Letter to Students 16 March 2008

Dear Reader

 It has been such a beautiful weekend, and I hope that you have enjoyed this weekend as much as I have.  What did you do this past weekend?  On Saturday, it was so hot, and I loved sitting in the garden with a glass of wine.  I had to wake up very early on Saturday morning because my 17 year old daughter, Shahan, had to be at the railway station at seven o’clock to catch the bus to Gore.  She was part of a World Vision leadership course with other young people from around the South Island, and they left early so that they could learn as much as they could about world poverty and ways in which we can support those in poverty.  After dropping Shahan off at the bus, Han and I went and had a delicious big breakfast at our daughter’s restaurant, and the bacon and eggs were cooked by our oldest son.  Abilio, our sponsored Timorese “son” was with us, and he enjoyed having a cooked breakfast as well.  What is your favourite breakfast?

We live in Portobello, which is about twenty two kilometres away from Dunedin, so we have to leave plenty of time when we drop our children off in town.  Where do you live?  How long does it take you to get to school? How long did it take you in your country?

I am writing this letter while waiting for my son, Jan, who is practising basketball at the Edgar Centre, and Shahan is reading a book which she has just bought.  The book is called Found, the best of lost, tossed and forgotten items around the world.  It is really interesting, and Shahan loves such books.  Do you like reading?  If so, what kind of books do you like?  I love reading books, but I don’t have much time to read at the moment.  I love writing, and really enjoy writing a letter about my week every Sunday.  Do you like writing?  Do you write many letters or emails?  I write a lot of emails, but I love writing letters a lot more.

Yesterday, it was Han’s birthday, and after working at school till early afternoon, I returned home to sit in the garden and enjoy the garden.  In the early evening, our three children, who live in town, came out with their partners and children, and we sat on the verandah and enjoyed the last of the day’s sun.  I had made bread in the afternoon, and we had this bread with a glass of wine or beer.  When the sun went down, we went inside, and enjoyed an Indonesian rice and pork dish which Han had made, some prawns, and fresh vegetables from the garden which my seven year old grand daughter helped me pick.  My four grandchildren love rice, and I always cook white rice for them.  I lived in Japan for about five years, and from the time I returned to New Zealand in 1989, I have cooked rice every day.  Do you eat rice every day?   What is your favourite food?  I love cooking, and cook a big meal every evening.  Do you like cooking, and if so, what do you like to cook?  I have lived in many different countries, and have friends from many different countries as well.  Therefore, I like cooking food from many different countries, and the food I cook is different every day.  I like variety in my food and in my life!

Shahan is still reading her book, but is having trouble reading the handwriting of the different people who wrote the letters and notes.  Can you read handwriting easily?  Now, most people use a computer, so it is getting more difficult to read the handwriting of people.  However, I love looking at the different ways people write, and I try to imagine what kind of person has taken the time to write.

Jan has just arrived at the car, having practised basketball for two hours.  Do you like basketball?  I loved many different kinds of sport but never played basketball. 

I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, and I hope you have a very happy week. It is a short week as Easter Friday signals the beginning of our Easter break, and today I made some hot cross buns which we will have on Friday.  I would like to make some hot cross buns with you, if you would like, so we will talk about that when I see you!  Stay happy and positive!

Love

Sharron