The Busy End of the Year
We all know things start to get a bit busy at this time of year. But it still surprises me every time!
It's been a couple of weeks since I last popped my head into Amazona Blogland. For busy reasons.
My weekday office job has been a bit busy-ish, both the Sonofaguns are almost at the end of the school year which means lots of end of year excursions, concerts, dinners and getting ready for next year preparations are already kicking in.
Especially for Sonofagun No.1 who finishes from his school this year.
Victorians are weird. As in the state, not the era.
Back where I come from in the Imperial City, grommits (the affectionate Aussie slang term for kids, not the medical devices used to expel earwax) first go to Primary School from Kindergarten to 6th grade, then High school which is Year 7 to Year 10, then College for yrs 11 & 12, then out into the big crazy word of university, technical college or apprenticeships.
There are now some schools there which go from Kindy to year 12, but whateves. It's straight forward.
Down here in crazy Victoria where the football is kicked around by lanky basketballers in tighty tight pants (yes Warwick Capper. I'm talking about you.) and singlets, most schools seem to go from Prep (their weird name for kindy) to year 9. Then Senior college is from year 10 to 12.
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| I'm a bit out of touch with the football world, but apparently since retiring from AFL, Mr Capper has since dabbled in acting, politics and pornos. source: Wikipedia. So it must all be true. |
Sonofagun No.1 is ending his first batch of school years to start Senior College next year.
So what is the most thoughtful, well considered thing a Senior College can do to parents who are trying to help their kids finish up the school year, wrap up their own work stuff, get ready for all those End of Year Xmas parties and start thinking about shopping for Christmas?
Send them all the wonderful book list and invoices for school fees for next year of course!
All payable just before Christmas!
Why thank you! How incredibly THOUGHTFUL!
Why don't you give me a papercut and pour lemon juice on it?
That's my Sunday afternoon exasperation over with.
In more fun news, I finished Henry J. Fox!
I found the pattern in a copy of Simply Crochet magazine Issue. 35 and he was designed by Yan Schenkel.
After spending so much head space designing Stevie Bird and Pearly the Hummingbird, I wanted to just let go and be led along by someone else for a little while, so he was a nice, easy diversion. It was so easy to follow the instructions and worked up in just a few days!
Isn't he handsome?
I've also been writing up a quick tutorial for a cute little Christmas Star Garland. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you may have already seen a few of my pics.
There are so many different variations on this theme out there in Crochetland. I did a bit of research and am hopeful this pattern isn't already out there. I'm almost finished writing up the tutorial to post in the next few days.
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| Sonofagun No.2 decided Baby Penguin & Captain Fluff had to see what Mama Amazona was doing... |
Yes there'll also be a stitch graph for the graphically minded of you!
I have also been attempting to sort through some over flowing shelves of crap treasures. You only get my After photo. The Before photo was a dusty mess!
"Oh well, this morning it was rainy, then windy, then sunny, now it's rainy but it's supposed to clear up soon."
"So the usual Melbourne weather," they replied!
But today has been just beautiful so I took a few gratuitous flower pics...
Just before I sign off, I thought I'd show you some pics I posted on Facie yesterday afternoon.
My BBB (best bloggy buddy) Vicki from Off the Hook and I were comparing the weather in her section of the world and mine. We took photos at around the same time right there and then!
Here in Melbourne....
And up on the other side of the world, Vicki took this photo...
What's happening in your corner of the world?
xox
Louise
The Red Haired Amazona
Mr Fox is super handsome! Here in the UK we have the same school system you describe as the more usual one you describe but a year out. Nursery, Reception then years 1 to 6 at primary school, then high school years 7 - 11. The you can stay on for years 12 & 13 or go to college. After that it's uni or a job.
ReplyDeleteAlso here we had the end of a hurricane last week and snow last night - your garden is looking MUCH better than mine!
What a super fox. I love his bow tie and waistcoat. Very smart.
ReplyDeleteAustralian football looks so... looks so... so different :)
ReplyDeleteThe schools are really well timed in sending out their invoices... did no one ever teach them that kids+Christmas = skint, nada, empty pockets..... it's time to send the kids down the mines.
Love Mr Fox and looking forward to seeing your finished garland. :)
Thats just one of the footy codes. It's all a bit bewildering to me as I don't sports!
DeleteYes I was thinking about sending them out with a lemonade stand on the front lawn with a dilapidated sign that says "4 mi edukasion"
I like the tea set on the second shelf of your cabinet! Lovely colours! Weather here is cold and rainy but this afternoon it was cold and sunny!
ReplyDeleteThank you! They are from the Maxwell & Williams Kimono range and all of them have been gifts. I also also a matching 3 tiered cupcake stand in black!
DeleteOoo! LOVE the purpley-blue flora!
ReplyDeleteAnd that pair of pale green teacups... Are they Ainsley? whatever, they're quite nice looking. As is Mr.FOX! -- BTW, I might have to pinch the pattern for those little Stars for next year's round of crafty-stuff...
ahh...schools...
Did my last scheduled craft show yesterday in a High School. Thank goodness for the Happy-Helper-Students eager to lug about my extra odd Bins and minding "the Shop" whilst I had to "rescue" my kidneys!
Here it's Junior and/or Senior Kindergarden [depending on birthdays], Elementary School [grade 1 - 8], Junior High [grade 6 - 8], High School [9 - 12]. The province of Ontario used to have a Grade 13 [which I did back in the day] that was like pre-University and was needed to get into "University". But it was phased out a few years back. However, one didn't need it to get into "College" or a Trade School. Any way, it's free up to Grade 12 if you go the "Public" School route or to most "Catholic" ones, otherwise, you have to pay for the "Private" version.
Whatever. I'm glad that I *don't* have "Offspring"! - [I'm so NOT a "morning" person for that crap!]
Foot-"BALL", huh? - [..so that's where the 3rd sock goes...]
;-}
It's strange here because they say education is "free" but we still have to pay "essential items fees". So with sonofagun no.1 his unform will be around $300, the laptop lease is $365, the essential items for all his classes is $640ish and the calculator is $250! (But looking on ebay for that). Ridonkulous!
DeleteThe little blue flowers i think are Lobelia.
Im sure the footy players do pack an extra sock ;)
Mr Fox is so handsome and sorry about the bills, never good at this time of year. Love seeing your flowers are trees are bare and flowers hidden in the ground, so dull but good to come on here and see some colour.
ReplyDeleteAww your foxy is so cute! :) Beautiful shots of spring flowers, i look forward to them appearing in this part of the world again! x
ReplyDeleteI love Mr Fox, he's very sweet. For some inexplicable reason our school years run from September to July but we're lucky that you don't have to pay for any 'extras' or essentials (beyond uniform) I'm very jealous of your lovely flowery garden.
ReplyDeleteI love the fox, he's so cute! I've never had demands for large amount of cash from my kids' school right before Christmas, just requests for dressing up and Christmas jumpers with a couple of days's notice. That's annoying but not too expensive :)
ReplyDeleteDo you know what variety the sweet peas are? I've never seen ones that colour before. Not that I'm much of a gardener, but sweet peas look pretty mixed in with the weeds :)
Thanks for your kind words. I planted sweet peas last year which were a bright colour mix and these have sprung up from the dropped seed. But its not the same colours as last year either! Ive thrown herbs, vegies and flowers altogether this year and just let it go wild!
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