Katnip

2009-07-10T18:27:00.000+12:00

Suffer the little Children!

2009-07-10T11:03:00.007+12:00

I am so heartily sick of two things at the moment - that blasted referendum and the television coverage of the Sophie Elliott murder. Both topics touch the raw nerves of motherhood and womanhood for me and have raised my ire over the dinner table each night.

For a start off I am going to vote YES during the postal ballot which runs from 31 July through 21 August 2009; even though it's the silliest (and clearly deliberately so) referendum statement I've ever had the misfortune to vote on.

When you have an intellectually and physically disabled child who cannot be reasoned with, who doesn't know the concept of "tomorrow" let alone "wait, Mum will be with you in a minute", no amount of hitting (and yes I use THAT word deliberately) will alter his behaviour. In our house we have to try other options, ones that do not involve the raising of a hand nor the use of a household appliance (unless you call his computer a household appliance but it's never broken over anyone's hand). If distraction and the diverting of a child's attention work for an intellectually disadvantaged child, why can't parents of typically developing children use the same ploys without having to resort to a 'loving smack'?

The removal of Section 59 merely gives our most vulnerable citizens the same protection from assault as you or me. It's just a no-brainer to me.

And talking of no-brainers...Is it possible that a jury will find Clayton Weatherston NOT guilty of murder? I hope not. I actually feel physically ill when both TV3 and TV1 give Clayton Weatherston another chance each night to humiliate and persecute his victim, Sophie Elliott. How must her family and most importantly her mother feel every single night her daughter is portrayed as a promiscuous young woman who provoked Weatherston so much that he had to stab her over 200 times. It's a race to the remote each night as The Cook and I try to switch channels each time Sophie Elliott is tried on tele for her 'forward' (sigh) behaviour. I do not understand why we (the public) need to try the victim each night at our dining tables. Why do the television stations feel compelled to let Weatherston have such a 'voice' - it isn't justice, it's lurid and sensational and totally unedifying let alone becoming to our jounalists. And this, just in. I hold no hope for Sophie now

And then there were three...

2009-01-06T11:35:00.010+13:00

Yeah, I know. My bad! We kinda lost a year in there somewhere...don't know what happened really. We got pregnant and had a baby....that's what happened. After a pretty uneventful pregnancy up until that point LC (Littlest Child) arrived in November at 35 weeks. He spent two and a half weeks in NICU in Dunedin before coming home where he now fits in as a loud and demanding little chap with a great set of lungs. Sleeping 3-4 hours at a stretch with no let-up if we don't feed him within five minutes of waking.

OC has been a fab big sis and the YC is starting to see the big picture and anxious to help out Mum at the appropriate moments...which is all we can ask of him. The YC knocks on his head as if to say 'knock knock, who's there?" and smothers him in wet YC kisses.

Going back to NICU again after nearly a 7 year absence gave us the heebie jeebies but the LC seems to be taking life by the horns and doing all that he's meant to be doing. Twas scary though...

The YC had a great first year at school with a full time teacher-aide. Although the gains are small we have seen significant changes in his ability to understand requests (and the world around him) and it's clear that he can read whole words and often try to verbalise them. The key to unlocking his world will undoubtedly come from the computer. And now he has his own. He's a gamer. We haven't heard from him in days.

The OC is currently holidaying with her grandparents at the beach and she moves into the senior syndicate of her primary school this year.

The YC takes on school

2008-02-09T06:11:00.000+13:00

The YC has made it to the classroom, not fulltime mind you, but five mornings a week. That's because we only have ORRS funding for 19 hours a week and as we see it, the YC needs attention every minute of the day. Otherwise we are forever living on the 'eve of destruction' Needless to say the fight is on and the blog could be more political than I thought. I'll keep you posted

I failed to provide the necessaries of life

2008-01-20T09:41:00.001+13:00

Dinner. Saturday Night. Cadbury Crunchie Ice Cream 2 litre container on the table.

The OC eyes the container then raises an eyebrow to her mother: "How much Ice Cream have you had Mum?"

Mum winces: Too much!

The OC: "Can I please have too much?"

At eight and a half she is able to not only ask for food, she can use her wit and kid-cunning to elicit a bigger helping. At eight days old that wasn't the case. At eight days old the OC was a screaming purple angry thing who couldn't get the food she needed no matter how hard she cried. And she did, cry! I was a new mum, I had no idea what I was doing despite the best efforts of The Cook to encourage both of us to behave. We were both sobbing. And I did, cry! A lot! We didn't know it at the time, but when we were released from hospital after a fairly uncomplicated emergency caesarean five days after her birth, we were taking home a starving baby. If we hadn't sought help, she too would have been malnourished

When I read this yesterday, I immediately thought of my family, and others close to us, who in the early days of parenthood were malnourishing our children, not because we felt a desire to abuse them, but because we didn't know what we were doing wrong. There but for the grace of god went we. We sought help from a lactation consultant fairly early on in the piece because breast is best...but it's not the only way. We had friends. We had people around us from the same background, who spoke the same language. We had the resources to help us. Who did Tahani's parents have to go to? Who helped them out when the baby was screaming from dawn till dusk and then on to dawn again? I put it to you that this baby DID cry. I would hazard a guess this child was starving and after exhausting herself to sleep she was indeed a "very good baby" and slept more than most.

This baby was only 11 weeks old for goodness' sake! Where were Plunket? When did the midwife bow out of service? What was the feeding like in those earlier weeks? What was the story when the mother and child were discharged from hospital?

The situation has of course been exacerbated by the vultures who espie tragedy from afar and feel the need to dance in front of the camera and say 'see, I told you so - it's the lofty government's fault...not ours.' I cannot see what Christine Rankin's soundbites have to offer this dreadful case. If you can't see the video, a transcript is here I cannot fathom why the media have given this woman so much airtime. A woman whose time as CEO for WINZ was described as a 'litany of failures.' I'm all for redemption and making good, but my opinion is that Rankin shrieks and wails over a tragedy of which little is known. My intuition tells me that this was a family in crisis (no major surprises there); a family who fell through the cracks. Those same cracks were clearly visible at the start of the OC's life - I stood on the tipping point. Which hole did they fall down? Our pit of despair opened up in the maternity ward - a place where the OC and myself should have been swept up and looked after...but we weren't. Whatever the case for Tahani and her kin, this was almost certainly a family who may not have had all the benefits that my peers and I have had.

Where has all our satire gone?

2008-01-13T13:36:00.000+13:00

In our house, as I guess in many homes around New Zealand, we have to wonder what has happened to political satire in our country. I'm hoping that in an election year SOMEONE will come up with a good a pointy stick as this one; I can only dream. What would I do without the internet to tickle my political fancy? If Andrew Keen had his way I'd still be shouting at Paul Holmes and would revel in the soundbites from TVNZ and TV3...because they make me think!

Tell that to my daughter's generation - she is saving the world in the Simpson's game with its own brand of satire thinly disguised as a 'game' :

I'm sure this kind of intensity is not unusual to the thousands of parents who hand over 'the controls' to their young ones. Only a couple of bars of Mary Gray Fudge and some post-partum delirium separates these two in age. His Mum and I were only doors away from eachother when we spawned our first born and the children and their aforementioned maternal units have been close friends ever since.

Hats are off several hours later and while they're still couch potatoes they are colloborative and cooperative couch potatoes negotiating and problem solving until they're too exhausted to go on:

The only reason they gave up was because of a gentle nudge from the respective parental units and a grumble in their puku. Potato chips and Coke Zero were not enough in the end.

The only thing that scared the participants off was the threat of bringing out the Singstar. The OC of course was 'a goer' but her comrade in arms thought discretion was the better part of valour. Although he braved some U2 and Coldplay, I fear that it will be another ten years and ample grog before he demands to clutch the microphone to his chest as fervently as the OC.

And on that note...so to speak...I am off to do battle with The OC. I promised her yesterday and one must follow through with the Dandy Warhols. She wants me to (Lose) my Religion as well. It's Sunday. Need's must!

Sir Ed

2008-01-12T08:57:00.000+13:00

The tributes to arguably our greatest ever New Zealander will be done superbly on other sites and in other genres but I couldn't let Friday the 11th of January go past without acknowledging a great man! I was doing so well until this morning. I thought I was a hard old baggage who could look at the passing of Sir Ed quite calmly and dispassionately. Then I read this lovely tribute T'was when I read the story of Ollie Bradshaw at 12 ringing Sir Ed up for a school project. It must be the emotional teacher in me. It's clear that I need to get back in the classroom and pull myself together ; ) People will remember him for all the work he did beyond Everest and I hope that New Zealand will fulfill his wishes and continue the amazing work of the Himalayan Trust for decades to come.

2008-01-03T08:50:00.000+13:00

The Cook and I have been getting ahead of the OC with the PS3 while she's away with her grandparents. Singstar was meant to be for her (because in no way were we going to drink too much and get vocal) but I couldn't help it dear readers (as sober as I was...and I was, which is of real concern) I had to get the microphone out to Razorlight which brings me to why I took a second look at tomdispatch this morning.

This arrived in my inbox today and it kinda sums up why at this time last year we weren't thinking of using LAX as a stopover on our way to or from Europe. As we prepared the route home to New Zealand, I was thinking of the kids. What better way to finish than a trip to Disneyland! It was the airport shenannigans that turned our head away from Uncle Sam. We live life close enough to the edge as it is; the possibility of having a full body search coupled with the guaranteed and now legendary attitude of US govt officials at the airport (together with the YC) were enough to make us run in the other direction. It seems locally that quite a few people feel the same way and prefer now to travel to Europe via Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong etc. Razorlight speaks for the thousands of us who love the US for all the good things we appeared to grow up with, but like most adolescents, we grow beyond our nostalgia and want to stand on our own two feet.

And talking of nostalgia, I happened to look up from The Cook's dinner the other night to see Deirdre Barlow hiding behind her glasses and hubby Ken hovering in the background confused as ever. Blow me down if there isn't a whiff of murder in the street. Deirdre's glasses tell us so! I have a feeling I know how this ends.

To be honest, the photo is an old one from when Deidre's glasses were on trial for murder, but if I were to send you a birthday card this year, don't be worried if it came out like this(beware the spoiler)
I gave up following Coro years ago but remember fondly watching a superb piece of drama whilst at my conference in Manchester where Tracy confessed all to her harrowed mother - nothing will let me forget her plaintive "Treaarrrceee" And now I get to see it all over again. Can't wait!

Is there a carrot in your stocking, or are you just pleased to see me?

2007-12-26T18:27:00.000+13:00

Up the road for Christmas with the family. Only one missing is the brother whose wedding we will attend in March 08. Subject to copyright we may yet post photos.

The old fella in red was very good to us. We had a techie year replete with Barbie Girl (not your ordinary blond bimbo), a PS3 (for the YC and his warbling sister) and a Squeezebox for les parents. The YC has a penchant for discovering and chewing our Cds so we had to commit our musical history to a greater memory than we'll ever have. It all slots in well with the wireless broadband router we already have in situ, but with this new installation of gear I have a feeling we're going to need a Wii for personal health reasons...or maybe just a tinfoil hat.

Enamoured with, and still under the spell of new technology we went for a walk to the Heritage District of this provincial New Zealand town. A not-tooo-bad snack at the Milford Whisky distillery and then a wander back home to mes parents. With some trepidation at purchasing new technology we thought 'what better place to test the depth of penetration' than the local video store.

A quick sweep of the store found us lost and low and behold (or quel horreur), the Cook actually asked for directions!!!! "Do you have any Blue Ray movies?" and low came a curt, abrupt and contemptuous snap back: "No!! The air from her lungs was so haughty that it pushed us towards the door like naughty school kids where a till assistant wished The Cook a hearty 'see ya later.' The Cook, on stumbling out the door in mirth felt like he'd need a cold shower when he got home.

I reinforced blond stereotypes and am forced to admit I didn't catch the drift of what had just gone down (so to speak) until The Cook educated me outside the door. I laughed all the walk home, interspersed with cringes at the thought that the woman had made presumptions of what WE do with our Boxing Day!

2007 comes to a close....

2007-12-21T13:08:00.000+13:00

Decided to restart the blog after a long absence. Wanted to be able to host some of the fandamily stuff up here for the crusties....so here goes. The OC finished her year at the school breakup in the Kapa Haka group. She spent half the year calling it "Maori Singing" but has got the knack of it and is fully immersed now and rarely misses a rehearsal. And of course it was the YC's last day at Kindergarten. What an occasion. How far he has come! He is 'ready' for school. But is school ready for him? Although non-verbal, he is starting to show a lot of 'character' and is extremely entertaining when dancing in front of his television. He's coming up to six years old in January and it seems a long long way from this
to this:

- a little boy with a passion for the computer. His parents are giving in and have advised the fat guy accordingly. There just might be some software coming for him from the North Pole via the sweatshops of Asia. We shall see...

The OC takes on "What Now"

2007-06-17T16:15:00.000+12:00

The OC and her best mate headed out to Port Chalmers on a cold and wintery Dunedin day to meet up with the "What Now" TV crew. Both girls were extremely excited to have their photo taken with Tamati! Although Tamati looks more excited to be in the photo of the girls in this one! ;-)

City life through music and dance...

2007-05-02T07:52:00.001+12:00

Manchester: Found the guy's voice so arresting that I bought their cd. I think they're singing a cover here and if anyone could tell me the original artist I'd be most grateful.

And these people were lovely to listen to on a hot Friday evening in Manchester. Amongst all the conference work I was doing it was lovely to chill out in the bustling city

Then of course, the wonderful Durham. Not the most steady of cameras but a little snatch of what we saw as we approached the cathedral. The OC was very good with doing the coin in the hat thing.

Home again, home again, jiggedy jig

2007-05-01T18:09:00.000+12:00

There has been some severe sleeping going on. Not necessarily jet lag, more deflation - Though not of the 'it's all over I'm sad' kind, just fatigue.

If we had a lotto win behind us, I'm sure the crusties could have sustained another six weeks but the OC was missing her cat and her friends, and the YC needed his own bed. We're glad to be home even if the wintery weather was a shock to the system. The last day in Singapore was clear and sunny and so very very hot. Spending our last two nights in luxury at the Furama complete with swimming pool was the ticket. The beds were starchy but unremarkable and again we hung with the locals preferring good old fashioned noodles to Starbucks and Swensons when it came to the food.

We went out and had dinner around the corner from the hotel on the first night and had some Tiger beer, soft drinks and lashings of food for 32 dollars Singapore. Then we came home to the hotel in order to see the band. Three stunning Singapore women and a chap with a pretty cool computer sound system were playing. It was good on the ear but the two g and t's and the two lemonades were 42 dollars Singapore! Given that the NZ to Singapore dollar is pretty close to parity, it brought a tear to our eye. It strengthened our resolve to continue going native!! We didn't even bother looking at a menu from any of the hotel's restaurants from then on.

We considered food on the hop........literally.

The OC was offered a chance of frogs legs and instead of appearing squeamish and doing the faux horror thing, she was suitably circumspect, considered it for a minute then chose the pork dumplings. Perhaps we've entertained her with too much Dr Who. She's just become a little too complacent...even when she watched the Singapore chef 'preparing' the legs at the side of the shop. What HAVE we done? ;-)

Singapore to ChCh was odd in that it was a night flight. Hardly anyone slept and the flat screen tvs in everyone's seats were glowing around the plane. The people in front were ordering Singapore Slings at 4am but we just went for juice. Must be groupthink. The YC was given his (prescribed) melatonin which at least gave him a decent night's kip while the OC, The Cook and I watched as many movies as we could be bothered. Eregon met with the OC's approval for those parents out there who want something for 7 to 12 year olds...even The Cook enjoyed it. Moi? I dined out on "Children of God," "The Last King of Scotland" and two thirds of "Babel" which I'll have to watch on Sky to give the final verdict.

It was two degrees in Christchurch when we landed and has been misty and drizzly at home all day today. All the heaters in the house have been turned on and the lekky blankets are being overhauled for the winter. Och..it's good to be home! Truly!

Final notes:
Firstly we came home to some welcome home signs, some kai and grog on the dining room table and a very clean house. Friends are worth more than a trip overseas and are up there with the Mona Lisa, Eiffel Tower and Amsterdam Canals.

Bless!

There is a tail to this blog. There is more to be said mostly because our posts were necessarily constricted by time limits, internet availability and circumstance so there will be more posts as thoughts are collected and retrospective impressions are formed and the fun stuff as well as the original theme of this blog are acknowledged.

It aint over till it's over....

Last day in the Northern Hemisphere...

2007-04-26T23:24:00.000+12:00

Sitting in a Chinese restaurant using free wifi for the last time in London. We're down the West End having ambled via The Thames, Fleet Street and The Strand from the Tower of London.

We've pounded the streets of London a lot over the past few days and have taken in the bustle of the tubes and trains with aplomb.
Yesterday we spent the day at Brighton which was a surprise and a delight. On one side of the hill lies the posh shops of Laura Ashley et al and on the other weave the bohemian type wares of the more hippy district. One of the more crazy things we saw was this:

We asked the woman where they got the name from and of course she replied 'it came from New Zealand.' When we explained that there was in fact no such place she argued spiritedly saying 'oh no...we've had a postcard from there' *sigh* Further up the street there'd been a shop called "Pokeno Pies" - there must have been some New Zild influence here at one stage!

Coveted this wee find but just know it would never fit in the suitcase. Don't know whether there's anywhere in NZ which would sell this, but I'd be in!

Have had a very literary week with a trip to the Globe where I spent not only an entertaining time on the tour, but also in the 'shop' where I bought a couple of things to take back to add to the Eng dept library. I watched the actors rehearse their closing 'jig' for Othello which was amusing given that it has such a sad and hopeless ending.

And now the OC is finely and freely initiated into the world of Dr Who after watching another two episodes of late. She espied this yesterday at Brighton and asked her mother to take this photo:

And what has this got to do with Shakespeare? Well quite a lot actually. Apparently the third series of the new Dr Who has a visit to Elizabethan England and these are the monsters we'll see:

So now we head homeward via Singapore full of new insights and visions, a litle bit of credit card overload and a bucketload of enjoyment. It will be good to get home. We are at the stage where we are looking forward to our own country again and our own bed...and the bedroom floor instead of suitcases ;-)

London Aye

2007-04-24T21:35:00.000+12:00

Sitting in a cafe outside St Paul's in London. Decided not to spend the $60 entry fee to see St Paul's not wishing to tempt fate should Jesus pop by and throw another tizz at the money making activities in and about the church. Silly and unnecessary given that Durham was free, this is just a money making venture. And I recommend Durham as the one to see rather than this rort!!! We will instead invest the money on an open bus tour of London today with my brother who has lived here for nearly eight years and is yet to see all the sights himself - as you do!

Managed to see a fair bit of London over the last few days on foot and by underground much to the OC's pleasure. In fact is it the OC who takes us from A to B via the underground - she never looked back from the train spotting in Holland and was totally fluent on Sneltrains, The Stop train, the Intercity and the Sprinter - and is now nearly a licensed train guard.

And remember my snort about the London Marathon!? Well we were in amongst it on Sunday by pure chance. We have a tendency to follow our noses and just go where the spirit moves us, and on Sunday we ended up near the finishing line late in the day. We dipped and dived and wove in and out around crippled runners and walkers on their way to the nearest pub.

Intend on using snippets from Speaker's Corner in my lessons about the language of Oratory. This will be a study of the language and delivery rather than the mindsets of the orators (because frankly I think most were minus a few sheep in the top paddock ). This woman was a case in point:

Yesterday was St George's Day and they're trying here to revive a sense of occasion in celebrating the patron saint of England. It appears everybody celebrate's Ireland's patron saint without any problem. And while we saw some effort made yesterday including a celebration of classic English comedy at Nelson's Column, it appears that there's still some way to go.

And off we go now..Tally ho..as we search for the best deal in Big Red Bus rides.

See you anon

London reprise

2007-04-22T01:53:00.000+12:00

In London ensconced at the hotel in the Docklands. Seems we've gone from Coro St to Eastenders! A glorious sunny day here with the promise of 23 degrees tomorrow for the London marathon (all of us have been in training for it of course - that's secretly why I'm here *snort*)

We're at a cyber caf in Beckton having just bought some necessaries and some microwavable dinners as our room has only a microwave - where is Tom when the Cook needs him? ;-)

We plan to do a bit of site seeing in amongst the final 'work' stuff. Hope to get to the British Museum. The OC has developed a real interest in historical artifacts so where better but the repository of some of the best looting an empire can do.

We're having a bit of a rest day today - it's a bit too hot to just walk aimlessly around and London is an expensive place to do things on an urge.

Talking of urges - we managed to spend some money in Rotterdam. We all went shoe shopping and it was a spirited affair. The OC and I were going neck and neck and we've called it a draw. I may have the edge in numbers but the OC has more of the cowhide! The Cook made a commendable attempt but faded on the main straight. I fear his hormones were against him.

What's The Cook whipping up for the last supper?

2007-04-20T01:58:00.000+12:00

Our last day of rural living

Fresh air and a range of fresh food to choose from...

And of course we couldn't go past this...

The puzzles

2007-04-19T17:11:00.000+12:00

Why are there so many Argentinian Steak houses in Amsterdam? It is baffling - I don't know the connection between this city and loads of beef and cowhide sofas!

The second quandary is this - what's the channel about?

We have 35 channels at T'Eekhhornnest and most of them are in a foreign language - Spanish, French, German, Italian and Dutch. They're entertaining and fascinating but Sterren is just odd. It seems to be a highlight package of all the most crazy music videos to come out of Holland or Europe in the last 35 years. I say 35 because I saw a video of Mississipi in a run of assorted bad hits. It's intriguing and we haven't really met any locals who we feel comfortable enough with to ask them about it. I think it's a talent show but when you watch it you feel that you've been thrown into the past and given a good whack around the head with a pair of pastel lemon shorts and a banana clip. And we watch this so you don't have to!
And then there are the mannequins. I never quite got over mannequins in shop windows after watching Carry on Screaming circa nineteen seventy something.

Found this at a prestige car firm on the Champs Elycee

And then this on the road through Switzerland
And then there are the moments when you really know we live a world away when you look to the sky of a morning and this is the foreign thing you see...

Imagine having all these flight paths to choose from!

Of course there are times when it all gets a bit much and all one wants to do is sleep...and some of us can do it anywhere

Especially after a chocolate fix and some tele with your big blister

We've found Holland very beautiful and very relaxing.

We leave for England again tomorrow night so today is our last day around Soest. We've gone on walkabouts to family haunts although we haven't caught up with any family member directly. It's enough for the OC to know that her father once cycled these streets as a young whippersnapper and that his mother before him paved out her early life here.

We had our last ramble today along to Soest to catch a few last bargains before we pack up and head to Rotterdam tomorrow lunchtime. We say goodbye to the rural life! Rotterdam to Harwich Friday night. To the city of London then, for one final burst before the return to the southern hemisphere!

We are hopeless shoppers...

2007-04-17T20:52:00.000+12:00

Found this opposite us at the bus stop at De Birkt. She's obviously an important icon for some families - perhaps they're over run by Van Gogh and want a refreshing change???

We went into Amsterdam on Monday morning expecting it to be quieter - it was but only by smidgeon. It felt hotter than Saturday and the hustle and bustle of the shops wore us out. It was still a fascinating trip, it's just that we wanted to 'go shopping!' and we came away with a snow shaker toy for The OC with a windmill scene and another souvenir of a pink hue (quel surprise!) for around her neck to adorn her Tamagotchi. We'll try the shopping thing one more time when the weather turns, as it appears to be doing this morning.

The Cook perked up his ears at one point in the shopping melee and heard strains of a Dutch Organ percolating through the alleys and so we followed him through to find it. It was unique and added a bit of colour to the experience that was down town Amsterdam. I took a video of it if anyone's at all interested when we return - tis quite a wee... errrr monstrous marvel.

We may yet do a post of some of the busking that we've taken time to record. We bought a Cd in Manchester of a young band who had great voices and mean guitars. It subsequently got a good hearing in the campervan moreso than the freebie the previous occupants had left behind in the cd player. ACDC's greatest hits. Needless to say, The Cook and I laughed for a full 73 kilometres while it thrashed around the van. The OC just looked bemused and not at all alarmed by the music. Found myself thinking of circa 1984 and the parody "Bad News on Tour" with Adrian Edmondson et al.

This was us a week ago. It's nice to be lounging around drinking coffee and having the kids watch CBeebies again as we read the Sunday paper - in English. We're doing the days one about at the moment just that we don't get too burnt out doing the big city thing. So, today we will wander into the little town of Soest for a looksie. This is where The Cook's mother grew up so the OC is to get a wee tour of her Oma's old patch

Sunday, at home.

2007-04-16T07:18:00.000+12:00

Saturday: A quick bus ride into Amersfoort where we hopped into the train for Amsterdam little knowing that people had been hopping into things and arriving in Amsterdam for at least a solid 12 hours before we got there at lunchtime.

The place was chocker. It was stinking hot in the very high twenties without a cloud in the sky and no wind. There were gazillions of people who’d come to town for the fine weather and a Saturday out. More obvious were the teams of people identifiable by the fact that they all stuck together and spoke with a Scottish accent and tried to arrange seating for 17 at a restaurant or those wearing naff printed t-shirts advertising that they’re out on a hens night. This lot sounded like they came from England. And then there were the four mad kiwis in amongst it all…suffering from the heat and hunger and just the bustle of the streets. It took us at least an hour of walking around until we finally found a restaurant with a table free.

Pizza, beer and Coke Zero suited each individual and shortly after that we went on a quick scoping mission for our hopefully more leisurely return tomorrow Monday – Imelda must have more shoes.

And now we sit out in the evening heat of Sunday night...the kids are tucked up in bed and we're reviewing our day. We trekked the paths in the neighbourhood of our cottage today and just hung out together. A family ritual has evolved where I now download whatever pictures we've taken for the day and I arrange them as a slide show on the lappy.

We’ve been caught short here today with only a couple of beers in the fridge and absolutely no shops open all day. Fortunately we have some kai for tea but if we had a cat it would have gone hungry. The supermarkets close early on a Saturday night too so you have to be prepared with provisions tucked away.

We had another lovely day and managed to go to bed with quenched thirsts and full tummies due to The Cook’s dash on a borrowed antique bike from the office for chocolate milk and fizz and his spicy chicken (prepared the night before).

A little video from the OC

2007-04-15T16:07:00.000+12:00

Took this on Wednesday - The OC may yet follow in Hillary Barry's footsteps. I'm having a few technical problems with it, but bear with me. Again, make a cup of coffee while it plays through the first time (with the sound down) and then come back and watch when it's all in.

Back in Holland for a cup of tea and a wee lie down...

2007-04-14T04:29:00.000+12:00

Spot the new accessory?

Had a lovely last morning in Paris catching a quick coffee with a dear friend from days of yore and her new bebe. It seemed completely natural to be sitting chewing the fat over a cup of coffee in the Bois de Bologne camping ground - all was right with the world.
Later in the morning we put on our armour and negotiated our way out of Paris, this time avoiding driving around famous landmarks camouflaged in a metallic whale suit.
We headed for Belgium and a night in whatever turned up - we were aiming to be south of the Dutch border ready to drop off the Whalesuit the next morning. Instead we went off the beaten track as we are wont to do and found ourselves in the Netherlands just out of Breda at a place called Liesbos.

We seem to be on a Mona Lisa kick at the moment with this lovely example complete with clogs suffice to say the OC doubled over with glee and mirth when seeing this:
And it seems that there’s quite a stiff competition going on for window displays – each more extravagant and kitschy than the next:

We were indeed fortunate to be in the countryside opposite a farmer who was ploughing about 40 kilos of ‘compost’ per square metre in to his field. The entire area smelt of the best and worst of country life, which didn’t really matter as it was lovely and mild, and truly just another means of remembering a place you once stayed at.

An uneventful trip to drop the campervan off, the Cook reverting to his bottle washing duties giving the van a good clean inside before we dropped it off. The inspection on return is a little nerve wracking and imagine our surprise when we were told of 130 Euro extra cost for cleaning the interior (which was seriously, a few footprints on the floor from entering and exiting over the last couple of hours). A sharp intake of breath was heard by all while moi….well I just started giggling nervously and the OC joined in although she didn’t know why, while The Cook muttered that he wasn’t bluddy paying that! A quick reference to our copy of the agreement which stated the payment would be for ‘extra interior cleaning’ resolved the matter promptly and everything ended with a smile and a handshake…..which is perhaps just as well.

Then to Rotterdam for half a day in the sun while we worried why the luggage storage at the central railway station wouldn’t accept Aunty Visa. For some hours there we worried that the card had been skimmed somewhere in France perhaps and it wasn’t helped when it appears the system went down when paying for lunch. However dear readers, we have used it since and all seems well. We are now at the Eeekhoornnest which translates as the squirrel’s nest although we have yet to see one. We did see a squirrel and a perky wee beggar he was too but that was in Stratford Upon Avon close by Shakespeare’s grave….uncanny really.

The weather here is warm. It is ten past ten in the evening and I am outside sitting in a t-shirt basking in the warmth. Apparently it is the hottest 13th of April in forty years…and we have three more days of temperatures in the high twenties if the forecast holds true.

Tomorrow we visit Amsterdam

Owwwwww my feet are sore!!!

2007-04-12T01:47:00.000+12:00

The OC took on Paris in style this week. Two days of traipsing, plodding, trawling but ultimately delighting in most of what this wonderful city has to offer. We did the big three for her today: in the queue for the Eiffel Tower, which opens at 9.30am, by 9.15am. One pillar was out for maintenance and the three queues to ascend were already a half a kilometre long snaking around the base like a hydra head. If there's one thing I'll say about my own preconceptions of this city, it's that I was so naive...so green...so silly to think the rest of the world wouldn't be as interested in Paris in the springtime as me.

Fortunately for the YC (and us) we were upgraded to immediate entry by virture of the wheelchair. Up in the lift, the YC and I to the 2nd floor and The OC and her Chef du jour up to the highest point.

There were plenty of gasps and oh-my-god's from the OC and I think maybe we did the Right Thing.

Then a wander down the Seine to the Louvre where the OC (being a child) was allowed to slip under the barrier and stand within two metres of the Mona Lisa. Oddly, the rest of the family managed to slip in behind her. The YC took this opportunity to implode at the majesty of it all (on our behalf of course). A sea of people...that's all we can say....a SEA of people!!! But fortunate seems to be the currency of the trip so far.

And the trifecta for the OC was occasioned by our throbbing feet and aching legs having literally walked our shoes off over the last two days so we caught the metro back to L'Arc de Triomphe so that we could wander down a side road where we found "L'Esmeralda" - a wee brasserie with yet another 'gratuit' WiFi zone and lashings of dark rich chocolate ice cream. Don't worry dear readers, the adults weren't neglected, we had a sumptuous steak and a well deserved rest.

I am finding that slipping into the life that is Paris....err...rather easy. And possibly we are only one lotto win shy of doing this on a more regular basis. I am using my schoolgirl French and appropriate hand signals (laced with smiles) and really that's all one needs.

Yesterday, my breath was taken (literally) by this view. I don't know why I was so surprised. Perhaps it's the overuse of the Eiffel Tower as an icon, a symbol and all that it entails that I thought I'd be hardened but in the OC's words.....oh mon dieu!

Vous entrez dans un espace non-fumeurs

2007-04-11T00:18:00.000+12:00

Paris j'arrive! Here we are, l'enfant et moi at the Place de la Concorde. And as I write we find ourselves at a Brasserie on Rue Brissere half way between the Champs Elysee and the Eiffel Tower. It's hot, cloudless and everybody is bustling with activity after the first day back from the Easter break. We've just all ordered salads and the ubiquitous diet coke...and a biere for the adults.

We've walked from the Arc de Triomphe right down the Champs Elysee through to the Louvre (which is closed on a Tuesday...quel bugger!) and back and now we're off to see the Eiffel tower as it appears it's the only reason we came to Paris or indeed France according to the OC. Coming to Paris was a breeze thanks to the Michelin guide online. It got us ninety nine percent of the way to the camping ground The guide has served us very well around Europe so far and I'm happy to concede that I might have put a small error in the last part of the address. Suffice to say I had the Cook driving around a roundabout that was fifty metres from one side of the road to the other with at least a dozen roads entering and exiting. It was full of Parisien drivers displaying their joie de vivre...and no road markings. I had to send the Cook around four or five times while I got my bearings before sending him up the road to do the same around the Arc de Triomphe....a couple of times while I got my bearings there. THEN back down to the original roundabout by which time the Cook's pallor had returned somewhat and there was a hint of a glint in his eye as he realised he had the biggest machine on the road. I think the 750 Euro fine for crunching the van had gone out the window by this stage. It's fair to say when sharing a bottle of Macon vin over dinner the Cook did admit that he was grateful for having driven around L'Arc de Triomphe.....several times.

Anyway...eventually we found ourselves firmly ensconced with the 567,000 campervans and 8 caravans from Europe and we're for another 2 nights before heading for Rotterdam again on Thurs morn. Today and tomorrow we do the tourist stuff a la pied and Thursday I hope to do coffee with an old school mate who now lives and works in Paris. You find folk from Oamaru everywhere!

A Quick update...

2007-04-09T22:24:00.000+12:00

We've stopped at an Aire for an early lunch because this one has everything from an hotel to a shopping mall to WIFI - wahooo! This is the first access we've had to the blog since Manchester.

Tonight we're going to zoom to Paris so we can spend a couple of days because it looks like the weather will hold out. We are still yet to have any rain. We'll let you know how we get on.

More anon...

Bon jour!

2007-04-09T21:59:00.000+12:00

The Cook is opening (and spilling) a bottle of Sancerre ’05. Yesterday in Grasse, ten minutes from the Cote d’Azur we found ourselves in a camping ground a hundred metres from a huge supermarket so we managed to replenish our stocks and have a decent shower. Dinner was a very simple baguette with local ham and cheese preceded by a glorious local terrine which the OC selected after tasting several at the charcuterie. We listened to the radio emanating from Monaco because it was the only English station in the south of France according to its frequent advertising. It was through this that we learnt that Bangladesh had beaten Sth Africa (hah!) – and this is all the news we’ve heard since Stratford Upon Avon.

Stratford was great. We stayed at Sir William (Lawrence’s) pleasure…(and a few of the readies). ;-) I won a bottle of Mumm’s on the last day of the conference from entering a competition and I thought it appropriate to have a tipple before I ventured out to King Lear at the RSC 's Courtyard Theatre.

Ian McKellen was at his best and there were many directorial choices I noted that I can discuss with Year 13 when I return. At the intermission the visual left with us was of The Fool hanged on the stage and the ‘corpse’ stayed for most of the break.
One of Lear’s last lines at the close of the play as he holds his dead Cordelia is ‘my poor fool is hanged’ – a wonderful link and a poignant ending. Another poignant but startling part was when Sir Ian tore off his clothes in his ‘naked wretch’ scene and we got the full frontal. It was pathos and horror all at once but ooooh errrr! The things Tolkein/Peter Jackson never imagined!

Stratford to Hull took three train changes but we’re old hands now and we move as a single unit, even if we do colonise half a carriage with our luggage and ‘us’

Hull. How do you describe Hull? It was lovely, sunny and warm but an enforced three hour wait for the one bus that took us to the ferry had us drinking Starbuck’s coffee(?) which is not the sort of appetiser one has prior to a sea voyage. Onto the ferry – three times the size of a Cook Strait number and much better food…but with the same charging rorts that accompany it . We threw in the towel and went for the full buffet. And while the YC is just content with fries and tom sauce, we feel obliged to make up his difference as and where we can. Consequently the Cook had three roll mops when one really should have done. And moi?...well I just enjoyed the wall to wall salmon and smoked haddock. And then to bed for the most placid crossing of the north sea for a duration of 9 hours.

The cabin was about the same size as your basic Gitmo cell and of note were the blaring instructions on the loud speaker that followed you into the ensuite in Dutch, German, French and English…That it was now 6.30am and time for brekkie. Luckily for The OC she slept through the whole thing after a mission on the trains the day before where she was the porter, the organiser and the tour guide extraordinaire.

Rotterdam.

Hit town nice and early. Seems Europe doesn’t start shopping until around 10am which is about when we arrived in town. The OC/Imelda scored her third pair of shoes – just a little more expensive than 3 Singapore dollars (insert understatement). Gorgeous weather and lovely shopping. Noticed the difference of attitude with regard to deportment in Holland which has carried through up until now. There’s certainly a cultural difference between England and Europe and it began in Holland and it has remained since.

Grabbed a taxi to pick up the campervan. Had a taxi driver who was very confused, even with GPS directions. It took two phone-calls from within the taxi and not some inconsiderable expense to get to the depot. He was polite, confused, apologetic, confused, grandfatherly, confused and was thoroughly conversant in Dutch – the only words we understood were Air port, problem and Mamma Mia ! Maybe if we’d been Italian…..

Into the campervan. First night in a lay by ( or Aires as they are called) in Belgium. Nothing spectacular but HOME. Aires have overnight sleeping for truckies (and campervans) along with a service station, a decent sized café, picnic tables, and are usually a full on business in and of themselves. The plan was to nip down to hit The Med as soon as possible so a long day driving the next day as we thundered through Luxembourg, France, (mugged at the Swiss border for 30 odd Euro road tax – that’s good for a year!!!!!! *snort*) and then Switzerland. Went through some serious tunnels (the Swiss love their tunnels….and so does the YC!!!!) and spat out into Italy where we had a night on the side of the road outside Alessandria.

The road tolls ended up costing as much as the diesel did for the trip-(Memo to self, ensure the NZ Govt never privatises the roading network!!!). Left the lay by at Alessandria to greet the Mediterranean at Genoa. Interesting in that from there on, right through to Monaco there are SO many people and it’s SO built up that manoeuvring anything bigger than a motorcycle is sheer madness. We were fortunate that it’s Easter and the huge majority of folk aren’t going about their usual business. Nevertheless, we had to leave the coast at Monaco because it was just becoming stressful. There is no access to the beaches with height barriers that only let cars through and no parking for Anything….even for cars….even at Easter.

So onto the Motorway and took the next right (which is inland) and on to Grasse.

Grasse, famous for perfumes je pense, “mais all closed” said The Cook….relieved. We went to sleep in the camping ground chorused by frog-song. The loudest frogs in the world…but kinda…actually verrrry cool.

It’s been a solid sunny twenty degrees plus for the last three days. Lovely bright sun but a haze that cuts the visibility down to 10 kms or so. We thought it might be pollution but it’s Easter and this part of the world definitely shuts down over easter. Maybe we are blessed with the clarity of light that is Otago.

We spent the day away from motorways today on our journey from Grasse, pretty much following our noses with the odd reference to the Michelen map. This means that when you overrun an intersection you still have a rough idea where you’re going. But we had no idea where we’d end up. And this is how we got to “Crest” – somewhere in Provence. But it’s a pretty AMAZING somewhere!

And so we sit here drinking the Sancerre under the shadow of a medieval castle where the OC and I lost count of the steps getting to.

The Mancunian Dispatch

2007-04-01T16:23:00.000+12:00

Yet another glorious day in Manchester. The breeze is a bit fresh but there's nary a cloud in the sky, brilliant sunshine and we're yet to feel the pitter patter of rain on our heads. The forecast is such we may yet make it to the end of our stay (for now) on these shores without any precipitation - who'da thunk!

For the most part I've been inside doing the serious business while the family has taken strolls around the inner city. This afternoon there's a gap in the proceedings so I'm going to join them for a few hours in town while the NATE A.G.M drags on. Not that we're going to buy anything!!! Apart from not wanting to lug it around Europe in already bulging suitcases, the cost of living here (as we were warned) is pretty jolly expensive. The Cook is continually in cringe mode and gives audible winces as he buys lunches and dinners for OC and YC. Subway yesterday. Lunch for three. 14 pound, which if you said was $NZ14 it'd feel about right, but of course 14 pounds is $NZ42 Jesu Maria!!! I think it'll take The Cook some time to really come to terms with it all. Bring on the baguettes and fromage in France!

The staff at the hotel here are in the main, East Europeans. And indeed about the streets one can hear quite a few eastern European languages. We read some 500 000 folk from those parts have migrated to England in search of roads paved with gold. It appears they end up doing the low-end service work and there are grumblings that locals are being displaced and that the newbies are working for less than the minimum wage. Of course this sort of attitude would NEVER be heard of in New Zealand would it ;-)

The conference, like any conference you go to is turning out to be a mixed bag. I have experienced the best of the best in terms of inspiration, and then some stupifying, melatonin-inducing research presentations. Perhaps it's because I'm a fush out of water. It is hard to judge.

We watched the first episode of Season 3 - Dr Who last night. It was the OC's first real viewing of a whole show and it gave her the obligatory nightmares a few hours later. She has been initiated. She shall be immediately scared the moment she hears the opening wail of the theme song. We are content.

These two little 'shout outs' were taken in Manchester on our first day. The OC dearly wanted to be 'taped' so here we go.

To be able to see it clearly at home with limited NZ broadband, click play, turn the sound down and go and make a coffee. Then come back and replay it after it's downloaded without the stopping and starting, coughing and farting. That's what I'd do anyway.

And for Db...

And the crowd went wild!!!

2007-04-01T03:13:00.000+12:00

It felt good to sit in the bar of our hotel in Manchester this afternoon watching a thrilling cricket match. The sound was down low but being the avid cricket watcher that I am, that didn't stop me from becoming animated in a crowded bar full of English teachers recovering from a hard day of 'conferencing'

It was Sky Sport - what more could you ask for as The Cook and I sampled a Tetleys and fed Morrocan Lamb Crisps to our son and daughter! It was Australia versus South Africa. The score was tied at 213 with two balls left to bowl and no wickets left and then there was a godawful runout as the Sth African's lost the plot. I shouted out loudly 'run ya b*****r!' to which heads turned at once to me and then to the screen. Unluckily for me, this game took place in 1999 at Edgbaston. We were watching a repeat of a game long ago played. Not only had I showed my hand in supporting the Seth Efricans, but I'd also made a complete tit of myself.

The OC roared with laughter and the YC, like Ken Barlow, remained perpetually perplexed. I really must be more 'avid' and actually keep up with the draw for the Super Eight lest they put me on the next boat home.

Had a good day at the conference. Listened to an enthralling professor from the University of Sheffield on the topic of "Digital Beginnings: Young Children, New Media and Digital Literacy" - it was looking at the Foundation Stage (our Kindergarten/Pre-school type age) and into early Primary. Still, it was food for thought as I can guarantee that the students we will be meeting in our high schools over the next five years will be well versed in digital learning and interaction.

The evening was taken up by a festive dinner and a performance by The Oddsocks who performed The Tempest. Sadly, I forgot to take my camera as the 'enchanted trifle' ( a man dressed as a huge cake with a red swimming hat on representing the cherry) was truly a sight to behold.

The fandamily spent the morning together walking around Manchester. In the afternoon they attacked the huge load of washing that was days overdue at a laundrette in the building (there are huge benefits in staying in University accommodation). We now smell a little better and our clothes are a little whiter.

We get the feeling that Terry Jones must have read one of my earlier blogs because what should we see in the Guardian this morning but this and it's right up our alley. You know what The Cook and I are like! It's nice to know we share more than just humour with the Pythons.

As Kiwis we know already that this is a small world, but tonight I met two teachers from a comprehensive school here in England who waved goodbye to a Dunedin teacher as she returned to KVC last year, and they lament her absence from their staffroom. Do I know her? Of course I do! This made me very tight with the crew at my table and I left them to continue the quiz with our team name of "Kaikorai" - I couldn't last the distance (so to speak)and returned here to the hotel to rest before another busy day. I hope that a little bit of Otago luck rubs off on them and they clean up the prizes.

Kia kaha Kaikorai!

Eh oop

2007-03-31T06:08:00.000+12:00

Manchester. A busy frantic town at 4.30pm of a Friday afternoon. As we took to the streets after an hour long train trip from Liverpool it felt like the whole population of Dunedin was walking around with us and at times we were swimming against the tide. The photo doesn't do it justice at all.

Saw an obligatory episode of Coro St, had to really. As we rode in on the train you could look down onto rows and rows and rows and rows and rows of houses and backyards exactly the same as the legendary opening shots of Weatherfield. And although the town may be fictitious, everything else around us - the accents, the kids, the chain smoking - everything is just 'like on' tele!' And I loathe to give away spoilers but let's just say it had Deirdre back on the witness stand hyperventilating again. Her glasses seem larger over here and Ken is of course, perpetually perplexed.

It's odd really, we were walking around the Tate Gallery, Liverpool looking at an exhibition of photos of Liverpool from the war through to the late sixties and even though we're little kiwis from the other side of the world, it was kind of strange how easily everything came back...as if this were our childhood and history as well. We really were colonial kids back then although I doubt that the OC will carry that sort of recognition through to her adulthood, which clearly is a Good Thing. We really are a different country to England, although we share so much in common. We're finding our nationhood and leaving Mother England behind.

On our walk yesterday we found a little oasis of ye olde atmosphere in the middle of wide screen teles blaring out the latest news (Bladerunner eat your heart out). I couldn't resist posting this for Miss Sinclair - is Molly any relation to you?:

I think we'll hunt down 'Molly' again when I can get a break away from the conference. The Cook found a restaurant close by serving a large range of fish and I think Rick Stein would approve if we had a little taster.

Unfortunately for the kids we're staying at a University of Manchester hotel and it doesn't have the CBeebies...a lovely little children's channel we've enjoyed since landing in England a week ago. It may be a long day for The Cook (although he'll make the children endure BBC1 even when we can get CBeebies - because, well, in a small hotel room one can only take so much of squeaky voices and sock puppets).

My NATE conference starts at 9.30 this morn. I've signed up for some internetty things and it promises to be entertaining. Do you think they'll notice a cuckoo in the nest? Kiwi reticence might be the best form of valour in this instance.I hope I can understand the presenters, both their accents and their content ;-)

A Day late....

2007-03-30T08:24:00.000+12:00

...but they finally recognised our arrival *tsk*

We awoke this morning to find this had moved in It reminded me of the book "Marion's Dreams" because last night, it was safely over the other side of the dock.... Today it gradually lit up over the day to become this - right under our window:

Today after a hearty breakfast, The Cook, my son, his chair, and my daughter, and I parted ways. I went off to Broadgreen High School, while they stayed behind to be entertained by CBeebies (aka the Brit children's channel) and a walk around Liverpool.

It was with a bit of trepidation that I entered Broadgreen High School this morning. Two locals had raised eyebrows and seemed a bit bewildered as to why I’d want to visit this ‘inner city school.’ I was of the feeling ‘just bring it on!’ – I was not fazed in the slightest but arriving in a taxi to be met my two yellow-coated men wanting to know my name and who I was visiting put me a little off guard. I am still unclear as to whether they were teachers or bouncers but they waved me right through.

From that moment on I entered what felt like a very ‘usual’ school. The students were boisterous and good natured and each class I visited was focussed and a delight. The school ‘felt good’ and that says a lot on first impression I think. Memo to Mr Durrant, I have virtual gifts for you from the MFL of Broadgreen High. I visited a great Spanish class working on revision with the Smartboard and they were also being shown how to access their V.L.E so they could revise over the Easter break.

A very VERY cool school with yet again, open, friendly international colleagues who shared their knowledge and are fully paid up members of the school of collegiality. It's kind of cool to be part of a network that has an empathy towards, and a dedication to ensuring that our next generation does better than the last. That people go so far out of their way does me good, it brings my heart to a stop and I hope I repay in kind albeit across the other side of the world.

I was impressed by the laptop scheme which enables any student without internet access at home to hire a laptop for 10 pounds (approx $30) a month. Like Longfield the interactive whiteboards were in full swing and another key function was their work with the 24 deaf students at their school. A Smartboard is a vital tool for teachers of these young people. Along with an entertaining Spanish class I was able to view a tutorial with a young deaf lad who was having extra sessions in science for his GCSE's. The Smartboard was at the forefront and he was also interacting with it under guidance from his teacher.

I was looked after for the day by a wonderful network manager called Brian who fed me with chocolate from the ongoing stash the computer team had up and running for dealing with worms and the like. Here is that team working hard. Note, Mr Smith, that there are more of them. They seem to clone themselves every hour. Why can't we clone Mr Smith. They seem to be able to do it.
And here's one just for you Mr Murley...
Met up with the family at the end of the day. Had a quick wander about town. Seems Liverpool is the European Union Cultural Capital for the year. Suits me! Suits the family. We all managed to dine out alfresco on some pretty nice kai from the markets. That we managed to kind of serendipitously move in next door to the Liverpool branch of the Tate Gallery is another bonus that you just run with. So we did that as we walked to our hotel room - as you do!

The media is full here of the navy/military folk who are now resident in Iran. Wall to wall stuff really, and actually no different than CNN and Fox and it's all about ratings at the end of the day. One has to wonder if they really cared, they'd be talking about the hundreds of thousands killed in Iraq, the millions displaced and the WMD's that presumably the navy/military folk were busily looking for.

The other biggish thing that's about the media is the 200 year anniversary of the abolition of slavery. It ranges from folk demanding an apology to folk falling about the floor laughing about it (as seen on some decent Brit satire tonight which only made me hunger for immediate satirical talent on our own screens...one can dream). And on a very local front, some real dispute that went all the way to the House of Lords (where it was narrowly defeated) - a Super Casino for Manchester (fighting against Blackpool). Has anybody ever been a winner?

PS It still hasn't rained. Ha Ha!!

And the Chinese Sculpture sits eerily outside our window, making no noise whatsoever, it better not be hunting us down. But just in case we are consumed by the glowing orbish thing, we're meant to be in Manchester tomorrow - just putting it out there. Actually we are more likely to be consumed by smoke coming through the air conditioning - it remains the lowlight of our stay so far. Could everyone please just go outside!

Lovin' it in Liverpool

2007-03-29T07:38:00.000+12:00

Took the train from Durham this morning heading for Liverpool. Tomorrow I visit Broadgreen High School which was runner up to Longfield (from Darlington) in the ICT awards last year. We had to stop at York and change trains and thought this a great opportunity to visit that wonderful town but alas alack, the cost of storing our luggage was 4 pound per piece. We are travelling with two suitcases and a backpack (carrying our sleeping bags for the campervan leg) and honestly, NZ$36 was just a little too steep just to have a look around. So on we went to Liverpool.

We’re staying at Albert Dock and it’s rather magical – and ghostly - due to the fog that’s set in. The Beatles Museum is right next door. What to do? What to do? We experienced true spring weather in the upper north-east of England but heading west it has got progressively grey and misty – just like the forecast said. Still, it hasn’t stopped us exploring the streets and their regeneration. Cranes and concrete mixers abound as the restoration of much of Liverpool’s heritage is being replaced brick by brick. Some three billion pounds (nearly 10 billion dollars) are being spent, apparently revitalising this part of Liverpool. It puts the Viaduct Basin in Auckland into some perspective I guess. But it’s going to make a big difference. This is the view from our hotel room - the glorious Albert Dock.

All of the brick buildings in the lower part of town are being stabilised and gutted and then completely rebuilt – truly a wonderful conservation effort which I think will be repaid. I certainly want to come back in a couple of years and check it out.

It’s colder here, but that’s just the front that’s set in and isn’t unlike the kind of changeable weather we get in New Zild in the springtime. Looks like we might get our first English rain. No big deal. It’s still warm enough. I am sitting here on the bed with the blinds open and I can see the river Mersey just off in the corner. The Cook keeps singing “Ferry Cross the Mersey” and the OC has no idea what he’s talking about (which is probably a Good Thing). Took this pic out walking in the late afternoon, murkey as it was. Just added to it all I reckon.

The people we’ve met and chatted with…and forget the supposed English reserve, they natter as anybody natter, and they’re as inquisitive as anyone, have all been wonderful. Yesterday at Longfield a young girl asked me where New Zealand was and I explained it was beside Australia to which she asked ‘Can ya ge’ a tan?’ Clearly the slip slop slap message has got through to me because I’m as pasty as pom at the end of winter!

Had a wonderful experience with the taxi drivers in Durham. Suffice to say they are the laziest, rudest, least supportive, educated or dynamic people in the north-east that we have come across. That’s probably enough on that, except part of me would like to send Mad Dog Prebble over to deregulate the taxi companies.

The Cook was particularly taken with the Durham Cathedral yesterday. It might have been the 325 steps spiralling to the top that he took with the OC and the subsequent oxygen depletion but I get the distinct impression that he revelled in the history of humanity that just oozed out of the sandstone. That plus it’s a pretty bloody impressive building on the inside – even more so than the outside really. As the kids would say “A BIG shout out to our mate Olive” who really made the difference. It is so cool to see local things through local’s eyes. And especially when that local is an ex-history teacher. Bless!

Durham is quite the medieval town. Small streets chock full of 700 to 1000 year old houses and pubs and the like. The Cook went and visited an indoor market – his second in two days after going through one in Newcastle. Kind of reminiscent of the Farmer’s Market down by our railway station come a Saturday morning BUT butchers, lots of butchers, great cuts of meat, a variety of birds to cook and fishmongers . Dozens of types of fish and shellfish and you name it, if it’s fishy you can get it. I have never eaten trout and it’s excruciating to come so close to as many as I could ever want and yet so far from a frypan.

OC and YC have been good as ever. Pounding the km’s, avoiding the dog poo that’s been curiously missing and having to take drastic action to miss the expectorate. Apart from everybody smoking everywhere…which takes some getting used to…that folks spit with regular monotony is kinda offputting.

Tomorrow I leave them again to traipse the streets while I take in more innovations at Broadgreen High School, an inner city school in Liverpool. I hope the rain keeps its distance for them. On the wishlist before we go is a trip to The Tate Gallery, Liverpool and perhaps a visit with the ghosts of John and George.

We happened across a wireless caf with free wireless connectivity and espied the fab four looking over at us and I couldn't resist. Apparently only two are alive (as the OC told us - where on earth does she pick this up at seven and a half ?)

We shall see.

I had a dream

2007-03-28T03:10:00.000+12:00

No truly, I really did. Or perhaps it was a nightmare. I dreampt that I was at the conference in Manchester (coming up this weekend) and I had to go to bed so would miss the Karaoke (as if!). They assured me that it was ok because I could go to the internet and it would be podcast back in my room. The strains of a mean sax playing 'Ugly Bug Ball' were playing through my head as I woke up in the darkness of our Durham hotel around 3am. I could only put the vividness of my dream down to my visit to Gateshead CLC. There I spent a morning being stunned and awed by the possibilities for our school if we wanted to set up a virtual learning environment. If a student missed 'the karaoke' or in more normal terms, one of our lessons, they may well download it from our OGHS V.L.E

I will have to take more time to digest all the wonders of Gateshead and upload the piccies of their amazing facilities when I'm back home as there is much more to say. In the afternoon I was taken to Whickham High School which is closer to where we are in our thinking around ICT. Longfield School in Darlington, Durham today was a totally different story. Promethean interactive whiteboards in EVERY room. EVERY room had it on and every teacher was using it from the food technology teacher to the art teacher and so it goes one. Mindblowing and visionary in its practical use. I loved it. The kids were just hilarious and just as good natured as the ones we see in front of us every day.

This is a pub in Durham which was at one stage (centuries ago) a theatre where the Bard's plays were put on. Wonderful tiny gorgeous streets!

Late afternoon we met a family friend who is a retired teacher and now volunteers as a guide around Durham Cathedral Saw a portrait of St Margaret who was the wife of Malcolm of Macbeth fame - (Year 11 take note). Couldn't take a piccie because it's forbidden - she wasn't very attractive though girls, he could have done better.

Tomorrow we go to Liverpool via York and I visit Broadgreen School (runner up to Longfield in the ICT awards 2006). Yeah Yeah Yeah!

London town

2007-03-25T22:58:00.000+12:00

We're here. London. Kings Cross. Internet Cafe. OC and YC are drinking a diet coke and all is well. The flight was great. We made up an hour on the way over and the flight ended up a little over 12 hours. Today we travel by Britrail to Newcastle where I start my research 'proper'! I'm going to visit Gateshead Learning Centre and go and see a secondary school in action.

We have been very impressed with the friendliness and utter helpfulness of the English people since arriving. The Tube was an exciting adventure coming in from Heathrow being Saturday night and party crowds joining us along the way into London. With the wheelchair it was kinda exciting and getting off the crowded tube was a miraculous feat but we did it. Getting up the steps with the wheelchair at the tube station was made so much easier by friendly locals who grabbed the front unbidden and just helped me up while The Cook carried our two suitcases and minded the OC. It bodes well.

The kids need to be out and about, and especially out of this caf - their smoking ban doesn't take effect until July - and that's just a little too late for my liking. EVERYWHERE people smoke. It's awful. I'm so used to fresh air and this is just awful.

Had a great first night meeting up with my brother who lives here in London. Don't know quite how long we were up for overall from go to whoa but I suspect that The Cook and I managed a record 24 hours plus. You can see that the YC was livin it up too and hardly sleepy. Don't worry - he crashed in the end!

Oooh Ooooh and that hour we made up in the plane flight?? Lost it in the change over to daylight saving *sigh*

Siven oye foive

2007-03-24T09:27:00.000+12:00

The OC has mastered the art of international relations. She grew in confidence with the locals and got over the huge smiles she would get along with the many ‘hello little girl, where are you from?’ from elderly Singaporeans with their natural sense of ‘family’ She got to the stage yesterday where she would ask for the key at reception after each trip out and about. I think the crew at the reception desk just loved to hear her talk because I’m sure they made her repeat the number of the room at least three times (all the way grinning from ear to ear) before handing over the key to our room: Room 705

The Hotel in Little India. Naturally there’s a channel devoted entirely to things Indian. And by Ghanesh it’s boring. Always talking heads and you just know it’s worthy. You feel exhorted to do things, you don’t know quite what, but you know you’re going to be better for it.

Then there’s the SPORTS channel. You know that’s being stolen because there’s been no sound for three days. We’ve seen figure skating, beach volleyball (no audio needed there) and then there’s the fashion channel…from Pakistan. I note no mention of what the cricket team’s wearing…or the coach.

And then there’s CCTV9. The same as you get on SkyTVNZ by the looks of things along with CCTV4 which is another worthy channel and again, I know I’m being exhorted to do things and I’m not quite sure where I’m going to end up. Who is “MediaCorp,” Is this Rupert Murdoch in disguise? Two or three of these channels show hard core soap operas and by GUAN-YUN-CHANG ! the Chinese seem to be into Soap Operas big time…which is kinda cool because I ‘do’ drama!

The Malaysian channel shows nothing but the worst of TV – several of which are in English dubbed into Malay. YC isn’t as much interested in learning Malay as he is Dora teaching him Espagnol. One exception is that one Malaysian channel seems to be devoted entirely to all things Islam and we managed to catch a cool and interesting doco on Cat Stevens/Yusef Islam.

And don't forget the MediaCorp channel that shows the lowest common denominator stuff like "America’s Funniest (Not) Home Videos" to "Skating with Celebrities" (Nancy Kerrigan et al). OC entranced *sigh* And of course “Survivor” somewhere in the world other than Singapore (thank any God).

I was lucky enough to catch the Singapore national anthem at 6am. The YC seems to have sorted his time zones out and we were all up singing at 4.45am. Bless him!

Looking forward to seeing the ads in England. The Singaporean ones didn’t seem too different from what we’re used to. Perhaps products and their ads are universal?? Naturally I expect the English ones, and the programmes around them to be on a higher plane *snort* We shall see!

This crime is not a crime, it's just a great big mess.

2007-03-23T19:05:00.000+12:00

OC fashioned herself as Hilary Barry this morning exclaiming the title above after our third mishap in Singapore. Yesterday morning it was lemonade and ice over the table at breakfast on Serangoon Road. Then OC was fiddling with my soup (don’t ask) and we had another flooded table on Orchard Road. Today was especially messy as this was coffee. The owner of “Du Toast” told me that he had predicted this would happen. He studied meditation in Malaysia and knew it would happen when we walked in. Why then, did he take away the plastic tray with a big rim that would have prevented this from happening. One can only meditate on that one.

“Du Toast” provided us with life saving Nutella – a family staple. I made the choice of peanut butter but wished later I'd gone with the kids. Had our first coffee since leaving New Zealand. It was my second cup that landed on the floor. Such is life.

We decided to bunk out of our Sentosa trip preferring to take in more of the local cuisine and shopping. There is a duality in Bugis Street. Where the MRT comes up you have the choice of faux old shops completely encased in a roof of glass where the whole area is air conditioned, or you can cross the road into Bugis Street proper and partake of the shopping in more traditional style: a metal roller door and a shop of 2 square metres, each shop crammed full, just absolutely bursting with product. A walk through and into Bencoolen Street we meet two wonderful temples, a Chinese and an Indian one. The temples have been twice rebuilt to accommodate growth and well worth the visit.

A taxi ride to China Town which like Little India has some wonderful architecture but pretty kitch-y at the end of the day. However we crossed the road into the “People’s Park” complex. This is three of four high rise apartment blocks with shops on the ground floor and at the back one of the most impressive food halls that The Cook has seen. Nothing flash. It's all function over form but oh, how great, how absolutely mind bogglingly great. We were virtually the only foreigners there. Why on earth don’t travellers just cross the road some times to see what’s on the other side? Speaking of which, this is not a wheelchair user-friendly town. You notice the difference.

Then a taxi back to the hotel. These taxi rides are fifteen minutes long and the maximum price has been five Singapore dollars. One really only needs to walk to do a bit of pavement shopping, to experience the sights and smells. One certainly doesn't walk to save money. The Night Safari tonight. The rain that appears around 5pm each night better be gone by 7pm.

PPS
Night Safari went well. Saw ions and huge male elephants with metre long tusks doing their thing under the moon (that doesn't sound quite right but I'm up too late to care).

Changi Airport tomorrow morn for the London leg. God preserve us ;-)

Dateline Singapore

2007-03-22T21:58:00.000+12:00

Here we are in Singapore. Plane landed in the midst of a tropical downpour – how can it still be so hot? Grabbed a taxi from outside Changi Airport and made our way to the hotel which is in the middle of Little India on Serangoon Road. Wonderful old architecture with two storey buildings lining the side of the road complete with old tile rooves. Everywhere there is the scent of clove cigarettes blended with curry. Saris in bright colours accompany the blue glow of the LCD on the cellphones. Young and old charge around with their phones glowing – and everyone seems to have one!

The hotel is certainly a two star outfit. I have a sneaking suspicion we were ‘upgraded’ to the room we were going to get anyway, but it does have an air conditioning unit that works but I doubt it could blow a candle out, however, it does the trick. Have I mentioned it’s hot in this town?

Hit Orchard Road today. Found us going into the shopping plazas just to cool down. There is a lot to be said for air conditioning – most of it good. Ate lovely kai all day chowing down with the locals at roadside cafs. Scrummy food which pleased The Cook, or maybe it was the ice cold Tiger Beer. I have a feeling he could easily ‘go native.’

The OC has taken a fancy to the clothes shops on Serangoon Road, specifically the bright rich colours of Indian clothes. The YC has taken to being chauffeured in his wheelchair very quickly. Mind you, in this heat, who wouldn’t!

We’ll try a Serangoon curry tonight and ‘people watch’ outside in the evening heat. We’re giving some thought to Sentosa Island and the Night Safari at the Zoo tomorrow – if the curry hasn’t got to us first.

The School Fair

2007-03-19T10:40:00.000+12:00

One last major task before I left was to help with the Fashion Parade at our biennial fair. Despite thunder and lightning and a brief but dramatic hail storm before we arrived, the show did go on. In the weeks leading up to the fair, the wonderful women at Glassons in George St helped us to put some fab gear together. While other clothing businesses in town put us in the 'too hard basket' (and you know who you are!), Glassons came to the party with some great gear and of course they are wonderful supporters of Breast Cancer Awareness. Thank you to Louise and her team. They were amazing.

What's the title of the first post?

2007-03-17T15:43:00.000+13:00

My teeth ache. I may have to put some gin in the soda water.

In four sleeps I'm going to do Europe. I'm fortunate to be the inaugural recipient of the Highgate Fellowship by virtue of teaching at Otago Girls' High School. Lashings of professional development ahead of me in England and a couple of weeks (school hols) in continental Europe...locals - beware!

So far have managed to delegate all the logistical nightmare stuff to The Cook. He has an idea that he may yet get some inspiration for my future cuisine during the trip.

He'd better.

The progeny have little idea, and I worry sometimes that we resemble each other too much.

However, what could possibly go wrong?

With four sleeps to go and this being the weekend before it's too late, we pack. Hah! Piece of cake. Friend pops round to drop off scales for weighing of suitcases and absconds with Older Child to incorporate into her family as they hit a local school fair. I expect the usual sugar high when OC returns. Her clothes to take are out ready for her perusal and veto. At seven and a half you can't be too careful.

Younger Child is quite content to watch Dora the Explorer. Unfortunately, we're not going to any Spanish speaking countries. YC is the wildcard for this adventure.

Let the fun begin.