Thank you to my Santa. I’ve been stressing about not getting to hints. One of our lovely elves let me know not to stress that my midwinter hints will suffice. Thank you It’s been a big couple of weeks #SecretSantaAoNZ

Oooh exciting #SecretSantaAoNZ matching day! Sorry I have been very distracted by trying to navigate a school community safely to the end of a challenging year - there will be hints. Stay tuned. In the meantime here’s a pic of Trev the dog!

I am all signed up - YAY! #SecretSantaAoNZ

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n... My step Dad, my children’s Grandpa who has had an extraordinary career.

The story you are about to see has been told before. A lot. And now we are going to tell it again. But different. This time, we're bringing Mastodon in for the fun. Sign-ups open on November 10th. Check out secretsanta.nz for more information

Teachers, drs, nurses, etc are dealing with a government that has refused to listen and has steadily stripped away anything that is useful and makes it possible to do a great job. The strike on the 23 Oct is 100% necessary. The strike on the 23 Oct is 100% justified.

share.google/0RVsISFRGOHm... The latest book written by my step dad Paul. Sadly we live in a world where this book is needed.

There are lots of changes for our community coming up. I am standing for a 4th term on the Cromwell Community Board. With changes to representation, delegations and district wide funding making sure our growing and changing community has a voice is crucial.

Our wee walking visitor this evening. He loved his homemade bread and pasta with meatballs too 😍

Winter faves for dinner at the Harry house. Polpette Soup and home made ciabatta. We have the very rare moment where the gluten free bread looks better than the regular.

If you are in Central Otago and you are interested in standing in the upcoming local government elections then get along to one of these drop in sessions. There are lots of changes afoot around representation and localism so this is a really crucial election.

Yummy sushi rice bowls for dinner with pork and ginger meatballs. My jammy eggs are a bit runny but they’ll still be the best bit.

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ Final parcel opened by Zuko. He loves the book and the wrapping paper 😍

How wonderful is opening day? There is so much warmth and joy in every post. Santa’s feeling relieved that their gift is loved and giftees showing so much gratitude. #MWSecretSantaAoNZ

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ My Santa has done such an amazing job. I am blown away by the thought and care that has gone into my gift. The picture book is beautiful and complex and thought provoking. Trev loooves his treats. The chocs are works of art. Zuko will get to open his gift later. Thank you 🤩

This is pretty cool

MWSecretSantaAoNZ IT HAS ARRIVED! YES I AM SHOUTING - YAY!

My dog looks so much like this gorgeous beast but we’ve never had beverages like this 🤣

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ I've had a really tough week and a particularly tough day and was feeling quite low. I've just had the news that my Santa has got my parcel in the post and that has cheered me right up - I'm feeling excited!!!

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ Just checked the tracking on the parcel I sent - and it’s been delivered! And my giftee has popped up a post to confirm yay!

Phew made it just in time. My gift has been on a lovely trip to and from Dunedin and is finally winging its way now I’m home. #MWSecretSantaAoNZ

Super special celebration at our place yesterday our wee grandson Zuko turned 1.

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ Crafting all done, gift elements all gathered. Just need to pull it all together, write the card, wrap and send. Sounds so easy 😅

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ The mod podge is out so the bespoke gift box creation is getting serious!

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ I’ve been thinking about my previous Santas and the gifts I received in the past. My very first Santa wrote me a card that brought a tear to my eye and gifted me a picture book her own children had cherished. I love picture books & receiving one that had been loved, perfect! 🧵1/4

Blues Bothers

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ There’s the start of something on the needles for my giftee…

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ we always have an enormous completely over the top Christmas. We have a wonderful family celebration for Matariki that always includes feasting, reflecting and the outside fire roaring. Love having an AoNZ midwinter celebration.

2025 can just get in the sea. My school community is grieving after the cancer death of a 6 year old in the holidays. We have also lost two past students. I taught both as 5 year olds. One in a senseless traffic accident last term and the other took his own life yesterday. It is too much

My latest @newscientist.com cartoon

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ I have eclectic music tastes but I’m GenX at heart so it’s… The Clash Madness The Specials The Cure The Jam Hoodoo Gurus Hunters & Collectors Bowie The Beat When I’m being cool and… The Bangles Bananarama Madonna Yazoo Simple Minds Depeche Mode Culture Club When I’m being dancy

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ I am not a frequent poster so apologies to my Santa I have 3 adult sons & an 11 month old grandson. I have a rescue pup named Trev. I’m a coffee and wine drinker. I love picture books I sing lots of silly songs to make children smile I love to make & cook and create.

I’ve had a quick trip to Melbourne to introduce Zuko to his great grandma. She lit up every time she saw him. She’s aged so much since I saw her a year ago and confusion and paranoia are making her world hard to navigate. We were glad to bring her some joy.

#MWSecretSantaAoNZ I’m so excited this is back. Time for hints. Things I love Knitting 🧵 1/6

Among the lost positives consigned to the dusty corners of the dictionary is ‘reck’, meaning ‘care’, ‘heed’, and ‘consideration’. Which means we can be reckful instead of reckless (and feckful, gormful, ruthful, ept, kempt, couth, consolate, and many more).

#PrincipalLife SLIME!

So excited for this 😍

Exciting (informal) announcement: We are bringing Aotearoa Secret Santa back (again) this time to Bluesky, it seems we are destined to resurrect & breathe life back into the much loved game Mid Winter will coincide with my 50th Birthday, so we are making that Opening Weekend More details soon...

Dementia is losing the person bit by bit, slowly, one piece at a time. Sometimes, getting the wrong word can seem funny but it becomes a cruel, fragmented loss which affects everyone around the person at the centre.

Susie is always right on the button

A beautiful 🌹 message we should all read and consider. 🙏

Every time I see Americans start back on the 'gifted student' discourse, I count myself lucky that my schooling in Derry exclusively involved teachers who would've sooner guzzled a yard of their own shite than tell a smartarse they were special.

If you see this post, quote with a bridge from your gallery.

If you see this post something pink.

Welcome, TikTok users! Bluesky is just like TikTok, except instead of videos we post words and instead of fun we have "discourse"

I mean, contender to 2025 AoNZ headline of the year? #NZPol

Not mine but one made for me by my sister for my youngest son. I’ve now passed it on to his first son, my first grandchild. #ShowMeYourKnits #Shawls

This is cool