Category: Uncategorized

We still think we are young!

A summer (just)music festival was held at the Basin Reserve yesterday, and we were there.

All the music was hip-hop which is not my favourite stuff, though Sara is more accepting.

We did not arrive on the dot of 2pm, but spent the afternoon breaking the Lenten vow.

We arrived at the venue at 6-30, took in the scene and the vibe, queued for and drank over priced beer and foul chips.

Dizzee was good value, and we did know more of his stuff. Sara was in the middle of the crowd with the ‘youth’, while I held back and stood at the back, to be accused of an undercover police man. It was have been the combination of my age and his drug induced paranoia that lead him to that suspicion.

Wicked!

Keep Tri-ing

The Quirke teenagers were at it again last week, scorching around Wellington’s coastline.They competed in the college triathlon competition, and both volunteered without by encouragement. They did however want my money for the the entry fees. Joe was one of only two people in his school who took part. He pushed himself as he had to do the triathlon, as there was no duathlon, so he had to swim. Swimming his not his strength and 500m in the sea was a challenge. However, hats off to Joe he did it.His time was not near the best time, but he did it so well done. He did not finish last, and the swim was the big difference.

Eleanor participated in the team event, doing the cycle leg. Her team came 8th of 17. She did pretty well as the cyclist,having a better time than the cyclist in the other SMC team-she is proud of that fact. well done to her too.

Next up, the event at the end of March.

A great quote

A quote from John Naughton’s blog discussing LSE in particular, and universities in general, and their need to tap into donor funding streams. The article is primarily about Gaddafi.

“You don’t have to go to the extreme of believing that “behind every fortune lies a crime” to concede that truly untainted money is very rare.”
Amongst other things he writes in the Observer. Well worth a read.

Nervous

Last night there was quake in Wellington, it measured 4.5, but was a way off. We felt it and there was a significant jolt to the house, but only lasted about 5 seconds. It was a topic on coversation in work places today- as the potential implications of events heighten awareness.

Earthquake remembrance

It is difficult to appreciate the impact of the Christchurch earthquake from here. Live is normal, the busses are running, there is water and power and we all still go to school and work.

The pictures in newspapers and tv, as well as the personal interest stories still fail to impart the real effect for those affected. It still feels unreal, in that the scenes you see are ones one usually associates with other parts of the world.

Today there was a national 2 minutes silence. I listened to a trumpeter play “Amazing Grace” in the park across the road, while Eleanor went to the steps of Parliament, where they sang the National Anthem.

Work is involved in ensuring Pacific people in Christchurch receive all the appropriate messages and access the services. So it is a lot of work for those in the communication team in particular.

There is a long way to go for those in Christchurch.

Happy birthday Isaac

So the little fellah makes it to eleven.

Yesterday was Isaac’s birthday, which he seems to have enjoyed no end.

He was up early and opened his presents-cool t-shirt, cool shorts, and a new watch-so grown up!
He then tucked into his birthday cake-merangue topped sponge with lemon curd filling. Apparently, the best cake sara has ever made.

In the afternoon we went to the waterfront to enjoy the sun and picture beautiful Wellington.Mo (MBE of is it OBE?) flew in from the UK for the occasion (sort of).

Dad was the best Dad in the world when he and Isaac had a ride on the peddoloes. Even better than the cake apparently.

In the evening it was dinner for six at Portofino. Eleanor had finished work, Joe has finished cricket, and so both were able to participate. The surroundings were better than the food? Isaac was very satisfied with his lot.

Dad fell down on the job by forgetting the camera-so no pics!