It Finally Arrived!

Yesterday when I got home I saw that I had bookmail. I have been waiting a couple of weeks for this parcel to arrive but with the rotating postal strike as well as online Christmas shopping, it took an age to get to my place. The parcel was sent to me by the person who runs the blogger programme at Harper Collins Canada. Not only did she send me three Young Adult books to read and review, but she also sent me an invitation to an event early next year to meet one of the authors.

Bookmail – with an invitation. © Colline Kook-Chun, 2018

The bookmail brought a smile to my face – as will reading the books I received (which I will be reading in the next few weeks).

Do you enjoy receiving bookmail?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2018

(This post was inspired by Trent’s Weekly Smile, a challenge which focuses on sharing all things positive.)

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Square in September: A Surprising Bust

Before our trip to Paris in July, I asked my family to share with me the spots that they would like to visit in this well known European city. My eldest daughter wanted to visit the Georges Pompidou museum of Modern Art. We set aside a day to visit the exhibitions at this venue.

There was plenty to see – and all of it different to the art we had seen until then. One piece really stood out to me – and I could not help but exclaim when I saw what the artist had done (so much so that the guard could not but help smile at my reaction). In order to appreciate the bust, you had to walk around the sculpture and look at it from different viewpoints.

The artist of this bust was Wang Du and the title of the work is called Le Baiser (The Kiss.) – 2005 The explanation accompanying the work is as follows:

Former Chinese dissident, Wang Du, found refuge in France in 1990 where he discovered the media whirlwind, typical of Western society, which would inspire his work. In Le Baiser he abandons the sphere of the media for a more poetic register. Based on an image from the film 3-Iron (2004) by South Korean director Kim Ki-duk, this sculpture alludes to the artist’s own project of acting as double to the media, as one actor may double for another in a film. In place of Rodin’s idealistic and almost abstract work of the same title, Wang Du offers a cold and precise image which he describes as “a hybrid configuration between treason and loyalty, sacred and profane, romanticism and realism”. 

I spent quite a bit of time admiring this work of art and I will not forget it for a while.

What do you think of Wang Du’s Le Baiser?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2018

(This post is linked to Becky’s Square Challenge, Square in September. This month we are posting pictures featuring in the pink, i.e., photos featuring the colour pink,  something ‘in the pink’ of health, or those which leave you ‘tickled pink’)

Square in September: Fountain at Georges Pompidou Square

The one thing that my daughter wanted to see when we were in Paris was the Georges Pompidou museum of modern art. She loved the shape of the building and was tickled pink when she saw the fountains in the square.

We decided to eat our picnic lunch in the square after visiting the museum so that we could enjoy the creative fountains a little longer.

What do you think of the modern-type fountains in the square outside of Georges Pompidou?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2018

(This post is linked to Becky’s Square Challenge, Square in September. This month we are posting pictures featuring in the pink, i.e., photos featuring the colour pink,  something ‘in the pink’ of health, or those which leave you ‘tickled pink’)

Square in September: Lady in Pink

While in Paris, it was my intention to take my family to the Musée de l’Orangerie to see the Impressionist paintings, in particular Monet. Once we had admired Monet’s murals of the lilies, we browsed through the rest of the museum to enjoy the other art on display. Near the end of our visit, I came across a pretty lady in pink. I noted that the painter, Marie Laurencien, was a woman – not many paintings by women were on display.

There were only three of her paintings up and I found them to be refreshing after some of the dark colours that we had seen in many of the other artists’ paintings.

What do you think of Laurencien’s paintings?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2018

(This post is linked to Becky’s Square Challenge, Square in September. This month we are posting pictures featuring in the pink, i.e., photos featuring the colour pink,  something ‘in the pink’ of health, or those which leave you ‘tickled pink’)

Square in September: A Sunset

As we were eating supper last night my daughter, who is able to see out of the window, mentioned what a a beautiful colour the sky was. I, of course, grabbed my iPad to capture the colours. These are the photos with no filters:

A City Sunset.

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2018

It is not often the sky is streaked with pink – and we were glad to have seen it.

Did you notice the sunset last night?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2018

(This post is linked to Becky’s Square Challenge, Square in September. This month we are posting pictures featuring in the pink, i.e., photos featuring the colour pink,  something ‘in the pink’ of health, or those which leave you ‘tickled pink’)

Weekend Coffee Share: An Event-Filled Week

If we were having coffee, I would offer you a warm drink out of the cold. The temperature has dropped overnight and we have gone from hot and humid to chilly breezes. The constant fluctuations in temperature make it difficult to know what to wear – and have caused a number of people to get sick (myself included). Today it is starting to feel like Fall – coincidentally today  is the official start of the new season.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I had quite a busy week. On Monday after school I went to an author event organised by Harper Collins Canada. I heard A. J. Finn speak about his debut novel The Woman in the Window as well as Mary Kubica on When The Lights Go Out. Both of these novels are psychological thrillers and it was interesting to hear how different their writing process is for the same genre of novel.

On Thursday night it was Open House at our school. On this evening, the parents have the opportunity to come in and visit our classrooms. I had the chance to meet some of the parents, and book a follow-up meeting with each of them. The sense I got from each parent I met was positive and I am hoping we can work well together this year in order to create a good learning experience for their child.

The room is ready for Open House.

The spelling centre.

Some of the tasks sent home during the year.

Trying something new this year.

The next day I was exhausted, as I always am when I am at school for 12 hours straight. I came home early after school on Friday, just missing the big storm that damaged a number of trees in our neighbourhood. Today I am resting in the afternoon to be ready to get back into the swing of things on Monday.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that my weekend read is A. J. Finn’s The Woman in the Window. So far it is thrilling and it is sure to keep me reading the entire weekend. I am sure that I will not want to watch too much TV this weekend.

What would you tell me if we were having coffee?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2018

(This post is linked to Eclectic Alli and the Weekend Coffee Share)

Square in September: A Cheezy Ad

Stepping outside of the building after visiting Les Galleries Lafayette in Paris, I saw the following advert plastered on the wall. I could not help but smile when I saw it.

Advertisement outside Les Galleries Lafayette © Colline Kook-Chun, 2018

Even though the ‘new man’ is helping out with tasks that are traditionally for the woman, he does not forget about his attire!

What do you think of this advertisement?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2018

(This post is linked to Becky’s Square Challenge, Square in September. This month we are posting pictures featuring in the pink, i.e., photos featuring the colour pink,  something ‘in the pink’ of health, or those which leave you ‘tickled pink’)

Weekend Coffee Share: An Event and a Find

If we were having coffee, I would welcome you with a smile and apologise for meeting with you so late. My excuse? I was reading a book that made me smile – and I did not want to put it down!!!

If we were having coffee, I would definitely offer you the iced version as it is still very hot here. The heat is making me feel lethargic and I do not feel the desire to do too much. I avoid sitting at the table to type on the computer – I would much rather sit in front of the fan and immerse myself in the books I have chosen to read. This week I am determined to sit down and write up some reviews of books for you to read – especially as I have recently read so many wonderful stories.

As I am telling you of stories, I wish to share with you the author event I went to yesterday. The event was organised by Indigo, a local chain of bookstores. The two authors on the panel – Tracy Banghart and Elly Blake – are Young Adult writers of fantasy fiction. I have not read their work yet but I enjoyed listening to them speak as they shared their writing process and what inspired them to write their story. I asked what they like to read when writing, and both of them said romance. Interesting. I am sure their novels will have a bit of romance in them. 🙂

Not much else has happened during the past week. I have exercised, read, and Skyped my mom. I did go shopping for a few items for my classroom (which teacher can resist?!?). I saw the perfect caddies that I have been looking for to use at my table groups. I have been avoiding the brightly coloured ones and have been on the lookout for wooden ones in neutral colours. I was so excited when I saw a possibility in a Michaels flyer (Micheals is a craft store). On Friday I ventured outside to go to the store and was ecstatic when I saw the perfect baskets.I took 6 of the baskets – five for the group tables and one for the table I will work at with the children. The best thing was that the store had a promotion on – two for the price of one – and I saved quite a bit of money. In addition to the promotion, I also got a teacher discount.  🙂

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that next week will be a little busier. It will be my last week off duty before I go into my classroom to get ready for the new school year.

What would you tell me if we were having coffee?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2018

(This post is linked to Eclectic Alli and the Weekend Coffee Share)

Weekend Coffee Share: A Little Tardy

If we were having coffee, I would apologise for being a little tardy with my news this week. I did not feel well this weekend so I did a lot of resting, reading, and netflixing – I could not face sitting in front of the computer. I am feeling exhausted and my body is telling me so. The weekend was spent with an aching throat and lethargic limbs. I really do need a break.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that last week was the school concert. It was a long day – and a tiring one. I got home after 9pm – and then it took me a while to wind down. What is really annoying is that so many parents do not thank us for looking after their children while they watch the show. All it takes is a thank you for us to feel appreciated.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that we received bad news last Thursday – our principal is moving onto another school next year. I will miss her as I have a connection with her and will miss her sound advice. She is moving nearer home and onto a middle school. I think she will have many visitors this week – and receive many gifts as parents, teachers, and children love her.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I had the opportunity to go to another author event on Thursday evening. I loved it! I think it is great that Harper Collins Canada introduces us to their authors whenever they get the chance. I enjoy hearing the authors speak about their novel and their writing process.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I need to go now. It is the last week of school and we will be doing a lot of tidying up this week. I wish you a wonderful day and will speak to you next week.

What would you tell me if we were having coffee?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2018

(This post is linked to Eclectic Alli and the Weekend Coffee Share)

Music Monday: For Me Formidable

This week is our year-end concert and the school is in a flurry of preparation. My class have been practicing their song and dance steps every week for months now and I am hoping that they know it well enough not to get stage fright when they perform in the high school auditorium on Wednesday. The song they will be singing is For Me Formidable as sung by Charles Aznavour.

The dance that has been choreographed to go with it is perfect for this song and I am sure it will wow the parents. As for me, I will be pleased to no longer have this song running in my head.  🙂

Do you enjoy listening to old style songs?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2018