I do not like public speaking

It’s not that I’m particularly bad at it, in fact people have been known to tell me I’m quite good at it. Unfortunately my body doesn’t seem to know that. I get incredibly tense, heart racing, can’t focus on things properly, really stressed and all the time I know I’m going to be perfectly fine but I feel like I’m about to do something hugely dangerous. It really sucks. (It’s also why I understand David’s anxiety issues, I don’t have the same degree of anxiety as him but I sure as hell know what it feels like.) So, of course, … Continue reading I do not like public speaking

This weekend

We have: Demolished most of the kitchenette downstairs in the rumpus room (L-shaped bench and the cupboards underneath) to make room for the old entertainment unit. Now I just have to figure out what to do with all the crap that came out of the demolished cupboards. Moved the old entertainment unit (yeah, that bloody great thing ^) from the lounge room, out along the front path, down the precipitous driveway, through the garage into the backyard and then back in to the rumpus room. Moved two huge bookshelves to make space for a clothes rack in our bedroom. Shifted … Continue reading This weekend

I’m going to read to you whether you like it or not!

Today I spent the whole day feeling like nothing was working out quite the way it was supposed to. I had planned to give myself the morning off, once I’d dropped the kids at school I was going to come home and spend an hour and a half doing whatever I bloody well wanted to and then pop up to the school 30 minutes before my Canteen shift began to partake of the Helper’s Morning Tea – a thank you from the staff to all the parent who have helped out at the school throughout the year (I’ve never been … Continue reading I’m going to read to you whether you like it or not!

Getting ready

I’ve spent the last few weeks responding to every hint of Christmas – decorations in shops, carol singing kids at the breakfast table, request from Adam for fruit mince pies (he ended up cooking his own) – by growling “it’s not December yet!” in true bah humbug fashion. But come Monday it will be December and that means there’s a whole bunch of Stuff To Do this weekend. As I mentioned, we’ve done barely any Christmas shopping, so tonight is list writing time and the plan is to be up and out bright and early tomorrow morning for a bit … Continue reading Getting ready

Because clearly I have too much free time

Caitlin sang Abba’s Thank You For the Music in the school talent quest this afternoon, she was first up on stage, the microphone wasn’t working properly (again) and the audience started clapping just as she was about to start the 3rd verse. She took it all in her stride and sang beautifully. I was thrilled to see several other very talented kids up there singing this year, a couple of year 6 girls with very good voices, one of whom accompanied herself on the electric guitar, and a boy in Caitlin’s year who sang Little People from Les Misérables. I … Continue reading Because clearly I have too much free time

Teaspoon update

Caitlin talked to her teacher and the group was asked to change their name. They’re now called the Gummi Bears 🙂 No-one was difficult about it. The girl who had originally chosen the name and given the explanation of its meaning protested that she didn’t mean anything by it, which I take to mean she was a bit embarrassed to be called out on the matter. I’m also pretty sure she’s never given any serious thought to the issue, she’s just following along with the mob. I wonder how many teaspoon nudges it takes to get a mob to change … Continue reading Teaspoon update

Wielding her teaspoon*

Caitlin’s class has recently re-arranged their seating and each table group gave themselves a name. Caitlin is sitting with the “Gaybo” group. I asked what the hell that was supposed to mean. Apparently, according to the kid who suggest the name, it means “we’re not gay.” *sigh* I was glad to hear Caitlin had no part in choosing the name. David tells me that “gaybo” is used as an insult by kids at the school, so how it also means “not gay” isn’t quite clear to me, but either way it’s problematic. Thing is, if my “that’s dodgy” radar went … Continue reading Wielding her teaspoon*

Status report

Lego pistol – retrieved, the friend admitted his mistake without any need to produce the evidence. Laundry – Mostly folded but not ironed and at least 3 loads waiting to be done. Kitchen – pantry and tupperware cupboard exploded several weeks ago, it’s been a losing battle ever since. Groceries – I am so not adjusting to not being able to do the shopping when the kids are at school, we are out of most of the basics and used up the last of the frozen left-overs last night. Looks like I’ll be shopping this evening. Kid’s homework – I’m … Continue reading Status report

The Great Lego Pistol dispute

Just when I was looking forward to a quiet afternoon. Ha! No, we must have drama instead! David came out of class this afternoon in a right state. The story emerged slowly, interspersed with sobs and sniffles. A piece of Lego is being held hostage in the teacher’s staff room this afternoon after a major dispute over ownership broke out in class today. Why the hell are the kids playing with Lego in class? Well may you ask! It’s all to do with the project they’re doing – a personal interest project – they have to produce a presentation of … Continue reading The Great Lego Pistol dispute

Happy (belated) 98th birthday Grandma

On Friday I had lunch with my mum and my grandma. I was one day late seeing Grandma for her birthday and missed out on being part of the larger family gathering the night before but there were advantages to being there just with my mum and the birthday girl. Grandma finds it very difficult to hear people when there’s a lot of background noise (though her new hearing aides are helping) so it’s much easier to carry on a conversation with her with no-one else around. We talked about curries and Chinese food – Grandma is a fan of … Continue reading Happy (belated) 98th birthday Grandma