Author: telboy2

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!

Summer sun and sport

I think it is worth highlighting a few items from the merry-go-round weekend.

  • Sara came out of her dungeon and is “free” until feedback is received on her writing
  • On Sunday afternoon we enjoyed a BBQ and pool party. Obviously not at our house as the pool is not on the horizon. It was a scorcher, and must have been 25C
  • Saturday as cricket day, and was it Isaac’s best yet?After a diappointing start with the bat, he bowled three good overs giving the batsmen plenty of trouble. He took a wicket in his first over, had two other chances dropped and ended with 1 for 3. He also executed a lovely run out with a direct hit from square leg. His POD certificate was well deserved.
  • Joe’s cricket team had a “rum old game” being bolwed out for 75 but taking the oppo to 7 wickets for their win, with Joe also throwing the stumps down for a run out.

The sunshine continues, and all are happy!

Cruise liner season

I have just watched this baby dock from our window. The Queen Elizabeth looks massive even from this distance. From the Dom Post:

“she ship cost more than US$360 million to build. As tall as a 21-storey building, its 12 passenger decks feature nearly a dozen restaurants and cafes, two outdoor swimming pools, an 800-seat theatre and a two-storey library with about 6000 books.”

This time of year is a parade of ships arriving, with the numbers increasing each year. Oh the maritime life.

The Worker

So Eleanor is home, a fact that I have managed to overlook in the last two weeks since her return. Maybe that is because she has been so busy with school and her social life that it seems she is still not around?

She returned from Germany having had a great time, and was treated very well by all concerned. She made new friends, and experienced  grandparents. It cannot be all bad when you have a day trip to Austria for snow boarding, a week away in Switzerland for snow boarding and a  and a journey from West to East to experince Berlin. On her return it was straight back to school

And now she has a job. She is a waitress in a local cafe. She has done one proper session, and will be earning the minimum wage.She is already moaning about the tax take.Where did I go wrong?  Maybe it is not surprising given the benefits of working  the baby sitting  black market.

Teenagers  having a job while at school is much more common here, but care will be needed that there are enough hours in  the week to fulfil all her responsibilities. Including the washing up at home.

Blow me down

This morning Joe and I were up very early to participate in the Scorching triathlon series. However it had been raining since Sunday afternoon and was not looking good when we left the house. By the time we reached  Scorching Bay it was decidedly unpleasant. The rain was very heavy, it was cold and the southerly froze the bones.

We decided not to participate as waiting an hour to start our events, then being active, then having to wait about an hour before we could leave meant we would have died of hypothermia. As it happened were were not the only ones to leave.

Then this afternoon Isaac had cricket practice in blazing sunshine, and we have just finished sitting on the deck, lapping up the late rays, before dinner.

“four seasons in one day……..”

The country file (phile)


This is a holiday weekend in the Wellington region, hence the ability to enjoy a bumper selection of events.

On Saturday Sara scratched her seven year itch-we made it to an agricultural show. We chose th better of the 2 days to go; the weathr was much better, and the wood choppers were active, as well as the show jumping.

The axemen (women) were excellent, a fascinating talent, which Sara spent most of the day watching. Most of them were big blokes, but also fit with great endurance. The better ones managed to swing with great speed. The competitions were handicapped, similar to have a golf handicap, based on previous success. There were even two competitors from Austria and England, over here to improve their skills!

The show jumping went on all day. The horses were fantastic specimens. However, looking at the equipment on show, competing in these events appears to be a horrendously expensive sport.

Sheep dog trials were part of the action, though it did not seem to compare with “One man and his dog”.

We walked around the sheds to see the varieties of sheep, pigs, cows and birds, and watched the judging of the various categories.

A beautiful day, and I am sure will be keeping in touch with our country side again.