Yesterday saw the return of NZ's school children to their rightful place within the teaching/learning environment. Unfortunately it also saw me doing my shift at Kindy with Sproglet B who was a bit clingy. Neither Sproglet A or B wanted to go back to school. "But surely you want to see your friends," I said. Nope, quite happy at home with mum it seems. Y'see that's where we I went wrong. My mother used to make my summer hols so bloody boring that I couldn't wait to get back to school whereas my children have been camping 3 times (yes we sqeezed another one in at weekend, more on that later), been for days out and have had Christmas, New Year and Sproglet A's birthday take place too. They've had far too much fun and frivolity and so it was a bit of a push to get us all out the door yesterday.
I packed Sproglet A off to school this morning, weighted down with all his new books, swim togs and a packed lunch. Here in NZ, it's the start of the school year and parents must make a 'donation' *tut* to school (this year it's $150/60 quid), pay a paper fee towards letters sent home from school and an activity fee for umm, activities - field trips and the like. Oh and buy books, pencils, compasses, highlighters etc. etc. etc. Bit of a surprise that one: in the UK we didn't pay for anything towards school, except the raffles and fund raising events which we always gave towards. Kindy isn't free either. Sproglet B had her 'free child place for every three yr old' in England but here we pay around $250/100-150 pound per term, depending on the length of the term and this is for four, 3hr mornings per week. Will be better off financially when she starts school in April. This is just Kindy mind, not a private Nursery affair. I'd hate to think how much they cost if this is what we pay for everyday Kindy.
Anyhow, enough of my whinging. Had a beautiful weekend camping at Waipu Cove, lovely campsite just over the sand dunes to the sea. Whilst we were putting the tents up, all this was happening... and we missed the whole thing. By the time we got on the beach around 4pm it was all over and done with. We went body boarding in the surf - the older children are really getting the hang of it - and even took the kayak out (not ours, we went with Lex and the Family Five) although I didn't have a turn on it. Looked like too much effort so I jumped waves with the smaller ones and hunted for shells. We found a starfish and some shells that still had their occupant, which made the shell 'snap' and the children scream!
When you look to the sky at night it's fantastic; I now understand the word 'stardust'. It literally looked like dust because there are so many stars who's light only just reaches earth that it looks hazy as they cluster together, but there were many, many bright ones too. Absolutely beautiful. As The Hubster zipped up the tent and crawled under the duvet beside me, I heard the ocean rolling in and the waves crashing. "Christ, let's hope a tsunami doesn't hit," I said in a rare moment of mild panick. "Yer on an airbed love, you'll be grand," he said, and kissed me goodnight.
- urban gypsy [8:10 am] |
ABOUT ME
i am... honest. loyal. selfless. controlling ... hobbies... listening to music. theatre. blog hopping ... reads... chick lit. glossy magazines ... listens to music like... 70's disco. motown. pop ...
WISHES FOR
`new house (in Oz)
`less housework
`new shoes
`less bills
`new knickers
`smooth, tanned, glowing skin
`digital camera
`an iPod nano
Laurice Solomon picture from
Getty Images edited using Adobe Photoshop CS2
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Urban Gypsy
30-odd year old mum of two
England - Saudi Arabia
- New Zealand
words__
When you run so fast to get somewhere
you miss the fun
of getting there.
Life is not a race,
so take it slower,
hear the music before the music is over, take your time and stay happy...
wishes for__
`new house (in Oz)
`less housework
`new shoes
`less bills
`new knickers
`smooth, tanned, glowing skin
`digital camera
`an iPod nano
