Not much news then....

I have not had a terribly good time of it lately, moodwise, so the blog gets rather neglected. Ihave tried to update a few times but then Blogger has been annoying so no joy. Here is the post I was supposed to post last weekend!

Wow! Am I glad this week is over! I didn't intend for it to be so full on but..

Saturday went to Cirque du Soleil performing Dralion which was AMAZING! Sort of beyond describing really. There are no superlatives worthy of being mentioned in the same country as the performers- just WOW!

Mind you I knew my head was off as by the end of the second half I was having trouble concentrating, almost as though I wasn't physically there. Sounds odd but then that is the week I have had ( and am still having)

Sunday Ant went off to do some advert or other, I was up all night with an upset stomach ( not mine!) and then we went to play community netball in Parau. As expected the primary age kids ran rings round us adults but it was a good laugh.

Monday- final netball coaching with a bunch of ungrateful pre teens. I wish I hadn't bothered making cookies and cake. AH well know better for next year

Tuesday- Oh god. Interview time for the Japan/ Korea trip. Of course Caitlin though it went badly. How was she to know that sign language is different the world over? The OK sign here means do you have a boyfriend? I think in Korea!

Results of that on Monday 31st

Tuesday was also the first performance of the Bay Music festival. BBI and assorted local primaries got together and sang, lots. C was stressed as the rock band trio were soloists in their school's individual item. They were , of course, fab.


Wednesday also saw a performance of the Bay Festival, oh and the table tennis team trials, which C had been pestering Mr Hill ( one of the Korea interviewing panel) about. Needless to say, she made the team beating a couple of year 8's 12-10 and 11-2

Wednesday was also the day I took the car to have its cam belt done, spent the day racing from Henderson to BBI to New Lynn and back to Henderson all in the search for photo frames of a particular size!

Thursday- the day of the mental meltdown. Managed to leave my camera in the loan car which started it all.

Friday- takes a breath! Barbara sent me the 'Secret life of bees' and I sat on the beach reading in the sun, then picked up my camera when I did the school run.






So then this week was fairly uneventful by comparison...

Not only did Caitlin get chosen to go on the Korea trip, but so did her mates Ruby and Claudia, from Laingholm. We are mighty proud. I was so convinced she would do it that I had already bought the Korean phrase book the morning before she heard!

Today we hear that she has achieved her bronze kauri award for receiving two red, green, blue and yellow stars ( and two extras). This is a BIG deal for a year 7. Most year 8's are hoping to get theirs before they leave!

I had to take the car in again as there was an oil leak, which they admitted was their fault- an improvement on the last time I too it in and they charged us twice.

Anton is feeling flush as our tax bill is relatively small so he is arranging to get the kitchen sorted ( new benchtop, cooker, floor), the gutters fixed, the drive done and who knows what else. He has just got his computer updated- new hard drive, ram and battery and is taking us to Rotorua for the weekend. I think this is as a direct response to a mate taking his wife to Hawaii for her 40th birthday. CARPE DIEM!!!!

Reuben has finished his latest wall chart and is very very proud of it, oh and is still rehearsing hard for the semi final of Idol on Monday




And did you ever think you would see this...



Isn't he gorgeous in his new hat?

Caitlin's Application to go to Korea and Japan

In Year eight, the children of BBI get the chance to go on a three week trip to Japan and Korea. The selection process started today and Caitlin is going to school with her folder in hand and a disk and a pen drive and a print out and a link to youtube just in case
Here is her powerpoint and the letters of application for you to enjoy




Caitlin Ashcroft, 15 August 2009
15 Staley Road,
Parau, Waitakere,
0604

Dear Miss McPherson, Mrs Loomans, Mr Hill,

My name is Caitlin Ashcroft. I am an eleven-year-old student in room 15 and I would love to be involved in the Korea and Japan trip in 2010. I hope you will consider my application.

I first heard about this trip at the open day in 2008 and I thought that it was a great opportunity and that I was definitely going to apply when I came here.

I think it would be fantastic to get the chance to see new places, meet new people and get to know other kids from Blockhouse Bay better too. Researching Korea and Japan has made me want to go even more. There are so many new things I have learnt and I really enjoyed doing the research.

I also love to travel to new places and have had much experience in doing so. Two years ago I came to New Zealand from the UK, so I have had practice being somewhere unfamiliar. Plus I don’t get plane sick! I’m not scared of being a homestay as I like meeting new people and although I will miss my family that will not stop me having fun.

As I realise it is a lot of money I have offered to raise funds to help pay for the trip to show I am responsible and determined to go. I have been doing this by making felt flowers and selling them on etsy.com.I have sold many to friends and family in the UK and one to someone I don’t know in America. This I have been doing since term one and I have raised quite a lot of money.

I believe that I am a worthy candidate as I am hard working, enthusiastic and have never had a detention in my whole school career. I feel I would be a good ambassador for the school. I hope I will have the chance to be involved in this incredible trip.

Yours sincerely,


Caitlin Ashcroft





Anton Ashcroft,
Senior Registered Psychologist,
15 Staley Road,
Parau,
Waitakere City.


Re: Caitlin Ashcroft


To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to you as I understand that my daughter, Caitlin, requires a letter of support for her application to attend the trip to Korea and Japan.

As her father, I would naturally recommend her wholeheartedly, but from a purely objective point of view I believe that Caitlin is a most suitable candidate for the trip.

Caitlin is a dedicated student, requiring little parental encouragement to complete her homework assignments, she is keen to learn and is already engaged in a wide variety of activities both in and out of school including netball, tennis, drama, choir, G and T writing, rock band and guitar. I believe she is already close to achieving her bronze Kauri award.

With regard to the trip Caitlin has already offered to pay the deposit from her own funds, and is currently selling her craftwork (felt flower brooches) online to assist with this.

Caitlin has evidenced her natural leadership abilities through selection for attendance at the Leadership conference whilst at Laingholm school. She is continuing to take a lead role within Blockhouse Bay through her role as Class Counsellor.

At home Caitlin is a real pleasure to spend time with and has great sense of humour. Whilst she will be greatly missed by her family whilst she is away, we know that she will gain a great deal from her experiences on this trip.

Yours faithfully




Anton Ashcroft

FOR SOME REASON THE VIDEO WILL NOT LOAD ONTO YOUTUBE> I WILL KEEP TRYING

The boy is in double figures

At last my baby is 10!

It was a busy day but he made the most of his special day when he is allowed to choose whatever we get up to!

So first he opened presents at 7am, dictated by the fact that his dad had to get to work. Amongst the favourites were Pokemon platinum for the DS, cuddle buddy from Caitlin, lots of books, a cross stitched pirate from Nanny ( and some smarties which lasted about two hours) and lots of lego ( Technics and starwars).

Then pancakes for breakfast, a trip to ten pin bowling and mini golf, lunch at McDonalds (with a quick sejourn to Starbucks for a decent coffee for Mommy), homemade meatballs and Caitlin's marble cake for dessert. Most of the rest of the day was spent putting his lego technic sand buggy together.



He says he feels much older!

It's been a busy holiday so far.

Mom and Roo have been to the Science day at Auckland Uni, where we both loved the Physics show, where we learned how to get rid of aliens. Anton took the kids ice skating.


While Ant was playing at soldiers the rest of us went ot the French Market and ate huge croissants and bought lots of cheese.On Wednesday we are going to watch Harry Potter at the IMAX cinema in town. We also have plans to go the Museum for their 'dangerous exhibition for boys and daring girls' and lots of other stuff while Daddy is away!

As if he didn't have enough work to do...

Anton has decided to join the Army. Here he is with his buddies in the Officers' Mess. They are just about to depart on a tour of duty in one of the worst hot spots in the world....West Auckland!






And with any army comes the young and glamourous hangers-on












Ooops, my mistake. Turns out he's filming something called "Spies and Lies" and earning £4 an hour for the privilege of dressing up as a soldier. He's off to Rotorua tomorrow to do the same thing for two days, before jetting out to the UK

"

Oh no! Caitlin has discovered alcohol!

In term 2 C's class did an inquiry project on drugs. Then they were asked to do a mini inquiry of their own focussing on one particular drug.

Caitlin chose alcohol, though only after a number of interesting hours in the library with her mum heard to say 'This cocaine one looks good!" and "How about heroin?'

The result? Another top score of 5A

Please help Caitlin's efforts to get to Korea

Caitlin has begun her quest for world domination! She is trying to earn some money towards a possible trip to Korea next year. We have said if she can earn some of the cost ( and that doesn't mean going begging to grandparents) we will help her out.

(JUST NEED TO QUALIFY THAT LAST POINT BEFORE C HITS ME- SHE MAY WELL BE ASKING GRANDPARENTS ETC TO SEND HER MONEY IN LIEU OF XMAS PRESSIES IN ORDER TO HELP HER REACH HER GOAL. IS THAT-ouch- OK, CAITLIN?)


With this in mind, we have set up a stall on a website called Etsy.

Caitlin has made some felt flower badges which she is selling. She has made them all herself, from cutting the felt to sewing the button and the pin in place

It's really my site so my stuff is on there too.


There is an icon on the right hand side of this blog which will take you directly to our page!

There may be family and friends' discounts but I wouldn't bank on it!

Come on over and have a look. You might find something you like!








Can you tell whose is whose?

Reposted entry from Jo's blog

Just in case people don't look at both blogs ( and why would you...) I have reposted this from my blog as the internet is proving difficult for various reasons as outlined below...



Anton has bought a time capsule for his mac as he thought he had lost his computer and all its work a few weeks ago. As a result of trying to install it, he has f&*ked up the settings on my mac so I can't get on the Internet at home. So I am sitting on the floor outside room 17 at Laingholm, with the kids walking the dog round the field, surfing using the school internet. Subsequently I am not able to go on Facebook to update anything. It is blocked at school!

So a quick update on life in NZ


Roo has made the gym team for the second year running! He is more impressed by the fact he has finished Age of Mythology however! The whole family is impressed with the first piece of news. He has finished the cue cards for his presentation at school too. He is a bright little cookie and I am very very proud of him. Oh he gives good cuddles too!

Caitlin...

has unofficially earned her kauri award, which is exceptionally rare ( like never ever done before by a year 7 in the first half of the year). I had a long conversation with her head teacher at book day yesterday who was impressed by her competitive spirit and determination. He is sure she WILL be going to Korea next year!

went to character day as Hercules Poirot- pictures to follow with an internet connection at home! And got a yellow star.

is working on Trash to Flash ( in my sewing room with some friends today... must go and clear the floor!)

Is hormonal but we don't like to talk about it!

Is going to present her Suffragette video to a group of teachers ( and get a green star for her trouble)

Is dragging members of the family to another weeding day ( dad's turn) for half a green star- can you see a pattern emerging here?

Went on a trip to Tree Adventures and challenged herself 20 metres up in the air( and so did her mum!)

I am sure there is lots more but my fingers are getting tired..


Anton...

is pfaffing with the computers and Jo is about to kill him if her computer doesn't start to work soon

Is working for the Dept of Corrections as a consultant on three times the pay of his last job

is still at Serenity which is reopenning soon

is working with Simon on editing and designing books ( Simon is a graphic designer)

is thinking of investing in property with some other friends


Jo is not having a good day.

Sewing is going well but can't upload pictures coz of the internet ( though I might be able to put some of the pictures on here)

Has applied for a job at Woodlands Park school ( but they want Maths and Music and I offered them IT and Science and Soft Materials)

was asked by the head of BBI to put her name on the relief list.

Is being hormonal too

Has been running well in the 10kms and is thinking of doing the half marathon in July (In my opinion she is incredible.From Caitlin)


Loves her kids to bits


Needs to blog when she is feeling better!


It's been a busy week and everyone is suffering I think. Hopefully photos to follow