Paperplanes...

This is Ben and Jesse, two men I'd aspire to be more like, if I were a man.


We went to pub trivia this week, this is Steve throwing his paper plane outside of East Village.



Steve tests his plane...


Deep inside, Mark knows his was the winner (and it was...)

A now and again thing.

Dear Blog,

I'm sorry I have been neglecting you but it doesn't seem that much is happening for me these days, well, nothing with much drama attached to it! I'm putting it down to being in my thirties, and besides, a calmer life certainly reduces my past anxieties...

I still think of you often and when I see or think of things that are worthy of you I promise to let you know.

Here are some recent photos that say more about what I have been up to.

Love from Laura xx
*


Before the recent school holidays one of my Year 5 students won an Art Competition! This is her artwork here, it is called 'Spirit Summoner.' It made me very proud, sometimes it really feels like teaching pays off.


This is a photo of another student of mine. Excuse me, this is just an awesome photo.


I went up to Brisbane for my holidays. I am still not sure what I think of it overall, but I really liked going on the ferry, it would be a great way to commute. I took this photo of a pedestrian bridge and it made me think of everyone's comings and goings. hmmm.


This is a photo of my mate Rebecca Olive (R) and her friend Erin (L). Rebecca is the reason I went to Brisbane, and will be the reason why I would go back! Both Bec and Erin are doing their Phds in Cultural Studies at The University of Queensland, I like Erin because she is a teacher as well and it's always nice to compare notes with other teachers.


The other reason I went to Brisbane was to see the Picasso exhibition. It was well worth it! It would be certainly be a great weekend away if you can get some cheap fares (which you can.) http://www.qag.qld.gov.au/home Check it out!


And who would ever guess that Brisbane is all about baked eggs? They are available EVERYWHERE! I ate this plate at Anouk
in Paddington, Brisbane.


And this is a Witchery store in Paddington, Brisbane!


We found a Campos coffee shop in 'The Valley,' and these were the fans inside. I could only imagine the pain of a Brisbane Summer!


I think this picture sums up how I traditionally felt about Brisbane perfectly. Nobody could enjoy a packet of Jim Beam chips like a Queenslander!


A local antique light store, I bought a great tea canister there that (I reckon) would be about 6 times the price in Newtown!


At night Bec and I cooked at home, drank wine, and lit candles...


And this cat is called Thug. He lived at Bec's house, he liked to come inside and complain about not having enough food.


Overall, I don't love Brisbane, but I think my fondness is growing!


When I came back from Brisbane I went to visit my niece Lily. We had morning tea for one whole side of our family. It was nice to catch up with everybody, and of course Lily was star of the show!


My second cousin Tara was minding a little kitten, and of course Lily and kitten became fast friends. Cute!

Killer Recipe!

I live in fear of losing this one, so i am plonking it down here so I can find it when I need to!

Sausage and Bean Soup

1 tablespoon of olive oil
4 pork sausages, sliced (I use Italian sausages)
1 brown onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 teaspoon thyme
4 cups chicken stock
2 x cans of white cannellini beans (rinsed and drained)
150g green beans, trimmed and cut in half
1 ripe tomato, chopped
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Heat oil in large pot and cook sausages for 2min
reduce heat, add onion, garlic and thyme and cook for 3min
Add stock and bring to the boil
reduce heat and add vegies, cook for 3min
mix in balsamic vinegar and tomato, serve.

(I also add any chopped vegetables on hand, the one that I ate most recently had carrots, potato and zucchini in it)

Adapted from: Donna Hay Magazine, issue 28, July/August 2006

I am addicted to this soup!

"I have known fear and the terrors of solitude. I have known those fair-weather friends we call tranquilizers and drugs. I have known the prison of depression and the confinement of hospital. But one day, I was able to come through all of that, dazzled yet sober."

RIP Yves Saint Laurent

Teacher on holidays

Only a few days to go and I'm back in the classroom! Do I say it with joy or dread? I'm not sure yet but one thing I do know is that I have slowed down considerably and it's been a wonderful break. The rainy weather has helped as well - lots of reasons to hide under the covers!!

Well what have I been up to? Good news is that Mark has had holidays as well and we have been enjoying each other's company, not one single argument! It's been lovely reading and cooking, walking slowly up the street and browsing in the shops. Visiting friends, catching up with family, not rushing!

I did some of the awkward things as well such as pay the bills and clean out the wardrobe. I found better credit card rates and scrubbed the bathroom. Bought a bunch of flowers for myself each week and enjoyed the views from my windows.

I finally saw the film 'no country for old men' and the very wonderful 'the squid and the whale.' The cockies came and stole my kid's science experiments from my window sill and Mark went for a helicopter ride organised by my dad, lucky thing!


Scary Scary man from No Country for Old Men.


I think this is my new favourite film! Click on the picture for a review...

And of course we went down the coast for a few days, it rained the whole time but we drove around looking at all the surrounding towns such as Hyams beach, Huskisson and Calalla Beach. We relaxed and enjoyed the silence and warm house. Eventually we will be able to go down there when we can swim and enjoy the sun, I'm sure!

Do teachers have too many holidays? It's something I've often thought about. Teachers don't honestly like talking about it, and I'd be crazy to ever say we actually have too much... but I can tell you a few things about what I think... well..

By the time I went on holidays this term I can honestly say that if I heard even one more "Miss Richards!" I would come close to losing my sanity. It was by all means time for a break!

And the work does come home... I have spent a few days attending to marking and planning. I would be more than pleased to actually do this at work, if work was actually well equipped with decent facilities. I wont go on and on about it, but not much looks different in a classroom from when I was at school as a student, and the world has leaped forward since then!

I also see the holidays as a substitute for higher pay and time-in-lieu. I was back at camp in the last week in Term 1, and it really is quite an ordeal for a teacher. It's 72 hours straight of supervision, at times tiring and stressful. It's not exactly a business class flight and 5 star hotel!

So yes, in the most part, I think teachers need the holiday!

It's been a great break! After this there are some photos of the zoo when Mark and I visited recently...


Let's start with something Australian, shall we?


Who does this remind you of?!




Dinner time!


We all gotta eat somehow!


We both got to meet the elephants, which was the highlight of my day.


Another happy couple we met!

I HEART: Chai, my new gumboots, the fact that cheap candles work just as well as the expensive ones, celebrating one year with Mark, tulips, puddles, lounges and blankets, Tani and Cesar's wedding!

I DON'T HEART: Those silly printed hoodies that look like vomit, naughty cockatoos, umbrellas with holes in them, dry skin, overbitten nails.

Hope to hear your own news soon! x

Tani and Cesar get married!

Yesterday I had the joy in seeing one of my oldest friends again... and also to be present at her sister's wedding! Tania Van Der Water became Mrs Tania Bassee (need to check the spelling) - what a beautiful day!


Everything was black and white... and once inside the venue it felt like you were in a fairyland!


Tania looked gorgeous in her white confection...


And the back looked special too!


Cesar arrived on time...


And everyone felt a little nervous!


Michelle was last to get ready...


And the whole family sparkled!


Here comes the bride!


It was hard to get photos inside because it was so dark, but here is one of the happy bride and groom.


Three beautiful bridesmaids...


Everyone enjoyed the day, especially the cocktail bar and Argentine BBQ!


It was such a happy and special day.

Lots of love and light to Tani and Cesar... and see you again soon Michi!!

x

Turning thirty...

I recently turned thirty, but I have been putting off writing anything about it because I have been off my blog! But here are a few thoughts: -

Things I have learned on my journey to thirty...

- There will always be empty bottles in the bathroom

- Help won't come unless you ask for it, ever!
I remember at around 21 or 22 telling those around me that nothing that bad had ever happened to me, it's true I could have been smug. I had spoken too soon - there were some big changes to come. With those changes came some terrible loneliness, mainly because I couldn't articulate what sort of help I needed!

- When it feels like things are going wrong, try and walk a mile in someone else's shoes.
It's surprising how many of us forget to think about what it would actually be like to be somebody else. As I have grown, I have realised we are all here, trying the very best we can. Most of us have only the best of intentions, and very few of us actually take glee in hearing of another's misfortunes. That can be hard to remember...but...

- I actually have less stuff now than I have ever had before.
It's funny, thinking about all the stuff I used to have. I used to have tonnes of it! I finally got it down to one ute load, two moves ago. And I have never been happier. I can find things, I hold only onto the best I have, and I honestly believe I am one of the luckiest people ever!

- Men, when asked to clean, will clean floors first, always!

- Things change, and when they do, they change really quickly.
Think Joan Didion and The Year of Magical Thinking.

- I believe I have aged quickly in the last three years, but have also gained wisdom.
Much of it's been tough, particularly the 2 years after the assault. Basically, I am sick of tiptoeing around the actual impact this has had on my life. I look in the mirror and it's quite plain I am no longer as young nor naive, and much of my sparkle had disappeared. All of this had the potential to destroy me, and a day hasn't passed where it hasn't shadowed me, even briefly. But I feel so much joy now the matter has passed and I realise it's in my power to get on with my life. Not withstanding a bad nightmare here and there...

- I have been skinny skinny and much too comfy curvy in my twenties.
And you can be skinny and anxious and chubby and happy... I don't think weight has much to do with it... but I simply refuse to look back on my life when I'm older and think I have dieted for 20 or something years... I have never said no to a good meal...

- The 'creative' friends you make often end up crazy and mean.
I have had so many faaabulous friends. They have been hilarious, unpredictable and full of endless ideas and opinions. Then often, they treated me just as badly as I saw them treat their other friends, and I was often left feeling shocked, sorry and full of questions. Do I sound bitter? Well the good news is I don't actually feel that bad about it, but remembering, yes, it raises my ire and I wish to warn others! Well, these days my friends seem to be much more stable, as I am, and they are very nice people.

- It's easy to lose the ones you love when you or they work too much.
This includes talking constantly about work, being 'absent' even though you are in the room, and bringing work home is a routine, not an exception. Mostly boring!

- I don't smoke anymore, but I used to really like it.
Lots and lots and I smoked many many packs! I smoked before work, between courses, in front of my parents (eventually) and basically, when I was given any excuse!! These days even if I light up when drunk I almost vomit. This would be very hard for people around me to believe... but it's true and it makes me happy!

-Envy is a waste of time and energy
I know, it's so simple, I know, but it's worth saying. I've worked with enough wealthy have-it-all 20 somethings to know much of it is to look good, not be good. Or it is brought on by wealthy or well-connected parents. To me it seems to be a knot that gets tighter and tighter then becomes difficult to undo. Read Affluenza or Richistan and get on with it.

- I'm 30 and I don't have a permanent job.
As a child of baby boomers, this probably causes me the most anxiety in my life. I simply try and not look too far into the future... and in reality, I have been in permanent contract work of some type for 5 years this October! That's not to say I'd like a bit of job security as I look to the future... and it's so hard to make plans when you have no idea where you'll be in 12 months time...

- Love and listening is the best support you can give.
Thanks Mark, my mio bello (yes I know it's bad Italian grammar.) And thanks friends and family, I'm glad to have made it. There have been a few times I almost didn't and I don't say it lightly. Shit happens.

My direction from here is I'm still trying to create a small and perfect life, I feel much more with it these days and I have gotten much better at taking life one moment at a time.

There is only 24 hours in a day and I like to live and breathe all I can of it... thanks for playing your part in getting me to thirty.

Laura xx

PS This last year hs been the best of my life!