Back from camp, soccer, wheat

1. Tired but happy. It's a phrase I'll always remember from a Janet Frame novel and I use it frequently. We're tired but happy after our three days on class camp at the Outoor Pursuits centre at Lake Karapiro. The children learned heaps of new skills including kayaking, walking along high ropes, archery, raft building, orienteering and more that my brain has forgotten. A highlight for many was overcoming a fear regarding heights or water. We also saw the Evers-Swindell NZ rowing sisters who train at Lake Karapiro which was exciting. The weather was divine, the children were well behaved in the main and the experience was unforgettable.
2. Our Wednesday evening 5-a-side soccer team was without any substitute players this week due to class camp, school discos and other events, which made for a couple of tiring half hour games for those of us who were left to hold the fort. We lost one game, then won one. It will be good to have our full contingent back again next Wednesday.
3. I really enjoy Gok Wan from How to Look Good Naked. I'm going to try to take his advice about doing without wheat. It does cause me to get ghastly bloating and I've given it up before with much success. So I hope I can do it again. That's my challenge.

Class camp, clutter control, writing news

1. My children are both in the same class and they're on class camp together for three days this week, starting tomorrow. I'm spending one night and two days with them. Lots of opportunities to extend their outdoor risk taking skills which will be great. I hope we all get some sleep.
2. I'm trying to have a clutter free environment bit by bit. Today was the turn of the bathroom cabinet (a large pantry style affair), the top of my bedroom dressing table and my hair and jewellery bits and pieces area. I was pleased with what I'd achieved. It takes so long though. Grrr.
3. One of the books I've been writing will be published in July next year. Because of the long lead time for books, all the finishing touches are being done now. Today we were working on the back cover blurb. The other day I worked on the front cover. It's all very exciting. At some stage in the near future I'll see the manuscript in its almost completed form for last proofreading. I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished product. It's taken such a long time from conception to publication but it's been worth it.

Anniversary, sports day, sickness

1. Yesterday was our 12th wedding anniversary. We don't celebrate our anniversaries in the traditional sense, but I asked my husband whether he knew what the 12th anniversary stood for ie. paper, clay, rubber... He said "earmuffs". Fortunately, I found that particularly funny. Humour is one of his many wonderful qualities. I enjoy being married to someone who always has a quick comback line - even when it's at my expense! We had sushi for lunch. So maybe 12th anniversary is celebrated with rice...
2. We had the school athletics sports last week and the zone athletics sports is coming up on Friday. I always enjoy that day - as long as it's fine weather. Not sure of the forecast but I've actually given up on weather forecasters. They can't be trusted.
3. My daughter was home sick from school today. Sore throat, runny nose sort of thing. Not too bad but I'm hoping to give her a rest so she'll recover more quickly. Always tricky with kids to know the best way to react in that regard. I'm glad I kept her home though. She seems a lot better. I hope it lasts.

Success, Writing, Photos

1. Long time no write in this blog. In case anyone happens to check, here's a brief update. Firstly, we're all excited here because we've just heard today that our son has passed the exam to get into the accelerate class at his new school next year. He's thrilled and so are we, for him. I hope our excitement is not misplaced. Time will tell.
2. I continue to be kept very busy with several writing jobs. I have recently been working on the final editing process before one of my books for young teens goes to print. It's published in July next year. Very exciting. It's been a lot of very hard work and long hours but I'm sure it will be worth it in the end. It's one in a very popular series and I hope it will be in libraries, schools and book shelves over a long period of time which is always good. Other writing projects are ongoing, as always.
3. This weekend I've been working on cover photos for the book I've mentioned above. It's in a series called My Story published by Scholastic. It's been fun but a challenge finding just the right "look" for the cover model. I'm feeling confident though and will be very happy when it's all in the hands of the printer.

Writing opportunities, rugby, squash

1. I'm busy with lots of writing opportunities at the moment and scrabbling to find time to work on them. Another 12 hours in the day would be extremely well received. I am envying those people who get by on 4 hours sleep a night.
2. The Rugby World Cup has begun with a good win to Argentina. Our family is staying up late tonight to support our very own All Blacks against Italy. Go Dougie!
3. We have been at a squash tournament in a town about 45 minutes away today. We also went there last night. Our son had three games. He lost the first two and won the final game. It had its challenging moments from the point of view of anxious mother but I enjoyed it. Three tournaments to go...

Lunar eclipse, teaching, amazing race

1. Tonight we have been observing a lunar eclipse. Interesting in its own way and won't be seen again for another 7 years I believe. Oh well.
2. I've just completed two busy teaching days working with a group of gifted young writers aged between 8 and 13 years. It was fun, challenging and inspiring. I'll repeat the process with a new group next week.
3. Our family really enjoys the Amazing Race on television. I felt sorry for some of the competitors on tonight's show as they had to deal with airline problems which were no fault of their own and set them back half a day. I'd still like to do the race myself one day though.

Glasses, home sick, control

1. I now wear glasses for reading and computer work. I'm very happy with this turn of events as I've always rather secretly thought my face would suit glasses. The reaction from the family has been mixed, to put it politely. My husband laughed. My son looked dazed and my outspoken 9 year old daughter described them as "disgusting" or some similarly outlandish word. Friends who I showed the glasses off to described me as looking intelligent with them on. Mmmm. Not sure about the ramifications of that one. I took all this in my stride as I love them and that's that. No one else has to look at me while I'm reading or on the computer. And, obviously, my eyesight is much better with them than without them. That's a bonus.
2. My son stayed home from school today. He had quite a bad cough although he got progressively better during the day so I'm sure he'll be back at school tomorrow. I think a day of rest probably helped a lot. Several other children in his class have had a virus which results in a persistent cough but I think his is on the mend, thankfully.
3. Usually, having a child home sick from school sets my schedule right off balance and I find it hard to cope. Fortunately, it doesn't happen very often as my children love school and are pretty well most of the time. Today, however, I found myself in control of the situation despite having a busy day planned. I was able to change some of my appointments very easily and my mum was happy to look after her grandson while I taught for a few hours in the morning. So, all in all, I felt very "together" about the whole thing which is happy-making.