Kylie Sabine Photography

The Teacher In Me.

This home schooling ‘thing’ is hard work.  I have formed a whole new respect for all teachers. Imaging myself teaching 20 + children has given me nightmares ... the worst type of nightmares!

I give 3 cheers to all teachers!

On Tuesday, I decided to drive the kids to Cardiff – about an hours drive from the farm.  We were meeting Rob & Chris (David’s Aunty and Uncle) there.  It took me all of 5 seconds to make my mind up to go but then I started to feel bad (not that much that I cancelled!) that the kids wouldn’t be doing any school work that day.

So off we go to on our big adventure.  To say I was a little stressed driving on own was an understatement but the kids were great and kept themselves entertained whilst I navigated my way along the motorway.

We met Rob & Chris and our day started. Towards the end of our day, I voiced my concerns to Chris, who promptly put everything into perspective.

Today we tackled:

Science, Language, Food Appreciation, History, Maths and PE ... I think this was how she put it.

Science: 2 + hours experimenting, playing and problem solving at Techniquest. 

Language: Italian. We went to a great Italian restaurant. The kids practiced their Italian with the waiters.

Food Appreciation: Pizza and Gelato! Yum!

History: Walking around Cardiff Castle.

Math: Making sure we got the right change whilst shopping.

PE: The extremely fast paced walking we did as it was so freakin cold.

Bless you Chris for making me feel better.

I have to step back sometimes and realise that what we are experiencing this year is awesome.  A day off won’t hurt.  That being said, we are off to Barcelona next week ...

Take care everyone.

Kylie xx

Life ... England

 

Life ... In England

 

Cold ... with Snow II

Cold ... with Snow

I have been complaining about the weather pretty much every blog since I arrived in the UK - how could it be so cold and not snow!

Well this week for a 24 hour period, Mother Nature granted my wish - cold weather with snow!

I have never seen anything so amazing .. almost magical.  The kids loved every moment from the snow ball throwing to the snow man making and everything in between.

A Few Snaps

UK Life ... still here

It seems so unfair that the weather can be so cold and yet no snow.  There is snow  on top of the mountains but as for falling at my feet, the trees all white and beautiful, the kids out throwing snowballs – it just isn’t happening. 

But what is happening...

Well we have spent this week in Reading with David.  The kids and I have spent the better part of the week doing our school work,  swimming in the hotel  pool (a balmy 32 degrees) and ordering room service ... did I mention the pool.

The kids flipped when I stepped out in my swimmers (the glow from my white skin was quite blinding!)  and jumped in the pool!  I know, horror/shock/horror, I mean it didn’t even have a bar at one end and I still got in!

We took the bus into the centre of Reading and explored ... well, not really. We did take the bus in but as for exploring it was more like wandering around the shopping mall.  I needed a few essentials and the only way I could get Caerwyn to come was to tell him we were looking for castles!  Half way through our wanderings, he begged me to pull his fingernails out ... honestly shopping with him is painful!

We are heading back to the farm this afternoon we will be there for another week or two and then, well,  I’m not sure to be honest.  I’ll let you know when I know!

Missing everyone.

Love Kylie

UK LIfe

Hi all

Things have gone from cold to colder.  We left Portland with a sunny 11 degrees and whilst typing this blurb it is a flippincrazycold 2 degrees!

As said in my previous blog that I thought I was coping with the weather in Portland – IM NOT COPING HERE!  Im just cold, my hands are a shade of purple, I can’t feel my toes sometimes and my nose has a constant sniffle – NOT COPING.

It is however incredibly beautiful.  We are staying with wonderful friends in Alvington which borders the UK and Wales – the river Wye divides the two.  It really is beautiful and if I could find a way to operate my camera with inch thick gloves I would take a photo or two!

The kids are loving it.  The cold doesn’t seem to bother them. They are outside walking the dog, playing in the garden and enjoying spaces that we dream of in Sydney.  Caerwyn is loving the history that surrounds us and has a list of castles he wants to visit – real castles, not fairy tale story castles, the real thing.

I hope that the first few days of school went well for everyone.  We have started and still trying to figure out what works best for everyone ... a big glass of red wine would work best for me but something tells me that drinking at 9.30am in the morning is frowned upon!

It is hard trying to keep everything together and my patience is something that I need to work on but I am trying and I know the kids are tyring but if anyone has a magic pill for ‘increase patience in a homeschooling mum’ please let me know!

I hope everyone is well.

Kylie x

Brr

current temperature in Alvington, UK ..... 2 degrees! 2 degrees! 2 degrees! 2 degrees!

There is a distincitive difference in the feel of 10 degrees (Portland, OR.) to 2 degrees and this Aussie mum is oh so bloody cold!

Kylie

My first week in Portland.

What’s the deal with ‘jet lag’?  We haven’t been asleep before 1am and it’s starting to show in our afternoon attitudes!  I mean not even ‘Suite Life on Deck’ or 'Hannah Montana' can work miracles like changing the moods of a 6 year old and 7 year old.  And I tell you, they definitely do nothing for mine!

It’s been wet and cold but not totally unbearable!  I know strange words coming out of my mouth. For those who know me, know that I don’t like the cold, I don’t cope in the cold, I wear my jumper in the summer but yet somehow I’m coping – go figure!  It could be the new jumper, jacket, boots, scarf, beanie that’s helping!

We are starting to get ready for our first week of school.  I am absolutely petrified!  I am currently working through the copious amount of work and planning our weekly schedule.  Did I mention Im petrified!

A friend once told me that, Year 1 and Year 3 are the most important years in infant schooling!  What!  No pressure here – just because I happen to be teaching C & C those years.  How important could they be??????

C1 has confidence in me thou.  Don’t worry mum, when you don’t know something (let me point out he said when not IF) you can just goggle it and get the right answer!  Bless him!

Moving to another country is interesting.  When I make a mistake, like crossing the street (looking the wrong way), giving the taxi (sorry cab) the wrong address, asking how much a dime is worth – I follow it up with ‘Sorry, I’ve just moved here.  I’ve only been here a few days.’  People immediately give me a big smile and tell me that’s OK.  I wonder how long I can use that line ... just have to make sure C & C are on board.

Well that’s week one done.  I am (might be, plans change every day) off to the UK on Friday.  Yep, from one cold country to another.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

Kylie xx

OK. Sarah. Here you go.