1. I'm not sure if I'll have time to update this blog for the next few days, as I'll be going to Wellington for the NZ Post Book Awards ceremony on Wednesday. I hope to update the blog when I return on Thursday. It's the day I've been waiting for since I found out I was a finalist on February 7 so it's been a long wait!
2. I'm looking forward to dressing up for the awards ceremony. I'm taking a few choices with me and will make a final decision once I'm there - taking the weather and my mood into consideration. It's been fun figuring out what looks good together and choosing some new items for the special occasion. Thanks to the friends who have loaned me their special occasion clothing. I really appreciate your help.
3. I've been doing my new turbo jam exercise DVD for a few weeks now and am back to really enjoying the morning workout again after a bit of a break while I was away on the author tour. The hotel rooms didn't have DVD players so I had to find other forms of exercise such as swimming and investigating the hotel gym. Then, when I returned, I found it a bit hard to get back into my normal exercise routine. However, perseverance paid off in the end and this morning I really enjoyed it. It's very exciting for me to be looking forward to exercise - as it's not my normal state!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Friday, May 11, 2007
Touring, hotel cleanliness, good news
1. I'm back! Actually I've been back for a day or two but it takes a while to get back into the swing of things. However, I've finally found time to update this blog. I was away on an author's tour from Sunday to Wednesday in Tauranga and Rotorua. I also went to another area called Otorohanga on Thursday. I had a great time talking to children about my work and taking joke writing workshops. It was pretty tiring though and, although I enjoyed the change of scenery, I was very happy to be home again. Now I'm looking forward to the awards ceremony in Wellington next Wednesday evening.
2. One of the hotels I stayed in while I was in Rotorua had some cleanliness issues. I wish I had spoken to someone straight away and got a different room but I didn't feel assertive enough for some reason. It will be interesting to see if I hear back from the manager about the complaints I've detailed on his survey form. If not, I'll keep trying to gain his attention.
3. I was thrilled to hear last night that David Bain has a chance for freedom. Most of you won't know of him. He's a young man who's been in prison here in NZ for about 12 years for supposedly shooting his whole family. A former All Black, Joe Karam, has written a book about his struggle to help David attain justice. I've read the book, called David and Goliath, and have always believed in David's innocence. Finally the Privy Council in England has said there seems to have been a miscarriage of justice and David may be out on Tuesday. It's a bit more complicated than that, but I'm very very happy for him.
2. One of the hotels I stayed in while I was in Rotorua had some cleanliness issues. I wish I had spoken to someone straight away and got a different room but I didn't feel assertive enough for some reason. It will be interesting to see if I hear back from the manager about the complaints I've detailed on his survey form. If not, I'll keep trying to gain his attention.
3. I was thrilled to hear last night that David Bain has a chance for freedom. Most of you won't know of him. He's a young man who's been in prison here in NZ for about 12 years for supposedly shooting his whole family. A former All Black, Joe Karam, has written a book about his struggle to help David attain justice. I've read the book, called David and Goliath, and have always believed in David's innocence. Finally the Privy Council in England has said there seems to have been a miscarriage of justice and David may be out on Tuesday. It's a bit more complicated than that, but I'm very very happy for him.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Squash, clothing, interview
1. My husband is playing in a masters squash tournament tonight. I'm glad our family is into squash. It's a great game for getting a sweat up.
2. I've been trying to decide what to wear for the big awards ceremony in Wellington on May 16th. My main points of indecision are over the inability to predict the weather that day and the fact that the awards are held from 4pm to 7pm. I've also seen photos of some of the winners from last year and I wouldn't say they were dressed to the nines. So, any ideas? I want to buy something and I've looked around but am still undecided. My friend has offered to loan me something if there's anything in her wardrobe that would work so that's a kind offer and could prove a winner. I'll keep you informed. However, my main priority at the moment is preparing for my author tour. I leave on Sunday. How exciting!
3. Today I was interviewed for a radio programme. It will play on Radio NZ on Sunday some time between 2.30pm and 3pm. If you want to get it via the internet after that, I believe it's available for four weeks on the website. The website is www.radionz.co.nz and the programme I'm going to be on is an Arts on Sunday programme which is in the afternoon. The host is Lynne Freeman. Hope you find it. Let me know!
2. I've been trying to decide what to wear for the big awards ceremony in Wellington on May 16th. My main points of indecision are over the inability to predict the weather that day and the fact that the awards are held from 4pm to 7pm. I've also seen photos of some of the winners from last year and I wouldn't say they were dressed to the nines. So, any ideas? I want to buy something and I've looked around but am still undecided. My friend has offered to loan me something if there's anything in her wardrobe that would work so that's a kind offer and could prove a winner. I'll keep you informed. However, my main priority at the moment is preparing for my author tour. I leave on Sunday. How exciting!
3. Today I was interviewed for a radio programme. It will play on Radio NZ on Sunday some time between 2.30pm and 3pm. If you want to get it via the internet after that, I believe it's available for four weeks on the website. The website is www.radionz.co.nz and the programme I'm going to be on is an Arts on Sunday programme which is in the afternoon. The host is Lynne Freeman. Hope you find it. Let me know!
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Furby, hair cut, dancing
1. The "furby gone bad" comment on my word imperfect blog brought to mind something I haven't mentioned here and should. My husband brought home a furby from a garage sale recently. It's first words were "I hate you, I hate you". Now, I'm sure this wasn't the way a furby was designed to behave. I felt sorry for the poor thing. It had obviously been living in a dysfunctional home - particularly since it was sold for a dollar at a garage sale! I said "I love you, I love you" and the furby said "ooooh, nice words" or something similar. It was quite bizarre. Happily, the furby no longer says "I hate you, I hate you". However, if it's awake and there's a loud noise, it has a cute way of reacting and saying "ooh, loud noise" or something like that which I can't exactly recall. I like having a furby in the household.
2. I had my first hair cut in years today. I've been cutting my own fringe for ages and haven't had my long hair trimmed for several years, as far as I can recall. However, $40 later, and my hair is very tidy. I like it a lot. No one has noticed.
3. We've been enjoying our NZ version of Dancing with the Stars. I would love to do ballroom dancing but my husband isn't so keen. So, for now, I'll watch.
2. I had my first hair cut in years today. I've been cutting my own fringe for ages and haven't had my long hair trimmed for several years, as far as I can recall. However, $40 later, and my hair is very tidy. I like it a lot. No one has noticed.
3. We've been enjoying our NZ version of Dancing with the Stars. I would love to do ballroom dancing but my husband isn't so keen. So, for now, I'll watch.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Feelings, sports, awards
1. Tonight I talked to the children (and myself) about the importance of expressing our feelings rather than going off in a huff. I think it helped. We shall see. I'll try to set a good example.
2. We had a busy sports day with our son on Saturday - with squash and soccer. He came runner up in his age group for the regional squash champs which was wonderful. His squash was some of the best I've seen him play. He really believed in himself and pictured himself doing really well. Great to see children grasping those concepts well. In this first soccer game of the season, he scored his team's only goal which made him very happy. The team lost 8-1 but the goal helped!
3. The NZ Post Book Awards announcements and awards ceremony in Wellington is drawing closer. I'm really excited, as you can imagine. My husband and I fly to Wellington for the awards on Wednesday 16 May and return the next afternoon. The week before that, I'm away from May 6-9 on an authors' tour in association with the awards. I visit Rotorua and Tauranga, speaking to school children about my work. I'm also looking forward to that very much.
2. We had a busy sports day with our son on Saturday - with squash and soccer. He came runner up in his age group for the regional squash champs which was wonderful. His squash was some of the best I've seen him play. He really believed in himself and pictured himself doing really well. Great to see children grasping those concepts well. In this first soccer game of the season, he scored his team's only goal which made him very happy. The team lost 8-1 but the goal helped!
3. The NZ Post Book Awards announcements and awards ceremony in Wellington is drawing closer. I'm really excited, as you can imagine. My husband and I fly to Wellington for the awards on Wednesday 16 May and return the next afternoon. The week before that, I'm away from May 6-9 on an authors' tour in association with the awards. I visit Rotorua and Tauranga, speaking to school children about my work. I'm also looking forward to that very much.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Pool party, roosters, school
1. We had an impromptu pool party on Sunday afternoon which was a great success. We decided a couple of days out to invite lots of people and see what happened. It went well and the weather was great. The party was mainly for those who hadn't seen the finished pool yet, especially those who helped with the work.
2. The hen/rooster update is that we have/had 3 roosters and no hens at all - which explains the incessant crowing. The person we got them from came to get them today and we will hopefully get some definite hens soon.
3. It was back to school today after a very enjoyable two week holiday. I had a kind of do nothing day - although I'm proud to say that I did two lots of exercise so I did achieve something!
2. The hen/rooster update is that we have/had 3 roosters and no hens at all - which explains the incessant crowing. The person we got them from came to get them today and we will hopefully get some definite hens soon.
3. It was back to school today after a very enjoyable two week holiday. I had a kind of do nothing day - although I'm proud to say that I did two lots of exercise so I did achieve something!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Neighbours, friends, dvd
1. Did I tell you we have new neighbours in the orange house which was built next door? Well, we do. They seem a lovely couple and I'm looking forward to getting to know them better. I took them brownie as a welcome gift. Today she returned the favour and the container filled with yummy biscuits. The soft, chewy, full of choc bits kind! Did I say we have great new neighbours?
2. The children played with friends today. The boys were here. The girls were at the friend's house. I did some cooking and cleaning but mostly lolling and mooching. I'm not exactly sure of the meanings of those words but they sound quite descriptive of today's mood.
3. The highlight, for me, was the arrival of a DVD of the tv programme that I appeared on a few weeks ago. We don't get that particular channel so it was my first chance to see how I appeared on the programme. I was pleasantly surprised at what I looked like, although I never do like seeing my profile. The best part was what I said. It actually made sense! You would swear that I have done that kind of thing my whole life. It was very spooky. I actually couldn't really believe it was the same me as the one in my head. What's that about?
2. The children played with friends today. The boys were here. The girls were at the friend's house. I did some cooking and cleaning but mostly lolling and mooching. I'm not exactly sure of the meanings of those words but they sound quite descriptive of today's mood.
3. The highlight, for me, was the arrival of a DVD of the tv programme that I appeared on a few weeks ago. We don't get that particular channel so it was my first chance to see how I appeared on the programme. I was pleasantly surprised at what I looked like, although I never do like seeing my profile. The best part was what I said. It actually made sense! You would swear that I have done that kind of thing my whole life. It was very spooky. I actually couldn't really believe it was the same me as the one in my head. What's that about?
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