Karekare

An over night stay at the bach at Karekare on Auckland's west coast. A place I should head to more often, as it is good for the soul. Lots of walking, talking, eating and knitting with the husband. Kids all away doing other stuff. Great 24 hours.

lest we forget - ANZAC Day 2015

A new teacher (who is a bigger knitter/crocheter/wool fanatic than me) shipped up this crochet poppy just like that at lunchtime yesterday. I LOVE it! Also wearing the Australian poppy, as it was not until today, at the RSA, that I finally found someone selling the NZ poppy.
We had a very moving ANZAC service at school yesterday - these are a few photos -

Back to normal and ANZAC Day books

School hols have been over for 3 days now. It is back to normal. I think I have already worked 8 hours over time (un-paid time) already over the past week or so!

It is 5pm and I have no idea what is for dinner. Yes, so really back to normal!

Half of the school is doing ANZAC (Australia, New Zealand, Army Corps) as a topic, which I love being an ex-cub scout leader. (ANZAC Day is April 25 - 100 hundred years ago this Saturday when kiwi and aussie troops landed on Gallipoli for a long 8-9 months campaign).
I tell classes that if they imagine 100 students around them, then only 15 out of that 100 returned un-injured. The rest were wounded or killed. Out of 8500 NZ soliders around 2800 were killed. As such a tiny country we were hit hard.
I also tell students about our pacifists like Archibald Baxter. They need to know not everyone agreed with the war. And they also know that boys 1-2 years older than some of them, lied about their age to fight.
It is such a meaty topic.
My favourite book is this one - it has a lot of information - I think every family with school students should own it -
http://www.philippawerry.co.nz/books_anzacday.html

And this is my favourite picture book. Two brothers exchange letters - one is a lot younger and left on a farm in Otago, while the older one is fighting in the trenches in Gallipoli. It is VERY moving and I have cried several times reading it to classes. (the first time I had tears rolling down my face - the year 7/8 students really "got it". )This is the book that I really think "hits" the students and they realise the impact of war. And makes them realise the pain and what our soldiers did for NZ and Australia. Students do freak out at the hand in the water too.

There is so much information out there and a whole lot more fantastic books and web pages. Australia too has an incredible wealth of children's books on the topic.

What to do

School holidays are fab. I have pretty independent boys, who for some days, I have barely seen. They are out and about on trains, buses, with friends, at baches etc, so I have a lot of free time.

My days seem to revolve around cups of tea, knitting, sewing and more knitting and a bit of reading. (we saw the genius Paul Kelly in concert on Sunday - such an amazing treat!). And a few pretty full on days at university for lectures on Pasifika education in a New Zealand context. I have had some pretty intense conversations with my lecturer (one of the top school maths researchers in NZ) - I have huge worries around maths in NZ and namely how it is being taught... one of my boy's schools say few are turning up in year 7 with the standard of maths they like and most students seem to have big gaps... They (along with my lecturer) detest the NZ numeracy project and have flicked over to NSW (Australia) maths. My lecturer puts it down to the teaching in multiple schools... all interesting.

Writing an essay too has been time consuming, but that is around tea, knitting and sewing. The days away last week and being at uni are enough for me to be out of the house. Love being home and pottering. New roman blinds for two other bedrooms have been ordered and we have also booked a holiday in Hong Kong in January, 2016 - boys will not know until Christmas Day and that will be their gift! Can't help it when the husband e-mails and asks "is this a good deal?". "Of course dear - YES". And love it when an 11 year cooks pancakes and delivers them to everyone in the house - this child will never starve.

"We are all completely beside ourselves" book giveaway

This book is just not me. I've tried. Read up to page 97 and ditched it. So who would like it? Leave me a comment below and I'll draw a winner say around the beginning of May.
I'll also throw in some Twinings New Zealand English breakfast tea, a shower cap I have whipped up today and some "crunchie" Easter eggs I discovered hidden today too. Open worldwide.

Filming a television commercial in our house

Nearly two weeks ago we had a television commercial filmed at our house. It was for Mercury Energy and their "glowbug" - a pre-paid power service.
It was a manic day, as we also had the entertainer Jackie Clarke at our school as part of the Duffy role model assembly - I'm the Duffy person at school, so had to run away to school first to introduce her to everyone at assembly, hand out all the free books to the students and then whizz back into town to watch a bit of the filming.
It was very very cool to see how a television commercial is made. Quite hilarious to walk up my hallway to see a complete stranger having a rest on my bed... The film crew really do take over your house! They were everywhere - furniture had been moved here and there; my bathroom was the make up head quarters; my bedroom the dressing room. There were lights and power cords and stuff everywhere; 3 people sitting on the long couch directing/producing via the lounge and a monitor - all rather fascinating to watch. The trestle table out on the front lawn with the crew and "talent" refreshments, lighting van in the driveway. I think around 20 people were here at one stage and few of them seemed to know each other either.
I met the talent - Tammy Davis - i honestly had NO idea who the guy was (which cracked up most people that I know) - I do NOT watch tv really - maybe 2-3 hours a week. He has done a lot of other commercials and was on "Outrageous Fortune" a NZ tv programme and other stuff I think.
The commercial is in the editing stages, and then they have to go back to the client to see if it will be accepted - it will be fun to see it eventually - I might have to start watching tv!
(and I am STILL cringing at the ripped wallpaper - the situation for nearly 8 years... on the to do list.....)