10.31.07
About time I caught up!
Well Hi! so, you’re still reading this even though I have not been around too much this month? Thanks!!
So since last week, you’d think I’d be relaxing and unwinding and generally just hanging out? Well think again! I don’t know how it’s happened but I’m almost a week later and I’m not really sure how I got here!
Saturday night saw us take in the Fireworks Fantastic at Trentham. I love fireworks and really love the big public displays. I think it’s much better value – seriously more bang for your buck! (…grrroooooooooooaaan!!) – than the bags you get to take home and do yourself. Nothing like that collective “oooh!” and “Aaaaah!” We had tea at home first then wrapped up warm and took the boys down. In the twilight, they had a go on some overpriced bouncy castles, teh kiddy ferris wheel, we snacked on pop corn and candy floss. Oh, and don’t forget the glo-sitcks for good measure! Then we found our spot in front of the stage where we were entertained by a local band. I think I freaked out Mr 6 my singing along to almost every lyric – so I’m an 80s kid…. sue me!!
At 9.15 it was dark enough and there was a big countdown. It was great hearing the Mr’s count-down as loud as every other person around us. It was great: loved the big sparkly, booming bursts that look like they’re coming down over you.
Then yesterday, I headed on a plane down to Invercargill to see Nana and Grandad. I seriously dislike the propeller planes – ugh my ears! But at a good price, I’d take almost anything. found out the Airport is literally about 5 minutes from their place so it didn’t take me long at all to get there. Nana was in the middle of a housie round – haven’t played that for years so she thought it was a real hoot when I got myself a couple of cards and sat down to finish the rounds with her! Her village friends also thought it was pretty good: our table took out every prize from the minute I sat down! Apparently I can come back any time 
After collecting our prize lollies and chippies, we wandered back over the the unit where Grandad had a cuppa waiting for us.
Nana and Grandad don’t get to get out that much on their own now that Grandad has had to give up driving. So we made the most of the little rental I had and whizzed around town getting a few jobs done for them. It was a hoot. Grandad was working out that he has had 24 cars in his lifetime – including a Model T Ford sold to him for 5 pounds and a tank of gas was included. That was his first car…. and it broke down pretty soon after he had it!
While trolling down memory lane, I knew we were close to the old family home and I had memories of the kindy I went to down there. I managed to navigate and find it: Kew Kindy….. The signage and the playground might all be more modern, but the entrance was just how I remembered it 33 years ago. Freaky!!
Speaking of Navigation…. don’t ask my nana to do the job…… 
I was a bit sad that I didn’t have more time with them, but it was great to spend the afternoon and evening with them all the same. Lots of stories – and Grandad has done his homework and written out LOTS of them for me. Sleeping on their floor was definitely worthwhile!
Oh! I almost forgot – I won Meg’s RAK the other day and it was here waiting for me when I got home this morning. Lots and lots and lots of very cool ribbon and otherstuff. Thanks Miss Millie for picking my number 
I’ve been very good and sorted through them and put them into the jars already. Can you believe that I still haven’t gotten onto any scrapping yet?! I know! Mojo come back!
Halloween. Do you do it? We don’t normally – not too into the whole thing at all. But our neighbour (mum to one of Mr 6’s best friends) LOVES it. She likes to get into the swing of thing and decorate and party etc. So, we’ll be attending this evening. There will be a few of us from our little street so that will be nice. Mr 6 LOVES the $2 shop puppy stuff so he is in 7th heaven over that. I’m hoping it will be warm enough for Mr 3 to wear the old batman costume or something. Hopefully some good photo ops! Speaking of photos – I downloaded my fireworks from my camera before printing them! Doh!! Hopefully I can transfer the ones back to my memory card in order to take them in to be printed. What a dork
10.26.07
What a difference a change in subject matter makes!
Yes, it has to be said that I am feeling pretty good about today’s Business Law paper. Funnily enough, I probably did less work overall on this than I did for the Property paper! But I definitely felt more confident about the material going in, and was pleased to see the structure of the exam was a little more suited perhaps to me. I managed to answer the necessary questions and answer them by and large well I thought. I even managed to get a head start on the drafting section and again, felt that part went well too.
That is all good because that means if necessary I will only need to retake one paper next year and I think I could manage to do3 papers and still complete in the time frame intended. Happy stuff!!
So to celebrate, I called Hubby and met him briefly. Then as he had a meeting across town, I made my way to the Belgian chocolatier and made a couple of small purchases. The mother of Mr 3’s little girlfriend helped me out this morning by letting me drop him off ultra early and take them both to preschool…. so a little something for her. Then a slightly bigger little something for me! I am really looking forward to after bedtime this evening to sample my wares…. Apparently we kiwis have no idea how to savour these little beauties. I was informed by a colleague that all the kiwis she knew buying belgian chocs were wasting our money becuase we ate them like Cadbury’s. And so we might. But they are still yummy!!
I don’t know what it was, but going in there made me feel all nostalgic for things belgian, so I decided to have lunch at Leuven – the Belgian bar in town. Just seeing all the familiar flemish names made me realise just how much I miss some of my friends back there. I enquired to see if they sold my favourite beer (Rodenbach) – a long shot because it is not a major export. They said they had been selling it, but it wasn’t a big seller so had stopped. Bummer!! I laughed and mentioned that had I known it was being offered, I probably would have managed to make it worthwhile! It’s that nice. The manager was really lovely – told me to check out regional wines and spirits because they sold it. Fantastic!! I think I might have to check that out!
And before picking the Mr’s up from their various care places, I picked up a bottle of Lindaur Fraise and called Hubby to arrange for him to bring home indian.
Yes, tonight I feel like celebrating. That is such a weird combo: strawberry champers, chocs and indian. But it’s all good!
Now……… let me get my hands on that kit that arrived a little earlier this month… ah, yes. Life is Good.
10.24.07
Oh Dear…..
So the first exam is out of the way. For that I am extremely grateful. It was a nightmare! For the first time in a long time of sitting exams I failed to answer 2 questions which means I don’t get any credit for those 20 points. The remaining 40 points in that part I’m not so sure on how well I did – it will be cutting it fine.
Part B was open book and drafting…. I reckon I need at least 30 points from the available 40 in order to scrape a pass. To be hard on myself – cos I really never know until I get the results – that total might be a little hard to come by. On the other hand, what I wrote in that part did flow so maybe just maybe I will get enough from that section.
So it means my result is on a knife edge and I’m really not sure which way it will go. I’m gutted that I didn’t keep a closer eye on the clock and got shaken by a couple of really tough bits right at the beginning. Definitely not good exam technique!
But.
That exam is done and dusted and I’ve done what I’ve done. Worst case, I’ll need to retake that paper next year. Nothing like a bit of pressure!
So pass me some panadol for the wicked headache I now have, bring me the takeaways for tonight’s menu (yes – no cooking for the next couple of nights!), give me a good night’s sleep and I’ll be ready to do the final prep for Business Law tomorrow. I’m feeling a tad more confident on that subject matter so let’s go with that vibe for now. And yes please, good passing vibes for Friday morning are more than gratefully received!!
Laters
10.23.07
Happy colours
Thank goodness for a long weekend! Well timed I say…. I have had my head buried in notes and texts for most of it. There was a last minute invite for Mr6 to attend a birthday lunch for his favourite step-cousin so we decided to let loose and attend. I’m so glad we did: fabuous weather, and not so windy ( … I know!)
I am now at the stage where I have done pretty much all the work I think I can do and now it’s just reassurance to keep glancing at the notes and remind myself of things as the hours tick down. And it’s about now those butterflies feel like gigantic elephants stomping around on teh inside. I’m still breathing so that has to be a good sign!
Something I also made time to work on was Beverley’s circle journal (because it was due out today….). I really loved the theme of this one: “Colour Me Happy”. We get to pick a colour and work in that to show how it makes us happy. Now, I know Bev pops on here from time to time so I didn’t want the sneak peek to reveal tooooo much…hence the really low level detailed photo! However, you can see that my happy colour is Blue!
I really enjoyed putting this page together for Beverley’s album – she’s cleverly put her own album pages together herself in a very funky way. Can you see I’m totally coveting it??! I might just have to join a 3rd CJ at some point just to have my own version of it! Actually that is one of the most fun parts about taking part in the CJ rounds. It’s great to see the themes that people have put together and then to see how others have interpreted that theme.
Actually I like the page so much I’m hoping to find time to adapt it for the current NZ Dares challenge – scrapping a mood. Of course, that will need to be done after 1pm on Friday. I am so looking forward to having a little fun back in my life!
10.17.07
Getting by
Mr 3 and I went out after music this morning to look for a gift for his little buddy from Kindy. She’s having a party on Saturday and he’s going. I had pretty much decided what I was going to try and find and was very happy to discover the one and only item left. Phew! And there was a discout: Bonus!! While we were hunting it out, Mr 3 kept pulling things off the shelves or the rack and saying very throughtfully… “Hmmmm, maybe this? No! might be this!” Too cute.
Also clearly identifying the fact he comes shopping with me more than once or twice! 
I had a lovely package arrive on my doorstep this morning – this month’s kit from Meg. I’m itching to use this one: lots of scrummy Scenic Route papers – totally in love with them at the moment. I was very good though – after having a quick peek to satisfy my cravings for pretty paper, I’ve closed the box and put it aside for now. In 10 days time my exams will be over. Yep – the thing that is keeping me in a mild state of panic these last few weeks will be done and dusted. REALLY looking forward to life from 1pm on the 26th!
I’ve not done any of Di’s sketches the last couple of weeks – yes, I’m really trimming the fun stuff out of my diary for now! – but I think the sketch that is being used this week is really good. She’ll be posting the cards from tonight our time so make sure you go take a peek.
Now, to remember to keep breathing….
10.15.07
Weekend of fun!
I can definitely recommend a weekend away with good friends and some crafting supplies! Amongst the stress of revising for fast looming exams, I’ve been looking forward to this weekend for some time. And it didn’t disappoint!
Amid the laughter, the chat, the perusing of local scrap stores, lunch and dinner we managed to find time to be crafty. I might have thought I would have got more pages done, but I was happy with this little effort. Mr 3 is all about “Me 3!” at the moment. It’s not really anything to do with the fact he IS three – more to ensure he gets included in whatever is going down.
Keryn’s family bach is a home away from home and it was a pleasure to be there again. It was a year ago that I first met her and Vicky after attending SENZ in Palmy last year with Donna. It has been great hanging out with them regularly since then and this weekend was so much fun. The four of us are planning on doing it all over again in April – see my diary already has us booked in!
The card making was quite prolific. Thanks to Keryn, we had a set of “stampin’ stacks” to complete. A great way to make a dent into the christmas card pile. We completed 12 cards each just doing that – and then threw in some more for good measure. It’s great to have a friend with the supplies! …. Thanks Keryn!!
Let me say, if you are in the Porirua / Lower Hutt area and want to make a start on your christmas cards, contact Keryn here as she is running a “Stampin’ Stack” session soon.
I had fun demonstrating a giftbox shown to us at the ScrapPink session a few weekends ago. Everyone’s turned out really nice this weekend – and I went on to make a couple of teeny-weeny ones. To fill with a few Pebbles and bring home to the boys. Of course it didn’t matter how cute they looked – the lollies were a hit!
10.11.07
A welcome return of normal-ness
OK – I don’t really think “Normal-ness” is a word – but it does pretty well at describing the state of things around here. I love the routine of school and kindy and pre-school. Until I realise how much I actually try and cram into the spaces in and around those big ticket times. Still, it’s good to be back.
I’ve been good-ish at keeping my nose in by texts and my notes so very little exciting stuff has been happening. To tell the truth, that really is the normal state of affairs around here anyway! Same-old same-old. For the moment that is all good.
But considering I do want to keep my blog operating I thought I might just pop a few things on here that I’ve been itching to voice. For a start – that game. Hands up all of us who put some kind of voo-doo curse on that ref? *waving my hand sheepishly* I do honestly believe the scoreline would have been different – and we may have won had that blimmin’ ref actually had his eyes in that morning. However, that other scoreline may still not have gone in our favour…. Somehow I think it would have been better to have known we were definitely beaten by a better team than to suspect it could have all been different if we weren’t also playing the ref.
I hate the fact that people get really upset after a shock loss like this. Yes, we love our teams to win all the time – but hey – there is usually a 2nd team playing too and they aren’t playing to lose are they? It is a game – that is the whole point of it all. Oh and add into the mix that EVERY team on the planet wants to play and maybe beat the ABs: we are the team to aspire to beat. That motivation surely lifts any team playing us? So where do we get our continued motivation from? Look at the criticism that came when we beat Scotland 40-0. Ummmm – in my book that’s a darn good win in any shape way or form!!
So last night it made me really really pleased to see the crowd in Christurch greeting the team that returned. It seemed like maybe this time we’re a bit more grown up – accepting that the guys did their best and on the day that it just wasn’t good enough. I thought it was a great example for Mr 6 to pick up on – it’s just a game and we tried but didn’t get there. I think they’ve been discussing it at school – there’s a refrain going around the house at the moment: “It’s ok, it is more important to have fun and enjoy playing the game” Maybe our kids will understand that better than some of us in years to come.
And wasn’t it the French team back in the 70’s that beat us too? I vaguely remember getting up to watch a game when I was young with my dad, uncles and grandad. Lots of cheers and yells – and then very, very quiet as the French beat us for the first time. Yup – so that was an early memory for me and now Mr 6 has one of his own! History repeats.
So endeth my fair-play sermon of the day.
In other truly mundane matters:
- Mr 3 is so very cool – in 2 weeks he knows what he’s about in the bathroom department. Yep, taking himself off to do what he needs to do now. I seriously cannot believe how quickly he has managed to move to this point.
- Those ATCs were my Black & White cards done for the September swap at SBO. I’m really loving taking part in these swaps – and the amazing pieces of work everyone puts into these is inspiring. Even Hubby remarks on the lovliness of the received pieces.
- I’m off for a weekend break to Waikanae with the girls this weekend. I am sooo looking forward to it. Card making and scrapping supplies plus some good company and a bottle or two of vino. Definitely a good break! ANDI’m going to be a good girl and take some revision work up… yes, down time will be used wisely.
10.05.07
End of the holidays
… and we made it!! yay!!
Ok – so we’ve done very little by way of activities. Mainly cos I really wasn’t in the head space to sort that out. With the exams looming fast I’ve been making the most of the down time. Not so fun for the Mr’s and at times it has been trying. But with playdates with the neighbours it has all worked out more or less.
Being around home too means Mr 3 is doing very well becoming a toileteer. Ok, so yes, there are still some accidents but it’s only been 10 days or thereabouts and we’ve come sooo far. I just love how he thinks he is so clever!
Mr 6 has also benefitted from mother’s guilt. Because we haven’t done so much, I caved at the last trip to the mall and let him get a Ben 10 action figure. He just loves it to pieces and to be honest, i would have spent more if we HAD been doing activities!
Despite all of these positives, I AM looking forward to getting back to routine on Monday. Any remaining down time will see my nose firmly stuck in a text book so the routine of school and kindy is going to be very good.
This is the 2nd layout I did last weekend. I love it. I knew the theme I wanted to do and had the photo (very last minute photo shoot on the Friday afternoon!!) but really had no idea of how I wanted to pull it together. It’s a few things out of Meg’s September kit (lovely new Basic Grey Recess papers) plus some other bits from my stash. The idea came once I laid eyes on someone’s layout on display at Kiwiscraps and I love how it let me pull all those strong colours together. I’ve noticed I’m using a lot of these really intense orangey / mustardy colours lately. Loving them to bits.
The star was made as a demonstration on using Opals – I think I might just have to get me some of that! LOVED how I could reheat and remove any mistakes with it. There is a pocket behind the photo into which I will add some journalling. Mr 6 is very gung-ho about things but has a tendency to “give up” if he is too impatient to keep trying. Yes, he is a one-marshmellow lad. All about the instant gratification. Hence the encouragement for perseverance. I seriously doubt me doing a page on it will change that too much – but he loves to find out the “stories” on his pages so who knows… maybe one day the message will get through.
Right – on with dinner thoughts….
10.01.07
Scrapink
Gosh where to begin? I had a great time at Kiwiscraps for the scrapink event on Saturday. A full day’s scrapping – definitely 7th heaven! I couldn’t believe it though: it was an hour and a half before I settled in to complete this layout – and then it took me ages to do! Something to do with a little bit of chit chat and a few make and takes!! I swear: every time I started to find my groove – there was another demonstration!!
The make and takes were fun – a card using a cuttlebug, lots of fun with Opals (a lovely shiney version of UTEE?), a wee gift bag and some seriously mucky stuff to make your own homemade felt. Who knew you could have so much fun with detergent and wool?! – thanks Beverley!!
I also did another layout – actually 2 more. The second one was planned in the sense I knew the photo and the theme but had no idea of the look. Luckily for me there were tons of fantastic layouts around the crop area and one was just lovely. I took my inspiration from there and I have to say I was very pleased with the result. You’ll have to wait till I scan that one if you want to see it
The third was the pink layout for the day. I knew it was going to be too late to enter into the day’s official judging but that was OK. The group that I normally crop with had an unofficial draw – just those of us from our group had our names entered. I was a bit bummed at that because it was assumed that all those entered into the official contest were the only ones. I was finished moments after that second draw was made! Still, it was really nice because a first timer was drawn in that one. And to tell the truth, mine has space for journalling but none added: I still have no idea what I wanted to say!!
My only complaint for the day has nothing to do with the actual event but with dinner. Myself and another lady ordered a particular pizza from the pizza company used at these events. Our experience from last month told us that we needed to specify we wanted the mild option for our choice. We both did that. We both got the complete opposite. I was picking chillies off for Africa! Not nice when I specifically looked to ensure I was getting one with no chillies. Unfortunately, mine was just too hot and although I had a huge pile of chillis picked off, I think the seeds were still spread throughout it. I had to toss mine. 
OK – to the none scrapping events going on. Well there’s not much at the moment!! We’re just chilling out doing stuff around the home – not too exciting. Mr 6 is thrilled because he worked out a couple of things on Arthur’s Camping Adventure (computer game) and managed to complete the tasks. We’ve been working on that for months! ………And I have no idea how he did it!! Mr 3 is doing very well at becoming a Toileteer. Just a couple of little accidents the last couple of days. He just beams at the praise he is getting and is trying so hard. Mr 6 is wondering what all the singing and dancing is about! It’s great though – he’s supporting his little brother and reminding him throughout the day, singing bits of the Toileteer song (from Bear and the Big Blue House).
Hope you’re all surviving the holidays too – and that the wintery weather isn’t making things too miserable!
