Category: Family

Auckland trip 

So Joe Sara and l are here for game one.

After a good win against the Maori NZ team last week and a solid performance and win against a weakened Chiefs team, we arrive with confidence of at least a competitive match ahead.

So a rushed get away from work to the airport yesterday then with a bit of a delay. A long trip on the bus from Auckland airport was followed by a good meal at an Israeli restaurant. Something different but good.

Now fun and shopping today before the Warriors game.

Momentous time

Catholic school board fees- the final invoice.

As Catholic schools are partially outside the public schooling system they have to pay for the construction and upkeep of the school buildings. As such parents are expected to pay school board fees that pay back loans for these activities and cover the insurance. So we have been paying these for the last fourteen years. The final invoice arrived and has been paid. Isaac won a prize last year which cut the bill in half -so less than usual.

I am sure the money will disappear in some other way to support his studies in future.

Round the Bays active family

Last weekend was the annual fun run and serious run in Wellington. In total about 10,000 people participated; about 2,000 each for the 10km and the half-marathon. Eleanor and Joe each did the ‘half’ while Shaz did the 10k.

All did well with Joe and EQ running in less than 2 hours and Sara beating last year’s time by a bit. Joe was possibly more comfortable at the finish than Eleanor. Good stuff by all concerned though.

Sven was in the crowd cheering on heartedly though maybe too American-like for me. Isaac was watching too as he apparently does not like running. I had planned to run but again the body showed its vulnerability and injuries to the achilles and calves proved to be limiting.

Maybe in June I can have a go if the body improves? Maybe the old man needs to fins something more suited to later years of life?

Lesson One

Isaac earned his learner’s licence today and so we had his first lesson in the Fiesta.

Automatic transmission for him to make life more easy and a succesful lesson of about 25 minutes. Until the next….

Christmas

So today is Boxing Day. The intense festivities are over and today is more a relaxing day, winding down after the consumption of food and drink.

We went to Midnight Mass at the cathedral in Wellington. It worked very well. We arrived after the beginning of the carols when the church was nearly full. So we sat in the front row; the one that everyone leaves. The carols were good, the service was good led by Cardinal John( who will be involved in the choosing of the next Pope-himself? You read it here first). There were musicians and a choir to provide a good atmosphere. Such an improvement on the St. Ben’s experience from a few years ago.

The only problem with Midnight Mass is the lateness of going to bed particularly when you cannot sleep. Excited? Or too much coffee late in the evening?

Christmas Day was organised as ever with Sara doing lots of cooking to provide the traditional feast with roast turkey and ham. Sven was around to enjoy the offerings. Of course there were the multitudes of presents to be opened.

I even spoke to Michael. All good.

 

Boxing commenced with a decent lie-in. Much needed after the day before and followed by a family run from Kilbirnie to Oriental Parade. An easy stretch of the legs or Sven, though less so for the older participants. Joe did well.

Festive season

It is December and the season is well under way.

Today in town was the Santa  Parade and street activities. Or  was yesterday the parade? Anyway there was lots of activity along Lambton Quay as we were trying to do a bit of shopping after our run along the waterfront.

More importantly is was the Messiah yesterday evening at the Michael Fowler centre performed by the NZSO with the Tudor Consort choir. It was intended to be a family trip but in the end Isaac went off to Melbourne this week to visit a friend and Eleanor went to see Swen in Auckland. Dave and Michelle took their places.

As ever I enjoyed the performance but there were  few differences from other times. The choir seems relatively small in numbers and were positioned at the same level as the orchestra. I think this made their impact less than usual and reduced the power effect. The arrangement was perhaps different- no ‘ to you a child is born’ and new sections in the third section that I and not heard before. At one point two of the principals were singing together! Not seen that before.

It is now 10+ times we have see the Messiah. We will certainly keep going. We have seen a variety of performances in a variety of venues. Yesterday’s was not the best but certainly not the worst.

We will need to find somewhere very different one year to give it all a boost.