Thanksgiving

In the USA Thanksgiving falls on the 4th Thursday in November.

Because we are ahead (in time) of the rest of the world (except Fiji I think) while we are having a TGIF, Americans will be tucking into

Or maybe

According to wikipedia Thanksgiving started in America in 1565 with the Spaniards who gave thanks to God when they first arrived at what is now St Augustine, Florida.

In 1619 the first 'official' Thanksgiving was held at Berkely Plantation in Virginia.

Painting of "The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth" By Jennie A. Brownscombe.

In 1621 the Pilgrims who had colonised Plymouth were taught how to catch eel and grow corn by Squanto, a Patuxet Native American who resided with the Wampanoag tribe. The Pilgrims set apart a day to celebrate at Plymouth immediately after their first harvest.

How brilliant we are at communication.

• How have we communicated this year?

• How well have we communicated this year?

Add a comment with some examples and thoughts on communication and how great we are at it.

Or, maybe an example of some communication gone wrong.

Here's my 2 cents worth:

The reference staff are members of a OT Postgrad Blackboard discussion group. The aim was to have one place where OT postgrads (most of them aren't in Dunedin) could communicate and discuss issues. We had hoped many of the questions that we get over and over could be addressed in one shot. But it has also raised our profile with off-campus OT students.

Melbourne Cup Hat Day

Hip Hip Hooray for Hats

Someone else can organise a sweepstake, I'm going to wear a hat.

I'm a huge fan of hats, every day would be hat day if it wasn't so damn windy.

Here are just a few to tempt and inspire.

The key to my collection is that they meet all sorts of criteria. Beautiful, useful, for girls and boys.
Surprise us all with your hat choice.

Custom House sounds great.
I like the idea of walking back..
Will we be dressing up?

Christmas Lunch update

I haven't had much feedback from hungry BRLers yet but I have pencilled us in at The Customhouse on December 16th. The one or two comments I have had favoured them.

This is not a confirmed booking. So don't jump up and down.

You can click on Lunch Menu to open a pdf of what they have on offer.

If you want to make a comment please free to do so.

Friday Theme

Labour Day

Now this isn't about party politics it's about working a 40 hour week. Remember them?

Here's the story of how NZ got an eight hour working day.

Take a look at these stats from the Department of Labour.

And a TVNZ item about how few are sticking to the 40 hour a week ideal.

Yippee for working where we do. That's why you get an education children. So you can get a job in a library and not have to work 50 hours a week.When I worked in the public service 50 hours a week was normal for many of my colleagues and I bet it hasn't changed much.

Some fun ideas on how to represent the theme, clothing wise.

Many of you will be too young to remember this movie.

Count yourselves lucky

These guys have a song called 40 Hour Week

Check them out, Alabama. They possibly hold the record for the longest No.1 streak in the history of the Billboard magazine Hot Country Songs chart, with 21 songs between 1980 and 1987.

And for that hard working, yet fun look ...


There is always Bob.

And finally
remember - All work and no play makes you...


Jack Nicholson

Friday Theme Day - Again

In Dinah's absence I thought I would propose a theme. Because October 17th is the aniversary of many notable things, such as the London Beer Flood, Al Capone's conviction for tax evasion and Thomas Edison patenting the Optical Phonograph (the first movie), thought the obvious theme is:'bootlegging gangster movies'.

So dust off those hats, light a cigar, but please leave the guns at home (or in the trunk of your car...)

Friday Theme - October 10th

In honour of the wintery blast and with grateful thanks to Pete.

Wool Revival

With the global credit crises and peak oil on its way (or already here) we will come to rely more and more on natural fibres, wool being the fibre of choice for many in NZ.

It doesn’t have to mean boring

But can also be traditional

And then there is the inspiring

Norwegian polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen

wearing his famous Jaeger sanitary wool garments.

For traditionalists there will always be

long underwear.

Christmas Lunch Options

Carey's Bay Hotel has a restaurant "Cushla's Restaurant". It is open for lunch every day. Looks like a pretty average pub menu, but it might be nice to get a bit out of town.

I also thought maybe we should check out St Clair, for that out of town feel. There are a few options out that way. Salt, I think it is a bit small, but Starfish sounds ok.

Please let us all know what you think of these places and suggest other options.
Cheers!

Why Blog?

Can't see the point of libraries blogging? Don't knock it 'til you've tried it!
Check out: http://pimp-my-library.blogspot.com/

Here is another fabulous page which encourages the use of social media/Web 2.0:
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/five_ways_to_use_social_media.php

Friday Themes

Check here to see the up and comming Friday themes.
Post your suggestions. Get ready in advance.

Unfortunately we missed International Knit in Public Day on June 14th this year. We wouldn't want to miss any others.......

The very first blog.

A blog for all BRL Staff.
What would you like to see posted here?