I love what I am doing. On Monday night I couldn't sleep because I kept giggling to myself, feeling very lucky. I go around feeling almost guilty, because I am doing something I really and passionately love, and it excites me so much.
The pile of assessments to be done this year is overwhelming; among other things, I will be making two books, as in books that get published and sold (hopefully). Or at least be closely integrated into the editing/typesetting/printing process. As well as doing one million other things that will be assessed.
I have been so absorbed in my work over the past few weeks that sitting in a classroom and soaking up information feels strange. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to fit work around all these assignments, as well as 15 hours of classes. But somehow I will, because I love it and I want to do this for ever.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
insuring and ensuring
I have done so many things this morning, and I feel like I have to tell someone. The biggest mountain conquered today is the renewal of the contents insurance policy I took out when I first moved to Wellington. I've updated it to include all of Jeremy's things, including his drum kit.
It's scary to think about how much it would cost to replace all our possessions; it is hard to put values on things, like my collection of children's books. Some of those books are almost priceless to me, with their colouring pen scribbles and chewed corners. And what about all the artwork that dear friends Henrietta, Nick, Peter, Bex, and others, have made for me over the years? What about the formica extendable dining table I bought from the recycling centre for $10 a few years ago, which has loyally followed me through every move, despite not actually fitting into my car or through the door of the last two houses? Old photos of friends and family, our wedding photos, the letters and little notes from Jeremy I've kept over the years, my Dad's collection of notebooks filled with things he thought were interesting? I'll never be able to replace any of those things. In fact, I've told Jeremy that if our house was on fire, I want him to rescue the two shoeboxes on top of the tall bookcase - one filled with memories of J; the other, G. If time, he could grab some (any) books and the box of photos under the couch.. Or me.
Anyway, back to what I have completed today:
Hospice duty this weekend. I just had an e-mail from the co-ordinator asking me to show a new volunteer the ropes, as my usual partner can't make it. It's not very hard work, and you get such great rewards. Last time I was there, I talked with a nice old lady about her knitting, and she showed me the alpaca wool she was making some gloves from, a beautiful aqua-green colour and just so soft.
Lastly, I want to share this recipe with my readers. I made some of these Anzac biscuits yesterday, and they proved as good as last time I made them, so I think the recipe is pretty reliable. Except I have a feeling that I used two tbsp golden syrup by mistake, but it hasn't affected the taste in any way, probably just a bit sweeter..
***
Adventure Company Anzac Biscuits
(recipe from essentially food, supplied by The Marlborough Sounds Adventure Company)
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup coconut
1 cup rolled oats (I use wholegrain)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
125g butter, melted
1 tbsp golden syrup
2 tbsps hot water
- Preheat oven to 180c.
- Mix all the ingredients together.
- Roll into small balls, and place on greased or lined baking trays.
- Flatten each biscuit with a fork.
- Bake for 15 minutes, until golden brown. Cool and store in a baking tin.
- Makes lots; I made around 40. Depends how big they are, I guess.
NB: the mixture will be resonably dry, so you have to work hard to get the biscuits to roll into a ball. On the plus side, all the oats and coconut exfoliates your hands and leaves them feeling very soft, if a little buttery.
It's scary to think about how much it would cost to replace all our possessions; it is hard to put values on things, like my collection of children's books. Some of those books are almost priceless to me, with their colouring pen scribbles and chewed corners. And what about all the artwork that dear friends Henrietta, Nick, Peter, Bex, and others, have made for me over the years? What about the formica extendable dining table I bought from the recycling centre for $10 a few years ago, which has loyally followed me through every move, despite not actually fitting into my car or through the door of the last two houses? Old photos of friends and family, our wedding photos, the letters and little notes from Jeremy I've kept over the years, my Dad's collection of notebooks filled with things he thought were interesting? I'll never be able to replace any of those things. In fact, I've told Jeremy that if our house was on fire, I want him to rescue the two shoeboxes on top of the tall bookcase - one filled with memories of J; the other, G. If time, he could grab some (any) books and the box of photos under the couch.. Or me.
Anyway, back to what I have completed today:
- New insurance policy set up, and payment organised. Found out that our insurance has tenant liability protection, so if the house does burn to the ground, and it isn't our fault, we are not liable to pay for anything. Phew.
- Found out how to hire academic dress for graduation ceremony in May. Must send off payment next week so we don't miss out. (Jeremy and I will be graduating on the same day, which is quite exciting - I wonder if we can walk in the parade together? J is much more experienced at walking in parades than I)
- Renewed AA membership
- Sorted out power bill
- Sorted out health insurance payment
- Paid scooter registration
- Put the washing out
And it's only just 11:00am! This afternoon is going to be a bit quieter; I need to return some books and a movie to the library. The Kilbirnie Library is my latest favourite haunt. Lots of parking, friendly staff, and a reasonably good selection of books and movies, if a little small. They have lots of new books though. But I can't get too many out, because I am about to start reading Cowboy Dog by Nigel Cox. I bought it for Jeremy while we were waiting at the airport last weekend, and he reports that it is very good. And I figure it can't hurt to be halfway through a book written by a New Zealander when I start this publishing course..
After the library visit, I am booked to have a massage - my Valentine's Day gift from J. Last year for Valentine's Day, J gave me a torch. So this is a little more romantic, although I did need the torch.. I used to work as a PA and receptionist at a massage therapy (not massage parlour, Ben), and was the recipient of many free massages, in fact I became quite an addict. Except I can't afford them now that I don't work there, or even live in the same city, so this is a treat indeed. Two of my lovely friends, Lesley and Claire, bought me the same massage 'deal' as a wedding present, and as well as a back/neck/shoulder massage, it includes a scalp massage and an exfoliating unguent rubbed into your back, just heavenly! If I ever end up working a full-time job, then maybe I will have these more often.Hospice duty this weekend. I just had an e-mail from the co-ordinator asking me to show a new volunteer the ropes, as my usual partner can't make it. It's not very hard work, and you get such great rewards. Last time I was there, I talked with a nice old lady about her knitting, and she showed me the alpaca wool she was making some gloves from, a beautiful aqua-green colour and just so soft.
Lastly, I want to share this recipe with my readers. I made some of these Anzac biscuits yesterday, and they proved as good as last time I made them, so I think the recipe is pretty reliable. Except I have a feeling that I used two tbsp golden syrup by mistake, but it hasn't affected the taste in any way, probably just a bit sweeter..
***
Adventure Company Anzac Biscuits
(recipe from essentially food, supplied by The Marlborough Sounds Adventure Company)
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup coconut
1 cup rolled oats (I use wholegrain)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
125g butter, melted
1 tbsp golden syrup
2 tbsps hot water
- Preheat oven to 180c.
- Mix all the ingredients together.
- Roll into small balls, and place on greased or lined baking trays.
- Flatten each biscuit with a fork.
- Bake for 15 minutes, until golden brown. Cool and store in a baking tin.
- Makes lots; I made around 40. Depends how big they are, I guess.
NB: the mixture will be resonably dry, so you have to work hard to get the biscuits to roll into a ball. On the plus side, all the oats and coconut exfoliates your hands and leaves them feeling very soft, if a little buttery.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
this and that
The last few weeks have felt a bit strange. I have been working part-time, which translates to whenever I want, and the rest of the time I've been reading in bed, visiting the library, doing the washing, enjoying some sun. One day I even emptied the entire pantry, threw out anything past its use-by date, cleaned the shelves, and put everything back in a new (and much more logical) arrangement.
Diploma of Publishing starts next week. I am nervous, but more excited. I think the practical and creative nature of the work will really appeal. Interestingly, the polytechnic is much more laissez faire about things such as enrolments. I've had a verbal confirmation of my enrolment (after calling three times, and leaving messages with various people), but still no paperwork. I'll turn up at 9am on Monday, though, and hopefully I will be allowed into the classroom.
We flew to Auckland for Waitangi weekend. The new house is very nice, just the right size for three people and a large dog. Mum has unpacked her vases and the-wedding-china that she wants to keep, thankfully there are lots of places to display it all. She is very creative, and my favourite design element has to be the teacups in the cubby-holes intended to store wine. All the wedding-china is now out of storage, so I chose what I wanted to keep; Mum is going to sell the excess to a friend-of-a-friend who is opening a tea shop in Devonport. In the end I managed to get my choices downsized to two small boxes. I tried to tell myself they were only plates and cups, and I didn't need everything... then I reasoned that they were from our wedding, and these are things that are special to me, and something I will want to pass on to children, grandchildren. So they remain in bubblewrap in boxes until next time we drive to Auckland. No way am I going to trust Wellington weather to bring us (and the precious china) smoothly back down to land!
A few more photos from our trip:
The view from the Getty Center, looking back towards the south-east (Downtown L.A.). And part of just one of the magnificent gardens.
Mum and I, in front of said view. And the wheelchair I had for our time at the GC. (Note: if ever I end up in a wheelchair permanently, I will send J to wheelchair-driving classes. Ended up in quite a few corners unexpectedly, especially in lifts. Thus, Mum took most of the responsibility for the steering.)
Great place, lots of things to look at. The carpark is at the bottom of the hill, and you have to take a tram up to the actual museum - good views en route. The land is so dry, I guess it's all desert underneath. There is a lot to see - we had four hours there, but I still didn't get to see the German Modernist exhibition that I was looking forward to, having studied it intensively in two different Art History courses. Saw some manuscripts and choral sheet music from approximately 600AD, which was quite amazing.
We lost Jeremy at one point. So I was parked in (another) corner, to sit patiently, while Mum ran around the 12th-century religious icon exhibit, trying to find him. And for the record, and for anyone who is planning to go to L.A., GC had the best food of any tourist attraction we visited.
Sometimes it all got a bit much....
Diploma of Publishing starts next week. I am nervous, but more excited. I think the practical and creative nature of the work will really appeal. Interestingly, the polytechnic is much more laissez faire about things such as enrolments. I've had a verbal confirmation of my enrolment (after calling three times, and leaving messages with various people), but still no paperwork. I'll turn up at 9am on Monday, though, and hopefully I will be allowed into the classroom.
We flew to Auckland for Waitangi weekend. The new house is very nice, just the right size for three people and a large dog. Mum has unpacked her vases and the-wedding-china that she wants to keep, thankfully there are lots of places to display it all. She is very creative, and my favourite design element has to be the teacups in the cubby-holes intended to store wine. All the wedding-china is now out of storage, so I chose what I wanted to keep; Mum is going to sell the excess to a friend-of-a-friend who is opening a tea shop in Devonport. In the end I managed to get my choices downsized to two small boxes. I tried to tell myself they were only plates and cups, and I didn't need everything... then I reasoned that they were from our wedding, and these are things that are special to me, and something I will want to pass on to children, grandchildren. So they remain in bubblewrap in boxes until next time we drive to Auckland. No way am I going to trust Wellington weather to bring us (and the precious china) smoothly back down to land!
A few more photos from our trip:
The view from the Getty Center, looking back towards the south-east (Downtown L.A.). And part of just one of the magnificent gardens.
Mum and I, in front of said view. And the wheelchair I had for our time at the GC. (Note: if ever I end up in a wheelchair permanently, I will send J to wheelchair-driving classes. Ended up in quite a few corners unexpectedly, especially in lifts. Thus, Mum took most of the responsibility for the steering.)
Great place, lots of things to look at. The carpark is at the bottom of the hill, and you have to take a tram up to the actual museum - good views en route. The land is so dry, I guess it's all desert underneath. There is a lot to see - we had four hours there, but I still didn't get to see the German Modernist exhibition that I was looking forward to, having studied it intensively in two different Art History courses. Saw some manuscripts and choral sheet music from approximately 600AD, which was quite amazing.
We lost Jeremy at one point. So I was parked in (another) corner, to sit patiently, while Mum ran around the 12th-century religious icon exhibit, trying to find him. And for the record, and for anyone who is planning to go to L.A., GC had the best food of any tourist attraction we visited.
Sometimes it all got a bit much....
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