The week in a blur!

Ant's back...yay!

A week that went by in a blur. Was surprisingly busy - open night at school, Laura for dinner, Aaron hosted me for dinner (yummy quiche), Mums birthday, feeding Steves cat, getting a student teacher who thinks she knows better than me (we'll see about that....wait till she has to teach my human biology class ;) )the gym, putting on 400g at WW, pub and a random trip to the movies with teachers to see Pirates 3 (a three hour movie that should be 2, but better than the second one), an awesome teachers cocktail party (which some people will remember more than others - karaoke and dancing was all on along with some fantastic cocktails and a shot of absenthe (forgot how much it burns...).

Today brought a catch up with Ed, Ange, Kate, and Anges flattie at Parade Cafe. Yum! Plus it was a pearler of a day. Then off to the airport. The plane was delayed, but at the airport people watching is great. As seen in the movie Dogma, the airport shows the extremes of emotions. Crying, joy, oh f*** Im running late , where the hell are the people who are supposed to meet me, and the thank God Im home. The Kitts expressed this one especially. Good to have everyone back safe and sound, with lots of pics, movie clips, cool pressies and lots of stories to tell.

My best friend Frances is staying for a few days while up for a wedding, so that should be fun :) Always good to catch up with her. Tomorrow is open day so no teaching...well my normal classes.....get impress the Year 8's. This week is also assessment week, No seniors!

To end this entry...bring on Transformers and Shrek the Third, saw the previews and can't wait!!!

Home Alone

Where did the last few days go??

When all seems to be settled, and life is just cruising along...bam!

Very early Friday morning, the phone rang and on the other end was the news that Ant's Uncle John had died suddenly in Thailand. He was 53.

Shock was the word. Death brings many emotions. I think I have seen most of them now. For myself, I had never met him so over the last few days, my role I guess has been support person, and help out when needed. In these sort of situations, I find you don't ponder doing things, you just do them. Organising, cooking, transporting, researching, looking after kids (got them into puzzle making and teaching magic), and listening have made me not feel useless, and hopefully made things run a little smoother.

The family have gone to Thailand for a week to go to the funeral, a traditional Thai buddhist funeral (his wife was Thai), sort out all those things you need to sort, and most of all hopefully say their own goodbyes, and get the closure they need. I wish them all well.

For one of the first times since meeting Ant, Im home alone for the week. Anyone who has visited the house will know silence is not usually one of the words that describes it. Its kind of erie. Even the birds have been quiet. I can't sleep, and thats frustrating as hell.

On the plus side, I got a student teacher today who seems very on to it, so from first impressions it should be a pleasant five weeks. Open evening at school tomorrow night, my little accelerants are so keen as the science helpers - makes me proud. Its nice to see kids excited about school.

An update on the girl with cuts, the counsellor saw her after I forwarded her name. He said she would be alright, and without disclosing details, there was little to worry about after he talked to her. Reassuring.

Righto, off to attempt sleep again.

From the foggy mind....

Well well well...three holes in the ground, as my Dad used to say(probably still does).

This week, Ive have the flu.....I hate being sick. I get utterly miserable and frustrated I can't do what I want. I had a couple of days off, back at school now and just sniffy and head in a constant state of fog. I hate not being on top of my game and don't like not looking organised. It's the perfectionist in me I guess.

Anyway, I did it I made it to the 10 kilo mark (even better the 10.9 kilo mark) Im stoked!!! It's reward time, so I got to buy the new Linkin Park CD (awesome), and got my hair done (long overdue, and feel so much better). Key is keep going, and keep exercising. I got a star for my efforts at the meeting - even big kids like stars :)

I finally finished my nutrition essay. I feel now I could design an eating plan for someone given the time to do it, particularly if training for a particular sport. My essay was on nutrition for competitive swimming - lots of things learnt. Less than a month to my exam now...arrgghhh!

On to school. The kids missed me when I was sick. Apparently the reliever was incompetant and didn't make them do anything, so not much was done, boo! Based on that, being a crap reliever is damn easy money!

On a more disturbing note, today in formtime I learnt one of my students cuts herself. When I asked her if she did it, she fully admited she did. She said she was depressed. She could be generalised as being an EMO (as the students describe her behaviour and dress sense) however it is quite disturbing for me. I left a note for the counsellor about her - I am at a loss what to do. Later on in the day I noticed another student with cuts marks on her arms. This one claimed she "fell over" straight line cuts do not come from falling over. She also had drawn a long knife mark in her wrist with blood coming out. This one also prides herself on showing me her artwork of corpses with blood everywhere with all sorts of ways of dying - these pictures are detailed and gruesome. She told me today its a way of getting her moods out. Im at loss what to do, and really can I do anything?

The wikipedia definition of EMO is the following: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emo_(slang)

For all the phases and crazes there are for kids to follow, this one is one I hope goes out of fashion soon!

Wedding shows, the Priest amongst other things

This past week has been very busy. Productive though I think.



First up, last weekend. Ant, Kate and I went to the Wellington Wedding Show. Honestly I enjoyed the Wallaceville show more. Being smaller had its benefits, as could talk to people for longer. The Stokes Valley Bridal Attire people were once again lovely, and I can feel a visit to them to try on dresses coming up on the horizon. A bit of a fun few hours during what looks to be another dark dreary Winter. Assistance, opinions very welcome so if you keen to join :)



Highlights from the show were ideas for cakes (I liked the red one but with flowers going down the side) and a nice name tag idea for the tables. Ant found a friend who can be our DJ hopefully at a discounted rate.....weeee.





Still stuck on flowers, I just don't know what I like or want. I'm no gardener, just want them simple and vibrant. Jane and Andrea have given me a few ideas, and what their budgets were so helps a bit.




Ant and I saw Father Lyons once again for our monthly visit. This months theme was how love came from God. Father didn't worry about Ant after he proudly says he has read the Bible a couple of times (I have no comment for that), and focussed on me and tried to convince me that although I think there is some force out there, I should put it into a human form to believe in God and his love. Although, what I liked was that he did side with evolution now playing a part in how we became who we are in his own belief. I continue with my force/evolution/reincarnation and other bits from many religions that I like. Next month we start our weekly course in getting married run by the church - I trust there will be stories to be told.



Fish hosted a lovely afternoon tea for her birthday on Sunday. Good to see a few people I hadn't seen in a while and even meet a couple. Ken and Holly announced their 8 week countdown until they go overseas. Time flies. Thanks for the lovely afternoon Fish!



I have got back into the pool!! At last. Paired up with the now very pregnant Andrea, we've started aquajogging, and I have felt burn from it the day later. Its great exercise. In the pool with a friend, exercising for an hour and gossiping the whole time. Awesome!



The time of term has arrived where marking has taken up a lot of my evenings, organising a school science competition, assessing, going to watch school production, taking a badminton team, and writing my essay for University. Always something on at the moment. Most people I talk to seem to be in similar situations. I get a student teacher in a couple of weeks.....if she is good....awesome. If not, that will be more work. I hope for the former. I've only had one really bad student teacher, so out of about 6 that aint too bad.



Have ventured into the Vic library this week for research for my nutrition essay. While getting my information, I observed the following in the library:
- Beards seem to be the in thing for male students.
- Students are very young, or maybe Im very old.
- In my work clothes, I stick out compared to the usual jeans, t shirts and hoodies which
surrounded me.
- Student librarians are power hungry. Luckily I got the only nice helpful one.
- Its warm, so warm.
- Big groups of people - not much study going on.
- Nearly every student I saw studying by themselves were listening to IPods or MP3 players.
- The life of a student still seems very carefree.



Weightwatchers update - lost 1.9kilos this week. Now at 9.5 kilos total. 10 is the next magic number. I've actually noticed a couple of nice things. A t shirt I put on the other day feels a big bigger, I can fit nicely into a denim skirt I bought a few months ago, increased energy and sleeping better. All positve.



Tomorrow is Friday....TGIF!

Woo hoo!

Yay! Holiday weight is gone!! I lost 1.8kilos this week which is 400g more than what I gained. I am content. Total is now 7.6kilos. Awesome :). Below is a tops recipe which has been really successful with all I have cooked for. Its yummy!

Chicken Harira

You will need:

4 large (180g each) chicken thigh fillets – fat removed, chopped (any boneless chicken pieces are fine)
1 large brown onion – chopped
½ tsp ground ginger (nutmeg also worked fine)
½ tsp saffron threads (substitute can be turmeric)
2 x 7cm cinnamon sticks
400g can diced tomatoes (flavoured is optional)
3 cups (750mL) chicken stock (made using stock cubes)
½ - 1 cup basmati rice (depending on how much rice you want in dish)
½ cup red lentils (1 can red kidney beans works well)
400g chickpeas, rinsed, drained
2 cups (300g) frozen broad beans, thawed (outer shell optional)
¼ coarsely chopped fresh coriander leaves
¼ coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley


1 Heat a large saucepan over medium high heat. Spray with cooking spray. Add half

the chicken. Cook for 5 minutes or until browned. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with
the remaining chicken.

2 Add onion. Cook, stirring for 5 minutes. Add ginger, saffron, and cinnamon. Cook,
stirring for 1 minute. Add chicken, tomatoes, stock and 1 cup of water. Place in
casserole dish and cook on 180 oC for approx half an hour or until chicken is tender.

3 Add rice, lentils, chickpeas and broad beans. Place back in oven and cook until
liquid is absorbed.

4 Remove cinnamon. Stir in coriander and parsley.

5 Serve.



http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_31534,00.html

A link to non-weight watchers version. Not that dissimilar.


Do try!!!