Ma wee bonnie child

This morning I was awoken by the distinct strangled screech of bagpipes. I know that most people would rather listen to an orgre play their spine like a xylophone than listen to the agony-bags but I like to think that the love of bagpipe music is in my genes.  I suppose it is.  My ancestors, the Mackay's, hail from a small town outside of Glasgow.

After sending Tuks outside to investigate the source of this racket music, I was delighted to learn that people were setting up for a Scottish festival in the park opposite our home. Later that afternoon I took Daluwyn over to watch the Highland games. As I perused the stalls selling jewlery, flasks and haggis I found some tiny baby kilts. Of course, I could not resist.

William Wallace, eat your heart out!

The Mighty All Blacks

Over the past month I have seen Auckland come alive as we have watched the Rugby world Cup play out. Tuks and I spent many evenings down at Party Central cheering on the All Blacks with other Kiwis and it was amazing every time.

Last night was the final. All blacks Vs France. We watched the game at home with Tuks brother Wiremu and his wife Kristen and our good friends Rachel, Richard and Atah. The game was such a nail biter, we were on the edge of our seats the entire eighty minutes. Thankfully, we came out victorious winning the game 8-7 and ending our 24 year spell of bad luck. 

We were all so excited that we ran straight out onto the road waving our NZ flag at every car that drove past. At 11:30pm we decided to head into town to join in on the celebrations. The atmosphere was electric. People were cheering, singing, hugging and I was mostly screaming. I have never seen so many people fill Queen street, or so many Kiwis celebrate like that before. This is really a special time to be a Kiwi in New Zealand.
Go the mighty All Blacks!

Daluwyn

There is nothing I like to do more on my weekends than hang out with my nephew Daluwyn. He is just so much fun! At 18 months he can now say a few cute things like " up" when he wants to be picked up or put on the couch, " bubbles" when he wants to play with his bubbles " dog" when he sees a dog and of course " cupcakes" which he sure loves to eat.

This morning Tuks took him to the playground next door, and then we went off to the Scottish festival in Remuera. Daluwyn got to play in the bouncy castle, listen to bag pipes and watch some Scottish dancing. He was jealous of the balloons all of the other kids had, so we ended up having to steal some that were on display outside a pharmacy. That was quite tiring so we had a big nap when we got home. Then, it was time to go off to Cameron pools for a swim. Daluwyn really loves the water and is not afraid to put his head under. Lots of the bigger kids at the pool were crying and hanging onto their parents- but not Daluwyn, he wants to swim on his own already.

We just finished eating dinner, and we are watching Tangled as I write this. Hopefully he has had a big enough day to fall asleep nice and early.

I love my little man. Can't wait to do this again.

Teenagers

Why is it, that sometimes the only way to get the attention of a teenager is to act like one of them? Yesterday I moved my Year 13 class to the computer room and went to put up a sign saying " Period 4- E2" on our regular classroom door.

As I walked away a student from my class, let's call him Billy, shouted to some other students " We're in B7". I shouted back " No Billy! We are in E2". Billy turned and smiled at me clearly indicating that he had heard me but was choosing to be a pain. So I shouted again " Billy, tell them we are in E2". Billy looked at me and shouted in front of him " Guys, we're in B7".

Obiously Billy thought this was hillarious, but for some reason it made me irrate as I then had to then chase down the group of students walking in the wrong direction carrying my lap top and class folders ( that no body offered to carry for me as i was racing past)  and tell them to go to E block. As I ran past Billy I made it clear that I was angry, he had wasted me time, and therefore would be ignoring him for the rest of the day.

When I got to class, I gave the class their marked work from the day before. Poor little Billy needed help, but unfortunately I am a woman of my word, and had to follow through with my promise. So I said " Sorry Billy, you have already wasted enough of my time today, I won't be speaking to you". That REALLY got his attention and at the end of the lesson he stayed behind to apologize.

Ok- so maybe I over reacted. But seriously, this is the type of thing that puts me off wanting to have children, for fear that they will grow up to be rotten, annoying teenagers like Billy.

Go the All Blacks!

I want to take a little time out today to share how much I am LOVING living in Auckland right now.
The Rugby world cup has brought our community together, and there is celebration in the air.
Last night Tuks and I went down to Party central and watched the All Blacks Vs France game in the Cloud.

As we were walking down Queen street, a man in a suit jacket and stubbies interviewed us for his Yahoo commercial-  in typical kiwi style. Then he gave us a ride in an old English Taxi right down to the water front where all the action was. 

The game was fantastic 37-17 to the All Blacks and the feeling in the air was just electric, I have never seen Kiwi's come together like that before. So, I will relish in the joy of walking to the supermarket and having the tiller say " have a nice day, Go the All blacks!" for a little while longer.

Strange delivery

What would you think if you came home and found this waiting for you on your door step?

If you are like me your mind will jump to crazy conclusions like-  "Someone has been murdered, their head chopped off, stuffed into a bag and then put on my door step." 

Imagine my surprise when I opened the bag to find... books!!  For over a month I have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of Behind every good man -John Bytheway, No doubt about it -Sheri L. Dew, The book of Mormon for Latter day saint families-Thomas R Valletta and House of glory- S. Michael Wilcox and they are finally here!

Glad I worked up the guts to open this bad boy. Thank you Desert books!

Bogged down

It's school report time, and I have been bogged down all weekend.
Thurs- Writing reports.
Fri- And more reports.
Saturday- Woops I forgot someone.
Sunday-How do I say  "Your son sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them" nicely?

Talk soon, when I come back up for air.