How to make the most (?) of a rainy day

In my little patch of the world right now, the weather is pretty darn rank.
For the holiday season, this is not the best thing. But being of Pollyanna leanings, it's not the worst either. A day like today gives one the perfect license to do sweet Fanny Adams all day, and that is just what I did.
Actually, on my lazy, languid road today,  I did achieve something. Bear with me as I meander towards its reveal.
I am almost at the end of my very first 365 challenge - completing an entry/photo a day on this blog. That, coupled with the fact that next year I will have the opportunity through not working full-time to manage my time creatively, new challenges for 2012 are in order. I'm not talking big change-your-life and heal-the-world challenges, or a bucket list, more like things I have been meaning to do, achieve or get back in to.
One of those things is reading. An addiction to the internet and far too much time in front of the TV, coupled with compulsory academic reading for my studies, has curbed my reading habit considerably. Once a voracious reader I have not completed a novel for two years!
Rediscovering the joy of reading is on my 'list', which will soon appear on a re-modelled blog. But rather than wait till the new year, I decided to start today, when the rain has kept us all indoors.
For the first time in eons, I made my coffee this morning, and went back to bed to read... this resulted in falling asleep again and not waking till 10am! (That's way late for a girl for whom being up by 7:30 is late, even in the weekends).
I then took my book downstairs and read intermittently throughout the day. This was not made easy by my furry friends however, as the pics below show... However as with other tasks I have set myself, I am determined to push through the 'barriers' to read at least a novel a month; my new-look blog has a page on which to record my reactions to them!

Making a List

Anyone else out there a list person?
I am in the process of creating a 'To Do' List for 2012, of 50 things to try/experience/complete alongside my studies next year. I have been inspired by my friend Kate, who is attempting a much more audacious list, hers totaling 101.
I added a challenge today that has been at the back of my mind for several years, and was brought to the forefront by some visitors we had at school today.
A group of 10 teachers from Singapore, as pictured below, came to us to have a look at some literacy programmes in action in a New Zealand school. Their journey to NZ was courtesy of having won a competition by submitting as story for what will become the Singaporean School Journal (A project Learning Media is working on with them).
I have always loved New Zealand's School Journals; I think they are the most amazing resource. Which brings me back to the list. I have always wanted to be a published children's author, and have long thought that the School Journal could be a nice segue into bigger things. So I have added to my list, investigating how to submit a story for consideration, and hopefully getting one published!

Interesting.

I am always super keen for an opportunity to spend time in good company, and to learn more about photography. Today was a chance to do both. My friend Kate and I attended a photography workshop purchased via one of those daily deal thingies. We went here to Fort Takapuna, a defense fort established in the late 1800s to defend Auckland from a feared Russian invasion. Interesting.

That was the 'where', but what about the who? Prior to attending I did what anyone does these days and googled the tutor. My search turned up photos of the male nude. Not offensive. But... interesting.

Then the 'what'. The first 'challenge' we were given required us, in groups, to photograph a 'wee man' in a series of photos that told a story. Four of which had to have one of our hands in it. Our story was one of capture, torture and escape! It was ...  interesting. Perhaps the most unusual photo shoot I have ever done.

Oh well, at least he had his undies on.

New Challenges

New year back at school, and new challenges for our senior students, via the 'Gurkha Extreme' that has been recently (painfully) installed.

For the record, the pic to the right has been posted with the permission of the child's parent - thanks Mel and Caitlyn :) Pretty sure the identities of those above are intact.

Another personal challenge, and one which often coincides with a new school year, is to get myself back in check health and fitness wise. I wouldn't have the proverbial s#%* show in h@!! of getting anywhere near completing some of the component of this circuit.

But then I am not a senior student. Just closing in on being a senior - period. Only 1 person older than me on our teaching staff! Reality bites. Ouch.