Faffing about

As you can see, I'm trying a few things with the layout of the blog. I need to sort out the HTML so I can make the photo at the top a tad smaller (not that I don't love it, but it's a little in-your-face).

We've had a nice lazy weekend, the first of the school holidays. The weather played ball and was sunny for both days. Chris had a big night with the boys last night and so T-man and I dragged ourselves out of bed at 5am to pick him up. Fortunately this only occurs approximately twice a year, so for T it is an adventure and for me, a way to bargain for something I want :) To clear his head this afternoon, we took Pedro and headed out to Daffodil Bay and ran, walked, jogged and skipped our way around, managing in the main to avoid tripping over Pedro's lead.

I'm back to work tomorrow and the boys are planning a trip to the movies to see Kung Fu Panda 2. The next day T goes to the OSCAR holiday programme and the following day he's going to Kidzone with his schoolmate.

I'm finalising my repertoire for the Senior Vocal competitions at the end of the 3rd term. I'm going all out to win the Scholarship this year. I reckon I would have won last year if it wasn't for the dreadful test piece for sopranos which was twice as difficult as the tests set for altos, tenors and basses. Fortunately this year's is very straightforward - Music, When Soft Voices Die by Quilter. I have yet to decide what my contrasting piece will be. So far I'm doing Mahler for the Lieder, Handel for Oratorio, Duparc for French Art and Bach for the duet with my friend Ruth. Now if I can just figure out how to reliably get into my whistle register.....

Games

Tyler has really taken to board games and strategy games lately. We have been having endless sessions of Connect 4 and the little dude embarasses both his mother and father on a regular basis. He'll sit there, little yellow disc (he's always yellow) in hand muttering "What are you up to you? What were you thinking doing that?" And more often than not he figures us out and with a triumphant grin sends his disc sailing into the slot that prevents our line of four. He also likes card games such as Fish and Snap. He's mostly grown out of sulking when he doesn't win :)

Intense concentration

And just because I've always loved this photo and because I'm feeling sentimental as my little baby is turning 7 - seven! - next month....

No I haven't gone to Siberia......

....although with a heavy snow warning currently in force it may yet feel like that. Yes yes I know I've been a slack blogger again! I do have a few photos to download but it's so cold in the computer/music room that I tend not to spend to much time in there. But I shall try and gird my loins and get some loaded.

I'm hoping to get some of Tyler in his costume from his recent school production (he was a mad scientist) but I haven't seen any as yet. Apparently the school is creating a DVD which we can buy. (Tyler asked me if I wanted to 'buy the production').

Back soon - promise!

War wounds

Both my boys have recently received injuries in almost exactly the same place. First Chris at rugby from a random sprig at a ruck which dug a deep hole beside his left eye and then Tyler got a nice split at the corner of his left eye while playing at the pool with his wee mate.

Felix the cat has changed from being a mistrustful outside cat to an inside snugglepuss.

The kids are allowed to have a pair of slippers at school to change into in the classroom. Here's Tyler's choice. Note that he still has shorts on!

Tyler is really starting to get into his reading now and has discovered that he can read a book by himself. He came home from school on Friday and told me that he had read the first four chapters of his Zac Power book. He finished reading the book out loud to me at bedtime.

Random pretty picture :) Taken from the our house one morning.

Tyler is still obsessed with Bakugans and our lounge floor is constantly scattered with the little round toys and their cards. This makes for an interesting crossing from one side of the lounge to the other if one is not paying attention!

Winter has set in and we have the fire cranked up most days. Fortunately a lot of the days while being cold, are also sunny and calm so not unpleasant. Chris has had another couple of moles removed as a precaution - one on his back and another on his calf. I'm off to the doctor tomorrow to get my throat checked out. It hasn't been right since I lost it at the last opera performance. It's very frustrating especially because I have discovered an absolutely gorgeous piece by Mozart that I want to learn - Ora Pro Nobis from the Regina Coelis K108 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx2pnPI18yI (start at 6:40)

When I grow up I want to be....

A fireman! Tyler's class is working through the Firewise programme so he was very excited

when they had a visit from some firemen with their fire engine.

Full steam ahead! Stop!

So it was two weeks of full on rehearsals and performances and then.....nothing. No.Thing. After the last Hansel & Gretel (H&G) performance I looked at the family diary and for the week ahead there was nothing. Well no that's no quite true, we did have the A Capella Singers AGM but that doesn't count :)

H&G went really well and I loved it!! I even managed to add my own little spin onto a little bit of the Dew Fairy's dialogue and the director was hugely delighted as he had been encouraging me to add my own take on the characters I was playing. I didn't trip over my cloak, and I think I sang pretty well. Apart from the last performance where I had to do a 'Milli Vanilli'. I'd had a slight sniffle all week but it was no impediment to singing. However I woke up on the Saturday morning sounding like a strangled chicken! Application of a recommended gargle (warm water, salt, baking soda and maple syrup) failed to un-strangle the chicken and so I mimed and acted my two roles while the amazing Amanda Winfield sang from the wings, miked forward so it sounded like it was coming from me. She'd never sung those parts before, only heard me sing them. Not only that but because she was already playing two roles herself (mother and witch) she had to rearrange her costume changes to accommodate me. And she just took it in her stride. That's a professional for you. Oh and I wasn't as bad as the notorious Milli Vanilli duo, as the director advised the audience prior to the show beginning.

And so this Saturday morning I was able to have lie in, then amble up to the kitchen in my fluffy pink dressing-gown to make a cup of coffee in my favourite mug (no-one else is allowed to use it) read the paper and do the word puzzles.

Fun at the pool

Tyler, like most kids, loves going to the swimming pool and we are lucky that we have a school pool just along the road from us. Yesterday the boys headed down there and because I was due to sing that afternoon, I didn't get in, but took the opportunity to take a couple of photos.

Tyler doing a 'starfish'

Happy boys

Ready for the big throw

Daddy stalks Tyler

I tried to upload a video directly into here but it wouldn't play ball, so here's the link to it on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a3l5G8VqA4

I'm feeling a bit sung out after all the Easter Masses, and that was still after not doing two of them! I got to sing the Agnus Dei and Kyrie from Mozart's Coronation Mass on the Sunday morning, and then at the Solemn Vespers in the afternoon I sang the Laudate Dominum (Mozart again) which is a lovely piece which sounds deceptively easy. I felt that I did a reasonably good job (and did the Amen exactly as I had planned - yes!) but as always there were things which inwardly had me going 'Oh you didn't have enough support for that note' etc. Sometime I wish the little critic in my head would wait till after the performance to point out my short-comings!

Now I am full-on into rehearsals for Hansel & Gretel. All the soloists are professional singers or have had extensive theatre performance experience except for me. I am singing two roles, firstly the Sandman who puts H&G to sleep and the immediately I change into the Dew Fairy who wakes them up. There is a narrator who ties everything together (particularly important because there are some judicious cuts in order that the opera will be just over an hour long and therefore ideal for first-time opera attendees/children. There's a lot of humour in it and I think once I stop being anxious about my lack of experience I will have a great time. I only have a couple of minutes singing for each role but the Director has a whole back-story for my characters. I have to completely be that character. It's really hard to sing, act, watch the conductor and not trip over my voluminous Sandman cloak all at the same time! Who knew that the words 'I am!' could be said in such an endless variety of ways and with such different facial expressions?

Happy Easter

Tyler was in a fever of anticipation all week, looking forward to his Easter egg hunt. So at 6am on Friday morning a voice calls from down the hallway "Can I look for Easter eggs now Mum?" It took a bit of convincing that he should wait till 7am when there would be a least little daylight to help search for the outside-hidden eggs! As in previous years, the Easter bunny had a left a note with clues about where to search. 7 chocolate eggs later and one satisfied small boy. Amazingly there are still 3 left today.

T came with me to the Basilica for the morning Mass and then we went to Mum and Richard's for lunch with them and the Howards. After a delicious meal we swapped Easter eggs and then Tyler went home with the Howards while I went make to the Basilica to sing at the Celebration of the Lord's Passion & Veneration of the Cross. As the veneration was in progress we sang the de Victoria 'Populae Meus', Crux Fidelis (plainchant) and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. Quite a few people are away for the Easter break so I was the only soprano which kept me on my toes.

Although there is an Easter Vigil tonight I am not singing, as a) Chris is working and b) I want to preserve my voice for tomorrow which includes solos for me of the Agnus Dei and Kyrie from the Coronation Mass in the morning and then at the Solemn Vespers in the afternoon, the Mozart Laudate Dominum (which I'm told the priest is very much looking forward to hearing as the last time he heard it was at his ordination. Right, no pressure then!). I go straight from the Vespers to a rehearsal for Hansel & Gretel. More on that in later post.

Happy Easter to everyone - even if you are not religious, take time to reflect and give thanks for what you have.

Now that was weird - I went to the list of posts and it showed one as just a draft - check out the post below entitled 'Swim, swim - ouch! Scoot, scoot -ouch! You'll see a photo that I posted in a more recent post. So that will have to keep you going till I post some more.

In brief:

School holidays have started.

Tyler got a really good review from his teacher - yay!

Rehearsal's for the Hansel & Gretel opera start this week. I have the prettiest costume :)

The weather has been shite this weekend, but the fire is lovely.

The A Capella concert of Easter music went really well today.

Chris played rugby yesterday and didn't get injured - bonus.

Happy Birthday Leona!!!

A Brown Brothers Cienna is calling my name. Back when I have some more photos.

Photo post

I've had a great week which needs a little post all of it's own (hint: Andreas Scholl), so as it's nearly time for me to head off to the Basilica for choir rehearsal, here are some photos to tide you over :)

Playing Bakugan in the sun

Tyler amd his best friend, Hunter

Watching a Lush bath bomb fizz open

Just quickly

Seeing as it's been over a month since I posted *embarrassed* here's a couple of photos of the wee dude to keep you going till I can write a decent post. (And one of me playing around with an online makover hehe. Thinking of getting a similar haircut. What do ya reckon?)

I like my icecream with sprinkles and......pretzel sticks.

Kool Sk8rboi

Hair makeover

Swim, swim - ouch! Scoot, scoot - ouch!

Tyler has started Flippa Ball this term, and his first game was on Friday. Both Chris and I were working so one of his friend's Mum's took him for us. As the game finished before 5pm, the boys went to the wave pool to play while they waited for me to come from work. When I arrived, there was Tyler sitting in a chair by the pool, with the Mum holding and icepack on his head and a towel covered in blood stains on his lap. He had managed to bang his head on the edge of a sidewall drain and being a scalp wound it bled like crazy. We did a precautionary visit to A&E to check for concussion, but they were pretty sure he was fine and after a bit of a cleanup, some panadol and a lollipop, we were on our way home.

Yesterday, he was tootling around on his scooter so I decided to take a video of him. Murphy's Law, he falls off. I'd like to show you the video but it won't load *sigh*. I'm thinking WordPress is going to be a better blog option. Anyway, here's a photo of Mr Cool Skater-Dude.

Yes, I'm a bad blogger - way too long since the last post. School has started and Tyler is enjoying being in Room 3 with Miss Swney. It's a bigger class than his previous one but he seems to be fine. Swimming lessons have started 4 days a week and he is loving them. His reading books now have chapters, so he's quite proud of that.

My singing engagement diary is starting to fill up. Basilica choir has started again which is every second Sunday. I am singing in a 'Best of Baroque' concert on 13 March - 'Let the Bright Seraphim' and 'If God Be For Us' as solos, plus a duet (probably the Vivaldi 'Laudamus Te'). April 17th is the first A Capella concert for the year (Stainer's 'Crucifixion') then at Easter Vespers I am doing the Mozart 'Laudate Dominum' which is absolutely gorgeous. I'm also working on a Mahler lied which will be a nice little show off piece so hopefully I get a chance to sing it somewhere.

At the end of the month Chris is playing in the Touch Nationals in Christchurch so we are all heading up there for 4 days. Normally the Nationals are held in Auckland, so this is a great opportunity for me to see Chris play at a National level for the first time.

And on March 29th I have a flying visit to Auckland to see Andreas Scholl in concert - can't wait!!

Hopefully tomorrow I will have time to sort out some photos to post here.

Tyler and Chris have just spent a boys weekend in Te Anau which included rabbit shooting, fishing off the jetski (and losing Tyler's rod overboard necessitating the purchase of a new one) and visit to the Gloworm caves.

Meanwhile, yours truly was free to enjoy some girl-time and tick a few things off the to-do list. Went to see The King's Speech (and can thoroughly recommend it). Followed by my favourite Thai peanut satay beef. Eyebrows professionally dealt to. (Incidentally, isn't it ironic that I lighten my hair and darken my eyebrows?) Watched a DVD on Shostakovich's 'war' symphonies with historical background. Had a 3GW catch-up sitting in the sun quaffing Brown Brothers' Zibbibo and inhaling mini cup-cakes.

Last week of the school holidays so I have taken today and Friday off to spend some more time with Tyler. Today I told him he could choose whatever he wanted to do today and suggested he write a list. Here it is :)

We have now crossed off #4 but have yet to get to #'s 5 & 6. 'Mooives' was Megamind, 'Games' was Beetle and Candyland and 'Pictures' was drawing pictures for each other. 'Playstation' was his new Ben 10 game (me watching him with one eye and making encouraging noises and reading a Dick Francis with the other).

He's off to the movies with the other OSCAR kids tomorrow as both Chris and I are at work. Singing lessons start this week - mi mi mi mi mi ahem cough cough. Best I go and do some more practice!

Museum

Me: Let's go to the Museum.

Tyler: It's boring.

Me: But there will be skeletons there!

Tyler: Boooooorrring!

(15 minutes later)

Tyler: Oh wow, cool! Look at those skeletons!

And the rest was pretty enjoyable to judging by his comments.

Museum was followed by a play in the park and lunch at the Cheeky Llama cafe.

And on a completely different note - the bigger boy in life may be a qualified chef, but that doesn't stop him having fun with my breakfast :)

Home again, home again, jiggity-jig

We had a very brief but enjoyable trip to Christchurch, staying with Rosina. We had a little taste of what the poor locals have been putting up with when we were in a shop and a short, but sharp after-shock hit. The salesman we were talking to bolted on us (seriously I don't think his feet touched the floor on the way out the door) and by the time we realised what was happening it was all over. The rapid shaking was quite different to the swaying, rocking type that we tend to get down here.

Tyler, Chris & Rosina

A boy and his dog

Arts & Crafts time

Chris is back to work so Tyler and I are just puddling about. Glorious day yesterday so we headed off to Riverton beach for some paddling and crab-hunting, followed by the obligatory icecream.

Ready to check out the rock pools at Riverton

But the best thing that has happened these holidays? This piece of paper that Tyler casually handed to me the other day:

Jetski = fun

Sunday morning we said goodbye to the Harwoods and, jetski in tow, headed up to the Hennessy's in Kelvin Heights where Chris dropped me, Tyler and the jetski off and headed over to Cromwell for their annual New Year touch tournament. Tyler quickly availed himself of the outdoor spa and Julie H and I took their two jetskis for a blat and trundled down towards the Shotover bridge to have a nosy at the big development which has been taken over by the Hilton. On one set of apartments, each one has it's own outdoor spa. Bet it costs a bomb to sit their with that million-dollar view.

Speaking of million dollar views, it's quite weird sitting on the Hennessys' balcony and watching the 'Million Dollar Cruise' boat go past with tourists snapping photos and a loudspeaker pointing out all the flash houses. I feel as if I should have been wearing diamonds and giving them all the Queen's wave!

This morning started with rain and low cloud but that quickly dissipated and Jim H, Chris and I took the jetskis out for a good fast run over to Queenstown, enjoying the waves out in the channel (and getting a fairly good wetting now and again when meeting a wave wrong). I got our jetski up to 82km before chickening out. Determined to make the ton next time :) Whitebait patties and scallops for lunch (not me - ewww!!).

Off to Chch tomorrow for a few days.

A year ends

It is two hours from the end of 2010. A year which sadly ended with having to put my cat Tigger to rest. R.I.P. Tiggy-tiggs.



The sun appears - hooray!

It's been a rainy, windy couple of days, but the sky is now blue and the sun shining, the wind little more than a light breeze. Perfect for backyard cricket. Oh and for getting No.3 haircuts:

Tyler was in a helpful mood this morning, and who was I to stand in his way?? Dave and Leona are staying with us for a couple of days, so I did a big cooked breakfast and when I was about to launch into the dishes, the wee dude offered to help.

I always find it interesting the varied positions which Tyler seems to find comfortable to watch tv.

Chris is off to Te Anau for the night, to catch up with a bunch of old school mates, one of whom he hasn't seen for 20 years. Naturally he wanted to look his best :) so I gave him a haircut and finally persuaded T to have one too.

Apart from that, we are just chilling out - playing Connect Four and cricket, eating more than is good for us and enjoying the company of family. And soon friends, as the Harwoods arrive on New Year's Eve for a couple of days. It's so good to have a house big enough to accommodate everyone! Although with two 6 year olds, a 4 year old and a 7 month old, I'm guessing the house will seem quite full ;)

Boxing Day

The Campbell-McLeod family had a lovely Christmas full of family, love and laughter.

Our day started at 5:10am, when Tyler got into our bed and said a very loud "Merry Christmas! - I'm not going to check out my Santa sack yet". Excellent we thought, he'll go back to sleep, but noooooooo. 5 minutes later he pipes up "Do you want to know what time it is?". I mumble something and he leaps out of bed looks at the clock and announces brightly "5:15! When can we get up?" Negotiations ensued resulting in 5:45am. From 5:15 till 5:45, the time was announced approximately every 5 minutes. We then sent him off to check out Santa's presents which he did by dragging the sack back to our bed and announcing every item with squeals of "Awesome!" "Cool!" etc very loudly and with every light in our bedroom on. As I had most of my brain in gear by that stage it was really very nice watching his wee face light up with each discovery :)

We had coffee and croissants for breakfast then Chris got his chef game-face on and started doing rude things to a turkey, so Tyler and I headed over to Mum's, along with the Howards, to exchange gifts.

Back to our house where Chris had laid on a feast (with plum puddings from Mum and honey & ginger-glazed carrots and a salad from the Howards). We had turkey, ham, new potatoes from our garden, peas, carrots and several salads. Then a brief rest followed by plum pudding with custard and cream, brandy snaps, fruit salad and jelly. There were 11 of us altogether and it was so nice to have everyone here and still have lots of space.

Once we'd digested all that lot, the Howards and Parsons departed and Chris, Tyler, Bruce, Ali and I played backyard cricket accompanied by much kidding around and laughter.

Anton, his girlfriend and his flatmate came over for tea and departed with as many leftovers as they could carry.

I tucked T-man into bed about 9pm and asked my usual bed-time questions:

Me: Did you have a good day today?

Tyler: It was the best day ever!

Me: So what was the best part of the day?

Tyler: Everything.

I'll second that.

Christmas Eve

Yes, it's finally here and Tyler is beyond excited. We have ready a carrot for Rudolph and some milk for Santa. We had a great big chocolate-coated oat biscuit ready for Santa but as I finished making a hot drink for Chris and I this afternoon, I looked up to see him mid-munch on said biscuit. Oopsie Daddy! Substitute sorted. T-man snapped a few photos this afternoon for your viewing pleasure:

He made this at school for me and Chris

Santa's Little Helper

Prezzies under the tree

I am off to the Basilica to sing twice tonight - firstly at 7:30pm for Christmas Carols & Vigil Mass and then at 11:30pm for Midnight Mass. It will be great to sing some really traditional Christmas music.

I just realised I haven't blogged since before we had the Advent Verspers performance. It went well, and I was reasonably happy with my aria. I managed to do a number of the things I had been trying to technique-wise so that was a bonus. The whole service was lovely.