Grandma

My grandma was a strong woman and a stubborn one.
She believed in manners- even to the end when we were feeding her, her response was often "Thanks ever so much but I really don't want any."

She loved fiercely.

She believed that everyone should keep their thoughts to themselves- not in a bad way- rather that what's your business is yours and no one elses. Because of this, there are lots of secrets that she has carried to the grave.

She was cheeky herself, but called others 'cheeky buggers' or 'sneaky puss'.

She loved my grandpa to bits and missed him terribly when he died. They used to dance the quickstep together and win awards.

She always has lovely nails. When I was a kid I wanted her to file mine like hers but she said that she couldn't unless I stopped biting them- I did.

She served us Savoy Crackers with tasty cheese & gerkin or tasty cheese & tomato as a snack, always with lashings of white pepper. That pepper showed up in mashed potato too.

She always sat in the armchair and grandpa on the ground with Lindy, the dog.

She taught me how to 'sew' on a toy sewing machine that she and grandpa bought me.
She liked her coffee SO weak, instant- just a few granules of Nescafe Blend 43 with a squeeze of lemon.
She liked custard.
She was always taken by my engagement ring- ooing and ahhing whenever she saw it. I got to introduce and tell her about Toby over and over. She thought that 'he wanted a hair cut'. In a hospital bed, she said that she'd do it.
She hated having her photo taken, but always giggled when I took one. I'm so glad that I did.

And that I have these from our wedding, just 7 months ago.

She died tonight at around 7pm. The alzheimers had been stealing her mind and body away for some years, but it never took her essense.

We will miss you Grandma and we love you.

Things I'm loving at the start of May

1. Sleeping under the doona on our bed again.
2. Having fresh cut roses from my garden inside every week!
3. Cups of peppermint tea.
4. Pretty light around 5:15pm.
5. The calm before the 'report' storm.
6. Painting my nails bright colours.
7. Catching up on Master Chef online if we miss it!
8. Meal planning- it makes dinner time so much easier!
9. Quietish weekends.
10. Encouraging emails from parents in my grade.

Everything is better...

With some bright nailpolish!


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10 Questions

1. When do you feel happiest?

• When Tobes and I have some quiet time together- often with a bottle of wine. :)
• When I am with my family and friends.
• Watching the light change in the 'golden hour'.
• When Toby tells me he loves me.
• Playing with my nephews Coops and Ty.
• Taking beautiful photos.
• Snuggling with Sandy or on the back of a horse.
• Being creative and imagining what creative things I may make one day!
• Snail mail and email.
• When kids choose to spend time with you.
• When I'm seeing new things and travelling OR being somewhere where I feel totally at home.

2. How do you take care of yourself?
I try to eat well and take breaks to do fun things and the things that make me feel happiest. I'm getting better at going to bed earlier too.

3. Are you internally (by yourself) or externally (by others) motivated?
I would say a bit of both. I used to be very externally movitvated but as I've got older, I think that's changed a little. I still like to chat things over with my friends and I love to share new ideas and discoveries with them, but there are times that I yearn to be alone and take some quiet time out too.

4. What do you do for fun?

• read blogs and look at pretty, creative things online
• scrapbook
• have a coffee and a walk with girlfriends
• visit friends and family

5. What intimidates you?
People who think that they are better than me... and meeting deadlines that seem imposble.

6. What is something you're proud of?
I'm proud of what I've achieved in my life so far. I've been a 'saver' so have managed to buy our little house (along with the bank and some family help).
I'm proud of Tobes and my relationship- I think that we work well together and I still can't believe that we're together! CRAZY!
I also think that I'm a good friend and encourager.

7. Finish this sentence. I never want to forget _____________.
... how blessed I am.

8. Favorite vacation spot.
I love going my mum and dad's beach house for some familiar time-out. The Cook Islands have some very happy memories from our honeymoon. Fiji was a fun and cheap holiday and I'd love to return to PNG one day.

9. Today is a (rate from 1 - 10).
7

10. Finish this sentence. If you knew me really well you'd know_____________.
... that I really want to make you proud of me.

Where Teaching and Parenting Unite

This year I decided to send my student's parents a weekly email update on a Friday. It's a way that they can be in the loop and several have mentioned that it helps them when talking school with their kids. I cover what's been happening in the classroom that week and what's coming up. Tonight I received this response from a parent. Names have been changed.

Subject: Week 1 Update

Hi everyone,

I hope that you’re feeling well after holidays and nearly a whole week back at school. As I have to run out early tomorrow, I’m sending this out now.

We have begun our inquiry into health.  We’ve been learning about different foods (not everything that says ‘strawberry’ IS strawberry, or healthy) and wants Vs. Needs. Next week we will continue our immersion, looking at safety in the playground and our own fitness and health.

As we have several children with severe allergies, we have also discussed that some foods are healthy for most, and very dangerous for others. The children came up with some ideas to help our friends with allergies and anaphylaxis, including not talking with our mouths full to reduce food spraying- lovely! :)

We are investigating Procedure writing in Literacy. Please keep an eye out for procedures and instructions at home that we can use in the classroom. Think Lego, Ikea, craft and recipe books, etc.

Addition is keeping us busy. The children loved today talking about my brothers basketball game where they scored 9 points. They had to find as many ways that the team could get the points that they could. This is something to talk to your children about.

Remember that our new news format will begin next week. Check the roster for the topic.

Upcoming notices will be distributed about the Premiers Reading Challenge and Parent Helpers.

Thanks all for your support. All the best for Term 2!

Beck :)  

Then came this reply...

Thanks Beck

XXX is loving being in your class – I think you are her new Role Model :)

Any chance you can teach my other two about not talking with their mouths full, sitting up straight, eating over their plate? – I’m sure I’m raising cave-men!!

Have a great weekend.

Regards

XXX's mum

 It's times like this that I love my job.

Mentally preparing to move!

I bought my own place nearly 3 years ago now and I love it! I'd come to a place on my life where I couldn't expect a man to come and buy a house with me. I had to expect that wouldn't happen so I searched for quite some time and finally found 'sparkles like a diamond'. It's small and certainly cozy with all Toby and my stuff in it, but I've made it home. I made my mark by painting (with the help of family and friends), adding decorative touches and planting the front garden out with roses. Security doors and an electric garage door were also added. It was the place where Tobes and I spent most of our time together when dating, where we shared our first kiss and where he proposed to me. We have outgrown this little loved home now and have been searching for the next. This one will be the next in our story. We imagine there will be children and schools and other kiddy things in this next house... Just need to find it!
Last night we stayed at mum and dads as we're getting home carpeted today. I'd be lying if I said I was feeling totally settled. Seeing all our stuff piled high in the back room and locking the door behind us was the first step for me mentally moving on from this little piece of me. I long for settled-ness and like order, so moving and not knowing exactly when we'll buy and sell is a test for me, but when I do it with my best friend and know that he'll be there every step of the way, there's some comfort.




P.S. I'm not sure Sandy loves the moving process either. Here he is snuggled at the end of our bed this morning.

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Happy Easter!

I have just been checking my emails and found this one which I thought was sweet. Have a happy Easter.