Sunday Snapshot

It's been a horrible week. 

Last Saturday afternoon one of our senior students lost her life 

in a road accident. She was a stunner - a school leader, full of energy 

and into everything, popular with her peers and the juniors, 

respected by everyone. 

18 years old and her whole life ahead of her - except, it wasn't.

I can't describe the pall of sadness which hung over the whole school 

community all week; in fact, over the whole of our small town.

So many people knew her, her mother, her 4 siblings...

I was already coming down with a flu-type bug which eventually 

forced me to take sick leave from Wednesday onwards. 

On Friday, school was closed - the funeral was taking place in the 

auditorium at midday, and there was no point in trying 

to have a normal school day, for students or teachers. 

I was still unwell, so I didn't see or hear the outpouring of grief 

which I am sure took place.

She will be greatly missed.

Lake Whakatipu, Queenstown, New Zealand

Early Evening

My favourite time of all.

The sun has just set,

sloped down between the hills' dark shoulders;

sky is still luminous with light.

in the no-wind

the trees are still, stopped - 

leaves and branches motionless.

moths and insects flit and

skitter in the dark, 

small blips against the bright/dark sky.

Even-ing out the day, dusk

spreads quiet to lie about the mounds 

of trees and hills, sculpted into dark.

4th November 2010

Alexia