Correspondence

A friend, who is loaning me a series of books, asked me that today, "Has it stopped raining in Qld yet?"

I replied, "We have had 2 sunny days in a row - let's see if we can have a 3rd tomorrow.  We have become so accustomed to the rain we almost regard it as normal and blink like blind Gollum when the sun shines. Just when we think we might see a week of clear weather to let things dry and stop the mold growing we are rapidly disappointed. I swear I have lichen growing on my undies.

So in a word: NO.

Looking forward to the books - need something that doesn't have to be renewed every week. I really regret giving the library by email address because I get two "friendly reminders" every week.

Well meaning but...

When people say to me, "Drive safe, take care, don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
I have an overwhelming desire to break the motorbike speed record wearing nothing but a leather g-string.  Mmm...probably best if you DON'T try to imagine that one.

Not so clever....

Today I exhausted my drama queen and then deprived of her midday sleep so that she would go to bed at a decent hour. By 6:30 she was begging for nigh-nigh and by 7:00 she was asleep. YAY! I might finish the grant at a decent hour. WRONG! She was up at 9pm and 10pm and 11pm through to 1am. More fool me.

GrantSpeak

Dealing with government departments is always interesting. They really are lovely, helpful people but their job sometimes prevents them from speaking freely so I am gradually building a collection of what they say and what they mean. Here are some recent examples...

"We're over subscribed and it would not like you to go to the trouble of preparing an application." Means, "We have already spent the money even though the submission deadline is weeks away."

"Um...yes, that is rather obscure. In the past we have usually posted a separate official grant application. That's a very valid enquiry  I'll ring you back."  Means, "@#$%^&! Can't Tenders post standard information?! Now EVERYONE will be ringing up for the forms!"  (note: they are currently amending the website)

"Could you please send your enquiry to the official email address so that you have an answer in writing." means "If I answer that and I get it wrong I'll be in trouble." (Grant guidelines are sometimes deliberately obscure in order to give the grant clerks the flexibility to squeeze through applications which deserve funding but don't quite fit the criteria.)

And my favourite, "I'm afraid I can't disclose that but when the minister announces it next month there won't be any nasty surprises"  means "You got the grant!"

I never met a carb I didn't like...

Very occasionally I find banana verde at the markets. Today was such a day. I am in heaven.
Chifles y patacones y balles de verde... QUE RICA! 

But wait, there's more

Skye is teething again...3 eye teeth no less. OMG she is evil. Palming her on Michelle and marking exams at school all Sunday looks better by the minute.

Sucked in again

Since when did, "I need a little help on Saturday" actually mean, "Can you be the soccer referee?"  Obviously I am ignorant of soccer lingo and as a result am now reffing the under 6s. But somehow I think they are getting the worse deal because my team sport prowess resembles an undernourished mushroom.

It's not a TRAIN!

WOOHOOO!!! Eri Belz, a genuinee Nihonjin, is to take the full time LOTE position for our district. I'm sure I will love her! Just 5 weeks countdown to sanity.

I see a light!

Let's hope it is not an oncoming train. Seems there is a newly qualified teacher who is a native Japanese speaker soon to be interviewed. PLEASE let her be worth employing!  Nevertheless, all is well in my classes. The kids are progressing very well, their pronunciation is good and they're enjoying the subject.

Meaningless...

The grade 8 students were given 3 basic literacy tests. 20%  were way below average as they did not bother to try because there is no direct reward in it for them. Is this a result of the NAPLAN preparation we assail them with every week?

Phone Pics from Michelle

You can't make me!
 

 Mummy! She said "No!"



Skye is my tanty queen. Can't wait for her to reach highschool.

My Bio???

The NGO I work for had its AGM last week and they asked for a bio - limited to approx. 30 words.

I was tempted to write, "Goooodies, goody goody Yum Yum! 'Cause that's what I do "Anything, Anytime, Anywhere".  But I chickened out because I don't actually know the committee. So I wrote this...

Tamara Kelly  B.A., B.Ed. (this means I can read) Educator for 20 years in language, communication, IT, science & environment. Interested in all forms of sustainability. Married with young children and the usual menagerie. Enjoys people - preferably with a nice red wine and a honey-soy sauce.


...I wonder if they used the last line?

Paraphrasing

To BED: perchance to SLEEP: aye, there's the rub;

TEACHER WANTED

Anybody want to teach Japanese to the WHOLE of rural Bundaberg and a part of North Burnett Shire?

Saddle Up

The wheel has turned and I'm back to teaching Japanese again. I wonder how long it will take for the highschool to find a teacher?

Wanna see my stud?

Late last year I met a big red boy, with a physique any male would kill for. I salivated over the sight in front of me and decided I was in love. In 2012 I'll be watching him perform at Beef Week and hopefully soon I'll be able to afford a juicy, Brangus stud! Honey! He can come up and eat my turf any time!

But let us digress...
10-ish years ago I was driving with Sonoko, a Japanese friend, and pointed towards a white cow in the distance and said, "That's a Brahman!" She looked confused and relied, "Not sheep?" I was floored and stated "A Brahman is a type of cow."  Sonoko responded, "But sheep are white."

I chuckled over this for years until I arrived here and the shoe was suddenly on the other foot. Locals would ask me what sort of cattle had come with the property and I answered, "Brown". If they pressed the point I would say, "With white faces." And they would tell me with delight I had Herefords.

Nevertheless, for the next 6 years they remained "Meh! Just cattle." Until last September, while visiting Kristine Dingle's farm, she introduced me to the Brangus breed. No kidding I was gobsmacked at how beautiful these cattle were and I made a complete idiot of myself blabbing, "Oh my god! They look DELICIOUS!" I am sure she was completely unimpressed but I don't care - I WANT Brangus cattle and the more I learn about them, the more interested I become.

Suddenly I realised I was back in Asia. To start with everyone looked the same but after a month or so I was able to readily distinguish everyone properly. Now, living in Gin Gin you could say I am becoming more familiar with the locals....

That's my boy...

Kirk pleads, "Can you read me a book?"
My reply, "Yes, IF you can find 3 words you already know for me first."
"ARRHH! The man who writes the book hides them!"

Smoked Duck Pate

Butcher 3 birds.
Rub birds with salt, sugar and olive oil.
Hot smoke them with double sawdust.
Place them in a huge pressure cooker submerged in water.
Chop and add a full clove of garlic, onion and a tablespoon of peppercorns.
Cook them for a few hours until the meat falls from the bones.
Cool and remove the bones.
Reboil and mash well or machine-blend gently.
Scoop out and press into loaf molds.
Chill overnight and serve.
Bon Appetite!

And now you have a palatable use for old chooks. Fair dinkum you would not know the difference.

Sand Artist

Worth a look.

Yesterday, I went shopping...

...and I bought....
2 tiny cucumbers for $4
a dozen eggs for $6
fresh corn for $1.50 per cob
a small sugarloaf cabbage for $4
potatoes at $5 a kilo
a lettuce for $4
OH MY FREAKING GOD! These are city prices! We pay less than 1/2 this price normally for local grown produce. Thankyou mother nature for reminding me why we left Gold Coast. I have decided instead to drink wine - it's cheaper.

Adapt or perish

Today I noticed residents of Goodnight Scrub emerging from their turnoff with all manner of watercraft strapped to their car roofs. They have been cut off for a month and as you will understand from the ABC interview, it really does not bother them greatly. I appreciated Ray's comment, "Some people work. We brought 2 gentlemen over early to go to work."  I wonder if they will ever really want the bridge improved? 

SHE WALKS!

Skye is able to walk...and climb and demand, "UP!" She refuses to sleep because it is all so exciting. So many things to climb, again and again and again.

Discworld

Sean & I cleaned out his office and unearthed this 15 year old game. Kirk desperately wanted to play Discworld so Sean got it going and we are now sitting here, astounded, for so many reasons. However it is a good game for Kirk because there are only a few operations allowed. A few years ago I bought the current incarnation of Kidpix and was disappointed because it had so many new features it was impossible for a small child to use their own creativity and learn the basic functions so we defaulted to using Paint.  Mmm...I have Sim City & Dune of the same vintage in my collection somewhere.

I spy with my little eye

A firetruck....with a yellow zodiac strapped to the roof.

New frogs???

I just heard something really odd. Definitely a frog but like a clucking chook...and I'm hearing a lot of different calls...so much rain is causing a population explosion which is good because after all this rain there will be a HUGE insect explosion.

I was confused over peron's & tyler's tree frogs and have decided we must have both because I am sure I have seen both of these and heard both the calls.

Yesterday I uncovered a rocket frog it looked like this  Feycient's frog  but larger.

Nevertheless, I think we may also have
beeping froglets
clicking froglets
Broad palmed rocket frog

Sigh...the smaller homonid species, Mischieveii is calling.  Yum yum time again.

Mud Season Again

Happy 1st Birthday to Skye

Try something different

I love cooking almost as much as I love eating. To keep it  interesting I give myself challenges. They go in and out of fashion depending on employment. Some of these ideas started off as environmental ideas but they've grown on me and I simply enjoy the challenge now. Here are some of them.

• Buy nothing for a fortnight.  I can manage a month but Sean gets jack of no bread and milk.
• Eat local. Try to buy everything grown within a 300km radius.
• Spend a month eating one nationality's cuisine.
• Vegetarian
• Minimal packaging.
• Buy nothing I can't make myself. So I still have to buy cheese and and a few Asian products (miso paste, seaweed paper for sushi, rice paper for spring rolls) or leave them off the menu.

In the new year I'm planning to expand my ability to cater for allergies and food taboos. At each SCA event we cater for people with the following exclusions: seafood, pork, alcohol, lactose, gluten, salicylic acid, allium family, spice of any sort, mushrooms, caffine, chocolate, sugar (inc. fruit), high GI, fat & meat. In addition to this we need to make sure the food is from the time period of 600 to 1600.  Surprisingly, this is not too hard until we get to salycilate allergy, then things get very tricky.

I thought also I might try a week each of; one-pot cooking, BBQ only, Buddhist, paleo, 4 ingredients...

Does anyone have any more ideas for me?

More calves

2 more calves were born this week but one has died. The poor Frisian cow must have hidden her calf near the creek because she has been pacing along the bank bellowing. Hopefully her milk will dry up soon. Oh well...nature takes no hostages.

A funny thing happened on my way to the post office

A fortnight ago I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of a package ordered especially for the last day of school. And because I needed it so fervently of course ebay & Pay Pal screwed it up and sent the package to my previous address in Southport. (?!) Considering all the successful transactions I have had with ebay via PayPal this one stumps me too. I had a hard time tracking the package but yesterday it FINALLY arrived and the tool I bought isn't just the duck's nuts - I can even MAKE the duck's nuts! With this tool I can sculpt wool without spending a whole day up to my armpits in soap. The dry felting technique is quicker, more successful than wet felting and is as portable as crochet. But the best thing about this needle felting tool  is it demands instant respect from anyone in the immediate vicinity.

Bring on the Bubbles

Oh well...the three bags of wool did not go over so well. They had a go at processing the wool but were determined NOT to do the science. So we watched movies and played the computers. What a dull way to end the year.  Would they have been more interested if I told them they could set fire to things?

Bring me another tall glass of bubbles will you, Dear?

HATCH

GOOD NEWS: Ziva Rose was  born last Thursday to Chris & Cat Kelly
Congratulations :-)

White White Wi-i-ine

Sparkle for me-ee-ee
Helps me forget that I
Have just one more day to go-o-o

White White wi-i-iine
Stay close to me-e-e
Make them leave me alone
When the bell ri-i-ings

Tonight I am savoring the sensation of almost finality.

It has been a dreadful fortnight.
Skye, Kirk and I have been sick with the flu and croup and the miasma is lingering.
In the middle of it I had a pile of urgent work for BIEDO.
Then I had some assessment due for the my teaching registration but was unable to extend the date more than three days because crucial websites were going down for maintenance.
Then I had little jobs - things that mean something to other people. Like meetings, IT support, student assessments....etc..ad nauseum...
Then the bills rolled in...phone, teaching rego, teachers' union, car rego, car service & maintenance.

BUT FINALLY
It's that last class of the year.

I've got Baa Baa Black Sheep's 3 bags of wool.
I've got all the materials prepared.
I've got my professional patter down pat.
And...Tomorrow it ends and I will be free.

It tastes like a sparkling Cuvee....over ice.

Reviewing

This week I revisited my goals for Kirk's homeschooling. They were based on the EQ's Essential Learnings modified to suit Kirk and our lifestyle.  The good news is he is well above average in numeracy, science understanding and linguistic abilities (no surprises there). However his artistic, small motor and conventional literacy skills are just ordinary which reflects a lack of interest and disinclination towards risk taking rather than a lack of ability.  His visual literacy is pretty good so I am sure his interest in reading and writing will fire up soon.

His maturity has developed in some ways - he is better able to control his temper and is starting to understand his responsibilities as a brother. He has become aware of emotions and their outward expressions - he can deliberately act as he chooses.  His sense of humor has also expanded. He is "trying on" a lot of things to see if they are funny to the people around him but much of it is just seeking a chance to be silly which will be fine once he has figured out time and place.  Possibly the best thing about Kirk's maturity is he is appreciative. If someone gives him a present - no matter if it is small or old or cheap - he loves it and immediately uses it. In fact if something has been pre-loved he values it more, "My cousin gave me his shirts! WOW! Don't I look great in them?!"

Intellectually...he's a thinker. He fantasises and creates elaborate, macabre scenarios which he plays out with whatever is to hand.

Physically. He taught himself to ride a bike and we discovered he has a natural talent for discus. He enjoys swimming and improves by the month.  But...he runs like a confused chook and how his lanky legs get him to the finish line is a miracle. Have tried a couple of times to teach him karate when he has demanded I teach him to fight but he just doesn't have the focus, awareness or toughness to deal with being knocked around. I think we shall keep the enemy at a distance and stick with archery.

Enough. Onwards to the new year.

You just know it

I was standing in Maccas tonight and a family walked through the door.
Ahhh... Homeschoolers, I thought. BINGO!

How? 5 young kids all close in age, no loud clothing labels, all well behaved.
The fact they are American helped too. Luckily Maccas had roped off a lot of the restaurant so they were forced to sit with me at the very big, clean table I chose. (Do I sound creepy?)

It was lovely to chat to them and I really hope they decide to buy in here because they would fit in so well. I gave them my contact details and will just keep my fingers crossed.

SURPRISE!

Last year the bull out lived his welcome and was put in the freezer. We thought this year the girls could have a spell from calving but recently I noticed a few of them looking suspiciously fat but I dismissed it with, "There's plenty of feed & that bull calf couldn't REACH 9 months ago." Two days ago Clarabell arrived with a newborn calf.  Where there's a will...Read "One Jumped Over The Moon"

Great Advertising

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLYsdkmaHXw&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRvE_fNW_N0&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NsvnLDkQ2A&feature=player_embedded

The Baby Whisperer

Dylan & Skye - 16th November

The Baby Whisperer is the ultimate baby tranquiliser.  Dylan has no expectations and no agenda. He isn't upset by their tantrums. He just sighs and does the job. Babies quickly realise there will be no gratification from their wailing and simply give in. Consequently Kirk worships Dylan and I am sure will dog his footsteps the minute he can snap my apron strings.

A new network

I may finally have a use for the TV aerial. "New" broadband for rural areas.

Relief for the Relief Teacher

Robyn finally returned from her sad duty and set me free. I am now resolved to learn the grade 11-12 chemistry in case she takes leave again.

Today poor Skye had her first day in a childcare centre. She cried when she was separated from Kirk and I think she must have cried for well over 1/2 an hour because when Rachel arrived for work, Skye was so relieved to see her, she fell asleep directly after eating. I am not sure if we will be doing that again.

Worth a watch

Enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLSZXxmq_Zk&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF2IaDQa2c8&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_WEP9ZkpS4&NR=1

Currently I am replacing a teacher who is probably THE best science teacher in the school. The kids love her and they make this abundantly clear when they see me arrive.  I DO hope she comes home soon!

I am Winston

Today I was handed a science lesson to teach from Primary Connections. It has this great name, Catapult Capers, and I imagined building siege engines and battering the sports shed to rubble. Not so... it was in fact one of the most over-structured boring lessons I have ever taught. I tried very hard to inject some fun demonstrations and excitement and plenty of language the kids would relate to but in the end they were suffocated with the paperwork which must be done for the sake of OUTCOMES.

15 years ago science in primary was practically non-existent. NOW they're KILLING it with data and filling in boxes and just CRAP. Yes, I understand we need to be teaching the scientific methods but...we don't need to strangle it with bookwork to prove frigging OUTCOMES.  I want science for kids to be full of activity, excitement and intrigue because THEY are the ones who will be the scientists of tomorrow.

Sigh....here I blog in the depth of night ...like Winston hiding from the telescreen writing, 

Down with big brother.

Down with big brother.

Down with big brother.

A few firsts

Oh dear, it's proud parent syndrome again. Yesterday Skye said her first distinct word, "Daddy" while looking at him. Now THAT'S the highway to Sean's heart! (Kirk's first word was "more").
 This morning she said her second contextually appropriate word while pulling my hair, "NO!" And then to top it off her nappy was dry in the morning and she used the potty.
These tiny little advances are pleasing me enormously because it means we can stop decoding the wails and my washing load is going to gradually decline. Why is this all so easy? Maybe she's planning to be the teenager from hell.

I found this over at Smacksy.   I love this blog, she does it so well  :-)

Postscript: Dry to midnight. Piddle in the potty. Fingers crossed she can have a full dry night.

We Are The People We Have Been Waiting For

We Are The People We Have Been Waiting For

OK, I'm biased, but try and tell me you don't agree.

New Toy

Over the last few years I have bought some very expensive gadgets.

A fridge that is plumbed in and issues cold water and ice  - cubed and crushed - and it has a mini door for drinks so you don't have to open the fridge every time. People exclaimed that it was an expensive luxury but I don't care because it makes ice cubes! I adore mocktails, frapes, milkshakes & quick sorbets. Previously I owned a plethora of hand-me-downs which served me well and are continuing their lives as chemical storage, party fridges or have new owners.

A front-loading washing machine that is self heating and uses a mere 4 buckets of water (instead of 10). Since leaving home I have owned 3 twin tubs & 3 top loaders - all 2nd hand. My favourite was Annette's twin tub which was so powerful it frequently threw the clothes out of the wash tub. I also remember the twin tub in Japan which sat on the verandah. I used to save the rinse water to start the next wash. One winter's day, the cat, Arbuckle, attempted to jump onto the machine but fell into the washer because I'd left the lid off. He crashed through the layer of ice and into the water. (Giggle snort what a great image)

A Tefal Quick Cup to replace the kettle of poor design because water would splash onto the electrical connector and trip the safety switch.

And now I have bought a Thermomix. After the solar hot water system and the laptop it is THE most expensive toy I have bought. It looks like a blender but it can mix everything from bread to meringue in a fraction of the time. It can chop vegies or turn rice into flour. It can cook and stir a soup, steam a  basket of rice and a colander of vegies all at the same time. Oh and you can weigh everything as you add it and it has a timer and a clock. Over the last 18 years I have owned 3 stick blenders (all deceased), 2 milkshake makers (cracked and burnt out), 2 food processors (1 dead, one surviving...and onto it's 3rd replacement jug), 4 sets of scales (3 down, 1 to go), a food steamer, 2 rice makers and 4 kettles.  It has cleared a lot of the clutter on my kitchen benches and I dearly hope the money has been worth it because, you know what? If it breaks, I'm stuffed!

Thanks for Sharing

Yesterday, I cared for Rachel's animals while she is on holiday and for this minor service she allows me the eggs. I then visited Hylen who sent me off with tumeric and finger roots for planting. Finally I dropped in on Michelle who gave me wedgies and a couple of little hams to contribute to dinner with the family tonight.  Regularly I score lamb, eggs, citrus & tomatoes from Richard & Michelle, fresh fish from Bob, the very occasional batch of moonshine from Mickey, and at the markets excess produce is simply passed around. The Bureau of Statistics profiles this area as one of the poorest in Australia, but you'd never know it.

ORGY! Right HERE! Right NOW! In my DAM!

The rain has inspired a thousand rana orgies and I can hear at least 6 species goin' for it.

• ornate burrowing frog
• striped marsh frog
• eastern sedge frog
• green tree frog
• laughing tree frog (Peron's or Tyler's ?)
• red tree frog
• banjo frog 

Strangely the cane toads are not calling. Perhaps because I squashed 'em on the road tonight. Toad...road...there's definitely a poem to be written there...ok well maybe a revolting limerick.

And thinking of springtime orgies....the channel billed cuckoos have arrived. Their all-night trumpeting is more effective than any cock-a-crowing. Sean says he knows it is spring because the pretty-voiced brown honey eater starts throwing himself at the window. Twitter tweet tweet melodious whistle THUMP!

Gotta go - my own offspring is calling.

Hunt The Horned One

The September Baronial was a success. Mostly. There are a few things to be worked out but mostly everyone went home happy. It looks like next year we will hold an all-archery event because we seem to have the ideal conditions. The archers ran an IKAK (standard bulls eye), a clout, a 3D hunt and a live shoot. Now we need to a debrief and write our own preparation manual to make next year a lot smoother and we need to find ways to make it LESS WORK!

The Baronial Approaches

Preparations for the Baronial are speeding along:

• long drops drilled
• path flattened
• tokens twisted
• shopping list written
• poo thrones constructed
• marquees borrowed
• grass mowed
• archery field roped
• monies taken
• fire permits obtained (did my husband notify the world he loves me?)
• Dad bringing 40L of homebrew
• house clean
• fridge booked

...and much more ...Time to go, friends from Goondiwindi have arrived. YAY!

Kirk is home

Kirk returned from hospital this morning and his voice is different now he lacks tonsils and adenoids. Hopefully soon he will be able to hear us better too, once all the fluid has drained via the grommets.

The hospital has prescribed tons of painkiller, chips, chewing gum, icecream, custard, jelly etc... oh well... there have to be some compensations for having your throat ripped out.

Rachel, Alisha & co. also visited and gave him a remote controlled car. He is THRILLED - WOW! PRESENTS FOR BEING SICK! I think the batteries are going to have a very short life.