...ship, that is, to Firefox.
I went to a conference the other week, and the speaker at one of the workshops I went to introduced us to it. Up till now I'd just heard of it, but now I'm converted! I love the tabs. I love that my taskbar is uncluttered. I like the look, and I was really impressed at it importing my bookmarks & history and passwords. wheeeee!!!!!
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Yummy Washing
How sad is this?
Recently, I was being visited by a travelling Brit, who asked what I'd like him to bring me, that I couldn't get here.
So, the thinking cap went on, as it does, on these occasions.
Sure, McVities Gold bars are scrummy.
Horlicks Lite & Ribena Lite likewise, and both unavailable here, although their non-lite counterparts are.
But, I think I really had him when I asked if he thought he'd have room for Ariel Liquid.
I could almost hear the communal familial headshaking and shouldershrugging going on.
My ears were even a bit pink.
However, it has to be said, there is NOTHING available on the shelves here (in the liquid laundry detergent range) that doesn't smell totally foul and toxic.
So, I shall continue to enjoy the yummy washing smell, until the bottle is all gone, as I contemplate how on earth I'm going to access an ongoing supply!
Recently, I was being visited by a travelling Brit, who asked what I'd like him to bring me, that I couldn't get here.
So, the thinking cap went on, as it does, on these occasions.
Sure, McVities Gold bars are scrummy.
Horlicks Lite & Ribena Lite likewise, and both unavailable here, although their non-lite counterparts are.
But, I think I really had him when I asked if he thought he'd have room for Ariel Liquid.
I could almost hear the communal familial headshaking and shouldershrugging going on.
My ears were even a bit pink.
However, it has to be said, there is NOTHING available on the shelves here (in the liquid laundry detergent range) that doesn't smell totally foul and toxic.
So, I shall continue to enjoy the yummy washing smell, until the bottle is all gone, as I contemplate how on earth I'm going to access an ongoing supply!
Thursday, March 24, 2005
FINISHED!
Well, finished "a" task, anyway!!!
At 5.15pm I completed the 44 page Annual Report to the Board for my department. I've been working since 5.15am today, so am I EVER glad it's a LOOOOOOONG weekend. Whatever trick of the calendar saw fit to give NZ schools Easter Tuesday off as well as Monday, I'm ever so thankful to it!!!
I couldn't really start on my report till I had worked with the new Head of Faculty on the faculty report, since that was my baby, effectively, till he took over in January. Boy, are we having some trials at the moment, but I'm soooo pleased with the way we are working as a team to deal with them! It's my very real hope that now this hurdle is out of the way, things really will, finally, settle!
boy, I sure do hope so.
My Mum gave me a cool book of "hopeful sayings" for my birthday - I liked this one:
(cor!!! what a cool name.. reminds me of a scotch-cut sirloin steak!)
At 5.15pm I completed the 44 page Annual Report to the Board for my department. I've been working since 5.15am today, so am I EVER glad it's a LOOOOOOONG weekend. Whatever trick of the calendar saw fit to give NZ schools Easter Tuesday off as well as Monday, I'm ever so thankful to it!!!
I couldn't really start on my report till I had worked with the new Head of Faculty on the faculty report, since that was my baby, effectively, till he took over in January. Boy, are we having some trials at the moment, but I'm soooo pleased with the way we are working as a team to deal with them! It's my very real hope that now this hurdle is out of the way, things really will, finally, settle!
boy, I sure do hope so.
My Mum gave me a cool book of "hopeful sayings" for my birthday - I liked this one:
"Hope is the feeling we have that the feeling we have is not permanent"
credited to Mignon McLaughlin(cor!!! what a cool name.. reminds me of a scotch-cut sirloin steak!)
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Sunrise
It's me! I've surfaced for air, briefly!
just wanted to share this:
This was several photos blended together into a panorama, taken on Saturday morning about 7.30am, on the day I failed to go hot air ballooning:(
This was the treat to make up for the significantly round birthday this month. However, there was too much wind, and so we've had to rebook for May. Darn!
Never mind.. the sunrise across the city was lovely, and the brekkie was pretty nice too!
Meanwhile, it's all manic, as can be intepreted from the massive silence! Tonight I really should be working on my board report, since the final final final deadline is tomorrow, and it's now 2 weeks overdue. But, after getting 143 year 12 students through their practical chemistry exam today (starting at 0745), having been at school setting up till 8.00 last night, racing 25km each way to attend a moderation meeting, coming back to a couple of hours of parent interviews, and seeing off my old lounge suite just now after a 15 year acquaintance, I'm just a tad knackered!!!!
And that was a quiet day!!!
catch you soon, hopefully!!!!!!!!!!!
just wanted to share this:
This was several photos blended together into a panorama, taken on Saturday morning about 7.30am, on the day I failed to go hot air ballooning:(
This was the treat to make up for the significantly round birthday this month. However, there was too much wind, and so we've had to rebook for May. Darn!
Never mind.. the sunrise across the city was lovely, and the brekkie was pretty nice too!
Meanwhile, it's all manic, as can be intepreted from the massive silence! Tonight I really should be working on my board report, since the final final final deadline is tomorrow, and it's now 2 weeks overdue. But, after getting 143 year 12 students through their practical chemistry exam today (starting at 0745), having been at school setting up till 8.00 last night, racing 25km each way to attend a moderation meeting, coming back to a couple of hours of parent interviews, and seeing off my old lounge suite just now after a 15 year acquaintance, I'm just a tad knackered!!!!
And that was a quiet day!!!
catch you soon, hopefully!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Blue light.....
It's my week for the Graceway lamp. I know this, 'cos Gareth said so when he handed it to me tonight. (thanks, G) This lamp was given to us just over a year ago, when Mark was inducted as our pastor. Can't believe how fast that year disappeared!
I look at it, and think of our community. This was a good week for it to come to me - I need reminding about belonging. Like the cane we are all woven together. It also reminds me of the reading we had from Mark tonight, where Jesus called the fishermen. I like the light shining through, and I like the shadows it casts on the wall behind. I like the way it comes to church, is part of our visual worship environment, and then it goes home with someone different. I like that Gareth thought to give it to me, and I like that I have a week to think about who to pass it on to next. I like that it's no big deal if I forget to take it next week, or if I want to keep it for an extra week.
I am glad that I have this visual reminder of who I am and where I belong, to shine in my home for this next week.
(ps, I'm not still grumpy, but I am very tired!)
Friday, February 18, 2005
Grumpy
It must be a factor of being Friday night. I'm decidedly grumpy and out of sorts with the world. Too tired and feel pressured from all angles. Blegh.
This afternoon I was trying to write a job description for a "body" to take over some of the responsibilities I had last year before they increased exponentially. This is a delightfully good thing, but last thing on a Friday, with a shout down in the staffroom courtesy of the Athletics day organisers, not something I really wanted to be doing. The sooner I polish it to my satisfaction (my one big chance to dot all the I's and cross all the T's), the sooner we have someone else sharing the load. It's that wonderfully "Catch 22" situation, where you're soooooo frantically busy that there's no time to actually try and delegate effectively. It'll happen, I know it will, and soon. Meanwhile....
(did I say I was grumpy??)
This afternoon I was trying to write a job description for a "body" to take over some of the responsibilities I had last year before they increased exponentially. This is a delightfully good thing, but last thing on a Friday, with a shout down in the staffroom courtesy of the Athletics day organisers, not something I really wanted to be doing. The sooner I polish it to my satisfaction (my one big chance to dot all the I's and cross all the T's), the sooner we have someone else sharing the load. It's that wonderfully "Catch 22" situation, where you're soooooo frantically busy that there's no time to actually try and delegate effectively. It'll happen, I know it will, and soon. Meanwhile....
(did I say I was grumpy??)
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
HOT!!!!
Today was a blisterer! Just perfect for the whole school to gather across the road at the large sports domain for the athletics sports. One of the senior boys broke a javelin record that had stood since 1988, and he didn't even look like he was trying. He smashed it by 11m!!!! I got to be solitary crowd control on the highway at day's end, with several hundred bodies descending on my crossing at once like lemmings. "NO, stoopid, do you have a death wish?? Do NOT cross those 5 lanes of traffic until the lights change and the crossing buzzer goes!"
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Concerts in the park
Finally got around to offloading from my camera the photos from Goldenhorse gig in the park a couple of weekends ago. Good to hear some stuff off the upcoming album, & to enjoy the time with friends. Mark got into the groove, and proved it's never too early to introduce the next generation to good sounds!
(not that you can see all that much of Soph!)
Sunday, February 06, 2005
~*~ Mother Teresa's Prayer ~*~
I came across this prayer, this weekend. I will try and hold it in mind throughout Lent. I'm a pretty slow learner, though.
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
...Forgive them anyway.
...Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
...Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
...Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
...Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
...Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
...Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
...Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
...Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
When I was looking for that one, I also came across this saying, by Mother Theresa. I rather liked it also:
"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."
I've been thinking about being kind, recently. To myself and others. About what it is in relationships with those we care about that make them different from those with people we know as acquaintances or colleagues. I think there's a lot of kindness involved when someone knows your heart. I am touched when the people I care about reciprocate in grace and kindness, and I must be more prepared to follow the words in the prayer, when they don't.
Saturday, February 05, 2005
a bit of a plug...
... for those of you living within a bulls roar of Auckland, you really really ought to go and check out Maladict's Fix, a great new cafe my friends recently opened at Clark's Beach. Complete with permission from Terry Pratchett himself, it is named after the vampire character in one of his books who has given up his addiction to blood, and turned to coffee instead.
I went out last Sunday, taking a friend, and you couldn't get friendlier service anywhere else in Auckland. Not only that, but it's backed with a silver medal in the BP New Zealand Coffee Festival last year, in the espresso category. WOW!!! Can't say fairer than that! Get your butts out there and check it out. And there's no excuse, either, if you're not local - check out the link in my previous post, and you can order online!
I went out last Sunday, taking a friend, and you couldn't get friendlier service anywhere else in Auckland. Not only that, but it's backed with a silver medal in the BP New Zealand Coffee Festival last year, in the espresso category. WOW!!! Can't say fairer than that! Get your butts out there and check it out. And there's no excuse, either, if you're not local - check out the link in my previous post, and you can order online!
no whinges today
Yeah, that's right. It's Saturday morning, I'm drinking a fine cup of Zeke's Howler Monkey blend, it's raining (which means that at last it's a bit cooler, yay), and although it turned quite sour in the middle, my week finished well.
The car turned out to have a broken alternator belt. Which, in it's turn, turned out to only be worth $18 ish to replace, + labour. I phoned a colleague to get her recommendations for a local service garage, one that I can easily access from work, and as a result have scored a real "find". Fantastic service, trust & reliability. I got held up at work the next night (that's a whole different story.....), so they just left the keys at the petrol station in front for me to pick up. All this without ever having sighted me - all done over the phone. They were fine about me coming in the next day to pay. WOW!!!!! Have booked it in again for next week for a service and some other bits and pieces I've been putting off.
So, got held up at work... We've been trying to sort some classes this week, it becoming more and more urgent as the day approached when we began full timetable. It became more and more obvious that things weren't working, and on Thursday afternoon, when I sat down with the new HOD to check stuff, it didn't take us long to realise that we had to start again from scratch. This being mainly cos of the duff data I'd been supplied by my last year's 2IC. I should have known that I ought to just start from the beginning again myself, but I have this naturally gullible streak that wants to believe that others are competent. Ah well. It made me look really useless, but I have the satisfaction of knowing that I'd done my best with what I'd been given. And, not only that, it was finally something for new-boss to get his teeth into, and it felt SO GOOD to walk out at 6.20 and know that for once I was leaving someone else to do the work! Yayayayayayayay! The upshot was that on Friday we started timetable, and basically had to tell that year level that we were just filling time for that period, and they'd be with their "real" teacher next week. Oh, and new-boss is sorting the workload issue for me, too, it seems. Well Hallelujah!
So, it all ended well. I walked out on Friday afternoon, knowing that I still have 1001 things to do, but that I'm not in the front of the firing line any more. SO pleased:)
The car turned out to have a broken alternator belt. Which, in it's turn, turned out to only be worth $18 ish to replace, + labour. I phoned a colleague to get her recommendations for a local service garage, one that I can easily access from work, and as a result have scored a real "find". Fantastic service, trust & reliability. I got held up at work the next night (that's a whole different story.....), so they just left the keys at the petrol station in front for me to pick up. All this without ever having sighted me - all done over the phone. They were fine about me coming in the next day to pay. WOW!!!!! Have booked it in again for next week for a service and some other bits and pieces I've been putting off.
So, got held up at work... We've been trying to sort some classes this week, it becoming more and more urgent as the day approached when we began full timetable. It became more and more obvious that things weren't working, and on Thursday afternoon, when I sat down with the new HOD to check stuff, it didn't take us long to realise that we had to start again from scratch. This being mainly cos of the duff data I'd been supplied by my last year's 2IC. I should have known that I ought to just start from the beginning again myself, but I have this naturally gullible streak that wants to believe that others are competent. Ah well. It made me look really useless, but I have the satisfaction of knowing that I'd done my best with what I'd been given. And, not only that, it was finally something for new-boss to get his teeth into, and it felt SO GOOD to walk out at 6.20 and know that for once I was leaving someone else to do the work! Yayayayayayayay! The upshot was that on Friday we started timetable, and basically had to tell that year level that we were just filling time for that period, and they'd be with their "real" teacher next week. Oh, and new-boss is sorting the workload issue for me, too, it seems. Well Hallelujah!
So, it all ended well. I walked out on Friday afternoon, knowing that I still have 1001 things to do, but that I'm not in the front of the firing line any more. SO pleased:)
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
where to start...
So, this is the year that everything is going to be better, right?
Yeah, right, as Tui would have it.
I don't know if I can be bothered working too far backwards from tonight
(although at some point I will rave about what a great summer it was - it
just seems an awful long time ago now, and has been well eclipsed by the
huge hours I've been working again at school).
Tonight my fanbelt broke, when I was halfway down the Highway. It took the
AA towtruck about an hour and a half to get there (in the meantime my friend
appeared to rescue me with KFC), and I felt quite bereft!
Friend said "I wish I'd brought my camera", and I realised "ooh... I have
one on the phone". so I amused myself while nice bloke was loading it by
taking photos. I do like to watch men work. Well, anyone, really, who's not
me. cos it just seems that in the last 2 weeks, all I've heard about is how
much people are enjoying this wonderful weather we are now having, and I'm
stuck in a pokey office, behind my computer. Started feeling QUITE
resentful.
On the other hand, I do need to say that new-boss is going to be great.
Really great. He's Irish, but most recently been teaching in a private boys
school in Surrey. Has a SCREAM of a sense of humour. It just takes more time
than I'm currently wanting to know about to transfer all the information
about stuff that has to happen yesterday. But I know it will get better.
Till tonight, I didn't think it could get any worse!
Yeah, right, as Tui would have it.
I don't know if I can be bothered working too far backwards from tonight
(although at some point I will rave about what a great summer it was - it
just seems an awful long time ago now, and has been well eclipsed by the
huge hours I've been working again at school).
Tonight my fanbelt broke, when I was halfway down the Highway. It took the
AA towtruck about an hour and a half to get there (in the meantime my friend
appeared to rescue me with KFC), and I felt quite bereft!
Friend said "I wish I'd brought my camera", and I realised "ooh... I have
one on the phone". so I amused myself while nice bloke was loading it by
taking photos. I do like to watch men work. Well, anyone, really, who's not
me. cos it just seems that in the last 2 weeks, all I've heard about is how
much people are enjoying this wonderful weather we are now having, and I'm
stuck in a pokey office, behind my computer. Started feeling QUITE
resentful.
On the other hand, I do need to say that new-boss is going to be great.
Really great. He's Irish, but most recently been teaching in a private boys
school in Surrey. Has a SCREAM of a sense of humour. It just takes more time
than I'm currently wanting to know about to transfer all the information
about stuff that has to happen yesterday. But I know it will get better.
Till tonight, I didn't think it could get any worse!
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Phew!
At last, a bit of a slower pace...
It snowed on me in my travels, in spite of it supposedly being the height of summer, and then this morning it hailed!
I had enough time yesterday to finish putting together a cool-as bead angel I was given quite some time ago...
Took my mother and our 96 year old ex-neighbour out to look at the lights last night. We started at the house where I grew up - never seen it looking like this before!!!
so good to be not doing much at all!
It snowed on me in my travels, in spite of it supposedly being the height of summer, and then this morning it hailed!
I had enough time yesterday to finish putting together a cool-as bead angel I was given quite some time ago...
Took my mother and our 96 year old ex-neighbour out to look at the lights last night. We started at the house where I grew up - never seen it looking like this before!!!
so good to be not doing much at all!
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Finally
... Yep, finally, nearly 2 weeks after some of my friends, I have finished school. I was so determined to be out of there today that I was up until 2am working, and then, after not really being able to sleep, back at it again at 7.30 this morning. But, at last, at 4.45 this afternoon, I did the last task that HAD to be done before I could leave. There is, of course lots more that I didn't do, but it can and will have to wait. I need this break. This has been one of the hardest working years I have ever known. At the same time it has been challenging and stimulating, but I'm totalled now. Illustrated vividly by more tears at the end of last week.
What am I planning for the summer? Well, it seems to get shorter and shorter all the time - I have to be back for a 2 day intro for the last course in my diploma, which is sure something I could live without. And I have to be back at school a week before everyone else. But other than that, the bit I'm looking most forward to is a week at a beach. Not the same beach as last year, but just as nice by all accounts. I'm looking forward to the long long evenings strolling along and collecting shells and driftwood.
What am I planning for the summer? Well, it seems to get shorter and shorter all the time - I have to be back for a 2 day intro for the last course in my diploma, which is sure something I could live without. And I have to be back at school a week before everyone else. But other than that, the bit I'm looking most forward to is a week at a beach. Not the same beach as last year, but just as nice by all accounts. I'm looking forward to the long long evenings strolling along and collecting shells and driftwood.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Boy's toys...
My brother cracks me up. He is the epitome of playing it close to the chest. He's off this weekend, to run the Kepler Challenge Mountain race for the 17th time. Last year was a really slow one (11-ish hours to do the 64km), so he joked at Christmas that this year he'd be going for the most improved time. So I wished him well in his endeavours. What do I get back but an email, not about the mountain race, but about the trip down the West Coast to get to the mountain race, and how he was going to have the most improved time for that. How come?
Well... I had to
look in the rear view mirror:
.
.
.
no, closer... in the wing mirror:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
and then gaze out the front, at the beast disappearing into the distance:
So, apparently he won one of the limited edition Ford Falcon XR8's with personalised All Blacks number plates. Someone remind me again why I don't buy Lotto tickets??
Well... I had to
look in the rear view mirror:
.
.
.
no, closer... in the wing mirror:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
and then gaze out the front, at the beast disappearing into the distance:
So, apparently he won one of the limited edition Ford Falcon XR8's with personalised All Blacks number plates. Someone remind me again why I don't buy Lotto tickets??
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
How long....????
It's always the oldies that I go back to when times are tough, as they are at the moment.
I'm looking forward to "being myself" again. Dunno when it's gonna happen, still can't see past the next 2 weeks. In fact, at the moment, I'm lucky if I can see past the next hour. A couple of good people have popped out of the woodwork yesterday and today, to fill the vacuum of isolation and speak love to my broken spirit. After these 2 terms, I don't think I'll ever be the same "me" again. I've learnt a thing or two, some things that I never really wanted to learn, or see. Some has been rewarding, some has been very disappointing. I hope I'm a stronger person when it's over.
Every cry is a song
Every song is a prayer
And our prayers must be heard
To fill the air
Help us make peace
Amazing grace, Morning has
broken, Imagine, Trumpets, Knocking
on heavens door, in the garden,
Forever young, No woman no cry, Ag
criost an siol, Open up, open up,
open up the doors to your heart, You
might need somebody. Thank you
for letting me be myself again.
I'm looking forward to "being myself" again. Dunno when it's gonna happen, still can't see past the next 2 weeks. In fact, at the moment, I'm lucky if I can see past the next hour. A couple of good people have popped out of the woodwork yesterday and today, to fill the vacuum of isolation and speak love to my broken spirit. After these 2 terms, I don't think I'll ever be the same "me" again. I've learnt a thing or two, some things that I never really wanted to learn, or see. Some has been rewarding, some has been very disappointing. I hope I'm a stronger person when it's over.
Monday, November 22, 2004
Fame
How sad it is when we grasp at tenuous links to perceived fame...
Loosely translated as "the school magazine was out today, and I have found my picture (4x) and reference to me (2x)".
Is this where we set goals for next year??
2.5 weeks to go in this academic year, and I probably still have about 6 weeks work. Still not quite sure how I'm going to do it, but there's nothing surer than that time will pass! Somehow, too, I also have 2 massive assignments to finish, of which one is a website, so I may be brave enough to post a link, when it's done. (might.)
(or not!)
Loosely translated as "the school magazine was out today, and I have found my picture (4x) and reference to me (2x)".
Is this where we set goals for next year??
2.5 weeks to go in this academic year, and I probably still have about 6 weeks work. Still not quite sure how I'm going to do it, but there's nothing surer than that time will pass! Somehow, too, I also have 2 massive assignments to finish, of which one is a website, so I may be brave enough to post a link, when it's done. (might.)
(or not!)
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Grrr!!!
Why?
1. It's 4.52am and I'm not asleep. I got up cos I'd been not asleep for about an hour and I'm bored.
2. I just got error messages from haloscan saying I didn't have permission to access my member page.
3. Consequently comments have vanished, at the moment, anyway
4. Why not?
5. Marking exams, writing reports, budgets and reports to the Board are not things I want to be thrashing about at this time of the morning. Ever.
1. It's 4.52am and I'm not asleep. I got up cos I'd been not asleep for about an hour and I'm bored.
2. I just got error messages from haloscan saying I didn't have permission to access my member page.
3. Consequently comments have vanished, at the moment, anyway
4. Why not?
5. Marking exams, writing reports, budgets and reports to the Board are not things I want to be thrashing about at this time of the morning. Ever.
Monday, November 15, 2004
Review
Found this in the Herald this morning. I'm glad I'm not the only one who enjoyed it! (although that was very obvious by the demand for encore after encore, which they were kind enough to fulfill)
Most amused at this reference to the chandelier thingys I mentioned already: The giant creatures-of-the-deep-like chandeliers from the workshop of Neil's wife Sharon were certainly flash.
I must just add, tho, that I HATE the St James Theater - it has got to be the MOST uncomfortable venue in Auckland. I was on the mezzanine floor, nearish the front, wonder how close I was to the rest of the Finn clan?!
Most amused at this reference to the chandelier thingys I mentioned already: The giant creatures-of-the-deep-like chandeliers from the workshop of Neil's wife Sharon were certainly flash.
I must just add, tho, that I HATE the St James Theater - it has got to be the MOST uncomfortable venue in Auckland. I was on the mezzanine floor, nearish the front, wonder how close I was to the rest of the Finn clan?!
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