Chiefy's Birthday Bash at Brennan Park

What a fun party where the doggies were centre stage. There was even a dog-edible birthday cake for them to enjoy!

Chiefy, the birthday boy

Chiefy and his owners

Gorgeous Jem

Other doggie guests at the party

 

Heh, Lilly, where are your eyes!

Puggles in full force - triple the trouble

Chiefy's doggie birthday cake - made from dog friendly ingredients!

Chiefy cuts his birthday cake before the other dogs tuck in

Needless to say, Mack had a marvellous time!

Text

Graeme
Hi Lizzy. I just found your letter. The words were beautiful and they have made me cry. I'll respond properly when I can in a way more personal than text but for now, know that you have touched me deeply. I so wish I could be stronger for you and deal better with everything life throws at me without fleeing in fear. I wish I wasn't so particularly vulnerable right now. I wish I could find words like yours to express how I'm feeling. I wish words alone could be enough. I wish that I didn't keep causing you pain and I could wipe your pain away. But right now, without the balm of time, I can't see my way through. I'm unable to whisk you away on a white horse as much as I might want to. I'm not the hero you think I am. I'm full of fear of the terrible pain I was in just a few months ago I am so very vulnerable and full of self doubt. I'm so terrified of getting deeply hurt and not having the resilience this time to come back from it. I live in fear. I wish it was different. I wish I could be brave for you.


Lizzy
I don't need or want a white horse, or a hero. I just want you. Battlescarred and as scared as I am. I meant those words, and made that card by candlelight due to Earth Hour. I wish my words could wash over you like the balm you wish for. You are not a weak man, just an injured one afraid of more hurt. I do not wish to be the cause of that.

Merry

I have just completed 10 weeks of one to one tuition with Merry, a lovely student from Korea. She wanted to do mostly conversation so we did about 50 hours of chatting.  That's a lot of talking!!  We covered many topics and got to know about each other's lives very well indeed!

My Elementary Class

I have just finished a stint with an elementary class. They were a wonderful group of people and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The great thing about elementary students is that they are not yet jaded with their English lessons and you, as there teacher, are their hero and they hang onto your every word. For those of us who are a little low on esteem at times, it's a special feeling.

Mardi Gras

I waited 3 hours to get a good view of the Mardi Gras this weekend. I managed to get to the front row - perfect for photos. And no sooner had the parade started and my flash mysteriously stopped working. Gutted I was. Never mind, I enjoyed the show and managed to take a few "fuzzy" photos without flash for memories sake.

A highlight of the show for me was the "breast awareness" float.  I wonder why?

These guys were pretty clever I thought.  Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most effective.

Great costume at the Mardis Gras

Mardi Gras Fair (Victoria Park)

Lizzy and I spent the morning at the Mardi Gras Fair as a warm up to the Mardi Gras Parade in early March. It was a sweltering hot humid day so not too many loud costumes on display but enough to take some nice photos. There were also lots of lovely dogs in attendance, some in cute costumes.

Lizzy and "the boys"

Other cute pooches we saw along the way

Double trouble

Pre-Intermediate Student Class (January)

A wonderful, fun class. I really enjoy teaching this level of English.

Pooches at The Mardis Gras

Double trouble