Still Alive!

Well it looks like we're all still alive post-21st December.

Some reckoned the end of the world was actually midnight GMT dayime, which would mean 12pm later in the day. That came and passed, and nothing happened!

Probably the most memorable quote from the day came from a friend who just wanted to check up on me right after midnight...

A Christmas Card!

I got my first Christmas card from someone who isn't my student! Thanks Joanna! To be fair, she did write a Christmas card to hundreds of people, but that's still cool. The message made me smile!

A Dinner Catch-Up

Tonight Chen, Gwen and I caught up over dinner. It's the first time I've caught up with them in quite a while! 

We started off at this Japanese restaurant, which was quite nice. We just updated each other on what we were up to, as well as reminisce over past memories.

Soon it seemed as though the restaurant was about to close! We didn't feel full though, so we ended up finding ourselves at another restaurant, Carls Jr for our second dinner!

It was a good catch-up!

Wild West Auckland Weather!

Who knew things would get so crazy out in our neck of the woods today! When the skies looked dark this morning, I had a feeling the weather wouldn't be too good, but when I heard a huge bang which sounded like a cannon go off follow almost immediately after the flash of lightning, I knew something wasn't right!

Reports are now coming in that things are quite messy over in Hobsonville/Greenhithe, with a few deaths and injuries. Roofs have come off or caved in, trees have been uprooted..it's all sounding a little scary! Apparently the roof of the West Wave Swimming Centre's men's toilet has caved in, and people on talkback radio are reporting that roofs of other buildings, like Repco down Central Park Drive (which is down the same road as my church!) has come off!

The scariest thing is my mum and our friend's mum went to Albany for a clothes sale this morning. My mum isn't too familiar with driving to that area, and I had to give her directions. I've tried contacting her but she left her cellphone at home! I hope she's OK! I don't know how she's going to get home right now in this weather..

My Students Surprise me Again

This morning was the end of year concert at the music school. It started at 9.30 in morning, so I asked my students to be there about 15 minutes before, but when I got there around that time, they were already there!

Recorders were to perform second after the first group of flutes, so I gathered all my students together in one of the classrooms and tried to go through all their songs before we were to go up on stage. I have to admit, I was quite surprised at how well some of the students were playing! I have to admit I was a little nervous over the week thinking about how well they'd do.

After a bit of a pep talk, it was finally time for the kids to head to the hall to perform! I lead them to the seats on the side of the stage, and got each group to come up and perform one after the other. Some groups had a student who wanted to introduce the group themselves, while I had to do it for a few of the classes.

There were no major catastrophes. There were a few little mistakes, but I'm sure the cuteness factor covered it! I pretty much teach the youngest students at the music school, all the little kids who have never played music before! I was extremely proud of the way my students played, the way they were able to count themselves in, and keep going even if they stuffed up...a little!

I led them all back to the classroom to give them reports and a little prize afterwards. I gave them each a lollipop, a pencil, a little packet of Oreo's and a little notebook. I think I spoiled them!

I returned to watch the rest of the performances. I just missed Rebecca, Nadine and Joylynn (who attend my church) perform flute, but I guess I can re-watch the video! Before I knew it, the violins were up! My brothers and I were the last violin group to perform. We had Arthur (another violin teacher who often comes to help out) helping us which was good.

The guitar students were the last to perform before prize-giving. It's always a joy to see some of my old students performing, even if it's another instrument they're playing! I just hope the time I spent teaching them helped contribute to where they are today!

A few of my students actually won awards for other instruments too! My top music theory student, who won the top recorder award last year won the top flute award this year only after playing for one year!

I guess one of the benefits of being a music teacher are the presents you get from students (just a side thing of course!).

After the concert, my brothers and I met up with the music teachers at a nearby cafe for a coffee and a bite to eat. It was really good having a chat to them, as my teaching timetable this year didn't allow me to schedule a morning tea at the same time as all the other teachers! It was quite interesting talking to them about teaching, students and all sorts of other things!

Oh well, that's my seventh year of teaching down. Looking forward to the next!