Keado’s Weblog

Kids been on holiday this week and actually been without too much drama. Haven’t heard the usual “what we doing today” for most of the week. Not sure if it’s whether we are keeping them busy or it’s more about “them keeping themselves” busy. K’s friend I call “Caramal” moved into the road last Sat and other than sleeping at her house, has been here during the day. I have found myself on two occasions in the house with 4-6 kids of various ages from the road - watching dvd in the lounge, video’s in the bedroom and art all over the house - and NOT a mom in site. I think they actually set me up and all ran to “do something”..

The other dads are at work and Mr Mom here has the reigns – never mind that I am actually supposed to be working for a living. Drinks, food, more dvds etc etc – K has been doing a lot of drawing/tracing etc and getting quite good [another artist?] and JD the usual skateboard tricks & bicycle wheelies.

We’re down to one car at the moment which I hope to have resolved on Tues or Wed next week – not saying anything until the deal is done – let’s just say that the price has been negotiated and now the bank has to hand over the dollars on Mon – yes, kept to the budget!

Fri was a public holiday here, ANZAC day, remembering the soldiers lost in the wars and no soccer today for JD as official long weekend. K at a friends party today – went to movies, then tea ["tea" is NZ for dinner] at McDonalds and sleep over. She called around 9:20 to say goodnight – she hasn’t been successful the past few times sleeping out and we have collected – so lets hope she does ok. It’s 9:42pm now and >>>

No fishing yet!!! Spoken to people who have gone out and the fish are still biting big time – very frustrating and seriously thinking of dumping the friends I have and looking for some new ones – ones with boats. There is NO WAY that I am spending another year waiting for a lift on a boat – I’m shopping and there is one with my name on – just not sure of the delivery date but it’s coming! I may go to a new spot on the next few days – the weather today wasn’t great and tom morning is supposed to be heavy until late afternoon – maybe Monday.

Sun morning 8km tom – going to be wet and windy – bring it on. On Wed there was nobody at the club due to holidays, clouds and a easterly blowing [ie cold] – so I went home and had a 40min run on the treadmill. Tues I took Dylan for a 5km run and the rain came down for about 5 min during – so awesome and you really feel alive. Said to Dyl “this is why we are here, for this!” Thursday afternoon “chief” came with us. He’s the 9 yr old son of JD’s boss – also wants to improve endurance fitness for rugby and his dad said he must train with us. He battled through the 5km’s but strong will and always smiling.

Too late for a movie on Sky tv – think some work to keep the mind focused and look forward to another day in paradise.

It’s sad to say but summer is over. The Southern winds have started to come up over the past few days and well, it’s cold. The blanket is over the bed and Kim is iching for the hot blanket but seriously not that cold. It’s been such a long and stunning summer we have forgotten what a cold day is.

Sat morning was soccer time again and JD didn’t fail to impress. His buddy was on the other field [the team of 8 split into 2] so on his own this time. We have a new recruit from Africa and lets that’s where I’ll leave it. Ok, can’t but don’t miss SA one little bit. I could feel the blood boiling all over again and although I tell the kids to never say the word – stupid comes to mind. Then there was another family supporting their boy on the apposing side and they “praat die taal” all the way. You can travel just so far….

Anyway, JD is good for around 10min then looses interest a little. He does what he has to do but don’t think it’s fast and challenging enough for him. He gets the ball anywhere on the field – I’ve taught him “turn and go” and “keep the ball close” – and that’s what he does. The other team also had one good player and that was the other saffa – JD scored 3 and the other kid scored 3= 3-3 draw. In the team huddle after the game, the coach awared the certificate and trophy to JD for “Goal Excellence”. He was so chuffed – then I showed him that he also gets another prize attached to the certificate – a free McDonalds hamburger. The expression! Mouth open, hand over mouth, eyes wide – he was “like wow” – he had just won the lotto.

The rest of the day was helping the Birleys move from around the corner to the end of our road, about 1km but the new place is larger and now they are part of “the road” – think we are now 12 or 13 families in our road.

Sat night Pesach. K did some pictures if the plagues and got out the animals etc, her special “All about Passover” book, Kim polished the silver [better believe it] – it wasn’t a five course meal but a close 4 course. Alison family joined us this year [last year was the Nagtai's]. I printed the seder from the internet and we did what we could – JD started with the four questions and K read the story of passover [with a little help but she reads excellent]. JD was falling asleep so we hid the afikomen during dinner – Shelby found it and the usual little tears “I wanted to”..but they all got a prize. Really nice for us and the kids.

Sunday morning 8km club run was cold! Didn’t think it was when I went out but midway got cold. We go up into Shakespear so nothing to block the wind in the hills. Took the kids after lunch to the launch of the new section of the marina which was too busy – kids played a little and waited and waited for face painting – then gave up. So ice cream for JD [surprise] and smoothie for K and friend and off home.

Kids on holiday from today so really late start to the day – only getting up after 7 and think breakfast was at 8:30 or 9. Going to work as best we can but kids are going to want to do things – hopefully get to do some fishing soon!!!

Finally had some rain on and off this week but looks like it should clear over the weekend – we’ll toss the coin and see where it lands.

JD had his last day at kindy on Wed and they made a fuss over him. Lots of hugs and chocolate cake – we collected K from school and all went to fetch him. Must admit a little lump formed when he was saying his goodbyes and last hugs, waves to other kids. I let him have a last go down the slide that was totally wet from the rain – bit of good fun.

Wed nights club run only Jade and myself on a 5km run. My quad tender after last weeks training so suggested the 5. There seems to be a lack of commitment from members at the moment and I’m going to have to try get people back. It’s darker at 6pm now after the end of daylight savings and seems people have gone into hibernation.

Thur JD had his BIG school visit. There were around 8 kids all starting on the 5th of May and JD super confident – helps that he has spent so much time at the school anyway, so nothing new. He was taken to his new class to meet his fellow students and teacher. She seems cool and patient but stern. He sat in front while they read and stuff – had his hand up when she asked questions and at ease standing up and showing stuff on the board. No worries with him for next term. We left him there from around 9:30 to 11:00 while the parents had coffee, a chat and a walk around the school – I wasn’t paying too much attention but had some fun interrupting the kids during the classes.

When they went to morning tea, we collected him and went to the office by his uniform – very proud. He woke up this morning 1. Hey, no school tpday!! and 2. Mom, have you ironed my uniform!! x 3!!

Anyway, K went to school on her bicycle as a treat on her last day with mom – a first.  JD on the computer, Kim vacuuming, me off to a meeting – loving life!!

Slippers arrived just in time – weather has decided that it’s time for summer to step aside and winter to roll in – was almost 17deg over night last night – getting chilly. Ok, there was a northerly blowing from the tropics but it is getting cooler.

JD had soccer on Sat morning and his first official practice and game. He is such a confident little bugger and not afraid to “stand up” to the task. His team of 8 got slip up into 2 sides, side 1 & side 2 – he’s in side 1 of course – and they get to play the red team 4-s-side. The kids are all 5 or turning 5 – he is really good I suppose from practicing at home and in the passage and keeps the ball close to him. He’s got a mate now who is also good, maybe a little older but the two of them basically took control of the game. JD would get the ball where-ever on the field and head straight for goals, even if it meant heading onto the other field or initially his own.

He scored 6 and his mate 6 – we had to move them into defense to let the other two get involved – that’s when the other team scored, too busy chatting in the goal mouth. It was so cool that when either scored, it was high-five’s and thumbs up. I asked JD to let one of the other little chaps on his team score – so he literally takes the little guy with him, while he’s got the ball at his feet – the other team getting in the way – scores and pats the guy on is back and says “well done’ – comes to me – daddy, I scored for him – that was his goal. My boy!!

Huge crunchie after soccer to end a good morning.

I was trying to remember the rest of Sat but honestly don’t know what we did – think we stayed at home with no visitors [not likely, sure someone must have visited] and did some work but not too late. Sunday was our 8km club but only three of us – weather blowing but lucky the storm came and went at 7am – we off at 8am. Nice way to start the day – then I think I watched the Masters [oh, did that Sat after soccer until 12pm], some chores and Wayne/Deb + Lee/Carmen + kids around for lunch. Didn’t feel like drinking so just 2/3 JW’s with some coffee, then 2 Jagermeister with beer, then Kim brought out some vodka-jelly in all colours, shapes and forms – headache material. We all had a great day – K had a dance rehearsal for what I don’t know yet but I’ll be there – so was dropped off in the afternoon. JD and other kids we hardly heard – really chilled and mellow afternoon. Kim made an awesome Thai green-chicken-curry and red-beef-curry which we had for late lunch, and dinner..

So, another week starts – watched the Masters final round all morning and only started the day afterwards, around 12:30 then into Orewa for a meeting – home for dinner at 6 – kids reading at 8 – computer now and my reading sometime between now [11pm] and 01:00am – Kim I think upstairs sleeping. She tries so hard to watch tv but once she gets horizontal – shame.

We’ll get to the mad cows soon..

First, it was Kim’s birthday on Friday 04th and awoken to a candle, muffin and happy birthday choir. I couldn’t find the birthday candles [can't find anything in the kitchen anyway] so found a mini Shabbat candle. Then tried to put into a mini-muffin Kim baked a day or so before which didn’t go to well – the base of the candle was almost as wide as the muffin. It was before 7am and K & JD woke up to assist. After one crushed muffin, I skillfully carved a hole in the next target and neatly placed the candle. This is the morning after trying to wrap her presents – shop looked at me strange when I asked them to do it [got attitude - men!] Before the muffin could break into pieces again we headed off to wake her up. Success.

She spent the day shopping, pedicure [phones to say her feet feel great - I said I hoped after that she wasn't bloody walking on them], hair colour back to normal [goodbye blond hopefully forever], she may have done more, not sure but the usual drinks in the evening with the “road” to wish her. Quiet evening as the party was the Sat.

Saturday morning JD was up in a flash – soccer. We laid the kit outt he night before and he was dressed and ready on time. All met at the grounds 8:20am to meet coach etc – they had a run and kick around and next week, 20min training and 40min game. One parent coaches the side, think around 8-10 kids – next year will most likely coach when I see how the whole thing goes. Don’t think I will be as soft as some of the dads – adopt the Colin Shaw approach although won’t give JD such a hard time as he gave Nick.

We got back and prepared for party time – the “road” & some imports strolled through from 4:30ish. There was the Super 14 on during the evening [Hurricanes Vs Sharkes] so we had that on. I think we are all still shattered and scared after the Easter parties so was very mellow and under control. A few people over endulged and lets just say half a bottle of Chivas Regal was the nightcap. Daylight saving ended 3am morning of the 6th but we changed it back party night to get another hour in. Instead of ending at midnight, we only ended at 11pm..get it.

Sunday was the Striders 8km, moved from the Sat, and apparently I didn’t look bright and breezy. Greg Woodd had a nice laugh as he is normally the one on a Sat morning under the weather. There was five for the 8km run and we went off at an easy pace – I had thoughts of where I was going to hide but after about 4km’s I started feeling human again. One new guy who is getting into running, so we helped him along the route – thankfully, some time to slow down and re-group. Felt great afterwards and glad I got out there.

Sunday was supposed to be chores, and for the most part it was. I was still trying everything I could to get rid of the “squid bait” smell in the car – washed, scrubbed, vacuumed – eventually through some cheap perfume that K got from soemwhere and added some deo that I don’t like. Did some other chores – there was lots of meat over from the night before so Alisons came over for some lunch – chatting – a beer - another beer – ok, one more. Stunning Sunday afternoon on the deck – sunny & warm – too good to let it passed. They huddled off to other Wayne for afternoon tea to meet a relation. There was still so much meat and Deb told us to make a stew - ye right. I looked at Kim, she looked at me and went, dustbin. [This is all getting very predictable even the keyboard knows what to write next]. Deb came back early evening to make the stew and the families all had dinner together. What was left of the JW Black was finished with coffee – one bottle left!

Now, to the mad cows. I think the farmers had something when they complained that the extension of daylight saving would adversly affect the cows and milk production. It takes some getting used to – sent the kids to bed Sun night with a stern “it’s late, you should have been in bed 30min ago” to be told, but dad, it’s only 7:30 – oops. Didn’t look at the time but it was dark out there. Then, Mon morning JD was jumping on the bed, ready to start the day at 5:50am – his internal clock told him it was 6:50 – K followed a few minutes later. Yesterday morning the same.. Kim all confused as getting ready to start dinner and it’s only 4:30, not 5:30. At night it seems so late but only say 9:30..

Save the cows!!

Oh, also big news – JD lost his first tooth yesterday!!!! The same one K lost before she started school. He was so proud and after loosing it twice – once on the grass [great] and in the kitchen, finally put it under his pillow.

My birthday present just arrived – bye… 

Not much happening here, just work and school – thankfully. After the few weeks we have had, “the road” has settled into some quiet time and all working quite hard actually. Strange as that may seem but we all putting in some hours.

Looking at getting a new car – left the bait in my boot for 2 days and lets just say it isn’t very pleasant. Also, time to move away from the little boy racer – need something to tow the boat. Started shopping for one of those also as come June, they are going to be flying for a song. Will go for a 5m aluminium boat that is light and I can beach when launching / bringing in. Don’t think Kim would be impressed if I asked her to stand in the water holding the boat while I park the car and offload the goodies. Just don’t see it happening – in fact she told me it won’t be happening.

Makes sense also when taking the kids so I can do all myself. All this and never actually been in control of a boat! Actually, not totally true, I did row a rubber duck on our marlin trip. Cars looking at – Jeep – Pajero – Land Rover: leaning more towards the Jeep or Pajero.

Anyway, JD has first day at soccer Sat morning – Kim’s birthday tomorrow, party Sat – so should have more to report later.