Education

Well howdy-do everyone! I did promise updates on my plans to qualify myself as a Pilates Instructor as I signed up for education for the first time in a very long time. Well, with the plans of mice and men, my plan did not go as I hoped. My course required an 'Anatomy and Physiology' unit as a prerequisite.

I enrolled in the required Anatomy & Physiology class at a college and arranged my other commitments around the session time. However, like the plans of mice and men, things just did not work out. The class was rescheduled for later in the day. This meant that I could not make the commitment and I needed to withdraw until it is again offered later in the year.

Life!

So, I think I have stumbled across what may just be the best book of 2011 and it is amazingly titled 'It's a Book'. In a world full of gadgetry everything can be by replaced by one. With Kindle and other E-book viewing and reading devices it is not surprising that the 'jackass' of this book has no idea what one is. It is a full illustration of the separation that is starting to occur between the individual and the everyday bound paper book.

Put in my hands by a young child hoping that I would read it for them I was totally blown away by the content of the book. I have not seen a book like it since 'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus' and loved every page of it. I think I have found my 'gift of the year' not just for nephews and nieces but also for each and every one of my geek girl and geek guy friends. :)

This is my book of the year for sure. Set with a sense of irony that it is published in a print format rather than an online cartoon this great book illustrates the gap between a reader and the hard copy print of a book as a result of the digital age. Poking fun at the gadget comparisons of what a device can or cannot do this book shows the absolute wonder that comes from opening a seemingly plain book. It is fantastic book and I recommend it for any child or adult as it has put everyone I have spoken to about it into roars of laughter and even tears. It truly shows how times are changing...

Every political generation we see a new round of advertising on matters of health. From the 'Slip! Slop! Slap!' campaign of 1983, through to the spin of Life Be In it advertisement where even Norm took up the advice.

Norm was Life Be In It's poster child for not being active and had a long history of advertising in Victoria before being adopted nationally. With ads looking at his habits and then campaigning to him they covered all in ways that simply would not be 'politically correct' today. (Oh, how I miss seeing those campaigns).

Gone are the simple fun advertisements to be more active of yesteryear. Today, we are bombarded with the 'be active' campaigns. They are not as pervasive on television. But instead, bombard our car parking at the supermarket instead, telling us that we should park further away from the doors just to 'be active'.

And, of course, it wouldn't be political unless they were also promoting it through our schools with their 'be active' Challenge. Yes, each year some schools run a 4 or 10 week challenge for their students to undertake an hour of activity each day for 5 days a week. At four weeks the child gets a medal and at ten weeks the school has a chance to get a certificate and some State Government funded sports gear without tapping into their own budget.

Of course, I do wish that more Aussie schools and communities would become more pro-active in and of themselves. I love our local walking groups and all our sporting teams that play locally. With all the global media now it can be so hard for the profile of these vitally important local groups to be raised. Of merit too, are those schools and community groups who organise something active and fun that is outside the norm. One school in the United States captured my attention this week.

Primrose Schools are having a competition-based family dance off. Of course, none of the silliness of the school dance-off on Grease, no, of course it will be crazier than that! You can find out more, watch some hilarious footage, and be inspired to shake that bootie for yourself by checking out the web site for the full scoop as "legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia" submit their videos in the hope of snatching up the cash grand prize whilst raising money for charity. Now, that is community and charitably minded and, by golly, I hope to see more of it!

Holidays where Dad is home is always very special. Each of our children has their own way of finding special time both with Dad by himself and with he and I together. Today Boof had his special time.

With his brothers occupied with a DVD they got for Christmas he saw his chance and jumped at it. With a busy home schooling life, and PJ Bear's special needs, I need to be ever so mindful to make time for Boof and, thank goodness, he is mature enough to be able to seek our attention in truly positive ways.

We have been on a mass cleanup in preparation for having tradespeople romp through in coming weeks and we had spent most of the day collecting up all the odd toys, bits and pieces with a view to getting them sorted and packed away where they belong.

We made some great in roads though I am still left with a large pile on the floor. Mid afternoon, though, my back was feeling the strain of all the effort of shifting all our furniture around to thoroughly clean and I was due for a break. In the process of cleaning, Boof noticed that I had made some games more accessible for him and as I stretched my back he picked up his favorite family game, Boggle and asked to play.

Of course, Boof is not a child prodigy, he is barely forming letters let alone identifying words. In reality he just loves shaking the box with all the letters in it. (Yes, I know the new version doesn't need a box). It is loud and when he is done he has his own pad to write on as we get to the serious task of word finding to 100 points.

It was great to be able to play without the children so that we had an evenly matched competition for once! Of course, my husband beat me 108 to 73. I am sure that it is only because he writes faster than I do as we are never usually short of word finding with only one exception this time around. It was a doosey and we were stonkered. I put it aside to show you all but, in typical fashion, absentmindedly either misplaced it or threw it out. Oh well, next time!

My Christmas wish for you is that in these festive times you can see past pain, hurts and troubles to reach out your hand. I pray that your hand will give hope to another as you reach out to help.

My Christmas wish for you is that all that you do, albeit the same as any other day, that it will be done with appreciation for all that you have that others may not. I pray that you are enveloped in joy as you serve others.

My Christmas wish for you is that you take the time to love someone else that you find hard to love. I pray that in doing so that you feel loved for just being yourself too.

My Christmas wish for you is that you can consider others with a higher regard than yourself. Then, when you arrive home safely after your celebrations, I pray that you can bring thanks to God that no one lost their life at your hands that same night.

My Christmas wish for you is that you can share the spirit of Christmas in special ways with those who see you in a faceted way. I pray that your life is a testimony of love to work colleagues and clients, to playgroup mums and to the barrista at your local coffee bar.

My Christmas wish for you is that as you contemplate the year ahead that your already laid plans clearly seen as wise or unwise. I pray that all fear, angst and stress be replaced with empowerment, encouragement and, above all, peace.

With love at Christmas