Technoliteracy

My students and I have joined a wonderful global project, called “A Room With A View” which has been created by dynamic teacher, Jennifer Wagner. Whilst I was searching through my photos to see which I might use as my “Photo A Week” for this week, I stumbled across this one of a joey in the pouch of one our wallabies. It got me thinking that if you had to have a view from a room, then this one wouldn’t be too shabby. I love the look on this little guy’s face and I can imagine that every day he pops his head out, he would be wondering where he was. Imagine what he might be thinking. Maybe you can leave a comment about what you think he might be thinking today.

What do you think the joey might be thinking.

Imagine our surprise whilst we were walking around the gardens of our hotel in Southport, Queensland, Australia, on finding this magnificent white swan swimming in the SWIMMING POOL! Now I know it is a swimming pool, but we kind of thought that the pool was restricted to humans! We couldn’t have been more wrong. As well as this lovely white swan, there were numerous ibis and ducks taking the opportunity to have a refreshing dip. The hotel was so magnificent, that it would have looked odd, NOT to have had a swan swimming around.

This is one of the beautiful beaches at Ballina on the northern coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is a vision with it’s pristine sand, glassy waves and it’s lush, green beach front. We have just returned from 2 glorious weeks spent on the northern coast of New South Wales, dividing our time between travelling and relaxing at Byron Bay. What a glorious part of Australia to explore.

This is my niece Victoria, or Tori for short. She has her own unique and individual fashion style.
She loves to dress up and experiment with various outfits, often changing 6 times each day! She is very flamboyant and loves to sing and dance. She loves to go swimming, play games on the computer and to write her own stories. Tori loves to go to the movies but doesn’t watch television very often. Her favourite movies are Hairspray, Chicken Run and Matlida. Her favourite dinner is chicken and vegetables and she also loves peanut butter. Tori doesn’t like dogs or thunder storms. She thinks chickens are funny! Tori carries a handbag with her wherever she goes. She travelled a lot as a little girl and still loves to get on an areoplane for an adventure.

Tori is the ballerina on the Interchange billboards you can see around Melbourne and she is currently starring in the Interchange ads on television. Tori is an amazing young lady, with charming manners and the knack of making you feel as though you are the most special person in her little life. I treasure her cuddles, her kisses, her funny little sayings and the way she makes me laugh. My world is so much brighter because of her presence in it.

Rustling leaves and swaying fern fronds
Far off birds so shrill and clear.
Wildlife scratching through the debris
Scuttling away as feet draw near.

Something wriggles, darting sideways,
Moving safely out of view.
Sunlight breaking through the tree tops
Beckoning to the life that’s new.

All round butterflies – darting, gliding
Settling briefly, moving on.
Savouring every precious moment,
Life is short – they’ll soon be gone.

Timeless, seamless, lush green beauty,
Tranquil, calm serenity
Where everything has its turn and purpose
Life – beneath the canopy.

Marg murnane – July 2003
Cape Tribulation – Far north Queensland

This is beautiful Berry Springs where I went last November (2007). I spent a week in Darwin with my son David and his wife Sarah. The weather was extremely oppressive. It was hot and sweaty all day and all night. During one of the nights we stayed there, the temperature did not drop below 27 degrees. Simply walking to the clothesline is an effort with weather like that. Your skin is constantly wet and slimy and you just drink water all day long. Most tradesmen or people who work outdoors, just get used to changing their clothes at least twice a day.

In contrast, we went to beautiful Berry Springs one hot Sunday afternoon. That was like stepping into a postcard. Words elude me on this experience. It was idyllic, serene, restful, refreshing and reviving. Best of all, there were no crocodiles (well that particular day anyway!)

This is my first photo in the “photo a week” project which I have set up for my students. Each week the students are to take a photo, paste it into their writing journals and write something about it. They will then be able to post these on their own blogs.

Autumn leaves; gold, lime green, orange, brown, red and bronze
Drift down silently to cover;
the grass which is a lush green after a few reviving days of precious rain;
the garden paths – which now need sweeping;
the roof of the garden shed;
the trailer, the rake, the shovel;
and the garden with cheeky tips of autumn bulbs, pushing through for their turn in the autumn sun.
This coat of many colours is worn easily by the things in my garden.
Excitedly, like a child, I scuff my rubber boots through the thick coat of crunchy leaves as I make my way out to the garden shed in the crisp, dewy mornings, to feed my deer.
My face tingles in the chilly morning air and I walk a little faster.
My feet scuff, flick and drag through the newly fallen leaves as they celebrate the arrival of autumn in my backyard.

Marg Murnane 1st June 2008