Thanks to Slinky and H.R. for their comments and of course the welcome back.It is good to be back and almost be back to normal...whatever that is.
I have to say that the visit from the Rellies was more work than pleasure, but aah, I think they enjoyed themselves. Yes it was very cramped at times but we all survived. No one took an axe to the head......and any grumbling I did was under my breath (mainly - but apologies to my daughter). And for a large part of the time the weather was fairly good - that always helps. The Rels were impressed with the beautiful countryside....not so impressed by the litter around town and the general air of shabbiness. They were also impressed with the warm welcome that they received almost everywhere they went....not so impressed by the price of petrol. Impressed by the supermarkets and the wide range of products....don't quite understand that, as I think the supermarkets in Oz are better than ours by a mile.
The visit came at quite an inopportune time. My daughter was on the run up to her exams and I had hoped to help out more by taking the tinlids off her hands a bit more that I actually managed.
She tells me that the exams she has taken so far have been hideously difficult - and that is not because she hasn't studied. It seems that the questions that the lecturers were 'sure' would come up didn't materialise........so daughter felt that she had revised the wrong stuff......and feels quite pessimistic about her efforts. She tells me that her coursework is up to a good standard so that may just pull her through.
To all of you out there who are parents of teenagers....and are doing their exams too....you have my heartfelt sympathies. Give the kids all the help you can, and be there if they don't get the results that they hoped to achieve.
Having said that exams aren't the be-all and end-all. You can still have a successful life if you are prepared to work at it. (Though good exam results do help along the way).
I have to say that the visit from the Rellies was more work than pleasure, but aah, I think they enjoyed themselves. Yes it was very cramped at times but we all survived. No one took an axe to the head......and any grumbling I did was under my breath (mainly - but apologies to my daughter). And for a large part of the time the weather was fairly good - that always helps. The Rels were impressed with the beautiful countryside....not so impressed by the litter around town and the general air of shabbiness. They were also impressed with the warm welcome that they received almost everywhere they went....not so impressed by the price of petrol. Impressed by the supermarkets and the wide range of products....don't quite understand that, as I think the supermarkets in Oz are better than ours by a mile.
The visit came at quite an inopportune time. My daughter was on the run up to her exams and I had hoped to help out more by taking the tinlids off her hands a bit more that I actually managed.
She tells me that the exams she has taken so far have been hideously difficult - and that is not because she hasn't studied. It seems that the questions that the lecturers were 'sure' would come up didn't materialise........so daughter felt that she had revised the wrong stuff......and feels quite pessimistic about her efforts. She tells me that her coursework is up to a good standard so that may just pull her through.
To all of you out there who are parents of teenagers....and are doing their exams too....you have my heartfelt sympathies. Give the kids all the help you can, and be there if they don't get the results that they hoped to achieve.
Having said that exams aren't the be-all and end-all. You can still have a successful life if you are prepared to work at it. (Though good exam results do help along the way).
