Keado’s Weblog

When I was six, I fell asleep at 9pm ~ well I think that was the last time? Last night, by 9pm, I was in dreamland on the couch after a weekend of go-go-go. Started Friday when I went for a run past the beaches and the sea was slick and just perfect for fishing. There has been a fair amount of wind for the past few days so I was over keen to get out there. By 10:00 I was on the rocks “hunting” for dinner. High tide was 11:38am and the fish were very busy eating all the bait. Caught some baby snapper on the slightly larger hooks but all too small to keep. Then, while trying to get some bait fish, I landed a [guessing] 1,5kg something. The guy next to me [the only other on the rocks] also wasn’t sure what he was. How exciting, my biggest fish to date and I didn’t know what he was. He was dark and very plump and would make a nice meal – but I looked into his eyes – and his into mine – gave him a kiss [not really he had little teeth] and threw him back. Now I had no idea what he was and nobody believes I caught something! But I know the truth.

Then the big one – long cast – hit the water – and boom – line went hard right. What the X/!Z>!.. Three seagulls to the right also getting excited and one thrashing on the water. My first birdie and not playing golf! Somehow when I cast the seagull must have crossed the line going after the bait as they do and got caught. So I reeled it in off the surf onto the rocks where the water was shallow and went after him. Wasn’t going to just cut the line obviously… He wasn’t initially too impressed so I asked the other chap to assist – put a cloth over his body and then he just sat still, calm just waiting for us to clear the line. Think this was not his first rescue. The other chap held the bird while I cut and freed the line. Meantime surf still coming around, my rod now starting to float a little too close to the sea from the rocks, birds beak mm’s from my fingers unwinding the line from his wings and neck, trying to communicate with the chap next to me [99% Asian spot for fishing] – once free I had to save my rod and then wasn’t going to lose the line, hooks and sinker also so caught that line and dragged all back to my spot. That was the last catch of the day – high tide came and went and so did the fish. Anyway had to get back home for late lunch and go-karting at clients office party.

Go-karting was good fun. We all had to sign the usual indemnities etc and one the managers was collecting them all – hand mine over and he pipes up “cool, I’m not the oldest!!” Seems I was the oldest one there, at 38! Tell you what, in a line up, I wouldn’t have won then, so still felt good. Anyway, the bookkeeper arrived and her husband was mid fifties, no I relinquished the title. Position after 120 laps, well last but we got the slowest kart. Still managed to spin and hit some tyres though. Left just on 7pm as “another” street get-together had formed at 6pm and I was getting well behind. So Friday ended after another “beer & barbie” around 11:30pm – and club at 7:30am!

Club officially closed until school resumes but still four of us. I did the 5km with Chris and Filona and Susan did the 8 [while Susan trying to convince Filona otherwise]. K off to the zoo for a friends birthday and JD and I played cars then off to Orewa for Mac’s and just some browsing. Quiet & relaxing, neighbour had a party for his kid which lucky we were not invited to, the only ones from the group – I don’t gel with them really and passed them on to another accountant as I did not want their work, don’t think they appreciated that. So we had a nice relaxing Sat night for a change.

Sunday started quiet and kids played outside so we watched a dvd while I made some fishing rigs – after K wanted to go fishing and who was I to say no – JD wasn’t too keen but changed his mind. High tide was 12:48 so I could take them to the beach / jetty. Caught 2 more little snapper but that was it. Busy on the jetty but nobody really catching anything. Kids always have a great time – K cut her leg on a rock, not too bad but was bleeding, she was fine but thought best to get home and cleaned. It was so sunny & calm there I decided to drop the kids of for a cleanup and hit the rocks again for another go. Got there around 4pm and called it a day around 6 as wind came up, got chilly by the surf and although many people fishing, nobody was catching anything. Called it a day.

Got back to join yet another smaller street gathering for pizza, beer and springrolls but we left early at 8:15pm to get kids home and get ready for a new week. 9pm dreamland!

That pretty much sums up the week. It’s been a relatively quiet week all around except for the lights lighting up the houses. People go to a great effort to decorate their houses with all sorts of lights – string lights, hanging, Santa, reindeer, trees and some other odd looking creatures which only the creator knows what it is. But it makes for a nice peaceful evenings drive to see all the lights around roof tops, trees and generally all around the garden.

There are some who really go to town and actually offer tours of their premises in exchange for a coin donation to a local charity. One family been doing it for a number of years and apparently a world on it’s own.

On the club front, very quiet. My thoughts are that members believe that they are now too busy to get to the club ~ when in fact nothing has changed, in fact, with school coming to a close soon, most sports etc have already ended for the year. Last night we had a sausage sizzle after the run as the last official club day for the year. This was planned 4 weeks ago, confirmed, email newsletter last week and the day before – and still some claim they did not know. Like I say, some are getting busy gearing for the break but doing as much [or less] than before. So we got a small number but suppose, the most important. Kids have a ball – sausage, ice block and candy cane! They were very happy, and very sticky.

Training going to plan but watching a niggle on the left knee – weight training all good, increased combined weight lifted this week Mon & Tues ~ legs tonight. Fishing, maybe Friday or Sat..   

Is it just December that time seems to hit the sound barrier? Sounds a bit like a Superman movie; is it Monday, is it Wed, noooo it’s Friday!!! Although today is Monday, the past few days have been about work, play, fishing, parties, lunch, dinner, exercise and a whole bunch more. Friday was really bad weather but Wayne & I had planned for a day’s fishing, so determined to fish, we got the gear ready – off to the local fishing shop for bait, berley and some goodies. The chap in the shop thought we were insane – 2m swells, 35km/h winds and slight rain, but off to the dairy for some Powerade, chips and a choc for energy and off again to a new spot we heard about in Arkels Bay.

Got to the beach as the tide was going out – perfect for rock fishing. I suggested we just take a walk out on the rocks to see just how bad it was. A little walk took us around the cliffs to the rock outcrop – flat rock, deep surf=good fishing spot!! The wind was a little quieter around the cliffs but the sea was still wild. Should we shouldn’t we. Then I saw a trickle of little stones come down from the cliff face – ah, nothing. Stood around for another minutes and a few more trickles, a few golf ball size, no worries. Then a few more slightly larger when Wayne I looked at each other a little nervously and decided a retreat would be the best call. Standing on a rock outcrop at the side of a weathered cliff face, 35km/h winds and rain – RETREAT. Only about a 30m walk off the cliffs but a few more came to greet us before we were clear. A definite spot for a clear and windless day. Fishing, a no go so back home we went, sulking that a day of fishing was ruined. Wayne was summoned to Christmas shopping and well, another day’s work for me.

Saturday was awesome. Only 4 people at the club but Filona and I did a comfortable 5km. Got home a fishing still on the mind. Decided at 9:30 that although we had a lunch farewell, there was time for a quick few hours of fishing – called Wayne, he got permission, loaded the gear and off to his house to collect him [4 houses down]. He came out a little somber – his wife retracted the permission, not in so many words but one of those “yeh, you go ahead and you’ll pay for the rest of your life” – so, he decided better to keep the peace at home. Off the gear went again but I was off, no stopping me. Had a great time – got a big one on the line – one of those where the reel goes wild – fought him for a minute or two – so excited, my first big one – then nothing, he wasn’t properly hooked so off he went and left me still with nothing but the thrill for the next time. Caught a little something which I threw back [he was ugly anyway].

Saturday was a farewell for the french family, kids played in the pool and spa most of the day. Quite a number of people and they put on a seafood paella for lunch with cockles & other shell fish by the ton – I had peanuts, crackers and chips – no way touching any of that. Weather was still great, flat sea – so while I looked longingly at the bay most of the afternoon..maybe Sunday?

Wind and rain up again [Fiji had a cyclone and we got the tail end] so indoors before lunch at the Kaminers which was really mello and some good laughs. Weekend over but next clear and flat day – “gone fishing”

It happens every year – December “panic”….birthdays, presents, holidays, cash flow, goals, personal mission, guilt, weight, exercise, new ventures, love, stress and the list goes on. People believe that Dec / Jan is a time to relax -why? Do we work so hard for 11 months that we need a month off, that’s just silly. You would have wasted 11 months of “life” to get 2 or three weeks off for what – sleep, relaxing [who relaxes during all the factors surrounding the period?]

Maybe that’s why I swim upstream – December is another month like every other. Yes, school holidays start so more time with the kids, but as for relaxing, fishing, living – that’s for 12 months of the year, not 1.

Had a rest day yesterday and wake up the next day with a sense of “need to train!” Without a rest day, you run the risk of forgetting the “need”. Still, K had a gig at the local shopping centre with her school choir singing a few sings for the public. She was funny – told another mother in the morning she was worried about stage fright and during the afternoon was worried about her performance : Well, stood in front and sang her little heart out, my little songbird. Told her Robbie Williams also gets nervous before performing, so it was alright that she also did.

Woke up early this morning to celebrate K’s birthday – stunning presents and her new “big” bike. She has certainly grown up recently and proud to say very appreciative of the little things that sometimes go unnoticed. Although she wants everything advertised 24/7 on tv, she was so happy with her gifts, big and small. JD got some gifts as well to help celebrate and, well, he’s a hooligan. There is just no stopping this guy – he’s not going to take no lightly later in life which will serve him well. He’ll just have to learn a little patience, something he inherited from [we all know who!!].

Nice start to the run this morning then actually ran out of steam after 4km’s, maybe a little quick out the starting blocks. Early weight training session this afternoon as tea & cake on the menu later.

Where did that week go~just checked at the last post was the 28th Nov! Sorry about that..

The body is now fully recovered and the rest last week has really paid dividends. Saturday morning’s club run went like a dream. Only a few at the club but Chris wanted to do the 8km so I couldn’t let him run alone, so we set off at a comfortable pace, maybe slightly under 6m/km. The trip is around 8,5km’s and as said before, a tough one if you unfit. Chris, I thought was pretty fit but by the first climb, was battling a little. After the steps, then the third of the little climb’s, his legs were a little weary. The final climb up Army Bay took it’s toll and a little walk was in order. Finished in 53min feeling I could do it again, perfect – I knew then I was fully recovered and could assume the normal routine from the new week.

Sat was K’s party and we had 9 girls running around in party spirit. All very well behaved and all the planned games, art etc worked to perfection and everything finished 10min before “collection” time. The early evening was spent playing with gifts and another glass of wine with Christian and family [our French connection]. They are about to leave NZ on the 21st after a year here, next year in Aus and the following in Argentina. They spend a year in a new country with the 2 kids and get to see the country, meet new people and learn about new cultures etc. He sold up a few years ago and now lives off the investment – good people and really living and loving life.

Sunday was fishing day – Friday I did get out for a quick flick but nothing happened, so Sunday was “the day”. Family sorted early and off the the local fishing shops and hit the rocks. Geared up, berley in the water and…nothing. Last time we had a hundred mullets around the berley, this time nothing. The intention was to catch the little bait fish and use for to target the big. Well, when the little ones arrived, caught one and a bird [ones that swim for ages underwater] took the rest – they never came back.

So no bait for the big ones so lucky day for mullet and threw him back. Home for lunch and thought kids may want to go to the pier for high tide in the afternoon. No, they were too busy playing so off I went AGAIN. Local fishing shop and off with a new berley to catch the big ones. Well, the little ones came by the hundred and I never caught one as I didn’t have any small hooks with me! So the little ones got away, the big ones were biting but around the hooks, and left with an empty bucket again. Father & son new to fishing next to me had a great time as they were geared with little Sabiki [5 hooks on 1 line] and were catching quite a few from the frenzy around the berley. Just to see them having so much fun was good enough for me. Another family joined just before I left and again, small kids in their element to catch one. That’s what it’s all about!