My Dishcloth Swap

Earlier this week I received my dischloth swap package from Glenda, another kiwi. Yay for happy mail. (Glenda does not have a blog). Glenda unfortunately never heard back from her swapper, (nor did I),  so I agreed to swap with her instead. This is what Glenda sent -

 I love it all! The little macaroom kitchen timer is perfect as our stove time as stopped and the tea strainer too, as my single cup mesh one bought in Melbourne in 2002 (when we lived there and I was so happy to see an entire tea shop - less common here back then!), gave up a few weeks back. The youngest has gotten into a habit of boiling himself an egg every day after school, so the timer is perfect for him to use too.

 I adore the dishcloths and love the Sugar'n'creme choices that Glenda knitted them in. I just had to order myself some new balls this week after seeing these - the self striping one I especially love!

Here they are a bit closer with a gorgeous teatowel too. Thank you so much Glenda. My packages to my 3 partners will be going out very shortly -j ust need to be wrapped. Silly study is consuming me.
Looking forward to seeing what everyone has sent each other!

My Other Bandwagon - THROATS

My other bandwagon is sort throats. Today I had a facebook post about sort throats which basically said along the line sof "don't get antibiotics, try this drink instead".

PLEASE go to the doctor for EVERY single sore throat - yes - even as an adult. New Zealand has 3rd world country rates of rheumatic fever. We have a crisis. This steems from SORE THROATS which instead of tonsilitis could be strep throat. Sore throats can KILL you if strep and not treated. You are a danger with a sore throat to an entire community. Demand that the doctor take a swab.

Strep throat is rife in both Central and South Auckland at the moment. Thank God for throat nurses at schools - at a school I know of last week, they had 9 positives for strep throat.

It is NOT JUST a sore throat. Any sore throat is infectious and you could infect a kid with it , who does not have the money to go to the doctor. If strep this could stuff their heart up for their entire life if untreated.

Go to the doctor and stay home. This was a real bug bear of mine when I used to get tonsilitis and / or strep throat 3-6 times a year until I had my tonsils taken out last year! I get angry with any adult being anywhere if they have a sore throat. Keep your kids home from school too.

And lastly watch this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVT-4fqo8Xc

Free reign

The dear husband has given me free reign to study this weekend.
I have done 6 loads of laundry and made lemon muffins (2/24 left at the end of the day!) and knitted a lot... (and undone it all last night when I realised my increasing stitiches were in the wrong row pattern...), but other than that I have stared at notes and sighed and realised I have a looong way to go.....
(and I did have a huge gleeful grin on my face with the English being soooo close to beating our rugby team who I have no interest in at all... we can hear the crowd from our house - better luck next time chaps!).
I think my life has come to a roaring halt due to study and the house/ dinners will be neglected till June 20... this is how I cope! I have a funny feeeling school interviews for 3 kids might be in the same week of exam and those will be getting neglected by me too (I usually go - husband's turn this time!) and school reports under National Standards I have no interest in either. (they are doing fine!).

(drinking Madura English Breakfast and Australian Afternoon Tea a lot - boxes always bought home from every Australian trip!).

Good luck to others studying for uni exams.

My Bendigo Pottery Masterpieces

I absolutely ADORE the pottery vase and bowl I made (with help) at Bendigo Potteries. I love the colours of the glazing I chose too especially the brown being so retro. I could get easily addicted to pottering at a wheel I think...
And the view out my window is divine - more photos as it is just so gorgeous!

happy weekending everyone - it will be a study weekend for me... 2 more full weekends and then the exam.

I can do it (and YOU can too)

Not tonsilitis but strep throat! So I spent a day at home yesterday trying to study and knit in the sun , while the youngest recouperated. I know of 9 students diagnosed in a day with it in the last week!
The autumn leaves (the few we get) are stunning here.

A very pleased lady here with another brilliant university essay mark - I still have an exam to do in a couple of weeks, but only need 5% to pass the paper - DONE! :)

I want to tell you that you can have children and study and that you can do it! I do find writing essays stressful and have been awfully un-motivated this semester, but have been steadily working every day for days on end for the exam. I have a load of free time after school (my boys are pretty independent and get their own afternoon tea etc, do homework by themselves etc without me having to chase it up.. and the good husband cooks dinner A LOT). I have been kinda amazed at how well I have done with effort, but not as much effort as I thought it would take...
I have a phenominally demanding job in a demanding suburb which can wipe you out day after day dealing with not just education. I do lord knows how many unpaid hours and have a huge amount of overtime owed and do need A LOT of down time/ time by myself to just chill out.
But I can do it and am sure you can too if you are thinking of study. School thankfully paid for this paper, and I have another 2 papers to complete in the next 8 months, which will take it to 4 this year - not bad for a working mum, on a school board too and general running around. You just need time and organisation to be your number one friend!

(and tuilps from the husband are gorgeous and welcome!)

The latest in head gear

I made this hat for my three year old nephew for his birthday in a couple of weeks. I hope he likes it! It was a fast 2-3 day night in the evenings. I am rather proud of it - I had a bunch of 15-16 year old boys here yesterday who just cracked up.
And I have started knitting this cardigan - am now rather unsure about the colour - thinking it looks like a granny colour...... help me stay motivated to finish it! Started off on the sleeves as I can memorise uni stuff knitting sleeves! Loving how the wool feels though and how it knits up.. it is just the colour.... hmmmm.

18 of the best years

18 years ago today I married the best guy in the world. He did pretty well with me also! :)  Three children later, lived in 3 countries, knitted a lot, he still is the best! He puts up with a lot from me, but is always supportive and all he wants and needs, he says, is a happy wife! Well you've go that! Happy wedding anniversary and off we go out to dinner at Sunday Painters.