YAY!

Just in case you haven't discovered the new Blog - An Unexpected Hug - here is the latest posting. As the HUG blog is mostly about my crafting I am tending to post on there more often. Might be worth following me there!

Anyway here is the latest news!



OK it is Monday so I can divulge... On Saturday I went for an interview with the Gifted Kids programme. This is a one day school for gifted kids, based in an intermediate school. Basically it is all about developing thinking skills, nuturing passions and providing the kind of stimuli that Mainstream school hasn't the time or the ability to provide. It is all about reaching potential. Oh my god it is exciting!


I was convinced I had waffled badly. I was sure I had lost any chance of the job when Ant's satnav decided that the building didn't exist and I had to text for directions... and disclosing I have bipolar disorder... well I was in MY car so it was hard to miss the advert!


I was at Laingholm today, relieving for the day ( with kids who had got up at 2am to watch the All Whites- what were their parents thinking?) so was having morning tea when the deputy head waved a piece of paper in my face - telephone message saying to call to provide a reference! Tee hee! She said she would call at lunchtime!


The same lunchtime, I get a call, at school from the Head of the unit. I GOT THE JOB!!!!!



Someone is brave enough to employ me! Oh my god how scary is that! Of course I said yes immediately and now can start questioning a) my ability b)my sanity c) their sanity for employing AND THEN I can start enjoying the whole idea!!!!


Check it out...click the link!

Gifted kids Unit

And so as not to be outdone ( reposting from mom's blog)

Firstly here are the photos from Reuben's successful night. Here he is winning second place in the Basic Facts championship- behind Felix, the big kid!

And here is Reuben getting runner up in the Best Allrounder in the universe ever award!

Next year we are thinking of ringlets and a waistcoat!

So, then, yesterday, Reuben was off doing an TVC= television commeracial for NZ RU ) rugby union- (yes lots of lovely rugby players!) at exactly the same time as Caitlin was having her prizegiving. I managed to drop him and dash to her school.

I missed her getting her termly red star. She now has eight which is enough for a gold kauri already. She also got one for hard materials!

Miss W had come along, just in case I couldn't get there, so that C had a support team, and if she hadn't got anything, a shoulder to cry on!

Shouldn't have worried should I?

When I was there, they announced the top sports people of the year and Morgan, her mate, took the year 7 girl prize.

Then they announced the academic prizes... Year seven girls... Caitlin Ashcroft. Just as well Elaine had tissues with her. My heart really can't take this.

I can't work out though why I am surprised, but I always am. I know my kids are amazing and kind and generous and clever but they still surprise me.

Here's the trophy, already engraved ( which is a nice touch). She also has a little trophy to keep!

My kids both have very bright eyes tonight!

Boy, do I love them!

We are very proud parents

A new tv presenter

'What Now?', an NZ kids' program are running a competition for a toyologist. You have to make a one minute video reviewing your favourite toy and send it to them.

Here is Reuben's!

and here is Caitlin's.

Girls on tour

This week, Caitlin's class went to the Waitomo Glow worm caves. We had to get up at 5am, be at school for 6am, and arrived at Waitomo about 10. Thankfully only one boy was ill on the coach ( and who in their right minds gives their child CHOCOLATE MILK! ON A BUS TRIP! I ask you).

We were very lucky with the weather, slight drizzle and then beautiful sunshine.

Bushman's friend

You can write on it in pen or wipe your bum with it!

Caitlin and Morgan

I was not built for climbing through small spaces- thanks Trish

Half of room 15

After the caves we went to Woodlyn Park. It's an amazing place, looks like arun down farm but then you see a plane on the hillside, and a hobbit hole and a steam ship. All of them motel rooms for hire ( I am so taking Anton there for a weekend. Iwant to stay in the plane!)

It's run by Billy Black who does this amazing show with obviously well trained animals, like a Moon walking pig,

Emma and Morgan

Caught on camera at last

Anton's starring role

OK so blink and you miss him, around the 1.50 mark but still there he is!

And today he was eating strawberries off a naked woman ( on set you understand!) Bitter and twisted? Me? NO!

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?