Category: More about me

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family anecdotes momentous events

10/52 empty…

So Miss18 moved out last Saturday… then Miss21 moved out on Monday. What a weird week it’s been! To go from a 3 kid household to a 1 kid household within days!

And not only that but Master nearly-17 decided to spend Saturday with his older sister… meaning we were empty nesters for a day!

Man, that was WEIRD!!!

It brought back memories of when Hubby and I were DINKS (double income no kids) and then later DI2DS (double income 2 dogs) and those were some fun memories, let me tell you!

We’ve noticed a reduction in our power usage. I’ve noticed that there’s still food in our fridge at the end of the week, and the house seems cleaner now; or tidier, at least. And EVERYONE’S noticed how quiet it’s been.

But I’m missing them like crazy.

I love them.

I hope and pray that they’re okay. That they’re making good choices.

But I can’t live their lives for them.

And I’m super-happy for them and MEGA proud of them, for living their lives for themselves.

And that’s my week, dear Reader. Here’s hoping yours ended well too, in spite of how it may have started 🙂

KRidwyn

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More about me Reading teaching Work Writing

7/52 QSLW 2026

So this week was Queensland School Library Week. And because I run a school library in Queensland… this week was my week to do stuff!!!

 

On Monday lunchtime, I ran a “QR Club”. QR meaning ‘quiet reading’ of course! And I was quite happy that students joined me; mainly Year 7s but Year 8s and even Year 11s as well. Tuesday was “Writers’ Group” which was less well attended because our Middle School students were all at their swimming carnival. Wednesday I ran “Illustrators Unite!” because why should words have all the fun? And Thursday was chess. We started with social games, but then took names for the tournament to start next week. And Friday was our Problem Solving group. Have you ever heard of “OzCLO”? It’s the Australasian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad… and the problems are HARD! But we won’t do this each week. Next week we’ll launch our Student Book Club during Friday lunch, so that should be interesting!

 

School Libraries might be viewed as places where ‘you go there if you’re a nerd’. Not on my watch, I hope. Not while I’m in charge of this particular school library. Because this week’s lunchtime activities were the launch week only. We’ll be continuing them each week … and this will join the general hubbub of board games, card games, chess games, enjoying books, and of course, study. We are a high school, after all!

 

So that was my week. A lot of organising, a lot of planning, and hopefully the beginning of a lot of fun! How was your week, dear Reader?

Categories
family anecdotes Random thoughts Reading Review

5/52 Blood over Bright Haven

My older brother recommended this book to me and once I’d finished it, I was surprised by his comment that the MC was so unlikeable.

But I liked her; respected her; understood her.

Possibly it was the difference in our genders which led to such disparity? Our experiences? Our current cultural environments and / or political leanings? He’s a New Yorker; I’m happily ensconced in semi-rural Australia, after all.

Whatever the reason, it was a good discussion about a well-written and thought-provoking novel.

Well worth the read, dear Reader, if you have the time!

And have an amazing week 🙂

– KRidwyn

Categories
family anecdotes places to visit Random thoughts

32/52 sunset

I did the big car-trip-weekend with my Miss 20 back when she was on her Learner license. Then again with Miss 17 earlier this year.

This weekend it’s been Master 16’s turn. Not Yeppoon, nor Agnes Waters, but this time it was to Emu Park… in the rain!

Back on the Sunshine Coast it was forecast to pour all weekend. And my boy drove through over 4 hours of it. But by the time we got to Rockhampton, there were blue skies above us. And check out the amazing photo he took when we finally arrived at Emu Park!

Oh, what a privilege it is to be spending such quality time with my cherubs and watching them learn to drive at the same time.

I love it! Thank you, Lord, for my children!

Have a blessed week yourself, dear Reader 🙂

KRIdwyn

Categories
places to visit

27/52 wolf, axes, burrs

What a week of contrasts this week was!

Highlights included watching the Queensland Ballet performance of Peter and the Wolf, with my Mum:

Followed, of course, by axe-throwing:

And finishing the week at Kiya’s birthplace – Murgon.

Unfortunately, poor Rex ended up COVERED in burrs. Long-haired fur and spiky burrs? Not the best combination. Poor love!

Here’s hoping your week was memorable for all the right reasons, dear Reader!

KRidwyn

Categories
places to visit

27/52 wolf, axes, burrs

What a week of contrasts this week was!

Highlights included watching the Qld Ballet performance of Peter and the Wolf, with my Mum:

Followed, of course, by axe-throwing:

And finishing the week at Kiya’s birthplace – Murgon.

Unfortunately, poor Rex ended up COVERED in burrs. Long-haired fur and spiky burrs? Not the best combination. Poor love!

Here’s hoping your week was memorable for all the right reasons, dear Reader!

KRidwyn

Categories
places to visit

27/52 wolf, axe, burrs

What a week of contrasts this week was!

Highlights included watching the Qld Ballet performance of Peter and the Wolf, with my Mum:

Followed, of course, by axe-throwing:

And finishing the week at Kiya’s birthplace – Murgon.

Unfortunately, poor Rex ended up COVERED in burrs. Long-haired fur and spiky burrs? Not the best combination. Poor love!

Here’s hoping your week was memorable for all the right reasons, dear Reader!

KRidwyn

Categories
places to visit teaching Work

26/52 and what a halfway it is!

I started the week with meetings and deadlines. And ended in Sydney with chameleon socks, capybaras and Cats.

First, the deadlines:

Then the work began in earnest:

And then the fun:

What a week! I hope your halfway-through-2025-mark was just as wonderful, dear Reader!

KRidwyn

Categories
momentous events places to visit teaching Work

24/52 Phew!

So Monday was assemblies and Tuesday was Chocolate Chess (7.30am start) through to Instrumental Showcase (finishing at 8pm).

Wednesday 5am was:

Flew to Sydney

Then:

Sal Kahn: inspiration
Insanely yummy desserts

It’s amazing the people you run into!

And it was a blessing that Livid was on 🙂

Then:

Double-decker train!!! To the sister school for a one day conference and Library visit:

Before flying home, and then today playing violin and bass guitar at church and being Bible Reader… and then clearing my inbox! (First time this term!)

PHEW!!! I need a holiday now, I think…!

I hope your week is just as full of memorable events, dear Reader 🙂

KRidwyn

Categories
family anecdotes

23/52 birthday weekend :)

51 yesterday.

This weekend has included:

Dinner out on Friday night

Saturday morning with my garden and my dog and then a movie with children 1 and 2

Lunch out with my Mum and child 2, followed by an escape room (where we didn’t succeed in the allotted time and the world exploded so I’m sorry about that everyone!) and a movie with Hubby

And then this morning, breakfast (buffet at Caloundra’s Oak & Vine) with mum, Hubby and all 3 children.

Child 1 and 2 even got to decorate the blackboard there:

Woohoo! Loving these 51st birthday celebrations! Bring on the rest of the day, I say!

Have a wonderful week yourself, dear Reader!

KRidwyn