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You are here: Home / 2012 / Archives for September 2012

Archives for September 2012

We showed ’em

September 24, 2012 by Jen

Checking out the book before he buys with his Christmas money. Day 15/366.

When I did year 12 the exam results came out in January – about two-three months after exams finished. I was down at the beach doing vacation swimming lessons when I found out my results. They weren’t online back then and the school must have heard about them before we students did.

Mum actually found out my results before I did via the deputy principal and she came and told me. They weren’t brilliant results but enough to eventually get me into university. I also heard that my deputy principal had thought that I wouldn’t pass. I showed him didn’t I? I think I was more pissed off that he would actually say that to someone than the fact that he didn’t think I’d pass at all.

For some reason out of the 15 people in my year 12 class, only nine of us passed. I was surprised at those results and it probably didn’t do the school’s reputation that much good.

Fast forward some years, and then a few and we’ve got NAPLAN for year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students. NAPLAN (National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy). My son has finished his second NAPLAN year. It passed without much of a blip on our radar two years ago but this year there seemed to be more of a focus.

The thing with NAPLAN is that the school gets assessed too and obviously schools want to do well compared to other schools. It must have been mentioned quite a bit in the classroom and this meant that my son got fairly anxious about it.

While I think it’s important to try and do your best I don’t think things like this are the be all and end all for an individual and tried to let my son know this. I  hope this will be enough if he sticks out high school and goes down the year 12 exam route. I suppose one way of looking at him having to do this is that it’s a bit of a training ground for sitting through exams. Don’t get me started on having to do exams.

Because they thought he might have problems with the assessment he was allowed an extra five minutes for each one.

As it turns out he did really really well in the reading and numeracy aspects of the assessment. His spelling and grammar need some serious work, but I’m hoping that his reading and his new found love of writing will help in those areas.

He said his teacher complimented him on his results. They were probably surprised at his results. He showed them didn’t he?

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Swings and roundabouts

September 21, 2012 by Jen

A boy and his dog resting. Day 260/366.

A few months ago I shared my story about the golden age of parenting then it turned to crap.

Last night was a bit of a mixture of both.

I had to go out for a little while and he had a couple of minor jobs to do. The understanding is that once he’s done these jobs then he can watch television.

I got home inbetween appointments and he immediately jumped into the shower which he should have already had, and he also hadn’t fed the dog. And I needed to use the shower.

I had to pop out again for a committee meeting and this is what greeted me when I got home.

A lovely note on the lounge room door: “I love you mum, with all my hart.”

The glitter lamp was providing some mood lighting in the lounge and the heater was on. He’d even put a Deep Forest CD on the stereo.

I was absolutely stoked that he’d done this so imagine how much my mummy pride lifted when he told me he’d done the dishes.

Yes, he’d done the dishes. Without asking!!!!!

Not only that. He’d washed out Monty’s dog food container and put it in the esky ready for the dog food delivery today.

He’d provided me with a drink of water – thought he’d better not pour me a wine.

He would have lit the candles but also thought he’d better not do that.

He would have got some dinner ready for me but wasn’t quite sure what I’d like.

But, he washed the dishes. Without me asking.

He was so proud of himself and I was so damn proud of him and he didn’t even have an ulterior motive. Not one.

I gave him lots of hugs and thanks and kissed him goodnight, made myself some cheese on toast and sat down to watch Big Brother.

I reckon I must be doing something right.

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When you just have to stop to take a picture

September 19, 2012 by Jen

A bit Narnia lamp post in the woods like. Day 256/366.

Have you ever read the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe? If so, does this remind you of anything? Or is it just me?

It didn’t click (pardon the silly pun) until after I took the picture but I had to stop to take one as the tree caught my eye.

Good morning Wordless Wednesday.

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Some Barry

September 17, 2012 by Jen

Thursday morning I left the house after a fraught morning trying to get organised and get out of it. I waved my son off to school and realised I’d left my phone behind.

While on the way back to get it, a friend drove past my house and ended up giving me a lift into work. Yay! On the way there I told her that I had a childfree night the next evening and she said if you’re not doing anything we’re going to see Barry Adamson.

Barry Adamson I said? I know who he is, I’ve got one of his cd’s. I’d love to go. So I booked tickets.

He played at the Promethean on Grote Street in Adelaide, a fantastic little venue and I loved that an artist I admire was sneaking into town and that by the vaguest chance, I’d found out and was able to go. How’s that?

After working for most of the week I was pretty tired but found my second wind to absolutely enjoy the show.

I had a pretty good view even though I was up the back near the mixing desk. He mostly played songs from his new album which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I love that feeling when you’re out and about seeing a band that’s fabulous. I used to do it all the time, go and see live music that is. Back in my 20s I was out at least two nights of the week seeing local acts. That doesn’t happen any more and I couldn’t even tell you the names of many local bands. Turn back 20 years and I’m on it though. Oh well, times and priorities change.

So when I do get out to see something like this it’s all the more enjoyable. It was great to have some good friends there too.

Towards the end I turned around and Tex Perkins was sitting up the back. He was doing his Man in Black show down the road and popped into see Barry Adamson after that. I tried to get a sneaky photo of him but that didn’t work.

After the show finished I bought the new CD and got my photo taken. Is Barry rolling his eyes?

Barry Adamson. Day 258/366.

Do you enjoy live music?

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Keeping your kids artwork

September 13, 2012 by Jen

The lad was away on the weekend at a Scout camp and as I had Saturday free I thought I’d tackle tidying up his room while he wasn’t there. It’s very hard to throw out stuff if he knows it’s going as he’ll want to keep it.

I really wanted to go and see a movie but every time I walked past his messy bedroom I cringed and knew I could put it off no longer.

Another incentive I had was that the school were taking items for the upcoming fete and had a drop-off couple of hours on Saturday morning so not only could I sneak stuff into the rubbish bin, I could get rid of the non-throwaway items.

It took me three hours all up but every time I walk past his room now I smile. I was a bit embarrassed at how much dust I vacuumed up but I did actually move some things I don’t normally move.

I came across these paintings and drawings he’s done over the last couple of years that he’d put aside to keep but I don’t have that much storage space so I decided to take photos of them instead.

He doesn’t know it yet and probably won’t even ask me about it but here they are for posterity. They’re also on Flickr in their full form for him to look back on one day.

For the record, I do have a folder with some things he’s created that I’ve kept the hard copy of but I can’t possibly do that for everything so I think this is a good compromise.

What do you do with your child’s creations?

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Putting it out there for a Thermomix

September 12, 2012 by Jen

Thermomix demo. Day 247/366.

Oh Thermomix I would totally use you all the time yet you are somewhat pricy.

Oh Thermomix you are so versatile with your slicey and dicey.

Oh Thermomix, come to me – I would give you a good home.

Oh Thermomix – oh sod it I can’t continue this crappy poem.

One thing this Thermomix demo made me do was drag my food processor out the cupboard, dust it off, pull out all the bits and pieces I didn’t want to use to get ready the attachment I did want to use. Still not quite the same.

Good morning non-Wordless Wednesday.

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Morning sunshine

September 5, 2012 by Jen

Sunrise. Day 241/366.

I love that when I go for my morning walk now, it’s not dark.

This is my Wordless Wednesday.

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