Keado’s Weblog

Another week gone and August in a couple of days.

Training going pretty ok and have a good week – well – that was until Kim & I decided to go swimming on Friday as part of the training. How hard can swimming be, really. I can go out tomorrow and run a 21km race with medium effort. We were warned when we phoned in the morning to ensure that the lanes were open and no booked for classes etc, that the water temp was 26deg instead of 28deg so they had cancelled most of the mornings classes – girls. When we got there the temp was 27deg but they still apologised over and over. Anyway, the water was great – Kim got in a little slow and took some time to warm up but I thought it was perfect. We had one 25m lane to ourselves as there were the full 7 open due to the “low” water temp. I went out normal crawl - easy. After about 4 laps I thought I would join Kim – she was holding a floatation board infront of her, arms out-stretched and just kicking. Something her physio told her to do to strengthen abs section. I took another board and off we went – all smiles. I SANK – promise – I was kicking and sinking at the same time. I know I was moving forward but somehow there was just little power coming out, so I sank. It was ridiculous – Kim thought this was funny. Finally got to the end of the 25m and my heart rate was pounding as if I had just run up a hill - off we go again back. It wasn’t much better but found if I kept my head low in the water, I moved like a submarine or sleek whale coming up for air every few meters. Then, I had a cunning plan – I got yet another stronger floatation thingy and added it to the board, so I had double under my hands. Ha, now I was only sinking from my knees and moved much faster. Even had a better idea as now I was hurting and Kim was loving it – if I push really hard off the wall when heading out, I could gain a good 2 meters ahead of Kim and kick like mad, head below water to get to the other side the same time as her. What fun?

Thursday afternoon phone rings 4:40pm – “hi, where you?” - ”home, why?” “didn’t you get the mail that Jd’s soccer photos are now? - ”no” - ”ok, get him here and we’ll wait”. Meanwhile JD is in the street somewhere, kit who knows where and in traffic we need to get to Stanmore Bay 12km’s away “now”. Mad scramble and JD not in the slightest impressed – sort of well, who cares. Kim flying, me flying and “need to wee – no – lets go”. On the way he wants to sleep, complains etc. Get there 4:55 and as we arrive, “I need to wee”. Run around and lady waiting downstairs for us – you JD – yes – upstairs – shirt on – boots on - JD shirt out / lady shirt in – shirt out - the team waiting neatly in a row waiting. Sorry, have to wait more - weeeee – off we go for a wee. Then get back and he won’t stand with team to walk into photo room, so I walk away and he obides.. half the team in front, half at the back [JD at the back]. “Smile” – yeh right, it’s a tongue, a side face, a wink, a everything but a normal smile. I just said to a mom it’s from his mothers side. The photographer said “thanks for digital cameras!!” After about 15 pics I think he called it a day. Families half hour late leaving, mobiles ringing “where you”, and JD not fussed. Had a little laugh about it later.

Sat – the “storm”. I was a little nervous after 2 days of warnings that this was going to be “the storm of the decade”. Weather geeks were all so excited about the developing low pressure. Sat arrives and so does the wind and rain expected to reach 120km/h later in the day. By 11am it was looking pretty wild out there and what does my lovely wife want – me to go do some shopping for a goodies as a friend was coming over for dinner. I thought that after looking outside she may just settle for toast but no, stuff is urgent, need it, can’t do without it. Into the Landy I fly and off I go – it was actually not bad. Wind was strong but so is the car and drove normally and there was little rain, so easy drive. There were lots of people out shopping and seemed like a normal day. Some had stopped at Little Manly to see the swells/waves breaking at high tide but normal otherwise. Did the shopping, came home and power was out. Came on for 20min around 3 for coffee then out again. Lazy afternoon, went across the road for an auction of one property which didn’t sell and back home. Decided on takeaways for dinner as no power yet and at 6pm on the radio, they said that Whangaparaoa was not being evacuated and civil defence will let people know if that’s necessary and will be clearly identified? What, I was in the car getting food, not much wind or rain – evacuated? Anyway, got back and power was on – nice dinner,kids to bed and settle in for the rugby. Kick off 10pm and just about to kick off and we on the couch and here a “truck” outside / close. Look up and see “red flashing lights” – crap – now? Look out the blinds and it’s the fire truck, lights and all – COMING TO OUR FRONT DOOR. We look at eachother – evacuation??? Open the door and the guy askes “you reported a burst water pipe?” – no – “sure” - yes. He’s on the radio and it was a house on the Rise, around the corner. Meanwhile our hearts pounding, everyone looking out to see what’s happening… They left and we went back to the rugby. It was quiet through the night and all te warnings had been lifted by morning. I moved our 8am run to 10am and did the normal Shakespear 8.5km, little windy and few drops.

On the run witnessed joy of new life and sadness of loss – there was a sheep with a lambs head just sticking out about to be born and 10min later when we got back, it was out and being cleaned, awesome. The sad was that we saw 2 or 3 new ones that didn’t survive the night, along with some pukeko’s [birds].

Lazy Sunday, fixed the bed, some work and looking forward to a good week.

When taking a vehicle through mud, one may expect that you could get stuck – but when you take your son for a bike ride offroad, well it’s not one you would plan for.

I took JD this afternoon to an open area behind the school which they will one day develop houses on. K was at horse riding, so we decided to get out. [picture the scene] I have just got back from a meeting and had smart shirt & pants on but thought I would put his bike in Kim’s car [yup, she always drives Sharky] and drive JD there just in case it rained. So I packed his gloves, helmet and bike, put his new “racing” shoes on and off we go. I wasn’t going to put my smart shoes on so slipped by running takkies – who’s going to see me anyway.

Get there and there’s water puddles and mud – cooooolllll, what fun. “go big JD”…”enjoy”…what’s a little mud when you having fun…”peddle”…”push it”…”this way”….then – Dad, I’m stuck!

It wasn’t mud but CLAY, thick thick thick clay..here he was, in the middle of a wet clay field. It was like someone glued a brick under his shoes it was so thick. Every-time he tried to lift a foot, a massive “brick” of clay was attached. Eventually the clay consumed the wheels & tyres and the bike was stuck fast. Meanwhile I’m trying to get there slowly while a lady & her kid on a walk are having a good chuckle at the picture. As I’m sliding getting closer [in work clothes & takkies], one of JD’s shoes gives up the fight. There he is, on one foot now, the other with sock in the air, can’t move either way and I’m picking up my own bricks under my shoes. This is all in an area about 3 square meters…

Eventually I get to him – hold the bike while we get his “brick” back on and I send him to walk out the shortest way possible. No problem, I’ll just push the bike out, I’m strong – ye right – the bike was going nowhere. Only solution, pick it up out the clay and carry it out..back wheel swinging against my pants, my shoes now weighing a few kg’s more..

It took us 20 minutes to scrape the clay off from our shoes and the bike. We put the clay on the end of sticks and flicked it at things – JD hit the storage container with some good shots. The clay was incredible – formed a thick base on the sides and top of the typre that he was riding on clay, not rubber -the clay just got harder. He went off again the other direction this time and sliding around, through water etc – then, decides to try conquer the clay again!!! “Not giving up dad”…”look, I’ll go 100km’/h”…”no worries Dad”….

He did get through – did it a couple more times but tyres non-existent so decided to call it a day. The two of us full of now dry & wet clay. Needless to say, JD rode his bike home with me following and massive wash down when we got home. Got most of the clay off but big cleanup tomorrow again – haven’t been brave enough to look at our shoes yet. He was so happy – “can we go again tomorrow?..

We laughed>>>

Sometimes we just have to boast and tell everyone that we are “proud parents”..

Kids are now officially on holiday for 2 weeks and are looking forward to a rest.

K is really shining. First, promoted again at swimming and only spent one term in this class. Moving on up and doing excellent. She is a smooth swimmer and not frantic strokes. She glides when especially at backstroke. Then, she was awarded a certificate at the end of term assembly for “displaying high levels of commitment and drive” [teacher said she really pushes herself]. At horseriding, her teacher said she’s excellent – we have rewarded her with some riding gear [pants, gloves, boots, jacket]. Then the school have a programme called “jump-jam” which is dancing/hip-hop/movements for juniors. The school were asked to select 5 year 4’s to go for training so they could teach the school [be the teachers] – they nominated K to be one of the 5 even though she is only year 3 – when we told her she goes “yeh, I know”… What else did we expect?

So, very proud of her. J also having fun – he wasn’t promoted to a higher class in swimming which doesn’t really phase him. I got to watch on Friday again and everytime I look at the pool, I never see him – wait – wait – then a head pops up for maybe a second and down again. Had to laugh as caught a glimpse of the teacher doing a commonunderwater pickup and a stern “J” – then caught my eye that I was watching..a few minutes later she did it a lot softer and closer to his face – right, down again. He’s a bright kid and sits with K and I when we do maths – knows what’s happening and often asks more complex questions, suppose not really knowing what he’s asking but we work through them anyway. K doing 7,8,9 x tables – so the standard 8×7 or 9×5 etc. J asks questions like 7×7/100= or 120/10*5=. So we work through them ans he listens, not really understanding but talking as if it all makes sense.

J helped clean and polish the Landy this afternoon – loved climbing on the roof to clean and then spent some time under pointing out all the problems but sorting them out to be sure. May be going to the dunes again next week to play in the mud. There has been quite a bit of much needed rain over the past 2 weeks so the offroad tracks should be really underwater, muddy and good fun. Had some fun on the open stand on our road and make a huge mess but wasn’t the same. Was going to do it again the other night but decided not to – just as well as there was a large grey cat lying in the glass – could have been a little messy. Then J and I went to collect a pizza on the way home on Friday and did a little sliding on the grass by the parking area. Was going to go into low-range but the last time J & I played we got pulled pver by the police, so rather parked quietly [did notice 2 large tracks in the soft grass when we left-oops] 

We’ve all had a good week, little sleep for me but didn’t need it. Kim should be back to some exercise this week but I’m off until at least Mon 14th. Doc did say I could start but I think I’ll wait anther week to be 110% sure. There is plenty training to be done and want to be strong. 

Had group around Sat night for dinner and rugby. It was a low-alcohol night by normal standards. The fact that Wayne had a little slip on the grass leaving the front door and was half mud-half human was not related. It had been raining and was slippery – he wasn’t the first and won’t be the last. The plus is he never let go of his huge lion-face slippers>