The power of music

Last Friday I had the privilege of being invited to Orakei Marae, the main marae of the local Maori Iwi (tribe).  I was in an intimate group of women who were focused on traditional healing methods.  The energy within that wharenui (meeting house), was just incredible.  Later in the evening Whirimako Black, a truly gifted and heaven sent woman began to sing.  Her voice is so ethereal and powerful.  Everyone was moved to tears.  I did not understand all the words, but I did understand all the feelings.  Beautiful.  This experience has lifted me higher than I have been for such a long time.  I have had energy all weekend.

Sometimes you get roses, sometimes you get brickbats

Life is a funny thing eh?  Just as I am winding down at school, having packed everything away and tidied everything up, I look in my fish tank at work and what do you know...baby fish!  Hundreds of them!  A complication I just don't need.  The person who is looking after my class next term was happy to have the fish, but not so happy to be running a maternity ward!  Darn it all!  So now, I am going to have to go in every day through the holidays, almost up until we leave the country, just to keep these little tackers alive.  I can't let them die, the kids would be devastated and it just isn't who I am.
  I guess it could be worse, and babies are cute.  They are pretty amazing, all about half a centimetre long, hiding in the plants.  The adults shouldn't eat them, so maybe they will survive.  Who knows, maybe I will be able to sell some and make some money?

Sleep...what's that????

Oh dear... a totally sleepless night and a long day of work ahead.  During my attempts at sleeping I remembered something that is due in to my boss today that I have forgotten about.  Can't do it until I am at work :(.  Bugger!  All I can say is that the little poppets in my class had better be on to it today, because I am not quite in my happy place.

I can't help but wonder what's going on in the world.  It seems like it is going quite mad!  I saw that there have been riots in London...I hope they get that sorted out as we are planning to be there soon!  Our travel time from NZ to the UK has also been adjusted due to the 'no fly zone' in the Middle East....I can't help but wonder if the contamination from Japan's nuclear power plants will affect us somehow as well.  The old Chinese curse of 'May you live in interesting times' is certainly playing out now!

Anyhow, I found this wee video on TED, it cheered me up:) http://www.ted.com/talks/mark_bezos_a_life_lesson_from_a_volunteer_firefighter.html

64 days to go and counting

I am going to attempt to document the planning and execution of our journey back to the UK.  For me it will be the first time in 40 years.  Chris has only been to Australia on business, so this is a huge adventure for us both.  We are so excited to be seeing my family, most of whom I have had little contact with over this time.  A sweetener for Chris is going to the TT races on the Isle of Man in July.  In addition, we will be doing this leg of our journey with some friends from New Zealand, who have been traveling for the last 18 months.  It will be great to catch up.

Finally, we have been able to get a family member to do some house sitting for us.  This has been a huge worry as I have been reluctant to put my lovely dog in the kennels for 6 weeks.  Tegan, Chris's daughter will be looking after the house and dog and hopefully the fish.  Yay Tegan!

There will be a relief teacher in my class for the term.  I am somewhat concerned about this, but you can't have all things all ways.  The only alternative was not to go!  I have a tough class this year and am only just starting to make some headway with them.  Only 3 more school weeks before I have to let them go.  Silly school policy says I have to take the whole term off, instead of the time I will be away.  Never mind.  I will use this time to plan the trip better and get in some well earned r & r.