Gooooooooooooooood Eveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeening Sunbury

Reminiscent of Adrian Cronauer's call sign made famous by Robin Williams portrayal...

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD EVEEEEEEEEEEEEENING SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNBURY

I have been busy to say the least and am nearing the end, and the beginning of something familiarly comfortable in my life and something else which is the culmination of a life long aspiration and I believe, what was meant to happen.

Not saying too much here because no doubt there are still the covert little police wannabes who like to know all and try and bully people with their BS. So for those who know where I am, you know where to find me for the low down.

I know that I was destined to do this and it feels so comfortably right and natural that I have to wonder why I resisted the pull of it all for so long. I think that the thirst for this was slacked in my work and what I undertook there to some extent.

I have had the privilege of having made some great friends who also were my mentors, they had allowed me to build and explore, to learn and develop into what I am now. For that I will forever be in their debt and I owe owe them much for without their encouragement and discourse; I probably would have doubted myself in this. The best part is that having made these friendships, I know have like minded friends to talk 'shop' with.

I have come a long way from Supamum, and for the past three years I have defined the meaning of Supamum on so many levels and in so many ways.

The worst part is I now have the bug and may well extend this beyond what I have accomplished...but that's another entry.

Time to catch up...

I've been busy..OK. Miss 11 Almost 12 commenced secondary school. I got my dual year and amidst all the hoo-ha have,yet again,managed to encourage other to think outside the square. I'm in a primary setting and secondary setting one day each a week and with two days of classes leaves me with one "free day" a week apart from weekends. This free day is spent on planning and ACP and assessment tasks and essay and research...but it is nice to have my Saturdays back. I was apprehensive of this dual year but now realise that it was not offered to me because it was an ideal scenario but because I was one of the ones would could pull it off for others to follow.

Mr 8 has become Mr 9 with a massive Star Wars Lego for his birthday and Miss 11 will soon be Miss 12. I have learnt who my friends are and who to trust more. The school has lost a principal and a new one appointed, some change is in the wind and some arses will be booted into gear one would hope.

Our lives are changing and we are adapting, I love what I am doing and if it allows 2IC to switch to something more productive later on then that is a good thing for everyone. The campaign for saving VU has moved along nicely but I still am unsure of the intentions of some who want a TAFE...when student and educational diversity is a major issue in the Western suburbs, some want to bow to the western suburbs stereotype of working class, trades people. If we want to move up, we need to move on...get over the A-typical ideal of what the town needs. We want our children to have choice...real choices not something foisted upon them because this of some misguided, misogynistic people who think they represent everyone and know what everyone wants.

I have been remiss...

Christmas and NYE have come and gone and ans we enter into another school year, I am in awe of my kids (AGAIN). Christmas supplied the boys with Lego and Meccano sets and almost the entire school holidays have been taken up with construction of nothing short of engineering genius. Mr 8 got his coveted Star Wars Lego, he has amassed such a collection that I fear annihilation by Jedi fighters if I enter the area formerly known as the main lounge. He enlisted the help of 2IC initially for some of the construction but eventually demonstrated the type of perseverance that is shining through more and more, and completed the ship himself. Since we got some great deep, colourful drawers to store all the Lego in for each of them..he has built and re built, and redesigned ALL the ships in his set, including the not as popular Mars series.
Mr 6 is growing up all too fast, with a wicked sense of humour, contagious laugh and devilish ways...he is becoming a real boys boy. He scares me with the lack of fear he has for all things physical, so unlike Mr 8.
Miss 11 commences secondary school next week and apart for getting books, uniforms and ensuring all and sundry are labelled to within an inch of it life....she is ready but are we?
Now starts the really responsibilities of lockers and uniform code and books and subject variations...how she will cope depends on how we react and act towards the issues that will arise and they will arise. She has already indicated her concerns about having enough time to change books for the next classes or what books to take to each class. This we will take in our stride, one step at a time as we have with all changes in our lives.
Me? I am waiting to hear from the those who weld all power for subject credits to apply my credits to my current area of study, then I await the powers of the PP to allow me a dual year of study in one year. After the 6th we shall know more...

Last day, last time,...How am I gonna do this two more times?

Yesterday was Miss 11's last day of primary school and amidst apprehension and excitement of secondary school, lay the understanding that it was her last day at that school, the last time she would be a student there, the last time for a lot of things.
She got her bear signed, her uniform signed, her presents given, her goodbyes, her prep buddies wishes and before you knew it, it was over. FOR NOW.
The graduation last night was highly emotional and reflective. From watching them all in their school uniforms for the last time, to their teachers singing in choir to them, their outgoing principal commenting on their creativity and diversity, Miss 11's reading of the graduation poem I wrote for the Yr 6s five years ago, to the morphing picture show using all their seven years of school photos whilst a beautiful operatic was played, then with them each lighting their candles from one another, they filed out of the Church in single file then I was a sobbing mess amongst other similar sobbing messes.
It is after all ,only primary school but it is the defining point in the life of a child for they are on the cusp of puberty and about to enter a whole new world of friendship dynamics, learning and disciplines.
It is the end of play dates supervised at others homes to "Can I walk to Maccas/Jooceworks after school?". The end of the friendly pre and post school chats with other parents and the start of "Just drop me here, I want to walk with such and such".
It not the last time for lots of things, Messers 8 and 6 still have to get through but having been to one graduation, I am unsure if I can do it again...least not with a few years to get over this one.

Is it possible...

The other day the question posed itself...is it possible to be a happy emo? Or as we succinctly labeled Miss 11's declaration of being a happy emo, an alternative emo. Miss 11 has moved into some strange and conflicting modes of pre teen of late.

• she sings in choir and was accepted the training choir(Level 2) of the National Youth Choir. If you are not familar with the NYC, think of the Qantas ad with the "I still call Australia Home' theme sung by kids-----> they were NYC members.
• she likes both Fall Out Boy,and P!INK, but also loves the songs of High School musical 1,2,3 ad.nauseum and Hairspray.
• she declared herself an emo a year ago and now says she is a 'happy emo' therein we have coined the term "ALTERNATIVE EMO" for her.
  

Sheriff on patrol... Is this the prospective face of Council representation

hey Sue baby maybe you should start looking in the mirror before making comments. I believe your language and behaviour at the safeway carpark on monday left a lot to be desired. And by the way signs are designed to tell you something OK mcjack | 11.18.08 - 7:02 am | #
Oh ,and this is so concerning because it indicates that
1) the security firm entrusted with several local contracts and who espouse to be "ethical" are really questionable in there undertakings. Bit of a concern if they are passing on private details to non concerned parties....might need to discuss this with the management and point out the indiscretion in this.
2) Is really none of anyone's business and if you feel the need to know it, you are really a sad case.
3) Really, highlights to the community the true persona of some desperate and dire individuals...and if this person was a elected official, you would really have to wonder about what private information they were gleaning and utilising incorrectly

In my opinion.....of silly old buggers

One surely has to wonder what generates any synoptic activity in some peoples grey matter, given they seem to think that if they say it , it is true. Hate to tell you this, actually no, I like proving you wrong AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN...it's really a bit like an old, punch drunk has-been fighter has been trying to best the master, they just keep on getting hit with good combo.

1# Council is a local authority...no control over STATE or FEDERAL matters ipso facto they cannot change COURT DECISIONS, no matter how many times you say it.

2# You decry other councilors as being ALP members...least they are up FRONT about their affiliations. What about a certain developer mate who owns the Sunbury Central site and the Centrelink building, hmmmm? No coincidences there about who also claimed to have access to video footage from Sunbury Central and info about the lease at Centrelink. Gee, imagine that link being made...who'd have thought. Oh ,and there is the wonderful sale of the timber yard site ...who bought that? Who built on it? Do you ever excuse yourself from voting on development matters because of your links to this developer? NO, didn't think so...because it is not public knowledge is it? I think it should be as its very ,very relevant. Oh, yes, there was a lot of jumping about with Ardcloney but all bluff and bluster...cause your mate never got into that one so you could play the pretender protector of our heritage.

3# Like the pretend protector of the victims, but look here
It seems not all is as you'd have us think and AGAIN making claims of things not of your doing( see pg 2 of the post)...can it be that SO many people are WRONG ABOUT THIS? Incidentally, whilst biting off more than you can chew with a ex crim might have dented your macho,sexist, demeanor, it hardly constitutes being a victim of the caliber you claim to care about. Plain and simple...it's called VIGILANTISM and it's nasty ,mean and it's not about caring...it's a personal vendetta. Oh, and really the writing style of Noel is intrinsic to him and his site...whilst imitation is allegedly a compliment...the poor imitation of Noel's is a travesty to the English language and the rules of grammar.

Let's now stroll down the avenue of "Giving Your Vote, MY Voice"

• Parking problems for shoppers and traders, (notice that a capital letter is only used at the begining of a sentence, they teach you that in Prep, y'know)to be addressed with tiered and park & ride at Diggers Rest.Also trader permits to be made available.

-------->HOW would you pay for this? And trader permits at the expense of who..how many per shop, only the owners or employees too? That'll work well..no parking for shoppers only the people working in the EMPTY shops.

• Instigate a "City Pride" program in our schools to counter litter and graffitti.

---------->City Pride,huh? Hope no one is thinking of copying this idea from the States.
And who would take this project on? You think forcing the overloaded curricula of schools with projects like this will make a difference? Likona (1996) states that programs such as this have NO IMPACT ( read it aloud so you get it) on "moral values, ethics and citizenship education". There is no relevant data to support what such a program allegedly proposes to do.

• Fight for better health service such as 24 hour emergency service,improved Aged care services such as Dental, endoscope, cataracts
  

--------> The SCHC extension is ALREADY COMMITTED to an extension, these are STATE & FEDERAL GOVERNMENT areas. What exactly is it you plan to do? Fight is a great word for doing NOTHING.

• Extension of sports facilities in Sunbury/Bulla including Boardman Basketball stadium extension.

--------------->These items are already on the agenda for sports facilities in Sunbury.

Sunbury Planning Area - Sunbury, Bulla and surrounding areas

Sunbury Clarke Oval - upgrade oval floodlighting Goonawarra Recreation Reserve � construction of sporting fields and installation of training lights � lighting to softball fields � construction of sports pavilion Langama Park - upgrade practice cricket wickets Sunbury Aquatic Centre pool blankets Victoria University Sunbury Campus - Master Plan for Recreation Precinct (joint project)* http://www.hume.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=431&h=1 And Boardman is ready to go after the insurance funds are free. Keep rate increases to a minimum by reducing government cost shifting. -------------->And you would do this how..because we all know when you can't do something you will blame factions and others and throw a tantrum like you always. Continue to fight for more police in Sunbury ----------------->Yes,'fight' is a grand verb to use instead of saying I will be the medias' "Dial A Quote" when they cannot get anyone else to comment because that's means I really have to do NOTHING Lobby for a state of the art Tech College at the soon to be closed VUT -------------------->Well, here we go again, you claim to be 'a voice' well ,the voices want VU TO STAY OPEN AS A UNI /TAFE. When did you ever ask anyone? No one ever saw you with the mythical" pencil and pad claim and here's the no brainer part....Education is a State/Federal area NOT LOCAL COUNCIL. Oh, and get it right, it's called Victoria University or VU ( has not been called VUT for a decade) . Lobby for the right to a pre-school placement for every child in the ward. ------------------->Pre school placement is subject to timely application, you cannot circumvent and put kids in where there are no places! -------------------->Pre school comes under DEECD again... State GOVERNMENT. You can do NOTHING about this if parents fail to put an application in on time.Councilors actually have NO CONTROL over council facilities management especially if that area falls under a STATE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT also. Posted in the spirit of robust expression and debate, as well as the right of opinion as afforded to me under the democracy in which we live. Declared as being fair comment as a matter of public interest.

Fairytales or should they be called "Hairy tails"?

Some folk have SOOOOOOO much trouble with remembering what they have and have not done...trouble is you really need to be VERY VERY careful because you will get caught out by some of far higher standing in society than yourself. And who looks like a hairy tale teller then?

2006-10-15	Posted: Nov 21, 2007 7:49:26 pm LOL!
steve Member Posts: 2 Registered: 2008-01-03	Posted: Jan 03, 2008 12:29:21 pm Well can we please set the record straight Noel, I was a victim of crime many years ago although not as bad as yours and never felt that it was any of yours or any one else's business to know exactly what it was. For your info I did go to a Catholic college enough said OK. I never said that I was a founding member of PALS but I was a founding member of CVSA and even gave it that name remember, and still have not been paid in full for the banner although I am happy to donate it to a good cause. As far as the Political ambition goes it wasnt me Noel who put up a candidate and fellow commitee person representing a wacky left leaning party called People power at a victims rally now was it. I have never tried to hang my hat on the plight of victims, I have always set my sights on making the Legal profession accountable to the victims plight and NEVER have I ever put you down in public for what you have done. I am very disappointed that you feel the way you do and it hurts me to read this considering that it was me who nominated you and Bev for the A.O. for all your work. Thanks for your support. And Laurie why dont you tell everyone that the Pedophile Charles Allen was living in your street without the knowledge of the local Police and was regarded as one of the country's worst offenders, thats why I blew the whistle.I hope Laurie that you have paid the local ALP branch registration this year along with your fellow comrades as it will be an election year and you guys love nothing better than to sling mud at me. And I love it! Happy New Year to all Edited on: Jan 03, 2008 12:42:41 pm
steve Member Posts: 2 Registered: 2008-01-03	Posted: Jan 03, 2008 12:35:23 pm And also, I was not sued by anyone I sued for defamation and was succesful in getting a judgement and YES I am Indigenous and proud of it, but I dont receive any of the so called perks that go with it. End of Issue I trust.
admin Admin Posts: 625 Registered: 2002-05-01	Posted: Jan 20, 2008 1:22:20 pm Steve, no not the end of matter, their are a few issues that have to be addressed, as you seem to be claiming fame for starting. CVSA that was set up in September 1992 in attendance Kay Nesbit,Sheerie Datsun, Karen Orpen, the late Howard Bratton, Kim Wells, Bev and myself, sorry no Steve, not even at the big meeting at Wantirna High School in October 1992 attended by shadow Attorney General Jan Wade, you came along in with Howard in 94/95 or their abouts, you refer to Karen rocking up from People Power at one of our protests, as I've already told you, they refused to have you as a member of their People Power, why Steve?. You claim you payed for our banner out of your own pocket, this is not the truth, Richard from GTV 9 donated it. Next AO, you write about, would that be the OAM,it is something we are humble and proud to have, however Kay Nesbit say she nominated us for it, but could not get down for the presentation, and of course regargless of that, you have to get the runs on the board for one, on the councelor from Hume who you had a barney with,the one who refer to you as Jackass, their must have been two winners Steve, now the truth from the bulltish has been sorted, feel free to post on this site, that why we are well on our way to getting 200,000 hits this year.

I Hate footy...blah...

After losing the on going battle with 2IC and the kids for footy, they have attended several matches with him and he has converted them to semi-hypnotised believers in all things ovoid and testosterone driven; shame really I thought I had that battle won. Saturday proved that not every thing revolves around the game of Neanderthals, as 2IC scored a ticket and as I was not teaching off he went ALONE to the celebration of the unskilled. Meanwhile the kids and I played about inside and out, and it was not until later that Miss 11 thought to watch the match on TV and then only between PC games and outside games with her brothers...who could not have cared less really.
When 2IC finally arrive home, the kids were a bit more excited and thrilled but not to the extreme...playing the theme song over speakers in the backyard on Sunday was really, really daggy and did not have the disired effect on the kids.
So in effect, I win, footy has lost, they are not swept up in the silliness of it at all.
Viva la AFL ( Anti Football League)

Chocolate and Collins, Can't Be wrong...

Phil Collins and chocolate, has to be right, doesn't it?

Go Margaret........

Caught the tale end of what could only be described as unscripted TV at it best with Andrew Denton interviewing kitchen diva, Margaret Fulton. For those too young or uneducated enough to know, Margaret Fulton was and still is the ultimate of cuisine couture when Australia was struggling to accept international dishes as part of our eating habits. She was the food editor for several national magazines, chef for CHoGM and much more. She was also a great advocate for women and their role in society.
Now as the video links shows, she demostrates to Andrew her rapier wit and how she got to where she is today. She pulls not punches and often is unaware of the funniness of her comments. Andrew, at one stage, is aghast when asking Margaret what he could cook up for Jennifer ( his wife Jennifer Byrne) with mince to impress her; refering to Margarets 101 Dishes with Mince, her succinct reply was that she'd not bother trying to impress Jennifer as Jennifer was unimpressionable. If you want to read the hilarious transcript, it's linked to the post title.

MARGARET FULTON: I think it would be hard to impress Jennifer. She’s impressed me more than any other woman in Australia. You know why.

ANDREW DENTON: Why?

MARGARET FULTON: Because Gough Whitlam who’s the biggest know-all in the world . . .

Laughter

MARGARET FULTON: And she had a there was a big thing spelling bee or . . .

ANDREW DENTON: Sale of the Century.

MARGARET FULTON: Sale of the Century yes and she beat him hollow.

ANDREW DENTON: Mmm yeah.

Laughter

MARGARET FULTON: And I always thought a woman who can beat the most know all person in the world.

Laughter

ANDREW DENTON: Mmm.

MARGARET FULTON: She’s I wouldn’t fool with her . . .

ANDREW DENTON: Mince meat.

Laughter

ANDREW DENTON: You’re right. It’s a feeble minded thought.

Laughter

ANDREW DENTON: It’s crazy talk.

MARGARET FULTON: Yeah.

A funny thing happens when you tell lies.....

...your credibility becomes lower than it already was ;at below whole numbers (if it existed at all before). See, if you tell porkies about essential government services closing down, some one , some where is going to call you to account...BIGTIME.
Enough people know enough about local services to know that one such as this would not and could not close down and move away. We aren't all as gullible as they teach you in the "Become an estate agent in 10 days" crash course from NSW.
Maybe people who have leases with govt. departments should keep their mouths shut to their mates too, that'd be a good idea. Be a shame if the management of the govt department put two and two together and got five...and made the decision based on someones indiscreet chatter. They have a lovely little facility known as "media watch " in all govt departments which haunts cyberspace waiting for little gems such as that to appear, so the staff,management,ministers and such all know who started the rumour and who they are associated with...

Bragging Rights

Never one to brag really but I got my marks for first semester, needles to say...you cannot do much better and I beat out a lot who thought they were younger by that fact... smarter...HAHA. Let's just say that age, experience and having a brain that acts like a sponge with mind that can formulate valid arguments that prove that Austen was a writer limited by her own lack of experience goes further than having just been to India with Daddy and mummsie.

There is no charge for awesomeness.....but bad food and service cost you.

We set out Saturday to take the terrible three to the movies. We were going to see Narnia or as it is otherwise known here..Narna and Prince Capsicum. As Miss 11 is going out later in the hols with a friend for birthday treat to see this and as it is rated "M" we thought better of it so Kung Fu Panda it was. We had a gift voucher of $50 to use so we went to the other large movie theatre rather than our local one...big difference in prices and venue cleanliness that's for sure. Stick with Readings people, you will be happier and better off in the pocket.
After the movie we went to the local pizzeria/restaurant "La Porchetta" at Sydenham. When we entered the place was half empty..it was only 5.45 on a Saturday evening anyway, when we asked for table for five, we were asked if we had a booking! A booking?...it's a pizza place in the burbs FGS not Vlados. We said OK we'll go if there's no room*looking about at 40 plus empty chairs and 20plus empty tables in a half full restusrant* "No, I'll fit you in somewhere" was the reply. We really should have cut our losses then and left. Eventually we were seated and it was no biggie as it involved moving two tables together...any one would have thought we asked for snow from the South Pole. Anyway we ordered drinks and and when they came my Coke was supplied in a bottle SANS glass and 2IC's beer was supplied the same way. 2IC requested a glass and was supplied with a soft drink glass of some type but it was not a beer glass. When our meals arrived, Mr 8's pizza was supplied on the cooking pan with no dinnerware and the waitress attempted the pass the HOT dish to him from the other end of the table!! Other meals were passed across the table and over others heads. I know it's only a pizza place but even the most remote drive in diner with table service knows to serve tables from the left and clear from the right. That is with food. As far as beverages you serve them from the right. A good rule of thumb is to never serve with the back of your arm facing your guest. This is BASIC stuff any server learns...obviously not the waitresses at La Porchettas, Sydenham. As for the food, well Mr 8 had one slice and insisted the pizza was" yukky" in the middle, Miss 11 ate most of her lasagna but was sick in the toilets afterward...WTF! And Mr 5 ate some of his childrens size lasagna. 2IC's seafood pasta marinara was "soapy" had too much tomato paste...yes, paste, not tomatoes. My fungi con pollo penne was from the night before and was reheated and the chicken was red meat...stuff you boil for soups and such...YEECH. All in all, a place never to be revisited or recommended except to advise others to avoid it at all costs.

School Reports and Tee-Ball

Well, it's that time of year again with the local Winter Round Robin Tee ball competition behind us and reports upon us. I coached the senior Tee ball team this year, even switched a class to do it...not that anyone cared. The teachers would just re organise the sports sessions and I'd only find out when I'd signed in and turned up and even once dragged all the equipment out. I'm only doing it because its Miss 11's last year and the kids who usually go into tee ball and softball have limited resources to help them for the games ( ie: the teachers don't know how to pay). Our school fields Gr 5 and 6 for this comp and the other field Gr 6's only and the mixed/boys teams are usually all boys against our MIXED boys and girls. Anyhow, the teams played excellently and played against some tough competition but held their own with consistency in their batting: 8,10,8 which was brilliant. I love it that I can stack a batting order to maximise the children's run rate and no one is none the wiser. Their fielding was excellent and apart from the big hitters at some school( which is no real skill in tee ball) they kept most hits to within two throws of the catcher, they watched, made excellent decisions on where to throw and were only beaten by a maximum of 4 home runs in one comp, which was their worst loss. I won't be switching any classes for softball in term 3 as it seems that after a while your contribution is taken for granted a bit because you are ALWAYS there to coach...so if I have a morning off I will coach softball but I will coach on the day of the comp provided I have no presentations or tests to undertake. I don't expect a thank you every time but being told in advance that training has been changed or canceled would be nice.



School reports and the "celebration" of mediocrity. When did a 'C' become so acceptable and an "A" so unobtainable? I have missed nothing but noted the subtle shift in this trend by the Govt and education system to place all our children within a 'benchmark' of acceptability. They have utilised the AIMs/NAPLAN system to set the benchmark since 2003 then revamp the reporting system to reflect the inadequacies of the education system by making a mid range mark reflective of the abilities of the majority as being acceptable instead of the aim for the best you can be 'A'. So that's right kids, just be a sheep and learn like everyone else, don't try too hard because unless you are 6-12months ahead of your peers, you get no recognition for it anyway.
As an educator, I should be embracing of the this new system ( so I am told) as it allows many students to feel equal to their peers, sorry, I'd rather have my students ( and my children) striving to be better than acceptable. If a 'C' is celebration, than why bother to apply yourself too much if you are on track for the 'C'. Miss 11 had fallen into this trap because she was denied the 'A' she deserved because her chronological age placed her at a disadvantage as the work is graded by year level not age, she knew she was good, even better that others in her class but could but could not get that elusive 'A'. 2IC and I were even told in 2004 that she was on 'A' in English but the 'A' was removed by the principal because no one else had achieved that level in the school at that time. So now we celebrated mediocrity in our children instead of allowing them to shine upon themselves and others creating a sense of "if they can do it ,I can do it" Ad Altoria.

Hello again

Well, I've been very busy so I apologise for the interruption to this service but after twelve plus weeks of study and PC stuff...I'm a bit over the whole PC for entertainment bit so I have had a bit of a break from blogging. I have a few (5,6,7 weeks) before the highway of higher education resumes and I'm waiting for the new timetable to show itself so I can see if my electives will fit, being they are final year subjects. I'm still doing my rounds on Saturdays and will continue to do so until end of October with the option of continuing through to end of November. There have been a lot of drop outs from the course which makes you wonder why they work so hard to get into it in the first place. Could it be that their ideal of the career choice is not all they thought it was? Or does having three or sometimes four assignments due within a two week period really freak them out? I think its more the self control and discipline needed to do the required reading, research and such...no one is at you to do it,it is just assumed you have done it.

The kids are fine, thanks for asking; and despite Miss 11 wanting her ears pierced for her 11th birthday, she has has issues with replacing the sleepers after wearing some decorative ones to her cousins 21st on Saturday. Seems the holes have commenced to heal over and I cannot get sleeper nor stud through with out literally having to re pierce her ear!! So we have decided to allow them to heal over and re do them near the end of the year...and I am so looking forward to that one, Yuri!!!Mr 5 is a social butterfly of parties and playdates and I really wish some one would have the economic and social smarts to develop a children's play centre again in Sunbury al-la the one we had in Horne St until early 2003 as I am over the Mc D's and HJ's parties that everyone is having for their kids. Mr 8 is coming along well but I feel the teacher of choice is only going through the motions of inclusion and such, she seems more concerned with what his aide and I discuss rather then being part of any discussion, and the student well being officer, well, administrative wise she's good but again...needs to learn a lot about the system. Just because a child has been given an ADDITIONAL diagnosis which is NOT the primary diagnosis, does not mean the child is now X instead of Y and will no longer be funded...not your decision, not your call, sweetheart!

Integrity, huh?

What exactly does it entail to have integrity? The Oxford dictionary defines it as 'wholeness, soundness, uprightness and honest; noun 1 the quality of being honest and morally upright. 2 the state of being whole or unified. 3 soundness of construction.'

Now if we take it as a noun applied as a character description we have: honest, wholeness,and morally upright.

Hmmm, so if someone were to know about something that was confidential-in-confidence YET alleges that someone else breached that in camera code YET that the first person was not privy to the information nor part of any consultations regarding the information...how is that person to know the alleged information was a) commercial-in-confidence or b) told in camera? Unless some other individual told said, first person . Bit of double standard there with the word integrity, me thinks. Not a lot of 'wholeness' of the story either.

Gets tricky, doesn't it? Moving on to the matter of honesty...now its a matter of some conjecture as to what makes an honest man. Thomas Jefferson once stated

An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens.

Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Melish, January 13, 1813

Or as Pope said,

An honest man is the noblest work of God.

Alexander Pope
English poet & satirist (1688 - 1744)

So by the definitions of these illustrious historical figures, an honest man is one of fairness and social conscious, who was created by God. Ok, then we have;

Honest people don't hide their deeds.
Emily Bronte

So we have social conscious, God fearing, and open about all matters and what of 'morally upright'? Do you have to be upright in the sense of publicly seen to be upstanding in order to have morality? Or can a person be upright by the above definition yet amoral?

Or still ;is a person capable of being morally destitute whilst still proclaiming to be the litmus test for integrity? The answer is a resounding 'NO".

A person cannot hold themselves up in judgment of an attribute, they have no comprehension of nor possess themselves. In the definition of integrity, many other characteristics come to light and in assessment of these characteristics it would seem that to question the integrity of one persons alleged actions ; places the integrity, honesty, wholeness and morality of others on a far higher platform for query.

Oxford or Harvard..?

No, I have not been offered a scholarship to these halls of learning (you never know) but I was intrigues today at during a history tutorial when we were critiquing a recent essay from the other tutorial group. We were discussing the referencing systems used, it seems the education stream student use Harvard: quoting author, title, edition and page after the quote and as a past Arts student I use Oxford as I studied history and literature and later, law but use Harvard for my education stream subjects only. I was surprised that one student ( 2nd year) announced he had never been penalised for mis use of referencing system and only ever uses a bibliography. Myself, and several others were aghast at this. I was also shocked at the standard of writing the essay in question offered and the tutor stating it covered all aspects of the rubric for a good grade!! This despite the author using both Oxford and Harvard referencing...good trick that one.
On another aspect, I took Miss 11 to the movies with a few friends to see Nim's Island.
It is a fantastic movie but has it's flaws which are lost to many kids, some reviews of it canned it others have applauded it. There are a few too many things happening at once and a child younger than 12 would not see the parallel of JackRusoe( Ruscoe sounds like Crusoe as in Robinson Crusoe) and Alex Rover being the same actor. The whole Australian cruise ship finds the 'deserted' island ideal is a bit too rough and ready and cartoon like and the back and froing between Nim, Alex and Jack's individual hurdles and the consequences of their actions can get a bit monotonous and confusing to a younger viewer. All in all, I liked it and will probably delve into the book on a whim.

Funny thing happened .....

...When you take a 10 almost 11 year old to get their ears pierced as I was apt to do this past Saturday. She had been very, very intrigued by the process for months and wanted it done and as it was hardly a whim birthday wish; she had asked prior to Christmas 2007... soI made the arrangements. We didn't hype her up about it but I was clear that it would hurt a bit and that hygiene was of the utmost importance when dealing with pieced ears. She was ok about it all and still wanted to do it. So off we went to our appointment and she was asking a few questions about the same stuff we had gone over, but being the ever patient mum I re answered them for the eleven hundred time. When we arrived she was able to choose from a series of stud type earrings which she was very quick to do, so quick in fact I asked her to look at all the choices and she told me to pick!!! Hmmm, 'we may not be doing this' I thought then. We ,then, realise that despite all the information we had been given, the actual operation,per say,was not being done by two attendants simultaneously but by one. Which meant that one ear would be done, than another. Given her strange and off handed attitude to choosing something...jewelery related, let alone, sparking and shiny; I had visions of leaving with a distraught child with one ear pierced!
Miss 10 Almost 11, had one done then started with "It hurts, it hurts, ow it burns"
and the attendant sprayed the ear with some anti infection spray and then it was "Ow, it stings, it stings" 'Here we go, I'm leaving with a child with one earring' I thought to myself, but she trooped on and had the other one done( repeat all of exclamations from above). Then as I was sorting out payment and care details, she comes up with "I'm gonna be sick" and has turned a lovely shade of white usually reserved for those on deaths door. We sit her down, with a rubbish bin and the lovely, S who had done the piercings got her a cold towel and we tried to get her to eat a sugar sweet. As S, explained to me she thought Miss 10 was too calm and has seen it several times before (only in Sunbury), all the sugar in their system is taken up by anxiety and stress and they crash after the event. After about 20 minutes. Miss 10 was fine and off we went. Now we have to wait 6 weeks before the "I love those earrings" starts, luckily school rules limit the type of earring permitted.
Despite this, Miss now 11 had a lovely birthday, ending in a family dinner at her favorite restaurant. She was given a money from relos for her birthday and as Mr 8 had birthday money and Mr 5 had a find of $20 on the floor of the supermarket a few weeks ago. They also bought some things they wanted. Miss 11 got a new bunny complete with clothes from "Build- A Bear".
She already has a bear with clothes but you can never have too many stuffed toys as a girl!!
Mr 5 bought some mew clothes for Kangraoo Jack at the same shop and Mr 8 went with 2IC to get his Transformer PLUS he got a new PS2 game..so every one was happy.

I'm BAAAACK!!

To all who know me, know where I've been ( right here) and what I've been doing( not blogging). I am making my way and carving my niche at the new undertaking of my life and it's not that hard to fall back into the routine I knew, with the exception of outings to the pubs ( not done any more it seems) and sitting about the caf., neither of which I do now because I have to collect the terrible three from school or a friends place. Mr 5 has settled into school nicely, reads well and sings all the songs he learns to us. Mr 8, yes we missed that one on line, had a birthday in February with a Wild Action party....snakes and a croc, and a kookaburras and lizards...it was a hit!!!
Miss 10 is now a senior and vice sports captain of her house, she was even a school captain candidate!!! She has her illustrious senior jacket and has not been the only one wearing it these past over 30 degree days. Much to the dismay and horror of many parents.
Suffice to say we are all learning and some of us are re learning what we did know and learners are teachers too you know.