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The final result 40-0 to Manly, an emphatic victory, with the storm never really in it, as the score might suggest. The second half was a try feast, with even “Beaver” scoring in his last game.

 

A Sunday of crucial fun -the Grand Final of the National Rugby League is today, featuring the Manly Sea Eagles, and the Melbourne Storm. Neither team is particualrly loved in league circles, Manly as they are perenially accused of poaching other team’s talent rather than developing their own, and the Storm, I think partly becuase they are out-of-towners, but significantly because of the “grapple tackle” furore. They are accused of  after the tackle stuff-yanking at the head, elbow, hands in the face on getting up again, all the sly stuff. They appear to do it more, and with greater method than the other teams. It has reached fever pitch with their captain and an important player-Cameron Smith serving the second of a two game ban for the Grand Final. He got caught doing an unmistakable head wrench as part of a ‘tackle” two games ago.
Anyway, Manly are favoutites in a predicted close game. I am not so sure, as they lost to the Storm when playing at home about seven weeks ago, when they had most of the game, but as one may say, they “choked”. Certainly Matt Orford “went missing” as he is accussed of doing for the big games.
It should be a cracking game, I hope so, as last year, these two contested the Grand Final, but it was a one sided let down.
It will be less fun watching as none of our main teams are in it. Sara has five “favourite” teams, North Queensland Cowboys, the Brisbane Bronocos, and the Gold Coast Titans-the Matt Rogers connnection. All are Queensland teams, as we are of course from there-well lived there when we “discovered” Aussie League. Then there arre the Warriors, the NZ team that the Aussie  commentators perenially dismiss until they got to the last four, beating the Storm on the way-do not ask! I do not have the time or energy to explai the “finals” format. Suffice to say, it is not quite like the Premier League  or the FA Cup. Her fifth team is the South Sydney Rabbitohs, a bit of a sad, loser outfit in recent years but they do have the Russel Crow connection.
Myself other than the Broncos, I go for the Bulldogs, through my original admiration for Terry Lamb, a previous star and tough-as-old boots veteran in 1994 when I started watching. The Bulldogs are not admired, as they seem to be the team associated with sexual scandals more than others. This year they have been poor, with the exit of quality players before the season started, and then the controversial exit of Sonny Bill Williams to French rugby union.

Anyway, I am looking forward to the game, but we are out for the afternoon to walk and play and not watch hours of build up courtesy of Channe 9. They do however have the great commentator, Ray Warren, of course referred to a ‘rabbits”.He even featured in the last 12th Man CD.

The clocks have changed, so now when the sun wakes me up in the morning, it is not quite so a ridiculous time. Of course there is more light in the evenings, and so I have just mase the most of it. I have been for a run, very sow, and painful as have been out of the habit again, however, does this =mean i am back on track?
Also, I have cut the grass, the first time in months. It was so long, and I cut so much, I think I may have to buy some carbon credits on the international market!
    Now sitting on the deck, the harbour looking good, the city calm and the sun in my face, before it sinks behind the hills. Ah, I knew there was a good reason for being here.

Joe was in on the performing act on Saturday-he represented the school at a Kapa Haka display. He has been doing this all year at school, one of the many white boys and girls participating in Maori culture.
No photos available as I was not able to be there as I had so many other things to do!

The major ballerina in the house was participating in the annual performance of the ballet school, with some of the show done in conjunction with another school. The practices have been going on for weeks, and very intensely in the two weeks prior to the big shows.
Saturday night was the big night, and the boys and myself were in the audience. We watched the early grades do their stuff, with Eleanor and the older girls being helpers. Then it kicked into the older girls performances. It certainly looked like ballet and proper dancing. Eleanor was very good, and I particularly liked the “Les Patineurs” dance.
Of course, just to squeeze in a little more pressure Eleanor had an audition for the associate programme for the New Zealand ballet school-something like that anyway. She was not confident afterwards, and did not like the pushy kids or pushy mummies. That’s art I suppose. we will find out in due course if she has been successful and has the opportunity to have special lessons with the school.

A great weekend with so many events to fit into the schedule. The big one was Isaac’s First Holy Communion on Sunday morning. Isaac was very excited and the day ranked right up there, just behind Christmas and his birthday.
He looked like a cool dude, with his patterned white shirt, black trousers with sparkling new black shoes, everything nicely finished off with his black waistcoat.  A special Saturday morning shopping trip managed to track that down.
    The whole event was great and went smoothly after their rehearsals to make sure they knew when to move and where to.
    Joseph did a great job of reading prayers from the lectern, and positive comments were made to him afterwards.
Mass was finished, and it was time for the nominated photographer to take the group photo and individual photos of 32 children, all with in 30 minutes. A somewhat pressurised job, reasonably performed.
    Then off to Ngaio town hall for the feast. Joe and Isaac tucked into their respective tables, and I was to tense to eat.
Lucky me received wine for doing the photos and for being  a parent tutor during the group preparation sessions-me!
    Since it was all done Isaac has been very reluctant to remove the fashionable waistcoat.

Last night watched great episode-Midnight when the Doc is on a holiday park and goes on a shuttle tripAn “entity” takes over another passenger and then makes him powerless.Great acting as the “entity” copies speech and learns, and so copies everyones voice, and talks in synchrony with them. The fear of the other pssengers, who to trust and how to rspond-who is the danger and should they be sent into oblivion. Great echoes of “The Crucible” and “Lord of the Flies” I think.
Such well written and acted stuff.

So yes it is down here. The sun is out, the wind and rain are gone, and so it feels like a day worth celebrating.
It is a special day, as shown by EQ attendance at Mass, with the rest of us.
I enjoyed my cooked breakfast, though did have some concern as the smel of coking wafted throughout the house-why did we spend so much on that extractor?
My presents are great-recent Dr Who DVD, plus a John Pertwee one also featuring Sarah Jane! Not that the children had a bias in choosing Dr Who items!
anyway, Let the sun continue, as we head off for Oriental Bay and a ride on the crocodile bikes-only take us 5 years to do it.

Hi everyone, Eleanor here.
You probably already know, but i came second place in a competition for german.
On Tuesday, the whole family went to the prize giving and i came 2nd.
I got a book and a certificate.(:
The books in German, and i don’t really understand it.
Also, Mum and Dad were really impressed by the guy who came first, and said that i have to beat him next time..
I will try!(:

It is time to be positive about the world. The Kiwis will tell you that Spring starts today, being dependent upon the convenience of the first of the month. I think most of the world works on the basis of the solstice and equinox, so awaiting the 23rd of the month. However, as we have had a run of a few days of sunny and dry weather, it makes one think things are on the turn. It has become apparent that the sun is having a greater impact on our house with some more entailing heat. The lounge is warmer in the morning soon after sun rise, and the deck is having some sun rather than just shadows later in the day, as is the kitchen. We sat outside and enjoyed at the weekend.

    Bring on more.