Sugarloaf

So then I had a party

With the end of the teaching block came the end of so many other things so the best way to handle it was to have a party. Invite the friends who count and relax around a fire on a rainy Sydney afternoon. I didn't get many photos of everyone at the time as I was too busy talking and listening. However the fire did look great and hopefully Alex will have his blue cast off soon.

Endings

I wrapped up my teaching block last Friday. Year 12 graduated and I attended their dinner. Most of the teachers had headed for international departures at the airport by Friday. Which left me at the pub with a few boxes waiting for a lift home. I had less than I usually do at the end as this time all of my files were electronic and I walked out the door with a usb stick. Teaching in the digital era. As Year 12 had already deserted and most of Year 9 were already out there I just watched Korean rock music with Year 10 (cnblue - check them out on Youtube if you have time) and shared some party food with them that they had thoughtfully provided to farewell me. I was still on the outside looking in as far as the teachers were concerned but I raised the final glass of beer and we all said goodbye more or less amicably. The tears came for a moment and then the sun set on another episode of my teaching career.

Willoughby Spring Fair

Here is Lorraine's portrait in the photo wall

Nick with the photos

Audience listening to Mayor Pat Reilly

Thanking Vanessa Cheung for her design of the artwork

The key collaborators on the project

Lorraine Cairnes

Today was the Willoughby Spring Fair which is held as a street fair following a parade in Victoria Avenue, Chatswood. Nick and I went to the opening of The Faces of Willoughby which is a digital photo wall featuring many portraits of people taken over the last two years in Willoughby of all different groups. The display is a series of light boxes which have a background of heritage maps of the area. Our next door neighbour Lorraine features in one of the portraits.

The beauty of the night

Right now I am sitting in the living room typing and just in the window right in front of me is the moon nearly at half sitting brightly in the western sky. The moon that can be seen from this window every year at the beginning of Spring. I think about how many other people have sat here looking at the moon and wonder if the original architect knew that it would be the movements of the stars and the moon through these windows that would always leave me in silent admiration for the timeless night sky.