bits and bobs

My hairdresser is clearly very good. So good, in fact, that no-one notices when she's done a good job of tidying up the split ends and fixing the style. Not husband, nor children, nor friend has noticed a difference - ah well.

Furthermore we had sushi last week, made by brilliant Ben, which went down extremely well. So well that Mia said: "This dinner is SO delicious we don't even need dessert!". Now that's impressive.

I bought two avocados at market yesterday morning, which was a bit surreal, after our avocado surplus for the last few months. The last of our very ripe avocados were finally transformed into guacamole last night marking the end of the abundance.

I made my first roast beef last night accompanied by crunchy roast potatoes - the meat was sadly not pink in the middle, but it's a learning experience. "Le rosbif" sandwiches for lunch this week! ("Rosbif" being on of the few French words ingrained in my mind from my high school French.)

School holidays end today which means life resumes as normal as from tomorrow with people to meet and places to go. It's Mia's final full term of kindergarten (which she still loves) and the start of her school integration. On a Wednesday afternoon all the junior schools have an an afternoon session to get the new intakes used to the surroundings and expectations of 'big school'. Ben and I have been agonising about which school to send her to, but in the end have decided on one of the nearer ones, rather than the nearest Catholic one. We had an interview with the Catholic school (don't get me started on all the ûber kitsch Mary statues and Jesus things around the place) which confirmed that we would be 'non preference' even considering the tenuous link to a Catholic great aunt. It is definitely one of the best schools in the area, but honestly, I can't...we can't, we just can't! We feel so fraudulent trying to get her in there... The school just a little further down the road was also an option, but I wasn't too keen on it since it doesn't have a uniform (and I dread the pressure of looking like a princess every day (not me - MIa!) - plus I think all schools should have a uniform!) but when we had a look around there, we were informed that a uniform will come into effect next year anyway, so that concern was cancelled straight away. It seems very nice and pleasant, and thank god, nothing kitsch or bad taste around, Even the Maori stuff is ok to look at (or maybe I've become 'acclimatised' to it).

I received another phone call regarding a logo design (local again) when my business card was picked up from the printers where I left some on display along with other businesses. "CHOICE!" (as they say in NZ). Pity my 'secretary' didn't pass on the message and the poor woman had to phone again... Nevermind, all good now. Nice to have some business in this economic climate.

MIa is sulking because I won't draw her a Barbie. Nor will I trace around the shape of her Barbie, She is threatening never to get into my bed for a snuggle again. Life is so tough when you have such a mean mother.