Emu with a Clue

Much Ado About Nothing

nobody@vox.com(Emu with a Clue) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:13:09 -0800

Reading through old entries on here, I realised I never posted an update on how the Shakespeare outing went. V and I went to a very good value (free entry for kids under 12yo) outdoor performance of Much Ado About Nothing with two other Mums and almost 9yos. Was a little worried early on when V started complaining that she couldn't understand what people were saying but, after a few whispered plot details from me and some very humourous acting, she pretty quickly got caught up in the performance. The acting was very good (kids all thought Beatrice and Benedict were particularly hilarious) and the outdoor location meant that there was lots of space for the actors to move around in. The low budget nature of the production (eg, a set made from a trailer, bbq shelter dressing rooms etc) was actually good in that it meant that the kids could really see the 'nuts and bolts' of how the show was put on. Main complaint was that I was pretty sore after sitting on the ground for so long. Definitely investing in one of those fold up beach chairs before going to something like this again.

Much Ado About Nothing (Oxford School Shakespeare)

William Shakespeare

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Vox Hunt: Don't Toy with Me

nobody@vox.com(Emu with a Clue) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:53:17 -0800

Show us your favorite childhood toy.

Velvet doll

My Velvet also had a fantastic home made 70's wardrobe including flared pant suits, a few maxi dresses, some knitted outfits and much more.

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QotD: blushes

nobody@vox.com(Emu with a Clue) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:42:10 -0800

What compliment are you most often given?

At work it is that I write and edit well (a lot of people ask me to proof read things for them).

Lately also a lot of people have been commenting positively on my weight loss (even though I haven't really lost much - more redistribution to less noticeable areas!).

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No kissing in the school ground!

nobody@vox.com(Emu with a Clue) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:19:08 -0800

J told me tonight that I can't kiss him goodbye at school anymore as he will be teased if anyone sees him!

DSCN0242.jpg

We agreed that I could give him a goodbye kiss a few blocks from school and then just wave once we got to the school gate.

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Gado gado

nobody@vox.com(Emu with a Clue) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:19:35 -0800

Feels like my life is so scatty and scattered at the moment that I have trouble thinking of any solid and coherent to post about in here. So this will just be a little newsy update kind of like the ones people send around with their Christmas cards.

Work going well although have missed a bit of time due to the kids being sick (SEPARATE illnesses on SEPARATE days - how thoughtless!) over the past week.

Have been nominated to attend an International Women's Day breakfast in a few week's time (one of the other women in my office a bit snippy that she wasn't asked to go).

Still reading my way through the YA shelves of the local library. Currently part way through a good book that is set in my local area of Sydney. It is called "Lost Property" by James Moloney.

Going out for coffee with one of my mum friends on the weekend. She lives just as harried a life as I do so we decided we both need to do this and hopefully more regularly. Also determined to get to yoga this Saturday. have really been feelign the effects of missing it this week (although it was nice to have a sleep in).

Also hoping to go on a movie "date" with my husband on Saturday night. I am really feeling movie withdrawal as haven't been to the cinema for ages. Was going to go and see "Juno" a month or so back but it never happened. Will have to check what is on and see if I can arrange a babysitter.

Thinking of going away for a few days over Easter. Planning a trip away always cheers me up provided it is not to somewhere where I need to clean (eg, husband's aunty's holiday house) or camp.

Still changing my mind frequently about what to do for the kids birthdays. Pretty fixed on Hannah Montana in 3d for V (eek!) and maybe an after school or Easter party for J. Thinking of inviting the whole class now as there are only 16 of them and it is a bit clear out of the 16 who are J's particular friends. even his teacher said the groups still pretty amorphous at this stage.

School hols coming up in April and have decided to take kids to visit Mum in Melb for a few days around Anzac Day. J also looking forward to catching up with his two pals (my friend's two sons) down there.

(Following is something else I read the other day (while home with sick V). Quite good but the plot suspiciously like the movie Mean Girls and others of its type. Nice girl triumphed in the end (of course)!)

Art Geeks and Prom Queens: A Novel

Alyson Noel

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QotD: Since I HAD to Pick Something...

nobody@vox.com(Emu with a Clue) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:32:23 -0800

What aspect of your personality could use a little work?

I think when I am tired my natural tact and diplomacy tend to fly out the window especially with family and certain old bearded blokes at work.

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In other birthday news

nobody@vox.com(Emu with a Clue) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:29:38 -0800

Plans for my 5yo son's birthday party underway as well. He has just started kindergarten and we have agreed to have a joint party with two other kindergarten children (both girls) who my son has known for a few years (means we get to share the pain and cleaning up with the other parents). They mostly have the same friends but the other two went to the pre-school near the school so know more of the kindergarten children than my son does. Have been trying to ask him if there are any other children in his class (particularly boys) who he might like to invite but he doesn't seem to have any particular affection for anyone of them yet and mainly talks about inviting his assigned 'buddy' who is a Year 5 boy (who may not want to come to a kindergarten birthday party).

A small intimate party probably much nicer and easier for everyone anyway. We have decided on a 'garden' theme - mainly as it will enable me to make my famous Hungry Caterpillar cake for a third year in a row!

100_0780.jpg

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Would you, could you?

nobody@vox.com(Emu with a Clue) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:44:43 -0800

My daughter is turning 9 soon. I have been telling her since last year's extravaganza that 2008 would be a 'non-party' year. Was thinking we could do something special with a few close friends (having been at her new school for just over a year, she now has a better idea of who her close friends are). I was thinking maybe a movie so had a look at the local cinema's website to try and get an idea of what will be on next month and only saw this:

http://www.greaterunion.com.au/movies/hannahmontana/

I'm sure the girls would love it but could I BEAR it???

Would much prefer this:

http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/KATHLifeboat.aspx

but maybe a bit dark for a 9yo's birthday celebration?

Thinking the movie, Kung Fu Panda, would be a good one for everyone (daughter currently up to her purple sash in Kung Fu) but don't think it starts in Australia till later in the year.

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Book log

nobody@vox.com(Emu with a Clue) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:11:05 -0800

Decided to use this blog mainly to keep a record of my reading as I often forget what I have and haven't read. Started reading a lot of 'young adult' fiction a few years ago when I was doing my English teaching course and was overwhelmed at what a rich, untapped (by me) source of great books this part of the library was. Have continued to read my way through this section of the library since then. Find this genre particularly good when I am in the mood for something not too taxing but not insulting and simplistic either.

Latest YA reads include:

The Truth About Emma

Gary Crew

which I didn't enjoy as much as other (more 'boyish') Gary Crew books such as:

Strange Objects

Gary Crew

and

The Watertower

Gary Crew

Another Australian novel which I really did enjoy was 'Joel and Cat set the Record Straight' by Nick Hornby and Rebecca Sparrow. The focus of this novel is a tandem story writing exercise which the two title characters are forced (very much against their will) to cooperate on. Would be interested to find out more about how the two novel writers worked together on this project and how much the process resembles the tandem story exercise within the larger story.

Have also read a few UK YA novels recently including:

The Passionflower Massacre (Signature)

Nicola Morgan

and

Paralysed

Sherry Ashworth

Paralysed was great. It explored the relationships between a group of friends when one becomes severely injured in a sporting accident.

The Passion Flower Massacre was also interesting - about a troubled girl who takes a job fruitpicking in the English country side only to find herself mixed up in a cult. Also uses a 'story within a story' device but this done a bit clunkily. Read on the cover that this writer mostly does more science fiction/fantasy type books (this one partly futuristic as the bracketing story set 25 years into the future) so maybe this is something new for her.

The fruitpicking theme has lead nicely onto a very different (and non-YA) book, Two Caravans, by the author of A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (which I have not read). Finding Two Caravans a nice change of pace. Only a short way in but enjoying the interactions between the characters who are mostly fruit pickers from Eastern Europe earning some quick money on a 'sweat shop' type farm in rural England.

Two Caravans

Marina Lewycka

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Emu with a Clue

Much Ado About Nothing

Vox Hunt: Don't Toy with Me

QotD: *blushes*

No kissing in the school ground!

Gado gado

QotD: Since I HAD to Pick Something...

In other birthday news

Would you, could you?

Book log

QotD: blushes