It was touch and go as to whether or not I would be here. There was rain all week and I missed my PATHS PD as the road was still closed on Wednesday. However, we kept a close eye on the situation and by Friday the road was open. It was Broome Time!!! We left Derby just after 3pm and by 5.30 we were at Gantheaume Point watching the sun sink into the water sipping champers! Now that's a Friday night. After the sunset we checked into our awesome apartment at Blue Seas just around the corner from Cable Beach. After a quick change we headed off for a night on the town @ Zeebar (a sqanky tapas bar where you actually feel like you're in Subi- not Broome). There was live music which was amazing ... read more

It's that time again. Sunday is almost over in fact so it's time for another update. This week was mercilessly short thanks to the Labour Day long weekend and my class (for whatever reason) were on their best behaviour. We had lots to keep us occupied in class this week, including making pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday Mass, our Senior Swimming Carnival on Thursday and all of a sudden it was Friday! On the social calendar things were a little more quiet however. I failed to make it to the gym and although our Wednesday netball game played out with fierce competition, we lost by 1 goal. Friday was a big night out. The 'Spinnie' otherwise known as The Spinefex Pub was hosting a big going away afair and had a local band playing (complete ... read more

This week has been filled with err.... water. In every sense imaginable! Firstly, it has rained every day this week. Often accompanied by thunder and lightning. Although it is great for the gardens and the soon to be visited nearby water holes I am a bit over it. Of course the weather is always hot and sticky so I can't really complain. The second element of water in my life this week has to do with school. It just happens that our class theme this term is water. Our class performed the assembly item on Friday which was inspired by our topic. We put on a water song medley. We thought up lots of songs to do with water and basically just sang the bits to do with water! A great success albeit the first assembly ... read more

Another week has flown by already. I stormed through Week 2 and managed to get some nice classroom routines in place- which I believe makes everyone involved feel better. Many of you know that I have adopted two new years resolutions for 2011. Number 1: not to accept plastic bags, especially at the supermarket (I really try at this but sometimes fail spectacularly) Number 2: engage with as many social invitations as possible. This is where I feel my success has been this week. I've got myself lined up for an afterschool activity every week day. I'm on my way to making lots of new friends. Another tick on the list is that I managed to get most of my programmes for school written this weekend. Feels good to get them printed. School free weekends will ... read more

It's been one week exactly since I drove into town. I've set up house, spent some quality time 'networking' with other newbie teachers, experienced my first cyclone warning, celebrated Australia Day watching fireworks crack over Broome's mangroves and even managed to make some new friends along the way. I'm half way through setting up my classroom and although I expect next week to be challenging beyond belief, I feel comfortable in my new town and my new home. Here is my top ten list for this week: 1. Mango beer at Matso's brewry Broome (ginger beer was lovely too) 2. Grace Removals delivering all my stuff without breaking anything 3. Mangrove's (the pub) Australia Day fireworks show. Just like a mini foreshore- great atmosphere. 4. Balmy nights in Broome with old friends (thanks Mel and Paula) ... read more