The book list

In Aussie schools they have a book list for new students. Now you’d think – as the name suggest – this would be a list of books they should read, or progress to read throughout the school year. But actually it refers to stationary, and not just any stationary mind – we’re talking about posh pencils, gadgets and specialist art equipment here, the type you find in those independent art shops that sit down cobbled streets and sell oil paints and canvasses.

Our little year 1 student is expected to have everything from chisel black markers and faber red check pencils to a traditional wooden ruler and a take home reading journal. On presentation of this list, I resorted to my thrifty ways and proudly pronounced to the Deputy Head that actually, the boy had most of these things already and therefore we wouldn’t need to pay the $100 dollars or so required to kit him out. So now, with five days to go before school starts we are faced with the hurdle of finding all of these things in time for the big start next Wednesday.

I guess on the plus side, at least his bag is big enough to hold it all – I mean just look at it, it’s almost bigger than him! He’s already complaining that it’s pulling him backwards and we haven’t even filled it yet. Oh dear….

D thinks we should take these instructions with a pinch of salt and send him in with what he’s already got. So that’s a bunch of Ben 10 pens, a Transformers ruler and some half tub paints that are mostly dried up. I’d be inclined to agree but faced with a brand new school, there’s that familiar pressure to adhere to the rules. So tomorrow will most probably involve a trip to a series of shops to complete the book list. How long it will take God only knows. Wish me luck!