Zonked

**Thoughts to the Grenfell Tower victims - this was just over from my old school in White City, London, and like the rest of the world am horrified that such an event could happen anywhere today**

I'm sitting in bed with my knitted socks and a cosy blanket - it has been a cold start to the winter.
I had my 3 hour exam today - always so, so, so good to have it finished! I never know what to do when I have finished study, as it really does take over my life. I have found this past semester (late February to now) v-e-r-y hard going doing 55-60 hour weeks. I am still happy that I have handed in my resignation at my current school. I need the mental break from both!

Over the past year I have completed 4 university papers/courses! That truly is crazy - 4 papers/courses is the workload of a full time university student for half an entire year - but I've also worked nearly fulltime on top of this!

My degree looks like this - I've only Ed. Psyc. to do now... A paper which would have been mighty useful at school for years...

I've so much to do - lots of crafty things; knitting; sewing; scrapbooking; sorting out the junk on top of my desk; developing photos; getting chairs re-covered; sorting out new roman blinds; cleaning the house; meeting with friends and family who get neglected... I really do NOT do much else while studying - I don't see anyone a lot, miss birthdays etc etc... The middle child was 16 a month ago and apart from cake and burgers, it was much of a non event... we still need to go out for that - I think he may have forgotten...

I started 2 new scarves...

Off to catch up on sleep! I've just recycled all my university notes and readings... an awful lot of paper!! The last essay result is due next week!

whew

I am still around! It is all about exam study here  - nothing else. I stare at the walls, trying to get stuff in my brain for totally pointless university exams - memorizing four essays - totally dumb really!

Essays this semester are A+ ; A ; A ; A- and one more to come back.

I do only need 5 / 50 to pass the exam - ba hahahaha.

BUT I HATE exams , i hate how they consume my entire life, and I hate the stress they cause me!

There has been a lot of sock knitting and that and study has been my life for two weeks after I finished the last essay 2 weeks ago.

Roll on 5.3-pm Thursday afternoon!

A month ago...

Photos taken a month or so ago at Ashford in Ashburton in the South Island - autumn colours which you struggle to find up here!

And the best wool shop out!

I'm dying from 60 hour weeks combining university and work. The next 3 weeks are mental, with the last essay due and an exam, but i don't even have many exam notes to study yet.

I told my principal I was leaving in term 3 today - 16 more weeks of school to go.

I'll take a term off to regain brain power and potter around at home. Sounds idyllic!

 YEP - I AM short !

Postcard from the Catlins

(Thursday May 11, 2017) My university lecture was cancelled today - a moment of great glee for me. Of course I've just looked at the tip in this house (as little was done while I was very sick in the school hols) and then consequently scrubbed a shower, emptied rubbish bins, cleaned up my bedroom, added to the op shop pile all in the name of essay avoidance. I've another one due in a week, another one due in 3 weeks and then an exam in 4 weeks - this all just frankly terrifies me! I could just happily quit work and stay home and do it all (the prospect of that happening could happen... I'm now taking the job term by term.... yes my focus and love is dwindling.....)

Anyway weeks ago, I visited the incredible Catlins area way down the bottom of the South Island. If you want empty roads, few tourists and stunning scenery, it is recommended! I'll be taking the husband back (it truly holds zero interest for teenage boys and I won't even bother trying to even attempt a family trip down there!).

(Sunday, May 14,2017 - Mother's Day but commercial hogwash in this house, so non-existent and I'm okay with that! )

The Catlins is stunning - I *think* this was the lighthouse at Waipapa Point - pity it was under re-construction! -  it was FREEZING, so we didn't hang around long! This is the bottom of the South Island! Lighthouses info of Southland is here

 Curio Bay blew me away - we saw a 180 million year old petrified forest - if you see the diagonal lines in the rocks - those are the trees! This was a wild, wild coastline - incredible just watching the waves and the sea come barrelling in!

 And a couple of general viewpoints on teh way back to Dunedin. I'd lvoe to go back and stay at some of the cribs (holiday homes - North Islanders call them baches!) one day - quite an isolated part of New Zealand, but i was amazed at how many holiday settlements there were. Such incredible scenery everywhere and very doable over a couple of days, but I'd love to stay longer!

Sewing blitz!

I've had a manic weekend. Friday night was spent finishing the most rubbish essay of my university history (and the MOST stressful one ever to do!) and submitting it.

Yesterday I spent all day with my aunt on her overlocker and sewing machine sewing more of my handmade wardrobe. We had a bit of a production line going - me cutting out patterns and fabric and overlocking ( OH! I need an overlocker - so much easier and faster and a much more professional finish than the old zigzag!) - and her doing lots of the sewing!  I am beyond thrilled with the 4 items we finished yesterday!

The shorts were tricky - yep - waaaaay past my knowledge level - in fact she ended up ditching and changing the pattern part way through! I'm lucky as Auntie Rayma spent years and years sewing for top New Zealand labels and commercial sewing/own clients/wedding dresses etc! She is FAST! I would have finished a dart or something and she'd have half the garment finished in the same time!

These are the skirt and short patterns (dress pattern at aunts.)

The skirt fabric was purchased from Spotlight - the italian wool fabric for the dress and shorts from Drapers Fabrics in Newmarket. I'm pretty happy with about a $100 outlay for four new wardrobe items! Not sure I can really go and buy clothing anymore from clothing shops!

Another skirt and dress all cut out and ready to go.... weeee - on a roll!

Easter Swap 2017

Two more sleeps until Term Two. I'm still battling on the most hideous essay of my university career! HATING it and can't be bothered.... and going back to school after being sick for a week , which just makes me even more resentful at having to go back....

Anyway - cheerier things like my Easter swap happened! I swapped with Glenda, who is a local (and blogless). The funny thing is that all the other participants in my swap - well we'd all swapped with each other pretty recently in various things recently too!

This is the gorgeous package received from Glenda perfectly timed. Lots of lovely packagin!

 a very cute vintage tin with choc eggs inside

 a porcelain bunny (still sitting on my window sill currently)

 Glenda made these plaster decorations herself - aren't they fab?

 vintage stickers and envelopes (also made by Glenda)

 serviettes (ha - we sent each other identical ones!) and I love my new coasters!

Every year I always pop along to the Bed Bath and Table shop and always find a few new goodies for me and other people -  I can never go past their tea towels, so Glenda received one from me...

 some cute measuring spoons and a bunny ornament..

 a wire basket; chocolate chic and snap serviettes

 And I also knitted her a bunny rabbit dishcloth!

Easter seems ages ago now - I wish the school hols were just starting again.... Thank you so much Glenda for being an awesome swap partner once again!