Working at Home

Thank you for all the questions I am getting about my trip. Bumble is fine and has now returned to school, he couldn't wait and he needs to get back to his job. I unfortunately have to finsih my work at home even if I really would ratehr be at school. I did pop in and see all the staff yesterday and that was great, they have all been so busy. I can see that Waimataitai Wai Learners have continued to be right into their learning. I am looking forward to seeing all of your wonderful work at the Art Auction.

It is hard to believe that last week I was in summer and this week I am in winter. Does anyone know how that works? It was light at 4.30am in the morning and didn't get dark till after 10pm in Scotland, I come back here and it is still dark at 7.30am and at 4.30pm it is getting dark again, I wonder why that is?

Next week I am off to some meetings and courses and will visit a school in Christchurch that has been trialling a Nurture Group this year. I want to find out how it is going for them. I can see the time to get all my writing done and all the other projects I have planned to do will go very quickly.

Bumble is Back !!

I know many of you wanted photos while we were away but that proved too difficult for Bumble. However now we are back we will be trying to work out how the best way to share these with you will be. This photo is from one of my favourite places.... Bled, in the background there is a church on an island where people go to get married. The man has to carry the woman up the stairs on his back and she must not say anything. It is a very interesting tradition. I know someone getting married I wonder if they might try it.

Bumble is having a rest in Hyde Park, London, he had been walking all around London that day and had had lunch at Convent Garden with the pigeons who are always very happy to talk to tourists having lunch.

This is a very famous fountain in Rome.

This is Bumble at the "Lizard", right at the southern end of Britain. It does not have as many tourists as "Lands End".

And one more ....... Bumble really enjoyed San Gigminiano in Tuscany, Italy. He liked the old buildings and streets and the beautiful Tuscan Hills and valleys.

Be back soon..

Hi to everyone and thanks for all the really neat comments while i have been away. I will be back in New Zealand on Sunday and maybe I might see some of you next week, but I have lots of writing to do before I come back to school officially.

I really enjoyed Scotland - I love the Scottish people they are so friendly, generous and helpful. A lot of Scotland is like New Zealand. When we visited Edinburgh you get off the train and you hear the bagpipes as some one is playing just outside the station. Every where you go you see the Scottish thistle which I really like also. I did manage to get some Scottish and Welsh rugby jerseys - some of you will know they are for.....

Today Bumble, Pauline, Sarah and I are going to Kew Gardens ( Miss Wilson and Mrs Vincent will be very jealous!). Pauline thinks that Bumble will get hayfever and maybe he should stay home but I think he will tough it out. Pauline can be so thoughtful sometimes. After Kew gardens we will have dinner in London and we are going to a show called "Sister Act". They have so many shows in London it is hard to choose. Another hot day here.

Might see you next week sometime...

What do the Scottish call Lakes?

HAve spent the last few days in a place called Pithlocry, can you find it? Back to near London now and have started thinking about the trip home and how to pack my bags. Did you know in Scotland and England you have pay to go fishing in the rivers and it is very expensive.

Bumble is off to bed already as we travelled over 560 miles today - not sure how many kilometres that is but it took us a long time. In Britain they use miles, pounds and pence. They still have 1 penny two pence, 5pence pieces too - really strange and quite annoying when you are not used to them.

Fly out on the plane from Heathrow Airport on Friday evening at 6.40 and we get to Christchurch by 11am on Sunday but we only fly for 21 hours so how does that work out I wonder????