Ready to Fly

Here are some of the miniature planes that were whizzing around Kauri Point Reserve this morning (obviously not at the precise moment I took this).

I was very glad my boys decided not to 'mark' them!

And I still want to go back with my 'real' camera when they are up in the air - just have to remember to get up early on a sunny Sunday and hope they're there!

Reilly and Me

I have recently decided, now that I have three furkids, that taking one at a time when I am out and about would be fun. Far more manageable, and no guilt factor at leaving just one behind.
Today it was Reilly's turn because he was the reason I was going out anyway - he needed his annual vaccinations. So off the the vets we went - more about that later - then on to Hudsons Petfood for our chicken necks, tripe and beef blocks, and finally a visit to the new Animates store in Takanini. (Funny - the pic on the link to this store features a cav!)

Ali

There we met the subject of today's photo - Ali the cavalier. Ali was there with her Mum and Dad, and their other cavalier Bella.
Now cavalier folk are always super pleased to see another cav and start a conversation, and this was no exception. Especially as it transpires, that this is Reilly's litter sister! She was the sweetest little thing, doing good work for the SPCA. Tried to get a photo of her and her brother, but Reilly was more interested in the big goat who was also sitting outside the entrance....

Chloe

It's not the first time we have met one of his sisters - this photo (right) is from another chance meeting - at the Botanic Gardens - where we came across Chloe (aka Bonnie, who lived with us for a time as a puppy).

Reilly

But back to my Reilly, who cried when he got his injection, whined all the way through getting his nails clipped, and yelped enough to bring tears to my eyes when the vet took him out the back to get his anal glands cleared (yuk) while I talked to the assistant about his next treatment...

I had suspected he needed his teeth cleaned and scaled as his breath was a bit iffy, but I had not anticipated that he would require two teeth to be extracted. My dear little problem dog, it will break my heart to leave you there... but we will both try and be brave! 

A Mini Conference to round out the 'Holidays'

Over the years as a teacher, I have often received flak for the amount of holidays teachers receive. Like they are just for us. Nothing about the kids needing a break. And like teachers actually take the whole time as a holiday. A lot of preparation and Professional Learning occurs in this time too, and in other non contact times during the term - more than the average punter would know.

Not that I am saying that as teachers we don't get more holidays than most. But it is swings and roundabouts; if you're not actually in a job, any job, you don't actually know what it entails, and therefore cannot judge. If the holidays were a clincher, teaching would be a career of choice for many more than it is. In a way the holidays could be considered our company car, annual bonus, or 'work lunches' on the business. 

Today the holidays ended for our staff, and the staff of 4 other schools in our ICT cluster, with a one day Mini Conference. Whilst we had a keynote speaker and some guest consultants, most of the workshops were delivered by our own teachers from the cluster, sharing the great things they are doing in their own classrooms in their own schools. Why? Because they are passionate about it. If great learning is occurring in their classrooms, they want to let others in on their ideas, journeys and successes. And you can bet they spent a significant amount of their holidays and non contact time preparing for it. I am sure that conference delegates and presenters alike saw the values of spending the last day of the 'holidays' in this way. I know I did.

 

Food Show Fun

Despite living here for 6 years now, I had not been to the Auckland Food Show before today, and was very happy to be invited to accompany my foodaholic friend Viki today.
So much to sample, and almost every morsel delicious. Fabulous cheeses, oils, sauces, chocolates... I had to get over feeling guilty for taking my tooth-picked tidbit, Mmmmming and Ooohhhhing in tandem with Viki - and then walking away without buying anything.

The two things I did buy, you can't eat, and one actually had no place being at a Food Show really... An 'everlasting lint remover' - attractive to a chick with 3 dogs. I bought into my second rehearsed sales pitch for the day (even if I did make her skip to the dog hair part of the demo) and got my 2-for-one offer. She did have to pose for this photo first though. Have already tried my 'Sticky King' tonight and it does work.

Viki's bag of goodies was much more exciting than mine, and I know she will turn her purchases into gastronomic delights. Watch out for them in her most excellent food blog.

You'd think it'd be an easy 10/10

First Quiz Night I have participated in for ages, thanks to the invite from my friend Kate. Linda and I gatecrashed her normal Wednesday team, the 'Cheeky Darkies' (I called the two of us the 'Politely Whiteys'), and you'd have thought they knew I was coming. One of the picture rounds was 'Doggy Style' in the non smutty sense of the phrase. However we did miss 3... the English Pointer, Albino German Shepherd and the 'Huntaway". 

I question the huntaway's inclusion on 2 counts:

1. It looks nothing like Luke or Rogue or Beau - huntaways from my childhood. 

2. It is not a recognised breed with the kennel club.

But of course I did not dispute it (I know what it's like on the Quizmaster side!) - in quizzes you win some, you lose some, you knew it but you didn't say it, you said it but it wasn't written down... none of that matters really, it's all just darn good fun. Especially when you get 10/10 on your bonus round. 

The slightly muted Cheeky Darkies came third overall. I hope I get invited again if they are ever short of numbers!

Uninspried

Slow day in the creativity department today. It is getting increasingly difficult to 'find' photos in and around my immediate environment. It's days like this when I doubt that I will continue this daily blog lark past the end of the year...
Today's offering - another Wattle Downs rainbow. I am actually amazed by how many we see out here; I'm sure there's some scientific explanation, to do with the ocean or something.
As forboding as the sky looks, it did not actually rain. It's just been pretty jolly darn cold! Maybe that's what's stifling the creative juices?

One for the girls...

I was amused last night to watch my 24 year old nephew squirm as the women of our family discussed breasts in a matter-of-fact way. Can't remember the actual line of conversation, but I think it was initiated by a connection made between silicon cupcake cups, and breasts au naturale (as opposed to silicon...)

With his discomfort in mind, I have suggested via the title that this post may not be one boys will find particularly interesting...

Today's photo I snatched on my phone whilst at Breast-screen Aotearoa. It's a dried harakeke (flax) artwork created by Marama Pirihi, designed to 'express the nurturing and beauty of the wahine'.

You know you are of 'an age' when a mammogram becomes a free service... It's not the most pleasant of procedures to endure - not that it is painful, more a matter of - discomfort. Discomfort with the squeezing of the machine, coupled with another person moving your bits here and there, and finished off with standing around half naked. Mind you, as I said to the mammographer, she has surely seen it all before...

Still it's a necessary evil I guess, being proactive about one's health. If you are also of 'an age' and have not had your boobs checked, this is your little reminder to do so :D

Boys, if you did suffer through this - how about a prostate check?