Category: Uncategorized

Isaac is now on the “concert” trail.
Last night he had his first performance in the school library. He has been learning keyboard piano since February, and so he and the other learners gave a demonstration to keen parents and co-musicians.
The first of many events?

The weather is cooling. Maybe it is fortunate wew are off to seek winter sun.
It was cold last night, especially when the covers have been taken off your back!
The upside was the beautiful clear sky, with orange colours of the sunrise, and the light clouds hanging over the harbour.
I used my Balaclava on the bike today-remember those. Last one I had was green and knitted by my Mum.

Le jeu etait tres mauvais. L’argent a la toilette.

Yes there was a partial family trip to the sporting non-event of the year yesterday. Shaz, Joe and myself dutifully went to the game a the Cake Tin last night.

The stadium was full, and our “cheap” seats were low level, at midway and close to the action.Our view was a little obscured by the Sky tv camera and the players lined up on the benches. The atmosphere was reasonable for NZ and so were hopeful for a good game.
It quickly became apparent that the game was not going to be up to scratch. It became tedious to watch, being one sided so much. I doubt it was much use to either side to assess the state of their teams, and certainly a downer for the paying public. The NZRU , press and everyone and his dog has been banging on here about countries sending below strength teams, and with justification. This “tour” has been a waste, and just sucks money out of the public, mugs like me. It cannot augur well for the health of international rugby.
Last night I felt like leaving at half-time, and spent the second half thinking about getting up early on Sunday morning, to go to work, to try to cover the cost of the “fun night out”-about $270 all in.
I think I would have enjoyed the lie in more.

Not quite a RAF airfield, but a visit on NZ scale.
Monday was the Queens Birthday holiday here-no I do not know why! We went to Wright’s Hill to the site of a defensive gun emplacement built during WW2 to offer protection from the expected Japanese invasion. It has been renovated by a trust and opens to the public on four days of the year. We walked around where the guns were, and through the tunnels and then had a mock battle display. The Kiwis were fighting off aset of bad guys in German uniforms-I think too difficult to get the right gear nd make up to look the part. Anyway lots of bangs and grown men acting like big kids.
On a historical note, work started in WW2, and by the time came to guns being installed the threat was over. Two of three originally planned guns were installed but never fired in anger. One has three test shots in 1946, the other in 1947. They were later dismantled and the guns sent to Japan as scrap!

A ship is currently visiting Wellington, the Esmeralda a Chilean naval training ship with a tarnished past. A beautiful ship to look at, and the public were allowed to look around yesterday afternoon.

Father and daughter had an afternoon date at the ballet, to see Swan Lake
I have never seen this ballet before( I have not seen that many at all!), and it has its”hits” which are good. The swan scenes are great but the other aspects are less good to my eye, and the music less memorable on its own that others I feel. Still, a great afternoon.
A synopsis for those interested.

A controversial trip to under 12 rugby this week. Joe’s team played Newlands, who are only a junior club, and come from the suburb that I work in.
A new sight of rucking the body of a player on the floor in the first half, and with the changing of refs in the second half-incompetence or just cheating? he awarded a penalty for a forward pass from which the oppo then scored a try. I admit, I saw the next fracas from a distance; a punching was alleged, and their best player, a strapping wide as a house lad, was “substituted”. Then to round it off there was a 26 man melee, grappling for the ball and went over our try line. The ref gave the try. Now it may well have been a try, I was too far away to see, but I knew as the play went on that if they got over te try line a try would be awarded. No TMOs at this level!
Not surprisingly, this resulted in one very unhappy coach.

So, it is a while since I last wrote a post, but have been to busy doing stuff. I ahve not been doing interesting stuff like day trips to cricket, but day to day stuff that takes time.
Sport obviously ongoing, though it has been of a variable experience for the clan.
For two weeks I went to watch EQ play netball. She has never really played before, having done other things on Saturday mornings instead of team sports. She is in one of the lower school teams, decided upon after pre -season trials. There was a stuff up on the part of school, and her team was not put in a division, and so has played teams in a series of sorting matches. It has meant that they have played teams older and better girls, and taken some heavy thrashings, other than last week when they had a competitive loss.
Anyway she is learning, and despite the troubles enjoying her time. The exercise is good.
Joe’s team won yesterday, a good competitive game against a J’ville team. They played well and tackling and passing were part of the game. They have lost two games heavily to two other West’s teams, because they did not compete, tackle of show any sign of aggression-important factors. Last week they played wellas a team, but were well beaten by a ream who had a super star in the team, who Sara says was bigger than her, so a tricky person to tackle for the average 11 year old. Jo is doing ok, and we are working on his fitness. Speed I fear will never be part of his lexicon.

I myself will need to work on the fitness side of things before aged body takes me over.

More cheer soon.

Happy birthday to me.
It is the day after, and feeling ok. Another number crunches around the wheel of life.
After a mediocre day at the office I had a fun evening out. Firstly, we went to see EQ’s teachers and be told how wonderful she is,(one even offered to take her home), and then off to dinner and live music with the missus.
Lucky me.

Eleanor hits the teens, and here is a late post about it.
She played netball inthe morning with Mum in attendance. Another thrashing recieved, though I have it on good authority that she played well along with 2 of the other girls, though there appear to be otherwise be a few significant weak links in the team.
In the afternoon it was Mum and daughter shopping time-great fun I am sure.
The evening included atrip top “Monsoon Poon”, oriental food and then a trip to the stadium en famille to see a terrible Super 14 game, thankfully for those masochists, the last of the season for the Canes.
Happy Birthday.