Sunday, December 17, 2006

I have a new toy...and it's fun to use...

Today I went to my local regional centre, 140kms away. That was because I had my chiro appointment and had to do a little more Christmas shopping. That was good. Things were good. And then I walked into Hardly Normal (Harvey Norman to anyone outside my family). That was a bad move...

I thought that I would just check out their digital cameras, and then I bought one. I was looking at a particular kind, and then I was diverted onto another kind which I found more agreeable to what I would need. I wanted something with optical, not just digital, zoom, which my old digi-camera doesn't have. Don't get my wrong, my old digital camera is very good. And it still works charmingly. But, for going overseas, I wanted something that, when I zoomed in, it wouldn't blur the picture up.

My new camera is by Sony, and it's fairly thin and compact, and I think I'm going to like it very much. I know I'm going to have fun learning how to operate it over the next week before I go overseas. Heck, I've already had fun taking some photos and reviewing them. I've taken another one of my Christmas tree, and it came up very nicely. So, no doubt you'll see some photos from my new toy up on the web in no time quick.

Talking about Christmas trees. If you had read my log about my Christmas tree, you would know I was having trouble with finding a suitable Angel or Star. Well, today I went and looked again in the shops, and again, nothing suitable. I'm very disappointed with the society at the moment. Very...

"Angel, mother, angel..."

Friday, December 15, 2006

One More Week...That's All...

Today was the last Friday of term. Next week, there are only four days of school. This I am happy about. But I'm unhappy too...

I'm happy that there are only four more day...only four more days of seeing the kids, and then I have seven weeks off! Nothing like it. I'll be going away for three of those weeks overseas in Europe and America. That will be very nice. Get to see my brother and his wife for the first time in about a year and a bit. And then I have about three and a bit weeks left over to spend time in Sydney (maybe catch up with some friends) and then to come back to where I am situated to create new programs for 2007.

But I'm unhappy too. I won't be able to spend the evening on Thursday with the other teachers. I am planning on travelling down to Sydney on Thursday night to avoid traffic, to have a whole day at home before spending a Christmas Evening with my Mum's side (as well as my Dad's brother, it seems), as well as catch up with some friends before Christmas. I really would like to spend the evening with the teachers so that I can party with them for the end of term. But I suppose I see them enough at home, and I've 'partied' with them before.

Anyway...I'll be going away in a little more than a week to London. That will be fun. I hope that I don't get jet lag very badly, so that I can enjoy Christmas very much. And also...I hope I don't forget the presents!

Sunday, December 10, 2006

My Christmas Tree

Some will wonder why I decided to get a Christmas Tree this year when I will be going overseas for Christmas. Going overseas doesn't mean that I can't celebrate Christmas beforehand with friends and family in Austalia. Plus, it just isn't Christmas without a Christmas Tree, I think. So, I went to the local BigW (140 kms away) and found just what I wanted. I got the lights and decorations at the same time and think that it really looks nice (though not near as covered as the one that we have at home).

I still haven't got an Angel or Star...I couldn't find any Angels that I liked or would work and the Stars were ones that all lit up. I don't want a star that lights up. I just want an everyday looking Star that works nicely uptop my Tree. The Angels are becoming works of art in themselves, also...with nothing of substance to them. I don't want that, either.

I guess this reflects a little on society in that Angels and Stars are not seen as necessary anymore, even though they are pinnacle to the whole Christmas Story. Do people who don't attend Christmas Mass/Services even remember the reason why we celebrate Christmas? I wonder...

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

The Ashes - it's just starting to get interesting...

I just love 'The Ashes' when it's on. Having the challenge of playing the Good Ol' Enemy, England, in cricket is always fun. With two of the tests down, and Australia having won both of them, it is going to be very difficult for England to win (or draw) any of the others.

This last test (the second) looked as though it was going to be a good one for England. As I said to one of my friends at the beginning of the third day: "I wouldn't mind England winning at least one of the matches, but did it have to be the second one? They could at least have made it the fourth of fifth test." That's how confident I was in Australia pulling a win out of this test's hat.

England looked to be in a convincing position to win the test at the end of the first three days when Australia had 551 runs to get and were struggling to reach half the score. At the end of the fourth day it looked very much like it was going to be a draw. At the end of the fifth and final day, Australia had won the match by dismissing England for an unbelievable 129 earlier that day. This meant that Australia only had to reach 168 runs to win the match.

As always, Australia treated this score as it deserved on the final day of a test match - as a one-dayer. When I got home from school and was able to join in watching the television coverage Australia was in the position of needing 120 runs off about 25 overs. This did not look challenging to me at all. And so it proved in the end. Australia won with Michael Hussey hitting the winning runs with three overs to go, and Australia only losing four wickets.

This last day score reminded me a bit of one of the tests that we played against South Africa, with Graeme Smith as captain. Mr Smith was chivalrous to declare on the last day in the morning with giving Australia most of the day to reach only 250, 300 (or something like that) runs. I thought that it was very nice of him to do this, but not nearly enough runs for us to be challenged in pushing for only the draw. Australia won that match as well through playing the final day like a one-dayer. That's the positive thing about the Australian cricket team. A lot of the test players are able to play one-day style when called upon to do so.

Overall, the final day's score of 168 was gained by Australia proving that England really have to improve their confidence and ability before they take on our guys again. C'mon Aussie, c'mon, c'mon...I'm sure you guys can win the next test and regain The Ashes for 'the Colonists'.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Gorgeous and Rufus



During this last year while away from home I admit that I have been missing our pets at home - our Dog Gorgeous and my brother's cat, Rufus. They are both quite adorable, and I won't be able to see them a lot over the summer break from school because of my trip overseas. Oh well.

But just so you know, I didn't get them to pose for this picture. They get along really well most of the time. They have learned to respect each other's spaces over the last two years. Aren't they just cute?

Since this photo was taken we've had the carpet changed to lino and Gorgeous has had a haircut. She got her first haircut in her three years alive this last October. She has been showing a bit of stress these last two summers because her hair is just too long and thick. So...this year Mum decided to get it trimmed down. It's about an inch long now.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

A new Season, a new Picture

I thought that it was about time that I put my new found skills of sorting out photos into action and changed my picture on my blog for my profile. Also, this is certainly a more recent photo. It was taken in April of this year at my graduation. As my friends would say, it was about time. The other photo was taken so that I could send something in to the Department of Education and Training when applying for a job. Definitely older.

The weather has certainly been getting warmer around here in the last two weeks. We had about four days of absolute coolness while some students came and visited from a Sydney University, an then it warmed up once they left. We've been, I think, getting an average of about 35*C everyday. Not exactly cool. But I'm getting used to it again. You just have to put away the cold weather gear and pull out the summer stuff from the moth balls. Not quite. Today the sun was scorching at morning assembly (around 5 to 9), so we knew we were in for a hot one.

Anyway, enough about the weather. My new lounge is very comfortable. And so, farewell! Until next time.

P.S. - 21 days until I fly out to England!!! I'm not getting excited or anything...as you can tell.