Thursday, August 6, 2015

The VLN

Just finished my third session in the Virtual Learning environment of the VLN.  Things are so hectic in there I have not taken any screens my self yet - but my co-ordinator did!


This was from the second session where we dipped our toes into the galaxy just to see what that was like... the numbers out there are RIDICULOUS!

The start of today's session involved a triad of multi-tasking. Not just two things but three for a minute or two. That gets the blood pumping and the synapses firing!!

I have been creating and expanding the potential for more interaction (something I perceive as vital to engage students in a format that has the potential to slip into a mundane fact filled lecture) - however that system is not entirely in my control as it involves students actually remembering to do the small tasks such as going outside and spotting for the moon - so that they DO have something to contribute in the next session.

If today's session had not been taken up with ten minutes of techie issues it may well have scored low on my expectations for interaction because no one did go outside and look at the moon this week 
(and it was a blue one too. Figuratively, not literally...).

Have sent a follow up email to the principals of the schools with students in the class to try and gain some support for those issues. I am quite uncomfortable with just lecturing at them as I know that is potentially a wretched yawnfest!

Another strategy is to come up with more mindsparking deep thinking questions that are opinion based but time is a bit of a limit there as well, perhaps. 
We discussed our nearest star today - I had asked them 'how long it would take to get there and who would go' as their between class thinking last week - however not everyone did that so the deeper thinking part (who would go) did not actually spark for some of them until they heard in today's show that it was 78 000 years.
So then we talked about the Battlestar Galactica concept - a community of people travelling through space to a destination that they themselves would never reach but many many generations in the future would.

Then I blew that all away by saying that then it would be too late because in 33 000 years time that wouldn't even be our closest star anymore, MUWUHAHAHAHAH!

P.S. Yes, I realise there is a danger that my sense of humour is really only funny to me.


Monday, August 3, 2015

Brothers.

3 Aug 2015
Dear Quentin,

On this day, that celebrates the first day that your brother drew breathe in this world, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the crucially important role you have played in raising him and guiding him through the world to this day.

You were his first friend and playmate.
You have been his constant companion.
Memories of you go back as far as he can remember.
Of all the people he knows, you have been with him the longest.

You two can communicate with a look and you speak the same language of shared life experience, movie quotes and  song lyrics. You share memories of family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys, good times and the truly terrible.

You have practically the same sense of humor. You grew up with the same jokes and watched the same funny shows.
You feel free to share things with him and laugh about stuff that others might judge you for, because he finds them funny too!
You are the one that makes him laugh the hardest and you laugh with him.
You were there, influencing him and encouraging him forward, as his personality developed.

Neither of you realize it but he looks up to you.
He has seen you at your worst and the world didn’t end and he still wants to be like you in so many ways… and then (of course) he strives to be better than you at as many things as he can (but only because he saw you do it so he knows he must be able to as well!).

Nobody will ever be able to tolerate (or forgive) your craziness like he does.
I thank you for being the one that forgives and tolerates his craziness as well.

One day he’ll ask for fashion advice, dating advice and even career advice when he’s ready because he values your opinion.

You and Dylan are lucky because you don’t have to work at keeping a relationship with your brother going like you do to keep a friendship going.
The two of you will always be able to pick up anytime, right where you left off – whether you talked to him an hour ago, two months ago or two years ago (don’t EVER go that long without talking to your brother!).
You are the person he talks about the most. He doesn’t share very much with people he doesn’t know well but when he does you feature as a main character in his stories. Being a big brother can often be better than being a superhero! (I have seen that quoted somewhere and now I know what it’s about!).
Even with me he doesn’t shutup about you. He can’t help himself. You have to know he loves you.

And when the day is done and the world feels like it’s all a confused tumble and we are drained of energy and feel depleted… it is those times we need someone to simply be there… not to fix anything, say anything or do anything but just so our heart knows we are not alone in the world… and you do that for him.
You are that person that he can sit in a room with without having to say anything at all and be completely comfortable, relaxed, rested and recharge himself – and that is a rare and valuable gift you give him.

He will be in your heart for a lifetime.

Whether either of you realize it or not – or if he ever realizes it or not ….you will always be the person he is most comfortable with; the person he can really be himself with.

Being a big brother is a responsiblity and that’s something you didn’t ask for. It can feel like a burden at times but from his point of view you get a bunch of firsts he will never get.
You are paving the way to being a man for him.
Because of you he can try anything that you do.
Your presence in this world gives him confidence, strength and courage to be bigger, brighter and bolder than us all.
That is a role you can be proud of.

Thank you for always just being there when he needed someone to watch something with, rap to, be with, complain to, hug, game with, talk to, swear with, fart on, yell at, sing with, leap on, eat with, sleep near, laugh with and generally bug the crap out of.

You are valued and appreciated.

Big brothers rock…and don’t you forget it!


Love,



Saturday, April 25, 2015

100 Years Since Gallipoli Landing....

It's that time again (when I post the list of family members that I know of that served in some capacity).
Back in Nelson for this one - it was moved to Trafalgar Park because of the 100 year commemorations and the large crowd expected... check it out... Nelson Dawn Service!



For me not a glorification of war (as I still have some people say to me) but a day of remembrance and respect for those men and women, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters who suffered trauma and sacrifice no people should have to suffer in order that we are among the lucky people of the world who have the right to complain about things like the "glorification of war" on social media such as twitter and facebook.

While I am standing in the chill and lifting-dark of early morning at the Dawn Service I am thinking about how cold, dirty, sick, hungry, lonely, confused, sore and scared the majority of soldiers were in that transitional time between night duties and day duties on front lines.
I also often think about the agonising unbearable unknowingness that people at home must have felt in a time before skype, satellites, cellphones and high speed internet.
Not my idea of glory, that's for sure.

Thank you to those people I know of in my family who were changed immeasurably and in some cases lost their lives and futures as a consequence of war.
Especially remembering Uncle Bob Papps who died a week ago.

I do my best to remember you all, especially today.


Uncle Bob Papps 1922 - 16th April 2015
WW2 Navy

Uncle Bob Silcock  1917 - 1999
WW2 #296993
4th Brigade 20th Battalion 2nd NZEF 1939 - 1945

I found out this year he was part of a tank crew.

Uncle Les Papps 1923 - 2006
WW2 reg# 618429. 
Compulsory military training. He was called to service overseas including Egypt and Japan. 
 
Uncle Richard Papps 1931 -
Served in army in Malaysia

Uncle Jack Park 1926 -

Great Uncle Edgar Noble Papps 1908 - 1998

Great Uncle Charlie Papps 1883 - 1943

Great Uncle Henry (Harry) Papps 1878 - 1958



Great Uncle George Samuel Papps 1874 - 1948


Great Uncle Arthur Papps 1888 - 1977
WW1 #33149 Lieutenant New Zealand Rifle Brigade


Great Uncle Herman Wendleborn 1896 - 1962
WW1 #7/1160 & WW2

Upon enlisting in 1915, Herman stated his year of birth as 1894 to appear older and therefore be eligible for service. After being wounded at Gallipoli (head wound) and spending some time recovering in Egypt, Herman was sent home to New Zealand on 11 February 1916.

At the outbreak of WWII, Herman re-enlisted for duty with the Home Guard. He again changed his date of birth, this time to make himself seem younger (40 instead of 43). He served at Papakura Military Camp, Waiouru Military Camp, and HMNZS Devonport until his discharge on 2 January 1944.


Great Uncle Laurence Wendelborn 1893-1918
WW1 #7/291 Corporal

Laurence served in Egypt, Gallipoli and Western Europe.
His military awards included the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
He was wounded in action at Gallipoli on around the 7th August 1915 and admitted to hospital on the 9th. He was discharged back to base and readmitted to hospital a few times throughout August, through September and into Dec 1915. On 13 Nov 1918 he was admitted to the Featherston Military Camp Hospital in Wellington and died on 15 November 1918, age 25.

Great Uncle Darkie Wendelborn 1884 - 1952


Clifford Wendelborn 1914-1995
WW2

Lance Corporal Clifford Laurence Wendelborn - serial number 16215. Clifford served as an infantryman, despatch rider, tankman and driver during WWII. He repeatedly refused promotion. 


Ron Wendelborn
 WW2 Reg #: 21111 NZ Army Corp 1939/1945 

He returned to New Zealand on 23 January 1946. During the trip back, Ronald requested a demotion from Sergeant back to Corporal.

Jack Leslie Friend 1920 - 25 May 1941

WW2 reg #8378
Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF), 1st Echelon 20 Canterbury and Otago Battalion
Died of his battle wounds in Crete

Stanley James Wendelborn 1919 - 1945
WW2 Gunner, New Zealand Artillery, 4 Field Regiment
Died at war - Cassino, Italy

Henry (Harry) John Windleborn 1910 - 1988

WW2 Chief Petty Officer Airman
Military awards include  the 1939-45 Star, the Africa Star, the Pacific Star (Burma clasp), War Medal 1939-45 and the New Zealand War Service Medal.

Percy Herbert Windleburn 1885 – 1945
WW1

New Zealand Mounted Rifles, Reserve Battalion. # 80399. When he enlisted in 1918, Percy gave his birth year as 1890 rather than 1885, making it appear that he was only 28. 



Lawerence (Lon) CF Windleburn 1897 – 1974
WW1 New Zealand Expeditionary Force 42nd Reinforcements D Company

Philip Edward (Tulip) Windleborn 1920 - 1990
WW2 Korean War reg # 72279 & 207892
New Zealand Field Artillery, 29 Light Anti Aircraft Battery: Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) & Kayforce.

Military Awards
  • 1939-45 Star
  • Pacific Star
  • Italy Star
  • Defence Medal
  • War Medal 1939-45
  • New Zealand War Service Medal
  • Korea Medal 1950-53
  • The United Nations Medal (Korea)
Henry Charles Schroder 1895 - 1971
WW1 reg #: 26461 New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 14th Reinforcements New Zealand Engineers



Percival August Edward Schroder 1896 -
WW1 Reg # 35501  NZ Rifle Brigade 11th Reinforcements 4th Battalion, (H Company )

Albert Charles SCHRODER 1874 - 1929
WW1 reg# 72861. New Zealand Expeditionary Force 37th Reinforcements C Company

Bernard Austin Schroder 1897 - 1956
WW1 reg# 25/570. NZ Rifle Brigade 3rd Battalion, C Company

Cecil Lawerence Schroder 1883 - 1968
WW1 reg# 59463 New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 31st Reinforcements Auckland Infantry Regiment, A Company

Henry James Schroder 1881 - ?
WW1 reg#25/144   New Zealand Expeditionary Force 3rd Battalion, B Company

Arthur Charles Schwass 1905 - 1982
WW1 reg#74550  New Zealand Expeditionary Force 40th Reinforcements E Company


Leo Philip Schwass 1897 - 1918
WW1 reg#48413  New Zealand Expeditionary Force 26th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company killed in action 15 July 1918 Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France


Sidney Charles Schwass
WW1 Reg# 29307 New Zealand Expeditionary Force 18th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company

      Lewis Henry Windleborn 1893 – 1917
       WW1, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 2 Battalion, 13 Company

      Polygon Wood (Polygoneveld, or Bois de Polygone), named for its shape, was a large wood near the Ypres-Menin road at Veldhoekn (north east of Ypres), Belgium.
      A prominent artificial mound in the wood, called the Butte, had been used by the Belgian army as a shooting range prior to 1914. Fought over during the First Battle of Ypres in October/November 1914, it thereafter remained in German hands until Third Battle of Ypres (aka The Battle of Passchendaele) in 1917.


      The NZ Division went to Polygon Wood during the winter of 1917-1918 (about October). It was a very cold winter. NZ suffered about 3000 losses during that winter in Polygon Wood. They carried out the attack on Polderhoek Chateau on the right hand side of Polygon Wood on 3 December.
       On the 13 December Lewis was killed in action here.
      At the end of February 1918 the NZ Division were relieved from their post.




      Lest We Forget 
      .

      Saturday, January 3, 2015

      Walking

      1 hour 40 min total
      148 at gate.   166 at sun corner
      132 at top 
      51 mins up