Kids+

I spent the day in contact with a lot of youngsters, working as I was for one of the Macleay Museum's Kids' Day - this time for Reconciliation. Having read the information sheets the staff were provided with (and learning a lot), I was prepared to do some talking, but ended up mainly at the activities table with clipboards of blank paper and coloured pencils (and other coloured implements).

There was a lot to do and it makes me think about my own childhood, largely devoid of such informative and activity filled weekends as the day would have provided for the participants. One of the activities was to make a silk-screen t-shirt. I have vague memories of having participated in a similar activity in the distant past and was keen to make one, although this time the patterns for the designs were all made already. Ironed shirt, textile paint and apply. Being staff, we got a discount, but ran out of time to add a second layer which would have given the t-shirt design more dimension.

There was a lull at some point during the day and being fed up with having to use terribly blunt pencils, I spent a good amount of time manually (and primitively) sharpening them, to the point where I developed a blister. I don't during kendo training, but I do sharpening pencils. Isn't life a funny thing?

Afterwards, I joined the latter stages of a family gathering, full of rapidly growing cousins whom I have not caught glimpse of for some months. In some ways, I felt quite estranged. We left not too long after and having messed about with my mealtimes today, I've had to have a very light dinner (a piece of flan...) and was fully prepared to retire early for the evening, when I remembered obligations and responsibilities awaiting in the form of emails. There are some days when I quite cheerfully ignore my computer entirely for days on end, only to have the inbox a mile high when I return. Something of the office in-tray, I suppose.