I'm usually the one behind the camera, but here is a rare shot of me with the little kids. (Isla's mum was at playgroup and took the photo for their photoboard.)

Computer....

I have had a computer melt down this week - followed by a resurrection!

Bern was on the phone to the Telstra technition to fix the internet problems we've been having. He moved some plug on my computer - and it died!!!!

The computer repair man (it's still under warranty) picked it up Tuesday morning - and delivered it back all better on Tuesday afternoon! I'm so happy!

(I was afraid I'd have to finish the essay on the laptop.)

Grrr - Study!

My essay is doing my head in!

It's for the Education Policy paper, and I'm trying to weave about 20 theads together to comment on a particular EC policy. I keep finding new things (like Third Way political management, and globalisation) which turn out to be relevant and which I need to say 3 intelligent sentences on. (Which involves reading 3 books!)

I still have the option of writing a 'bad' essay, which I'm holding back in case I need to use it later. (I could write that sort of essay (and get a C) with no more reading at all.)

I'm sure that spending the last 2 days reading a novel has helped me to be refreshed and to focus...!!

Playgroup

We set off for playgroup today, which is our usual Tuesday event, though sometimes interrupted by bad weather. The new thing is that Cara has picked up an extra day (which Isla has dropped), so now comes to playgroup too. A new environment for her.

Here she is working on the butterfly puzzle. She has a lot of patience with puzzles, both at home and at playgroup, and will keep trying a piece, seemingly in confidence that it should fit, and so it will fit if she keeps working on it.

BTW, the butterfly puzzle is a really nice textured one which I bought when I was buying toys for the playgroup some years ago. It has a very interesting hand-painted finished too. There seems to be fashions in puzzles (and other equipment) and you can't always get more of a similar item.

On Sunday evening we all went to the ballet Cinderella. (You can read more about it here.) This is our annual ballet trip, and is Grandad's birthday present to all of us (and Uncle Michael). The first year it was on 1 November (Elanor's birthday) and we have called it 'birthday ballet' ever since.

It was wonderful! It was beautifully staged. The costumes where fabulous. They usually are good for ballet, but were especially so this time, possibly because of the fantasy theme.

I think it really helped knowing the story ahead of time. It meant we could be aware of the ways the designers (and so on) brought out different elements and themes.

As it was a 6.30 show there were a lot of little kids attending. It was really lovely to see the little girls who had dressed up, and watch the ones spinning around in the lobby at interval.

(One point - Katie noted that the woman playing Cinderella didn't look healthy - very thin indeed. Made Elanor look positively chunky!)

Today was the last day of netball. And a lovely sunny day too. Sophie's team has had their ups and downs over the season, but ended on a high note, winning 20:10. Sophie scored about half of her team's goals, and was thrilled!

Bern is the coach of the team, which is made up of girls from the three local schools.

Elanor didn't play today as she felt unwell. So I don't have a photo of her or her team.