A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water -
Eleanor Roosevelt

A dear, dear friend of mine has been having a rough time of late. This quote was posted on her Facebook wall by another friend and I think it sums up the situation perfectly. It is good to see her smiling and laughing for the first time in 2 weeks. It is ggod to see her without tears in her eyes, ready to spill at any moment. It is good to see her three lovely daughters back to their normal, confident selves. And it is good to see her husband calm and out of protection mode.

I guess time really does heal all wounds.

Ten things in my life right now.........on this sunny Sunday.

1. Listening
To the hum of the airconditioner, the ticking of the clock, the general silence. It soothes me.

2. Eating
Frozen yoghurt icypoles. I don't like hot weather so I do anything I can to keep cool.

3. Drinking
Ice cold water. Mmmmmmm icy......

4. Wearing
As little as possible! Cotton skirts and singlets. Short shorts and singlets. Summer nighties.

5. Reading
Twilight. Non threatening romantic fluff. Well, except for the vampires and werewolves!

6. Weather
Warm, sunny, humid. Ugh!

7. Wanting
Night shift to end! I miss Hubby, even though he is in the house, he's asleep and I miss him.

8. Feeling
A great loss. Bad things are happening to people I love. I am taking the high road. But I am losing a great love of mine. So while I grieve the loss, I bask in the friendship I retain and am lightened by the knowledge of doing what is right.

9. Thinking
If I had a spine or a set of balls, I would say exactly what was on my mind. However, the ones who need to hear it would turn vindictive and so there is no point. I choose to keep my dignity.

10. Enjoying
Having an afternoon and evening to do with what I wish.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.

Anatole France

My Beautiful Babies

Fergus

Mickey

Colby

 



10 things in my life right now

Back to school today! No, not sweet freedom for me, as a childless (atm) person, Back to School for me means back to work after 2 weeks of blissful, child free days...... So how does this event affect my top 10? Read on and find out.....

1. Listening
To my iPod through my car speakers! For my birthday recently, my parents gave me a wad of cold hard cash (well, a hundy anywasy!!) Instead of the practical, I splurged on a thingy majigy that you hook into your car cigarette lighter and hook your iPod into and your playlists play through your stereo! Love love LOVE it!!!
2. Eating
Chocolate. Enough said. Okay, not enough said! It is lovely. It is soothing. It is yummy. I heart chocolate.

3. Drinking
Coffee, made lovingly by hubby in his new stove top perculator thing. Smells beautiful as you walk in the house, tastes yummy yummy and warm inside.

4. Wearing
Slips. I always thought slips and petticoats were for Nannas and people in the 1920s. But a few weeks ago I was convinced to buy a strechy microfibre black full slip from Jane the Intimo consultant and all I can say is Oh  My    God!! It makes my dresses fit so much better and keeps me so warm. So comfy I even sleep in it.

5. Reading
Work emails. 2 weeks away from email, you have a backlog! Timetable changes, yard duty changes, meeting schedules, swimming notices, Union matters, booking confirmations for excursions......gah! I spent an hour today reading, printing and responding to emails. Hopefully it all calms down soon.

6. Weather
Has turned nasty. It was 9 degrees at work today and I had double yard duty. Thank God I never clean out my car-drobe remembered to put my coat in the car this morning otherwise I would be frozen stiff. Shame I left my Flaturnie at home (a word for my winter hat - it's a cross between a flapper hat, turban and beanie - super cute and super warm).

7. Wanting
Things to turn out okay. I have a problem at work - confidentiallity means I can't explain - but it could turn into a major shitstorm crisis if things don't improve. Day 1, Term 4 - all is okay. Now please please please Allah, God, Unversal Mother, Shiva, let it stay okay.

8. Feeling
Loved. Appreciated. Lonely. Upset in the tummy (due to questionable butter chicken last night).

9. Thinking
That I'm ready for the next challenge in my life. Now for hubby to be totally on board......

10. Enjoying
That I have the support of my leadership team at work. They are awesome!! Prin has come a long way in the  sense of humour and approachability departments. AssPrin is the reason for this, and she is lovely and she is just my hero :)

So, day 1 at school and a very work centric post hmmmmm. They say teaching is not a job as you don't have regular hours; it is not a career because there is no corporate ladder to climb. It is a vocation and a lifestyle choice. I can see why.

 

Celebrate your inner Gleek!

Hi, my name is Nic and I am a Gleek! For the uninitiated, a Gleek is a fan of the hit TV show, Glee. It's the story of a high school show choir that struggles against the perception that being a member of the Glee club makes you the lowest loser in school.

The cast of Glee

I watch the show religiously every week (Wednesday nights, 8:30, chanel 10). I have every episode on DVD. I have downloaded every CD. I listen to them in the car every morning.

Glee's New Directions, performing with PASSION!!



My passion for Glee comes from being a member of a show choir myself. I started as a member of the Sunbury Divas in 2008. No longer able to commit to the group as much as I'd like, I made the decision to leave in 2011, only to find my new niche with SunVOX vocal company. Both choirs (and the Sons of Sunbury) are directed by the awesomely talented Mr Adam Przewlocki. The buzz you can get by working together to create a beautiful sound, the comraderie you feel, the fun and friendships you can make.......

The Sunbury Divas - awesome bunch of women (that's me, centre front - do I look shy?? See what it can do for you??)

I always wanted to be in the choir at school but I never felt like I was good enough. I regret it now and as a teacher myself, I encourage my students to join the school choir. There is no feeling quite like being on stage and making the audience smile. I am a shy person, I hate being the centre of attention, but I come alive on stage with my choir :)

 SunVOX Vocal Company, performing at the National Choral Eisteddfod, Canberra, where we placed 2nd in 3 sections!!

So do yourself a favour, if you haven't seen Glee, sit down for an hour next Wednesday and celebrate your inner Gleek. And if you've ever felt the need to sing, just do it!

Best get back to the DVD player - disc 2 of Series 2 is waiting for me!



Almost Wordless Wednesday

My perfect Spring day would involve lying in a sunny field surrounded by flowers with a good book in hand and someone to cater to my every whim.....and lots of Claratyne of course :)

10 things in my life right now.....

Taking inspiration from my buddy and blog inspirer Eloise, after a long absence I've decided to get back into blogging with her regular topic of 10 things.....

Here goes......

1.      1. Listening

I am sickened by much of the modern music being played on the radio today :( It is manufactured electronic, auto-tuned crap. (Yes, I'm talking about you, Justin Beiber, Katy Perry etc, etc). I fully admit to spending my youth obsessed with Bros and NKOTB, but I was also brought up with the Beatles, U2, the Stones, the Doors and Aussie bands like Crowded House and the Hoodoo Gurus. They knew how to sing. They knew how to play. They knew how to entertain! So after many years of toying with JJJ, after 16 years being with Rob who listens to nothing else, my radio is officially tuned into 107.5 permanently. Some of the music on JJJ is crap too, don't get me wrong, but at least I get to hear more than Katy Perry 10 times a day and Adele every 20 minutes. Actually, I do like Adele......

2. Eating

Apples. Sweet, juicy red apples. I find the green ones too tart. There is nothing quite like munching away on a beautiful Royal Gala, Pink Lady or every now and then a good old fashioned Jonathan. They satisfy my sweet cravings without me turning into the Goodyear blimp and they are so convenient - no peel, no containers, just wash or wipe and go. If you're like me and you never eat the core (I always had dreams as a kid of apple trees growing in my stomach if I ate a pip!), they are fully compostable and can be discarded in the closest garden. How long will it last? Who knows! But right now, I am typing this munching on a delicious Red Delicious!

3. Drinking

Soda water. Just plain. Sometimes I lash out and put a bit of lime in it, or buy the Schweppes with a twist of lime, but for the most part I drink it ice cold, as is. I love the bubbles, I love the tinny taste. On childhood trips to Hepburn Springs, we would take empty bottles and traipse to all of the natural springs, get a bottle of each one and spend the rest of the day drinking them all, usually mixed with cordial. Me, I was the only 9 year old I knew who preferred the sulphury ones all by themselves. Soda water settles my tummy when I feel sick, it quenches my thirst and it makes me feel like I'm drinking a soft drink without the bad stuff. The most underrated drink ever!

4. Wearing

3.      Tracky Dacks. It's school holidays. I am not in a professional capacity. I can wear what I like. I don't live in the same town as I teach so the likelihood of running into any families is pretty low. To be fair, they are more like yoga pants - you know the ones, lycra-y, no fleece, roll top ones. They are so comfy, they can be dressed up or down....but I'd never wear them out out, if you get what I mean :) Chuck on a pair of runners and you can go to the gym (haha), or go for a run (haha!!) Put on a pair of blingy thongs and a colourful cardy and you can go shopping without the embarrassment of being in your trackies!! Mmmmmm, trackies......

5. Reading

Marian Keyes. Specifically, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married. She is my favourite chick lit author. I love the way she writes. She makes her characters so real and so relatable that I read each of her books at least twice a year. Easy to read, easy to follow, no thought involved. She tackles issues in a light, kind way and every story ends happily. My teachers from high school and Uni would be having conniptions if they knew. I was, after all, a Literature major. So why read them? I have a vivid imagination and I am very, very sensitive. Things that I read, watch and hear have a huge impact on my emotions. I don't like spending days after I've read a thought provoking story in a deep depression, crying over the events experienced by fictional characters. I tried Jodie Picoult but I couldn’t deal with the feelings. As a sufferer of major depression, a horrible black cloud is always on the sidelines, waiting for the opportunity to roll in and swallow me up again and again. Through much time, support and hard work, I am able to keep it at bay most of the time, so reading uplifting froth and bubble is, for me, self preservation.

6. Weather

I love Spring! The flowers, the warmth (but not too warm), the showers that make everything feel clean and shiny again J I am at my happiest in Spring, particularly October. With October comes daylight savings, meaning longer daylight hours, meaning more time outside in my lovely garden with my even lovelier hubby. Planting and planning. Dreaming and doing. I am a bulb freak and the last of the spring flowers are just coming in – freesias! They have the most delightful perfume that is not overwhelming. Jasmine vines are flourishing. We have a veritable snow cover of blossoms on our paths. Everything seems possible in spring J

7. Wanting

Longer holidays? My school to burn down? A million dollars? Sure, all of those things would be nice. What I really want is quite existential.  I want to find me again. My depression stems from feelings of inadequacy, feeling that I am not good enough to do anything, to love. That I have to be what other people want me to be in order to be accepted. I know on an intellectual level that this is not true, that all I have to be is me…..but who IS me? Who am I really? I suspect who I am, I have been the true me before, a me that I like, a me who takes no shit from anyone, a me who met and fell in love with my Rob. I’m hiding just under the surface of my insecurities and my disease to please. I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, I can see everything I want on the other side of the crevice. I used to think all I needed was the guts to jump but now I know I have to build a bridge, then there is no fear about crossing. The bridge is ¾ finished. Fingers crossed it will be done soon.

8. Feeling

Content. Settled. Happy. Calm. Loved. Accepted. All important things for me. Things I never thought I would feel. It’s been a hard road to get here, but I am. Now to finish the bridge…….

9. Thinking

That I should get off my lazy butt and finish painting the outdoor furniture! The rain storm I thought was coming has decided to cancel it’s appointment with me so there is no excuse…..but I really can’t be fagged. And I just did a mani and I don’t want to chip it. And Judge Judy is on soon. And I’ve done 2 today. And I’m hungry. And I have to think of something for dinner, get on my blingy thongs and cute cardi and go buy food. And I have to do an airport pick up in 2 hours. So there’s a bit of a ‘not gonna happen today’ vibe about me!

10. Enjoying

The last 3 days of my holidays. I know, everyone thinks how awesome it is for teachers, getting 10 – 12 weeks of holidays a year. And true, it is one of the perks of the job. But the 10 weeks between holidays that school is on, it is full on! 8am – 5pm, half hour lunch break, 5 hours of motivating the unmotivated to learn, to work, to not annoy those students who are motivated. Refereeing playground disputes, teaching kids how to tie their shoe laces, blow their noses, clean up after themselves, play nice, speak nicely, manners, hygiene, nutrition, time management, resilience……then we have the core curriculum to cover – reading, writing, handwriting, grammar, spelling, number, space, measurement, chance & data, science, social studies, economics, environmental education, geography, history,  swimming, PE, sport, (yes there IS a difference!!) music, performing arts, visual art, LOTE, computers, social education, technology, personal learning, civics & citizenship, communication and thinking. Term 4 is the busiest time of year for teachers and it’s usually the longest one – in Victoria it’s 11 weeks this year, we finish on the Thursday before Christmas. I am about to work 70 hours of unpaid overtime, writing reports, while still delivering quality education for the 22 lovelies in my class. I have spent 2 days of my holidays preparing my program for Term 4. So yes, I fu*%ing earn AND deserve my 12 weeks of holiday a year!!!! (btw – no longer feeling so calm!!)