Just a quick update to let you know what's happening in my world right now.
1) My laptop stopped working. So I'm using AJ's old one which is really slow and irritating. Hopefully I can get a new one soon.
2) I have an assignment due next week. I'm one assignment and one exam off finishing my Diploma of Business. A busy few months ahead of me.
3) I've been getting occasional work relieving. Not many opportunities to teach full time locally - I'm still looking though.
That's about all that's been happening in the last few weeks. Once I get a new laptop, and my course is over I'll start posting regularly again (or I'll try to).
Saturday, 9 May 2015
Thursday, 19 March 2015
Update on Goals
So at the beginning of the year I made some goals for the year. I thought I'd do an update on how I've been going so far with them.
1. I'm going to continue the hunt for a full time teaching role and hopefully be successful.
I'm still on the hunt. There's not a lot available in my area right now. So I'm applying whenever one comes up. For now, I'm relieving in the local schools (well, only one seems to ring me - but hopefully other ones will hire me too!).
2 - I'm going to endeavor to keep the house clean - need to get it that way first.
I'm still cleaning! I'm trying to get into daily and weekly habits etc. Been mostly successful. I'm also tackling one room at a time. I've so far done the Master Bedroom and the Bathroom/Loo. Next up is the Kitchen and then the Dining/Lounge. Then will make my way to the Spare Room and the 'Room of Doom'.
3 - I'm going to start crafting again - hopefully making cards for some birthdays etc.
I haven't really done anything crafty since the end of last year. Been pinning heaps of ideas but haven't got around to doing/finishing any.
4 - We're going to make a budget and stick to it.
We've been doing our absolute best but things keep coming up. At the beginning of the year we had travel expenses for the two weddings we went to. Also, just before that the alternator in our car went so we had to get that fixed. Then when we got the Warrant of Fitness (WOF) on our car we were told we needed new rear tyres. So had to get those. Also, AJ's power pack on his computer crapped out so he had to get a replacement (because a geeky husband with no computer is bad for everyone). And on top of all that we had to pay my fees for uni because Studylink is annoying and won't let me put it on my loan because I'm only doing one paper. Oh, and the car needs servicing this month.
5 - We're going to finish paying back our parents money that we've borrowed.
We're trying. See previous goal to see why we haven't managed to pay anything back yet.
6 - Finish my Diploma of Business that I started years ago and never completed.
I'm currently taking my final paper in this. First assignment is due a week tomorrow :S It's about Equity and Diversity in the workplace. So far I'm finding it quite interesting.
7 - Start an exercise routine and stick to it. I'm way too lazy right now.
It's been on and off so far. Some days I do it and some days I just go back to my lazy ways. I really need to focus on making this a habit.
8 - Try to eat healthier.
I started the year well. It helped that we had a lot more fresh fruit and veges thanks to our vege garden and Mum and Dad dropping some stuff off. But unfortunately I'm getting into bad habits again. I went through all our cookbooks at the beginning of the year and labelled things with post-its. It's all very organised but I'm getting back into my lazy cooking again (which isn't too healthy).
9 - Make an effort to catch up with friends that I haven't seen in ages.
I haven't really done much about this yet. I'm trying to wait until next month when we might be able to afford a meal out with mates.
An additional goal that I've decided to try and do is to blog more often. Believe it or not, I have quite a few drafts that I haven't finished yet. And heaps of ideas for posts. So I'll be sure to finish those eventually.
So that's how I've been going with my goals so far. Some are going better than others, as can be expected. I'll try to update these every few months.
1. I'm going to continue the hunt for a full time teaching role and hopefully be successful.
I'm still on the hunt. There's not a lot available in my area right now. So I'm applying whenever one comes up. For now, I'm relieving in the local schools (well, only one seems to ring me - but hopefully other ones will hire me too!).
2 - I'm going to endeavor to keep the house clean - need to get it that way first.
I'm still cleaning! I'm trying to get into daily and weekly habits etc. Been mostly successful. I'm also tackling one room at a time. I've so far done the Master Bedroom and the Bathroom/Loo. Next up is the Kitchen and then the Dining/Lounge. Then will make my way to the Spare Room and the 'Room of Doom'.
3 - I'm going to start crafting again - hopefully making cards for some birthdays etc.
I haven't really done anything crafty since the end of last year. Been pinning heaps of ideas but haven't got around to doing/finishing any.
4 - We're going to make a budget and stick to it.
We've been doing our absolute best but things keep coming up. At the beginning of the year we had travel expenses for the two weddings we went to. Also, just before that the alternator in our car went so we had to get that fixed. Then when we got the Warrant of Fitness (WOF) on our car we were told we needed new rear tyres. So had to get those. Also, AJ's power pack on his computer crapped out so he had to get a replacement (because a geeky husband with no computer is bad for everyone). And on top of all that we had to pay my fees for uni because Studylink is annoying and won't let me put it on my loan because I'm only doing one paper. Oh, and the car needs servicing this month.
5 - We're going to finish paying back our parents money that we've borrowed.
We're trying. See previous goal to see why we haven't managed to pay anything back yet.
6 - Finish my Diploma of Business that I started years ago and never completed.
I'm currently taking my final paper in this. First assignment is due a week tomorrow :S It's about Equity and Diversity in the workplace. So far I'm finding it quite interesting.
7 - Start an exercise routine and stick to it. I'm way too lazy right now.
It's been on and off so far. Some days I do it and some days I just go back to my lazy ways. I really need to focus on making this a habit.
8 - Try to eat healthier.
I started the year well. It helped that we had a lot more fresh fruit and veges thanks to our vege garden and Mum and Dad dropping some stuff off. But unfortunately I'm getting into bad habits again. I went through all our cookbooks at the beginning of the year and labelled things with post-its. It's all very organised but I'm getting back into my lazy cooking again (which isn't too healthy).
9 - Make an effort to catch up with friends that I haven't seen in ages.
I haven't really done much about this yet. I'm trying to wait until next month when we might be able to afford a meal out with mates.
An additional goal that I've decided to try and do is to blog more often. Believe it or not, I have quite a few drafts that I haven't finished yet. And heaps of ideas for posts. So I'll be sure to finish those eventually.
So that's how I've been going with my goals so far. Some are going better than others, as can be expected. I'll try to update these every few months.
Thursday, 1 January 2015
Goals for 2015
Here are some goals I will do my best to achieve in 2015.
1 - I'm going to continue the hunt for a full time teaching role and hopefully be successful.
2 - I'm going to endeavor to keep the house clean - need to get it that way first.
3 - I'm going to start crafting again - hopefully making cards for some birthdays etc.
4 - We're going to make a budget and stick to it. Because I only do relief teaching right now, there's no guaranteed income for me, so we mostly rely on AJ's income.
5 - We're going to finish paying back our parents money that we've borrowed. I still owe my parents money for my wedding dress (from almost 6 years ago!) and we still owe AJ's parents money for our car.
6 - Finish my Diploma of Business that I started years ago and never completed. Would be a good back up option if my teaching thing doesn't work out.
7 - Start an exercise routine and stick to it. I'm way too lazy right now. I'd love to get back to my wedding weight (I need to lose 17kg for that).
8 - Try to eat healthier. Because AJ is such a fussy eater, I might struggle a bit. I'll see if I can find some nice, cheap, healthy recipes. Bring on Pinterest!
9 - Make an effort to catch up with friends that I haven't seen in ages.
1 - I'm going to continue the hunt for a full time teaching role and hopefully be successful.
2 - I'm going to endeavor to keep the house clean - need to get it that way first.
3 - I'm going to start crafting again - hopefully making cards for some birthdays etc.
4 - We're going to make a budget and stick to it. Because I only do relief teaching right now, there's no guaranteed income for me, so we mostly rely on AJ's income.
5 - We're going to finish paying back our parents money that we've borrowed. I still owe my parents money for my wedding dress (from almost 6 years ago!) and we still owe AJ's parents money for our car.
6 - Finish my Diploma of Business that I started years ago and never completed. Would be a good back up option if my teaching thing doesn't work out.
7 - Start an exercise routine and stick to it. I'm way too lazy right now. I'd love to get back to my wedding weight (I need to lose 17kg for that).
8 - Try to eat healthier. Because AJ is such a fussy eater, I might struggle a bit. I'll see if I can find some nice, cheap, healthy recipes. Bring on Pinterest!
9 - Make an effort to catch up with friends that I haven't seen in ages.
Saturday, 20 December 2014
Christmas Plans
I'd just like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I hope you all have an amazing festive season. But yeah, I'd like to thank the people who do read this blog (there are a few of you out there).
I haven't been brilliant with this blog lately, but I'm going to endeavor to write more in advance and schedule them in the new year. In fact, I've already got one scheduled for New Years Day *shock-horror*
This year we're spending Christmas with my family in Tokomaru Bay on the East Cape. Mum and Dad have rented a bach there right by the beach. I hope it'll be nice weather so we can go swimming, kayaking, boogie-boarding and hang out with my family on the beach. We will take some board games just in case the weather is crap.
This is going to be my last post of the year, but in the New Year I'll do my best to keep the blog up to date (except the first few weeks - as I've got two weddings to go to and they're in different places in the country).
Anyways, hope you Northern Hemisphere people don't get too cold and hope fellow Southern Hemisphere people don't get too sunburnt (let's see if I can do it this summer).
Merry Christmas you guys and have an awesome New Year.
I haven't been brilliant with this blog lately, but I'm going to endeavor to write more in advance and schedule them in the new year. In fact, I've already got one scheduled for New Years Day *shock-horror*
This year we're spending Christmas with my family in Tokomaru Bay on the East Cape. Mum and Dad have rented a bach there right by the beach. I hope it'll be nice weather so we can go swimming, kayaking, boogie-boarding and hang out with my family on the beach. We will take some board games just in case the weather is crap.
This is going to be my last post of the year, but in the New Year I'll do my best to keep the blog up to date (except the first few weeks - as I've got two weddings to go to and they're in different places in the country).
Anyways, hope you Northern Hemisphere people don't get too cold and hope fellow Southern Hemisphere people don't get too sunburnt (let's see if I can do it this summer).
Merry Christmas you guys and have an awesome New Year.
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| http://www.stockvault.net/photo/109800/pohutukawa-tree. By Murray Douglas |
Wednesday, 22 October 2014
First day back teaching
So today I had my first day teaching in almost 3 years. And it went fantastically!
I got the call yesterday so the nerves got me a little bit at first. And yesterday I frantically looked through a pile of teaching stuff that had been stowed away in a wardrobe just in case the teacher hadn't left planning.
Turns out, I shouldn't have worried because the teacher was there when I started! And she had everything planned. Turns out that she was still in the classroom for the majority of the day but was doing testing. There were a few areas that I was unsure about but I think that's mainly because somebody else had planned them and I wasn't sure of how things were done. The kids were fantastic though and didn't have much to worry about in the behaviour area. The behaviour management came back to me almost immediately which was good. On days that I don't teach I've decided to read through some of my texts to refamiliarise myself with the curriculum again.
All in all a great day - the classroom teacher liked me and I have another day lined up next week with a different class. So excited and happy that I left my last job to follow my calling. I absolutely love teaching and hope that this will help me to find a full time position before 2016.
I got the call yesterday so the nerves got me a little bit at first. And yesterday I frantically looked through a pile of teaching stuff that had been stowed away in a wardrobe just in case the teacher hadn't left planning.
Turns out, I shouldn't have worried because the teacher was there when I started! And she had everything planned. Turns out that she was still in the classroom for the majority of the day but was doing testing. There were a few areas that I was unsure about but I think that's mainly because somebody else had planned them and I wasn't sure of how things were done. The kids were fantastic though and didn't have much to worry about in the behaviour area. The behaviour management came back to me almost immediately which was good. On days that I don't teach I've decided to read through some of my texts to refamiliarise myself with the curriculum again.
All in all a great day - the classroom teacher liked me and I have another day lined up next week with a different class. So excited and happy that I left my last job to follow my calling. I absolutely love teaching and hope that this will help me to find a full time position before 2016.
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| Me teaching a few years back |
Thursday, 9 October 2014
New Beginnings
I quit my job at Farmers. It just wasn't for me and I wasn't happy - physically and mentally. I just can't deal with idiotic customers and the being on my feet for 8 hours a day.
So I quit. I am now resuming the hunt for a teaching job. Starting Monday, I am going around a number of local schools to put my name down for relieving. I really really want to get my foot back in the door of teaching. After 3 years away it's now or never. I really hope that someone will see my potential as a teacher.
I've given myself until the beginning of 2016 to find a full time teaching job otherwise I'm going to change career - possibly to Human Resources. I only have one paper to complete in order to get a Diploma in Business endorsed in HR. So first semester next year, I plan on completing that by correspondence.
So here's to New Beginnings
So I quit. I am now resuming the hunt for a teaching job. Starting Monday, I am going around a number of local schools to put my name down for relieving. I really really want to get my foot back in the door of teaching. After 3 years away it's now or never. I really hope that someone will see my potential as a teacher.
I've given myself until the beginning of 2016 to find a full time teaching job otherwise I'm going to change career - possibly to Human Resources. I only have one paper to complete in order to get a Diploma in Business endorsed in HR. So first semester next year, I plan on completing that by correspondence.
So here's to New Beginnings
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| http://drinkoid.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/champagne_glasses.jpg |
Thursday, 4 September 2014
Long haul flights - the only good bit
Long haul flights are generally horrible. You're cramped into seats with very little legroom for way too long and you don't get a lot of sleep. Oh, and you get told to put your window shade down when you don't want to (that seriously irritated me - I like looking out the window!)
The only good thing that I could find was the fact that there were heaps of free tv shows and movies to watch. Movies that I normally wouldn't consider watching but ended up enjoying.
Here's a list of ones that still linger in my mind almost two months after the flight:
The Book Thief - probably one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. The narrator is Death. And the story bases itself around a little girl in Germany in the Second World War who loves to read. An amazing story which made me bawl a bit (much to the astonishment of some surrounding passengers).
The Lego Movie - 'everything is awesome!' For a kids movie, I actually really enjoyed this. The storyline was weird but the animation was really good. It probably helped that I was overtired while watching this and found it hilarious.
The Darjeeling Express - another weird movie. Three American brothers with certain...vices...travel through India on a train. And get in trouble. A lot. Basically it's about their adventures but presented in a really funny way.
The Grand Budapest Hotel - yet another strange movie (maybe excessive tiredness contributed to my selections). The story of the owner of hotel and how he inherited it from it's previous (very strange) owner. Involved some really funny bits but also serious bits (Nazis etc).
I would love to see them again but this time not at altitude. I kept having to get up to let the old lady beside use the loo multiple times and also kept getting distracted by my swelling ankles and sleepiness.
The only good thing that I could find was the fact that there were heaps of free tv shows and movies to watch. Movies that I normally wouldn't consider watching but ended up enjoying.
Here's a list of ones that still linger in my mind almost two months after the flight:
The Book Thief - probably one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. The narrator is Death. And the story bases itself around a little girl in Germany in the Second World War who loves to read. An amazing story which made me bawl a bit (much to the astonishment of some surrounding passengers).
The Lego Movie - 'everything is awesome!' For a kids movie, I actually really enjoyed this. The storyline was weird but the animation was really good. It probably helped that I was overtired while watching this and found it hilarious.
The Darjeeling Express - another weird movie. Three American brothers with certain...vices...travel through India on a train. And get in trouble. A lot. Basically it's about their adventures but presented in a really funny way.
The Grand Budapest Hotel - yet another strange movie (maybe excessive tiredness contributed to my selections). The story of the owner of hotel and how he inherited it from it's previous (very strange) owner. Involved some really funny bits but also serious bits (Nazis etc).
I would love to see them again but this time not at altitude. I kept having to get up to let the old lady beside use the loo multiple times and also kept getting distracted by my swelling ankles and sleepiness.
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