Another book I borrowed while in Brisbane was The Moving Finger, an Agatha Christie murder mystery. I found it hard to read: slow moving, thick with details, … Suffice it to say that I gave up reading it before Miss Marple (apparently it's a Marple mystery) even arrived on the scene.
Recommendation: Don't, unless you like slow, boring books.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Heavenly Pleasures
While in Brisbane I borrowed a few books from the library. It was very satisfying to relax into some serious reading for pleasure, which I don't get much time for now that I'm a full-time teacher.
The first book I read was Heavenly Pleasures by Kerry Greenwood. I found it really delightful! Actually the second book in a new series, the story is technically a mystery but also includes some romance and comedy. The book's title derives from the chocolate shop in which the mystery occurs. The main character, Corinna, is a baker, whose shop is called (no surprises here) Earthly Delights (also the title of the first book in the series, which I haven't read).
The book is so full of great quotes that I gave up trying to keep track of them—you'll just have to go read it yourself. But I hope you like cats, because there's quite a few in there.
Recommendation: Good fun. Read it!
The first book I read was Heavenly Pleasures by Kerry Greenwood. I found it really delightful! Actually the second book in a new series, the story is technically a mystery but also includes some romance and comedy. The book's title derives from the chocolate shop in which the mystery occurs. The main character, Corinna, is a baker, whose shop is called (no surprises here) Earthly Delights (also the title of the first book in the series, which I haven't read).
The book is so full of great quotes that I gave up trying to keep track of them—you'll just have to go read it yourself. But I hope you like cats, because there's quite a few in there.
Recommendation: Good fun. Read it!
QAMTAC '08
Last weekend (actually Thursday-Saturday) was the annual conference of the Queensland Association of Maths Teachers. I flew down to Brisbane to attend, missing the athletics carnival on the last two days of term.
The conference was held at UQ, based mainly in the Hawken Engineering building. The conference theme was “My Way or the Highway: Reflections on the Distance Travelled in Mathematics Education”. As well as three interesting keynote speeches, there were four elective sessions each day with no less than seven offerings each session—a real smorgasbord of workshops and seminars!
Casio offered us all a free graphics calculator! Not wanting to be out-done, TI began giving away their new multi-line scientific calculator too.
But for me the highlight of the conference was definitely the dinner on Friday night. This was in the Burke & Wills rooms at the Mercure in town. Not only did the chef feed me very well, it was a great night of fun and friends (my cold notwithstanding; I picked up a cold somewhere between Mackay and Brisbane, and it was fairly chilly, so by Saturday I was feeling rather unwell). And the band, made up of conference delegates, were simply fantastic! They played and sang beautifully.
More photos on Flickr.
The conference was held at UQ, based mainly in the Hawken Engineering building. The conference theme was “My Way or the Highway: Reflections on the Distance Travelled in Mathematics Education”. As well as three interesting keynote speeches, there were four elective sessions each day with no less than seven offerings each session—a real smorgasbord of workshops and seminars!
Casio offered us all a free graphics calculator! Not wanting to be out-done, TI began giving away their new multi-line scientific calculator too.
But for me the highlight of the conference was definitely the dinner on Friday night. This was in the Burke & Wills rooms at the Mercure in town. Not only did the chef feed me very well, it was a great night of fun and friends (my cold notwithstanding; I picked up a cold somewhere between Mackay and Brisbane, and it was fairly chilly, so by Saturday I was feeling rather unwell). And the band, made up of conference delegates, were simply fantastic! They played and sang beautifully.
More photos on Flickr.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Lovely winter weather
Well, Laetitia may not agree, but personally I like the weather here in Mackay, especially in winter. This morning, in the first week of June, I dressed ready for work in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. Shorts! In winter! It's a beautiful sunny morning, 22°C, heading for a maximum of around 27°C.
Certainly good weather for crocodiles.
Certainly good weather for crocodiles.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
One Movie …
Like Simone, I'm not that much of a movie person, but this looked like fun, so I'll give it a go.
1. One movie that made you laugh
Amelie
2. One movie that made you cry
It's a Wonderful Life
3. One movie you loved when you were a child
Star Wars (that would be what is now known as “Episode IV”)
4. One movie you’ve seen more than once
Run Lola Run
5. One movie you loved, but were embarrassed to admit it
Perhaps Shrek?
6. One movie you hated
The sequel to Clerks. (I hated it so much I didn't finish it.)
7. One movie that scared you
I don't watch scary movies. I was so scared by the opening sixty seconds (all I watched) of Aliens that I couldn't sleep! (Come on, I was a teenager at the time.)
8. One movie that bored you
Don't remember any (so boring I've forgotten them, I guess).
9. One movie that made you happy
Barfuß
10. One movie that made you miserable
In a manner of speaking: Sophie Scholl - Die letzten Tage
11. One movie you weren’t brave enough to see
I dunno about not brave enough. Not stupid enough perhaps…
12. One movie character you’ve fallen in love with
Laetitia
What? She isn't a movie character? Oh right. Well then, how about Cinderella in Ever After?
13. The last movie you saw
The Black Balloon
14. The next movie you hope to see
Something funny or moving.
15. Now tag five people: I tag Laetitia, Ruth, Allison, Scott, and you!
1. One movie that made you laugh
Amelie
2. One movie that made you cry
It's a Wonderful Life
3. One movie you loved when you were a child
Star Wars (that would be what is now known as “Episode IV”)
4. One movie you’ve seen more than once
Run Lola Run
5. One movie you loved, but were embarrassed to admit it
Perhaps Shrek?
6. One movie you hated
The sequel to Clerks. (I hated it so much I didn't finish it.)
7. One movie that scared you
I don't watch scary movies. I was so scared by the opening sixty seconds (all I watched) of Aliens that I couldn't sleep! (Come on, I was a teenager at the time.)
8. One movie that bored you
Don't remember any (so boring I've forgotten them, I guess).
9. One movie that made you happy
Barfuß
10. One movie that made you miserable
In a manner of speaking: Sophie Scholl - Die letzten Tage
11. One movie you weren’t brave enough to see
I dunno about not brave enough. Not stupid enough perhaps…
12. One movie character you’ve fallen in love with
Laetitia
What? She isn't a movie character? Oh right. Well then, how about Cinderella in Ever After?
13. The last movie you saw
The Black Balloon
14. The next movie you hope to see
Something funny or moving.
15. Now tag five people: I tag Laetitia, Ruth, Allison, Scott, and you!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
The Black Balloon
It's $8 for any movie, any session this weekend, so we had to go see something. After more than one recommendation, we chose “The Black Balloon”, an Australian movie about a family with an autistic son. The other son struggles to come to terms with what that means for him and his relationships with other people.
I found it very touching, and it really made me reflect on just what the parents of some of my students must go through at home. I did have trouble at times believing that the two boys were as young as they were supposed to be. The humour and romance were typically Australian, which is to say delightfully understated. I especially enjoyed the long poignant silences and meaningful looks. (And don't blink too much during the opening credits, or you'll miss the only black balloon in the whole movie!)
Highly recommended.
I found it very touching, and it really made me reflect on just what the parents of some of my students must go through at home. I did have trouble at times believing that the two boys were as young as they were supposed to be. The humour and romance were typically Australian, which is to say delightfully understated. I especially enjoyed the long poignant silences and meaningful looks. (And don't blink too much during the opening credits, or you'll miss the only black balloon in the whole movie!)
Highly recommended.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Ready for Term 2. Bring it on!
Well it's been a good break: relaxing, but also productive. I've planned out most of my subjects all the way to the end of the term, and prepared most of the extra things I had in mind.
Yesterday night our billet arrived. Suzy is studying Education at CHC, and is here to do her first teaching prac in grade 2. She'll be staying with us for the next four weeks—unless my vegan cookery kills her first!
Yesterday night our billet arrived. Suzy is studying Education at CHC, and is here to do her first teaching prac in grade 2. She'll be staying with us for the next four weeks—unless my vegan cookery kills her first!
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