What a difference a day makes!

Well, it was a real pity party yesterday and I lost the plot in the middle of the day. I couldn't look at my class I was crying so much. One of my colleagues came and took me out of my classroom and gave me a few minutes breathing space.

I also came home to this beautiful card that Danice had sent me. She is so talented and has a beautiful handwriting too!

I have a cold so decided that I'd stay at home to try to recover both emotionally and from my cold. Yesterday I phoned the hairdresser to get an appointment so my day started well with a hair cut. Then I went into the shops to find Colin an SA flag and to find some bunting for myself. The flag was easy but not the bunting! I finally tracked some down and hopefully I'll get it next week.

I came home and hung my sheets outside in the sunshine and started defrosting my deep freeze. And while that was happening I filed a huge pile of l/os - some of them from 2009! Look at that pile

By then it was time to fetch the cat from the vet and the boys were home.

I definitely feel better today and ready to face next week!

Broken heart

As I walk this land of broken dreams,
I have visions of many things.
Love's happiness is just an illusion,
Filled with sadness and confusion.
What becomes of the broken hearted
Who had love that's now departed?
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Maybe.
The fruits of love grow all around
But for me they come a tumblin' down.
Every day heartaches grow a little stronger,
I can't stand this pain much longer!
I walk in shadows,
Searching for light.
Cold and alone,
No comfort in sight.
Hoping and praying for someone to care,
Always moving and goin' nowhere.
What becomes of the broken hearted
Who had love that's now departed?
I know I've got to find,
Some kind of peace of mind.
Help me..
I'm searching though I don't succeed,
For someone's love, there's a growing need.
Oh, he is lost, there's no place for beginning,
All that's left is an unhappy ending.
Now what becomes of the broken-hearted
Who had love that's now departed?
I know I've got to find,
Some kind of peace of mind,
I'll be searching everywhere,
Just to find someone to care.
I'll be looking everyday,
I know I'm gonna find a way.
Nothings gonna stop me now,
I'll find a way somehow.
I'll be searching everywhere...

Fourteen Years

That's how long we've lived in New Zealand. Sorry the photo is so small. Look how little the boys were - they're now great big hulking teenagers who eat everything in sight!

It's also 14 years since Diana died

My new camera

I have been eyeing this one for months - an Olympus XZ-1! And what makes it so special? Well, look at that lens! The i.Zuiko lens is F1.8 at the 28mm equivalent end and it's still a very impressive F2.5 at the 112mm setting. (That last sentence is from dpreview). For me, the beauty is it has no lag! It is 10mp with a 4x optical zoom

This is a photo I took of the proteas on my desk just before 6pm with no flash.

It's a very beautiful camera and I can see myself using it a lot. My other Olympus is also a great camera but they will both have different functions in my life

My Creme Brulee

So what do I do with mine?

Instead of vanilla beans I found this vanilla paste - works even better than beans!

Then I have so far served them a bit warm but I had two left over the other night so put them in the fridge. Oh my word - they are wonderful cold! And if you don't have a blow torch, caramelise the sugar under the grill in an ice bain marie so the custards don't get hot

And then what to do with the left over egg whites? Make meringues of course! My recipe uses three egg whites and one-and-three-quarter cups of castor sugar. But I had four egg whites. Just as well I can do Maths: divide by 3 multiply by 4 and there I had it - 2 and 1/3 cups of sugar - easy!

And then serve with strawberries, melted chocolate and cream! Yum

And I still have more egg whites left so tomorrow night we will have Baked Alaska

Creme Brulee - a new favourite

We love Creme Brulee but only ever have it when we are out as I always thought it was so hard to make. No more. I found this Alison Holst recipe and while it looks complicated, it's really easy. It is nicer when it has been chilled in the fridge

For 4-6 servings:
2 cups cream (or 1 cup cream and 1 cup milk)
2 vanilla pods (optional)
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/8 tsp (pinch) salt
4-8 tsp caster sugar

Pour the cream (or milk and cream) into a small pot or microwave bowl. Add the vanilla pods (if using) and heat gently until it just boils.

Place the egg yolks, first measure of sugar, vanilla essence and salt in another bowl and whisk together.

Remove the vanilla pods (if used) then pour the hot cream mixture into the bowl and whisk again. (If you did use the vanilla pods, you can split them lengthways, gently scrape out the tiny black seeds and add these to the mixture, too.) Pour the mixture through a sieve to remove any lumps, then carefully pour into the four to six ramekins, leaving a few millimetres at the top of each.

Arrange the ramekins in a sponge roll tin or roasting pan and carefully pour in enough hot water to fill to about halfway up the outsides of the ramekins.

Place the tin or pan in a preheated oven and bake at 150degC for 25 to 30 minutes or until the custard has just set (it will still appear a little jiggly, but not runny), then remove them from the oven.

Brulees are versatile and can be served while still quite warm in cool weather, or in warmer weather (or if you are working in advance) cool to room temperature or even refrigerate until required. Just before serving, sprinkle the top of each ramekin evenly with 1 to 2 teaspoons of caster sugar (the smaller quantity for small ramekins or more for larger ones).

Arrange the ramekins on a tray and place under a very hot grill (3cm to 5cm from the heat) for 2 to 3 minutes until the sugar melts and browns. (Alternatively, you can do this with a blowtorch if you have one.) Remove from the heat and let the caramelised sugar cool and harden to form a crisp layer, then serve immediately.

Variations: If you like coffee, try adding 1/4 cup whole roasted coffee beans instead of (or as well as) the vanilla pods. The beans will be removed when the mixture is sieved, but you can add two or three of the collected beans to each ramekin before baking. The just-baked custard has a mild coffee flavour, but this intensifies on standing.

Happy Birthday!

To Ross - 17 years old today. Here he is a few days after he was worn

and my gorgeous teenager

He's been a typical teenager and has been up and down; but we're coming out the other end and developing into a really nice person

22nd August 1992

Thought this was poignant for today but it's not to be. I suppose at least I got nineteen years and two wonderful sons

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KLPAMo5QTc

And yes the story is complicated. For now I am single parenting

She

She held her head high and looked the world straight in the eye. Celebrate her strength.

Kobi Yamada

I think this is my quote for this year - do you agree? What shall I do to celebrate?

Edit: I am going to WOW on Wednesday night and I have negotiated to buy my camera!

Snow!!

Well, I have no idea when last it snowed in Wellington but if I find out I will update. Update: it last snowed in Wellington 40 years ago! It started at about 4.15pm and it was very very light. We took a few photos and thought it was all over but then it came down quite hard

Colin with a light sprinkling of snow on him

Me with a few flakes in my hair and on my arms

A light dusting on the protea tree

Then it snowed harder. This is with the outside light on and the snow in the light

The Mitsy covered in snow - and this was after the boys had already swept a lot off it

Me outside in the light before it came down really hard and I decided I needed a warm jacket on

Looking over the back garden across the suburb

The branch of the tree that fell down

Braedon (a friend of the boy's) making a snow angel

All three boys having a snow fight

Colin in shorts!

Looking up to the main road

My footprints next to the path to the front door

And the power went out about 20 minutes after it started snowing! I had put a meal into the slow cooker much earlier today so we had a hot meal. The power did come back on just before 6pm

The kids loved it and went to the primary school with some of their friends to play in it. They came home around 6.30pm and headed straight for a warm shower then had dinner.

It was fun but I'm glad it won't last for too long

Scrapping

I have even done some scrapping these holidays! This one is the story of the revolting cocktail we had and uses one of the l/os from Nic Howard's Senz class. This one has the umbrellas, the next one doesn't. Question - with or wothout umbrellas?
Photos of the three of us - Adrian lying on a lounger; Colin with the revolting fishbowl and me with the beautiful lei around my neck. I love this one!

Another one from Nic H's class

And the buses!

I'm very pleased with what I've done and would hope to get some more done but groceries, laundry and marking will get in the way!

There's a light at the end of the tunnel

There's a Light at the End of the Tunnel

There's a Light at the End of the Tunnel

The inside might be as black as the night

But at the end of the tunnel, there's a light

That's how I'm feeling - I suddenly can see a bit of light and it's not so black out there. Last term it was all I could do to think and scavenge something to put on the table at night to eat; today I'm planning meals for next week, next term.

Maybe it has to do with the fact that all the bad/hard things I've had to suffer this year so far seem to be coming right.

Adrian has issues but is working them through. I can get divorced now or I can hope that he can sort himself out and come back to me. I love him and want him back so I'll wait.

I was supposed to see a lawyer yesterday but she postponed until Monday so hopefully that "little" issue can get sorted out.

And today we interred my Dad's ashes at Whenua Tapu in the Ashes Plots. I am so pleased with the plaque that we had made at Glover's Memorials! It is so shiny you can see my reflection in it.

This is the view looking south from his plot. it is such a beautiful peaceful place

And just next to where he is is the train track! I tried to get this photo but the train went by too quickly. That's my Mom looking at the train. We chose plot #87 as that's how old he was and he was so pleased to be the oldest Woods.

We played " Amazing Grace" and I read out:

When God saw you getting tired
And a cure was not to be
He put his arms around you
And whispered come to me
He didn't like what you went through
And he gave you rest
His garden must be beautiful
He only takes the best
And when we saw you sleeping
So peaceful and free from pain
We wouldn't wish you back
To suffer that again
Today we say goodbye
And as you take your final rest
That garden must be beautiful
Because you are one of the best.

So little steps in that tunnel and it won't be long before I'm out in the sunshine

There's a Light at the End of the Tunnel

There's a Light at the End of the Tunnel

The inside might be as black as the night

But at the end of the tunnel, there's a light

Last week of the holidays

So what have I (we done)? Ross has recovered from his bad cold/infection and Colin has played PS3. Oh and he and I tidied the Tupperware cupboard! What a huge job that was, but now it's neat and tidy and I've got a big plastic box full of stuff to get rid of. I couldn't believe how many ice-cream containers we found either. I've always kept some as it's very convenient to send shared lunch food in because no one has to worry about the good Tupperware coming home; but so many!

I also did a bit of scrapping. I had my Raro photo printed on Monday when the special was still on at Harvey Norman and today I got out my incomplete Nic Howard Senz l/os and started using them. The colours work well and the 20 layouts class is just ideal for me and my lots of photos on a l/o.

Monday was so cold here - most of NZ had snow and particularly the South Island. There was snow on the hills just north of us. By contrast, today is beautiful! Bright sunshine and no wind. I even have the windows open letting in the lovely sunshiney fresh air. I suppose I should have put some washing on the line today.

Last day of holidays tomorrow and I still have lots of marking to do - I suppose I'll do it on Sunday!

Rarotonga

22°S and 159°W lie the Cook Islands of which Rarotonga is the largest. 32 km in diameter and with a population of 9,000 people and 100,000 visitors per year. What a wonderful five days we had! The weather was great - around 25°C per day made it very pleasant. On arrival we were each given these beautiful very sweet smelling leis.

We stayed at the Edgewater which was not elaborate but very pleasant nonetheless. The reef was fairly close in where we were so Adrian and Colin could snorkel quite easily. The first few days the visibility wasn't too good as it was a spring tide which churned up the water and created a bit of a current.

On the second day we saw two whales just beyond the reef. They spent at least an hour out there - it was a great sight!

Colin feeding the fish at the water's edge. You can see how close the reef was so the whales were not too far away

The mountains were just as beautiful to look at

Sunset was beautiful!

To get around the Island, you hire a scooter, a car or a bike ... or catch one of two busses: the anti-clockwise one or the clockwise one! Depending on where you want to go; the busses run every hour.

Even the Houses of Parliament are simple!

We all enjoy a cocktail when we are on holiday and on our last night, I said we could have a "fish bowl" - 1.8litres of cocktail! We looked forward to it and it was revolting!

One day we went out on a lagoon cruise and beach bbq which was such fun. The crew caught a turtle in the lagoon (most of the lagoon area is protected) which they put into the boat so that the marine wildlife department could come and tag it

We could go back to Rarotonga for a winter break any time and self catering is very easy there. it was a bit of a shock to get back to the miserable Wellington weather and it was raining so much I thought we'd skid off the end of the runway!

Oh, and we were seven hours late leaving Auckland airport (technical problems - as always!) so only got to Raro in the very early hours of the morning

Now I feel bad ....

the sunrise/set is not mine

End of Term

Thank goodness only two days to go! An eleven week term followed by two weeks in China with students and another eleven week term makes 24 weeks and I'm tired! Not to mention everything else that went wrong this year.

Last Saturday, I did some scrapping in the morning at home! I usually never get a chance to do that but Ross was at a friend's house, Colin was at football and I had three loads of washing done and outside. I did another four China l/os and I am coming to the end of my China photos now.

On Sunday, I headed to Havelock North along with some other teachers and 150 kids including Ross for the annual sports exchange. We adults stayed in a motel and the kids were at billets. It was a good sports day: we won ten, lost four and drew one so came away the winners of the exchange. We went up to play bowls and played at the Heretaunga Bowls club in Hastings and a very nice facility that was too. All indoors. We won 6-2 so were pleased with that.

No photos this time but will hopefully have more soon. I'm playing with my blog look because I get bored with it!

Some photos

None of them are the greatest photos but they should give you an idea!

My photos from China: I have used black with red and yellow and some patterned paper. This is the Chinese Lions - needs journalling!

Riding bikes on Xi'an city wall - I was so pleased when I found this bike paper!

Happy Valley theme park on our last day in Beijing

The 12 hour train trip from beijing to Xi'an

All about the hats that Colin bought

I found this photo of the boys when they were about 3 and 4 - so cute! I scanned the negative and printed the photo. Journalling left to do!
Senz:

I did two Nic H classes ao five l/os in total - none of them finished though! But they will be. I like Nic's classes: good clear instructions, lots of product, lots of fun, and extra kits to buy.

The photo of my bass guitarist was perfect for this (unfinished) l/o!

The Flip folder front - the page protector opens in the middle to reveal a 6x12 flap on each side and a centre 12x12. Very clever because you get the equivalent of three 12x12s on one page protector. However, did they have extra stock of these to sell? Of course not - order them and pay for the postage, please! And no extra kits - and I, as well as others, would have bought them ... if they'd been available

Opened up

Putting on the Ritz - very 3D and I'm not sure that I'll ever have photo to use on this one! Neither of them finished as they also needed some hand made, rolled flowers(!)

And if I haven't had enough to cope with, yesterday I got a letter saying I have been on the wrong pay scale and my salary was going DOWN by $10,000 per year - that's $384 per fortnight! What's going to go? And I believe they are going to write to me to ask me to pay back 7.5 years of overpay - I said they can "f-off"! The school is being very supportive and are doing all in their power to help ot. If needs be, I will go to an employment laywer