The Educators’ Psalm

The principal is our shepherd; we shall not underperform,
He maketh us to sit down in lengthy staff meetings,
He leadeth us through restructured environments,
He restoreth our qualifications,
He leadeth us in the paths of curriculum development for his job’s sake.

Yea, though we walk through the valley of the show of gender equity, we will fear no discrimination.

For the principal is with us: his administrative expertise and his interpersonal skills, they facilitate us.

He prepareth a School Development Plan before us in the face of the P & C,
He annointeth our hands with policy documents: our file runneth over.
Surely selection criteria and professional development shall follow us all the days of our teaching career.
And we will dwell on getting our super forever.

Many things

Last night we had a terrific storm. It came from a direction that we don't ususally get storms from - always a sign that it will be "unusual". There was a good deal of wind, but amazingly, it seems that there aren't any trees down. That's one of the joys of living on land - lots of trees that blow down, then need to be cut up and disposed of creatively. I can't tell you how much rain we had, beacuse there's some kangaroos out by the rain gauge and I hate to scare them off.

I've also run a gamut of emotion over the last few days by making apurchase. Joy at finding it, anticipation about getting it, guilt beacuse I already have a few of these things, back to excitement, embarrasment because it's a bit silly, back to anticipation.

Humans can be so silly sometimes.

Ever the proud parent

A poem from my 7 yo daughter:

Sights and Sounds

Birds are flying in the sky,
Pigs are running in the mud,
Having fun, rolling and scattering
Splashing around.
Birds are cheeping
Making up songs.
Ants are marching
To look for food.
Trees are growing
And drinking the rain.
Storm birds are trying
To warn Queensland
That there is a storm
Tornado
Lightning bolt
Swishes
And down they come.

Success

The guinea pig project was a raving success, just like you'd expect - I think that our eldest is currently watching TV with it on her lap as we speak, having gone outside to the enclosure and liberated it for some attention.

Getting the enclosure on the trailer was an experience, as it was a good bit bigger for the available space. Still, there's not much you can't achieve with the right amount of snatch-it straps! Also, "boy logic" came to the fore and it went on ok.

We also stopped on the way home to procure one for our youngest, so that she didn't feel left out. We were very specific about requiring another female, so we don't end up hip deep in guinea pigs. Time will tell.

In any case, the joy that has been brought warms my heart.

Happiness

I look forward to today, because we’re doing something a little bit sneaky. Our eldest daughter would really love another pet. We have two dogs, but I’m the one who looks after them. She’d love a cat, but with all the native birds we have, a cat is out of the question.

So, we’ve organised a guinea pig for her, complete with outdoor condominium. She knows nothing about it and will go NUTS!

It’s nice to make people happy.

Constructive use of holidays

Just over the last few days I’ve used my holidays in a surprisingly constructive fashion. I love having the time to do some of the things that I’ve been putting off. Yesterday I changed the wiper blades on one of ourt cars. Now we’ll be able to see where we’re going when it’s raining. Then, I crawled under the house and drilled the holes that allowed me to place the speakers for our surround sound system in the right places without having the wires run all over the floor. Then, I gave our bichon friese (one of our two dogs) a clip. He looked like a cotton ball from hell, now he looks like a shorn sheep. I hope the other dog doesn’t tease him too much … 

Today sees some interesting tasks. I’m going to make a stand for the centre speaker from the aforementioned system – they all need to be 1.5 metres from the tv, or it screws up the picture. Well, I can see thew effect – no-one seems to be able to. Both dogs will benefit from a bath. Ever bathed a corgi? Set aside an hour or two – their double coats are thick. Then, I’ll wash my wife’s car and maybe my own.

At this rate I’ll need to go back to work for a holiday!

Broken sleep et al

I don't know about nayone else, but I love to sleep. Currently I'm on holidays and I'm trying to be disciplkined - staying with my mprmal sleep pattern, or I'll end up going to bed at 1 am and sleeping through until ten. That may be delicious, but it's awfully selfish, affecting the whole family.

Last night I had one of those awful nights where I wake up every few hours for 20 minutes or so. I feel very slow today and will probably be weary. However, with my wife off on an adventure today the tiredness will be pushed to the side, for it will be a day of "Secret Daddy Business".

THis is a term I use for when my wife is away and the kids and I engage in all sorts of silliness only a Dad can come up wih. We don't do anything nasty, just things that are "male centred" e.g. not washing up until we absolutely have to. We go shopping for ice cream (although not me - I think I'm coming down with what the girls had).

In any case, I think an afternoon nap will be in order. I'll just make sure I'll move my wlaking frame out fo the way ...

Random acts of kindness

When was the last time you did this? When we go through a toll bridge, we also pay for the next person. A second ago I offered to write poems for people on a message board.

This world can be such a harsh place. From time to time we all need to take the responsibility of bluntening the negativity a bit.

I have moments where I choke down a comment to save the face of the person with which I’m speaking. I just think that it’s better to smile about what happened later, rather than make the other person feel bad.

Case in point:

Friend: “I’ve been studying astronomy at school lately.”

Me: “Really? What’s your favourite part?”

Friend: “Finding out so much information that I did not know before. Like scientist attempting to confirm that Uranus has slight rings around it.”

Me: blink blink.

Well, I was right. No sooner had one child started to get better than the other one started exploding. Mercifully for her, it seems to be a lesser case, but no-one like to throw up. To her credit, she is handling it all with her customary bravery. That said, she’s a little disappointed that she can’t engage in some of the activities that we had planned – throwing up at swimming lessons is never a good look!

It’s so hot and humid at the moment – 35 degrees Celsius, with enough humidity that you sweat standing still. I guess that’s what happens in summer.

Sick Kids

It's always painful to watch when one of your little ones gets sick. Our 5 year old is currently exploding out of both ends and is one of those people (like me) that hates being sick.

You're damned if you do and damned if you don't - you need to maintain their fluids or they dehydrate, but when you do it induces another round of vomiting. You can just rub their backs, soothe them and hold the bucket.

The other down side is that usually at least one other member of the family catches it, ususally when the one that had it first is better, thus making the imapct of the bug more impressive.

So, we've just racked up the DVDs and watch, snooze, catch and clean up. Hopefully it's just a 24 hour bug.

The last day of school - it’s a feeling that we have all experienced at some stage. For some of us, it’s one of joy and expectation. The joy of holidays to come and expectation of what the next year will bring. For others, it’s a sad day, where you part with friends, move on to uncertainty or feel sadness that a great year has passed.

As an educator, the last day of the school year is all of the aforementioned. Joy at getting an extended break to recharge my batteries and joy at what we as a school and what individuals have achieved. There is also the feeling of expectation as I look forward to the things that next year, and the years beyond, will bring. There’s some sadness as colleagues move on and I look at what some students have not achieved.

Mostly, it’s an eerie day, because few of the students turn up and there is a lot of pressure to finish those last few jobs. Add to this that the school’s server died a spectacular death, meaning that some tasks suddenly got harder. And you have a very interesting day.

Still, 6 weeks of holidays wind before me, while somewhat peppered by tasks that have to be done, is still a great feeling.

Air conditioning is something that more and more homes seem to have. We don’t, not because of any moral objection to it, but that we just haven’t really gotten serious about deciding whether or not to go down that road.

However, I find on really hot or humid days, it’s nice to be in there, but you have to come out sometime. I tend to think that you’d feel the heat more then, as you’re not so acclimatized to it. I find that when I go into shopping centres, I spend the first few minutes sneezing, then do the same as I leave, marveling at how uncomfortable it is.

Perhaps, you should just never leave the house …

Driving in the rain is something you either love or hate. Some people seem to think that they can drive at the same speed and just watch the taillights of the person in front of them. Others get nervous and drive at a third of the speed limit.

I have a strategy I call “throttle regulation”. My car is a 1970 dinosaur, with a good deal of power. This makes for interesting driving in the wet, for without judicious application of the throttle, you very quickly end up going down the road sideways. Thus, I drive carefully enough not to induce lateral movement, but fast enough to be near the speed limit.

You certainly don’t get bored driving this way.

Have you ever really wanted something ... spent time wishing you had it ... convincing yourself that you could not exist without it ... then unexpectedly getting it ... and deciding that you didn't want it?

It's been a long day.

Alternate word meanings

Once again, The Washington Post has published the winning submissions to its yearly contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words.

The winners are:

1. Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs.
2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.
3. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.
6. Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
7. Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.
8. Gargoyle (n.), olive-flavoured mouthwash.
9. Flatulence (n.) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.
10. Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.
11. Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.
12. Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
13. Pokemon (n), a Rastafarian proctologist.
14. Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
15. Frisbeetarianism (n.), The belief that, when you die, your Soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
16. Circumvent (n.), an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by
Jewish men.

Stop and listen

Take a moment to stop and listen.

It's amazing what you hear. As people we are very adept at filtering out so much that often I think that we lose our grasp on this damn slippery planet of ours.

So, stop and listem, you'll be surprised.

Graduation

When I went back to school when we wrote on animal hide and the classrooms were lit by the lamps made from the fat of mammoths, graduation ceremonies at school were low-key affairs.

Now it seems that thousands are spent on dresses, suit hire, limo / horse drawn carriage hire, corsages, pre-function parties, functions, post-function parties etc. Oh, please.

Then, it seems that we have graduation ceremonies for every level. Isn’t this a little bit precious?

Can’t we remember times as special without going overboard? Apparently not.

Personal Space

Recently we went on a boat to an island hideaway. Well, we went to an island for a Christmas party. The boat was a fairly new and quite large one – 2 decks and it carried about 200 people. However, downstairs their use of space was very efficient, because as you sat sitting facing the person opposite you, you basically had to open your knees and have their legs in between yours, or some permutation of the preceding.

This would be uncomfortable enough, without it being someone you didn’t know opposite you. In any case, I felt a bit uncomfortable about it all.

I then spent some time looking around at other people. They seemed to share my surprise and discomfort for a while, but then got over it. Perhaps we re-set our comfort zone for a short time, then re-set it later? I felt uncomfortable on the return voyage, but for less time.

In any case, it was interesting to see my reactions and those of the people around me.

Manners

I was having a conversation last night with some people on the subject of manners. Remember those? One of my daughters went to see the guy that lives next door and he cut her some 100 carnations. She said thank-you as he handed her each one. That left an impression. My youngest was asked for a kiss by a relative and when the relative thanked her, she said, “You’re welcome.” That left and impression.

I went shopping yesterday and two people ran to beat me to the checkout. That left an impression. Three people sped through the pedestrian crossing as I got to it. That left an impression.

Good manners aren’t a sign of weakness - they’re a sign that you value other people. When people take advantage of your manners, that’s fine. You just don’t let a toxic person infect you – life’s too short. Then you scratch their car in the car park when they’re not looking.

Time flies ...

Did you know that under ideal conditions, one housefly, if left to its own devices, could cover Germany with flies in a nine month period?

Creepy.

Moving on

We come across so many people in our lives and often we grow used to having them there. We value what they do and look on in admiration and what they do. Then, they move on unexpectedly.

You have to let them go, but it sure is hard. You know that they will leave a large void that will be hard to replace. Sometimes they are replaced by someone as competent, if not better. But not often.

I guess that’s life; people move on, but sometimes it’s just so sad.

90

I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman today on the occasion of his 90th birthday. This man was the most alert and sprightly 90 year old I’ve ever seen – he’d make some 50 year olds look downright silly. What intrigued me was that to mark the occasion they had a beautiful park bench made by an engineering company and then donated it to his primary school.

This arose from their wish to mark the event and when they approached him he stated that the times that he was at school were some of the happiest of his life. How many of us can say that, particularly as we go through them? Perhaps our views of events long ago are seen through rose coloured glasses.

Regardless, this gentleman, and I use the word intentionally, was an inspiration to me and to all those who met him. I hope people can say the same about me, both now and in the future.

30th

It's hard to believe that it's the 30th of November ...

The year has seemingly whisked by with reckless abandon. I don't know if that's a sign that I've been busy, or if as you get older time just seems to be more precious. Once I used to wish my life away, looking on the horizon for things that are coming. Now, it's like Alice in Wonderland, when the Red Queen says "You have to run as fast as you can to stay where you are."

I watch as my girls grow up and marvel as the world and all its opportunities unfold before them. They are largely oblivious to this ... and I'm sure they're looking on the horizon for the tings that are coming in their lives.

Things you see that add to stress

We have a water feature in our back yard. At the moent I'm in a running battle with slime. It seems to have taken a liking to our pond. Whether the pump isn't pushing the water around enough, whether it gets too much organic material in it, or whether the plants in it are sliming up the water ... well, it's annoying.

Then, there's the TV. It suffers from as light colour change brought on by magnetic fields. My wife says that she can't see the change. The change is all I see. I've moved all the stereo compnents away, the cable tv set top box, the power boards ... but it's still there.

Surely the TV's own speakers can't be doing it?!

Both are things that I see often. Both make me cranky when I look at them. Well, frustrated at least.

Sunday

Is there a better feeling than Sunday stretched out before you? So many options - going for a ride? watching tele? watching a DVD? playing some guitar?

The only better feeling would be Friday night perhaps?

mp3

Technology seems to come in waves. mp3 certainly revolutionised the way we look at (listen to?) music and people have embraced the format and the various player technology.

It makes me excited to think of what will be happening in the next year/decade etc. People are such sensory creatures and it seems that we are taking advantage of this disposition.

What worries me a little is that a reliance on such technology might mean we lose the art of entertaining ourselves.

Cheating

Have you ever cheated? On anything? A test when you were at school? On your partner? This hasn't come from any guilty feelings on my part - I'm currently cheating, but writing this on another day, then posting it as today, so that's cheating, but I don't feel guilty, because if you read the fine print then you'll notice that this action is not outside the parameter of the Operating Principles of Ymirisms.

My point - I don't think I could cheat. I'd have a raised sore on my forehead that read "cheat" that people could see.

To those that can - good luck to you. But you realise you're hurting other people.

Breakfast

After having a few cordials the night before, the timing was right for bacon and eggs for breakfast. We hadn't had bacon for a while and I was greatly anticipating this fatty feast.

Upon waking and shuffling off the clouded haze of sleep, I waded through my own dribble to the fridge.

Only to find that we didn't have any eggs.

Shit.

Old car prices

I own a car that was made in 1970. That year, to qualify for the racing season, 300 special models were made of a road-going race car.
These were the Ford Falcon GTHO Phase 3s.

Over the intervening time their numbers have dwindled, yet some astute people put the ones that they owned away and loved them. They wear the original paint and have travelled a handful of miles.

Now they're being sold for $110 000.

Sure, you could build or buy a "better" car for much less. But you can't build a legend.

Christmas advertising

Does Christmas advertising start in February? It seems to get earlier each year.

I know much has been made of the commercialism of Christmas, so I won't make the points again here.

But it's still annoying.

Birds

Each afternoon I put some seed out for the birds in our area. It has surprised me with the vehemence with which this action has been met when I tell people of it. The thinking goes that the birds will come to relky on me for their food and that I shouldn't be mucking with the natural order of things. I guess I won't tell them about the bread soaked in milk and covered with honey that I put out for the other birds.

What do I get out of it? I like seeing the birds come in. We'd get over 20 noisy minors, over 20 rainbow lorikeets, 10 pale headed rosellas, 30 crested pigeons, 20 cockatoos, 10 galahs, 4 ducks, 10 blue headed honey eaters etc. in any mix of the above. It's nice to see them.

I have a set amount I put out and don't ever increase it. The make-up of the birds changes from day to day, but doesn't seem to be increasing - I check.

So, I guess I'm bad. So shoot me.

eBay

eBay is the time vortex of our planet. I could spend hours trolling through the items, not really looking to buy abything, but marevelling at the stuff people have to sell.

It's also a remarkable trip down memory lane. Much of the "rare collectables" are items that we all had, but threw away. I guess that's why they're rare.

In any case, currently I'm looking at dragster bikes, DVDs (of course) and shirts. All of which you can never have enough.

Toys

Do you know where your childhood toys are? Did you keep any? Do you wish you had? Not to sell on eBay as collectables, but because of the bond that you had with them?

I still have a few of mine and cherish them. I look at the toys our children have and wonder which ones they hold dear and what I can do to see that they are saved. It’s an interesting exercise.

Movies

I’m someone who really enjoys watching movies. It’s a rare thing for me to not enjoy a movie in some capacity. Sure, some of them I think are excellent, others just passable and others a bit below standard. But I’m somewhat perplexed at the growing ranks of amateur critics.

Such people seem never to enjoy a movie. Others refer to current movies as sub-standard, preferring older movies. What I’m saying is that I don’t understand such viewpoints. When I watch a movie, I’m looking to be entertained. This happens at various levels. If the movie isn’t of a high standard, I can still draw out elements of it that I enjoy. It also serves to make me appreciate what a good movie represents, so I enjoy good movies even more.

In any case, I don’t really know what point I’m trying to make. Maybe it’s simply that sometimes we need to relax a little more and enjoy life – not be critical in everything we do. Or, perhaps use that critical eye in a positive way to help us shape our experience, not knock it down.

Time at the trough

Next time you’re with a group of people who are having lunch together, take some time to see what they choose to eat. You can classify them as the “closet glutton who is behaving”, the “can’t resist fatty/sweet foods”, the” one with an eye on weight who lives on air and sunshine” – fondly termed “the plant”, the” fill up your plate until brimming and return quickly”, the “hog all the good stuff so no-one else gets it”, the “say and spray”, the “talk so much they miss out” etc.

Which one are you?

Mowing

Mowing can be a bit of a pain, merely because of the time that needs to be expended. For me, a mowing session in summer can last five hours per week. Call it “ride-on therapy”.

But it all looks so good when you’re done. Almost, not quite, satisfaction for the time expended.

Until next week.

A Rescuing Hug

A set of twins were born and each placed into their respective incubators. One was not expected to live. A hospital nurse fought against the hospital rules and placed the babies together in one incubator. When they were placed together, the healthier of the two threw an arm over her sister. The smaller baby’s heart rate stabilized and her temperature rose to normal.

Let us never forget to embrace those we love.

The hug is my favorite sign of affection.
It can mean so much,
and many things at the same time.
It can be a sign of love,
friendship, support, caring, c
omfort or anything.
So here you go.
All I can say it will do is brighten someone's day.
I mean, we all need a hug once in a while.
Goodness knows,
we could all REALLY use a hug sometimes.
Soooo enjoy your hug.... a
nd hug someone else today…..

Behaviour and context

It amazes me how much of an effect context has on behaviour. This week I accompanied a group of Grade 7 (12 year old students) on a trip to our capital city. The days were jam-packed with activities, so they really had no time to scratch themselves. But their behaviour was excellent. People, be they the staff of a venue, or members of the public, would come to me and compliment me on the behaviour of the students.

Now, they’re not axe murderers. But they can engage in unlimited amount of hijinks. However, be they awed by the occasion, overcome by a wish to do the right thing, or merely to busy or tired to be silly, they were fantastic.

However, as soon as they returned to school, it was situation normal. Is it that they were intimidated by their surroundings, so when they returned to the familiar, so did their behaviour?

Interesting …

I'm a bit naughty

I’m feeling a bit mischeivous today.

Just say you’re a painter and people often see your work. You’re used to the same people making the same comments. You suspect a lot of the comments are people being polite – which is not a bad thing. But one day, you slip in a red herring. A piece of work that can pass for one of yours, but done by someone infinitely more skilled than you’ll ever be.

The intent? Just to see the result. If the comments are the same, then the people commenting aren’t reliable critics. If they say that the work is better or worse, at least they’re noticing.

And if you’re busted? You smile and come clean.

Rain ... and sex

What is it about rain that makes us want sex? Or is it just me? You go to bed when it’s raining and the sound of it is just so relaxing. Plus, with us relying on rain to fill our tanks, it puts me is a good mood right away.

But I’ve always felt like this – the sound of rain, the smell, the freshness. It’s all good.

Music Night

A few nights ago our students got together to put on a concert we call “Music Night”. Represented were the Beginner Strings, String Ensemble and Concert Band. Without a doubt, this was the best such example of this evening, with the groups performing magnificently.

However, what was more important to me were the looks from the children – pride, excitement, glee, adrenaline, enjoyment, mischief, satisfaction, concentration etc. If ever you doubt the benefits of people learning instruments, I can assure you such doubts are unfounded.
Although, the Beginner Strings group clustered together so much I thought it might be a workplace safety issue with those bows flying around …

The Race that Stopped a Nation

No, not the U.S. presidency. Each year in Oz the Melbourne Cup is run in November. The race has reached icon status, with people whop know nothing about horses (me included) make bold and brazen tips about who will win the “big race”. People who never gamble suddenly place bets on the race. Offices run sweepstakes and people go to work wearing silly hats. At school, we organised a luncheon. My boss was there on other business, but even wore a paper pirate’s hat that was made for him out of our government education newspaper by one of the teachers.

Then, at a little past 2 p.m., people stop to watch the race.

All except me, distracted by the ongoing arguments between two groups of students, who use me as a tool to get back at each other. In any case, I had picked the winner, but didn’t place a bet. I like to win money, but I hate to lose it.

Full

Last week at school there were some issues with student behaviour – it seemed that it was “silly season”.

Interestingly, the issues coincided with a full moon …

Cranky

Ever noticed how something insignificant, like a throw away comment, can seem to unravel months of hard work? Ever noticed how I tap dance around being too specific?

I try to treat people with empathy and a high regard. I listen to what people have to say, find the good in them and go from there. But it seems that so many other people have a stereotype in mind and can’t see past that.

So, I wonder why bother? If people think you act a certain way, even though you’ve been spending years consciously avoiding such actions, what does that mean? That your work has been largely unsuccessful? That no matter what you do, people don’t notice?

Either way, you might as well not bother.

Moral Dilemma

Just say that you pined for something. Something not very expensive, but of reasonable value. Then, someone you don’t know very well leaves theirs at your place.

They don’t notice they left them. You want them.

Do you tell the person, or keep the item?

What we've learned

Robert Fulghum (slightly amended) says that we already know everything we need to and it is still being taught on a daily basis in our preschools…..Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandpit at Pre-School.

These are the things we learned.
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm biscuits and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that. Goldfish and guinea pigs and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
And then remember the Dick and Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living. Take any of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or your government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if all - the whole world - had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had a basic policy to always put thing back where they found them and to clean up their own mess. And it is still true, no matter how old you are - when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

Also on Sixty Minutes was the tale of twins who have been battling anorexia since the age of 14, a battle that had raged for 20 years. These people told of how anorexia kills, that they wanted to die, that they were so fat at 34 kg, that they ran to lose weight, that they ate a slice of watermelon and twenty laxatives a day, that it was a struggle to get out of bed, that they lost weight to get attention, that if they died then people would learn that anorexia kills.

Their mother wept as they spoke.

The twins and their parents visited a clinic where they ran programs for people with this disease. The counselor was making progress with them. I thought it interesting that they were on a lounge with their parents, yet the twins huddled together down one end, holding hands. One twin had said that she was starting to feel a spark, a will to live. Then the other said, “But will you get up tomorrow and eat breakfast?” The light vanished from the eyes of the other twin.

I’ll just say that I was sad and angry.

7 Great Reasons Why Fresh Fruit Should Be Eaten In Your Office

Why do we persist with biscuits for our school visitors- isn’t it about time we placed an apple on every desk.

7 Great Reasons Why Fresh Fruit Should Be Eaten In Your Office

1. Fruit consists largely of water, just like the human body does - 80% of our body is water, same with most fruit! If you think about it, it's logical for the human body to consume food that contains as much water as the body itself. The nutrition that meets that requirement is fruit. There is no other food than fruit on this planet that contains on average 80% water.

2. Fruit is 100% bad-cholesterol free - No doubt about this argument. Too much bad-cholesterol is not good for our bodies and fruit doesn't contain bad-cholesterol. Animal products like meat and dairy contain a lot of bad-cholesterol.

3. Fruit stimulates the memory - If you didn’t know yet: fruit is the ultimate brain fuel. Fruit has a positive effect on our brains. The way this works still has to be found out and many scientists are looking into it presently. What we do know is that if you consume fruit effectively, your brains can recall information faster and more easily.

4. Fibre - We do know that a diet with plenty of fibre helps prevent obesity, high blood pressure, and other factors that increase the chance for heart disease. And the food that contains these healthy (natural) fibres is.... you guessed it - fruit!

5. Fruit makes you feel better - Research shows that people who are frequently depressed, get out of their depression slowly, but surely, after consuming substantial amounts of fresh fruit on a regular basis. Don't forget to eat fruit on an empty stomach, and 20 minutes before the consumption of other meals. This way the fruit will not ferment in your stomach and the nutritious elements can be absorbed by the blood effectively.

6. Promoting healthy eating habits in the workplace offers numerous benefits for a company, including cost benefits through increased productivity. This may be through:
Decreasing absenteeism
Decreasing staff recruitment and training costs through reduced staff turnover
Improving employees ability to perform through improved health and morale
Reducing the number of worker compensation claims
An enhanced company image influencing future customers and employees
Increased employee loyalty and commitment.

7. Improving Morale and Well-Being - Company attitude surveys provide evidence that health promotion is viewed by workers as one of the most valued, tangible benefits. Employees appreciate the personal interest shown in them by companies conducting health promotion programs, and can help improve employee attitudes to work and reduce absenteeism.

I was watching Sixty Minutes last night and one the stories was centred around a little girl, who was struck by a car when it smashed into her day care centre. Burns to 85% of her bodies, losing both feet, some finger and an ear. And as the father spoke he told of how the medical team told him there would be no shame in letting her pass on. He wept as he said that he could never do that.

Neither could I. I cried with him. Not surprisingly, I dreamt some crazy dreams that night. The most vivid was of our eldest daughter being taken and me finding her some years later. She had been raised with another child and didn’t remember me. Yes, I know there’s a movie about that very theme.

All of this just served to reinforce with me that I am very emotionally bonded to my family. Maybe that’s good, or bad, depending on your point of view.

Rain

After months without rain (well, very little) we have finally been granted some liquid from the heavens. I get depressed whn it doesn't rain for a while. Plus, we don't have water connected to the house from the town supply - we rely on rain to fill the tanks so we can bathe, wash etc. It's just nice to have some rain to top up the tanks and to make things green again.

You can almost hear the sighs of relief from the trees.

However, riding to work this morning commanded a good bit more of my attention than normal ...

Cheers

The Week that Was

This week I had the dubious pleasure of going to our capital city (of this state) to work on a panal to select principals for small schools. I say "dubious" because although I love the process and I enjoy seeing the great things going on in schools all over the state, I've come to the realisation that I'm not a big city boy.

The rpice of food. The people on street corners who accost you to save the rainforest of employ doctors in Iveneverheardofthatzikstan. One person had filled in an application of an American Express card for me and wanted me to sign it. One person wanted to borrow a moment of my time. When he finished his spiel I asked for my moment back. One person wanted me to help the koalas. I told him that I had five acres of land and that the koalas kep me awake at night. I was helping them by giving them a place to live. Then I asked him what he was doing to help them.

Anyway, I'm home with my beautiful girls, celebrating my wife's birthday. You've got love Chanel No. 5.

Cheers

Feelings

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did.

But people will never forget how you made them feel.

Chinese Bamboo Tree

I like the story of the Chinese bamboo tree: You take a little seed, plant it, water it, and fertilize it for a whole year, and nothing happens.
The second year you water it and fertilize it, and nothing happens.
The third year you water it and fertilize it, and nothing happens. How discouraging this becomes!
The fifth year you continue to water and fertilize the seed and then---take note. Sometime during the fifth year, the Chinese bamboo tree sprouts and grows NINETY FEET IN SIX WEEKS!
Life is much akin to the growing process of the Chinese bamboo tree.
It is often discouraging. We seemingly do things right, and nothing happens. But for those who do things right and are not discouraged and are persistent, things will happen. Finally we begin to receive the rewards.
I am now receiving the rewards of seeds that were planted 5 years ago. You are as well. Are you getting the results you want? If not, begin today to sow the seeds of what you want 5 years from now.
Remember, if you keep doing what you've always done, you'll get the results you've always gotten.

By Dan Miller

Are interruptions affecting your brain?

A study by TNS Research and commissioned by Hewlett Packard concludes that workers who are distracted by frequent phone calls, e-mails, and text messages actually suffer a greater loss of IQ than someone who smokes marijuana!
The problem isn't the e-mail itself. The problem is the constant interruptions in your work day that reduce productivity and leave you feeling tired, lethargic, and unable to focus.

In 80 clinical trials, the IQ of 1,100 British workers was monitored throughout the day by Dr. Glenn Wilson, a psychiatrist at King's College in London. What he found is that when people tried to juggle e-mail, phone calls, and text messages along with their work, their IQs dropped by a full 10 points. That's the equivalent of missing an entire night's sleep and more than the four-point decline seen after someone smokes pot.

Alarming facts about how we use e-mail:
Fully two-thirds of workers check their e-mail when they aren't working, including on vacation.
50 percent respond to an e-mail within an hour of receiving it.
20 percent will interrupt a business or social engagement to respond to an e-mail.
90 percent said anyone who answers e-mail during face-to-face meetings is rude, but 30 percent admitted it's also a sign of diligence and efficiency.

"This is a very real and widespread phenomenon," Wilson told The Guardian newspaper. "We have found that this obsession with looking at messages, if unchecked, will damage a worker's performance by reducing their mental sharpness. Companies should encourage a more balanced and appropriate way of working."

The Guardian describes it like this: "E-mails in particular have an addictive, drug-like grip." A big part of the problem is an almost complete lack of discipline in handing e-mail. Most of us feel compelled to reply to each new message, and this leads to a relentless change in our mental direction.

Brenda Beatty in EMOTION MATTERS IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP (2000) says:

It takes courage (for school leaders) to risk making contact, apologizing for mistakes and facing discrepancies in perspective together; it takes awareness and courage to counterintuitively move toward the 'danger' (Maurer, 1995) of one's own fears and to make meaningful contact in relationship with those from whom leaders are traditionally isolated in bureaucratic hierarchies. In order to break free of the emotional mechanisms inherent in the enculturation ( Marshall and Greenfield, 1987) for privilege inherent in the self-replicating iron cage (Weber, 1958 : 181) of bureaucracy, leaders must break the emotional hold of hierarchical images of leadership that make relational leadership ( Regan and Brooks, 1995) so difficult to achieve. It will take commitment - to seek out and create whatever sources of support leaders may need in order to accomplish these objectives; to ask teachers for what they need and want from them, allowing themselves to be authentic and 'human" and providing the basis for the beginnings of relationship' recognizing that teachers can and must assist and support leaders too, in emotional as well as organizational ways if new ways of being in schools and in life are to be discovered.

What do you think?

Sleep deprivation is never pretty.

My wife had a lingerie party last night. The agent comes over and you get together a group of your friends. Based upon what people buy at the party, the person hosting the party gets a commission. I grabbed our kids and hid away on one of the bedrooms. What amuses me is that the party went on until well past 1 o’clock. Uproarious laugher was frequently heard, most of the jokes being about men. Not that I have a problem with that. What I find interesting is that how much of the laughter was about men not helping around the house. Then, when I blearily climbed out of bed at 6, as our eldest was up, I found all manner of hell in the form of tidying and washing up to be done. Irony?

Today is also the grand final of the rugby league season. This is the least excited I’ve ever been. Firstly, two teams are playing that I don’t particularly like. Secondly, usually there’s a David and Goliath story, but this year the teams are very similar. Thirdly, in its infinite wisdom, the governing body has the match on a Sunday night. Once upon a time it was in the afternoon, so you could have a few cold ones watching the lead-up games and have plenty of time to get yourself in order for work the next day. Now, that would not be a good thing to attempt.

In any case, I’m just sounding cranky today. Perhaps it’s going to work tomorrow after two weeks holiday that’s crowding in.

First Blog

Everyone else seems to have one, so I thought that I'd be a sheep and join the mob.

I've added links to my? our? web site, along with some selected personal information. I didn't think you'd want to see a picture of me here - for that, go to the web site.

Well, this is pretty much a test post, so, there's really nothing more than that.

Cheers