QUICKER THAN WE THINK

Today the joiner came to do final measurements for our new kitchen. He tells me the joinery will be ready in 2 weeks. 2 WEEKS! That's quicker than we thought. Serious emptying out of cupboards today. Unscrewing things off the walls. Putting away the art work.

2 kids home sick but lots of progress made on clearing out the kitchen (in between running to Elliot to help him when he vomits. I must say he is a very tidy sick person. All the tissues end up in the bin and he even washed out his vomit bowl when I was on the phone - unlike big sister who could learn a few lessons about cleanliness being next to godliness!).

No gym for me today but all that lifting and carrying surely passes as a workout?

Off to the doctor (again) this afternoon - gotta get those kids better by Friday (and Taupo).

Photo of Elliot in his dinosaur jammies and the kitchen pile building up in our 'blue room'.

OUT WITH THE OLD

Just reading Janine's blog makes me exhausted. I need her to come around here and help me sort out the chaos that is our kitchen.

Elliot is home sick with a high fever and vomiting virus (a midnight visit to the doctor in the weekend as Elliot told me his "brain was going to pop"). The doctor told me it would last 4-5 days. Great!

In the meantime the joiner arrives tomorrow to measure up our new kitchen. This weekend we're off to Taupo so the builder (a friend of ours) will take advantage of the empty house to rip out the old kitchen. That means I have to have all the kitchen contents stacked into 'the blue room'. Currently half of it is done; there are piles of stuff sitting by the front door for the Salvation Army. I'm so pleased that I have embraced this opportunity to get rid of stuff that's been sitting in the cupboards for the past 4 years. Only problem is that people (husband, kids, parents, friends) keep peering in the 'discard' boxes saying "You can't throw that out!".

The rest of the kitchen looking a tip. Despite the knowedge that the old cabinetry is actually going to the tip I've carefully spray and wiped all the empty cupboards. Couldn't stand for the builder to think that I am the sloth that the filthy cupboards indicate I apparently was!

So now we have the prospect of no kitchen for 4-6 weeks while the new one is being built. Luckily our barbecue is on our covered verandah and it has a wok burner but I don't fancy cooking out in the cold. I'll plug in the crock pot, sandwich press and toaster on the kitchen table. We'll see how long we can hang out without takeaways!

Roll on Taupo!

Roll on new kitchen!

A PRODUCTION AND A HALF

Boulcott School production is taking over our lives at the moment. If it wasn't for hours of hot gluegunning of costumes now we have performance week. A matinee on Monday afternoon and 3 evening (6.30pm) shows Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

The Thorns volunteered to look after the door last night and tonight (and to sell raffle tickets - gotta screw the parents for every last cent of fundraising dosh possible!).

The costumes are great- if a little over the top for a school production - but hey, the kids love it. The production was written by 2 of the teachers and tells the story of a kid who hates books who is introduced to the magic of them. Each class does an item based on a book - Where the Wild Things Are; Narnia; Cat in the Hat.... and Elliot's class- The Rainbow Fish. Very cute. Hard to photograph at night but here is Elliot's class back in the classroom after finishing their item last night.

And here's Elliot leaving the stage (he couldn't resist playing air guitar during the singing - even though it wasn't meant to be part of the act!).

ONE OF THE BEST READS EVER

I love books almost as much as I love scrapbooking. I read all sorts but my preferred genre is what I call 'mind lit' . Hard to describe it but I can tell you what it's not.

It's not chick lit (which I'll read but which is always too light for me and just not that satisfying). It's not thriller or romance or suspense. It's not murder/detective stuff (like Jodi Piccoult which I read but which starts to follow a predicatable pattern). It's not sci-fi.

It sometimes is authors like Anita Shreve (but not always) or Maeve Binchy (though her later stuff is disappointing). It is stuff by family friend Catherine Chidgey (come on Cath we need a new read). It is stuff like Wild Swans by Jung Chang (a true story) or The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. It is books that engage you so you don't want to put them down. And when you do have to put them down to cook dinner you race back to them like you are greeting a favoured friend.

There's a book like that I've just finished. I've read it during the past 2 days ( not much housework done in the Thorn household this weekend!). It is The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It's on the Whitcoulls top 100 list so other people must like it, too. I came across it when I heard the author being interviewed on the National Programme a couple of weeks ago. She was fascinating - a goth in her youth, into punk and alternative culture. Not your nature image of an 'author'. Wow, what an amazing book. Written not only from the persepctive of the time traveler but mostly from the persepctive of the wife who waits for him. Often.

Here's an extract ( a letter from the time traveler to his wife - to be opened in the event of his death):

"When I am dead. Stop waiting and be free. Of me - put me deep inside you and then go out into the world and live. Love the world and yourself in it, move through it as though it offers no resistance, as though the world is your natural element."

There are heaps of thought-provoking extracts like this scattered throughout.

Beg, borrow or steal a copy. It won't disappoint.

WHY I LOVE SCRAPBOOKING (AND THANKS)

Thanks for all the wonderful emails and comments about the Dominion Post article. Darryn has received dozens of emails, comments and calls about the article - what a buzz. So encouraging. It means a lot.Thank you.

I found this weeks ago in a back issue of a US magazine - I loved it.... The writer won a competition entitled "Why I love scrapbooking" (I've edited it a bit)...

WHY I LOVE SCRAPBOOKING
"I want my children to know who they are, cherish how they came to be, and realize how much they are loved… My photos could not speak for themselves. I knew I had to speak for them.
My photos did not capture my love for my children… but do they really know how much I cherish them? Will they remember when their children or grandchildren ask them? Will my values be clear to them when life is crowded with everyday, mundane tasks?
I wanted them to have a point of reference, something tangible, even if I am not there, like a blanket to cover them when they are cold. I had to create something to remind them in the darkest hour how much they are loved. It had to be something that gave them joy to look at...
I began scrapbooking and soon realized that it is so much more than just documenting history. I have since discovered other reasons that also define my love of scrapbooking—things that surprised me. It has stirred a creative need in me to express who I am.
I no longer work at a regular job, so scrapbooking fills that void in me, the part of me that wants validation that I’m still useful. Every time I complete a layout, I get a sense of well-being, a feeling of accomplishment. I have discovered this is a core love of scrapbooking, to be able to satisfy that creative urge and give me a sense of usefulness.
Secondly, it gives me an outlet to express emotions that I would not otherwise share. I tend to keep my feelings to myself, and scrapbooking allows me the freedom to share those feelings with those around me that I cherish. This is an enormous gift to be able to share with those that I care so deeply for.
I embrace the artistic side of scrapbooking, the visual gratification, to know that when I am finished and view the layout, I love what I am looking at. .. I love the look and feel of the various textures of my scrapbooking supplies. My legacy of love will be a real book that will stand the test of time and be there for comfort reading in the future.
I treasure that scrapbooking is invoking long-forgotten memories in me. The kind about how my children made me laugh, or cry, or swell with pride. The kind that help me remember why I fell in love, so that when my daughter confides in me that she is in love, I will understand. The kind that lets me remember how Christmas morning felt to me as a child, so that I can share with my grandchildren and understand how important baking cookies is and going to the park. I love it because I remember how important it feels to learn to ride a bike or listen, truly listen, to a child.
I love scrapbooking because it makes me realize life is too short to live angry or feeling guilty or wishing you had more. It has made me appreciate the here and now and pay attention to the little things, like a loving glance, a wistful sigh, a sunny day, and snowfall blanketing a city in a sheet of white. I love scrapbooking because it has allowed me to find focus in my life; it has taught me to look beyond what is evident. It has taught me what is truly important. I love that it allows me to capture memories, but more importantly that it is letting me make new memories from a totally different perspective.
Mostly, though, I love scrapbooking because it makes me appreciate life more and has added a rich dimension it. After all, isn’t that what life’s all about? "

Sharon Whitehead Vernon, BC, Canada

THE ARTICLE

A few people have asked me where they can read the Dominion Post article about Darryn.

Here's the link to the online version

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3698407a7144,00.html

ANOTHER 40th

My sister, Janine, celebrated her 40th on Saturday night. Gorgeous food -courtesy of her husband, Chef Sean. Fantastic venue (Swan House). Lovely people. The ABC album went down really well (and I discovered some fellow scrappers amongst her friends). Photo shows Janine (centre) browsing the album with her friend, Claire, Mum and Dad looking on.



Only disaster was the cake catching fire - oh, well 40 candles was a bit optimistic!




40th birthday wishes to Delys, too, hope you had a great night.

(And for those who get the Dominion Post - check out page A10. It's Men's Health Week and there's a half page article about the lovely Darryn. )

SICK BOY

Elliot is home, sick, today. Yesterday we had an early morning visit to the After Hours doctor - Elliot had croup which he hasn't had since he was a baby. Most painful was the $60 charge (for a six year old!) at the doctors. He never gets sick when our own GP is available. Anyway, today he is home from school. He probably could have gone but it is so cold today I decided to keep him home.

I told Elliot that if he was staying home he had to take it easy and could not play on the Playstation. His response? "Why not? The police won't see me!"

My fault. He doesn't like school much and often says "Why do I have to go?" In frustration one day I said "Because it's the law in New Zealand. If you don't go to school a policeman will tell Mummy off!" It seems he remembered.

Anyway here he is a few minutes ago - very sick, of course! (Note the Cropper Hopper project case and the acid free cardstock- essential art supplies for a six year old.)



PS Thanks for all the suggestions about what to do with the extra PS2. We decided to give it to our niece and nephew in Nelson. It was couriered to them in the weekend and Elliot even insisted on giving them 2 games. "I don't need these anymore". As Oprah say... pay it forward.

DONNA DOWNEY ROCKS

Yes, well we scrappers know that Donna Downey is a legend in the scrapbooking world. That is one way cool woman - I cannot wait for CC2006 just to see what she teaches us.

And, anyway, guess who emailed me this morning.... Donna Downey!

Well I confess I do read her blog all the time. Today she has a photo of this amazing tote bag her neighbour, Heather, made. Heather is coming with her to CC2006 and I'm getting one of her bags - just like Donna's. And you can get one too - go check out Donna's blog.

(Anyway Darryn thinks I'm nuts - "It's not like you got an email from Tana, is it?" No,my darling, it is way better!)

BOY TOYS

Way back in April our family did the Allison Roe Run2Heal 5 km walk. Our first family organised walk. All entrants were eligible for the sponsors prizes. I won a Bendon Sports Bra. Elliot won a major prize donated by DVD Unlimited. It's taken weeks to arrive. We were told it was a pile of DVDs and a t/shirt. It wasn't. When Allison Roe found out Elliot was only 6 she got the sponsors to send him something different. It was worth the wait. It arrived by courier last night.

A brand spanking new Playstation2!

I wish you could have seen Elliot's face.

In his own words : "My eyes nearly popped out of my brain!"

We already have a PS2 in our playroom but it doesn't matter. He thought this was way cool. Now our family has a dilemna to resolve over the weekend. What to do with it?

a) let Cait put the old one in her bedroom (Elliot's idea. Parents don't like this option - and it would be a one minute wonder - she doesn't use the old one- and we don't like stuff like that in bedrooms)

b) give away the old one and keep the new one (I like this idea but who would we give it to? The only friends I can think of who would love it are on a very low income and the games are so expensive would it put pressure on them?

c) sell it (or the old one) and let Elliot have the money or donate it somewhere (but he's 6 he doesn't understand the value of anything - all his pocket money goes into the bank anyway)

d) keep it as a backup because, Murphy's Law, the minute we give it away the old one will break down (this option seems a bit excessive)

e)some other option

Let me know what you think?