Kia ora!!

Hello from sunny Wellington! Can you see me waving from down there at the bottom of the map??? I am here! Did you hear that? I said SUNNY!!! And it is winter. Here I am in the sun.... in Diana's office. There is a church meeting on at the moment, so I am trying to upload some photos for you to see. Please note the artistic one above!

We arrived on Friday morning, after almost 24 hours in the air, and after surviving LA (more much later), nearly missing the connecting flight to Wellington, Andrew's case arriving after us, no sleep and much excitement, and Diana and her friend were there to meet us. I managed to stay awake till 8pm and then crashed, but by then, we had seen Diana's home, met some of her friends, been to collect the car, ventured to Scorching Bay to the Chocolate Fish and been up Mt Vic to see the views. Just wonderful, and hard to believe we are on the other side of the world.

Yesterday and today, I got up really early and went to the beach near by and watched the sun rise. It is so special to be sitting there on the rocks, watching the sun slowly cast its rays over the water, and to be listening to the waves. Today is just lovely...... a trifle windy, but lovely. Wellington is supposed to be windy after all!! Yesterday was somewhaty blighted by the fact that Ann sprained her foot, but happily, she is more mobile today. We did manage to go around Parliament, and she rode in style in a wheelchair. Then she and Andrew rested for a while and Diana, David and I did a little shopping, before going back to the flat for a super meal.

So there you have it. We are here. I have a new role...I am "Diana's Mum" and that is great fun! They all love her to bits, and tell me they have every intention of keeping her here..... and I am getting a real view of her life in NZ. I am loving every minute of it all!

We go off on our travels tomorrow, but I will be taking photos. 222 so far, and it is just Day 3!! I am doing my best here!

Nearly time to go

The sun shone today, and it looks as though it will be for the next few days. Typical, isn't it? I get ready to go away as the weather finally limps into a summer of sorts!

Excitement, mixed with a high degree of disbelief that I am finally going to see my daughter, is reaching fever pitch in the House of the Rocking Chair. There are about 4 things left on the list now, and one of them just happens to be "Pack". Um, yes. That would be good. I have travelled a lot, and I am good at packing. I always put out everything I think I might need, and then take half of it. I can get by with very few clothes on holidays. Diana assures me that they do indeed have shops, so in the worst case scenario, I can actually buy things I need. And exploring different shops will be great. Sigh. I cannot believe I am really going. Me. Right around the world.

It has been good too to have the time to relax here at home. It has not all been racing about and sorting things. There has been time to simply sit in the rocking chair and do nothing. I cannot tell you how much I have needed that! Sometimes I fill up my days to overflowing, and then wonder why I become ratty. The older I get, the more time I need to reflect a little and relax.

So much to be thankful for.

1. The friend who made it possible for me to go to NZ
2. The prospect of a holiday with all of my children
3. The friends who are looking after our home
4. The friend who is taking us to the airport
5. The joy I am feeling right now

It is time to put away all the other "stuff" for a while. It can wait. Life is all about living right now. It is today that counts. Cliches I know, but true anyway. We are going to make some memories. Happy fun ones. I can't wait.

Half-term is over

The holidays are at an end, and I am not ready to go back to school tomorrow. Too much "hard" stuff to deal with in the coming days, not least what I will be doing next term. I have some tough decisions to make and am no nearer to making them. I have appointments with lawyers arranged, and it will soon be the anniversary of Geoff's death, and David starts his exams tomorrow, and Mum needs me around more, and ......... oh well. This is life at the moment. No-one said it was going to be a doddle, did they.

After a week of diabolical weather, we have had 3 stunning days of sun, and we have made the most of them. There are no guarantees in England when it comes to weather! Friday was gardening and allotment planting day. The rabbits are having a banquet down at the allotments, and I had to go and get fencing for the new veg we planted. Jean and David and I rigged up what we hope will be rabbit-proof barricades, and so far they have not been able to get in. There was a good deal of laughter as we tried to get fencing to stay straight. (Add that to the new skills pile.)
Yesterday was lovely. Time to relax and enjoy my family and friends.

This photo was taken yesterday while I watched the babes swim in their new play pool in the sun. There was much shrieking of delight, and water splashing and ice-lollies and suncream and sitting chatting to my friends as we watched the fun. Many smiles. Water + kids = happiness. The simple things in life. I took many, many photos!

In the evening, we went to my friend, Tessa for supper. She has the most beautiful garden, and we just love going there. Here are some cows in the field next to her house. Diana will remember them well. They once chased her across the fields.

So you get to see a little of the English countryside. And cows. It was wonderful sitting out in the garden, and listening to the birds. And cows. And I swear I heard a donkey, but there was no sign of one. So maybe it was a cow. (It did make a very strange sound.... very un-cow-like.

Today has been lovely. After a wonderful church service this morning, I went to the monthly shared lunch, at Nicky's place. We all take plates of food to share, and there are usually about 8-12 families who get together. More sitting in the garden, more photos, and more laughter. We all used to go to the same church, and have moved on to many new ones, and this is a way of staying in touch, and we so enjoy it.

And then tonight, after a snooze this afternoon, we all went to Peter and Glynis for a BBQ. So I have done NO cooking this weekend, and have been spoilt rotten. Being able to be outside is always great. And being with special friends is even better. We interrupted Matt's afternoon sleep when we arrived, and I did say I would post a photo of him here, but I will keep him in suspense a little longer.

So, it is back to normal tomorrow. I have a great deal to be thankful for, I know. And I am, believe me. There are just some mountains out there which look very steep and treacherous at the moment. And the trouble with mountains is that they come in ranges. With lots of peaks. Oh well. One at a time. And summer is here.

School is out for a week

I am on holiday from school for a week. Our year does not end until 20th July, so we still have a way to go and plenty of high stress exam time as well. This is our last halfterm of the year. And it has not come a moment too soon.

This has been a week of highs and lows. Horrible lows. We will cover the lows first and then end on a high or I could ruin your weekend. I wrote a post last night, and then did not publish it because it made me more miserable just to read it.

The school I work for is restructuring at the moment. That means no-one feels secure, and everyone is watching their backs. It means that the stress levels are higher than ever, and demands are impossible. I have been trying to clarify my position ever since I leapt into teaching, (at their request.... well, they begged) and have run into brick walls all the time. Different agendas, in-house politics, and empire buiding. You name it - it is happening there. My job? Well, I have some decisions to make. They wanted my decisions today. After giving me the option yesterday. Not possible. I need facts and figures, and time to think.

Sigh. I am going to have to start another secret blog which I can password protect for my friends away from here so I can say what I want to say. Frustration and weariness. Those mountains I talked about plodding up merrily? Hah. Don't believe a word I say. Everest is a dwarf. And I am sliding backwards down the slope with increasing pace, wearing roller skates. Staying still would be a mega achievement right now. And the exhaustion makes things worse than ever. I am in a slump. IN. A. SLUMP. I just want things to work. I want things to be calm and fine for a while. I don't want to have to make important decisions. I just want to work hard, do my job and have something of a life.

Enough of the misery.

Glynis and I went to IL DIVO on Wednesday night. It was superb. And the supporting act was a young pianist from America called William Joseph. He was wonderful too. I am getting old, you know.... the initial burts of music at a zillion decibels nearly fried my brain. But after a couple of songs, I was acclimatised. As I keep sighing when I hear them sing.... "Their mothers must be SO proud of them", to my kids' amusement.

The NEC Arena was packed, and I bonded with my neighbour. I mean bonded. She was not petite. And overflowed onto my seat, and our sides, in the heat, sort of welded together. I had given up on the glamorous bit, you understand. I actually rolled my trouser legs up to the knees to avoid passing out from heat. At my advanced age anything is allowed. But the music was beautiful, and the half hour walk back to the car park was fine as it was not raining, and the hour drive was also ok, despite the roadworks which appeared while the concert was on. This was the last Christmas present I had to open. Glynis and Pete gave me my ticket for Christmas, and I can safely say it was worth waiting for.

So now I have to start on that list of "to do" things. Like planting my bedding plants, re-roofing the shed, cutting the hedge. Quiet, relaxing things. I may even post a picture of me perched on the shed roof with a hammer between my teeth. Or maybe not. Or up the ladder wielding hedgetrimmers in a manic fashion. You just never know..........

I love Bank Holiday weekends!

And this one has been busy so far. Just knowing we have Monday off makes all the difference. On Friday, I went to a 50th birthday party, and I have just come back now from a 60th birthday party. This is party weekend in the village, it seems. Sitting out in the garden this afternoon watching the kids and the chickens,and dogs play was great. The sun attempted to shine, but now it looks like rain, thank heavens. The allotment needs water. And I am recovering from an excess of party food. My jeans are garrotting my stomach. Groan. The chocolate tart, birthday cake etc..... oh my word. My self control was clearly left at home.

Yesterday was a day of meandering about.... to friends for tea, shopping, freinds here for tea, lying on the bed reading. (The friends were not joining in with that one!) Church this morning, and I will not be looking at work till tomorrow.

My birthday is looming on the horizon, and this afternoon, Pete and Glynis told me they are having a buffet lunch to celebrate. How lovely is that! Glynis and I are off to see Il Divo the week before, which will be wonderful. I have no problem with my age. It still amazes me when I see the numbers, but I see every year as an opportunity to have more advebtures and discover more about myself. The fact that I have a son who will be 30 next week is more disturbing. How on earth did that happen? He was a gorgeous baby just a short while ago. Now he is a gorgeous married man.

The blogging world fell silent for a while this past week, as we all waited and prayed for Heather to have her brain op. I, for one, just did not feel that anything I might have said had any importance. Her short post yesterday was just stunning. " I am still standing". How amazing is that.

Things are changing at work, and I am not sure if I am comfortable with some of the things that are happening. I was just beginning to feel more confident about what I am doing, and now all that is out the window and I have to start again in another direction. Maybe. Maybe I need to move on. I don't know. Lots to consider. I keep reminding myself that "it is just a job" and not my entire life. I need to remember not to let it take over everything. People are more important. And I need a life too. My son needs a mother. My mother needs a daughter. My friends need a friend. My sister needs a sister. I need to be me. Sigh. I am rambling again. It must be an excess of carbohydrates. And sugar.

BUT

Tomorrow is a holiday! I get to go and water the allotment. I get to stay in bed late. I can read. I can play. (I feel like Boomama's Alex, and feel I should be speaking in CAPS with exclamation marks all over the place!) I am going to have FUN!

End of the holidays

Tomorrow we go back to school. I could do with another few weeks holiday, but I am sure mothers out there are very happy their little cherubs will be back to school. I remember those days well. I have no idea how this term will pan out, as we have a new department head starting tomorrow and I will have to wait and see what is planned. I do know that we have exams and work experience and all the associated upheavals to look forward to, and course-work to start as well.

Last half-term holiday, I worked straight through, but this time, I have listened to advice, and to myself too, in the end, and have done no work. I needed the break, and it was good. I could have done without the virus or the (continuing) deafness. Tomorrow will tell if this was wise or not!

Today has been the most beautiful of days, and we went to church and then to the babes for lunch. It was wonderful to sit out in the garden, in the sun, and watch them play. A lovely way to end the holidays. They are growing up so quickly. I cannot believe the twins will be starting "proper" school in September. It seems just yesterday that they were born.

So here we go back into the fray. I am reminding myself every day of the thoughts I have every time I go and walk in my mountains. I need to remember balance, and to aim for that. So why do I already have a headache?

Home again

Apparently the weather here has been great, but today is grey. No mountains in sight. We are home. The trip back was predictably exhausting with trains and busses and planes and more busses involved. Once I retrieved the car from the far distant carpark at the airport, I thought it was a simple run home. To bed. Hah! The complete idiots powers that be running the roadworks closed off the on ramp to the motorway, so off we went on a midnight "let's wander through the moonlit countryside" trip. Hunched over the steering wheel with gritted teeth. Muttering. We finally got home 1 and a half hours later than we should have. BUT wonderful friends had left milk and bread and collected the post, so we could have some coffee and then topple into bed. Bear in mind that it was 2.30am European time by then.

I should not moan. I had 4 stunning days in the most beautiful place on earth, so I should be thankful. I love travelling. But actually propelling mother and assorted heavy bags through the process, ably assisted by my son, is not a complete joy.

My post today is mundane to the extreme. I have a lot of reading to do to catch up with everyone. I have taken mother shopping for food, and done battle with the power companies to retrieve overpayments. I have caught up with friends who have also had this horrible virus. And I am completely deaf from the pilot's decision to plant his plane on the runway after a nosedive. Well, it just actually seemed as though we descended rather rapidly, and my ears are still stuck at 38 000 ft. Inconveniently. I am now in need of an ear horn. Note to any pilot fortunate enough to be flying me anywhere....I need gentle descents. Slowly gliding downwards. Drifting like a leaf in the wind. None of this " Whoah...there is the runway.... let's land. Now. " nonsense.
I suppose the fact that I only paid £3.99 (+ tax) to fly there means there could be drawbacks. (Flying back was more, so don't get too excited.)

I have suddenly realised that I have turned into my grandmother. My Mum is quiet and gentle. Granny was a trifle more intimidating. She might have stopped to have a word with "the young man driving the plane" on her way in to her seat. And listed her requirements. Heaven help anyone if it had been a woman pilot. I am rambling. Enough. I am deaf. Did I mention that LOUDLY enough?????

I have 2 more days of holiday to:

1. Clean this house
2. Scrub the floors
3. Do the washing
4. And ironing
5. Write lesson plans
6. Sort the garden
7. Read a zillion blogs
8. Work out how I managed to kill my camera completely
9. Go and look at the allotment
10. Persuade my son to do some work
11. Sort out my sewing room
12. Springclean the entire house (as opposed to just cleaning)
13. Visit friends
14. Have fun
15. Do some reading (book club is here at my place in a couple of weeks. I must buy the books too)

Personally, I think I could concentrate on the last 3 and forget the rest. And make some more coffee. Did I mention the small fact that I brought home Swiss chocolate?

Holidays - Part 1

Well, I am home, and behind me as I speak, are my 2 sons and my daughter-in-law. Talking about blogs. My last post was actually WRITTEN IN AN INTERNET CAFE. Be impressed. I went into one for the very first time, and then the officious little man tapped me on the shoulder and said...3 minutes left, and I got into a flap and hit the publish button and then had to ask how to delete the history stuff etc etc etc. Oh well.... something new I have learnt. How to use a computer in an internet cafe. In Skegness. Where the wind is VERY VERY cold.

Spring Harvest is an annual Christian event, and there are 3 weeks available in 2 places in the UK, and we go to the Word Alive week, which has the student stream. There are seminars, talks, workshops, and main events, Christian rock bands, huge worship meetings with the most amazing music, and speakers. This year, Charles Price from Toronto did the main talks in the morning, and Jeff Lucas, who is based in Colorado, did some of the evening ones. He is one of the organisers. I met him and had a chat on the last night. 7 000 people all there to listen, learn and take part. And the bookshop. Sigh. I could have done with a lotto win, and a lorry, but had to make do with one or 2 great new books.

David turned 18 on Tuesday, and had to suffer the humiliation (to an 18 year old boy) of having the entire diningroom singing to him. He loves going to SH, and was with his friends, and having such a wonderful time. (My baby is 18. How did that happen???)

I spent a lot of time walking on the beach. I went to some things, but not to others. It was a strange time, in a way, as it was the first time I have stopped and done nothing since last summer, and of course, predictably, the waves rolled in, but I had some space to think.

Now we have a few days at home, before we go to Switzerland, and my boys are both home. The washing machine is on, and the house is a tip, but it doesn't matter. If I had stayed home, I would have worked. It is good to get away completely. And to be with my family.. And to walk on the beach a while.

I'm FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

School is over for this term, and the Easter break is here, and I am on holiday for 2 weeks! Today was. of course, the longest day ever, but I shot out the door after school and now I can relax for a while.

The temptation is to stay home, work and get things sorted for next term, but I did that last holiday, and now I need to take time for me. So we will go to Spring Harvest tomorrow and I will walk along the beach (possibly at a 45 degree angle in a howling gale, but who cares....it is a beach) and take time to unwind, and then next week we go to Switzerland for a few days. More time to walk, this time in the mountains. Food for the soul. All the rest can wait. It is only a job, after all.

I may not be able to post for a while, but I will be back, with photos too.

Murder mystery night

Everyone should round off a school term with a good murder mystery evening. I had the dubious honour of being Paddy O' Lay. An Irish gambler. A male Irish gambler who bets on horses. This necessitated a visit to the shop to buy the Racing Post, a paper I have so far never felt it essential to buy. So, wearing a tweed jacket, tweed hat, with my hair tucked into it, brown trousers, binoculars (for spotting the horses) and the Racing Post tucked fetchingly under my arm, I arrived for the murder mystery, singing "Ireland Oh Ireland, together standing tall" loudly at the front door. (For those not in the know, this is the very stirring song played before Ireland plays any rugby international. I love it. It is also the ONLY Irish song I could muster at that moment.) Sadly, I do not have a photo of Paddy. You will have to use your imagination.


"Top o' the morning to ya" was the only Oirish accent I could come up with so I repeated that ad nauseum. But how we laughed. You arrive in character, and the entire evening you stay in character. Well, until the murderer is discovered. I am happy to report that I was innocent. Simon, Jackie and Jean had done a splendid job of decorating with signs and notices, and the dinner was quite splendid too. Please note the details. We even had a drinks trolley.

We were stuck in a snow drift on a train in 1925, after all, in the First Class carriage. Of course there was a drinks trolley.

These evenings are a lot of fun, and as there were 6 teachers there, it was all the more reason to relax. Holidays are here!

I waited to see if the schools were closing again yesterday before heading off to work, and many did, but not ours. However, less than half the kids turned up for school, and they were the ones who are generally "good" and who want to work, so it was a lovely day working with co-operative pupils. Oh if only it was always like that!

Escape

Simon and his tyre blower up thingy

Bekah who turns 5 tomorrow

Ferries

Dishwashers

Jean's hospitality (and great food!)

Well, the bags are packed and we're (almost) ready to go. I cannot tell you how much I need to get to the mountains and stop thinking. So does David. We need to get away from the phone and the infinite number of things that crop up each day. Everything can wait now. I would prefer to be beamed up and plonked down there without having to drive for 9 hours across Europe, but that is not going to happen, so we will just head off and get there when we get there. I know what I mean.
Friends have been wonderful, and will be looking after everything here, including the beans and tomatoes of course. So I can go and not have to worry about anything for a little while. And being in the mountains certainly does restore my soul. I will report in once we are there.........