"When I was young I admired intelligent people, as I grow older I admire kind people." --Abraham Heschel "Kindness and patience with others is the ultimate sophistication."

Anatomy is Awesome!

I've been exercising more steadily for about three months now. I ain't no Olympic Athlete, but for pretty much the first time in my life I'm enjoying myself and am beginning to see small changes and results.

I run up around Mrs Macquaries Chair a few times a week, I have begun meeting Mark at the Andrew Boy Charlton Pool to do a few laps, and I am considering a return to yoga.

A pretty big turn around if I do say so myself! (Think back to 2 years ago when I smoked a pack a day and ideal snack was Sao with butter, maybe honey too ;) or 5 years ago when... oh let's not look back that far, I may have been skinny but there were definitely problems)

Anyway, so I'm learning lots, but of course along the way I have had a few pains, mainly in my legs. Some stretching has helped, but sometimes it's hard to describe where the pain is, to ask how I should stretch!

And then I found this awesome website. Go forth and experience anatomy for yourself!

http://www.gwc.maricopa.edu/class/bio201/muscle/leg1.htm

And some stretches to help cure the problem: http://myname.physiotherapist.net.au/exercises.htm

Oh, and it's my Soleus that hurts :)

Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come. --Chinese proverb

Killer Recipe: Sticky Date Slice with Caramel Sauce

OK, so I had to make this for Christmas Day dessert, and I lost the recipe... only finding it at the last minute, phew! But now I am typing it here, so I will never lose it again:

Sticky Date Slice with Caramel Sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar
60g butter, chopped
2 eggs
1 cup plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
200g fresh dates, pitted and chopped
1 tsp bicarb soda
1 1/4 cups boiling water

- Cream sugar and butter with electric mixer for 5-8min
- Add eggs, beat well
- Sift flour and baking powder, add to mixture
- Place dates in separate bowl with bicarb soda, pour over boiling water and stand for 1 min
- Then add date mixture to butter mixture, it will be very runny but this is fine
- Pour mixture into lamington tin lined with baking paper
- Bake in 180 degrees over for 30min or until springy
- Serve with caramel sauce

Caramel Sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar
100g butter, chopped
1/2 cup cream

- Melt butter and sugar over low heat
- Add cream and stil for 5min or until mixture thickens

From: Donna Hay Magazine, Issue 26, March/April 2006

yummy! Happy Christmas 2008!

And to another (completely different) subject...

I have been reading an awesome book called 'Seven Days in the Art World' by Sarah Thornton.

I am trying not to devour it whole in 2 days, but already I have many pages dogeared so I can write down some quotes, and that place is here. So... just in case I ever get round to attempting an MFA... or is writing down quotes an old habit, or...?

'Mary Kelly used to think it was depressing that so few students could sustain themselves as full time artists, but then she realized 'it is not sad at all. I believe in education for its own sake, because it is deeply humanizing. It is about being a fulfilled human being.'

'Criticality is a strategy for the production of knowledge, our view is that art should interrogate the social and cultural ideas of its time. Other places might want a work to produce pleasure or feelings. Criticality is the code word for a modelof art-making that foregrounds research and analysis rather than instincts and intuition.'

Christmas Booty

Well there ain't no cash bonus from the government when it comes to teaching but it is surely a wonderful time of year for all of us that are valued by their students and colleagues.
I ahem - work in an affluent suburb of Sydney, and I have been overwhelmed by wonderful gifts and handmade cards. Here is a sample of the booty! (Mainly so I don't forget about all of the beautiful things I have received, no particular order):

- Westfield voucher for $250
- Massive, massive bunch of flowers from Pearsons (Lilies, roses, lizzies, and something I will refer to as 'brain flowers.') !
- Bottle of Croser champagne
- Over 1kg of Ferrero Rocher chocolates in various forms
- A box of 'Lindt Selection' chocolates that is bigger than a dinner plate
- Simon Johnson truffle oil (awesome!!)
- Kiehls body products (was just running out of shower gel...)
- A beautiful bunch of delicate pink Dahlias from Summers floral, Woollahra (my favourite!)
- A turquoise butterfly brooch (these kids listen...)
- An amethyst bracelet (LOVE crystals)
- A new coffee cup
- A whole teaset (somewhere to put my cake as WELL?)

Plus a whole mound of cards saying lovely things that I can barely stand to read! One student even wrote me a three verse poem!

I am blessed, I am blessed. I keep wanting to sob!! How my life has changed (for the better) these last few years.]

Love and light, love and light. xx

The Interview Process, Public School Style

OK, so I went for a few DET NSW interviews.

This is what happens (and here are a few tips!)

- The interview day and time is non-negotiable. They tell YOU when they want to see you. Be ready, and say yes!!
- When you get to the interview, you have a further 10min to prepare. The office ladies will bring out a list of the questions that you will be asked. You are allowed to make notes. You have every right to be ask to sit in a quiet place or empty office to answer your questions. (sometimes the office staff are a bit clueless about this!)
- In the interview you will be infront of a panel of three people. Generally: the principal, a teacher at the school, and a parent/ union representative.
- Try and answer each question on three levels: One for the principal, one for the teacher, one for the parent / union rep.
- Generally, the interview will take 30min - 1 hour
- Generally, the panel will not divert from the questions given.
- At the end, they will ask something like: Is there anything else you would like to add? Try and finish it with a bang!!

I will talk about interview tips another time, but this is a general overview.

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