Day 316 - last day of November

Came home from school today feeling ordinary and it was just downhill from there - must have picked up a kiddie tummy bug. Really laid me low for 24 hours.The pic shows the view from my bedroom window which is all I had energy to take. Am on the mend now but feeling delicate so am having a sickie today!

Day 315 - Fairy's Fishing Rods or Fairy's Wand.

I bought this plant at nursery in Dalesford a couple of years ago. This is the best flowering it has ever had.

Day 314 - Baby Shower

Stef had a gathering today to prepare a welcome for the new baby due in a few weeks. She invited close friends and relatives including the two great grandmothers. Carla presented Stef with a breastfeeding shawl that her mother crochetted for her 37 years ago. We were asked to bring an item to add to a mobile hung from a branch.Various items were contributed ranging from hand made craft to shells and beads.

Day 313 - new mural

The art department, artistic students and a very talented art teacher have just finished putting this new mural together - young people and city scapes - it looks great.

Day 312 - Damien's moment of fame

Damien works for anglicare, a social welfare agency and had been doing some great things with boys and young men. This pic was in the local rag with an article of the good work he is doing.See http://www.senews.com.au/story/82695

Day 311 - Summer lunch and other things

Sophie organized a luncheon today at school with a summer theme - plus we had a pinyata full of sweets to bash.This was a lovely idea and gave us all a lift. Received this photo of neice Selvi today - so cute. There is also a photo of Sue collecting her Outstanding Secondary Teacher award at the VITTA (The Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association )dinner last night. She was totally surprised - didn't even know she had been nominated. However this award is richly deserved - Sue has been a wonderfully innovative, inspired and inspiring teacher - not just in regard to technology in education - but in a variety of areas throughout the school for many years.We will miss her next year as she is leaving us for a new school - lucky them!

Day 310 - Year 10 dance performance - The Wiz

I was very impressed with this dance act I saw today as part of a Yr 10 dance class performance - from The Wiz - these kids were great. It was also Nick's birthday but I didn't get any pics of that.

Day 309 - Monday, 23rd November

After a very social weekend, I returned to school for a rest! I had some energy left at the end of the day so did some mowing as you can see in one of the pics. Other photo shows a lovely lily type flower that comes out in early summer.

Day 308 - Sunday, 21st November - Isaac's Event

Isaac organized a musical and environment awareness day today - a mixture of musical interludes and rousing and informed presentations on the perils of logging old growth forests in catchment areas. Penelope was the MC. It was a very moving and entertaining day - congratulations to Isaac.

Day 307 Engagement

We went to the engagement party of an old and dear friend of Penelope's. They've known each other since they were babies and were the best of friends all through kindergarten and primary school. They don't see each other much now but for special occasions. Nick's mother is recovering from bowel cancer and the prognosis looks good for her. She was a bundle of energy last night . Pictured is one of her pavlovas for which she is famous.

Day 307 - Selvi in Singapore Friday, 20th November

My neice, Selvi, is in Singapore at the moment with her parents. We are really missing her but my brother sent these photos today to shut us up.

Day 306 - Yr 12 Graduation Dinner

I attended the Year 12 Graduation dinner tonight which proved to be an enjoyable evening - great to see the graduating students so pleased with themselves for finishing their schooling. My most annoying student this year thanked me for putting up with him so I suppose it was worth going just for that.

Day 305 - exams and reports

A busy time at the moment marking yr11 exams and writing reports for my classes.They all have to be finished over the next 2 weeks. Fortunately I do not have to write yr12 reports this time round - one of the few perks enjoyed by yr12 teachers.

Day 304 - Outside in the garden (again)

The loquat tree has an abundant harvest this year. we've been waiting for the rosellas to come and clean them all up but there's no sign of them as yet.

Day 303 Old photo found - Monday

Here's an old photo I found of Nick and his dad taken about 47 years ago. It's a little tiny photo, rather crumpled, so I have saved it for cyber space prosperity. Nick's dad, Tolly (Apostolos) was a highly acclaimed soccer player in his day - played for Alexandria, Egypt.They are posing in front of Tolly's medals.

Day 302 - Sunday - fun at the pool

We took the kids for a swim this morning - at least got Baya away from his ipod - and they had lots of fun.

Day 301 Warburton

We drove down to Warburton early this morning to pick up the grandchildren to give their parents a break. New baby coming next month and the expectant couple needed some time to themselves - preparing baby room, painting the house and just relaxing. Pics show the view from Warburton Main Street and from their backyard, and Baya having a smile break from his daily practice.We had a nice day back home - just hanging out. Baya has an Apple Ipod Touch he bought on eBay - keeps him very entertained. Ishaa is into sewing.

Day 300 - last class with yr11

Here are some members of my yr11 English class eating the icypoles I gave them as a last lesson treat. I really enjoyed this class - they are a really friendly group of young people with a generally strong work ethic running through the class. I hope I can teach some of them next year in my yr12 class

Day 299 - Kalimbas

Isaac has made some beautiful kalimbas (African thumb pianos) which he will try to sell on consignment. He put many hours of work into each one and they make a wonderful rhythmic sound that would add an earthy texture to a music performance. They remind me a little of the Balinese gamalan.

Day 298 - Remembrance Day,11th November

Just returned from mum's to deposit her cat, she showed me these strange plants growing, unsolicited in her garden. They are so weird and intriguing she's left them there but does anybody know what they are?
PS It's okay all you hortoculturalists - I don't need your helpful comments- it's the opium poppy from Afghanistan! (or Tasmania) My mother will be bemused.

Day 297 - Feline visitor

My mother's cat, Smudge, is still with us. He came up on the weekend with mum but then when it came time for her to return home, Smudge could not be found.He turned up later that evening - had been hiding out under a bed. He rather likes it here but I will be taking him home to his real mother tomorrow night

Day 296 - back from Guernsey

Clearly I did not take this photo of the port of Guernsey, one of the British Channel Isles.(taken from beccaandbella.typepad.com/.../2009/02/index.html) However, I have been there in spirit, having just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.Inspite of the title, I found this novel, a series of letters, thoroughly entrancing. Set in 1946, the story encompasses the Nazi occupation of Guernsey and the life and loves of a young female writer.The story is fun and the characters convincingly drawn for the most part - a very pleasant but informative read. It was Mary Ann Shaffer's first novel at 70 years of age and sadly she died before the book was published and because of her illness, her niece helped her finish it off

Day 295 - Yert progress and Selvi visit

Isaac and Neil had a long working day doing fiddly jobs on the yert. This pic shows the front door frame. Selvi and her nan are having fun on the floor and Selvi was doing some serious rolling practice

Day 294 - Up the back

Going up the back to lock the chickens away - I'm overwhelmed by the colours of the evening sky, caught in the panoramic drama from the high side of our property. Living on this same spot for over 30 years, I'm still taken by surprise at its changing beauty and am reminded why we stay here - inspite of the bushfire risk.I am very fond of our chickens, they are very sweet and friendly and love to be petted. Their feathers are silky soft and they like having their necks scratched.

Day 293 - Concert and snails on the menu

My grandchildren attend a Steiner school (where my son also teaches music) and last night they had their end of year music concert. As always, it was amazing with some beautiful solo acts as well as massed choirs and orchestras. Children have a staggered lead up to music but by class 4 are learning violin / cello or double bass. My grandson is slowly mastering the double bass although he needed his uncle to help him keep the time last night. Afterwards we had some wonderful French cuisine at a winery across the road and Ishaa posed for some photos for her great grandmother who wants to do her portrait. The escargot were a talking point.

Day 292 - Beautiful mountain garden

Sue had a little social gathering back at her place this afternoon. Among her many talents is this amazingly picturesque garden she has created out of the mountainous chaos that was her backyard.

Day 291 - sprouting conifers and inedible plums

After our Christmas trees become too big for the pot we plant them out in the garden and this time of the year there is lots of new growth activity. Plus there are plums on the prunus trees - inedible ones unfortunately.

Day 290 -Art Exhibition

Mum's art society's annual exhibition always opens on this night. My mother has been a member for 24 years and has always managed to exhibit about 6 pieces of work. This year, due to illness and injury, she was only able to finish 2 pastels- pictured here - the white house, "Catching the Light" and "Lonely Beach".