First Day at School!

Can you believe Matty is going to school already?! All of a sudden he's 5! Phil sent me some pics and says of his first day at school: "the report is good, he's made a friend called jack and he likes his teacher (her name is Mrs Pearl) and he said to me on the walk home 'I love that school' so I'm very relieved. Isn't he so grown up!" Not to mention cute... hope he doesn't lose his love of that school too quickly!

Attitude

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three strands of hair on her head. She said, "I think I'll braid my hair today." So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two strands of hair on her head. "H-M-M," she mused, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today." So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one strand of hair on her head. "Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun-filled day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. "YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

(by Anon)

The Big Day Off

We love a day off that's for sure... Australia Day is one such instance and many headed for Manly for some salty sea air and a bit of sand-in-the-togs. Dad, Trish and I were happily among the throng, armed with sun cream and boogie boards. In the words of Trish it was "heaven on a stick"... and dad was adament we get photographic evidence to make the pommy rels jealous. So, Janey Waney, Phil, Livi and Robbie, these pics are for you...(!)



I also had the joy of catching up with my dear friend Mira and her husband (who was selling his handmade pens at the Manly market) and daughter who speaks Macedonian and English at the age of 2 (in a 2-year-old sort of way)... She matter-of-factly addressed me as Te Te Marnie (aunty Marnie) which is incredibly cute coming from a bi-lingual 2 year old who can recite her own age and address and knows all her shapes including stars and diamonds...!!



After going home for a power nap, my good friends Mariah and Warren came round for dinner which was my experimental version of Morrocan Lamb Tagine. I borrowed Flanno's tagine to make it authentic and it wasn't bad, but I'm not sure if I'm really into lamb shanks. Might try it with thigh-of-chicken next time... (To see some more pics from The Big Day Off, click the link under 'My Pics' to your left)

Hong Kong on my mind

So as I prepare for what 2007 has in store for me - namely Hong Kong - it is with a tinge sadness that I let go of marniemoo.com and embrace hongkong.moo! I hope you will do the same and come along side me on my journey from now until I leave in March and then through my year in Hong Kong with Crossroads International. For reminscing purposes, marniemoo.com is still online... just hit the link under 'blogs' to your left and you'll find it at it's new web address.

Reflecting on my year in Manly with Pa, I'm so grateful for the time I was able to have with him and to be in the 'hub' of the Hopkins clan. It's been 'terrific' (favourite Hopkins word) being able to have a goodly dose of family this year that I can carry with me on my journey over the seas to oriental lands.