Long Overdue Update

Its been a very long time since I updated my family blog - so thanks to those readers who made the effort to give me a kick and ask what on earth we have been up to..

I think the biggest change to my blogging has been the introduction of our iphones.  As it has a camera inbuilt and the ability to load directly onto facebook, I’ve been recording family moments immediately - tagging the photo with a few notes and posting them directly, always of course meaning to come back to Hamish -  my mac and write about it -but never actually doing so. So apologies…..

I also realise that I have missed my weekly blog posts and updates as it used to be one of my cornerstones of writing - and now I don’t do it - things sort of fall in a heap

I also have to admit that I have not learnt all I can about my mac and am still fumbling round with the photo program - preferring to go back to my old laptop for that… and of course all that takes time… a commodity I seem to have less and less of.

So - with no more pomp and ceremony - heres what has been happening in the last month...

Morgan and Lilly birthdays  - After long deliberations it was decided that the party was to be held the RSL - and unlikely venue I had to admit - but we were so impressed by the set up vibrancy and excitement it had for kids parties - I thought how could you NOT go?  We had discussed a small party at home, pizza parties at Pizza hut, the awful Maccas or Burger King options, interesting bowling parties or swimming parties... but.. this won hands down

Basically they have a kids disco on Sundays for a few hours. A proper DJ, dance floor lights and games. The kids drink and eat as much as they can, have balloons, lollies, cake and icecream. What a hoot!  It reminded me that I love to dance and should go out and do it more.. I need to get onto my other computer to drag photos off and post up of this - so will do so maybe tomorrow….

I guess the biggest news over April and March has been that I decided to go back to work as a teacher. I’ve had steady work now since I started. Some great schools and kids which are local and I’ve found my groove - after being very nervous realising I’d not been in front of a class for nearly 15 years.. eeekk.  I have been very fortunate the last two weeks as I have had a contract at the school Morgan and Lilly go to - though in a different section.  Don;t laugh  but I’ve been a science and maths teacher for two weeks.  I’ve loved the science experiments and procedures we’ve done.  The kids at the school are so great - which has shocked me. My first lesson I was prepared for what I had expected the usual backchat, noise and disinterest and nearly fell over with the silence, the hard work and passion the kids displayed.  Yes I nearly went broke giving out prizes ( icypoles to start with) but how could I not when the behaviour was so exemplary?  ( I am a sucker I know...)

The first few weeks of temp teaching was a bit of a shock - I’d forgotten what it was like - waking up to a phone call asking you to get somewhere quick smart.

Those who know me - know I don’t like to get out of bed and to be taking calls at 7 am was inhuman!! but I’m now sorted, going to bed at midnight so I can at least be aware when the phone goes off. 

It is very different now too - with kids. I’ve always been one to organise their bags and lunches the night before - mainly as I don’t function at all in the mornings - so in the past have just gotten out of bed and taken them to school before I think about starting my day.  But in the past when I have “gotten’ the call - I’ve only hd to worry about myself getting out the door.  Now I have whiny kids who take 45 mins to eat cereal and don’t want to get dressed or find their shoes. Its a painful experience some mornings and I wonder why I bother.

Generally I need to  be out the door by 7.50am. I only teach at school which are 15 mins or so away from home. any of them start classes at 8.30.  I drop my kids at school by 8 and can then shoot off to the school I am teaching at on that day. .  Its a bit of a shuffle at the end of the day - but thankfully many of the schools finishes at 2.30 or 2.45.  My kids drag their feet anyway to get to the pick up zone - so know just to wait for me there.  I’ve got a phone to give to Morgan so I can get a message to him in case I am held up but thankfully haven’t had to use it yet.

Its been great to work and a blessing as Morgans teeth was an unexpected ( huge) bill - but with this - I’ve been able to pay it off.  As much as I am enjoying it - I am not sure if I am ready or willing to go back into teaching full time.  I have come to realsie i am 20 years behind the eightball and teaching, the resources and technology is way ahead of me… Its a sobering thought.

My aim is to have two days a week teaching work - and with this I’d love to use the money for a holiday for our family over Xmas.  We will see how I go…

On the upside, we have decided to get a cleaner in one day a week to help me out with keeping the place tidy and clean.  She’s been wonderful and am glad to have swallowed pride and accepted help.

I really do promise to keep this updated more often - back to weekly.

Just in case you see some photos pop up which are out of date order over the next week or so, I am going to download my photos and pick through them and upload a definitive one for each week I have missed a blog post.

Off to Mum and Dads for Anzac day now….