MAGIC in my own backyard.... #28daysofwrting in March

So here I am on the first of March.... The next chapter... writing for 28minutes for 28days... and maybe even more - right though til the 31st of March!

So today's post started with a tweet some days ago from @Boz23

I explored the site 12 stunning photos of New Zealand  and decided it was time to explore the beauty right here in my own back yard. My family have often talked about this spot but I have never been.

Tunnel Beach Walkway

A Man's Daughter Tragically Drowned In 1870. What He Did For Her Still Stands Today... And It's AWESOME

So today was the day!  WOW I can not believe the MAGIC that is here, right over the hill from where I live.  It is a steep walk down and of course a steep walk back out but it is worth ever step...

I can hardly believe the beauty of this place and how exposed to the elements it is.  While we were at the very top it was almost too windy to stay upright, yet down on the beach it was quite sheltered!

We sat on a rock and were enjoying the view when a group of youngsters set up a cricket pitch along the narrow stretch of beach. We moved out of the way of the ball and to my surprise, as one of them hit the ball for at least a four, I popped my right hand up and took a clean catch.  Imagine my surprise when they offered me the bat.  What fun....

Well the place is truly MAGIC.  It is like a little piece of paradise tucked away out of sight...

I can't wait to go back...

Tonight I shared photos with @boz23 who asked if it was near the Great Ocean Road, which was exactly what I felt when I was there today!  

Check out my post from the Great Ocean Road tour earlier last year to see the similarities!

Thanks so much Margaret for allowing me to experience the MAGIC of my own area....

The twenty eight days of writing journey... Day 28 #28daysofwriting

Today is day 28!
There are many ways to look at that!
Was 28 a target?  
Was 28 about establishing a daily writing ritual?
Was 28 just the number of days in February?

What was your aim for the 28 days???

These were the goals I set myself on day 1:

·      I will write for at least 28 minutes each day for my blog;

·      The main focus of my writing will be year beginnings and inquiry;

·      I will choose a variety of styles and genres;

·      I will invite connection and collaboration with my writings and wonderings;

·      I will share each post with a wider audience through tagging, on twitter, in the VPLD, the vln, and the Ethos community, some may even make it to the Facebook group NZ Teachers (Primary);

·      I will include reflections on my readings and my professional development;

·      I will encourage others to become involved in this journey;

·      I will connect with and comment on blogs of others in this initiative – aiming for two + comments per day;

·      I will have a lot of fun and share MAGIC wherever I can.

WOW - so many of these goals achieved!!!!  Celebrating with a happy dance...

I am delighted to have achieved almost all I set out to.  However there is still a lot of work to be done.  I have not committed time to read and comment on the blogs of others daily...

So, for the next two hours that is what I plan to do....
Back soon....
Three posts read, one comment left... 
hmmm - why is it that I feel inadequate to comment on some posts???  Do I feel I have nothing to offer?  

Back again soon...

Hmmm, two more posts read and both require me to sign in or join to comment, and unfortunately, that is not something I do... Should I?  Is this a barrier we can remove for our audience.  I know that I have removed the 'word verification' from my blog for the past two weeks but have been inundated with spam... is this just the way of things now?

Anyway, two more comments posted and time to head back into my reflection of the journey.  

Five more posts read...

A HUGE thank you to Tom Barrett for starting this opportunity for each and everyone of us to share our voice, to connect and network.  
I am really exciting to write daily for all of March... Tomorrow will see me setting myself some goals for the next chapter of my blogging journey.

Thanks to all who have visited my blog, read, or commented.  Without you, my audience, these are just words floating in space... 

Celebrating the MAGIC of Margaret! #28daysofwriting Day 11

Into the fourth year of our LwDT contract (previously BeL) under the leadership of Margaret, Liz and Greg. Tonight we are realizing a change in our leadership as Margaret moves to a new way of working, a new life challenge and a new family commitment.

As we reflect on the past, it is time for us to acknowledge Margaret’s role at the helm of this contract, and her part within this leadership team.

Margaret, you are a tower of inspiration! You have a gentle, calming leadership style that has embraced and inspired us. I am so grateful for the confidence you show in us all. You continue to provoke us, celebrate us, and affirm us.

We will miss you. We will hold you close in our ways of working and we will be thinking of you in the next chapter of your journey.

Fareweling you last night was an emotional experience. A tribute to the way you have touched the lives of us all was reflected in our heartfelt messages and words for you.


As we carry your passion for the learner in our kete, we have the privilege of realising new, exciting, collaborative ways of working within clusters to support a genuine collaboration for the good of all our learners.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for you TLC throughout my journey in this team. XOXO

Who has supported you in your journey?

Do they know the impact they have made on you?

Why not tell them today…

My birthday in Singapore

Waking up in Singapore for my birthday - what a treat! Can hardly believe we have a day of MAGIC in store... Off we set on the hop on hop off bus for the guided bus tour! When we arrived at the marina we hopped off and went on the Singapore flyer! 

How awesome to have 360degree views all around Singapore! And I really do seem to have gotten over my fear of heights to a degree! A gelato down by the water then back on the bus for the rest of the tour and back to the hotel to get ready for the big night out!!! 

A taxi ride across town and we arrived at 1-altitude! Wow! Up the elevator 61 flights, then transfer into another lift for one more flight and we arrived on the triangular glass edged roof of 1 Raffles Place! 360 degree views from ever so much higher than the flyer!  We were greeted by our host Raymond who made us feel like royalty from the moment we stepped onto the rooftop! He took heaps of photos of us and seated us at a table in the middle over looking the harbour!!! He recommended starters for us and bought us a beer and a long island iced tea! Then when he found out it was my birthday he really started the princess treatment! He bought over a birthday cake and the staff gathered round and sang along with the band then they asked everyone to clap... and the band dedicated a song to me! Very emotional.... As the sun set over Singapore the lights and colours changed.... Pure MAGIC! Watching the laser light display over the marina was amazing. Music, laughter, warm breeze, stunning views, what more we ask for. We had possibly the most amazing night of our lives! Gorgeous dinner and many yummy cocktails later... That sure is a birthday I will remember for ever... 

Day 11 - Rome to Singapore

Down to the dining room for a last breakfast in Rome and it was great to catch up with a few of the crew again! At 8am Flavio took Robert, Arnick, Grant and I to the airport. We ably negotiated check in, security, passport control, the train to the gate, duty free shopping and even caught up with Irene and Bill again just before we departed! 

Onto the flight with grandiose plans of sleeping all the way.... Not a chance.... Sleep eludes me! Movie watching, blogging and eating broke the trip up and at 11.30 pm as we flew over Delhi at 12,000 metres I was shocked to receive a stunning birthday cake and 2 glasses of champagne! WOW what a surprise! The lovely hostess asked me who it was from.. I can only assume the wonderful Jenny  organised this as well! How overwhelming and how incredibly special! This was followed up nicely with a Singapore sling... Agh MAGIC... but one hour to go on a 12 and a half hour flight and sleep still eludes me! 

We arrive into Singapore at 5.30am and I am guessing we can't check into our hotel til 2pm so this could well be a very long day.... 

Well how wrong could I be? We got the shuttle to the hotel and arrived at 7.30am and they took be look at us and said we could check in then to get some sleep.... Bliss.... Three hours of slee then we were upgraded to a suite on the top floor... Very impressed with this service...

All settled into room then took courtesy coach into the heart of the city - a mere 15 minutes away -  and we had a wonderful walk around the mall and orchard road! Absolutely overwhlemed by the heat and the humidity... Back to the hotel for dinner and drinks... Day one in Singapore - awesome!

Day 10 - Assisi to Oriveto to Rome

We awoke in Assisi to a fog covered valley, very picturesque! After a wonderful breakfast together we boarded the bus and headed for Orvieto to extend our modes of transport... 

We travelled up to this hil top town in a funicular, then a minibus then walked to the main plaza? Down the street to a wonderful morning tea of exquisite patisseries and a delicious caffe latte! A tour of the Absolutely amazing Church followed then time to shop and eat! I finally bought myself a gorgeous leather handbag - yes - you guessed it - orange! I love it! After a walk back down the hill to board the funicular then onto the coach for our trip back to Rome! We arrived at our stunning hotel to find it has an enormous swimming pool so in we went! Oh my goodness how beautiful it is to be in the water in this intense heat! After an amazingly relaxing time at the pool it was time to get dressed for the last night

 Opera entertainment! Off we headed in the bus, but a short distance into the journey and it became obvious that the traffic was incredibly busy, until we got close to the stadium and you simply couldn't move, there was a Peche Mode concert in... Eventually Flavio was able to negotiate the bus away from the jam and we arrived quite late.,, to a crowd of 200 awaiting the start so the Opera and we were seated right at the very front! Seated and the show and the dinner began! What an incredible experience and an incredible mix of Opera and comedy, very entertaining. A cast of four sung three scenes and interacted and entertained us all! I hope the pictures help to tell the story! real highlights were singing Happy Birthday to Kay, all of the cast, and will and Jisille up dancing! a truly memorable last night in Rome! 

Back to the hotel for many of the farewells, then a large number of us headed down to e bar for a last drink, chat and reflection on an incredible journey we've been on together! It was very very interesting to hear everyone's highlights. Aida, Flavio, Globus, thank you for a truly MAGICAL experience!