The changeable weather continues here - yesterday my rugby team had a fixture against one of the big Catholic boarding schools; the dark, wet, muddy and (relatively) cold weather made the whole experience feel very English - bizarrely I really enjoyed it. There were hundreds of people watching the games, plus coffee tents, burger bars and a grandstand for the main oval packed with spectators sheltering from the elements.

Reporting deadlines are approaching, along with exam marking and my final exam for this semester's work on my DipEd - plus we're about to move house, so it would be fair to say things are pretty busy at the moment. There are four weeks until the end of term, and then a three week holiday.


As most now know, I've decided not to go back to the UK this coming holiday - it was a tough decision, although it was largely dictated by money as I just can't afford it at the moment - especially having to move house soon. It will mean that I will definitely be going back next year; probably in June/July for around 2-3 weeks. Instead I have booked myself a week's holiday for one in Magnetic Island, which is close to the Barrier Reef and a short boat ride from Townsville, to which I've managed to get a cheap flight.  Magnetic Island has plenty of rainforest and is a haven for koalas, and it is good for watersports and scuba diving, so there will be plenty to do as well as chance to unwind and catch up on some reading. Something to look forward to in the midst of this winter weather! (not that 16 degrees is actually 'cold'....).



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Last night I went to a gig at a small bar in Newtown with Sian, Michael and Antoinette to see The Audreys, an excellent folk band from Adelaide; it was a really good evening and a welcome break from watching rugby on a Saturday night!