the first post

Hi, this is Joyce taking over from Michael with the blog. Michael has been working really hard with the new business which is starting to pay dividends now. So with that and writing a book and making pizza something had to give or the brain cell would definitely go into melt down.

I started writing out Christmas cards yesterday even though it only seems 5 minutes ago I was writing out last years cards. Time definitely seems to pass quickly in New Zealand. Why is that? I think it might have something to do with the fact the seasons are the 'wrong' way round. How can summer be heating up in November - it must only be July. How can Christmas only be 40 days away when Georgia and her friend are playing in the pool out side? Then suddenly its January and a new year begins.
On the theme of Christmas, I love the fact that the Hype is very low key here. Yes I know the Warehouse and Kmart have the Christmas stuff on sale now but it really is nothing compared to the UK where Xmas starts in September and by the time the day does arrive your sick of it all!
Christmas and New Year are the busiest time of the year for us in the pizza shop so it all passes in a blur any way.
Now to change tack a little bit Georgia starts intermediate school in the new year. Intermediate school is a sort of half way house for two years between junior school and secondary school which I think is a brilliant idea. Well, we found out this week that she has been selected to be nominated for the GATE class. Great! Whats the GATE class? Apparently it stands for Gifted and Talented something or other and is an accelerator class for kids from different schools who show extra potential in certain areas. We were given a form to fill in which didn't explain a lot but asked questions about Georgia's personality, interests and strengths. I filled it in but wasn't 100% sure about a couple of issues or even what this GATE class involved. So we had a word with her teacher who explained that it was a class for gifted students and that all kids wanted to get into it because 'all the nice kids' were in it. Hmmm, I was a little uncomfortable with this statement. Does that mean that all the other kids are not 'nice kids'? Anyway, she told us to make up a portfolio of all Georgia's best work, all her certificates and a resume. When Georgia took it into school another teacher said 'oh no we don't need all that we just need a letter off Georgia stating in her own words why she wants to be in the GATE class.' Talk about misinformation! It all seems a lot of hassle to me and puts pressure on the kids at a time when starting a new school is traumatic enough. Georgia, as usual takes it all in her stride and has written her letter. I've told her not to worry about it or get stressed, not that she ever does worry or get stressed. Georgia learns more out of all the books she reads anyway and school is a bit of fun for her, which is how it should be.
Well, that's it for now, I need to pop out for some more Christmas cards!