Sunday, October 20, 2013

I met a problem solver

I have been teaching year three RE (Religious Education) all year on a Thursday morning.  It is a volunteer job - I love it.  The 8 year olds are really fun and curious, and it is great to enter into their classroom and share in their lives.  They love being craftastic and dramatic.

However, there has been one little problem each week.  They are so keen to be helpful and carry my bags to the next classroom that an almost fight breaks out as to who is going to carry my bag.  Each week I try to pick different kids, but sometimes I just choose the child who is In My Face.

Last week a dear girl put up her hand and suggested that pulling names out of a bag would be a better solution.  I promptly delegated back and said great idea, do you want to organise it.

So this week I turned up on Thursday and was presented with this


She had gone above and beyond.  Covered, labelled, names inside.  I had met one of life's problem solvers.  Who solved problems with grace and style.  I wouldn't be surprised if I saw her name in a few years working out solutions to cancer, or traffic problems, or global warming, or anything she put her mind too.  She is one of those bright as a button kids.  And the rest of the kids in the class accepted the names pulled out of the tin to be my helpers graciously and well.

What a privilege.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

triple words float my boat

I have always loved playing Scrabble.  I love the way your brain has to work to figure out how the letters go together.  It is like maths.  And I love how you need to know a lot of words to do well.  Like English.  I love how it hasn't changed the rules my whole life, and I have friendships based on playing a game of Scrabble together.  Old rivalries and cups of tea within a rhythm of a relationship.

When I was younger my goal was to beat my dad.  Then my goal was to make as many words in a square as I could.  Now I play Words with Friends with three people, having several turns a day, and my goal is just to beat them (competitive much?).

For my birthday this year I received a lovely delux Scrabble board, and a scrabble mug, and a scrabble key ring....


I think people know I like Scrabble.

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Sunshine Coast quick trip

School holidays are great.  Time to nip up to the Sunshine Coast for a beach fix.  Time to finish my novel for bookclub.  Time to drink tea with friends.  Time to take the dog in the waves.  Time to eat delicious lunch with mum.

Thanks Sunshine Coast for turning on the most amazing weather!

We barbecued in the park


We gymnasticed on the beach



We talked and talked and talked




We made human child pyramids


We jumped at sunset


We posed


We ate fish and chips and swam



We collected a beach of shells (really, what do you do with the shells when you get home...)



Still got sand between my toes and suncream on my ears.  Ahhh, the beach.