Kia Ora!

Kia Ora everyone!

Here I am again - back at work and busy busy!

The children returned on Wednesday - but only about half my class! A few more appeared on Thursday and Friday. Expect most will be back by Monday. Easing me back in gently bless em!

We began a new topic this week - Pasifika (study of the Pacific Islands).

Our year group is studying Tonga. I'm learning soooo much!

We had a special assembly on Friday where the topic was introduced formally to the whole school and blessed by various members of the local community.

So we had introductions in Maori, Samoan, Cook Island, Tongan and Niue. It was so interesting. Some of the people were in their national costume and it really made the whole topic special to everyone in the school.

Also on Friday, we had lots of interesting people in the staff room - again some of them well known New Zealanders - but again I did not have a clue. I just snuck in, got some nosh and snuck out for break duty. Oh - I tell a lie - I did recognise one person - but it took me a while - I suddenly realised at home that evening - he is the leader of the Maori party for New Zealand! They were all very nice anyway, what I saw of them!

Not sure why they were in our staff room though - some special meeting or other - I'm sure I was told at some point, but I'm so busy concentrating on everything else, I forgot.

Son goes back to school tomorrow - he's been busy reading Julius Caesar.

Got a study guide for him in the Howick Library the other day. I really like the libraries here. I have access to 4 of them using my card. They are very well stocked and even have really good DVDs. Have seen the whole of The Office courtesy of the libraries here.

Have found out yesterday that our local post shop is open Saturday and Sunday! Really annoying though, because I have been absolutely killing myself some days after work trying to get to the Howick one before 5pm!

Bought new shoes for son - he's got his first ball here next Saturday - getting quite close now! Apparently, there's a pre-ball party where parents can go to take photos, then they're bussed into the city for the main ball and then finally, they're taken to someone's house for an after ball party, sleepover and breakfast.

Son will be taking sleeping bag to friend's house this Friday as well as essential bacon and eggs etc for after ball next day breakfast!

We have to go for his suit fitting on Thursday evening - he tried one on in the shop and all fitted fine apart from suit sleeves being waaay tooo short! Interesting look.

Am dying to see girlfriend's dress - she's having it made for her and has been for some exciting fittings. Bumped into her mum yesterday and she's feeling that it's more like a wedding with all the little extras she's had to buy and get sorted! I agree - just had to hire a suit for son and buy new shoes!

Thursday

Just by chance, I woke up at 5 am today and could not go back to sleep, so I mosied on in to the living room to watch BBC World which is on Channel 1 through the night til 6am.

Nearly died when I turned it on - these were the headlines:

EARTHQUAKE IN TONGA OF 7.8 MAGNITUDE - FIJI AND NZ AT RISK OF TSUNAMI!

Bloody hell!

I watched for a few minutes and the TV said if a tsunami struck it would happen in about an hours time - aaah.

So - I dashed into son's room and woke him up telling him about the dreaded tsunami - he was not very impressed at 5.15am - but got up to have a look. After about 1/2 an hour or so, nothing had happened to Fiji, so we decided there would be no need to dash up Pigeon Hill. Son ate 2 mini pizzas and a cold sausage and went back to bed.

If it had happened, most people (that were at risk) would have drowned in their beds I reckon - there was no mention on any of the NZ TV channels and only one radio station was talking about it - but as I said - everyone was mostly asleep!

Later on at work, it was only the pommie teachers that knew anything about it, because their rellies had called them at 5am! Spot the pommie teacher - knackered!

Son tried on Ball Suit and looked GORGEOUS (say this with Little Britain voice)! Dying to see him with girlfriend. Shall take lots of photies.

Friday
Was asked at work today by another colleague if it was okay about DB - oh no - blank looks again! After a few seconds of staring at lovely colleague, I asked her very politely what the initials DB stand for (thinking it was some lesson that I didn't know about and have not been doing - oh no!), only to find that she was asking about my classroom helper Debbie - re changing the time she's with me in my classroom! Phew!

Saturday
Collected more feijoas from the garden - am a bit sick of them now and keep giving them away - really must preserve some or something.

Fruit in NZ just falls of the tree with no worm holes or anything - all absolutely perfect.

I ate 5 one after the other the other day - very lovely - but you can only take so much.

In about one hour, we'll be off to the Pre Ball - should be fun!

Well - take care and I'll write soon.

x Sue - still alive and kicking.

Easter Holidays!

Hello there! – we’ve had a restful and lovely Easter Break – but too short!

I know – I’m a whinging pom – sorry…..

Well – we broke up on the Thursday before Good Friday.

Good Friday was a strange day – everywhere was dead (as a dodo) – I’ve never seen Auckland so quiet – rather nice! We went out for petrol, I put up some curtains and did LOADS of washing – our $15 tumbler is paying its way!

Saturday

Our Invitation to Apply arrived! Yayy – we are now on the step to residency – our officer has said it’s okay for hubby to have medicals in UK and for son and myself to do ours from here as long as it’s all sent in together – MORE YAAYYYS.

Just got to sell our house now…..

Very exciting day also – we went out to buy a bed for son. ( I know – sounds sad to be excited about a new bed – but bear with me here). Drove to Target at Botany where son chose a black metal framed bed. Poor lad has been without a proper bed since December and if you remember, he had to help me make the bed settee the day he arrived – jet lag and all!

The girl that sold us the bed spent most of her time smiling at son and making eyes at him – to which he was of course oblivious as always! So funny to watch.

Upon our return home to the villa – we proceeded to clear the Spare Oom (sorry – Narnia influence) in preparation for the sofa bed – by the way, have I mentioned my hate of white boxes recently?

Sunday

Was invited by lovely friends to have a yummy roast dinner. Of course, it was delicious – especially the roasties! Thank you.

The cats are still gorgeous – but so big now – they’ve also been DONE! Which reminds me – friend’s vasectomy healing is coming along nicely.

Made a visit to the cheesecake shop prior to lunch – gosh it was so hard to decide – we eventually chose a Continental Strawberry one.

Son has just reliably informed me of the difference between continental and baked – apparently the continental is sloppier cheese of angel delight consistency and the baked is more solid. Well – I don’t care – it was bloody lovely! (Since when he became a connoisseur of cheesecakes I’ll never know – he never fails to surprise me – It became rather worrying four years ago in Australia when he suddenly announced “I like this kebab, but the one in Brisbane was better, although Sydney’s chilli sauce was good”. We had been letting the kids choose whatever they liked in the food halls and hadn’t realised just how much crap he’d been eating. Kebabs were on the banned list for the rest of the hols.)

Monday

Met my newest friend for lunch at Botany – enjoyed the company of herself and two lovely daughters.

Discussion about the English Food Shop came up in our conversation de la jour, which included perennial debate about Cadburys chocolate. The NZ Cadburys is good – but not quite the same as home – however tis much better than Aussie Cadburys which I am sorry to say tastes like cooking chocolate. (However, son’s girlfriend – who is of S African descent says the S African Cadburys is the best. Do not feel qualified to comment here though!)

Eeroes were also brought up in the debate – but this is where I became suddenly very LOST. I felt once again that strange phenomenon of the Kiwi accent and the loss of connection to the conversation therein.

The blank look on my face said it all. After a long list of clues such as chocolate and mint and bubbles etc, I finally got it – “Oh – you mean Aeros!”

Much laughter and comments about Kiwi and pommie accents ensued.

I had a lovely natter – cheers for the company!

Tuesday

Returned to Sunday Dinner friends to whisk their two youngest away for a couple of days. First stop = home to drop off belongings, 2nd stop = collect son’s girlfriend, 3rd stop = Botany Cinema for Ice Age II.

However, emergency sustenance was required for all first (priorities must be listened to). Maccy D’s for me and the kids, Chinese for son.

Of course, further refreshements were in demand 10 minutes later in the cinema – these came under the guise of HUGE POPCORN and LARGE BAG OF CHOCCIES. They somehow kept us going until the end of the film and we emerged from the darkness a well fed bunch of peeps.

By the way – the film was ixcillent! It was full of families enjoying the Easter break – thus ensuring the perfect atmosphere of family cinema noises:

Children crying after being told to sit still
Children laughing raucously at the funny bits
Children bawling in despair at the worrying bits
Crunchy popcorn
Crinkly sweet (oops sorry – lolly) wrappers
Slurpy drinks
Farty noises made with straw from said drinks once drink is finished (friend’s children showed me that new trick)
Farty noises – real (not moi)

Better stop now before I sink too low.

Anyway – it was a great film.

We had a wander around the shopping centre after that and then mosied on home.

A very pleasant day was had by all.

Wednesday

This was the day of the swumming pool blow up bouncy castle obstacle course type thingy!

Du du duuuuuuu! (This is exciting intro music, by the way).

Rang the swumming pool people to check the time the above bouncy contraption was available. Nice lady told me 12.30.

Along with 2 very excited children – dashed down to the pool, only to find contraption would not be there for another hour and a half – was apologised to by nice lady – she’d told weekend time not holiday time – so we went for a shop and then home for lunch.

Got there on time and the kids were off. Child no 1 fell off at the first hurdle and child no 2 fell off at the third. Neither was keen to go back for a while – so we played singing songs under the water and how to drown Sue by making her swum with child on her back.

Ten minutes or so later and they were ready again for the floaty thing challenge. Out of about 7 goes, child no 1 cleared the course 3 times and child no 2 once. Both were very proud of their achievements and I was very jealous – I WANTED A GO!

Oh well…..

We all had a great watery time!

Thursday

Son had been poorly in the night, so we took it easy and stayed at home that day awaiting the arrival of the BED!

It arrived on time in the afternoon in 3 separated boxes – GULP!

However, we cast past desperate memories of making the bed settee with only Chineses instructions to help us aside and searched for the instructions.

One hour later, the bed was made and the proud makers stood to one side to admire it! Big pat on the back for us. Son lay on his new bed for a while to enjoy the softness of the lovely thick mattress.

Now – we had a very exciting evening ahead of us and whizzed around to get ready. Empty cardboard boxes and mattress cover etc were unceremoniously chucked outside whilst we busied ourselves in prep for evening out.

Son was going to Sky Theatre (below the Tower) to see Irish comedian Dylan Moran (Black Books fame) and I was meeting girly friends at the Civic to see the show Dirty Dancing (met them in the Irish pub across the road actually).

Whilst walking up Queen Street, we came upon a large crowd of people and after chatting to a nice lady, found that they were waiting for a pop group (Specifics). So being nosey, we stayed to watch their arrival via a rather shiny black limousine. Took some photos, but they didn’t come out very well – however, we will survive this upset due to the fact that once again, I hadn’t a clue who they were. Hey ho.

The theatre was beautiful.



It’s designed to feel like you’re under the stars outside of a Persian palace – amazing. Whilst waiting, I saw clouds float overhead, stars appear and then amazingly – shooting stars whiz across the ‘sky’! Very impressed.

Needless to say, the show was great and a text from son was in a similar vein.

We had a lovely evening and drove home feeling happy inside.

Here are some piccies of the Theatre and Tower from that evening:





Isn't the Sky Tower beautiful?

Friday

Popped into work for a while – very boring prep work to do – yawnie yawn.

Took gas cylinder heater to Bunnings to get new connection. A very nice man gave me the card of someone in Manukau that could help us.

More BORING washing was done.

Got very excited Friday evening due to advert on TV re the Medium programme being in 3D. Son demanded that we dash to the nearest distributors in order to collect free 3D speccies. Upon arrival son saw a whole box full to the brim and all worries about running out due to the stampede of people for that night's programme were allayed.

Just as well eh - we all sat down to watch, drinks in hand and white cardboard specs arranged on faces, only to find (right at the end) that the programme is to be on NEXT WEEK! DOH.

Spent a whole hour with ridiculous white cardboard specs on - damaging our eyesight, no doubt - trying to see things in 3D that weren't there.

Story of my life - sad, but true. Even got excited at one point when we thought we saw a 3D bit.

However - the Indian rug on the floor looked very weird via the 3D specs and when winking, one eye saw everything with a pink tinge, whilst the other saw it all with a blue tinge. So not all was lost.

We are now waiting in anticipation for next week's programme.

Oooh – nearly forgot – bought snorkels and flippers ready for Goat Island tomorrow!

Saturday

Raining – nooooooo!

Well – being intrepid explorers, we still ventured out into the cloudy wet day.

A sudden change of plan led us to Waiwera Thermal Resort instead with the aim of enjoying the hot pools.





But guess what – upon arrival we saw lots of SLIDES too! Yeehaaa!



Proceeded to go down every slide there with son and girlfriend, then just with son whilst girlfriend took action shots and then finally on my own – great fun!!!!!







Had a break in between sliding for some lunch and then carried on again. I LOVE this place!

After we had exhausted the facilities and ourselves, we drove to Goat Island. What a beautiful place. Sadly, snorkels were left unused in the car due to being knackered. However, did enjoy scrambling on the rocks and nearly getting knocked off them by huge waves, followed by a picnic tea.






Drove home knackered listening to boring sports on boring radio due to not being able to find anything else due to short wavelength available on Japanese imported car radio. Son and girlfriend were ominously quiet through journey due to sleeping.

Sunday

Aching all over esp neck area!

Did food shopping (son has provided a menu of his cooking exploits for the week ahead) and more washing.

Monday

Teacher day – back to work – where did it all go? Sob.

It's Easter!

Well – here I am again – VERY ready for my Easter break.

It’s Good Friday around 9am right now. Son is in bed giving it zeds and I’m sat here with the laptop on me lap and some Australian daytime show on – the washing machine is whirling away in the background and there’s our scary guest the highly honourable Mr Praying Mantis staring evilly at me from the opposite chair (must get rid of him somehow – but he keeps flying away. This is interesting, but freaky to watch). Here’s a piccie of him:



The weather is predicted to be very amiable over the next few days – sunny and warm at around 23 degrees. Yay.

Well – what have I been up to?

Oh yes – Bob the Builder – do you remember me mentioning that? Well – the news is all good!

Our Junior (infant in the UK) and Senior (junior in the UK) teams both came an impressive 4th out of all the teams entered – but guess what?!!! Our teacher’s team came first! Yeehaa. We even beat the Ministry of Education (they came 2nd – they had one player too many as well– but 2 were men and our DP reckoned that this made the team equal to us due to the fact that 1 man’s brain + 1 man’s brain = 1 woman’s brain). Go us!

We won $500 for our school – each department has been given a cut.

I spent the afternoon at this special Literacy Day and it was great fun. All of the children that were there left with memories of famous people, fun and games and most managed to receive lovely books to read.

Alan Duff gave out some of the books (he wrote Once Were Warriors) to some boys from my class that I pushed forwards towards him – I had no idea who he was – like many of the well-knowns there – they were unknown to me because I still have a lot to learn about this ‘area’ of NZ.

The Prime Minister was there – but she arrived in the morning – so I didn’t get to see her. There were also some NZ All Blacks there – but again I didn’t know who they were, so unfortunately failed to recognise them.

So – there you go – my claim to fame this week is a bit sad as I didn’t know who they were! Welcome to Sue’s world – totally oblivious!

Afterwards, our DP was so chuffed with our quiz results that we were all invited to her house (the full posse of Bobs – Bobbette, Blob, Robert, Boss Bob and Uncle Bob) for a few glasses of wine or two….

Other school excitements this week include:

Assessments

Spending the afternoon at another school in the area comparing the marking of explanation writing in order to ensure we are marking at the same level and in agreement.

Had lovely chats with other Kiwi teachers and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Also partook of yummy choccie biccies and endless cups of tea.

On the way back, during the car ride, myself and fellow teachers had lengthy professional discussions and concluded that the writing would have been far more impressive and more descriptive if the title had been less boring and more appropriate to the children.

We therefore decided that a good title would be: Explain How You Can Make As Many Fart Noises As You Can (real or made up farts) as the kids are really good at this and can relate to it extremely well. Lots of real-life experience here.

On the way back, I also pointed out that the local children must have lots of fun throwing up shoes onto telephone lines in the street, because I keep seeing them everywhere.

It was then explained to me by a fellow Kiwi teacher, that when you see this phenomenon outside a house, it means that the house concerned is a drug house! Oh well – I’m still learning.

Computer Chairs

Had a special meeting after school this week in order to be told how to use the new computer chairs.

These are the ones that have some sort of gas in them and sink slowly downwards (great fun) when the metal ring under the chair is pulled upwards and move upwards when the metal ring is faffed about with again.

The whole staff spent many happy minutes playing with their chairs during which we thought one was broken – but luckily after lots of fiddling by another member of staff under the chair (which looked highly rude and extremely funny because the first member of staff was still sat on it). The said chair was duly mended.

We then went on to seriously discuss next term’s topic whilst sitting on our incorrectly height set chairs – ie some very high and some very low – quite funny to look at whilst trying to be deadly serious.

Boomwhackers

Have introduced these coloured tubes to the children in my class and they LOVE them! I’ve never seen them behave so well in order to be able to have the honour to hold one and ‘play’ it!
Basically, they are different coloured tubes of varying lengths that are tuned into one musical note. I have 8 notes (C to C) and we have had lots of fun playing songs.

Our DP came into the classroom for a gander and chose to play the note G because that boomwhacker had the most goes during the particular song we were playing. She had a lovely time.

Well – that’s school sorted – what else have I been doing?

I’ve been to visit a good friend and her family – according to my son she’s had a vasectomy and I am pleased to say she’s recovering well. Hoping to take her little ones to see Ice Age 2 and have a swum next week.

On the way to visit them all, I saw 3 accidents on the road – it seems that whenever I go out in Auckland, I come across RTAs – they are unfortunately very common over here.

Returning home that evening, I saw the majestic Sky Tower all lit up in blue – I so LOVE driving towards the city over the harbour bridge at night – the skyline is so beautifully lit up.

I also got lost just before I found the bridge (sound familiar?) and had a joyful evening tour of Beachhaven (I think that’s what it was called anyway – have pushed this annoying experience back to the dimmest recesses of my mind).

One minute I was happily singing along to Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat – experimenting whether to sing low with Joe or to use my naturally higher tones (ha ha), when I suddenly did not recognise anything through my windscreen. Several u-turns later and after a variety of colourful language (unbefitting of a highly professional school teacher) I finally found the warm, friendly and glowing sign pointing towards the harbour bridge.

I have also been to Botany to meet up with another new friend and to have a gas over coffee. Had an enjoyable afternoon here and hope to enjoy her company more in the future – movie evenings etc have been discussed at length.

Here are some piccies of the Botany shopping area for those of you who may be interested:





Last night I joined friends in a farewell meal for another lovely friend’s mum (she came over with them when they first emigrated – about the same time as me) and her 6 months are now up, so she’s returning home. Shall miss her lots and will be glad when friend returns from UK after dropping her off.

We went into Howick for the meal – Mongolian. Basically, you choose meats, veggies and sauces and then it’s fried in front of you on a very large hot plate. Yummy! Used to take the kids to one in Hong Kong and they always loved it. Everyone had a lovely time and a catch up with all the gossip. We all took our own bottles of wine (I took a bottle of fizzy Lindauer – I really like it and I don’t care what anyone else says about it) and the atmosphere was very merry indeed.

Came home to son and girlfriend watching TV (very lovely colours on the screen) – vaguely remember having some sort of conversation with them about Little Britain and my telephone ring tone (“I do wish someone would pick up” – from the I’m a Lady sketch) before retiring gracefully to bed.

Roundup

The weather is good at the mo.

Have got feijoas coming out of my ears.

Need to eat more fruit. Have been eating too many choco chip hot cross buns.

The weather on TV is sometimes accompanied by music – very strange phenomenon.

Praying mantis has disappeared and must now hunt him in order to get rid (bugger)

Must now go to do boring housework and hang out washing (in my pjs with hair awry)

Sausages in the fridge really need eating and there’s no potatoes in the house due to son making mash last night and then scoffing the lot along with a huge dose of pizza (bless the growing teenager). The shops are also closed today…. Will have them with beans and egg maybe – sooo healthy eh?

Am going to see Dirty Dancing with the North Shore girlies next week and realllly looking forward to it!

Take care all of you lovely readers. Miss you all loads and will let you know how our Easter breaks pans out.

X Sue

PS Praying mantis has reappeared and the hunt has now begun – wish me luck – I’m going in – over and out.