurch. What do I get for my trouble? Nothing but Mockery and mirthful laughter at my expense. Take a look at these cards produced for my birthday by Rosie and Miriam.

 Actually I found these cards very funny and Im happy to be a source of such ongoing amusement.   It's been a really nice Easter. A mixture of being at home - watching series one of Jonathon Creek ( another Weirs purchase) and another climb to the top of Mount Cargill. We went up to see Miri and Bill and the boys in the Maniototo and tonight I'm putting together a parcel to go back to Wellington.   Muesli, gluten free chocolate chip biscuits ( yet to be made) some homemade peanut butter ( which has already claimed the lives of 3 mice - figure that one out!) and these lovely collector teaspoons.( another Weirs score) I don't know if you can see but there is one from Port Chalmers and another  from Kingston - where we often used to take the kids on holiday when they were little. So both places have some old associations and hopefully fond memories. 
 A final word about breathing before I go. Focusing just a little for a few moments a day on my breathing before I go to work ,does I swear make a difference to my head space. I am noticing more consciously where my thoughts are - or more to the point where they are supposed to be as I get on with the day.   Anyway enough of that. Here's to week of not taking yourself too seriously !!   Marg

When will you be happy?.....

When will you be happy and what will it take to make you happy? asked Saga from Christchurch last weekend while we were on our breathing course.  We were asked to ponder those questions overnight. It wasn't hard.  Now and not much were my two answers.  

Today for me was a good example of these answers. This morning I walked with a group of friends and others up through Bethunes Gully over to the organ pipes and down through the Grahams Bush walk to Sawyers Bay. 

It was a lovely climb up through the bushes then over to the Organ Pipes.  Apparently if you go to Ireland you will find very similar rocky outcrops. Local legend there has it they they are sticks thrown by giants. Stick, or stones who knows  - they are certainly spectacular.

This afternoon I managed to massage $30 from our grocery budget and took myself off to an afternoon concert. In the lead up to easter the southern symphonia performed St Johns Passion by Bach. I don't cry in movies or over books but give me amazing music or poetry and Im done for. I was really happy to be there by myself so I didnt have to explain myself to anyone. This really is such a great little city. There's so much going on here. A lifetimes worth of stuff actually ...

You may or may not recall a couple of posts back, that I mentioned that I had managed to get some curtains for $7 from the hospice shop.  With autumn upon us I knew that I had to have curtains in my new room but of course there was nothing in the budget to make that happen ,so I was really happy to find these. There were a little bit too short but I managed to find some green fabric almost the same colour as the walls in a remnant bin for $15 and so for $22 and  a whole day of stitching, pressing, and reshaping I have these warm, very pretty, fully thermal backed curtains for the room. Just in time!! Now that satisfies all my happiness criteria - a problem solved, a bargain, creativity, lovely to look at,  and finally useful. What more could a person want?    


Rosie is coming home for Easter so a parcel won't get there in time. NZ post now takes a minimum of 4 days to deliver to Wellington so she will be back before then. Just as well - it was probably her parcel money that paid for my concert today. 


Here's to a happy week all round. 


Marg