Greeting from the Land Of The Long White Cloud!

Hi everyone

Tis Saturday morning and am sat here in my jim jams writing this latest essential post from the Land Of The Long White Cloud (Aotearoa). Sorry if I've spelt it wrong!

Exciting day lined up - shopping, cleaning, washing, planning (for school) etc! However, may add a little sparkle by going to the cinema later to see the Da Vinci Code. Son wants to see X Men - so may see that at some point soon too.

Have finished my reports AT LAST. Had a glass of Lindauer Fraise to celebrate - very yummy sparkly wine with strawberry flavour - am addicted! (Hasten to point out that I'm NOT an alcaholic though! However, did drink nearly a whole bottle of Jacobs Creek Rose when lovely friends visited last week - had a cosy chat and got slowly and pleasantly sloshed, then fell into a deep sleep lasting 10 hours! - that's a lot for me, for as you know I am becoming a true Kiwi by getting up dead early and falling asleep about 9 or 10 pm - extrememly annoying at weekends!).

I can hear you all thinking - where is no 1 son? Well - I'm sure you will be surprised to hear that at this moment (9.33 am precisely), he is giving it zeds.

Well - reports are out of the way - now I have parents evening to look forward to. So far, the parents I've met have been lovely.

We also have a day off for the Queen's Birthday over here - really strange because that never happens in the UK! Not complaining though.

We've had a few wintry days here lately in that the mornings and evenings have felt VERY cold, yet during the day the sun was out and twas pleasantly warm. Consequently, I set out for work wrapped up in a multitude of layers, only to be constantly stripping off during the day. Have left clothes all over the place - in the car, on my chair in the classroom etc etc!

On one particular morning, I plonked stuff into the car and, as usual, got the wiper to clear off the condensation gathered on the windows. However, it was not the usual water, but ICE! Was very surprised! There was frost on the grass too. Have been told that this is about as cold as it gets (in Auckland) though - so it's not too bad at all.

Have to say, that's the only frost we've had so far and the weather has been a little milder the past 2 days.

Thursday was beautiful and perfect for the closing of our Pasifika topic at school. We had lots of Cook Island drumming and dancing. Some of the Year 6's were fantastic dancers. I really enjoyed it - the swinging of the hips of the girls in their colourful lava lavas (sarongs) and the manly movements of the barechested boys - I so want to visit the islands now - I've learnt so much via the teaching of these lovely kids and want to see more. Still have LOADS of NZ to see yet though! Very jealous of someone I know who're going to the Cook Islands very soon - lucky buggers!

My class had a lovely day visiting the various activities on offer and comments coming back to me were, in the main, positive. However, they were the only class that decided it was lots fun to paint their hands black (rather than the word TONGA onto a headband) and proceed to place prints on a variety of surfaces, including their yellow school uniform polo shirts.... groan....

Had a lovely evening the other day listening to friends' daughter join in with other family schools singing with a lovely NZ lady in a very entertaining concert. Really enjoyed it. The barbershop quartet (with their world's first expose of red waistcoats) was fab too.

The songs sung by the children were vaguely familiar and half way through the concert, I realised that I'd heard them being practised by children in our school - after a few enquiries, I realised that they would also be singing with said lady in a concert in Botany very soon!

Son and I have noticed that the words 'follow through' seem to be used a lot here - but not in the way that we often snigger about. It is used in 'intelligent' conversation here - ie on the news and between politicians etc. Cracks us up every time we hear it - sorry - my juvenile humour again - but can't help it - tis genetic.

Two days ago, son turned on the TV and the channels were either non existent or crap (white lines etc). After a few seconds of intelligent deduction, we noticed that the aerial wire had fallen out of the wall socket. Well - he pushed it back in and hey presto, all was well. Even the Channel 1 channel that has previously been very white liney. That was exciting wasn't it? Gosh - I really must get out.

Actually, am going out to see lovely Ero friend tomorrow - she's going to show me around the Maraetai area - have been through it 2x now, so will be good to see it in more detail as it's a very pretty part of Auckland, on the beach etc and about 20 mins drive to Botany shopping centre. Am really looking forward to it - shall take some photies for you.

Drove into the city last night to check PO Box and collect lovely Chinese take away - I said thank you in Chinese, and received a huge surprised smile and was called 'very clever' in Chinese by the lady proffering said food. I love it when I surprise people with my Chinese speaking abilities - must learn more. Son and I have the Cantonese learning tape in the car and I can understand most of it - COOOOL! Reminds me of the day I was in the lift in our flat in HK and one of the neighbours was telling another all about me (nothing nasty though) - where I came from, who my hubby was etc etc. Twas so funny - she hadn't a clue that I understood every word! I love that feeling! Sue's secret world!

My speaking abilities are not too bad - but was put off for a long while due to asking the ice cream man for an iced willy by mistake! Everyone collapsed around me - very embarrassing.

Oh well.

The Sky Tower has changed from blue to white at night now. Looks lovely as per usual.

Lisa Owen that does the (BOOOORRRRRING) Agenda prog on Sat mornings looks just like Mystic Meg. I keep expecting her to come up with the latest horoscope readings as an aside to all the political mutterings going on. Sorry, I'm sure it's not boring if you're into politics. (Remind myself to be more intelligent re current affairs).

Other Sat morning progs include selling stuff and more selling stuff. Yawnie yawn - anyway - shouldn't be watching it - should be dutifully cleaning and yeah whatever....

Local paper had an interesting story:

FLAMING CABBAGE DRAMA

A group of smokers gave themselves a fright when a cabbage tree caught fire last Wednesday. Howick fire station officer ------- says the deck of the Nelson St property in Howick had been built around the tree. "They were trying to put it out with pots and pans of water."

This is the funny bit (please forgive juvenile humour again):

One member of the group was an asthmatic and was taken by St John Ambulance to a Botany Rd medical centre to be treated for smoke inhalation.

This is the severe warning at the ending:

Mr ____ (fire officer) warned smokers to put cigarette buts into water.

I just LOVE stories like that.

There was one a couple of weeks ago where some people were up in arms about someone putting a traffic cone on top of a huge fir tree - I thought that was hilarious!

Oops - should be quiet here - haven't got my PR yet and don't want to be seen as a stirrer.

On that note, I'd better go.

Sue signing off for important missions to hoover, washing machine, books and Pak n Save.

Tara!