Some R&R

After finishing up with my Year 12s and their exam last week, I spent Friday evening and most of Saturday in the company of my uncle and aunt on the Mornington Peninsula. 

I enjoyed a relaxation massage at the Peninsula Hot Springs courtesy of a gift voucher from last Christmas - a highly recommendable gift!  Then I meandered down to Sorrento where I wiled away some time in one of my most favourite bookshops - The Antipodes.  Normally I always come away with a book.  Today it was a collection of non-literary items - wrapping paper, a bookmark and handmade Christmas decorations.

I stopped at Sorrento ocean beach to soak up some sea air before returning home.  It was surprisingly temperate and despite the cloud cover, provided a peaceful view.

Whilst I know next to nothing about native coastal plants, it did seem that Spring had made her presence known on the beach too.  I may have captured images of weeds in bloom, rather than native plants, but they still caught my eye with their colour and vibrancy.

If you know the names of these plants (weeds?!), feel free to let me know.

Students vs Shakespeare

Whenever I mark text responses essays at the end of our study of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, I am always gifted with some delightful sentences where a perfectly capable student has lost control of their syntax or their word choice has created a rather amusing alternative.

Today's corker was in response to a question about the complexity of the tragedy.

'Shakespeare put many unfortunate events that did not have to happen to increase the complexion of the tragedy.'

Bless.  I always thought the whole tragedy of 'Romeo and Juliet' had a poxy complexion too. 

Oh the horror, Katie Melua!

Something has happened to Katie Melua.  It made me gasp aloud when I scanned the headline and my poor Year 8s, who were dutifully completing a test at the time, thought something bad had happened to me.

No, kidlets.  Something bad has happened to Katie Melua. 

It is something I feared as a child but as I grew older dismissed as VERY UNLIKELY TO EVER HAPPEN.

But it has happened.

Oh the horror!

Has this happened to you?  

 Do you know someone it has happened to? 

*shudder*

A space of one's own

I have been pondering beginning a blog for some time now.  I have hesitated because although I am a fervent reader of many blogs, I have wondered whether I should inflict my thoughts and opinions on others.  I struggle with most talk back sessions on radio largely because many who call in want to blurt their opinion to the world.  Isn't blogging a little bit like blurting one's opinion at the world? 

 

I did ask myself why I wanted to contribute to the internet’s vast collection of blogs.  And the answer was a selfish one: I need to write and I need some space.

I am an English teacher who loves to write. I have been struggling this year with feelings of frustration about the fact that all I seem to be writing are sample paragraphs, emails to colleagues, updates to parents and endless (endless!) comments on student work.  Whilst all are worthy, they do not give the magic zing that writing for oneself does.  I'm a bit rusty; it could take awhile before I remember how to write for myself.

I can't say what to expect on this blog because I do not know myself.   I won't make any promises.  But let's enjoy the process.  I think that might be where the magic lies.