Saturday, 24 January 2009

High School

High School - Like/Love/Detest/Hate???

My blog so I'll start - Generally, I hated high school!!! The classes, the subjects, the social groups and some of the teachers... Don't get me wrong - I went to a brilliant high school - in fact one of the best! (My parents chose well - Thank you)

I hated:
  • Having to sit through 2 sessions of 2 different languages and then a double session of Maths on a Monday. Seriously - who thought that schedule up and THEN thought it was good for my final 3 years in a row?!?! Sadist!!!
  • Friday homework, due on Monday! Especially the 2 different languages and Maths.
  • The daily stress of nearly missing the bus home and the equally sadistic bus driver who pretended he couldn't see you desperately waving him down (especially on a Friday)
  • Phys Ed and the overweight teachers! (I couldn't do a double somersault over a trampoline but I would have paid good money to see them do it!)
  • Some of the people I met...
I loved:
  • That weirdo Biology teacher who kept walking out the classroom mid-sentence and then we didn't see him until the next lesson where - he'd do it all again!
  • The school bus that broke down regularly (Mondays were the best! Still messed with my schedule though... I used to do 'Language 1' homework on the bus, 'Language 2' during 'Language 1' and Math during 'Language 2'. No surprise that I was exhausted by Morning tea!)
  • Some of the Maths I've actually had to use in real life - hard to believe but those Math teachers might not be lying!!!
  • Those kids who locked the door on 'Language 2' teacher because she was late (her rule - she used to do it to us all the time)
  • That guy who threw an egg at the Math teacher on our last day (And the Math teacher caught it and threw it back!!! Brilliant!)
  • The Math teacher for my final year - that's when it all fell into place and finally made sense
  • Completing Year 12 (Matric)
  • Some of the people I met...
Not exactly encouraging for my eldest (first day on Tuesday). But with hindsight, it's not all bad...

Good luck my babe and remember we are still (and always will be) here for you

Everyone is entitled to an opinion

Here's a few of mine...

I'm glad there is a new US President. Although the whole process was long and drawn out and, to be quite honest, I didn't really understand it all, I am happy with the result. If I was an American, I would have voted for Obama... I just hope he does everything he said he would... And more!!! (No pressure)

I will admit though, that I AM going to miss Mr Bush! He had so much entertainment value, didn't he? The way he mangled the English language was, and still is, always good for a laugh... My personal favourite? "There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."—Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002"
(http://www.slate.com/id/76886/pagenum/all/#p2) I still get tears in my eyes thinking about that one!!!

Someone I won't miss though, if they ever manage to remove him, is Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe. Did you know that there is now a Z$100 trillion note? Purely out of interest, I converted the Zim dollar into Aussie dollars... As of today's date, the SMALLEST amount that actually registered was Z$1,000,000.00 and, believe it or not, is only worth AU$0.05! That's correct folks! 5 Australian cents!!! There's a slight better result for the South African Rand - ZAR0.30

Now taking into account that US dollars are really the only accepted payment in Zimbabwe, it's mind-numbing to see that the same above amount is only worth USD$0.03! Quite obviously the monetary value is not even worth the paper it is printed on!!!

And don't get me started on the rest of the problems in the country!!! Cholera (but no functioning health system), food shortages, dysfunctional schools, crime... the tip of the iceberg but the list goes on. One wonders how people actually survive there...

Really does make you appreciate the little things in life! Safety, security, freedom, education, medical, food choices, technology and telecommunications really do get taken for granted - don't they?!?!

Thursday, 22 January 2009

Blog Beginning

Before we begin - This is an almost exact copy of something I posted a few days earlier somewhere else... Only to find out that where I posted it requires my friends and family to get the required account and then log in... I think that's not fair and it sucks! So now, we are here...

Well! I've had that other space for quite a while now - Nearly two years but who's counting - and I haven't actually done anything with it except to test stuff for Uni... Uni actually should be finished soon - only a few more weeks to go - about a month... If the lecturer actually bothers to mark anything...

This whole blog thing is a bit weird to me to be honest but you never know - it could serve as a moment in history - or at least mine anyway...

Belated welcome to 2009! It should be better than the last few - Don't they say wine gets better with age?!?! Our middle child has also noted that the years are moving quicker. Not bad when you are 10! And there - I thought it was just me?!?!

Our eldest is about to start high school - I have to buy his school uniform on Wednesday! I have it on "Good Authority" that it will cost at least $400.00! What "Good Authority" forgets is where I was born and bred!!! I have absolutely no intention of paying that... Don't get me wrong - I'm not a cheapskate but judging by the 'gold on show on one arm' of the person in question, "Good Authority" does like to show off! On the other hand, maybe cash in hand does pay?!? Doesn't matter I haven't got any anyway!!! All I know is, my boy will dressed and ready to go! At least he's smart, creative and artistic!!!

Our youngest is about to start Year 1 - Poor baby he's only just had a taste of what will be! Our local government in Ozzie decided to catch up with the rest of the country and get rid of pre-school (2 and a half days a week) and bring in Prep (5 days a week). In my opinion, Prep is much better for parents but they didn't ask me!!! Anyway he gets to start first year and the bonus is we already have most of his school stuff!!! Yay us!!!

Likewise our middle one! He already has most of his school clothing! The only things he needs is more socks - if only he could learn to put them on properly and not upside down... It may be a boy-thing I don't know...

Anyway, I would like to take this moment to wish all three of our boys, the very best of our love and support for their individual new beginnings. I would like to also wish everyone who reads this message blessings (or bleatings as I almost typed) for the new year!

Take care
C