SOL: 9.3.13

Writing a slice of my life...Saturday

Hubby and I packed a car and were on of our mini road trips.  Well, actually, we only travelling to see our 2 adult children and grandson.  I enjoy this time of being able to take off when we feel like it.  Saturday mornings he is always up early and I enjoy a little sleep in.  I have time to chat to a few of my facebook friends and play one of my favourite games.  I love this game for it's social aspect and you get to decorate homes you buy and buy clothes.  Hubby used to think I was crazy but I think he understands it's my time out to relax and unwind from a busy week.

When I was a kid I had penpals that I wrote to and now  I have penpals but we get to meet up with each other in our virtual homes.  We pray with each other and chat about our lives.  It's a virtual world but I have met the most wonderful friends.  I've never met this bunch of gals before in real life but I feel so close to them.

Meanwhile, hubby is waiting for me to get ready so we can get going.  I quickly message my friend to say I have to go.

Today as we are driving along I notice our barren country and the government has announced that we are in a drought zone.  Our country side is normally lush and green but it is a mass of burnt yellow.  Normally, I chat away to hubby about everything under the sun.  Today I'm content.  Work is good.  Kids are good.  Hubby must be relieved because I normally chat for two hours while I have a captivated audience.

(Writing this weekend has been put on the back burner while I've chatted to my son about his relationship and listened to my daughter about her night out.  I wanted to write more about my journey with hubby).

SOL: 8.3.13

Writing a slice of my life...shopping

Today, I quickly cleaned up my classroom and changed into my biking clothes.  Last year, at the beginning of the year I was walking home from school and this year I bought myself a bike and I've been biking home from school.  Hubby drops me off in the morning and I bike home in the afternoon. I was feeling excited because Friday is the end of a school week and I get to rejuvenate.  Tonight I was looking forward to cooking one of my favourite meals.

Hubby arrived home from work and we went to the supermarket together, which is not really a done thing in our household.  I really dislike grocery shopping.  There is only the two of us at home and he dreads grocery shopping as much as I do.  Friday night is fish night.  Lately, we've been planning our meals a week ahead and we I decided that Friday would be Fish night.  

We arrive at the supermarket and he grabs a trolley and I grab my basket.  He goes his way and I go mine.  We must look like an odd couple with our separate trolley and basket.  But his mission is different from my mine and I like to take my time. He insists on rushing around throwing things into the trolley.  He's at the check-out in no time at all.  I just take my time. We accidentally meet at the frozen food department and I tell him I'm having salmon and ask him would he like salmon or battered fish.  He says, he wants to have steak.  I say, well it's Fishy-Friday.  I roll my eyes and say, okay!  He zooms off with his trolley to get his steak and I continue to walk up and down the aisle collecting my goodies.  

In my grocery basket I have my salmon, salad and my goodies for my lunches next week.  I make my lunches on Sunday and store them in the fridge.  Five lunches ready made for each day of the week.  One lease job to do in the morning before school.  I arrive back at the car and hubby says, where have you been?  Once again, I roll my eyes.  

Later in the evening he sits down to his meal of steak, salad and chips.  I sit down with my salmon and salad.  Both meals look delicious.

SOL: 7.3.13

TO DO LIST:

1. Guided reading
   -Bumble bees
   -Kiwis
   -Tigers
   -Puppies
   -Horses
2. Update at risk register photographs
3. Wedge graph birthdays entered
4. Pack my bags for the weekend trip
5. Call the maid and give her a list of jobs to do (me)
6. Prepare maths
   -Statistic: Tuesday
   -Add/Sub - Focus on subtraction
7. Print the name tags for hooks
8. Mark the homework
9. Prepare the homework for next
10. Prepare my lunches for next week (Sunday)
11. Organise my equipment for tabloid sports
12. Renew my licence
13. Gas up my car for our trip on Thursday
14. Do my homework for my course
15. Think about comfy clothes for the course
16. Extra work for Amy (timestables)
17. Find a kiwiana unit
18. Swimming next wee at 11.00-11.30
19. Class to get ready at school: Interval at 10.00 am
20. Walk to the pools at 10.40
21. We should be back by 12.00ish (our reading time)

SOL: 6.3.13

Writing a slice of my life...my workspace

The boredom bursts forward;
They ramble and rumble.
Slow, melodic drones.

When will, the rumblings stop?
The drone, continues to reverberate forth.
Raised voices, scramble over each other.

Gazing, gawking.  From one to another.
Concentration, declines.  With every minute.
Awake now, focus!

Haze, fog, enveloping.
Heavy eye lids.  A cellphone rings,
Attention, listen!

SOL: 5.3.13

Writing a slice of my life…Weather

Runny nose and sneezing!  This can’t be happening to me, right now.  Our summer is coming to an end and my heart is saddened.   I love the warmer sunny days.  Swimming in the lake with our grandson and watching hubby throwing sticks for his dogs to chase.  It really is hard to feel miserable when our summer has been fantastic.  But I have a cold.

My friend summer is packing up to leave.  Our early morning starts are darker and our evenings are shorter. 

It started with my voice being low and husky.  It never entered my mind that I had a cold coming on.  My energy levels are low and I feel more tired than I usually am. 

But as I reminisce about our beautiful summer I'm filled with warmth.  Christmas day was warm and relaxing swimming in my grandson’s swimming paddling pool.   

My nose is running like a tap.  I smother my face with moisturiser so my skin stays soft and subtle.  I do detest dry and scaly skin. 

As I ponder the changing of the seasons, I have to admit that I love the autumn colours of the leaves spread around our backyard.  A change of fashion from light and breezy to warm and comfy. 

I just wish I didn’t have a cold.

SOL: 4.3.12

Writing a slice of my life...smells

Clanking of the keys as I walk past the boys loo
My nostrils squeeze blocking out the stench
The smell assaults me like screaming animals in the zoo
My head is a spinning wrench

Emails I send to those concerned about this crisis
No reply is sent in return
Shaking my head in disbelief therefore I should shake off my niceness
I send in my comrade to explore and she comes out and understands my scorn

Who is to blame for this outrage
Looking left and looking right
My annoyance switch is off the gauge
My concern is for the health of my students therefore I must fight

My comrade takes up my cause
She takes a bow and receives the applause


Every morning on my daily rounds I open the toilet doors to the boys and girls toilets.  Today is no different and my dread is no different.  But the boys toilet is almost always smelly.  It was only the other day that I gave my boys a lesson in how to pee into the toilet bowl.  I must have looked ridiculous because I did a step-by-step break down of what they should do.  I told them how it was like playing a game of soccer or playing rugby.  Your aim is important.  When you play soccer you've got to aim correctly to get the ball into the goal.  And, peeing into the toilet bowl is just the same!  You have to get your AIM right!  For goodness sake!

Once, I was crazy enough one day to take to the boys toilet with the fire hose.  I know it was crazy but the smell was disgusting.  You must be wondering, yes, there is a cleaner but she swears black and blue that she can't get the smell out.  We have a wishlist that we fill out each year and you guessed it!  On my wishlist was, could we please have our toilets cleaned properly!

We had a bit of a rough start this year and unfortunately I had to complain.  But things are on the improve.

The fear hasn't gone away as I do my daily routine of opening the toilet doors.

SOL: 3.3.13

Writing a slice of my life...Gratitude


The gratitude I feel when I look at you working in our backyard.  Mowing the lawns or taking our dogs swimming at the river or playing rugby with our grandson.

I thank God He chose you to be my mate in life.

Once there was just you and I and then our children.  For a while we lost each other as we became busy being parents. 

You provided us with a home and security.  The children left home and you provided them both with a home while they studied.

I thank God He chose you to be my mate in life.

You’re still tall and strong.  Your skin is darkened from the love of the outdoors.  You’re still my boy.

You provided us with a home and security.  The children left home and you provided them both with a home while they studied.

Each morning your routine is the same.  I love the way we travel to work together.  We pass the school buses.  We pass the children walking towards the bus stop.

You’re still tall and strong.  Your skin is darkened from the love of the outdoors.  You’re still my boy.

I kiss your cheek and you jokingly wipe my lipstick away.  But secretly I know you enjoy that quick embrace before we leave each other.

Each morning your routine is the same.  I love the way we travel to work together.  We pass the school buses.  We pass the children walking towards the bus stop.

Lately, as we grow older together I catch myself wondering about our lives in the Autumn years.  I want to savour every moment with you.  My heart feels slightly afraid.  But, I thank God for you and perhaps I don’t say it enough.

I kiss your cheek and you jokingly wipe my lipstick away.  But secretly I know you enjoy that quick embrace before we leave each other.

Once there was just you and I and then our children.  For a while we lost each other as we became busy being parents.   

Lately, as we grow older together I catch myself wondering about our lives in the Autumn years.  I want to savour every moment with you.  My heart feels slightly afraid.  But, I thank God for you and perhaps I don’t say it enough.

The gratitude I feel when I look at you working in our backyard.  Mowing the lawns or taking our dogs swimming at the river or playing rugby with our grandson.