Our weeks are becoming very predictable - busy and restful - and I quite like this routine. :-) I didn't teach on Monday again and I could easily get used to that. I did teach for three days this week - Tuesday and Wednesday I taught in a Prep class at Torquay - I was teaching with Sam who was my TA last year - she could easily run the class on her own - sometimes when I am in there, I almost feel like she should be the teacher - she has 26 years of experience as a TA. There are a few challenging children in that class which makes for a tiring day - I wish that I could just teach those other 20 lovely children who want to listen and learn.
On Thursday, I did my regular contract day at Torquay, but it was different that day as Pam asked me to take over the whole class while she did parent/teacher interviews. I was very surprised that it would be okay for her to do this, but I don't know if the admin knew what she was doing or not. Chantelle was fit to be tied when she heard what Pam was doing - she couldn't believe that Pam would have the nerve to use me to teach her class while she did parent/teacher interviews during the school day while all the other teachers at the school had to stay after school to do their interviews. I was miffed that she didn't leave me a plan for 90 minutes of math she wanted me to do with her class. Her class is challenging and so I didn't want to try and do 90 minutes of math with the whole class, so I planned out five activities which they could rotate through and that worked really well. A couple of teachers made comments to me again about how well behaved the children were with me teaching compared to when Pam has them - it made me feel good to be recognized for having good classroom management skills - that's the hardest thing about being a teacher, I think.
On Wednesday evening, I went to a local restaurant to meet up with some people who were interested in being part of a book club. Two british women decided that they wanted to start one up in order to have a bit of an adult social life and read and discuss books. There were twelve women and one man who showed up and I think it's going to be a really good book club. The two women who are leading the club came with a synopsis of six books which we could choose from to be the book for the next meeting. The choice ended up being a book by an Australian author called 'Traitor'. I talked with the group about how the book club ran in Bolton and they are sad that I will not be there to share my experience in our first book club discussion. I did tell them how it used to work and when I got home, Dad looked up on the net to see if he could find some questions that the club could use at the next meeting - I sent them off and the women were really pleased to have a way to begin the discussion next month. I'm looking forward to being able to attend the September meeting.
I took Friday off work and Dad and I spent the day getting things organized around the house so that we would be ready to leave on Monday. However, after speaking to the HR woman about the job which Dad applied for (and really wants), we decided to wait another week before we come back to Canada. It was a bit disappointing as I was really looking forward to getting back there and getting some cuddles in with my lovely grandchildren (oh, and hanging out with my girls, too, of course :-) and also to going to Paris with Krystal on the following Saturday. But, Dad really wants this job - he will find out this coming Friday or the following Monday if he has been successful in acquiring an interview or not. We are keeping an eye on the flight loads between here and Sydney - if they get busy, I might fly out to Sydney on the morning flight on Monday - if Dad hasn't heard by then, he will stay behind until the 6pm flight (if he doesn't get an interview).
This job would be perfect for Dad, he thinks, so we'll hope for the best - but, on the other hand, if he gets the job, he won't be able to come back to Canada and that will be sad for him and for you guys.
On Friday, we met up with our friends, Robyn and Geoff, for lunch at 'Hogsbreath Cafe' - it's kind of like 'Kelsey's' - Dad and I both ordered a wrap (chicken for me and beef for Dad) with curly fries. While we were there, the sister missionaries called us to see if we were still going to be in town on Saturday and if we were still planning on coming to the baptism on Saturday. When Dad hung up and told us what they had said, Geoff said that I was doing a talk on faith and repentance and I said that no, they had asked me (last Sunday) to welcome the boys to Primary after their baptism. After both of us going back and forth a bit, I began to wonder if what Geoff was saying was true. On the way home, I called the sister missionaries to check out if they were thinking that I was giving a talk - sure enough, they were. It's a good thing I listened to Geoff!
On Saturday at 1pm, we went to the baptism of Jeremy and Douglas (8 and 9 years old) - there were about 20 people there and it was so nice to see the smiles on the boys' faces as they were baptized. It took me back to my own baptism day (many years ago :-) I can't remember a lot about that day, but I still remember the feeling I had when I came up out of the water - it was like a heavy load had been lifted off my shoulders - I will never forget that wonderful feeling. The talk went well - Dad and I both searched for articles about faith and repentance on the internet and Dad found two great articles which had been in The Friend magazine. I spoke right to both boys and made sure that my talk was at their level - they both watched me the whole time I talked so I guess it was interesting enough for them. :-)
That evening, we went to Robyn and Geoff's for dinner - they also invited another couple from church, Fiona and Randall. We had a lovely meal (roast chicken with veggies and mini pavlovas for dessert - sorry Nana :-) and we had a really nice time chatting with everyone. Having these dinners really gives us a chance to get to know members of our ward better and I am looking forward to having more dinners like these when we get back from Canada.
Dad and I both handed over the reigns re: our callings at church today. I gave all my stuff to my first counsellor in Primary - she was great last time we left at keeping things rolling in Primary and it's great to have someone who I know will run things smoothly while I am away. I had organized things for the months of June and July and she will just have to sort things out for August (although I did do have a tentative schedule for that month as well). Dad teaches his priesthood group every Sunday and those lessons will now be taught on a rotation basis by all members of the group. People were sad to see us leaving for such a long time and they were all saying good-bye to us and wishing us a safe trip and a happy time with everyone in Canada. It's so nice to be so loved in our ward. :-)
Sunday, June 3, 2010
A busy week, but with two days off (sort of). I was hoping not to have to work again on Monday and I didn't have to - it's always nice having a three day weekend. :-) Dad and I spent Monday and Wednesday (didn't get called in that day, either) doing errands like shopping, etc. plus we both also got our hair cut. Dad needed a trim and I wanted more hair cut off (now it's quite short) - just getting tired of the long(er) hair and told Christa (hairdresser) to cut it off - I just tell her to cut and she always does a nice job - plus, her prices are really good.
I worked Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Tuesday was at a school I actually haven't been at this year, although I was at it last year a few times. The deputy principal called me and asked me to teach grade 4 - before I could say to him that I don't do grade four, he told me it was for a class which has two teachers teaching both classes together. The husband was going to be out of the classroom and so I would be teaching with the wife. I actually worked with her before and it was good, so I said yes. It was an easy day, actually - she taught most of the time and I just assisted her by helping out with the kids once they started working. Thursday was my regular day at Torquay and things went pretty much the way they have for the past six weeks. Friday, I was in at Kawungan in a grade two classroom. Lisa was a prac student (student teacher) who taught most of the day and things went well except for the one boy who has been suspended more than he's been there, I think. He's the one who tipped over his desk last time I was in. I had to call the deputy principal twice about him and both times she came down to talk with him. There are a couple of other kids who are annoying, but for the most part, it was a good day.
Dad and I spent Saturday afternoon shopping - regular grocery shopping and also shopping for a basket which is being passed around in Relief Society. It's supposed to be an opportunity for us to get to know the sisters in the ward better. I received the basket last week (from a secret sister) and so it was my turn to fill the basket for the sister whose name I picked from a sealed envelope. I didn't know much about this sister other than she grows flowers, so I called a friend who I knew would know something about this sister and she gave me a ton of ideas to choose from. It took us longer to find all that I wanted to get (plant, scarf, stationery and handkerchiefs), but it was relaxing and gave Dad and I lot of time to chat while we were driving and shopping.
We had our friends, Robyn and Geoff over for dinner Saturday night and also invited Christine and Chris (the people whose granny flat we stayed at when we first got here) to join us. Dad barbecued lamb chops (and we also had corn on the cob, jacket potatoes, salad (which Christine and Chris) brought over) and apple pie and ice-cream for dessert). The meal was delicious and we had a really nice time chatting with each other. When we have people over, we always go and sit in the front room after dinner - it's about the only time we use it - the chairs/couch are so comfortable.
Since we are not sure when we are leaving HB (we hope to leave a week Monday, but with going stand-by, you know how that never is a sure thing), so we said our good-byes to our friends at church (other than Robyn and Geoff who we will get together with later this week for a meal) - we know we are going to be missed and it's a nice feeling to know how much people care about us in this ward.
I have included a pic of our new tv unit underneath this blog. Loving my new unit! :-)
I worked Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Tuesday was at a school I actually haven't been at this year, although I was at it last year a few times. The deputy principal called me and asked me to teach grade 4 - before I could say to him that I don't do grade four, he told me it was for a class which has two teachers teaching both classes together. The husband was going to be out of the classroom and so I would be teaching with the wife. I actually worked with her before and it was good, so I said yes. It was an easy day, actually - she taught most of the time and I just assisted her by helping out with the kids once they started working. Thursday was my regular day at Torquay and things went pretty much the way they have for the past six weeks. Friday, I was in at Kawungan in a grade two classroom. Lisa was a prac student (student teacher) who taught most of the day and things went well except for the one boy who has been suspended more than he's been there, I think. He's the one who tipped over his desk last time I was in. I had to call the deputy principal twice about him and both times she came down to talk with him. There are a couple of other kids who are annoying, but for the most part, it was a good day.
Dad and I spent Saturday afternoon shopping - regular grocery shopping and also shopping for a basket which is being passed around in Relief Society. It's supposed to be an opportunity for us to get to know the sisters in the ward better. I received the basket last week (from a secret sister) and so it was my turn to fill the basket for the sister whose name I picked from a sealed envelope. I didn't know much about this sister other than she grows flowers, so I called a friend who I knew would know something about this sister and she gave me a ton of ideas to choose from. It took us longer to find all that I wanted to get (plant, scarf, stationery and handkerchiefs), but it was relaxing and gave Dad and I lot of time to chat while we were driving and shopping.
We had our friends, Robyn and Geoff over for dinner Saturday night and also invited Christine and Chris (the people whose granny flat we stayed at when we first got here) to join us. Dad barbecued lamb chops (and we also had corn on the cob, jacket potatoes, salad (which Christine and Chris) brought over) and apple pie and ice-cream for dessert). The meal was delicious and we had a really nice time chatting with each other. When we have people over, we always go and sit in the front room after dinner - it's about the only time we use it - the chairs/couch are so comfortable.
Since we are not sure when we are leaving HB (we hope to leave a week Monday, but with going stand-by, you know how that never is a sure thing), so we said our good-byes to our friends at church (other than Robyn and Geoff who we will get together with later this week for a meal) - we know we are going to be missed and it's a nice feeling to know how much people care about us in this ward.
I have included a pic of our new tv unit underneath this blog. Loving my new unit! :-)
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