Posts by Isabel Hitchings

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  • Up Front: A Word From the Ministry for…,

    When I did ENGL 101 they taught Surfacing as an anti-abortion text (with apparently no other themes in the entire work). It took me several years before I was able to pick up anything by Ms Atwood without wincing a little.

    In fifth form we studied Bub Bridger who never did a thing for me so I did Hone Tuwhare for the exam.

    Also does anyone know what the point of making kids write short stories under exam conditions was? I can remember several tests (and I think there was a section in school c) where you had to sit and write creatively on a given topic which seemed to be completely the opposite of how the creative process usually works really.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report

  • Speaker: Assiduous, Unrelenting,

    I'd like to cook more international food, but often I'm just lacking somebody to tell me if a given dish Tastes The Way That It's Supposed To Taste... I guess that could be my job here.

    I always figure that at least half the family don't think it's "disgusting*" then it probably tastes how it oughta.

    *how my almost seven-year-old describes a good 50% of what I try to feed him.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report

  • Up Front: A Word From the Ministry for…,

    Anyone worried about teenagers studying "dark" texts hasn't hung around that many teenagers lately

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report

  • Speaker: Assiduous, Unrelenting,

    Lovely stuff again. I hope Joseph appreciates the strong roots you are giving him.

    My mum is currently writing the story of her childhood for my kids. She was a preschooler in England when WWII broke out so it's a very different world to the one my boys know. Every time we visit she's got another chapter ready to hand over and she tries to link it in to what's going on in their lives so she wrote about starting school around the time my oldest did. It's the most wonderful thing and is bringing us all enormous joy.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report

  • Cracker: Caution Boaties,

    I'm tempted to ask for suggestions as to things I can do with my free hand while drinking and NOT smoking, but I think I can see where that goes...

    I'm not going to those places (today anyhow) but as someone who has never smoked cigarettes but used to regularly drink with smokers I seriously considered getting a very tiny torch - I reckoned it would glow nicely as I waved it about to punctuate my rants (I haven't been drunk beyond the point of mild muzzyness for a decade or so but seem to recall being an opinionated drunk).

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report

  • Up Front: First Footing,

    Re America - a lot of Americans I have talked to firmly believe that places of business are private (as opposed to public) spaces and therefore laws that state that it's ok to go barefoot or feed a baby or sport a certain skintone don't apply in shops and restaurants.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report

  • Hard News: Have you met thingy?,

    I'm semi-reasonable at remembering names but I'm very afraid to get it wrong so I'll often stand in paralyzed silence in front of someone because I'm only 90% sure they're called Joan.

    Most of the time if I'm contacted by someone I don't think I know on Facebook it's because I never knew their real name and a message along the lines of "I think I know you by some other name" tends to clear things up nicely.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report

  • Cracker: Heroes and Villains,

    I'd like to thank www.crocs.net.nz who went out of their way to locate the right colour/size and style from their shop when the website was out of stock - every email was answered within about 30 minutes and I got my shoes really quickly when the other retailers I emailed didn't even reply.

    The staff at Lush in both Northlands and Cashel St who always take ages chatting to my boys and don't mind if they spend half an hour playing with all the testers. And usually send us home with lots of little samples too.

    Also Pub Charities who have twice given me funding to attend La Leche League conferences and who have really easy forms and fast reply times.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report

  • Up Front: Not Actually Blue at All,

    I don't have a tattoo. I'm pretty sure I want one but absolutely no idea what or where. I'm also terrified that, being a fickle creature, I'll decide I hate it a week after I get it. I might do it as a 40th birthday present to myself which gives me five years (and one month) to actually make my mind up in.

    One meeting at my (predominantly middle-class and respectable) Playcentre the "ice-breaker" question was "if you were to get a tattoo what and where would it be" and I was surprised by the number of people who answered by showing their ink.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report

  • Up Front: First Footing,

    I'm fairly sure the Womens Lifestyle Expo would bring me out in a rash. My friend was recently raving about how much she loved getting her eyebrows "done" and I realised I must have slept through all the girl 101 lectures.

    I do, however, wear shoes whenever i leave the house but mostly due to fear of bees.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report

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