Bits and Pieces

Time is going by so quickly.

We're settling down here. The kids are doing well although we've had a few days this week when they didn't want to go to school. By Friday things had improved and I really do hope that next week goes better. I found it hard coming home to my quiet house after dropping off two children who were clinging on saying they didn't want me to go.

Kai was learning about caterpillars on Thursday and her teachers had encouraged them to bring anything relevant from home. She has a book about caterpillars and another about snails so she decided to take those. Slade then said that he wanted to take something too, and after some discussion decided on his photo album from our trip to the Kruger Park in September. Of course, Kai then insisted that she take her album too.

So off we headed. Slade's teacher was really pleased as she said that Slade had pointed out South Africa on the globe to his classmates the previous day. Slade was really pleased to show everyone his photos and seemed a lot more positive about school when he came home. Kai had to do some explaining about some of the animals in her album -- I realised this was going to be necessary when a baby hyena was identified as a dingo! That did remind me of how far away I am from South Africa.

Another heartwrenching moment was going to a parade that Slade has at school -- it's really like an assembly, just for the junior school. Parents are welcome to attend each week. They started it off by singing the Australian national anthem. It is the first time that I've heard it here, and it really brought tears to my eyes thinking that this is the anthem that my childre are going to learn and that the sounds of iNkosi Sikelele that both of them sang at various times after learning it at pre-primary are not going to be so familiar to them.

On a more positive note, while Australia really has been shaken by the fires in Victoria, it has been amazing to see a country coming together to provide support for the victims. Everywhere we look there are people raising money and giving in various different ways. Coles supermarket chain donated profits from all their stores nationally yesterday to the support fund, Slade's school is doing a sausage sizzle (something we haven't experienced yet, but a big fundraiser here -- a thin sausage on a piece of bread!) and there are lots of other fundraisers. There have also been floods in northern Queensland and it was incredible to hear that a victim of the floods handed back his cheque given by the government saying that it should go to the fire victims.

I must end by saying a belated "thank you" to Andrea for giving me an award for my blog. Being new to blogging and not having got an award before this is a new thing for me, but here goes:



The 'rules' are :

'This blog invests and believes in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes for self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!'

This blog award should be sent to your favorite eight bloggers and they, in turn should forward to eight of their favorites. You should include the text for Proximidade (above) in your announcement blog.

Being new to blogging (writing as well as reading blogs) I'm not going to get to eight, but I'm just going to mention a couple:

I have to include Andrea because she really is my inspiration for this blog.

Cara has started a web that is inspired by a great idea -- sharing fantastic business ideas that she comes across

Bronnie writes about her life in NZ after relocating there from Queensland with her husband and two young children. It's great reading about her experiences.