Katie's prizegiving

We had Katie's prizegiving last night. No photo I'm afraid, as I forgot the camera. (Not sure Kate would stand still for a photo in her school uniform, actually, and highly unlikely that she would put it on one last time as a record for posterity!)

It was done a bit differently to Rowena's school. We were only allowed to clap after every 5 names. (Very unsatisfying, as I wanted to yahoo - as did other parents in the audience, I could tell), but this did make the evening go faster.

Also, they gave each girl all her prizes (which were mainly certificates) at one go.

Katie did not find out what her prize was for until it was read out as she waited at the side of the stage. She made some guesses before, but it really was a surprise.

She got high distinction (that means first in year) for Visual Arts Design.

We are very stoked, and so is she. It is probably the subject she cares most about, and certainly the one that she puts most work into, as far as I can tell - though practical art subjects are notorious for being high work-load.

So - well done Katie!

And I had a birthday cake too!

We have often had a small birthday cake for the children's birthdays. Sometimes, but not always, made by me. Katie is keen on cake, and will make one for any reason if she's home on the right ocassion (ie, a school holiday or half day).

My birthday was a 'Little Kids' day this year, and Kate was on study leave, so she produced this cake. The number of candles is not significant of anything - except a desire to avoid setting off the smoke alarm.

It's a lovely photo of Cara, Isla and Grace, though not so great of me.

The girls were all very restrained about the 'blowing out' part - they let me do it. I got a nice round of 'Happy Birthday' too, with Katie's help.

Summer's here - the paddling pool came out

Summer must officially be here because we have had the paddling pool out.

This picture was on a Tuesday in November and Grace, Eva and Isla had been in the pool after lunch while Theo was asleep. Later, Eva and Isla decided to have another paddle - and Theo just climbed in in his clothes. (His trousers were probably already wet anyway...!)

Isla was very intent on her job filling the pool. (The earlier lot of water had been 'mysteriously' transported out of the pool.) Theo was quite keen on catching that glittering stream of water (not at this particular moment.) And Eva was just delighted to be getting wet, splashing and paddling.

I was pleased that we had a paddling day, because it turned out that this was Eva's last regular day with me. As a little one she just adored climbing into the water, and it could be quite hard on her to have to get out and go home. This is what I said on Feb 8 last year:

"I set up the water trough in the shade this afternoon, and after the Big Kids got home Sophie and I got out the paddling pool. Great fun! E had an absolute ball, and both Little Kids were SOAKED when their mums came to collect them. I love my job!"

Eva will be back for our end of year party.

Wellington Playcentre Association Life Members

A significant event, and a great surprise, was being made a life member of the Wellington Playcentre Association at their AGM in November.

I am pictured above with Justine, Marie and Kate, who were also made lifers at the same time. I think making four people life members in unprecedented, but perhaps they were having a 'catch up'.

Justine, Marie, Kate and I were all on the Executive together for several years earlier this decade. Justine as Property, Marie was Education, Kate was Promotions, and I was President for two years. They have all gone on to different roles as volunteers within Playcentre, at regional and national level.

(OK, Kate's Federation career is still before her - but only because there were too many nominations for the Federation Promotions Team this year!)

We are pictured at the opening of Newtown Playcentre's first centre of their own, after 56 years as a 'pack-away' centre operating out of community halls. That's a whole other story in itself! At that event I had the pleasure of chatting to some older life members - one in her eighties. Sounds like the political processes were pretty much the same run around throughout the decades.

Many thanks to the Brooklyn Playcentre Ukulele Orchestra who played a song tribute at the AGM for me. They had customised a song especially for the occasion, and I was really touched to see them all turn up - what a great surprise! Bern and three of the girls were also there.

Rowena's prizegiving

Another significant event this month was Rowena's school prize giving. Significant because she came away with an armful - an embarrassment of riches, but we can cope!

The WEGC prize giving is before exams. Katie's school prize giving is after exams, as is Jonnie and Rachel's school one I think.

Rowena is pictured here with her two cups (nice photo of her isn't it).

One cup is for junior public speaking I think, and the other is a new award for "participation in year 10" - we think that might mean joining a lot of things!

She also got book prizes for English, Science and (um ... I'll have to ask her).

During the evening she played the harp and violin in orchestra (at different times...), and sang in Multi Choir. We were proud as, as you can imagine.

(And if anyone isn't familiar with the phrase 'proud as', you should probably watch the YouTube video "beached whale".)

November has been a busy month. Surprising really, as all my study and the extra research/report writing were finished by early in October. I think it was busy family-wise really.


The first important event in November is Elanor's birthday. Oh, and Uncle Michael's (pictured). They share a birthday. Elanor's birthday fell on a Saturday this year, and we all went out to the ballet (Don Quixote) afterwards - that's Grandad's birthday present to all of us each year.

We had cake after the ballet. Sophie is ready, poised with the cake forks!

The next day was Grandad's birthday. As it was one with a zero on the end, he had a party, so we all trouped over to Featherston for lunch, with a number of his friends from way back. It had been not so nice weather on the Saturday, and very windy, but the Sunday was glorious - sunny, warm, calm. The place was a large private house in the countryside with large gardens. A lovely day. Thanks Grandad!

I'm going to blog November shortly, but must just put up one photo from October.

Each year our church runs a "Crazy Colour Party" on 31 October. As the girls get older they go from attending the party, to helping run the games for it. You are supposed to dress your craziest, and most colourful. Here's how Elanor and Katie went this year.


Katie was stoked when she found those tights in my drawer. I haven't worn them any time recently - but I used to. I found her excess of mirth (ie, ROTFL) a bit offensive.

The tartan shoes were mine as well until she nicked them. I think they cost $2 in a bargin bin - too good to leave. She wears them on 'normal' days too, and her friends say they are 'awesome'. I think that's meant as a compliment.

The yellow tutu was Katie's. She is in yellow house at school, and she wanted me to make it for her one year for sports day. Every year she and her friends wear an odd assortment of yellow clothing - and it is a different theme each year.

The tutu had a second 'outing' recently. Sophie wore it in the Santa Parade, as a clown.

Hello, hello - is anybody there??

Hi there.

Apologies to my regular reader (there used to be 3 of you, but I imagine I have lost one or two...).

It appears to be over 2 months since I posted. Oops. Must have been spending too much time in the sandpit... or something.

If I do a flurry of posts now, do you think I can pretend that I have posted faithfully all this time?

End of Birthday Season

Well, we have got to the end of birthday season with the little kids. Cara, Grace, Isla and Eva have all turned three now.

Eva's was the last, and her birthday cake was a bit delayed, but we finally got to sing happy birthday, and she blew out the candles. (Isla offered to help, but it wasn't needed this year.)

We also had to have balloons because, well, it's just not a birthday without balloons. (Obviously!) Whoever invented the balloon did a great service to the world, because what else can you have so much fun with for 10c?

(oops - after that I hope they don't turn out to be terribly bad for the planet...)

Mind you, the next birthday season starts soon. Sadie, Elanor, me, ...

Spring into Spring Fashions

Actually, this isn't a fashion post. The title is a reference to a quote from the Terry Prachett book "Truckers", which Elanor and I have been reading. (It's about the life and times of 4" high nomes who live in a department story. And, yes, I spelt 'nomes' correctly!)

But it does feel 'spring-like' outside today. After a very wet Winter (with a few good days sprinkled through it), it is very welcome indeed to think that Spring/Summer is coming.

We have even had one or two sunny days in the sandpit at playgroup. (Although not all Grace's sand castles turn out.)

One downside of being in September is that it is that much closer to the dead line for my last assignment for the year. Oh yes, I still have those to think about!

I'm supposed to be working on the proposal for my thesis (which I'm planning on doing next year).

Rainy night in the sandpit

Well, not in the sandpit, thank goodness, but certainly some of the best (most) rain I've seen for a while.

We have been watching the waves run down the footpath outside the house. (It's after bedtime, but the girls have given up on bed and are watching the show.)

Had a huge hailstorm, which Sophie said made the road white right across. The hail on the top of the waves made it look like whitecaps down the footpath.

Lightning and Thunder also, of course.

Then some of them watched as a car slipped and crashed into our neighbour's car, which was parked on the street outside our house. Bern went out to talk to the guy. I phoned the neighbour and got him up to the street. (They live down a cul-de-sac.) The guy was apologetic - could hardly be anything else with all the witnesses (and number plate written down).

(It has been our car affected like this in the past - but our car was parked a bit high up to be hit tonight, and was protected by neighbour's car in any case. The guy would have wrapped him self round the power pole, which probably wouldn't have had as much 'give' in it!)

Glad Bern hadn't gone to bed yet.

Challenge quilts

Sophie and I have had a busy week (apart from all the normal things). Yesterday we had to submit the quilts for the Challenge for this year's quilter's guild exhibition.

The challenge was to interpret a playing card in a quilt of a given size. Each person who wanted to do the challenge was dealt 4 cards from a deck, and they had to choose one of them on the spot.

This was repeated until the deck was used up, although I think the guild issued more than a full deck of cards.

Here, in no particular order, is Sophie's quilt, and mine.

You can tell what the card was because we had to put the number and suit in the usual place for a playing card.

I saw a few other ones when we went in to drop the quilts off, and it's going to be a stunning exhibition.

This is only one small part of the exhibition, as there are also general quilts, which are judged under a whole range of categories, such as best use of colour, best appliqué, and so on.

Sophie and I both have another quilt to exhibit.

The exhibition opens on September 4 or 5, and will probably run for 10 days or so. I'll post the whereabouts closer to the time.