Author: migrant

Total Kiwi


Saturday was a complete rugby day.
First up was the first game of Joseph’s rugby career, playing for Western Suburbs U-11 “Reds” against a Johnsonville team.
A late change in the rules meant the boys have to play on a full size pitch, no mean feat when you are 10. They played well, and it looked like rugby with the forwards fighting for the ball and the backs lined up waiting for some action. The forwards were greedy-some things do not change from generation to generation. The passing along the backs is not slick yet-but of course they all want to do spin passes. There was some committed tackling going on and some nice running. The opposition had one of those electric runners that no one else can catch. He scored two tries.
The lads kept on running and appeared truly knackered after 50 minutes of action.
So a good game for a first outing with so little practice behind them. More happy Saturdays to come?

After lunch it was off to watch a local club game as a family. Marist St. Pats v Tawa. MSP play in B & I Lions colours. An enjoyable outing, with a trip to the “Brewery” on the way home. Dad and big son then went to watch the Hurricanes and Chiefs fight it out at the “Cake Tin”. Not great weather, and not a great game only partially explained by the conditions. Also,we had the misfortune to be sitting with a group of misfits on a works trip from I assume Upper Hutt…..hmmm.

Rugby, rugby, rugby……what more do you need? This is NZ after all.

ANZAC Day


25th April for those not in the know.
It is a national holiday here, though no roll over to Momday if happens to fall on the weekend.
So, it is like Remembrance Day or Sunday, but with more importance possibly.

http://www.anzac.govt.nz/index.html

http://www.rsa.org.nz/index.html

The commemoration services are at dawn to mark the start of the Gallipoli campaign 1915.

Today we were at the Wellington service at the Cenotaph, Lambton Quay. So early rise, 4-50 to be there for the 5-45 start. All Quirkes were up and raring. There were a few thousand people in attendence, with all ages covered. The ex-servicemen marched in with a military band and followed by members of various organisations, like the Guides and army cadets.
The speeches concentrated on the acknowledgement and celebration of sacrifice not the glorification of battle. The importance of remembering the sacrifice of men and women in unpopular conflicts like Vietnam was stressed, being reminded that they were sent like any others, and if you have a problem with the conflict, direct your thoughts at those who do the sending.
ANZAC is an important way of Kiwis expressing their national character, I think more so than Remembrance day does in the UK. I suppose it is something to do with being a smaller and younger nation.
It is impressive that so many get out of bed early to attend, and do not necessarily see it as just another holiday and so have a lie in.
The shops are closed until 1pm also!
Last year Sara and I went to the dawn service in Nelson when we were there on holiday. This time the children has the pleasure also. It was obviously a smaller affair but more intimate and as a result more moving.
Anyway, something to make the children think and adults to reflect upon also.
Later today we are off to the Civic Square to see “beating the retreat”, though according to my well informed source, no one does it as well as the Royal Marines.
A final note;God is definitely a Kiwi. The much forecast rain held off until after the ceremony and when the bands has finished their final marching.

Super Wife


A surprise weekend away was organised, all the way to central Wellington. So distance is not a prerequisite for being away, just not the same surroundings and without the usual responsibilities. The “Celt” moved in to be aunty to the delighful three.
So we had an action packed 24 hours. We saw”Capote“, well worth the effort, and I am currently in the slow process of reading “In cold blood”. The a return walk back to the Bolton Hotel, one of Wellington’s finest. Dinner was enjoyed with fine rare beef, wine and chat.
There was plenty time to explore Wellington sea front in the dark with the camera. We enjoyed the lights in the wind free air, and took in the arts, The “Whispering Water” and the art form for which I do not know the name. Coloured flourescent tubes in a swirling pattern.
There was time still to enjoy the Canes lose on tv while drinking bubbly.
On Sunday it was back home to work and the kids after a morning of gym work, swimming and sauna.
The children seemed to have had as good a time as the parents. So a winner all round.

Super Dad

Being in the midst of school holidays (like everyone else?), we are sharing back-at-the-ranch parent duties. Yesterday was my turn. An early rise to drop Sara off for her 12 hour shift and back home again, dark enough to still see the stars. I did not have my Skymap so was a little disorientated, and the sky had moved around form my typical viewing times.
After breakfast it was on with life in the fast lane. Up to Porirua to the pool, with its wave machine, hot pools, “tubes” as well as the more mundane pool for swimming laps. Children and dad enjoyed the “tubes”, and laps were done to improve fitness. Dad retired a little earlier to enjoy coffee and cake while kids expended a little more energy. I was good enough to give them a few crumbs of my cake.
After luuch it was into town to do some secretive shopping, play at Oriental Bay while dad had his camera out trying to acheive a particular shot, but was unsuccessful again. More at some future successful date.
Back home via Nairville for kicking practice and a sumptuous pasta meal.
This dad has all the skills!

Good Friday

A beautiful weekend ahead. A high pressure system lies over NZ, so bright, dry and windless days in store.
The morning started with a view across the way to the ‘witch’s house”.

NZ is closed on Good friday. The shops do not open and no newspapers. Just like the “old days”. It seems peculiar that this relatively heathen country pays regard to important religious festivals. it will be the same on Easter Sunday, and it also applies to the early part of ANZAC day, 25th April.
We went for a walk by Wainuiomata, Moores valley, near the sreservoir. Beautiful and quiet, and a picnic by the river. The water was freezing but did not stop Joe form jumping in. He was however surprised as to how cold it was!
Of course after that we were good left footers and went to St. Bens, though the Quirke family we notable for their non participation in the cross veneration segment.
Later in the afternoon we behaved like Kiwis; we had a BBQ because the sun was out and because we could!

National icon lands in backyard

A different weekend event in sunny Khandallah. In some respects just like others, as I went with Joe to watch Wellington club rugby. This was a bit different in that the game was played at Nairnville Park, the same place graced by Joe’s cricket and football skills. Sara, Isaac and Eleanor were also present and the players’ bench was being kept warm for a while by a certain Tana Umaga.
The most recent All Black captain, as there is currently a void, and Hurrricanes lynch pin, was playing for his local club team. He has been injured for a few weeks and so was presumably a way to ease back into the action. He came on after 30 minutes and the first thing he did was drop a pass, to the groans and amusement of the crowd.
The game would normally be played at the Basin Reserve, but the cricket season has only just finished this week.
Tana playing for Petone (Pet-oh-knee) would be like David Beckham turning out at the likes of Boston Manor Park, Tooting Common or Lower Staughton village green, and playing in front of a few hundred people, maybe for his old boys team.
Because of the unusual circumstances, there were TV cameras at the pitch. There was the natural “scrum” at the end of the game, with the autograph hunters surrounding the national hero. It did not include myself. He did his duty well and was around little and big kids for a long time.
I did take the video camera, but the footage was ruined by interference in the middle of the screen; not sure what went wrong. Would otherwise have been good footage. Memories will have to do!
He played quite well by the way.
For the record Petone beat Old Boys-University. I enjoyed the game, and there is something to said for watching a game close up and real rather than high up in the stands of a modern stadium.
For those rugby officianados out there, OBU are coached by Dave Loveridge-remember him?

Move over Patrick Moore

The nerd was out in the dark last night. I finally got around to borrowing the telescope from the Wellington Astronomical Society this week, and took it for a test run on the deck last night.
It is a 6′ Newtonian, which will something to the occasional person in the audience.
I found Saturn and was so pleased when it worked. The image was there, small admittedly but palnet and the rings visible-brill. It was not a great night fro the stars as too many clouds, but success all te same. So more nerdy nigths in the pipeline.

Rugby from the sidelines

Today were at Ian Galloway Park for day one of Joe’s rugby season proper. He met his new team. Wests Under 11 “Red” team.

http://www.wests-junior-rugby.org.nz/_home/wests-junior-rugby-home.htm

The coach loooked the team over to decide positions. Joe was prop. He did well few good tackles, took the ball on a couple of times and tried to look the part in those mauls. Scrummaging was on though no push at this level. Lack of fitness told for Joe, and was of fthe action near the end and not getting the tackles in. something to work on.
The oppo was well organised having mostly played before and together. One lad really took the eye. He was a back who could run fast, was a well balanced runner with swerve, side step and eye for a gap at the age of 10. One of those who we will see again?
He reminded me of me!

Rugby from the Grandstands

A trip with older rugby mad son to the Cake Tin to see a top of the table class;Hurricanes v Crusaders, first v second. The place was officailly full though there were some empty seats. Presumably some pass holders can afford to shell out lots of dollars and not turn up to the games or be bothered to pass on their ticket for a game.
Despite the numbers still a low key atmosphere. Is it something to do with the stadium shape and size?
A good game in the first half, competitive, running rugby, fast stuff. The Crusaders always had the edge. Second half lesser quality and “Canes” looked ineffective until near the end. Crusaders just too good. Dan Carter very much in control though did make some uncharacteristic simple errors. Rico Gear looked pulsating with ball in hand and ever dangerous. McCaw cheated as well as usual.
Joseph thought hhe game was not too good becuase the Hurricanes lost! A typical kid -unable to appreciate the finer points?