WE GOT ENGAGED!!!!!

27th December - Cassie and Anthony got engaged in Park Road Retreat http://www.parkroad.co.nz Carterton, Waiarapa. Very exciting!!!! Plus it's an awesome getaway - I recommend!!!

Ant proposed to me infront of the roaring fire (a bit of mood lighting, even though it wasn't cold at all) in the above setting at night time.

The above bottle of sauvignon blanc, I consider to be a very lucky bottle of wine. It was purchased with Ed, Kate, Ange, and Mandy last year a week before the winery burnt down. I have been waiting for a special occasion to have it (It was Ant's birthday on the 27th) so thought this was it. Turns out it was also special as we got engaged too!

More to come as for details on dates (mainly sorted but yet to confirm), the ring I recieved as an IOU ring, so can save for a diamond. This is a great idea - two rings :)

Deck the Halls....

My proper holidays have finally started!!!


I have finally finished marking NCEA papers!!! All nearly 1300 of them....and yes Im feeling a little blah.....speech is hard and more often Ive been told to stop acting like a retard (no comments thank you ;) ). There are a few points that come out of this though.


- Some children are just not that smart

- Some teachers have taught children some 'interesting' concepts (You can tell this by getting five in a row from the same school code, and there is some weird phrase used)

- Students like to draw cars (there is no need for this in the exam though - it is a biology exam)

-Some areas of the country produce better students than others

- There are some really smart children who write just like the marking schedule (helps lots)

- Viruses do not reproduce by someone going achooo

- Paying scientists to find out who the parents are is not the correct answer (while that would be what we really do)

- A lot of students don't care (many told me that in their exam papers too)

- I really like blank papers (still get paid for them)


Christmas is just around the corner....not going home this year which will be weird. Am having Christmas with Anthony's family. Have basically become part of the family anyway, but will miss my own family on the day. Sent a big present parcel and will see them on New Years Eve. I love my home visits. Appreciate them more as I get older. Since its Christmas here are more lights.

Only 4 sleeps to go!

More Camp Kaitoke

Here is Ryota who loved having his photo taken - this was later on in the session during the kayaking.

The bush survival was probably my least favourite. After many forced tramps in my youth, I not the keenest bunny for bush walking. Parts of it were ok though....we learnt bush survival, made fire, and the kids made their own huts as seen below which they were quite proud of! It ended in some warped bush walk which ruined my sneakers and are still mud ridden (excuse to buy a new pair though). One bonus of it was I was fit enough, just not that coordinated!


My group - 2 who wagged on the last day ( no one wanted to do the bush survival and it had rained in the morning - kids are soft!) They were cool though - I felt lucky :)

Awww look at the doggy! This was one of three dogs at the horse riding. He had a gimpy leg which had lead him to fame being on the first few minutes of KING KONG where he hopped across the screen. His owner was very proud! Awesome dog, loved the belly rub! Apparently he got paid $300 a day for 3 days work! Nice!

Camp Kaitoke

The last week of school - three days were spent with Year 10 at Camp Kaitoke - a few piccys of my group (who were just awesome!) and the acitivities we did. Firstly orienteering - that sucked but got better when the walkie talkies came out - Victor Charlie Charlie.......Used in playing hide and go seek. I had to hide at one point - got to chill out in an old pine tree, quite relaxing really :)

After lunch we went on the obstacle course. Now I realise as I have got older, my fear of heights and uncoordinatedness has increased - this course was not my cup of tea but great to watch - bonus of being the teacher!

Next day was archery - the best activity! While I started off shooting the arrows throw the corrugated plastic windows, I ended with a giant bruise on my inner arm from the string and got many more on the target - lots of fun!

The afternoon consisted of horse riding - well not for me- teachers werent allowed. But the instructer said I looked very young like a student (Year 10???? though) so I was happy with that. The horses were resucued and made up part of an animal sanctuary which had also recently taken on monkeys from a circus. I have a new appreciation for horses (apart from when one drooled green grass saliva on my t shirt), but they are truly lovely animals!

The next morning was pontoons where the kids had to use the available equipment to build a bridge over to the island. The picture shows what they came up with and it worked well! They were rewarded with going kayaking afterwards :)

N C E A - doesnt have the same ring as Y M C A somewhat!

Here are a few more piccys of some of the lights. I have just returned from a loooonnnng NCEA markers meeting. It went surprisingly well, but it was still 8 hours I will never get back. Marking season has officially started. The paper this year looks alright, better than last year and Im not clouded by glandular fever as well :) Over the next couple of weeks, I will again wonder why the hell Im doing this, and how its not worth it, get up at the crack of dawn and mark so I can still have a social life and go to all the Christmas functions like other people. However it will be all worth it in January when the cheque arrives....whats losing your sanity for a couple of weeks really......no smart ass comments needed thank you ;)