Snap Crackle Pop..

I don't remember another Guy Fawkes night that was sooooo full of it! It feels like some of them are coming right in my windows! Went outside to watch, and am convinced I can see a place actually burning away right across the valley, and I did hear sirens a while ago. Honey came out to investigate with me, and really didn't seem at all intimidated by the crashes and bangs, but when I came inside, she RACED!!!!! She was so "I'm not going to be left out here without you mummy"!!! It's all just an endless series of little explosions. So cool. I have no other sounds playing, so it's really the theme tune for the evening.

I was going to a fireworks party tonight, but in the end, was just too tired. It's been a very draining week. Yesterday was both David's funeral in the afternoon, and our Year 13 students' Graduation Dinner in the evening. Both were celebratory, but in quite different ways. The funeral service was of course tempered with loss. The priest pointed out that it wasn't yet 2 years since David had been standing in that very spot, speaking about one of the lads killed in the massive car accident that had sent shockwaves through the school and community. And that it was a great testament to David how many current and ex-students had come to farewell him in turn - hundreds were there. The words that were shared about his life were in themselves filled with life, and I think David would have been delighted. The haka the boys from the 1st XV performed in his honour at the end of the service was an absolute show stopper. It was filled with more emotion and passion than I've seen in an All Black haka in quite some time. (although the test tonight may be the exception to that rule, of course) It was awe-inspiring, and rousing, and while I don't work there anymore, I still know quite a few of the boys, and felt sooo proud of them.

Grad dinner was a hoot. It seems very American, to me, to be handing each student a certificate of graduation from high school. They were a very raucous bunch. The "most likely to...." awards were the funniest of the night, and they didn't stint on them. My year 13's had given me a gorgeous pendant and a card on Thursday, which had me smiling over the good memories of the year. I hate saying goodbye to the leavers, but it's such a necessary part of their journey, that I like to make it a bit special, but humorous at the same time. I have a copy of Oh The Places You'll Go by Dr Seuss that I read them on the last day. I hope they all turn up like good little campers on Monday!!!!!

And today, my friend was up from Dunedin, and had organised a brunch out in West Auckland. Yum (shame about the service). I used the opportunity to get to a plant nursery out there and purchase a chinese pistachio sapling. I've wondered for ages what this tree was that I just love in the autumn. There was one outside my window in the first place I lived in Auckland. It will grow quite a bit bigger than I expected, so that'll be interesting. It won't happen overnight, though.