The end of the school year...

Tonight was the Year 7 graduation dinner and as usual the students were 'dressed up to the nines'! especially the girls. I've worked out that I'll probably get invitations to next years graduation (my Year 6s this year) and also 2012 graduates who were 'my' yr 2s in 2007. Then we will have a big change to Education delivery in Queensland probably 2013 I think, when year 7 will be the first year of high school.

I knew I was having a 'fat day' today...the blue and purple whale in the front row with her colleagues!
So what's on the agenda tomorrow? Still won't be doing any of those crafting projects as hoped...instead will do the early rise to get J to hospital, then off to staff breakfast...then back to the hospital when I get the call to pick Miss 26 up. Maybe some sewing in the afternoon if there's time.

Just unwinding...

It was certainly a busy day yesterday with the final packing up of my classroom items. My dream of only having one box of 'stuff' did not come to fruition unfortunately. My little Nissan Micra (yes I know they are a small car) is 'stuffed', including the passenger seat! I plan to maybe go through the items again and see what else I can turf out or give away. But not today!
Today I ate breakfast in the lounge at 7.30 while watching a program on the Bio channel that Bruce had found and thought that I'd like. He was right! It was called 'Coming Home' and was a half hour version of 'Who do you think you are', and this episode featured Patrick Mower. I looked up the Bio channel on the internet and found the program has been running since November 17 with repeats on Thursday morning. Damn the fact that Optus don't give us the option of a program mag any more...I miss so many good shows with this 'hit and miss' business! (I really hope Santa brings me some 'Who do you think you are? ' DVDs).
So any way, how decadent eating breakfast in front of the TV! lol

My younger daughter has just realised that the 'procedure' she is having tomorrow (I have to get her there by 6.30am) is not covered by her health insurance as she doesn't have hospital cover. She reckons she didn't know it was private...is she naive?? She went to a specialist in a specialist centre, she was booked into a private hospital...sigh... She has dipped into her savings for half the cost and yes...you've guessed it, I agreed to pay the other half. She'll be fine; it's a routine procedure and it's day surgery so once the anaesthetic wears off she'll be fine! And it's all done, not waiting around for months going through the public system. Bruce and I know how important it is to have full health cover especially at our age. It's not cheap but the alternatives can be scary!

Our little vegie patch. With the warm weather many of the lettuces and Asian greens have gone to seed. Should be lots of little seedlings around in the New Year. The tomato bush on the left (just out of range of the camera) has fallen off the stakes because of the amount of cherry tomatoes on it!



Definitely the next stage of my life...

Tomorrow is my last day as a classroom teacher. I stood in front of my first class in January 1971 so that is 39 years, with just a few years' break when Jen was young. (even tho' I didn't teach when Jen was young, I still worked from when she was 18months old) So in 39 years I've had an 18month break when I wasn't employed. Lots of people ask me if I'm worried I'm doing the wrong thing by retiring...the answer is a resounding 'NO"! The more I hear about what is going to be happening in education from next year and in particular at my school, the more pleased I am that I made the decision to retire.
Because I love the 'domestic arts' and they have become trendy these days, the more I find out in the community for me to enjoy with like-minded souls. I've joined the local patchwork shop club and plan to go to stitching sessions there as well as learn some new techniques in patchwork and quilting. A few years ago I bought my older girl a sewing machine. She has left it at my place so I'm going to go to the dealer and organise some lessons for me to learn how to use it. If I get to like a more modern machine like hers I might replace my old Elna.
The local wool shop also has social groups as well as classes so I will be getting involved there too! Then there is the Enoggera Garden Club, the Enoggera and Districts historical club...the list of possibilities goes on and on!
Tomorrow I'm taking some homemade alcohol laced truffles for my colleagues. I'll wrap them in cello in the morning. I have knitted a throw for my teaching partner and I bought some little fruit cakes and plum puddings for some of the aides. I've also decided that 39 years is a long time so I'm taking in 2 dozen mini mud cakes and a rich fruit cake to share with colleagues at morning tea. (before I have to go on duty!).
Tomorrow is also special for the Yr 7 s at my school...it's their graduation ceremony in the morning. This afternoon my class had to set up the hall for this occasion. They did a pretty good job even tho' we were left to our own devices with no guidance from admin.
I'm pretty tired with making all those truffles and being awake mostly from 2.30 this morning. DH has had another bout of diarrhoea starting yesterday afternoon. He awoke at 2.30 and needed some help. He then fell fast asleep and I tossed and turned. He wasn't crash hot today but at least the diarrhoea has stopped. He's expecting to go off to work tomorrow.
When I got home today I was frustrated and angry as we'd had a meeting that went to 5.30 but when I got home I found that Meg has a teaching job with permanency at Wandoan. The job should be for a minimum of 3 years. This is the break she needs. This will set Meg up for life now!! Woot woot!!!

Another lazy Sunday

Today we drove up to Myra's on the Mountain (Mt Nebo) for an early Christmas lunch with some of the family. Bruce and I took my daughter Jen and her boyfriend Phil up in our car. It was the first time we had met Phil and he was absolutely charming. Both of them are absolutely besotted with each other!
Ion and Rowan loved their US dollars pinned inside their Christmas cards and Jenny and Ion loved their birthday gifts too! I was so chuffed that Jenny loved the 'babouska' measuring cups and the 'funky' set of kitchen utensils. I told her they were for her role of 'domestic goddess'. My Jen gave Jenny a subscription to 'Donna Hay' and she just loved that! Our little Lucy (great niece) has grown so much as babies do! She is crawling and trying to stand up; another milestone is that she has one tooth! I had lots of cuddles with her and it's so lovely to see my brother with his grand-daughter!
I gave jenny, Eric and Lucy their Christmas gifts...Lucy opened hers but Jenny wants to keep hers and Eric's until Xmas to open! Lucy got the Size 1 dress I bought at Westfield Parramatta Myer last February just before she was born. DH and i had been on the free bus that travels around Parramatta when I got an overwhelming urge to buy 'girl clothes' even though we had no idea what gender the expected baby was. So off the bus we hopped and I bought a number of items from Myer. Some went to Lucy as soon as she was born but the dress was far too big!

Myra made the most magnificent icecream cake for dessert! Firstly there was a layer of chocolate icecream which had chopped up 'turkish delight chcolates'. Then there was a layer of vanilla icecream with chopped up Mars bar mixed through it and finally a mixed berry sorbet type 'icecream' on top...yum!!!

Another day closer to Christmas

Sorry to keep harping about Christmas but a lot of my day was involved with some aspects of being organised for the big day. This morning my friend Pamela and I headed off to the craft markets at Stafford Heights Baptist church. It was certainly a hive of activity there today. A man was up on the roof putting up the lights for the display that this church has become famous for in this part of Brisbane. There were lots of extra stalls and lots of customers who were spending up buying lovely handcrafted items as presents. One extra stall was selling lovely flowering orchids and the lady was doing a roaring trade. Pam and I bought a few each to give away. I bought a number of items that will be presents for loved ones and workmates. It takes us ages to go around the stalls as most of the stallholders have become our good friends. A number of them were at the original Blackwood Rd markets years ago and I used to buy from them then.
This church has a magnificent coffee machine and apparently a number of parishioners have done barista courses. We always have a coffee and some fruit toast/scone/pikelet etc.

Pamela and I had a chance today to have a good chat while we had our coffee and guess what???? She wants to 'cut back' on the size of the gift-giving too! I'm ecstatic as it's what I've been preaching for at least 2 years but no one appeared to be listening! I told her about Harry (my brother) and the goat. (see previous day's post) and she'd never heard of the scheme. Pamela always makes a plum pudding for friends and relatives and also gives us a heap of gifts. From now on...just the pudding! Great idea. Each year she hosts a Christmas dinner usually the week before Christmas which she calls the 'Goodwin Christmas' and Goodwins obviously are the guests including DH and I, BIL and 2 SIL and assorted Goodwin/Coulthard children are invited. (Pamela is DH's cousin if you are completely confused as to why my BF would host a family dinner for us Goodwins) As they have got older the 5 daughters often opt out of this gathering. From this year, if they don't come to the dinner, no presents! Apparently my 2 have not reciprocated with gifts to either Pamela or her DH for the last 5-6 Christmases and my 2 never even ring her on her birthday. Very hurtful when she has been there for them at all stages of their life.

On the way home we went to Stafford City for P to pick up some laybuys and I went to Bargain City to buy some supplies for some Xmas Art for the class next week. One thing I'll get my students to do is to decorate a Christmas bauble for each of their Prep 'buddies' and we'll visit the Preps with these little gifts on probably Tuesday. I had hoped to get re-imbursed for the items I bought through petty cash but it came to $48 and I don't think we have that much left... probably put it on my tax instead.

Later tonight I'll be busy wrapping presents for an early Christmas family get together tomorrow lunchtime because my 2 younger nephews will be holidaying in the US so won't be here for Xmas Eve. Also Ion turns 17 the week after next while he's away and his sister had her birthday on Nov 29...so we're also celebrating those birthdays. I'll also wrap up a gift for the boys' mother as I love her dearly but my brother doesn't. We're actually having the lunch at his girlfriend's Mt Nebo place . It was chosen for the venue rather than my brother's place at Stafford Heights as the Mt Nebo place has a pool...I guess it's attractive to the younger people.

Getting started on the gift wrapping

The photo that wouldn't upload before...

The tree decorations taken from the 'Christmas boxes', being unwrapped from the tissue paper ready to be hung on the tree.

Christmas is coming...

Yesterday I spoke to my younger daughter about Christmas. She wanted to know what my husband and I wanted. I said my usual bit about having all I need and want and to just get something 'little'. Then she said something really interesting! Apparently her uncle, (my brother) has said to her to go to one of the Overseas aid shops like Oxfam and organise to buy on his behalf a goat for a family struggling in a Third world country. At last someone in the family is agreeing with my thoughts on Christmas as stated in a previous post. I'm going to talk to my husband about whether we do something similar. I think I'll feel much better about 'that part' of Christmas now; still adore the other parts especially family time, music, food, sharing with friends and that lovely laidback time after Christmas.

Yesterday DH helped me put up the small folding table in the little bedroom that I use for my sewing and crafting. This becomes my 'Christmas Elf workspace'. Gifts are dragged out of the cupboard and plastic boxes, sorted out, wrapped and labelled on this table. One part of the table is being used to make a bag for our great niece in Canberra who is having her birthday on Dec 10. The bag is made from the Andover fabric range of 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'. Last year we gave her a pencil case made of this fabric filled with 24 coloured pencils. It was a real hit! I will have lots of fabric left over but maybe Miss 5 will 'over' the VHC by her 6th birthday.

This morning before he toddled off to work, DH also got down the 'Christmas Boxes' from the extremely tall cupboards in the bathroom.(These cupboards are above the regular set of cupboards we use for towels and bedding etc and go right to the ceiling) Each January, I wrap up in tissue any 'special or fragile' items and put them in boxes. Christmas tablecloths, teatowels and handtowels are also put in boxes as well as wreaths, ornaments, tinsel garlands, lights, nativity scenes and table runners.

The Christmas Boxes lying on the bathroom floor...

The Christmas tree is standing in the loungeroom completely 'nude' at the moment but not for long hopefully! The nondescript shoe box in the foreground of the photo contains some tree ornaments I bought on our holiday to UK and Europe in 2008. In those days the English pound was worth $2.50 AUD and I know that I spent a lot of money on these ornaments but I have never regretted doing so. I would have regretted NOT buying them. I have even taken them to work to decorate a tree for the staff's' Christmas in July' morning tea.

How frustrating! I can't seem to be able to insert the next pic! Just as frustrating as FaceBook!!! lol

Oh well will have to put the other photos in another post.