bLoG
The ups and downs
Day 163 June 11th 2016
Time to think, explore, wonder and relax. I spent the morning wandering along the walkway along the river in Gisborne. Then I headed out to Wainui Beach. After a few days of chilly, blue sky weather the wind seemed to have turned and with the sunshine came a gentle warm breeze. I cannot resist putting my toes in the ocean and so my walk along the beach was bare foot paddling. But as I sat on a driftwood log watching the surfers lazily float around waiting for the next wave I felt myself being drawn in. The water was delicious, cold but exhilarating, I let waves break over me and I dived through them gasping as I came up. Sitting in the sun afterwards drying off, it was hard to believe it is winter.
Day 162 June 10th 2016
An interesting day; I am finding that, although in principle, we do the same workshops the conversations are always very different. There may be some common trends but schools have varying needs and issues.
But the defining moment of today was the warm welcome on to the marae. 
Day 161 June 9th 2016
Didn’t sleep well and woke up far earlier than I had intended so went for a walk down to the beach. What a glorious sunrise.
Next stop: Gisborne. Yesterday we drove through beautiful countryside to Gisborne. I really will have to come back and explore this area more. Lytton High School made us extremely welcome at their staff meeting and we had some great discussions after our “eduignite” style presentations.
Day 160 June 8th 2016
I was quite nervous doing my first keynote presentation for the CLA in Napier; fortunately I could use the cold as an excuse for my legs shaking!
It was good to get up high after a day inside working and make the most of the last hour or so of sunlight. The Bluff Hill Lookout enclosures are built on the remnants of two World War II gun emplacements and there is a stunning view all around. Looking down at the container port made me think of our own container that we brought out 8 years ago – all our world in a metal box shipped across the oceans. At the end of the day, it’s just stuff – our world is our family and friends on both sides of the globe. But stuff also triggers memories. I wonder as I get older how I will hold all those memories in my head – what is the “stuff” I would choose to keep to rekindle deeply hidden memories? I think it would be my photos.
Day 159 June 7th 2016
On the road again… there’s a song in there somewhere! On my way to sunny Hawkes Bay and Gisborne for CLA PLD days via Wellington. Flying south means flying down the west coast – snow-capped Taranaki to my right and Ruapehu and Tongariro equally majestic robed in white.
Taranaki is just a blip on the horizon from my lofty stance but impressive.
Day 158 June 6th 2016
I didn’t take a photo today but my sister sent me some photos of my niece and great nieces. So lovely. It always amazes me (although it shouldn’t!) how when we look at our children we see parts of ourselves so clearly. Just little things like the way they stand, the tilt of the head or a twinkle in an eye.
Day 157 June 5th 2016
Paula finally got us up Te Aroha! 900m of upwardness in 1hr20 over 4km. We’ve done it several times before but not so quickly – usually have children to coax up the rooty, rocky, steep path.
The band of high pressure approx over NZ right now meant that we started in a temperature inversion but but frozen toes, fingers and noses soon melted as we climbed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it so still and clear at the top. Stunning views. Ran down in 55 minutes. What a beautiful winter day.
Day 156 June 4th 2016
Back home and on the side if the football pitch. Beautiful day but unfortunately the boys lost their cup game. Played well though.
Day 155 June 3rd 2916
Last day in Northland and we awoke to ice on the car in Dargaville. So much for the ‘winterless north’! The mist on the river was quite spectacular and we stopped to take photos before we climbed up to the museum. Only a few minutes later when we arrived the mist was starting to lift. It turned into a stunning day.
Day 154 June 2nd 2016
I am trying to learn some Te Reo right now and this week I have had the opportunity to practise my mihi for real. It is pretty scary speaking in front of people but it’s is so culturally important to make a connection and let people know where I come from. Today a couple of the teachers from a Maori medium school spoke to us and said how pleased they were that we had introduced ourselves in Te Reo and how well we spoke. Then one of them even added a comment to the evaluation form. Very proud of myself.
