Pulteney Grammar School- 190 South Terrace

Another beautiful day today in Adelaide. I work in such a wonderful place. Right on the edge of the CBD bordering on to the parklands. The school is one of the oldest in Australia. It was founded in 1848. Pulteney has a rich history. We even have our own school Archivist. I love the old buildings and courtyard area. Several of the buildings are heritage listed, and there is simply a beautiful atmosphere at the school. Its definitely not the most grand and exquisite school (check out St Peters Boys) but it has a wonderful community feel. It does not feel like a stuffy private school that's for sure.

I took some photos today because the roses are all in bloom and it looks great!

The Main Entrance from South Terrace

The Front office/Reception

Student walkway over busy South Terrace

All well again

Hi Guys,

Well I have pretty much recovered now. I went back to school Tues. My throat still feels slightly scratchy but its nearly 100%.
Anyway, not much to post at this point. Will update very soon. Stay tuned
xo

Laryngitus

Wednesday at school I was struggling to project my voice properly during my year 8 Japanese class. Thursday it was worse and I knew I would be struggling to teach. The kids were great though when I told them I needed them to be really focused on me and working quietly. Thurs arvo I spoke to the AP(assistant Principal) to ask for Friday off. I was a little surprised when she mentioned how tight we were for staff (Its year 12 Valedictory), so I asked if I could at least have my Fri afternoon off to go to a Dr. My colleagues were a bit taken aback to hear that I wasn't allowed the whole day off. Anyway, I went in Fri and my colleagues looked at me, heard me attempt to say good morning, and were adament that I shouldn't teach. My mate Simon immediately rang the AP and told her that he was covering my lesson 1 and 2 and that I just needed lesson 3 covered. He advocated for me and managed to get all my lesson covered. He is a darling! The staff I work with are amazing. We are all there for each other and willing to sacrifice for each other etc. It really is the best group of ppl I've ever worked with.
I still went to my lessons at the beginning to write stuff on the board and collect assignments. My year 9's were the cutest though. For a bunch of teenagers, they really are sweet and sincere. They were all telling me they'd miss me and that they hoped I'd get better. I got lots of high fives and get well soons as I left.

The dr told me to take a few days to rest my voice etc and gave me a perscription for what he said was the yummiest tasting cough syrup (I had a nasty chest cough at that stage). I got to the Chemist and asked for the syrup. The lady who served me said 'Have you ever had this syrup before?' Its the worst tasting stuff available, but the most effective one I know. I didn't realise that the Dr was being sarcastic...

Has anyone tried it, its called 'SENEGA and AMMONIA' and it is FOUL! It tastes vaguely like Sarspirella and it makes you shudder big time!

Anyway, I'm feeling pretty miserable with a runny nose. It never ceases to amaze me how much snot one can produce whilst sick....EWWWW

A Japanese meal with family

When I was living with my Aunty and Uncle in Willunga last year I kept promising them I'd cook them a traditional Japanese meal. Between moving out, getting married etc I never got around to it...Here it is a year later and I finally made good on that promise.
Me and Pete spent lots of time preparing all the food and had the best time making dumplings from scratch (except for the wonton wrappers).
For starters we had Miso soup, followed by Gyoza (Japanese dumplings) and then Okonomiyaki (savory seafood pancake). It was so yummy, and the company was even better.
We had my Uncle Steve and Aunty Mel with their kids Matt and Deanna and my Grandma.

Here are some photos. I'll post the recipes tomorrow in case anyone's interested in having a go...

First day of Term 4

Hi guys,

Twas the first day back with the students today. I had really missed them. I run the Middle School SRC and had to round them all up as it was our turn to run the chapel service for this week. I told them on the last day of term 3 but of course they'd all forgotten. I went for the locker area and soon gathered them up. Lots of my home group class were about and I got lots of nice compliments about my new hair cut. It's amazing that the students pay that much attention. The boys often say "Nice matching braclet and earrings Mrs Watt, where'd you get them from?" Or last week of term I got "You're looking very floral today Mrs Watt." I gotta admit, I love it. I love that my students are cheeky, it reminds me of me!
I have lots of stories already, but I'll save them for another day.

What I wanted to blog was actually just that I am losing my voice. Its been 1 day and I'm losing my voice...HELP! I'm praying its not the nasty laryngitis virus mum got a few weeks back...

Nice day for a picnic!

I have another nephew. His name is Benjamin Watt (Pete's brother's son). Since Pete's mum and dad are away in QLD, and the other parents are in Wyalla (3hrs away) Pete and I have become resident baby- sitters to my other niece and nephew - Meagan and Jamie. I spent the day with the 2 kids this week and we had a nice picnic of nutella sandwiches in the park, and played on 3 different playgrounds (we went playground hunting in the car). It was nice to take the kids outdoors, though I was wary of where they were at all times. I can easily see how little kids wander off so quick. I was happy they didn't cry, hurt themselves or cause any public nuisance in my care. YAY!

I don't have any pics of my new nephew yet. Sleeping baby photos are rather boring...unless you're an expert photographer.

I'm famous...sorta

On Tuesday Peter got an out of the blue message from a mate saying "your wife is on news.com.au." I immediately remembered back to 2 weeks prior when I was asked to pose for some photos for the Paper in my classroom. A week after that I had a phone interview with a journo but didn't think anything would end up in the paper. Because my school is right in the city of Adelaide and is pretty much the only co-ed private school in that vicinity, the Advertiser Newspaper and TV channels often come to our school for photo ops etc. We must have good looking students and teachers I reckon!
Anyway Pete and I were out grocery shopping and couldn't check the internet at that stage. When I got home I got a call from my Grandma exclaiming "why didn't you tell me you were going to be in the paper today." Anyway she was WAY TOO excited. The article as you can see is about literacy levels in SA students.

For a better look at the article click on the link:

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,,24457931-2682,00.html

Tell me if I sound like I know what I'm talking about!

Getting my act into gear

This whole blogging thing has never seemed easy to me...I really struggle to come up with anything to blog. When I have time and I actually think, 'Hey Mel, you could post a blog' I sit there for ages and go blank. I've been looking at photos since I've been on holidays and I've been a little bit inspired to post some blogs...only prob is I want to simply add tonnes of photos from ages ago because right now I am really boring have next to no social life - thus not much to blog about.
I noticed the Tag Dag thingy on Collette's blog and thought I'd give it a go. It was really fun, and I loved reading Collettie's.
If I've tagged you, please give it a go..it was a nice trip down memory lane...

Tag Dag

• Ten Years Ago...

* 16 years old
* Grade 10 Prospect High School
* In Laurels in Deloraine Ward.
* Best friends were Lisa Tantari, Leah Gilkes, Nicki Triffitt, and Sarah Young
* Spent 9 weeks in England with my Nana in Aug-Sep 1998. Spent 4 days in Vienna on the way and had an absolute blast on my travels and staying with my madGreat Aunt Pam. Went to some Wolves Football Games and met great friends.
*Had a lead role in my High School Production of Aladdin. I played the part of Widow Twanky (supposed to be played by a man in drag)…I guess I was the next best option

• 

Five years ago... YSA Camp
2003
* 21 years old
* Graduated my final year of Bachelor Degree (a really awful year for me)
* Spent lots of time with the Elders in our ward Whittaker and ? Damn, I forgot the other one. Taught Luz Bellchambers and got to participate in her beautiful Baptism.
* Received my call to serve in the Hiroshima Mission on April 15th (the day Nicki left for her mission)
* Spent 3 months in the MTC having the best time of my life, then arrived in Japan on September 23rd 2004!!

Five months ago

* Was the 1st May 2008.
* Just finished 1st term of teaching
* Camped with Onkarparinga ward Young Women at Rapid Bay
* Too busy for much else…

Five things on my to do list...

* Go to Kangaroo Island
* Write heaps of letters to friends all over the world
* Plan next term’s work
* Buy some new shoes for me and Pete
* Shoot some hoops to get ready for BBall next week.

Five bad habbits...

* Staying up too late
* Tapping Pete incessantly when I want to leave/do something
* Procrastinating
* Spending too much time on facebook and not on my blog
* Randomly introducing new subjects to a conversation

Five places I’ve lived...

* Invermay, Launceston - opposite Maccas (though it wasn’t there then)
* Bracknell, Near Liffey, TAS
* Huon Road, South Hobart
* Japan – heaps of locations
* Christies Beach, SA

Five things people may not know about me...

* I’ve never broken a bone
* I’m scared of those stick insect thingys
* I’ve had red hair and was nicknamed pinkie as it grew out.
* I’ve hit a pedestrian in my car ☹
* I have met the Prime Minister and debated in Parliament House

Five people I tag...

* Megan
* Sam Prebble
* Tayla
* Emily Dee
* Tamara