There’s been some beautiful heavy rain today. It’s made it easier to do the housework that’s needed doing – cooler days make the heavy work bearable. The end of the school year means doing the more in depth cleaning that doesn’t get done so regularly (although much more often than once a year!) At least I can use the conversion chart that came with my virtual races to add some more distance to my challenges… the housework I’ve done today converts to around 10km. This gives me a sense of achievement, but I can also say that I felt every one of those kilometres!
Sweet Bean is embarking on his new adult life. Today was spent changing various accounts over to their adult versions, and was also the day to start applying for jobs. It won’t be too long before I have to start doing that as well, but I have a couple of weeks yet. Everything is new and fresh, for the moment. That sense of accomplishment is satisfying. Unfortunately, there is always more to do…
I shall bask in satisfaction until then, and enjoy my soundtrack for today! 😀
We have been having a quiet day, after two days in Brisbane preparing for and going to Sweet Bean’s graduation dinner. Parents were invited as well, although we sat at a different table. Here he is in his new suit.
Isn’t he gorgeous? ❤
I may have spent too long taking photos…
We stayed overnight in an airbnb near the venue – basic, but adequate. It was like a mini-holiday 🙂 Ended up being a bit late. The battery in the car decided to give up completely just as we got in, ready to go off in our finery. Trying to push start a car, or work on the engine, while dressed up in our formal gear, was…interesting! We had some help from a couple of people also staying there. They tried to jump start the battery, but when that failed they gave us a lift to the dinner. Such kindness, just when we needed it! Here’s Sweet Bean, just about to go in.
He got to finally meet some of his teachers, and catch up with those he had already met. There were various speeches, and they each went up to receive their graduation gifts – a lovely folder with their final reports and other documents, a gift that turned out to contain a devotional book for next year, and a special “graduation” pen. There was lovely food (although not quite enough for my hungry boys), and everything was decorated beautifully.
Afterwards, there was dancing! Sweet Bean joined the throng – mostly students, but some parents as well. They danced for ages, everything from the Nutbush and Footloose, to Uptown Funk and Shake It Off. We finished late, and thankfully got a lift back with his area teacher, so we got to have a chat with him.
The moon shone brightly, as the evening rolled on towards midnight.
And then – it was time to go home. Take a deep breath, glance lightly at the past, and turn towards the future…
I went to the library the other day – books are one of the necessities of life 🙂 The librarian who was on duty at the time saw me admiring the little blu tack figures on the frame of computer, and said that she made them when she had some time.
So cute! 😀
When I passed by today I noticed that there was a tiny baby penguin there as well.
We are lead to believe that “genius” is something that only a small group of people possess. We are often taught to seek the one “true” answer to something, rather than thinking outside the box to see if there’s a better one – every school generation seems to have a new way to do maths problems, and the old ways are no longer used. I was listening to a zoom call recently, and we heard that genius is far more prevalent than we were told. The word itself seems to come from a root that suggests an “inborn power” that doesn’t seem to be reserved for the fortunate few. We all have something that we are born to do, and that we are good at. That won’t necessarily be a blu tack penguin 😀
…but it may be –
a beautiful garden, the best apple pie, the ability to fix any car you come across, making delicious school lunches, every day, for 12 years, creating a home that people love to visit, being the person who can organise the neighbourhood to have barbeques for every conceivable occasion…
or we could all be the person with a smile so big, and a heart so wide, that everyone knows they’re safe and loved and welcome.
Yesterday’s final exam excitement for Sweet Bean turned into today’s low key celebration… There were errands to run in town, so we eventually met up at the Handmade Markets in the mall.
Today was the last ever school day for my Sweet Bean. It was a double exam day (both for physics), so he was busy, and a bit stressed… All done and dusted, though – all the assignments, task sheets, and assorted admin bits of paper are in! There’s only the graduation dinner next week to go to.
It’s a bit hard to believe that my funny little boy is now on the brink of launching in to the big, wide world. We are so proud of him! ❤ Right now he’s just feeling the release from twelve years of study, deadlines, exams… we’ll take it easy for a few days before looking at the next steps from here. He’s got a suit for his graduation dinner which was partially chosen for its dual potential as a suit for interviews.
Wednesday was his business studies exam – only one shortish exam, but the first external exam for this term. We got him a rainbow biscuit to enjoy when he got home 🙂
I quite like dandelions. They are generally unassuming, but delicate. Glowing golden in the sun, then fading into gossamer. Just waiting to be blown by the wind to new adventures…
…often seen as weeds (and I know they can take over the yard!), but also good for health – and salads 🙂 Also, they are really quite beautiful ❤
And they remind me of this verse –
“Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight.” Psalm 119:141 – 143
Doesn’t matter how insignificant you think you are… you are still beautiful!
Just catch your breath, and wait for the next fresh breeze to come your way…
The days are getting hotter – there have been a few when I’ve felt on the verge of spontaneous combustion… so of course, what better time to sign up for a virtual marathon or two? 😆
I’ve been working on a couple of races from The Conqueror site. I’ve chosen some smallish ones – a Trek to Petra, and the Flower Route through the Netherlands. The initial plan was to increase my walking, both in distance and frequency, but the heat hasn’t made that easy. I haven’t made it back to the pool yet this season. I did find out, however, that the daily walk to the mailbox and back is about 400m, so that helps. I’ve worked out distances for walks I do regularly, whether around town, or to and from bus stops. The real help, though, comes from the handy conversion chart that is on the site – both housework and grocery shopping can be around 500ish metres every 10 minutes! So far I’m about 30% along each route. You get virtual postcards as you go, and a tree is planted every 20% of the route. I see some pretty things in my actual walking…
…and I also find some interesting things in my virtual walking.
Petra doesn’t seem to have street view on the map, but I’ve looked at various parts of the Netherlands – my first “stop” was some sort of shop.
Pastries? Cheese? I can’t really tell…
Wandered into a little alleyway.
And of course, there are tulips! And other flowers – daffodils?
Also, strange half people…
I still have a long way to go. But I’ll get there. 🙂
a bit of creativity, a bit of eco consciousness, a bit of inspiration.... hopefully not a lot of pompousness and blathering :D
i'm not entirely sure what's going on here... let's travel along and see...
1000 Fields of Roses 