Mrs+H

Hello to Mrs Currie, Mrs Trow and my favourite 11/12/13 yr olds from Rm 7, Well here I am living it up in Melbourne while you poor things are working hard at school. It doesn't seem fair, does it?

Did you hear about the Melbourne Cup on the news? Maybe some of you had a sweep stake? Did the staff have one Debbie? I wonder who won?

Mr Hitchcock and I got all dressed up along with the 100,000 others who went to the Melbourne Cup. We caught the train out to the Flemington Racecourse. All the laldies (without exception) had either a hat or fascinater in their hair. All the men wore suits. It was such fun looking at all the fashion. Everyone was highly excited to be at the races and the whole atmosphere was one of a great big party.

Mr Hitchcock backed the winning horse Dunaden so that was exciting. I didn't have much luck myself but it didn't matter because I only spent a few dollars on the race I've attached a photo of the two of us at the races.

I hope all is well with all of you. Are you looking after Mrs Trow? I hope she is enjoying getting to know you all. Don't forget that Mrs Currie is the best friend you've got. be good to her. I'm looking forward to seeing you in a week or so.

Lots of love, Mrs Hitchcock

Dear Room 7,

How are the delightful pupils of R7 – little angels I’m sure (cough, cough, splutter, splutter!). I hope you are having fun with Mrs Currie and Mrs Allison. I guess it is pretty cold in Matamata these days and you are wrapped up warmly in winter woollies. I, on the other hand am swanning around Italy in shorts and a Tshirt. Swimming at Positano in the Mediterranean (who can spell Mediterranean by the way?) has been exhilarating. The town of Positano is built literally on the side of a rocky cliff. Mr Hitchcock and I have met up with our sons from London and our villa in Positano is about 400 steps up from the ocean. I bet I am fitter than every one of you now and I think I could run around the track at fitness time in half the time it takes you... The weather has been beautiful here except for one day when there was a huge lightning storm and torrential rain. The thunder bounced off the surrounding cliffs and I was quite scared by the echoing boom. Anyway, our kids have flown back to London now and Mr Hitchcock and I are staying in Pitigliano, a medieval village built on solid rock in the middle of the wops in the Tuscany region in central Italy – north of Rome. Yesterday we went exploring by foot through these open sort of tunnels which were supposed to lead to a neighbouring village. Well – we came through the tunnels into the middle of nowhere and ended up walking 25km on a back road to the next village and back. Man am I fit now!!! Today we went swimming in Tuscany’s answer to Okauia Hot Springs. It was a natural set of pools sort of like the ‘Pink and White I am missing you all and can’t wait to teach you the few Italian phrases I’ve learnt. BE GOOD. Special hugs for Mrs C.

Love to you all, Mrs Hitchcock. =I got an email from Mrs H tonight, and she asked me to share it with you - sounds like they are having a great time! I am sure she would love a reply via the discussion tab=
 * [[image:Clare1.jpg width="353" height="235"]] || [[image:Clare2.jpg width="257" height="171"]] || [[image:clare_3.jpg width="307" height="205"]] ||

Well I tried to update the wiki with a few photos but it is midnight over here and I couldn't configure things properly. I need you or Zach leaning over my shoulder. Please explain to the class: The mate drink is like a ceremony held in Argentinian villages sort of like drinking kava in Fiji. I was appalled to think that 30 odd people had to drink from the same straw but it would have been disrespectful not to have participated. Yes - I finally saw the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janiero and we went for a ride in thie old old Taxi in Havana Cuba. It was hilarious! It was surreal cruising down the huge Amazon River knowing that this was where Sir Peter Blake from NZ was murdered. In Manaus they all know about Peter Blake.

Tell Dylan and those boys who are interested in war to read up on the Revolution in Cuba. You see the effects of their power struggle all around Havana. Also the girls might like to know that we danced the Tango in Buenos Aires, the Samba in Rio de Janiero and the Salsa in Havana, Cuba. They would have loved it. Mr Hitchcock went and hid in the toilets so he wouldn't have to get up and dance!

Love to you all. Sorry I didn't do better on the Wiki. I need more lessons!

Love Mrs H = = =Remember Peter Blake got murdered sailing down the Amazon not far from here!This is me drinking a shared drink of a strong tea-like mixture (pronounced mar-tay). It was considered disrespectful if you didn't slurp it from the same straw. And to think we teach you not to share germs! 30 people shared this straw. Yuk!!!= =**Parlez-vous francais?**= //Hopefully this will be your answer in a week or two!// //For helpful information refer to: [|www.digitaldialects.com]//
 * In Rm 7 over the next 7 weeks we are going to learn some simple French with Mrs Hitchcock.**
 * So - Q. Parlez-vous francais? (Do you speak French?)**
 * A. Oui (Yes)**