Everest Attempt Begins

It really does feel like an attempt to climb Everest, getting our house ready to sell, and moving to a new house. It looks like we are dressed for Everest too, in our winter gear. That jacket makes me look like an enormous tomato. Warm though, and it kept me dry in the parts of the house that don't have a roof. We took the first load of excess stuff out to the lockup today. The best part about delivering stuff to the lockup is saying hello to the gorgeous donkey that lives there. So when we got home today I started working on filling a box of kitchen items that I won't be needing for a while. Plus I filled another box of books. The second of many, many book boxes. It feels a bit strange tucking my special things away in boxes, but I'm sure I'll enjoy getting them out again and finding places for them in my new home.

Miss Hunca Munca was very pleased to hear from her mummy and daddy. She supervised closely while I gave her house a clean. She was probably casting a suspicious eye over the disposal of a few hoarded food items. She was very pleased to have minestrone soup for tea. She did a bit more exploring today because Miss Dog was outside while I sorted a few things out. Miss Dog doesn't pay much attention to her now she has got used to the idea of a ratty travelling on shoulders. Monty completely ignores her. Hopeless hunter, thank goodness.

One more week of the term. I've got a pretty chilled out week planned. Then the big push to Everest begins. XXX

Gazing at the floor while the Heavens open.

Wet, wet and more wet around here today! Look at my lovely roof. It is going up bit by bit. The colour is called New Denim Blue and it is made of Coloursteel, which looks just like traditional corrugated iron. Today when we popped (glopped) in there was so much water inside as only half of the roofing is up. Plus the area you can see above in front of the house is thick with goopy mud. But I did get very excited standing in my lounge and looking at all of the lovely space. The verandah has a ceiling now, which Miss Dog is going to love on cold days. Me too!

We went flooring shopping today. I've discovered that I like the carpets that are a shade of chocolate. We've got some samples home from Mckenzie and Willis. Mr B couldn't face the curtain department today, so I'm going to have to go in on my own. We are having a flooring product which is a vinyl but comes in planks that look like real wood. It really does. It is commercial grade so it will last well and should cope with the clitter clatter of animal claws. We had some samples home and it is amazingly easy to clean. That will go in the entrance way, kitchen and bathrooms.

I have to admit I'm a bit panicked that my ability to decorate this fabulous creation is going to be sadly lacking. My taste is very much Country Living, but I find it hard to work with neutrals. I've never really had reason to choose fabulous curtains. I do have a mad passion for fabrics but there are so many horrid ones available, and so many divine EXPENSIVE ones. In the main living area, which will have a mass of curtains along one wall, and five Roman blinds, I don't want anything heavily patterned, but then I think something one flat colour would be completely boring. I think that sometimes a heavy pattern with lots of colours can take over the whole room when the curtains are across. I don't want anything that looks like a budget buy, but I am conscious of the cost. Any ideas?

On the current home front, Miss Hunca Munca Ratty has settled in beautifully. She has very quickly realised that Mr B is a cosy nest of warmth, and loves snuggling up in his polarfleece jumpers. She also knows I am the main source of food, and gets very excited when I bring her a plate (jar lid) of dinner. She eats what we eat, although I'm not usually inclined to grab a huge chunk of food off my plate in my teeth and then scurry off to my bedroom to enjoy it at my leisure like she is. She is the cutest little ratty in the whole world. She sleeps quite a lot, and when she wakes up she has squinty eyes for a bit, and she often has a big stretch and a yawn. Just a dear wee darling. We are so lucky to have custody of her. I'd put some pictures in but it has been really cold and Hunca burrows as much as possible in this weather. The moment I pick her up she is heading for my shoulder to gain access to some part of my clothing.

Tomorrow we start moving things out to the lockup where we will store excess stuff until the big move. We'll meet up with Mr and Mrs CT, who not only own the lockup, but also love a hot coffee or chocolate on a wet day. A great excuse for a gathering. I'm looking forward to it.

Well, I think I've got my blogging mojo back. I'm pleased about that. XXX

Sort of back in action

Reports are done and handed in to the big boss. Mr B is back from his educational jaunt to the North Island. He's watching Ninja Warrior. Tonight is the push for the summit on the programme about Everest. Seeing the people climbing Everest has had an impact on me because I've been dreaming about it. I'm in a bit of a decline, which is a nuisance, but typical. I've just got to wait for it to pass, with Mr B's support. My head hurts, and has since Friday. So time for a few positives:

• Miss Hunca Munca has come to live with us. She is a darling little ratty poo. She's currently snuggled in Mr B's polar fleece top. She has had a range of tasty treats including omelette, kiwifruit, mandarin, cheese and crackers, cauliflower, peas, corn, celery. She pretty much eats what I'm eating, as well as her traditional seedy, pellet mix. Photos to come.
• Our house really looks like a house! It has framewrap on, which Mr B has promised to photograph for your viewing pleasure tomorrow when he visits. It is amazing to walk around inside.
• Our friend Di makes delicious brownie and apple crumble, and we had it at Mrs CT's house . I got a huge chunk of dried up leaf in my eye while I was there, and I'm very grateful that I managed to get it out because it was almost a doctor job. It got tucked under the inner corner of my eye and I couldn't believe the size of it when I finally got it out. I am very grateful to my lovely friends who don't seem to mind if I just hunker down by the fire when I'm in a decline. Also to Andi cat who tolerated my attentions and company.
• Yay for family coming to visit! The holidays are in two weeks. Mummy and Nanny might come to stay and Dadsy is coming in the second week of the holidays to help around here. Plus M and R might come for Show Weekend like they did last year, and we will be in our new house by then. Meg and I will take a big tasty picnic to the A and P show and watch the horse competitions. Then we will pat as many animals as we can. The boys can play golf.
• It is my birthday is less than two months.
• By the way, we have a new Ninja Warrior champion. Nokato Nagana (possibly spelled like that) is showing rare emotion for a Japanese fisherman, and is clearly pleased to have won. Actually, I'd say winning Ninja Warrior would be harder than climbing Mount Everest, although considerably safer.

Bye for now XXX

Sorry- mini bloggy break

Oops, sorry to have a break in the middle of a challenge week but I'm in the middle of report writing and am all written out. My shoulders are burning after being crouched over my school computer for hours. So I will rejoin the challenge when I summon the energy! XXX

New Challenge!

New week, new challenge...New challenge has been put forward by M over at Chocolate Britches...
Monday: 3 favourite pieces of jewellery


Tuesday: 3 favourite books

Wednesday: 3 favourite travel destinations


Thursday: 3 favourite hot men (just for some shallow fun!)


Friday: 3 favourite household items (could be anything around the house)


Saturday: chosen by Ruby Two Shoes


Sunday: chosen by Poppy Black

I have so many pieces of jewellery that I just gathered up three necklaces that are important to me. I love necklaces!

This one is very precious as Mr B bought it for me as a surprise when we were up in Wellington shopping with his Mum. The terrible thing is that I can't wear it. It got broken, and I didn't wear it for ages. Once I repaired it I couldn't wear it without getting a nasty rash. I can't work it out because the metal doesn't actually touch the bits that get all red and nasty.






This one was made by the students in one of the senior classes at school. It gets a lot of outings.



I got this one from Trade Aid. It gets loads of comments. People often try to make wise comments about what it is made of. I think it said quartz on the label. Sorry, not such a good photo- the flash kept glaring off the stones.


I'm tired, so won't write any more. Have a good week! See you tomorrow. XXX

Yellow

I decided to share a few yellow things from school. I've actually got quite a bit of yellow around the house because we painting a lot of our rooms yellow. Not bright yellow like these things. A buttery colour.

This is a closeup of one of the crowns we made for the Queen for Queen's Birthday. The glue was a bit useless so I had to get the glue gun out and reattach the buttons. I always manage to burn my fingers using a glue gun, but I'm awfully fond of them.

We have been talking about colour. When I was working with individuals on another arty activity anyone spare was working on this rainbow. I have dangled the colour names off the bottom. I wanted the darker blue to be indigo, but someone didn't listen.


For your future reference, the Maori colours. Kowhai is a New Zealand native tree with beautiful yellow flowers. Kowhai is both a colour and a plant. So are tawa and karaka.

Here is the sun I drew. Most of the class helped to colour and dye it. I stapled it together with another big circle of paper, with cellophane sandwiched between. Three of my students helped to screw up newspaper to stuff it with.

Here is Ducky. It is a miracle that he still looks so good because most things get sucked or chewed eventually. The kids' cushions are on display behind. Fabric paints are awesome!

Here is the Rainbow Lorikeet that visited on Friday. His/her name is Kaz. We were all totally enchanted by it. It even poos on command so you can hold it over a bucket so that it can go to the toilet. Then you don't get crap down your back. It is only a baby and will grow bigger. A perfect end to colour week, I think!

Today I had a mad rampage in the garden, plus I rescued my Christmas lily bulbs so that I can take them to my new garden. They are expensive, so I decided they need to come with me. Plus they were all given to me by a friend. One of them always has a huge head of flowers every year. I found out why. The bulb is utterly enormous. I put them in a bucket with some soil and covered them with a damp newspaper. They don't like to dry out.

We have decided to spend Sunday mornings working on the garden at the new place, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons sorting out our world here. I really got a lot done this weekend at our current house. I hacked and slashed the boysenberries and grapes back. I pruned roses with the ruthless attitude of an expert. I weeded and snipped. I had great intentions to rake up lots of stones at our new place, but we had seven (yes, seven!!!) visitors while we were there, and didn't get much done apart from guided tours. I told Mr B we will need a big new coffee machine with all of the visitors we are getting. His current one just does two little cups at a time. So we've had a fun, very busy weekend. I'm looking forward to the next one already. XXX

Black

Today I have just one colour picture. This is all the black a girl would ever need. Darling Miss Dog. Loyal helper in the garden (cat turd disposal expert). Carpet cleaner tester. Ever willing plate cleaner. This is not the best photo of her, but this is the result of a few hours helping in the garden. Today the major ransacking began. The building is going to take around 3 1/2 months to finish and we are getting stuck in so that we can put this house on the market at the end of August or early September. Help!!!!



This is the reason for the sudden flurry of activity. It looks like a house!!!!

Here I am "on" my verandah. What a great space for hanging out.

Another favourite part of the house. The sliding door to outside from my craft and music room.


Today we went out the see our lovely builder and discuss a few details. We took our friend Barbara out for a look and she thinks it looks much bigger than it did in foundation form. I'm dying to get started on the garden, but have more than enough to do around here first. It has got really out of hand, so I was hacking and slashing until my arms couldn't take it any more. I've always been overly ambitious about gardening here, and made masses of gardens that I couldn't handle due to the weeds and invasive plants that were already hiding here when we came. Ivy, incredibly thorny berries, twitch, and perennial sweetpeas (which I'd never plant in my new garden, horrid things). Even the grape vines are out of control. I think I'll have to be very careful not to take anything with me with dirt from this garden. I'll have to rinse the roots clean, and buy new plants to replace ones I really love that I can't do that to. I don't want twitch to come with me because it is really dreadful. The hostas I'm taking will have to go in pots so that I can quarantine them.

I'm a bit sad because Mr B is going away for a few days on a bus trip with other boss teachers to look at other schools. I'm in charge of the building while he is away. I bet our builder doesn't ring to ask me any questions. Well, I really hope he doesn't! There's more work to do on the frames, an inspection on Thursday and, all going well, frame wrap will go on on Friday. Then roofing begins. No wonder the flurry of activity has begun around here.

Happy birthday to Miss M. Wish I was there enjoying DVDs, tasty food and family company. XXX

Purple

Purple. The colour of royalty, bruises and butch lesbians in big saggy t-shirts and no bras. I'm sure that's a stereotype, but it certainly matches the hairy, crewcutted manladies stomping around Motueka in clouds of B.O. when I used to work in a bookshop in the holidays. Mind you, that was a long, long time ago. It certainly isn't a colour I have much of around here. Not that I don't like purple. But I do prefer rich plums, lilac - warmer tones of purple. So it was a bit of a strain to come up with these examples:

Leftover fabric from making cushions with my students' fabric paintings.

A grotty lavender towel. I'm going to need some new towels for my new bathrooms.

My plum coloured skirt and purple (pretend pashmina) scarf.

My very special amethyst and sterling silver necklace given to me by our neighbours after their trip to the USA.

I'm glad it's the weekend. Tonight we are going to the school play of Cinderella. It should be a real laugh. I am sad because our amazing Deputy Principal is leaving. She has always been there when I've needed advice, help or a pick-me-up chocolate fish. She is the director of the play. I hope tonight will be a great tribute to her. I'll get to say goodbye next week as she will be back for a celebration on Friday afternoon.

Tomorrow we are going to be able to walk through our house with the framing and roof trusses up. I'm really excited about that.

Not sure if I will get on the scales this week. I'm a disaster when I'm trying to lose weight. Horribly depressing.

Blue

I could go on forever with blue. I've got a lot of blue around here. I love all sorts of colours, but cornflower blue is just divine. I don't really suit blue all that much to wear as I'm kind of a warm colour girl, so I don't have a lot of blue clothes. Of course everyone suits denim, and I prefer darker rather than classic mid-blue denim. So here goes with a sample of my blue treasures:

Grandma's old plate. I remember it from my childhood. It was the only one she had and I found out about the willow pattern from it.

This was Nanny's plate. I think she has some perfect pieces, but I claimed this cracked one when she moved because I'm sentimental.

My very precious tenth anniversary ring. Ceylonese sapphire and diamonds. Usually worn with a wedding band.

Pretty, sparkly bag. Handle broken. Now hanging on a door handle to look decorative.

Cushions.

My wee cupboard for the new house, and my spotty jug. Both gifts from the lovely Meg. I didn't realise there were dog hairs clinging to the jug. Miss Dog can't wait for black day.

I love this clock!

Swirly detail from one of Meg's paintings.

Sea, sky and blue chair cover.


I'm very, very tired tonight. But I can tell you the two words I know for blue in the Maori language. Kahurangi and kikorangi. We are doing Maori themed activities at school, and having a lot of fun. It is neat because the Teacher Assistants don't know much Maori, so I am actually teaching someone chunks of knowledge! Plus I'm reviewing and upskilling my knowledge as well. Some people question the value of teaching Maori language and culture, but I really enjoy it. And we are doing lots of talk and experiences relating to very basic concepts like greetings, colours, numbers and practical experiences involving fine and gross motor skills. All good, I think. I drew a big sun with a Maori art styled face today and everyone helped to colour and dye it. Then I got some helpers to screw up newspaper to stuff it. Plus I added bright yellow cellophane around the edge. That was for the story of Maui and the sun. That's actually a bit of a gruesome legend. Maui is the central figure of many Maori legends. He is clever, naughty and seems to get things done. In Maui and the sun Maui gets annoyed because the sun goes too fast and he wants more time to eat food and do things during the day. So he gets his brothers to help him to catch the sun with flax ropes. He then beats the sun until the poor thing is nearly dead and can only move slowly. Everyone is happy (well, almost everyone) because they can now enjoy the days and greedy Maui gets to have more time to eat his food. I think Mum will remember how fascinated I was by Maori legends when I was little.

Happy Friday everyone! It is usually a good day in my world. We've got a Rainbow Lorikeet visiting us at school tomorrow. How appropriate for colour week :) .

By popular demand- frames.

Welcome to my new house. Can you see the front door? The garage is to the left, and the kitchen to the right.

Here's the view from the back yard. At the left is the gap where the big stacking doors will open out the the wee verandah.

Our bedroom is at the far right. A bit drafty at the moment.

Here's the view down the hall.


I can't believe that it is starting to look like a house already. The roof trusses were put up today. By the end of next week we should have a roof.

Other news from today:

• Not much.

Next week's news. Mr B is going away for almost 5 days. I'm really going to miss him.

Red

Red. In no particular order.

Spicy seasoning. I love spice!

I love red clothes too. This little combo had an outing today.

Manolin, aka Hand Slicer. The red signifies the threat this thing poses to the careless user.

Laura Ashley strawberries. Love, love, love them.

Wallace Cotton laundry bag.

Brocade fabric on one of my obi belt creations.

A corner of a Miss Ruby Two Shoes painting.

Ruby, my muse.

Delicious lace on my velvet coat.

The sweet wee cosmetic bag that carries my warpaint on the front line. Even better cause I got it from my brother's pharmacy on his wedding weekend.

One of Mr B's photos.

Braeburn apple.

Red is gorgeous, glamorous and rich. I love to wear red, but prefer it with other colours than black. Black and red are such a predictable combination. I am, however, being predicable today. Sometimes I dare to leave my house in shades of red and green, just to give a touch of Christmas spirit to any day of the year. No, I don't look like some rampant Christmas elf.

Green

Green day today. I love green. It suits me to wear, and there are so many beautiful shades. I tell Mr B that if I ever have a baby girl I'd call her Emerald. Not sure if that would be his first choice! Maybe I'll call a cat Emerald if it has appropriately coloured green eyes. Actually my eyes are dark murky green around the outside of my irises and brown in the middle. I'm fond of dark green eyeliner.



Of course my favourite magazine has a lovely, fresh green cover.


And here's my Olga Berg bag. I should have featured the pink lining yesterday. I carry my sheet music around in this at the moment.


Mr B got me a green music stand to match my 'cello bag. I didn't take a photo of that because it is empty and uninteresting at the moment.


I've got a green frog umbrella.


Here's a top I got at Colorado. I don't believe in ironing unless under duress, or sewing. Bad wife.


This green paint is called Frog. I love the name and I love the colour.


Other news:

• Our frames are up! It is starting to look like a house. The roof trusses go up tomorrow.
• I only had six students today as one was sick. It was so much better with one less.
• Tomorrow we are going to the matinee performance of Cinderella presented by the students and some of the staff of our Special School. Should be a good laugh providing no one from my class blows their stack. Highly probable.
• I managed to get out of the supermarket without buying chocolate bars or crisps. Whew.

See you tomorrow!

Pink

Miss Ruby Two Shoes has decided to have a colour week and I am joining in. Tonight I've popped here and there around the house snapping pink things here and there, some of which look pinker in real life (and a couple which I practised my enhancement skills on to bring out the pink). Country Living magazine featured a few pink things too. In my house pink seems to come along with other pretty colours.

Country Living- oh so pretty!


Kitchen curtains- the flowers are pinker in real life!


I made this pretty pink bag. It even has a pink lining. The wall behind even looks pink. Not sure how that happened because it is actually yellow.


Monty in his favourite spot under the pink squares on my quilt.


Mmmm- chocolate and pink. Yum.


I wish I owned this cerise lantern. Country Living again.


My Wallace Cotton Rosalicious quilt.


Gorgeous pink ribbon. Haven't got far into this book, but it is a bit of a laugh.


A closeup of a painting I did a while ago.


My pink colander XXX. I love colanders.


Pink roses on this pretty trio given to me by the wonderful Mother-in-law Black.


I love pink. Did you know that it is called mawhero in the Maori language? Ma is white and whero is red- blend them together to get mawhero. Isn't that clever? I just think that it is a shame that pink is associated with putrid Barbie stuff, and other gaudy kid-associated paraphernalia. So I'm thinking of rose, cerise, watermelon, blush ...

What a view!

Today we drove out for our weekly inspection of the building site. We met one of our lovely friends out there, with her darling wee doggy. Mr B was able to have a catch-up with Richard and his amazingly tall brother (very useful for putting up frames and doing ceilings apparently). They were marking out where our frames are to go with blue chalk. We weren't allowed to walk on the blue lines, so we pretended to walk into the rooms. By next week we will be able to use the doorways. The frames were all delivered on Friday, almost safe and sound. Richard had to repair a couple that went splat off the truck. Oops. Richard said they are stronger than ever. And here they are:


How strange looking at the skeleton of our house lying on the ground. The earth was incredibly boggy after the snow, and I was scared I would slip and land on my bottom in the mud.

The best bit about our visit today was the view of the Port Hills with a dusting of icing sugar snow. This is the view from our future kitchen window. I don't think the house across the way will block too much of the view. We met another one of our future neighbours today and he was really friendly. See the wee tree on the right side- that's his piece of land.


I was mucking around taking self-portraits of myself today, and after several amazingly weird looking photos (how do I manage to look OK posing in the mirror, and like a total lush in a photo trying to make the same face?), Mr B snapped a few for me. This was the best one.

I love the purple scarf with the green jersey. Pretty colours together. I'm really self-conscious about how I look. I've always been bothered by my teeth, and my really small bottom jaw. That's why I've got braces now. I could have opted for facial reconstructive surgery to break my bottom jaw and move it forward so my teeth lined up, but it was ridiculously expensive and nasty. So I'll live with the jaw, and have photos from the front, because you really can't tell except from the side. I must get the henna out again to brighten up my hair. I love red hair, and wish I had bright, sparking goldy red tresses. Or gleaming coppery locks. Unfortunately I can't use artificial dyes because my scalp gets so itchy I feel like ripping it off my skull. So I use henna, which is a bit variable in results, but gives me a chestnut gleam, especially in the sun. I'm one woman battling the horrible discrimination people have against people with red or ginger colour hair. Go Ginger People! You lucky things!

Snow day

What an odd day, weatherwise. This morning was bright, sunny and warm. It turned at about lunchtime and by later in the afternoon it was snowing. We don't get snow here much. I used to get ridiculously excited about snow, racing outside to touch, and play. Now I'm happy spectating from the warmth of my house. I cheated with some of these photos and sent Mr B outside. He was thrilled to have another opportunity to go in the snow.

The view down the road. How dreary.

Here is our little house. It will be goodbye soon. This wee house has been very kind to us.

This is the mahonia I said would have to go when we moved in. Hmmm.

I also swore I'd never plant a flax bush after removing one from the front yard. This one is in Miss Dog's play garden.

My front garden.

And the best of all. Mr B in snowy ecstacy. He always manages to make a snowball, no matter how little snow we have.

Oooh, Nigella is on. She is doing a show about puddings. She does sound awfully posh. I wonder if it is like a telephone voice - put on for the cameras. XXX

Drainlayers and More from Hunka Munka

Thank-you for all of the lovely comments about dear Hunka Munka. Even those of you who would rather not face a ratty in person managed to say nice things about her. She is sitting on my shoulders across the back of my neck at the moment. Miss Dog is quite interested in her, but Monty Cat hasn't noticed that she is here. Either that or he doesn't care. He has never hunted in his life. He is as soft as a marshmallow. Still, I wouldn't leave Hunka in harm's way just in case. Now I've got Monty on my knee as well as Hunka on my shoulders. Luckily Miss Dog is busy napping.

"Let me out for a play." Look at those wee hands.

Ratty supermodel showing her best angles.

Onto other pressing matters. It is remarkable how much mess a drainlayer can do in only three days.

Mr B assures me that by Saturday everything will be filled in and flat again. Otherwise I'm not sure that I want to make my weekly visit. The framing is being delivered tomorrow afternoon.

Bye for now. Time for relaxing. XXX

A Ratty Sleepover

I hope I don't upset anyone with this photo! People can be so horrified by the thought of ratties. This is Hunka Munka. She is having two nights with us to see if she would like to live here. Her mummy and daddy are English and are returning to England later this year, and are moving to Queenstown in the meantime. Their new landlady says no rats. I think she is much prettier than I am, but it isn't a good photo of either of us. She has fawn patches on her body and her eyes are like wee black currants. People say rats tails are disgusting, but Hunka Munka's tail is lovely and smooth with pink skin and soft white hair. Her wee hands are just delightful. I think I might be Beatrix Potter reincarnated! Mr B totally approves of her, which I am thrilled about. He even cuddled her while I hung up the washing. So I think Hunka Munka will become a permanent member of the family, since she is so settled with us. Her Mummy, Wendy, wanted to take her back to England, but the quarantine for rodents is six months. Since rats don't have long lives, and quarantine would be no fun for Hunka Munka, she had to find her a loving new home. Lucky me! I love her already! XXX

Pedagogy

Pedagogy is a word that gets slung around in teaching circles by people wanting to look clever. Weird to say I've never actually had a simple explanation of what it means. Now that I've made an effort to find out I thought I would share with you.

Pedagogy is the art or science of teaching.

Golly gosh. In my case I'm not sure if the word pedagogy applies to anything I do during the day. Here is a basic rundown of what I did today:

• Morning talk (circle time) with a viewing of the photos from wacky hair day last week.
• Then we had a dance to something lively that I can't recall.
• We had a talk about Queen's Birthday and made some collaged crowns to display on the wall (they like to collage and can all put thing onto paper like glitter and buttons).
• We washed hands and then had morning tea (like a family with a focus on social skills)
• Then we put the jackets on everyone and sent them out to play for 20mins.
• When the bell rang we rounded up the students because most of them don't come in unless you retrieve them.
• Everyone went to the toilet (nappy changes etc)
• Then we rotated through art lessons, individual activities and the multisensory room.
• We went for a walk around the block because the trikes were not out.
• We came back and washed hands then had lunch.
• I had 1 hour for lunch so I ate my salad and wrote reports. The kids played outside.
• When the bell rang it was round-up time again. Then toilet.
• Then we had a shared story.
• We all trooped next door for gymnastics (in which we are actually doing massage and relaxation)
• When we came back to class I got out the instruments and we played some music.
• Everyone got their bags on and we took them to wait for their taxis.

I must say I think I am kind of getting close to needing a change of class. I've been with the severe senior group for about five years. There is a point when you would love someone to respond to a story that you are reading (listening quietly would be good, in some cases). I guess I must be incredibly patient because I've been saying the same things to the same students for such a long time, and things don't change a lot. But we do get lovely surprises, occasional super progress and lots of laughs.

So I hope that you have learned a new word today, and therefore I managed to educate someone!

Ps. Did a good job on my eating today.

Happy Birthday Your Majesty!

Happy birthday Your Majesty! Well, kind of, as I know your birthday was in April. Did you know the holiday for Queen's Birthday is generic for any English Monarch on the thone? So when Charlie or Wills mount up it will be a King's Birthday holiday. That is if we haven't decided to cut ties with Mother England. We'd better not, 'cause I rather like having a day off in June.

I was hoping to feature on the Queen's Birthday honours list. Hmmm. For Services to Chocolate? Maybe next year. I think I should give out some honours of my own.

For services to food:
My Mum and Dad for surviving the worst soup in the world- a clam chowder purchased in Doc Martin's little village. Sorry - but actually I think I deserve that award for surviving a tomato with stringy bits of fish soup created by an aunt who shall go unnamed. I had that at least 20 years ago and still remember the horror.

Oh, I also deserve this award for gaining two and a half kilos in my first week attempting to lose weight.

For services to style:
Nood- or New Objects of Desire- a design store with all sorts of interesting bits and pieces at all sorts of prices (and outstanding sales). Guaranteed to make the uninformed vaguely alarmed when you say you've been there.

For services to pets:
To my lovely sister, Miss Ruby Two Shoes, for making a stylish doggy toy (with machine embroidery embellishment) that lasted about 20 minutes in the jaws of the beloved Miss Poo.

For services to wives:
My lovely husband, Mr B, for pressing on with building a new house when the poo hit the fan, and for being patient, kind, and supportive with an ever-changing, often deranged wife.

I'm sure there are many more honours that I could bestow on the masses, but I'm sure you want to hear what I did today.

• I talked to my lovely Mummy for ages. She and Dadsy got back yesterday from their epic holiday in Britain and a bit of Europe. They came back through Hong Kong and Mum said she is never eating Chinese food again. The air in Hong Kong is like being suspended above a boiling pot of Chinese food. I talked to Nanny too. Love my family XXXXXXXXXXXXX
• I had minestone soup for lunch that I made a couple of days ago.
• We went out to The House (yes, again) and did a walk-though on the foundation with Mr and Mrs CT. Then we went to Coffee Culture. I wanted a Denheath custard square, but they didn't have any. I didn't have a hot chocolate so that I could have a piece of citrus slice. Very restrained (actually Mr B is helping me to be restrained).
• We came home and I did not much and packed a few things and read.
• I had salad and smoked chicken with a pita pocket for tea.

Not much, I must say. The weather went all dreary.

By the way. So far one suggestion on something incredible I would do to amaze myself and other people (rather than climb Mount Everest). Thank to Miss M for the suggestion that I could enter the Special K Women's Triathalon which is on early next year. I think it involves a 300m swim (can't do a length at the moment, but at least I can swim), a 3km run or walk and a 10km bike ride. I have actually thought about it in the past, but the idea scared me a whole lot. It would be good for me to do the training. I could do the City to Surf walk/run too. Climbing Mount Everest sounds equally possible at this stage. XXX

Making a Mess

This little beauty is an Eton Mess. I made this for pudding tonight, but used tinned boysenberries instead of the traditional strawberries. I didn't take a picture, so good old Delia had one that I borrowed to show you. This would have to be the easiest dessert ever. Well, apart from a piece of fruit. I daren't display this on Taming the Chocolate Baby due to an unfortunate upswing in the weight department. Barbara came over for tea. I make tortellini in a mushroom, tomato cream (oops) sauce, and a salad. Then served the Eton Mess. All you do for this is mix meringues (crunched up- I bought some el cheapo meringue nests and smooged them into rough chunks), whipped cream and tinned boysenberries with a little of their juice. I didn't stir too hard because I wanted ripples of the purple boysenberries through the cream. Utterly delicious. Oh, I forgot to say that I sprinkled a few chocolate buttons over the top.

I'm feeling a bit better in the anxiety department. I had a big talk to Mr B, and we took Miss Dog for a lovely walk. Then we visited our neighbours. I had a cup of tea. We also popped out to visit our giant concrete floor and I stood on my kitchen and looked out at my view. I will be able to see the Port Hills from my kitchen window. We thought the floor level would be a lot lower than it is, so we are very pleased. It is more traditional up high. Plus we will have a deck instead of a patio outside the big stacking doors. That will make it like a wee verandah. We will have a paved area at ground level where we will eventually have a big table and chairs.

Don't you hate it when you go to the doctor and get a prescription and the medicine is either wrong for the condition, or makes it worse? You've still got to pay for it, and for the next lot that you have to get because the other stuff didn't work right. I've got dermatitis on my eyelid. A terrible thing for a girl who feels like a ghost without some eye makeup. I got some hydrocortisone cream from the doctor and now I've not just got nasty looking dermatitis on my eyelid, it has flared up to the side of my eye and it really hurts. Very disagreeable. I think it might be related to the perioral dermatitis I have had twice before. Called periocular dermatitis around eyes. That was cured with antibiotics. Maybe I need those again.

I'm watching Everest-Beyond the Limit. Such a great programme about climbing Everest (of course). It does make me wish to do something amazing that no one would expect that I could do. Climbing Everest would not be it. Ideas, anyone? XXX