http://majik.id.au

You volunteer to help cover an over-nighter between normal day shifts. Sure, why not?

Gee, aren’t I the loyal little worker.

Spot the birdy!

I think I’ll also put up pictures of Lukas being adorable, but I need to find them first. Ben and Tiff stayed the weekend to come see the Air Show with us. Luckily we went on Saturday, so the trafic and parking were pretty decent. It was a really great weekend, just a pain we live so far away.

The kids were aiming for 120mins of practice each this week. Nearly time to find out how they did.
*nay*

I GAVE THEM ALL A JOURNAL AND BRIBED THEM WITH STICKERS AND ASKED THEM TO WRITE ALL THEIR PRACTICE DOWN AND IT WORKED!!

And the final tallies were: (for Q’s sake)

J, 14yrs 90mins
L, 11yrs 87mins
H, 7yrs 81mins
J, 11yrs 80mins

The oldest went to camp yesterday so he didn’t get a lesson today, but he left his journal on the piano and made sure his brother showed me how much practice he’d done.

I’ve asked them all to aim for 100mins for next week. We shall see.
*nay*

We cooked up a storm last night and finally opened the bottle of champers to mark our unit-warming. We did chilli mussels and rice with deep-fried fetta pieces, and dessert was chocolate mousse with chocolate flakes on top (out of a packet, but still home made). We put a new cane runner out on the table outside, lit all the candles that could withstand the breeze, and dined in our garden on a lovely warm night. Sooo tastey, and nice to get away from the TV- even though we watched much of Seabiscuit through the door anyway.

*nay*

For those who didn’t know, I’m looking after a few piano students for Q while he gallavants around the Chinese country side. Yesterday, I gave them the shock of their lives by introducing them to the concept of writing down every bit of practice they did. Anyone remember those horrible instrumental practice journals? Well I photocopied a few sheets each for them, put their names on them so they couldn’t get lost, explained the concept to their parents so they couldn’t be hidden, and finally- bribed them with the promise of stickers I was more generous than my teachers- I wrote in the 30min lesson as time they could count as practice, and I only asked them to aim for some practice at least 5 days a week.

Last week one Mum asked me what they should be aiming for. When I said a half hour a day (pretty standard) the kids nearly died of shock. Hence the journals. I hope the idea sticks.

*nay*