Once upon a time, about a gazillion years ago (or December last year), my friend Brett rang and give me a rather cryptic instruction: “Be out the front at 5 o’clock. I am kidnapping you...”
And that was all the information I got.
Little did I (or even he) know, but ‘kidnapping’ would soon become a recurring thing for the two of us over the coming months. And each time would be announced only by a time and the mention of kidnapping.
As part of my catch-up-a-thon, I thought I would share some of these kidnapping escapes with you.
Neither Brett nor I had ever been to the drive in before, and as such it made it to both of our 101/1001 lists. Brett, who is pretty good at surprises, thought it might be nice to ‘kidnap’ me and go to the drive in so we could both cross something off our list. We managed to get all the way there before I realised where we were going, so I think he was pretty pleased with himself.
“Wow! I can hear things!”
All in all, we had a lovely evening, and I’m thinking we shall be frequenting the drive in again in the future.
Last year Brett, Bethany and I went to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream as part of Sydney’s annual Shakespeare Festival. It was (and correct me if I’m wrong, Brett) Brett’s first live performance of any Shakespeare. We all really enjoyed it and Brett had been itching to go again ever since. Seeing my opportunity to do some kidnapping of my own, I booked us two tickets to go see The Taming of the Shrew and whisked him away…
Since today was my birthday, Brett decided that another kidnapping was in order. Again I was given instructions to be ready at a certain time last night for kidnapping. Again I wasn’t given any clues but he did let it slip that the location could be reached for the starting time within half an hour, so naturally I spent quite some time trying to guess what it could have been. I didn’t guess it and was very glad that I didn’t. I always try to guess, but I prefer a good surprise.
When Studio Ghibli announced that it was producing it’s own adaption of Mary Norton’s The Borrowers, we were both very excited. Myself as a huge fan of the story and lover of children’s books, Brett as a massive Hayao Miyazaki fan. We both very much wanted to see Arrietty but were a little concerned about finding a cinema screening it.
Luckily for us, Brett had discovered that a small mountains cinema, which only airs select films on it’s own weird little schedule, was showing it and so - birthday kidnapping! It was such good choosing on his part, and I heartily recommend you go see it if you can, it was beautiful.
Instagram monsters that we have become, the phones were out that evening. Here Renae gives Wendy some pointers. 
Our very own blocking boards! 
TI was thoroughly spoiled by my work Secret Santa last year and one of the goodies I found in my stocking was a nice box of tea. I was very excited about this – partly because I love tea, but moreso because it was raspberry tea and I love love love raspberry. I’ve been saving it for when I could sit down and brew a nice pot and enjoy it properly.
So this morning I was sitting here at the table, enjoying a rare quiet moment at home, and I got to thinking about different kinds of tea (as you do) and jumped up to grab the tea pot...only to realise that I’ve never brewed tea in a pot before. And so with Lisa enlisted as my tea guru, she helped me through the process.
Once I managed to stop playing around with the tea itself (seriously, look at it - it’s so pretty! I was tempted to eat it as it was), I managed to measure it out and brew it up in a teapot I found. Didn’t know I actually HAD a teapot, but still, managed to brew up my tea.
It was a white tea, which I’m not used to but I have to say, I loved this tea to bits. It smelt amazing and was a lovely sweet tea, which led me to go investigate the ingredients a little closer…
And I’m sorry - but do you see ‘tea’ anywhere on that list? Cause I don’t - which leads me to the most exciting thing about this tea present. I learnt a new word! (yes I’m a nerd, but I so love when I stumble across a new word!)
tisane: A herbal tea, tisane, or ptisan is a herbal or plant infusion and usually not made from the leaves of the tea bush (Cameillia sinensis). Like brews made of the tea bush, such infusions are prepared by combining hot water and fruits, leaves, roots or grains. (Wikipedia)
One of the things I like best about being a teacher is that I share a staff room with a large amount of nerdy people. And being an English teacher means that book recommendations are easily come by. While visiting a friend from work, Denise, she retrieved a book from her shelves telling me how much she enjoyed it and that I must read it. Always happy for a book to read (and entering the holidays with lots of reading time making it all the better) I tucked it under my arm to take home.
However it seems that Denise is a little like me when it comes to book recommendations – like me she gets a little excited when people are happy to receive suggestions. I left her house with 13 graphic novels in my possession and the promise of more when I was done.
I’ve been a little busy this holidays after all and haven’t had the chance to sit down and truly enjoy them. But today is a cold rainy day and I’m thinking that I shall settle down for the afternoon with a cup of tea and a collection of comics. What do you think?
I'm a Teacher Librarian in the Western Suburbs of Sydney, just wandering about and taking up more projects than is wise for anyone's mental state. This blog is a digital bag of holding for all my craziness.
