From the sea to the kitchen

Hi Anna!

How I wish I could go on that snorkeling adventure with you! I love the water and I am so jealous that you get to live near the beach. If only I could have a little beach cottage right by the coast. Apart from swimming, there would be endless fun poking into rock pools and wildlife spotting. Poor lizard! That photo was a bit scary. As for the abalone's eyes, I couldn't find them. I know how much us Chinese love abalone but they aren't the prettiest things although they beat the looks of sea cucumbers.

Anyway of course I know I only saw you yesterday, but of course there are things to tell since it's been a while. Also, I'd rather much be blogging than doing job applications right now. Something that I've been putting off for a couple of weeks since I started full time work as an education assistant at a primary school nearby. The world has a lot to cheer about because this means that I am a step closer to scoring a teaching job somewhere... well I like to think so anyway. I'm enjoying my work and the primary school is really a place of wonder. Explained later.

On Friday night, I met up with Emily and Alicia. That was really lovely and we had mini drinks to celebrate my employment. We will have to do another celebration when I get my own class.
 
Here's us yesterday.  The two girls lying on a picnic mat that shifted to and from awkward spots in the shade in Kings Park. Can always count on Anna to be my psuedo-bf.

Holey moley. You know it's summer when a fly photo bombs and there is no food in sight.

A couple of Sundays ago I went along to Fremantle Seafood Festival. How disappointing! I  expected lots of little tasting booths and stalls selling seafood kebabs or instant clam chowder in a tin or something mind blowing but really there was a tiny stage for cooking demonstration and a fudge stall. I like fudge, but what on earth does fudge have to do with seafood? We ended up going to Kailis to make up for it and had an afternoon of eating and drinking away. It turned out to be such a relaxing way to spend the day.

So many things to love in Perth!

Sea related things you can eat

Sea related things you can not eat.

Sunset.

 Now this primary school I'm talking about. The Year 5s were treated to a fancy lunch last Friday. I love how they have a common oven and kitchen and I helped with the baking. It was cute how they had little newspaper cones with their fish and chips complete with ketchup and tartar sauce.

My serving. How lucky are the children? They have an awesome science budget with the help of fundraising and the spuds and parsley came from the school's garden.

 I've been baking too. I'm getting really good at making my own recipes. I had a great day picking a whole ice cream tub of mulberries off a friend's mulberry tree and using them in my invented recipe.

Mulberry and sour cream wholemeal muffins. 

 I invented these too! Real mint and peanut chocolate cookies.

I had to give these away because I made too many and too rich and loaded with calories to be enjoyed by one. 

 On the healthier side, I made muesli bars. Uncle Toby's muesli bars have nothing on these tasty and healthy version.

Shredded coconut, sultanas/cranberries, black sesame seeds, pumpkin/ sunflower seeds, flax seeds, rolled oats, rye, egg, dash of brown sugar/honey, dash of evoo, sprinkling of salt all in one bowl. Mix it up. Pat it down. Oven for 15 minutes at about 170C or when it looks brown. Cut it up before it cools. Easiest and healthiest thing you'll ever make! Best thing I love is that you can throw in anything in it and substitute the grains/seeds/ dried fruits for anything you like.

 My creations did not stop there. I also made this! I had to resort to making something for the Melbourne Cup lunch at school after a unsuccessful hunt in Garden City. Really, I can not justify $200 for a bit of feather and fluff. That is like a weekend away I could have ticking off another city in Spain! 

Bit of thread, one piece of felt, and a black hairband. Fold a rectangular piece of felt like a concertina , pinch it in the middle and thread through to hold.

That reminds me, something amazing has happened to me, or rather is happening to me. I have not bought a single item of clothing/bag/shoes since I've been back. It's been almost 3 months. I've been working with the clothes I've had three years ago and also wearing the items from London to death.  Of course London shopping is beyond Perth and I calculate cost of items in terms of a weekend trip away. Must realise that I'm in Perth and $200 is not a weekend away in Europe anymore :(

Now time for those cover letters...

Summer is finally here!

Hi Anna

YAY happea days you are loved too :) I'm glad you found The Alchemist so inspiring and everything that you wrote was exactly how I felt after reading it too which was why I wanted to share the book with you.

Yesterday I went to Borough Markets with Chrissy and Alex. It was a splendid sunny Saturday and it had to be spent outdoors. On Friday I tried to organise picnic at Hampstead Heath but the only confirmation I got was from Chrissy so we thought we'd go to Borough Markets and for a walk along the Thames instead.

With our apple/orange cranberry juice

Along Thames River. Such a sweet couple aww!

Where we were walking. I wish London was like this everyday!!!

What a grand idea! Socialising, exercising and drinking all in one.Would love to do this. Maybe someone in Perth can start a barcycle?

It was truly a beautiful day and there was so many people around you could really feel the change of mood. I was infinitely happier to have direct contact with the sunshine rays although I came back home a little sunburned.

About a couple of weeks ago I found out some exciting news and I went celebrating with Benny for a Mexican meal and we watched American Pie Reunion. I have to say it was very funny to start off with, but I fell asleep towards the end. I cannot stay up after 10pm! I've  really enjoyed having him around although we have our little bickers. Currently he is somewhere in Italy doing his first ever backpacking trip by himself. I'm a little worried for him being his first time and all but I am sure he will come back with a few good stories.

Green rice, beans and shredded pork

We also spent the next day wandering through town and visiting Chinatown to have some dumplings that I've been meaning to try. I have been buying all sorts of things to bring back with me including the cutest pair of salt and pepper shaker.  They will remind me of London and I love how the rabbits are facing in different directions.

I made oven baked chicken nuggets coated in cornflakes (which I had fun crushing) and herbs and invited Lauren over. I love cooking for other people and it was lovely to have my brother and Lauren try my first attempt of this recipe from Lauren's CSIRO recipe book.

Can't figure out how to rotate it on blogger!

I've been covering a reception class (5 year olds) and the students have been making Mr Grass Heads using stockings, grass seeds, and packing it in with sawdust. I think it's hilarious that they are multicultural. We forgot the mouths though.

Teaching delights

Hi Anna

I wanted to blog to tell you some happy things :)

Yesterday and today I worked in a school with the same Year One class. They are gorgeous children and at the end of the first day I could memorize almost all 30 children names to faces! I amuse myself and also the children when we sit on the carpet and I go through their names. It was tough getting back into work on Monday but I'm glad I decided to call up the agency for work because once I got to the school, my teacher mode clicked in and I really enjoyed myself!

I've been to the school a few times before and I love it because it is a new school and it's got a really lovely vibe. I like using the toilets too because it always smells like vanilla and coconut. Haha! Reminds me of tropical islands, pina coladas, warm sea breeze and sand between your toes. Last time I was there about 4 months ago, they were incubating chicken eggs and they were just hatching out! Absolutely fascinating and the most coolest project ever!

Believe it or not, yesterday I took the children for gymnastics! All 29 6 year olds! The problem with supply teaching is that more than half the time there is no plan to work with and you just have to make things up or ask the children/ teaching assistants to find out more. Anyway, it was my first time doing gymnastics and a lot of fun! They had awesome balancing and climbing apparatus and it was really cute watching them show me what they could do. I asked them to think of three moves. First they had to do a balancing pose, then they had to move across the balance apparatus, and finished off with another balancing pose. Very amusing! I did kick off my ballet flats that I was wearing to do a few demos. Mind you I was wearing a dress and tights so I was a little restricted but they understood what I wanted them to do. Haha!

Phonics this afternoon was interrupted by a fire drill and I was very proud of the children for lining up sensibly and following my instructions. Luckily this morning the  maintenance manager popped in to give me a quick briefing about the fire evacuation plan. I didn't really think much about it until I heard the alarm and realised he was giving me a heads up and that was very nice of him. Actually the staff at the school are the nicest I've come across when I do supply work.

There were two other hilarious things that made my day. I had a  mum tell me this morning that I was the most exciting thing that happened to her daughter Sade who is of mixed African/English race. Apparently Sade has a fascination-near-obsession with Chinese people and she couldn't stop talking about having a Chinese teacher. Hilarious!!!! I've had similar responses like that to children and I'm starting to believe that I'm the only Chinese teacher in London. Ah.. and  Mohamed, 6 years old, brown curly hair, bright brown eyes, rosey cheeks, handsome fella said to me:  "Miss Ooi, I think you are beautiful". That totally melted me right on the spot! Sweetest thing ever because it was random and he was so sincere about it! I wouldn't mind having 30 of children like him in a class :)

It's also nice to be told when you do a great job and to be requested to come back. The teaching assistant told me that she was amazed at how much control I had with the children and that the children really enjoyed having me. I have really bad teaching days and sometimes you just get so caught up with the downs that you think you're not doing enough for the children so it is really delightful to hear positive feedback.
Unfortunately I won't be working at the school tomorrow because the teacher I'm covering will probably back from sick leave but tomorrow I will be working at another school that I've never been to before.

I hope you enjoyed reading my teaching adventures on your way to work :)

Christmas lights

Hi Anna

YUM! What a great birthday idea! Did you all enjoy eating your yummy creations? Did you get to keep the recipes as well? They all look scrumptious and I love how it's presented. Very neat and fancy!

Today we took the kids for an excursion to St Paul's Cathedral. I am exhausted and never would've thought I'd be one of those people falling asleep on the bus on the way home, but I almost did!

I had 5 children to look after and luckily we all survived! Can you imagine shuffling your 5 lot of children along with the other 25 and getting them from the underground tube, buses and crossing roads to get there? Nobody was left behind/ crushed by the doors/  fallen down the escalators or any scary scenarios! Phew! It was a lot of fun and I really liked it. They were superbly and surprisingly well behaved.

I got to check out the inside of the cathedral so that was a bonus for me! Next week we will be visiting the largest Hindu temple in Europe! I am really excited to get out and about and see new places :)

Anyway, from now on these are the beautiful lights that I see on my walk home. Pretty cool huh? I'm going to try and bring the Christmas to you since you can't be here! If I could, I'd also send some snow if it snows!