Hi all

Here comes my first blog entry (now in Blogger). Been meaning to try this for a while. I took the break week last week, exhaustion setting in, and am short of time this week, so jumping around activities and doing this now. Seems like a relaxing thing to do.

I think my blogs will initially be of the catharsis / personal journal type. Later it might be about sharing H800 ideas but why not do that in a forum or our Cafe? I've yet to experience the benefits of blogs beyond reading others' opinions, and am really interested to see what everyone else chooses to write about...

H800 break week?
Well as I said, I took it. My experience of H800 so far is exciting, exhilarating, providing loads of brain fodder which I can apply to my work, and a real big struggle to get the time to 'get the maximum' out. One of the questions posed in Week 10 is 'why pay a university for your learning' - well I have lots of views about that, and since I have paid myself and at an overseas rate - well I want to squeeze as much value out as I possibly can! However mutual opinion appears to agree that this course is really heavy on activities, and getting the most out means too many late nights and a big need to de-tox for a few days.

Virtual identities and the Wii
We have been doing lots of action research (literally speaking) in the week off. My son is going to be 10 on Thursday and we gave him his early birthday present of a Wii to play with in the holiday time. It was followed by a wide screen TV at the weekend and we are in a whole new world. Interesting about virtual identities (as per Bayne paper); it's fascinating how he is now able to be a champion boxer, boy can he beat the you know what out of some of his opponents, but wouldn't last 5 seconds in normal boxing ring, he's just too small !! He says thank goodness I can't feel it Mum! He loves the tennis and the bowling (but finds a normal 10 pin bowl rather heavy to get enough speed).

The Wii is amazingly social and great fun. At first we were sceptical but we've been bowled over (excuse pun).

What next this week?
So I have to try and fit in this whole week in 2-3 days. Tomorrow (Weds) is the general election in South Africa and a public holiday. Then there's a long weekend (Freedom Day) and we are travelling up to the Sabi River near the Kruger Park to go hippo watching. Will post some pics when we return. SA has lots of challenges as a place to live, but hippos are definitely on the plus side.

That's all for now. As I put in a quote in the cafe, it feels good to write and get it all out...