The passage of time in Wellington and elsewhere
Birthday boy today.
Very excited this morning about being the focus of attention and the presents to come his way. So far, a new basketball as he has just started playing, a magic set to confuse us with, The Amazing Race board game following on from watching the tv show, and lovely cash courtesy of Uncle Mike and Auntie Tina.
Of course Mum produced a fine made cake-yum.
So, a funny old weekend.
Joe’s rugby cancelled as it poured down overnight. Super 14 final ruined as a game and spectator event by the all enveloping fog, which of course would not have happened if it had been due to play in Wellington.
A Sunday trip to the club followed by Confirmation session for EQ.
Then parents did their gardening stint to spruce up the place, and felt all the better for it afterwards. This was followed by a walk at Oriental Bay and a “well earned pint”.
Middle class bliss?
Back to the knee then.
Saw the bone doctor yesterday and arthroscopy booked for June 29th as long as ACC approve. ACC?-essentially an alternative health and support service if your problems are accident related. I did mine intially sailing, then a whole ot worse when I went running and knee went “squeeelch!”
I certianly cannot run at monment and even walking is limiting, and pain at night…….
So a bit of repair to the ageing body.
The most worrying bit of seeing the man yesterday was how he noted the muscle wasting around my knee that I was not aware of.
Sara’s biggest concern was that I was not wearing my best pants.
Rugby was not rained off this weekend, so trip to Ian Galloway Park to see the U-11s do their stuff, which in the first half was not upto scratch. This was noted by the coach
at his half-time team talk ” as individuals your are playing well, but as a team you are crap”-no punches pulled then. And yes they were crap; poor tackling, too many “lone rangers” and trying to run around the other team, rather than straight. A better “second 40” (actually 25 minutes), saw two tries to our one, better team work and commitment.
Lots of shouting from sideline involved the usual “tackle”, “run straight” and “keep up with the ball”.
Joe apparently suffered some “stomping”. Someone stood on his achilles in a ruck.
A good Saturday morning.
Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me…………..
I bet the postman(woman actually) is dreading taking all those parcels and cards to our house today.
Goodies so far-Arctic Monkeys CD, U2 collection CD, a book “The Silk Riders” about a trip by an NZ economist and his mates who drove BMW bikes tracing the route of Marco Polo to China, and a pair of Bart and Homer slippers.
Can’t say fairer than that.
Or a trip to ‘cup of tea ” island in some peoples’ vernacular.
It was a trip orgnaised by the family group we belong to through St. Ben’s.
These are monthly events to make for social contact.
So off to the island via Paraparaumu beach and to an island that is a DOC reserve.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/Explore/001~Other-Places/008~Wellington/Kapiti-Island-Nature-Reserve/index.asp
All pests such as rats and possums have been eradicated to allow the native bird live to flourish. So the bird life is varied, plentiful and keen to interact with the visitors.
We walked up to the top of the island despite the knee(more later I am sure), taking an hour and half to the then look out from the top into mist. There was nothing much to see!
Down we went (not good for the knee), and the children played children stuff on the beach.
A fun Sunday with a little detour to Waikanae for beer and fish and chips.
Waikanae appears to be a great place for the stars being small, flat and much reduced light pollution.
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.
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.
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!
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!