First days at school

8 years ago Bennett started primary school. He didn't want his photo taken to mark the milestone, but I insisted. Here are the charming photos that come from forcing your 5 year old son into having his photo taken.





Yesterday Bennett started high school. Again he didn't want his photo taken. I am not into pushing a stubborn teen into doing things if it is not really important. Why cause tension if you don't have to? So I thought I would be a little sneaky and take them after I dropped him at his friend's house. Sure they would be of him walking away, but I thought that could be symbolic of this major milestone - you know, his growing up and slowly distancing himself and severing the umbilical cord. In my head it was good. I was sneakily getting what I wanted, without causing tension and I could even claim some kind of symbolicness to it. That was in my head. The reality is this.





I ended up with blurry photos, where Bennett is merely a tiny yellow-hatted spot in the distance, and with my head out the window I looked like some crazy stalker of young boys.

money is flying away

As you know I just came back from a nice relaxing holiday - and even though it was not overseas, after paying for my mum, Bennett, me and my mums car on a return trip on the ferry, then paying for food and accommodation and activities while away, I was feeling like I was watching my money fly away. It was worth it, I needed a good break.
When I got back it seems my money had gotten so used to flying away from me, it decided to just keep going.
$840 - Bennett's compulsory netbook for school
$113 - Bennett's stationary for school (what the f**K - aren't you going to write in your netbook!)
$156 - flea treatment for two flea ridden cats, and two flea bombs for the house.
$50 something - WOF for car, which it fails for "exhaust leak"
$250 - fixing exhaust leak and getting the car serviced.
$720 - fixing the brake pads and shoes, and the back engine braces (that crumbled when pulled out)
$414 - the amount that still needs to be paid to fix the front engine braces which were damaged because the back ones were so badly damaged.
$300 plus - the amount it will then cost to get its new rego.
$290 - the amount I have to pay in the first couple of weeks of school for Bennett to attend camp.
$3133 - the cause of an hour and a half major panic attack this morning that had me in tears.

no more blood sucking

I believe I may have finally killed the fleas - sadly the cats are still alive. I am about to have the life sucked out of me in a different way though (no more blood sucking) but it is time to return to work...
I don't officially start until the 31st, when I have the absolute pleasure of two teacher only days...yawn...then the girls start on Wednesday, although I am fairly sure most of that day will be taken up with form time/admin stuff. I actually really like the start of a new year. It feels fresh and exciting and like anything is possible. I want to hold on to that feeling for as long as possible, so actually I am not going to engage in any negative talk about school(I may have to take back my comment about the life being sucked out of me).
On the non negative side of school talk; my sister has just started teachers college. As she has always been my brainy older sister, who knows it all, it is very nice being the one with the knowledge. The roles are reversed, except obviously I have not got older than her all of a sudden. I quite like being a bit of a know it all. Also today she spoke to one of her tutors, who is the chairman of the BOT at East and had a daughter in my Drama class last year, and he said to my sister how much his daughter loved being in my class. Being the know it all and getting the praise makes me feel so needed and loved.

A series of afflictions

Thurday morning - A racing heart.
the final day of our visit to the South Island was capped off with a 5.1 aftershock. It disrupted my dreams at 6.05am and left me with a racing heart and a real Christchurch experience. The South Island trip was amazing. In Kaikoura we sea kayaked out to a seal colony, in Christchurch we went to the Antarctic centre, the cathedral, the tram and Quail Island to see the lepers (dead ones) In Akaroa we went out on a boat to see the Hector's dolphin (if only I could have captured a picture of Bennett's excitement, he was like a little child again as the dolphins swam along the front of the boat) and we ate the most glorious fudge. In Little Akaloa we went to stay at my cousin's batch and read and ate food all day. So it seemed like a cherry on the top when my South Island trip was concluded with a shake.

Thursday evening - a dizzy head.
It seems motion sickness does not effect my tummy. At no point did I feel queasy sick crossing the Cook Straight, even though the boat was rocking and rolling on the very bumpy sea. But I felt so dizzy, even the next day I didn't feel right. Never mind, at least my Butter Chicken dinner didn't come to greet me again like it did for some other people.

Friday morning to present day - hundreds of itchy bites covering me from cheek to foot.
We came home to fleas. And despite over 100 dollars being spent on flea treatments and bombs, I still caught a live flea on my cheek this afternoon. I almost cried. If you have ever had the misfortune of tasting like a complete delicacy to a blood sucking insect, and therefore being covered with well over 50 bites you may understand my plight. But in addition to this I have been woken night after night as my bites warm up in bed and get so itchy I want scratch myself until I bleed and/or bruise. Then I spend a fortune bombing the house and cats only to find they are still alive. I loathe cats right now.

Look she swims...

..well floats actually!
It has been very lovely in Taradise of late and so I have been tempted into the pool. This is actually something of a miracle as although I really enjoy swimming it has to get really hot for me to want to get in there. So here I am, the bathing beauty.
Tomorrow I leave Taranaki. I love Taranaki like Richard loves basses but I have to say I am ready to go home - there is nothing like your own bed. And on Thursday me, Mum and Bennett head to the South Island so I will leave you imagining all the wonderful posts that are yet to come - oh the anticipation!

Badminton tournament time

If you are a long term reader of my blog and have a good memory you may remember that last year we had a family badminton tournament. Bennett has requested more of the same this year, but this year we have uped the game and made a real draw! (Bennett has also requested a real trophy, will have to see what the $2 shop has on offer)
I am currenly sitting second to last of the table, only my Aunt is below me. However, not all games have been played and I am feeling hopeful of coming back from behind.
Play has been delayed for the last two days as the weather has been a bit to windy and those shuttlecocks don't stand up to much wind. It is nice a calm today, so I am hoping today will be my day!
Here I intended to put in a few shots of the action but the computer says no.
I will put some action shots up and the results soon. Wait with bated breath.