Tr ip to the zoo

Yes, what you see is MOST of the church in TE Atatu, Auckland on a trip to the zoo last Saturday. The Trasses couldn't be there, nor could Tracey, but ALL the rest of us are under the elephant. And yes, we do have the real elephants, but things have become so pc these days, that you need binoculars to see them. Hee hee. Gone are the days of small cages and various mentally unhealthy animals - thank GOD.
We had a great time, four hours in all, wandering around and investigating wild beasts. The kookaburra was the most interesting, and had a mouse in its beak, but still managed to 'laugh'.
Warn out and needed a wee rest when we got back.
Wish you could have been there, anyone reading this!

Jan's birthday

Whew it's high time I got a new picture that actually works in here. THis was taken an hour ago at my sister's place after a surprise party for Jan, who turned 40 today. Jemma is taking the photo. That's Lorna, me, Jan, Helen and Tracey at the table - the entire sisterhood of Auckland, NZ. After singing the lovely song "I breathed out love and made this day for you" to Jan, she opened her presents, and we had a cup of tea in bone china teacups, and the cake, which is a prune and pumpkin cake (don't imagine you AMericans would like the sound of it, but it was delicious!)
The conversation, after festivities, was all about New Orleans, and the paper this morning was covered in photos, and so we ended on a grim note, but nevertheless, HE is LIFE.

Where's it gone?

The 50th!

I'm hoping the picture I've added to today's blog shows up. If not, I'll republish. Can you believe that I've been nearly half a century on this planet?? Me either! Ha ha. Anyway, any of you Americans want to come to a 'Persian Party' to celebrate, you are so welcome. There'll be two dancers, a small group of mandolin players, and poetry and song. Bring your own cushion - invitation attached.

Ancestral stuff

Love this photo of my forebears. . .there's Grandma and Grandad Jeffries with my Uncle Murray in arms, and my father the Tweedledee character in the front, standing in Rotorua soon after they arrived in NZ from Australia to live. Don't they just look ever so hopeful that NZ will provide them the kind of lifestyle to which they had grown accustomed. There's a famous Maori guide standing behind them with her flax basket about to show them the sights. God bless 'em.

Artistic stuff

Ah, this is what my poor mother is reduced to. Climbing up the stairwell to satisfy an assignment I had for a photo depicting 'the narrative of long experience'. I ended up using the one with the age-spotted hands pouring tea. They were her hands too. She's such a dear! If you look closely you can see the family depicted on the wall behind. Heartwarming aint it?

Anyway, that's one assignment behind me and umpteen still to do. I'd best get to it.

"LORD!"

The end of the second week

Hello my great crowd of witnesses!
Read your blog Sarah, and enjoyed the sight of the lovely car. Well done on the new acquisition.
I was Art Director today for the group in my course, I really am going to have to pull my neck in and take a more background role. (Yeah right!) BUT it's fun still. I'm taking photos for an assignment, and have a second assignment in the wings.
It's Friday so I have to get out there and find some entertainment.
Until next time,
Jen

GOBS of time???

Ha ha ha, Sarah Fay, but you are funny! All the extraneous time I have is going in to hunting up the hard cash to survive the course. I get $20 in the hand after my rent is paid and beyond that, I have to find the rest. I have just heard that I have a long cartooning job which I have successfully won, so that will be work, yippee. Doing about 10 hours of internet checking tomorrow, and in between times, LOVING being that student. I'm class rep already - what's that about??
Back to milling with the mob - lunchtime is almost over. My thermos is empty. My pear eaten. My soggy sandwiches over.
J

Here I am!

Hello, and here I am again, in a totally different status, and looking more like a student again. . . jeans, scruffy hair, a pack on my back. No time for lunches, thermos coffees, no place to call my own, and I have to grab a computer in my lunchhours from some strange room next to the library, where I am sitting now.
Hello anyone reading this! (Sarah!!)
Life is good - I'm LOVING my course in graphic design and already feel like an artist again.
Will try and get on this more regularly.
Jen

Second to last day!

AND this is my friend Catherine Gardner (note spelling) who is the one who GAVE me the Koru, see the other day's blog. . . isn't she nice.

She's looking for someone. . .

Anyone. . . brown, buff and big preferably.

Contact her via the comment section on my blog if you like.

Great drawing link

Found a great illustrator blog site but can't seem to attach it to my links on the side bar, so I'll put it here instead http://www.drawn.ca/

I'm sure you'll agree it's got a lot for the aspiring artist to view.

Only a week or so to go

Not sure whether I'll be able to keep these blogs up. . . once I'm fulltime bent in front of a computer doing graphics and trying to keep up with younger and brighter. . . watch this space. I'll even have to manage on LESS coffee. The countdown has begun. . . it's now on 12.
Picture was taken just now, with me at my soon to be emptied desk, clutching my farewell gift from Catherine Gardiner, who presented me with a Koru, which means 'new beginnings, and peace, and tranquillity'. I am leaning on that thought.

Another go. . .

Have wiped out all the old history. . . I HOPE!
Sometimes it seems right just to make a fresh start.
This is it.
J