The Ferocious Phoedra

I wrote this when I was 11. Like a Roman mythical version of Shrek. I like the imagination I had back then. I liked using beautiful descriptive words and painting a picture with them. :)

One sunny morning in the village of Conervra, the birds were singing as the sun danced above the clouds. The local carpenter named Corinthes was gazing out of the window of his cluttered workshop. He wished he could rescue his beloved princess Diminica from the damp and mouldy caves of the towering Conevrian mountains. He knew he first had to defeat the two-headed Phoedra to win her heart.

As he set off across the fresh fields of daisies and crossed the dangerous white water which was splashing wildly to and fro, he thought up a cunning plan. "If the two heads of the Phoedra can disagree with each other, then the Phoedra will be paralyzed", but the question remaining inside his head was "How?"

He could smell the beast now, as Corinthes strode towards the enormous mouth of the cave. He heard a woman's voice cry out "Help me!" Corinthes charged in but there was nobody to be seen. He peered around and to his shock saw four dead skeletons strung from the ceiling. Soon the ground started to rumble!

As Corinthes looked up he saw a grotesque figure towering over him. The Phoedra's eyes glowed with red anger. It gritted its teeth and clenched its fists. Its breath stank of repulsive, rotten eggs. Corinthes was terrified. "We should skin him alive," bellowed one head. "No we should burn him ti ash!" The Phoedra's heads argued on and on. But they didn't notice Corinthes had vanished.

Corinthes dashed down the stone steps and entered the dungeon. The dungeon walls were covered in plans of escape that had failed. Corinthes peered in all the prison cells, but no princess was to be seen.

Thundering footsteps were heard from a distance. The Phoedra soon was in sight. The gruesome beast swung its sword through the air. Corinthes ran away as fast as his legs could carry him. Corinthes' heart was pounding in his ears. The wild animal cornered Corinthes. The sword swooped through the air in mighty circles, the blade only inches away from Corinthes' neck. With shouts of "Cut off his head" and "No, cut off his legs!" the creature lost control as it swung in mid-air, it cut off one of it own heads. The Phoedra crashed to the ground. It was slowly dying in agony.

Corinthes searched and searched and called for the one his heart desired. But there was no reply. After hours Corinthes finally heard a call. Eventually he found her in a pit. Although her eyes dazzled with beauty she was starving. Her face was weak and her body was very slim. Her heart sparkled with love, but her face was filled with sadness.

Corinthes climbed down into the pit, he lifted her up onto his shoulders and climbed up the treacherous rocks. Scrambling and sliding he finally made it out of the cave. Resting Diminica on his knee, Corinthes made a vow of everlasting love.

My version of 'Her First Ball' by Katherine Mansfield

I wrote this when I was 13.

Dear Diary

I remember how excited I was going to my first ball and I tried not to smile too much, I tried not to care. But everything was so new and exciting! When we arrived in the drill hall, all the girls were looking towards the men, but the men didn’t seem to notice. They were too busy smoothing their gloves, patting their glossy hair and smiling among themselves. Then quite suddenly, the men glided across the floor towards the girls and started scribbling on their programmes. I was sure that if my partner didn’t come and I had to listen to the marvellous music and watch the others gliding over the golden floor, I would die at least, or faint. But sure enough my partner came, he seemed quite surprised that it was my first ball and it was such a relief to be able to tell somebody. Then the music stopped and we took a seat. My partner coughed, tucked his handkerchief away, pulled down his waistcoat and took a minute thread off his sleeve. It wasn’t long before the music started again and I was swept away along the dance floor. Once the dance finished I found myself bumping into a fat, old man with a big bald patch on his head. When I compared him with the other partners he looked shabby. His waistcoat was creased, there was a button off his glove and his coat looked as if was dusty with French chalk. He was very rude, the way he spoiled it all, by saying things like “one day you’ll be sitting up there on the stage in your black velvet. And these pretty arms will have turned into short fat ones”. After a moment of thought, I replied “I want to stop.” I leaned against the wall, tapping with my foot, pulling up my gloves and trying to smile. Could it all be true? I didn’t want to dance anymore, I wanted to go home. Then a soft, melting tune began, and a young man with curly hair bowed before me. Very stiffly I walked towards him and very haughtily I put my hand on his sleeve. I floated away like a flower tossed in a pool and the fat man didn’t cross my mind again. It was simply heavenly, gliding across the floor with a fine gentleman. His marble white gloves pressed against my waist and the lights, the azaleas, the dresses, the pink faces, the velvet chairs, all became one beautiful flying wheel. Slowly his voice dimmed and the music faded into the distance and Oh what a magical night it was!

Leila

Things I am thankful for:

- An unbroken family
- Growing up in a christian family
- a home/ somewhere to live
- My Ruth Pretty job
- yr 12 history prize and uni excellence scholarship
- my church
- having an education
- friends to hang out with
- peaceful country above poverty line... think in most cases

Songs that make me feel like I haven't missed the luurve boat.

Beyoncé – Freakum Dress
Lana Del Rey – Summertime Sadness
Taylor Swift – I Knew You Were Trouble
Marina and The Diamonds – Lonely Hearts Club
Ellie Goulding – I Know You Care
Calvin Harris – I Need Your Love
Emily Osment – You Are The Only One
Kelly Clarkson – Miss Independent
Demi Lovato – Heart Attack
Taylor Swift – Teardrops On My Guitar
Jessie J – Silver Lining (crazy 'bout you)
Emma Louise – Jungle
P!nk – True Love
Lady Gaga – Bad Romance
Justin Timberlake – Mirrors
Mike Posner – Cooler Than Me - Single Mix
Paramore – Still Into You
Emblem3 – Reason
Glee Cast – Let Me Love You (Glee Cast Version)
Glee Cast – Songbird (Glee Cast Version)
Shaggy - Angel
Cody Simpson - Angel
Stacie Orrico - Stuck
Brooke Fraser - Love is waiting
Mariah Carey - Without you
... :)

27 songs that make my heart melt

Safe and sound

Love is louder

I know you care

Here's my heart Lord

Far away

Better

Without you

Without you (popular song title)

You know me

How he loves us

Young and beautiful

Vole

Forever young

Nobody's home

When you're gone :'(

Heal the world

Feel the love

Cornerstone 

Take heart

Breakaway

I don't want to be

Glee, baby and somebody to love Bieber fever lol

Listen

This is your life

Mirrors

Because you loved me

When I look at you

I miss Woking, England :(

Lake near where I lived

Football, the English equivalent of rugby :)

Swimming pool

Town centre

Playground, good times lol

English wildlife

Pub

Bike rides :)

Allotment for growing veges :)

Happy shopping times as a kid :)

My town :)

Shopping centre 4 levels, ooh scary...

At Or With Me

RULES:

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.

1. IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY', YOU SAY?

Treat me like your mother - The Dead Weather

2. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

All my love - Led Zepplin

3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?

Stand up for love - Destiny's Child

4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

Four kicks - Kings of Leon

5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?

Ragged Wood - Fleet Foxes

6. WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?

Dreams - Fleetwood Mac

7. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

Violence on the quiet (lol) - Woolshed Sessions

8. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

Turn it around (intro) - Fly My Pretties

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

Black Thumbnail - Kings of Leon

10. WHAT IS 2 + 2?

Silver Springs - Fleetwood Mac

11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?

Nothin' - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

12. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

Somebody's watching me - Beatfreaks

13. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Striking the balance (Preach) - Phil Moore

14. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Spiderwebs - No Doubt

15. WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?

Being a prophetic people - Pete Henare LOL!

16. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

The take over, the break's over - Fall Out Boy

17. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

crushcrushcrush - Paramore

18. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?

All Because of Jesus - Casting Crowns okkk

19. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

Love Came Down - Soul Survivor

20. WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?

No Good With Faces - Jack Johnson

21. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

This Is How We Know - Matt Redman (christian ones do not work..)

22. WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?

At Or With Me - Jack Johnson

Speech and language therapy

http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/courses/undergrad/bslphons.shtml
http://www.cmds.canterbury.ac.nz/courses/undergradadvice.shtml
http://www.careers.govt.nz/jobs/health/speech-language-therapist/

Career opportunities

The speech–language therapy profession offers a range of career opportunities. Graduates are highly employable as clinicians both in New Zealand and overseas.

You can work with people or computers, in a research laboratory, a private clinic or a government agency. You can work with language-delayed children in a school setting or with elderly stroke patients in a large hospital or nursing home. You can be an entrepreneur, developing and marketing new communication devices and tests, or building your own private practice. You can teach at a university, conduct research in a scientific laboratory or be an administrator.

Perhaps best of all, you can combine several of these to establish a challenging and satisfying career which improves the quality of life for individuals with communication disorders.

Chances of getting a job are average for newly-qualified speech-language therapists and good for those with experience.

"I always thought, 'I'd like to be a teacher, or I'd like to be a nurse' and I think speech language is all the good parts that I would love about both of those jobs. So it's a perfect fit! It's a very cool job."

Libby French, Speech-Language Therapist

haha her surname is french, it's a sign jokes


Demand for speech-language therapists increasing

Demand for speech-language therapists is increasing because:

• New Zealand's ageing population is more prone to strokes, and speech-language therapists are needed to help stroke victims recover speech and language functions
• more private practices are opening to cater for school children and new entrants who cannot be treated through the public health service.

Most speech-language therapists employed by government agencies

Most speech-language therapists work for the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Health. Other employers include:

• private speech-language therapy practices
• charitable trusts
• universities
• schools, through their board of trustees.

Speech-language therapists may specialise in a particular field of work, or in working with particular groups of people, such as:

• children (paediatrics)
• the elderly
• children and adults who have physical disorders, such as swallowing difficulties or cleft lips or palates.

What you will do

Speech-language therapists may do some of the following:

• assess and diagnose communication disorders such as stuttering or lisps
• co-ordinate and plan treatments
• lead group therapy sessions
• develop and supervise physical therapy plans
• make written and oral reports about their clients
• counsel, support, educate and advise clients and their families and caregivers about speech-language issues.

Skills and knowledge

Speech-language therapists need to have:

• knowledge of speech and language
• knowledge of the human body and its physiology 
• understanding of medical conditions that can affect speech
• knowledge of psychology and education theory, and child development and health
• knowledge of community and family support services, and where to refer their clients.

Working conditions

Speech-language therapists:

• usually work flexible hours and may need to work longer hours to keep up with their caseloads
• work in either a dedicated practice or on-site at locations such as schools, rest homes, hospitals or other private clinics.

What's hot

• The privilege of giving care when people are really vulnerable
• Seeing the best of people as they work on their rehabilitation

What's not

• Not having the luxury of having an 'off' day
• Sometimes not being able to help people who are frustrated by lack of progress