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Yesterday was the national day of remembrance, as explained on a previous year.
We did not attend the dawn service this year, as I was earning down at the afterhours centre. At home, Sara at least, was watching the themed television programmes. Isaac would need Nintendo to put out an ANZAC game on DS lite. Going to work at 8-30 was a little eerie, as the place was so quiet-more so than a Sunday. Shops cannot open until 1pm, so I presume so people have not ventured out of the house, or those up early have returned.

Back from work at 2-30 and Dad was raring for some outdoors activity, so a family walk was on the cards. We went for a new venue that we have had in mind for a few months. It is the circuit for the Gutbuster run that Sara and I considered doing earlier in the year. Check out the route and the description-it does not do it justice. The start was walking to the top of Wright’s Hill, which is where the old gun emplacement is that we visited before.The undulations were certainly steep and required a lot of effort. It would be a killer of a run to do, a real challenge and may well do it next year, now knowing what is required. We had a picque-nique under the wind turbine that was well deserved, with pork pie, crisps, and disgustingly unnatural cakes for the children. We all knew we had had a walk, some more than others, but all did well, and aching limbs, a sure sign of a worthwhile afternoon.
After a shared bath with a beer, the parents were out on the town, with me paying the bus fares in! Good chat, though a disappointingly average curry. The live music did not eventuate. A pricey taxi ride took us home.
So, all go in the house of Quirke!

Hello, long time no keyboard strokes to fill you in on the ongoing saga of a Khandallah clan.

Autumn has arrived. As soon as the hacks got back on the jet plane, the sun went away, the southerly wind came and the heating has been on. The clocks have jumped and the world is darker. Though nothing like 3-30 in the afternoon in December up north.

It is currently school holidays. As such the delightful ones are being entertained. As I type, Joe and Isaac are at basketball holiday camp in Newtown. Shooting at the hoop is their new sport. Joe has been angling to play for ages, I suspect mainly to have an excuse to add to his polyester sports shirt collection. Isaac has been encouraged by one of his friends and by her mum, who is a basketball “nut”. Both have taken to it at midweek hoop club, and now we are looking for a new hoop, back board set-up for the garden. They start playing matches next term. More ferrying to enjoy.

Eleanor is out shopping with a friend. What else. Though to be fair, yesterday she was in the role of carer and did a fine job. Dad was at work, and Mum was in Dunedin, on a day-trip for work.

The Hacks were in “God’s Own’ during the Easter school holidays. We met up with them initially in Queenstown. No mean feat! The drive from Wellington was somewhat longer than we had obviously appreciated when first looking and agreeing. A day there, and day back. However, two days in the bright warm sunshine of Queenstown, and the warm glow of the Hacks made for a good time. I took the old camera, and took images on transparency film. Totally screwed exposure;not sure why, and so only one out of thirty any good-not a good hit rate in anyones’ book.

Hope all goes well.

As I write it is 30 minutes to the start of play on day 5.
Joe and I were in attendance on Saturday and yesterday.
We arrived during the lunch interval on Saturday, and bathed in the sunshine, and watched on as the Blackcaps toiled, and England were thorough, but not exciting.
Sunday the weather was not so good-chilly, and with strong southerly wind to add to the chill factor. We had a better position, sitting behind the slips, so enjoyed the action more . I alsp had my binoculars in hand for close up viewing, so all that was missing was my chequered blanket, and thermos flask of tea, to make me look like a pensioner.
There was plenty to watch-lots of spilled chances on England’s part. Joe enjoyed his trip I think-he used the bins as well.
Here’s to a win

57 minutes-47 seconds.Yes that is the much improved time for Sara for her 10k run last Sunday. One has to bear in mind that it was a very windy day, and an undulating course. So a good step in the right direction. The training is ongoing. Our next event is in April.

The new opening bowler?

Hard at work


Steve Harmison holding the willow in case it helps his selection-it did not.

Took Joe out of school to watch the England team practise today, and see the team doc also, of course.
Nice day in the sun, and good to see the lads close up-for me or for Joe?

So, I finally watched Isaac, just before season ends.
It is certainly a differnet game played by eight year olds compared to twelve year olds-one forgets. One thing for sure is slightly less off the 12 year olds cry when they are given out. Isaac was in a group of two-maybe a worrying sign of not “caring enough”. The kids had good fun, though I am not so sure that could be said of all the parents. the parents of Isaac’s team were relaxed and the coach was calm. The oppo were the opposite. The coach was constantly on the pitch, or shouting from the side. He and other parents were questioning the decisions-even though their umpire was giving them. Strange stuff.
Then after my coffee-very civilised, went of to see the latter stages of Joe’s game. Very slow akin to NZ-England-though quality of batting higher!

Been lazy of late, as life goes on. Obviously, Wellington awaits Rat with expectation, though maybe not the team.
Cricket for the boys continues, and we are still on for a record-playing every game of the season. So far not a single game has been lost to the weather, with three more to go, and tomorrow will be sunny.
Joe’s team lost 2 weeks ago -all asleep, whereas last week back to form with an easy win-lots of runs and bowl oppo out in 15 overs with the weakest player bowling 4 overs. Joe chipped in with a wicket in his two overs.
Isaac’s team losses most weeks-Sara tells me because they can bowl properly and so at his age means the batsmen can actually hit the ball, rather than when the boys bowl it along the floor. Anyway, tomorrow I will see or myself, as I am going to watch Isaac for the first time all season.
Eleanor continues to have the summer off and so has organised a trip with her mates for a cup of hot chocolate.

Sara is doing a 10K run on Sunday, hoping to beat her time of 59 minutes at the city of wellington 10k we did a few weeks ago. I managed 49 minutes, but cannot run this Sunday as I am helping with the sacramental programme that Isaac is doing this year.
Catholicism is running hot currently! Still keeping up with Lenten vow-though could easily have broken it today after a shite day at work!

More soon

Come on a quake ! Get real-these are the shaky isles. I’ve had worse quakes for breakfast.

The major fault lies at the bottom of our garden!

No worries!

The weekend saw an important visitor the the city, Cunard’s latest monster ship, which I understand is to replace the QE2, currently on its final journey.

We had good views from the deck, and used the bins to see more closely.

These cruise liners are becoming increasingly common, and good viewing for us.