Archive for love

New Students

02/02/2012 Joh learn, love, relationships, School

Darin’s youngest daughter (R) starts school tomorrow. When he talked to her on the phone tonight, she wanted to speak to me also. It made my day. The anticipation of good things in her voice when she talked about all the fun had me smiling. “The teacher will read books, Joh”, with all the excitement of santa coming. I love it!

Tomorrow I meet my new students. Some of them I have worked with already, and some are new to me. I have met most of them in the interviews explaining our new program. Meeting a class for the first time is probably as big for me as it is for them to come back to school. We will all be a little nervous and hopefully the excitement about learning a bit differently will triumph. I hope they all come:).

I anticipate I will learn a lot this year. I hope my students do too!

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2011 – Thanks for coming:)

31/12/2011 Joh family, friends, gratitude, learn, love, random, relationships

I have lots to write but for now I’m just glad to put this year to bed. It’s been ‘interesting times’ as the curse goes. It’s turned out really well and I’m glad I put off worrying for another time, because now that I have a little time, I have no need.

I could list milestones and events that have rocked my world but not now.

This year has been special in so many ways. I have been blessed with new friends and aquaintances and a whole new cast of characters in my life. I treasure the people who have travelled a way with me as others have dropped by the wayside.

There is lot’s I want to plant here on my blog in 2012… I’ll wait and will enjoy sharing all the seeds and blossoms of my life then. I’m setting this blog post to publish in the last minute of this year. So farewell 2011… I know I’ve lacked appreciation at times but truly now I see that it was everything I asked for:).

 

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RUOK Day

14/09/2011 Joh gratitude, health, love, random, relationships

Tomorrow is RUOK day. A good thing to contemplate. There has been some publicity from what I’ve read online. I am yet to watch Australian Story . It’s about Gavin Larkin, the instigator of RUOK day.  Perhaps I really should before writing this, but I haven’t had time.

When I first heard of this ‘day’ I took to it straight away. I fully believe that we need to talk to one another more. I am happy to promote talking to one another and asking ‘Are you ok?’ to all the people we come across. In the spirit of this day, it’s a good thing to do.

I have been blessed with a family that sits around the table talking, arguing sometimes but always discussing what happening in our lives. Whenever I have a really big issue in my life I find myself at my parents table chewing over the ins and outs of what’s going on for me. I understand now, not everyone has that luxury. We need our family of choice… friends, work mates, sport mates, extended family, family of choice, whoever you can find to share your life with.

I, like many of my readers possibly, have known people who have taken their own lives. I have never understood why, but I like to think they knew I cared. I am 100% sure their partners, friends, children and all the people they shared their lives with cared.

I read this post and I can relate to the first paragraphs so well. Sometimes we can’t talk to just anyone. Sometimes we need someone close, who knows us. I hope expressing how we feel, writing, talking, photographing, sharing in any way, helps.

I believe we all need to talk to someone at times. As a teacher I have often been surprised how just listening, without interupting, without advice, without judgement … has made a difference. I have been lucky in my life that I have known so many good listeners.

One of the many things I love about Darin is that he often asks ‘Are you Ok?’. When he sees the expressions on my face that I’m worried, I’m tense, I’m sad, I’m stressed or even unhappy looking, he asks. He doesn’t avoid the heat that may come. He asks. He notices my tones on the phone even. I love that about him.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is be kind to one another.

 

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The Pipers Son by Melina Marchetta

02/09/2011 Joh love, reading

I finish this with a tear tracked face. I am glad I’m not wearing makeup on my days off or I would look pretty messy now.

‘The Piper’s Son’ is an immensely clever and touching tale about a young man rebuilding a life after grief drives him to oblivion. It’s not just him, it’s his whole family who experience loss. The story reveals the triumph of love and I loved it for it.

I texted my son because I remembered he had told me to read ‘Saving Francesca’ which has the same characters. He’d already been on to it. ‘finished it 3 weeks ago’ was the reply I got to my recommendation. Good to know he doesn’t wait around for me to recommend books to him any more:).

Melina Marchetta creates endearing characters. I just went through his boxes of books to find ‘Saving Francesca’ because starting a new book with those people I have grown to love will make the sadness of finishing ‘The Piper’s Son’ more bearable.

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Engaged

17/07/2011 Joh food, friends, love, relationships

Last night we had an engagement party to attend. A past work collegeue, now friend and my little sisters close friend got engaged. It’s always lovely to go to an engagement party when you know and love both the people. It was an awesome party… Huge!

We catered and we spent the day at the Tennis Centre cooking. I really enjoyed it. I loved watching them set up the room with candles and amazing white paper lamps. The beautiful cake arrived. There is a good kitchen there and whilst I think it is mostly only used for reheating food, it worked well for us. We prepared all the food there and cooked it and as people arrived many commented on the food smells and how lovely it was to smell delicious food as they entered. The staff there even mentioned how great it smelt. When I think about it, most of the parties I have gone to in venues we are served reheated food, which doesn’t generate all the smells you create when you add fresh vegetable and herbs and cook meat… there really isn’t anything like it. It was an unexpected benefit.

I was delighted with the feedback from the people at the party when we finished cooking and joined the party. A lot of people asked for business cards and wanted to know where they can find us now we don’t have a shop. We are happy to do that kind of catering. I think our food is very different. It’ s like the food you would make for a party at home. I wish I had taken photos – sorry Kate… too busy:).

The party was great, there was a live musician, who was brilliant. There are so many many wonderful musicians around I love going to a party that has live music. The fire was on, the room was full of warm and happy people. It was a festive and fun evening. Weaving through the crowds with the food was quite challanging at times, the room was thick with people and laughter and children were doing what kids do at parties … dancing and playing with the balloons.

We reconnected with one of our favourite customers and met her brother. I also caught up with some other past collegues. It was great that I could have conversations with them because the music was a gentle, enjoyable addition and not a distraction to the socialisation. I had great conversations with people. Parties like that make you want to go out again on a cold night for another one:).

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Almost Done

08/07/2011 Joh Business, family, gratitude, learn, love, work

This week were are cleaning up and removing all our stuff from the shop. We’ve made quite a few trips. I didn’t realise how much stuff we had taken in from home and bought along the way. It’s empty of our stuff now. I just have to go in and clean up. I want to do it on the weekend so everything will be ready to go for handing over the keys early next week. I have felt a bit sad a couple of times, but most of the time I feel quite positive about it all. It’s been a great experience and I’ve learnt a lot. Although it was a brief time, it was a significant one for me.

The kids are here for the weekend. Tonight as they were going to bed, I headed for a bath and R (4) found this very strange. She thought the bath must be for her. “Only kids have baths, grownups don’t have baths”. I just got to her in time before she started peeling off her pjs for another dip. I said to her “But they are so lovely I’ve never stopped having a bath.” I think she agreed with me about baths being good, but I’m not sure she things adults deserve them, especially when it’s time for bed:).

After my bath they were still restless so I took a picture book upstairs to read to them. I read the first one, then E (6) competently read the next two. She is a great reader. I love watching them as they grow and learn. She is quite literate and even asked me why there was a ‘K’ in front of knew. I was very impressed. I love that she asks what every word she doesn’t know means and she looks at it carefully like she’s found a new mystery.

I feel very blessed right now. There are so many helpful people in the world and I am finding support in many places I didn’t expect. It has been challenging to let go of something I really believe in and love. I think we have made the right decision though for lots of reasons and I am thrilled with all the goodness that is coming from our venture.

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Full Moon in Sagittarius – Total Lunar Eclipse – 16th June 2011

15/06/2011 Joh astrology, Business, learn, love, work

This full moon eclipse is in my sun sign. I have always loved it. The rest of my chart is pretty earthy and watery, so this fire sign gives me the passion and courage to do a lot of things I wouldn’t without it. When I first began learning about astrology, I identified totally with Sagittarius and it didn’t bother me a bit! I loved most of the attributes. Read Mystic Medusa’s take on Haute Sagittarius – Low Sagittarius. I can identify with the good and the bad.

I keep reading that eclipses are nothing to fear, it’s just a time of opening and closing doors. One of the astrologers I ‘like’ on facebook Astrosparkles has written a great note about this eclipse : Getting to the truth (or heart) of the matter. It covers all the essentials you will need to decipher how this eclipse could play out for you.

Tonight Darin is at his ‘Men’s Cooking Class’ he has been teaching at the Neighbourhood House. This week has been quite intense business wise. We have some pressure and decisions we need to make about our lease and we are looking at ways to expand and as always with a business there are many different ways to go and choosing one and committing to it requires head miles. I am enjoying this time alone to think. It’s been an interesting week and all kinds of information has come to me in interesting ways. I certainly know I am alive right now:).

I was a CRT today. I can’t call it teaching because it is a shell of what a teacher does. It’s actually relaxing (sorry to any teachers reading this). I guess it is like that because my heart is not invested in it. I am in and out. I don’t get too involved. My skill level at teaching has more than advanced the ability to manage a class of students, dish out work from their regular teacher, and support that work to be completed in the class. The ease sometimes makes me wonder what the hell I am doing slugging it out in a small business. I guess I am a sucker for a learning curve. That’s not to say I couldn’t learn more as a teacher, but I felt frustrated in that system. I liked the people and the school I worked for. I just don’t believe in that education system anymore. There are a lot of Sagittarian themes right there in that paragraph!

Anyway I will leave you with a quote from another blog I’ve started reading from the post ‘More About The Sagittarius Lunar Eclipse’

“Yes” is the Sagittarian motto. Sagittarius is possibility, options, hope, faith, trust, luck and chocolate (I lied about the last one….chocolate is actually ruled by Venus). Still, you get the idea. Sagittarius is a sign that brims with happiness.

Eclipses have an intimidating reputation but they are really just open doors. And tomorrow the door should open onto something really nice.

and whether or not it is sensible, that is exactly how I feel tonight.

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Tom was Here

30/05/2011 Joh family, love

Now he’s gone! Last night I collected him from the airport. His flight arrived at 11.30 pm. He was a much better travelling companion late at night, than he is early in the morning! He flies out again tomorrow morning and I just got home from driving him an hour or so down the road to catch a train into the city to meet up with friends. He’s staying closer to the airport tonight to avoid an early morning trip. I appreciate that!

I love having him home, even if it was for such a brief period. He is so positive to be around. He constantly makes me smile. We got to relive the fun times of his 21st and he filled me in on all the details I missed and vice versa.

Such as why I didn’t wash the dishes the morning after:

It was the closest I’ve been to one! I was surprisingly unperturbed, but I couldn’t have got any closer. I just noticed it move as I went to turn the tap on, I quickly put some distance between us let me tell you:).

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My Son is 21!

09/05/2011 Joh family, food, friends, gratitude, holidays, love

I could not be more proud of my son. He organised the most magnificent weekend for his family and friends. It was lovely to see where he works and to meet his friends and co-workers. They are such gorgeous and happy young people. I’ve known he was in a good place because of the growth and happiness I’ve seen when he’s been home to visit, but it was great to have it confirmed. He is so loved. His partner Dean was amazing and attended to all the details with love, he was in and out all weekend organising food, beverages, a gorgeous cake and making sure we were all well looked after. As a mum, I enjoyed hearing his friends tell me about how much they love him and share their stories and adventures with me. One of his friends made him this amazing book with photos and a poem, it was like a hardcover picture book. I was thrilled to see it. What a thoughtful and creative young woman.

He booked us all into opulent accomodation, catering for everyone’s needs. My parents stayed at Beach Club resort and were overwhelmed by the beauty of the place and service they received. We all stayed at the party house (The Round House). His dad and step mum had a place of their own because they have a baby. He looked after everyone and considered their needs. I had the best time. It was pretty hard to come home really.

I can’t believe my baby is 21. A lady came into ‘The Butchers Dog’ today with a baby boy and she looked so tired. I remembered when Tom was a baby, he cried a lot. I looked at her baby and thought I would do it all again because he has been such a gift to me. Not just this weekend but all his life. He has always loved and cared for me in ways that no else has even known to. He has shared his friendships and fun with me and it I’ve enjoyed being a part of his people as much as I do my own. I miss him fiercely but knowing he is living in a beautiful place, surrounded by loving people helps.

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So, I still don’t have a laptop- grrr Acer!

27/04/2011 Joh family, film, gratitude, holidays, home, learn, love, random

OK, so what I have learnt about being without a laptop and the internet by association, is that I rely on it for a lot of things. It makes life easier and more enjoyable for me. Perhaps I’ve come to take it for granted, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate it:). Yeah I have learnt how to do a lot more on my phone, and I appreciate that too, it makes me even more connected than I was before. Actually I don’t know if I do appreciate that! The thing is you can’t know less and I’m sure it could be useful.

Grrrr… the latest news is that I have to pay for recovery disks because my laptop is out of warranty now! In the space of a couple of weeks of being without a laptop because of a fault that was under warranty and getting it back and then not creating recovery disks, I have found myself without a laptop again for an extended period of time. I use my laptop a lot. I’m bloody annoyed. I can’t even begin to say how annoyed I am and how much I’ve learnt from this experience, so I’ll just get on with saying what I need to say.

I’ve had a great Easter. We had the kids for most of the break, which was lovely. We went fishing twice. The first time we got rained out at the sandbanks. The next day we went out along the creek and had fun skimming stones but no fish were to be lured by our noisy and fun loving party:). Next time! There were some great stone skimming feats and I think that was the more fun activity of the day. I would love to share the photo’s, but alas the laptop I am borrowing doesn’t have the software! 

We got to watch some great films due to the bad weather. Up! What a classic. I will never forget seeing it at the cinema in 3D with Darin and J(who was about 8 at the time). Darin and I kept looking at each other and at Jack. I cried and laughed. It’s a great film. We watched ‘Holes’. I love that I get to share all my old favourites again with Darin’s kids.  The kids went home to their mum’s cause it was her turn this year for the Easter bunny, and they returned the afternoon to have the hunt here. It was lovely to spend time with them and enjoy the chocolately indulgence.

I did manage to work on the clip for Tom’s 21st using my expandable hard drive and Darin’s laptop. I am not a big fan of lengthy speeches(particularly if I have to make them). I made a clip for Asha’s 21st of photos and songs that I felt were meaningful to her. People asked for a copy of it, so I felt that it was effective. I got good feedback:). I find times like that very emotional so I find it easier to just press play on something I prepared earlier, than to speak. I am so excited about Tom’s 21st. I haven’t been to Hamilton Island before so that’s exciting in itself. I hope he will let me publish it to the family once he’s seen it, cause I know many won’t be able to make it to the party and yet would love to enjoy the occasion. I know I have loved seeing photo’s of events I haven’t been able to attend.

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