a bit of research on the side

I have been away from this little space for too long. There have been too many other worries keeping me busy. See that box below? That is a box of marking that I have taken home to complete (hopefully) this weekend. And see the black folders to the side of the box? Yes, another pile of folios to be marked! So what do you do if you have to mark ALL that work?

Why you indulge in a few of these!

Well, maybe not all of them at once. Adam and I bought these today as research. Yes, research, for the wedding. We bought 4 bottles of Italian wine, 2 white and 2 red, and one pink Australian wine. We tried the more expensive red tonight and it was very nice indeed. If they are all this good we may have trouble deciding on which ones we want at the wedding. The reason for the indulgence, apart from research of course, was that we had a bit of an unsuccessful trip to the suit hire shop. A very strange man, with a handle bar moustache, didn't seem too keen on measuring Adam up for his suit. As he ushered us out we realised the store was closing, perhaps that is why he was so keen for us to come back in a couple of months. So since we were not as successful as we had hoped with one aspect of the wedding we sought accomplishment in Dan Murphy's. Which is without a doubt the largest liquor shop, with the best prices, I have ever been in.

So I guess it is back to marking...with a bit of research on the side.

A week in Queensland

My wedding dress is in the progress of being made. I had a few days in Queensland, a few jam-packed days in Queensland, and as a result I have beautiful material and a dressmaker in a country town. But that is all I will say, some things have got to be a surprise! I was also able to catch up with all the people I have been missing.

A nice week to have before I have to get back into the habit of actually working. That's right on Monday I will be finding a new rhythm and Adam and I will be working out a new daily routine. I finally get to start the second year of my teaching profession. I am excited and nervous...and am going in with a positive and confident attitude. You know what they say: believe you can do it and you will succeed, have a positive attitude and you will be happy (lets see how long that idea lasts).

On another note, check out this artist. His music is so bright and pop'y...it is enough to make anyone have a bright attitude. I will be listening to it on the way to my first day, or maybe just a part of the hour and 10 minute drive. I love, love the illustrations and website, very nice indeed.


And since this post is all over the place (yes, I am feeling a little scatter brained today) and I don't want to leave you without any pictures, here are some shots of the walk Adam and I took just before I left for Queensland. you've got to love a beach with city skyline! And the beach boxes, Ack, too cute. Some had their doors open and they actually have them all done up like little homes, including portable stoves. And here Adam and I were thinking people actually stored equipment in them. Have a great weekend, I am off to plan some classes (here's hoping I have a less scattered approach to planning).

Oh procrastination...

How I missed you. I have had nothing to procrastinate about for so long, now I am remembering all too well how good I am at it!


This is what my morning looked like today. Sitting outside, trying to enjoy the sun and any warmth left, and trying to get my head around my new subjects. If I can just get my first lesson plan for each class worked out I should be right...fingers crossed. Of course I had just set up and started reading through the information when it started to rain, rain on an angle, right onto all my notes. I know I shouldn't complain as we need all the rain we can get in this drought. But as you can see moving everything back inside allowed me more time to procrastinate.


Anyhow amongst my piles of print outs and papers from the school, I have been enjoying reading The Complete Idiot's Guide to Drawing. Feeling a bit worried about a new subject, which focuses on technically accurate drawing, I bought this book. It is such a practical book and has so many great activities and great tips which can easily be turned into lesson plans. I love the Complete Idiot's Guides. So helpful.

I particularly love Frederick Frank's 10 Commandments for Drawing.
1. You shall draw everything and everyday
2. You shall not wait for inspiration, for it comes not while you work but while you wait
3. You shall forget all you think you know and, even more, all you have been taught
4. You shall not adore your good drawings and promptly forget your bad ones.
5. You shall not draw with exhibitions in mind, or any critique but yourself
6. You shall trust non but your own eye, and make your hand follow it
7. You shall consider consider the mouse you draw as more important than the contents of all the museums in the world, for...
8. You shall love ten thousand things with all your heart and a blade of grass as yourself
9. Let each drawing be your first
10. You shall not worry about "being your time" for you are your time and it is brief.
So inspiring. I think I will use this as my classroom commandments.



There was another reason for some good procrastination. Yet again the postie delivered a lovely parcel with lovely birthday pressies form an equally lovely Aunt, Thank you so much, it was just what I needed when faced with a day of planning and study!



Tomorrow I will be posting a special post, my first Blog Request! and then I will be off to Queensland so will be taking a good week long blog break.
( Phew...I told you I was procrastinating...this is one heck of a long post! I am going to go work now, really I am)

Driving and learning

I have shown you lots of photos from inside my new life. So I thought it was time for some outside shots.

(the drive)


Today I drove to my new school, where I will be teaching for two terms. It takes about an hour and ten minutes to get there. With the music playing and the sun shine it was actually quite enjoyable today. But I suppose I left at 9.30 AM and not 6.30 AM (like I will be doing when I start actually working and not just visiting)

(the school)


I met a lot of people, had a lot of names and information enter one ear and immediately exit the other and enjoyed thinking about all the challenges awaiting me. The new school actually reminds me a bit of my old school in Queensland: a country setting, rolling hills and vast landscapes and some cows in the school grounds to boot.