Christmas Parade

On Saturday Anita, Sonia and I had a girls’ day out. First we took Sonia to Yom Cha the Chinese restaurant (she has never been to one!). I was the first one to get there and then spent some time waiting for Anita and Sonia. Anita booked us a table so I sat at the table and waited. Anita texted me and said she’ll be late and Sonia was going to come a bit later also. So I just sat there. I was a bit nervous because every time I went to a Chinese restaurant I was always with my friends who knew what they were doing, but now I was sitting there by myself for about 20 mins and I felt real lost. The waitresses (who were Chinese) kept coming up to me and asking me stuff and I had no clue what to say! When they asked me what tea I wanted I tried to describe the tea that Anita said we were going to get –flower petal tea, its name I couldn’t remember so I tried to describe it. In the end they bought me calmomellon (uncertain spelling) tea.

At Yom Cha in the weekends the waitresses come round with various foods and you can chose whatever appeals to you. While waiting for Anita and Sonia I managed to order two things that I knew for certain what they were – prawn dumplings and prawns wrapped in white dough stuff; my favorite! The waitresses kept coming up to me and offering me stuff and I felt weird always saying no so I got the prawn things in the end. By that time luckily Anita had arrived so I breathed a sigh of relief!

Immediately after, Sonia texted to say she wasn’t sure where the restaurant was so Anita ran over to get Sonia who was by the library. Then we introduced her to all our favourite Chinese foods. She looked overwhelmed at the sight of everything and I thought back to the first time back in 2005 when Anita and Jasmine first took me to a Chinese restaurant. It was a pretty overwhelming experience first time but now I’m pretty experienced with what I like and so on. I keep planning on taking my family to a Chinese restaurant since my Dad has never been to one (Mum went with some friends and so did Linda) so hopefully I will do sometime soon.

Christmas Parade... Anita I can see the back of you!! (on left)

The Swan float
After we finished at Yom Cha it was almost 3pm. Then we went to the Christmas parade!! We have been going to the parade every year almost and it was interesting every time! Some floats were pretty awesome; there was one with a giant King Kong and another one with a giant swan!

It was really easy to get into the spirit of it all and have a fun time! I personally think you can never be too old for Christmas parades! :)

Tried to take a photo of Santa... but could only get the raindeer

After we finished watching the parade it was time for Sonia to go. That day Anita told us that she will be leaving to go to her brother’s graduation not on the 14^th December as planned but on the 1^st so this limited our times together. Afterwards she and her family are going to Hong Kong and then she’ll be going back to Dunedin till the end of next year! So sad! Luckily we will still have another chance to meet up next Friday when Melissa M has finished all her NCEA exams and celebrate an early Christmas!

Christmas Shopping

On Thursday me and Christina went Christmas shopping and to my great relief it turned out a success! I guess me and Christina are more experienced at going Christmas shopping together because we have been going every year now for the past many years since about intermediate school. Anyway we set off to Queensgate at 10am and finished at about 5pm! Her sister Tanya had a morning exam but joined us at Queensgate at about lunchtime after her English exam (which she said was horrible but I’m sure it went fine. You can never tell with English… I remember English NCEA exams can be surprising as I know from past experience). We ended up taking two rounds of Queensgate, first with Christina and then Tanya joined us so we did another round together. (But we didn’t go to ALL the shops, our ‘rounds’ are quite selective –ie bookshops, souvenir type shops, a few clothes stores…)

At the end of the day I was satisfied with all that I bought. I love buying presents for people, it’s so fun! (as long as I’m not in a picky mood!!) That day I got all the presents I wanted to get (well almost all) so the day turned out a success! Christmas season is in the air now with all the shop decorations and Christmas present shopping! I’m going to have a bit of present wrapping fun…!! :)

Control Freak??

Ok do I really have the essence of a control freak??

Today I supervised the NCEA level 1 maths exam at Taita College. It was great!! I loved exam supervision!! There were 120 students seated in the hall, and we supervisors (there were 4 of us) were to walk around the hall, looking out for cheating and anyone with their hand up.

I was quite amazed at how many empty seats there were in the exam room after the exam had begun at 9:30am. Approximately 20 students didn’t turn up to the exam!! I didn’t think it was humanly possible to not turn up to an exam but apparently I was wrong. And a lot of students left after the first 45 minutes. Out of 120 students approx 30 stayed till the very end of the exam. Some students spent the 45 minutes at the beginning of the exam when they weren’t allowed to leave just sitting there with their arms folded not doing anything! I was pretty amazed. It’s quite different I found observing students sitting an exam as opposed to actually sitting an exam yourself. Observing students sitting an exam is a fascinating experience indeed!

After the first 45 minutes students were allowed to leave the exam. If students left the exam they when their paper was collected had to go to the back of the hall and get their papers signed off. Some students I attended tried to run away before they got signed off and then I had to go after them and tell them off- “Hey come back here. You know you are supposed to get your paper signed before you go! Get back here!!”

I was in control!! Felt so great!! When students put their hands up we had to come over to them and either collect their exam paper or take then to the bathroom (other causes included running out of ink in pens). There were a lot of hands up throughout the exam and so I was running around attending to various student. Yeaa exam supervision is so much fun!! (After the exam I said that to Alissa our lady in charge and she thought I was nuts! Haha maybe I am ;) )

After the exam ended I was in a really happy mood (still am :) ha ha!!). During the exam I felt so in control! I had to tell students what they had to do (i.e. “Go stand over there and get your name signed off….etc) and they did it!!!! Such a great feeling to be in control! Although I would prefer a smaller class size…120 students is a bit much for a class :)

…so then as I was walking around the hall I thought “so do I really have the essence of a control freak??” Heheheheh!! :) :0

Before I went home I asked if I could take a copy of the exam paper because I wanted to have a look and see what it was like and also so I could do it myself for fun, so I got myself a souvenir! (Teachers are allowed a copy of the exam papers after an exam has ended; I got one too!) On my way to the train station I met Sonia who was going to supervise an afternoon exam and told her how happy I was!!

I can’t wait till my next exam supervision session next Wednesday – level 1 science!!

There are two conclusions that I can make after today’s ‘work experience’:

1) Exam supervision is FUN

2) I am a potential CONTROL FREAK

A Sunny day

Today my friend Christina Rowe came over to my house! I haven’t seen her for a very long time as she studies up in Massey Uni in Palmerston North during the year and it was great spending some time together once again! She met Lola too! Lola was very happy!! She just loves meeting new people!! Very social!! :)

Our next door neighbor friend invited us to lunch so we all drove to Days Bay. The weather was absolutely gorgeous (still is now) and we went to a café/restaurant place by the beach!! It was really exciting!!

I haven’t been to a restaurant for a very long time (not counting Chinese restaurants) and it was so fun choosing things from the menu.

...our food...

I chose a seafood dish with fish, seaweed, cucumber and jellyfish!
I’m such a daredevil :) It was really nice! I love sea food! We spent the next hour or so eating and chatting, and looking at the beautiful beach scenery. By the time I finished my meal I was so full I almost could not move!

Christina

Then Christina, Linda and I went down to the sandy beach and lay on the sand, sunbathing and talking some more.

We were hoping to stay on the beach for a while but Dad had an evening shift at work and had to be back by 3pm. What a shame! It was such nice weather, a perfect day for the beach! When we got home, Linda, Christina and I took Lola for a walk down to California garden centre, where I attempted once again to look for Christmas presents. We put Lola in a trolley and wheeled her around the shop! She looked so adorable! I did not end up finding anything interesting in the shop. Hopefully I’ll have better luck with my shopping next week! But it was a nice walk, and Christina got to walk Lola. By the time we got home it was time for Christina to go. The day went by so fast! It had been a great day!!! :)

All of Us
The holidays have just ‘officially begun’ and I’m sure there are many more great fun days to come - spending time with family and friends!

(: “Have fun, go mad!" :)

Dreams...

I am feeling sooo happy right now!!!

One of my Mum’s friends is a maths teacher who was looking for a position in a college. There was a place open at Sacred Heart College so she applied there. Then she came over to our house and asked me to tell her all about the college and I gladly did. I lectured her (with intense detail!!!) on every aspect of school life and told her all about the Sacred Heart College ‘population’-teachers etc… I also gave her one of the current college newsletters and also a school magazine and told her to study it ‘back to front’ and ‘inside out’. I had a lot of fun telling her everything I knew about school! (Ever since prize-giving I’ve been missing college a bit…)

Anyway on Wednesday she had a meeting with Mr Ellwood, and then today an official interview with Ms Prendergast, Mr Ellwood and Mrs Clitheroe. And then she came over and told me she got the job!!!! I am sooo happy for her!!!! She really wanted that job and it was like a dream come true for her!! I am sooo happy for her!!!!! :) :):) …(just can’t hold back my emotions!!)

“Never cease to dream. Dreams do come true!”

Now it’s only a matter of time, before I graduate with my teaching diploma, aiming for my dream –to teach at Sacred Heart College too!!!

"One can achieve anything- it's only a matter of time!"

Reunited

Anita and Me

Yesterday, Liz B, Anita and I spent the day in Queensgate, since Anita hasn’t been there for a long time. I haven’t been there for a while actually too so the three of us decided to devote our day to touring around Queensgate. I had also planned on getting Christmas presents for various people, but it turned out that the day was not quite right for Christmas shopping. What you should know about me is that I am the pickiest present shopper on the planet, meaning the presents have to be absolutely perfect for each person who they are for. Out of all the presents I wanted to get, by the end of the day I came home with only one which was for Liz and that was only because she hinted at wanting a particular pink wallet so I got it for her! One of the presents I wanted to get was a horizontal photo frame. Simple enough, right? Ha ha, not when I’m shopping! Although there were plenty of shops that sold photo frames, in none did I find one that I thought was ‘just right’.

From past experience I knew that the best place for photo frames is the shop Stevens. So we went there, and met Natasha T who used to go to SHC with us! Haven’t seen her for a very long time as she has been out and about all over the place so it was a very nice surprise! Apparently she just started working in Stevens, and so showed us around. There were some nice photo frames indeed, however I was in my most perfectionist mood ever so to me none of the photo frames seemed ‘just right’. Anyway, we spent some time going around the shops, and then had lunch. Afterwards we went to the bank, and then back in to Queensgate. It is extremely interesting going around Queensgate because you always end up seeing someone who you know! Like this time I met not only Natasha, but also a classmate from primary school Joanna who I haven’t seen for about 8 years!! But we still managed to recognize each other and so had a nice time catching up!

Liz and Anita

While going around Queensgate I ended up going into Stevens 4 times! Every time I was going in to buy a photo frame and every time I ended up feeling “no it’s just not right’. How frustrating! It was the same for other presents that I was looking for.

At about 2pm we said bye to Liz who was catching the bus home, and then me and Anita went back in to Queensgate, hoping perhaps that my pickiness had worn off. No such luck! After another half an hour we had enough and so made our way towards the library. On the way we dropped into Arcadia- spiritual shop with interesting spiritual things ie charms…. and Briscoes, but still nothing I found satisfied me.

Then I walked Anita to the bus stop and went to dance class. Although it was a frustrating day in terms of Christmas shopping, we still had a great time together catching up, as I haven’t seen Liz for over a year and neither had Anita! The three of us had been friends since the beginning of yr 9 (2001) and although we are all doing very different things now (2007!!), it is always great to catch up and spend some time together.

Me, Anita and Liz

After all, true friendship lasts forever!!!

“Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver, the other’s gold!”

NZQA Exam Supervision

On the 13^th of November me and Anita met Sonia at Woburn station and went to Sonia’s house. The weather was cloudy and it looked like it was about to rain, so we made our way to Sonia’s house, where were spent the next several hours talking and playing board games. It was pouring by this time! After lunch at about 2:45pm we started to make our way back to the train station (the rain had stopped-sort of). Me and Sonia were going to Taita College for a meeting regarding NCEA exam supervision! Sonia’s Dad is deputy principal at Taita College and Sonia did exam supervision last year already. This year she asked me if I was interested and I said yes!! Wow I felt so grown up!

Anyway, when we got off at Taita station after saying bye to Anita who continued her journey to Upper Hutt it was absolutely pouring with rain! It was about a 15 minute walk from the train station to Taita College and we were absolutely drenched. It was lucky that Sonia’s Dad picked us up on the way, but we had already walked quite a bit so were absolutely soaked!!!

The meeting was quite interesting and I learnt that there is so much more to exam supervision than meets the eye. We were given NZQA official booklets with all the instructions and relevant information regarding exams. The lady in charge of exam supervision went over the booklet, covering every aspect and anything that could happen during an exam and how to deal with it. Did you know that examiners even have a digital camera to take photos of any tool used for cheating! Fascinating! And you will never guess what happens at Taita College if students have 3 exams on the same day (double ups)?! You have to spend the night at the principal’s house where there is absolutely no chance of contact with anyone or getting info!! And then the next day you sit your 3^rd exam!! Wow!!!!

I will be supervising two exams this year – level 1 maths next Tuesday morning and then the following week on Wednesday morning it’s level 1 science! So exciting!! I will put my name down for next year too so that next year I can supervise again and hopefully more exams too! Apparently at Taita the way they sit their exams is quite different than at SHC because a lot of exams are done in the hall (especially core subjects like level 1 science), and requires about 4 supervisors! Sometimes they combine several subjects in one room if there aren’t many people doing them. I can’t wait!!! JJJ So excited!!!

The meeting lasted for longer than it was expected so by the time we caught the train back to Woburn and walked to Sonia’s house it was already 5:30pm. Sonia’s mum dropped me off at mum’s dance hall and although I was quite late I still had half an hour of class!

On Thursday I am meeting up with Liz and Anita and we are going to take Anita around Queensgate!

Yeaaa!!! Holidays are sooo fun!!! :)

Harry Potter

Last week we had several nice surprises. One day Sonia came over to my house and we baked muffins. While we were baking the door bell rang so I went to answer and there was a parcel addressed to my Dad from Russia. I had forgotten that one of Dad’s friends was going to send us the final Harry Potter book in Russian and all the Harry Potter movies in Russian as well! We were all really happy especially me because I love Harry Potter movies so much and after watching them a dozen times in English it would be amusing to watch them in Russian also! Been watching them for several nights now…so great!! It’s quite different watching Harry Potter in a different language… it’s like a whole different movie! :)

That night I went on Trademe looking for a digital camera. Ever since mine broke I’ve been missing it soo much and I realized that I just can’t live without one! Well finally that night I bought one! Yeaaa!!!

The next day it arrived in the post and I was sooo happy! And now I can take photos everywhere again! …Its first outing was to SHC prizegiving…!!

First photo with the new digital camera!!

A Candle...

A candle’s but a simple thing,
It starts with just a bit of string,
But dipped and dipped with patient hand
It gathers wax upon the strand
Until complete and snowy white
It gives at last a lovely light.

Life seems so like that bit of string
Each deed we do a simple thing
Yet day by day if on life’s strand
We work with patient heart and hand
It gathers joy, makes dark days bright
And gives at last a lovely light.

-Anon

'Girls of the Sacred Heart'

Sacred Heart Girls raise your voices,

In praise of the school loved by all.

The school that has sheltered your

childhood,

So gladly we answer her clarion call.

Red and white are our colours;

Our motto proclaiming the truth

That knowledge when coupled with

virtue,
is a fitting crown to grace your youth.

Girls of the Sacred Heart,

Nobly we do our part;

Whether at play

Whether at work,

We’ll play the game and never,

Never shirk.

Aiming at virtue high,

Knowledge to gain we’ll try,

Hearty and strong, singing our song,
Girls of the Sacred Heart.

No matter where the years may find us,
It matters not what they shall bring,

We’ll cling to our school and its motto,
And it’s praises we’ll loyally sing.

Life’s days but a swift fleeting shadow,
With its playthings we one day must part.

But Mary our Mother will shield us,

And keep us near the Sacred Heart. Liz, Me, Veronica, Jasmine and Anita (2005) - Girls of the Sacred Heart

Prayer from SHC prizegiving 2007

We pray you’ll be our eyes,
And watch us where we go,
And help us to be wise
In times when we don’t know.

Let this be our prayer,
when we lose our way.

Lead us to a place,
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll
be safe.

We pray we’ll find your light,
And hold it in our hearts.
When the stars go out each night,
You’re our eternal star.
Let this be our prayer,
When we lose our way,

Lead us to a place,
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe.

Lead us to a place,
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe.

Sacred Heart College Senior Prizegiving, 2007

On the 12th of November me and Anita who is now back from Otago (!!!!) went to SHC prizegiving!
It was so exciting! We got to see everyone again and sing the school song 'girls of the Sacred Heart' again!! Waaahhh!! It felt like we never left because everything was just the same as what it was like when we were there (feels like just yesterday!). We arrived early so spent some time just sitting and observing everyone that was getting ready. Ms Buist and Mrs Dick kept looking up at the top balcony where we sat and chatting away so I suspect they may have seen us. From where we sat it was a challenge to closely see people's faces that were down on the floor below, but I remember Mrs Buist always used to say before feast day mass that she can perfectly well see everyone and everything that goes on up on the belcony... so perhaps they did see us... :)

...so nice to be back!! :)

It was an awesome prizegiving and many of my friends got awards and trophies! Melissa M got a TROPHY (!!!!!) for Meritorious effort in Religious Studies!!! I was sooo proud of her!!!!

Melissa getting her Awards - Honours in Religious Studies, Diligence in Accounting and the Sister Valerie Lawson Cup for Meritorious effort in
Religious Studies

...there's Ms Buist

...lining up with anticipation...

Kathy Z... waiting
I especially enjoyed listening to the head and deputy head girl's (Theresa and Verity) speech which was really well written and full of wisdom. Verity also got Proxime Assesit to Dux. Jessica Henden got Dux.The choir singing...

Mrs Prendergast's speech was interesting also, although it was the same as what she wrote in the newsletter that Linda bought home last week (I happen to keep track of all the newsletters that Linda brings home). Several teachers were retiring at the end of this year including Mrs Poole, Mrs Donnely (secretary) and Mrs Miller. Some, like Mr Kuchel and Mrs Carter were leaving (sad, she's awesome) but not that many and most of our old teachers are still there. We also found out that the 12th is Mrs Prendergast's birthday so that was quite interesting (can't believe we never knew that after all those years!!).

The Head and Deputy Head girl of 2007 and the new Head and Deputy Head girl for 2008

It was so nice being back in the SHC atmosphere again!!!! So many emotions...

As we watched, I observed everyone in admiration, all the teachers sitting up there on the stage and how loud the applause was after recipients recieved awards, once again just like at SHC prizegiving last year I thought just how much I would love to go back and teach at SHC, and what a great overall atmosphere it has and how supportive everyone is of each other. We were so lucky to have gone to a school like that.Melissa with her GIANT TROPHY!!!

After prizegiving we practically toppled Melissa over with congratulations and hugs, after waiting for her to emerge from the 'Red Sea'.Anita and Melissa with her GIANT TROPHY!!!
When we eventually finished socializing, Melissa's Mum who was there with Melissa's two adorable little sisters offered me and Anita a ride home so we spent the whole way chatting nonstop.Me and Melissa with her giant TROPHY!!!

That night I couldn't fall asleep for a long time, having the SHC school song stuck in my head, a trail of endless memories floating throughout my mind...

"...Girls of the Sacred Heart, nobly we do our part..."

NZ School of Dance 40th Anniversary

On Friday the 9^th of November, me, Mum, Linda and Mum’s friend Margaret with her daughter Mary (who is Linda’s age) went in to Wellington to watch a performance by NZ School of Dance in honor of the school’s 40^th anniversary. We went into Wellington at 5:30pm where we met up with Margaret and Mary, and then went to Mary’s dad’s office to have dinner. Mum made a salad and Linda and Mary went down to McDonalds to get some more stuff to go with the salad. The performance started at 7:30pm so we had plenty of time before we were due there. So we just sat in the office place chatting away.

At about 7pm we started making our way to the theatre. It was so crowded with so many people! Several of Mum’s friends were there so they and Mum were standing and chatting away while the rest of us went to find our seats. The performance had various dances such as ballet, drama and contemporary. I was slightly disappointed because most dancers didn’t wear tutu s but had more modern style of costume (I love tutu s they are so pretty!) When I go to ballet performances I like to listen out for music that I have heard already such as the famous music by Tchaikovsky, however in this performance all music was unfamiliar to me. But overall it was fun! There were two intervals throughout the performers so as to give the dancers time to change costume, and we got to get up and walk around. I think Linda and Mary were slightly bored with the performances, but I thought they were interesting! (one item irritated me a bit though as it lasted about 20 minutes and the music was so loud it hurt my ears!)

Overall it was an enjoyable night, and by the time we got home it was almost midnight!

Prayer of St Colmcille

My dearest Lord,
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me,
Be thou a smooth path beneath me,
Be a kindly shepherd behind me,
Today and for ever more.

When I grow up...

You Should Be an Artist

Artist: You are incredibly creative, spontaneous, and unique. No one can guess what you're going to do next, but it's usually something amazing. You can't deal with routine, rules, or structure. You're easily bored. As long as you are able to innovate and break the rules, you are extremely successful. You do best when you: - Can work by yourself - Can express your personality in your work You would also be a good journalist or actor.

What Should You Be When You Grow Up?

Mmm interesting 'quiz' of a sort! Well I do like art so it is kind of relevant...