12/31/2007

Reporting here sucks

Sometimes I wonder how journalists in New Zealand get to be journalists. I think they just show up at an interview and, if they can prove they have a decent grasp of the English language, they get the job.

Most of the newspaper articles I have read since I've been here have irritated the crap out of me because they assume you, the reader, know what they are talking about. And on that basis, why are they even bothering to write the article in the first place???

They have never heard of the standard "who, what, when, why, where and how" in the first paragraph, apparently.

The other day, I was reading about 3 local youths who invented something a while back and have now moved onto something else. Apparently, the first 'thing' was pretty cool and successful, but I still don't know what the **** it was!!!

12/26/2007

Starting new traditions

My second Christmas in New Zealand has come to an end. After so many years of not bothering with the fluff, having children in the house makes all the difference.

Last year we tried something new for the kids since they are in or near the teen years--we had a 'Christmas treasure hunt'. It starts when they woke up to find a basket in their room with a note with the number of gifts to look for, along with silly antlers or hats for the occasion. Then many small gifts were hidden in the house, each child having their gifts in their own wrapping paper to hunt for. It's a big hit and, I guess it's now a tradition for a while--until they get too old for it to be fun.

Considering the fact that Christmas is in the summer here, it's still a bit odd to me, but I must say I do like going to the beach on Christmas Day to have a picnic and not having to roast in the kitchen along with the roast!

12/24/2007

It all started with a forum....

It isn't so uncommon anymore, but when it happens to you, it's an exciting thing.

When we started posting on the same forum, it never occurred to me that I would eventually be on the other side of the globe, married with a wonderful, ready-made family.

Everything is different now. I don't have to go to work, I can spend time digging in the flowerbeds, I bake goodies for the children--180 degrees from living alone, working every day and rarely cooking or baking [it was too much trouble for just one serving].

I even have time to take a few pictures and have learned that I really liked photography. I shall be sharing my favorites. Here are a few to start.