Keado’s Weblog

Couldn’t think of a title for the past week – don’t think I remember too much of last week anyway.

What’s happening..my back has been irritating the crap out of me. Mon it was bloody sore again after the weekend and had to wait to Tues for physio. Went passed the doc afterwards and decided on some x-rays to rule out a more serious injury. Hell, if Stallone can do it in Rocky, why shouldn’t I be able to do the same! Won’t be doing those bench sit-ups again in a hurry. Anyway, x-rays all good and doc said back+supporting all in excellent shape, what he expects from me anyway. He continues to stress how healthy and strong I am at 39. Been doing the exercises and another session of physio & feeling better. Where as before it was impossible to sleep for longer than 3 hours, now no problem.

K continues to do well at netball and there team won both games on Thur - even beat the year 4 team – they are year 3’s. Swimming and horseriding added in during the week – and yet she’s continuously bored. Jd on the other hand isn’t doing any external sports yet, other than his bicycle and skateboard.

Our guests have had a quiet week and finally 1 interview for Sheri – Gustav has yet to get a bite – all in good time. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a 2yrd in the house and do I miss those days – yeh right. He’s really good natured but he’s still [almost] 2 years old – Jd started acting up a little to get part of the attention from Kim which has been sorted and we’re now very conscious of spending quality time with K & Jd.

Drinks Friday – Sat “tea” at Alison’s for Shelby’s birthday – we left around 9pm as kids had a long day. G&S put there one to sleep and went back for more “tea”. The family all went to sleep and I watch the Rugby League final between Aus and NZ and boy what a final – after 54 years & the first time in the history of the cup, NZ beat Aus 34-20. After the awards etc it was now after 1am and G&S still not home. A peak through the window and could see all were still chatting. Just about to start dozing when the came back 1:40am Wasn’t long before I was up again at 6am to watch the Wales NZ rugby test which was also a good game, which yup, we won again.

Alison’s took G&S to Auckland City for the day, so we had a peaceful lazy Sun – kids put the christmas tree up, lights and decorations. everyone in the street has been hard at work, so why not us? They had lots of fun and very proud. Disney was also happy she had new things to play with. Did some work, kids played everywhere – went for a well deserved nap for 2 hours from 1-3pm and when Alison’s arrived back, a quick coffee and mounds of cake [had to finished the lemon meringue, rich dark choc fudge cake, choc biscuit brownies & tart! A good end to the week.

Shakespear last week Thur was great. The weather was perfect – sun, slight breeze but not too hot. I went with K’s class and Kim went with JD’s. We had a walk through the waterfall gully in the park up to the lookout for a sausage and apple. Kids had great fun. Walked back, played some more and got back to the school around 2:45.. K had lots of energy for the day and had netball afterwards- go,go,go.

Fri afternoon we went off to the beach with everyone, even Kim. We went off Te Harui [Shakespear] Kim stayed on the grass though but we all had good fun. Kids swam but I went about to waist and decided that I’d wait another week or so for the seasons first swim. Fri night was the usual drinks around the table with the Alisons – quite one,promise.

Sat out shopping and showing new Kiwi’s around. Sat afternoon was Wayne’s birthday so [another] party at his house – barbie-beer-babalas. Wasn’t too much in the drinking mood like the printer boys – even sneeked off for 30min to watch my fishing show – priorities. We even left our guests there and troop were asleep early – if early is 10:30pm. I heard some leaving at around 1:30am – called Grandad [he has 3 shuttles in the area and is on call 24/7 to drive people home - comes with combi & second driver to drive your vehicle home].

Sun was a lazy day – cleaned the car, read but by the afternoon it was too sunny to stay inside. Kids were getting ratty so threw them in the car and back to the beach. Left guests and Kim at home and we were off. So funny – we saw a baby pukeko [birds with long legs] – it was trying to hide but legs gave it away. Must have been a few days old. It was low tide-massive beach-2x launches & 2x yacht in the bay-blue sky-clean water-paradise. Kids played and played – JD had half the beach up his nose when we got home.

Got home at 5 in time for a quick bath/shower and off for leftover at Alisons. I’m not the best for food but Deb’s makes a curry from meat leftovers which – man oh man – awesome. Then, she made choc squares / brownies which I melted and added some vanilla ice cream – holy crap! Satisfaction – almost had a smoke afterwards…

Forgot, Sat morning I picked Deb’s up and took her shopping – the night before Wayne had a brain-wave, whiskey fudge. She can’t say no to me and so convinced her to show me how to make. Therefore, the early morning trip to the shops. I had to have an early morning whiskey with my coffee just to make sure of the quality [it was JW red so really didn't have to worry]. Fudge was brilliant – I couldn’t taste the whiskey but non-whiskey drinkers said there was a slight taste – the kg+ tin of fudge was toast by the next day – I only had a few pieces..

This week – should be some excitement…

Tues was such a stunning day that after physio, couldn’t resist the temptation of going to the rocks for a fish. Gustav was more than keen and after a refresh of some bait, we were on the rocks by 2:30. We weren’t the only ones that were keen – there must have been 20+ along the rocks, seems not many were keen either for work.

After around 1,5 hours, we decided to go back, collect the families and fish my the marina where they could all play on the grass. Oh, no we didn’t get a fish or a nibble for that matter. Collected all and went to the marine, Kim stayed at home to cook dinner – she didn’t skip a beat in that decision. K lasted about 15min ”I want to go home” and JD a full 30min – he just wanted to swim but it’s too dangerous as just rocks. Needless-to-say, no fish and a small dose of stress from the kids. Still, blue sea – blue sky – no wind – boats,boats and more boats – awesome.

Took K to horse riding this afternoon while Kim was in Manakau with MAF sorting out the unaccompanied luggage collection with G&S [Gustav & Sheri]. They had sealed baby milk powder and after the China scare, MAF had to check the product. If K actually stopped talking for a minute, she might actually learn something. She talk consistently when riding and when she should be listening – I thinks she gets so overwhelmed that she is actually there and wants to take it all in. She is starting to cantor now and is very nervous that the she is going to fall. They did a little trot-to-cantor and back 3 times – she was beaming – and talking throughout of course. The trainer just talks above her even while she’s chatting… Quite funny as the trainer has a PA system linked up in a arena and reverts to the PA to get above K’s nattering…and then there’s a giggle when she forgets to switch off.

She was brave and got through it - had to bribe her with an ice cream.

Tomorrow 10km walk into Shakespear with the school for the walkathon – going to fun – went last year in June so lucky this year going to be warmer.

Blue skies lately and fish are coming in – time to get out there again.

The guests from SA arrived last week Tues [00:30 Wed morning] after the usual 2 hour SA delay and then missing the transfer in Sydney, another hour delay before arriving in Auckland. It was 2 years ago that Kim & kids did the exact same trip 14/11/06 – and mom of course – still have the txt on my phone “we have lift off”. They have settled in and started the job hunting yesterday – going to have to get used to rejection and the joys of having to sell yourself.

K playing netball now and won player of the day at their last game on Thur – 2 goals. She’ll be a good centre-very quick and her ball skills have improved. She’s always battled a little with ball skills and JD often far better, now she’s really getting there – practice.. Her swimming is also going well - we practiced her diving in the holidays and Kim said she was tops on Mon with diving, so all good. We all went to the leisure centre on Sun afternoon for a swim and they had the obstacle course on the water – JD got so excited. Lucky Kim took my togs as because he is underage, I have to be in the water watching him. He’s 100% confident in the water but it’s the pool rules, which are all good.

They had so much fun. Liam fell asleep on the way there but woke up in time for a little swim in the bbay pool. The physio said I could try a swim as excercise but lasted about 15m and my back & neck was in a spasm. At least I am able to sleep longer than 3 hours just a little uncomfortable. Have physio again today and later in the week – going to take some time to get the back loose again and to get rid of the after effects of the pleurisy. Not training at all which isn’t good for the brain – going to ask if I can at least walk..

Fri night was the Alison’s here [again] for a quick drink which ended at 1am – Dylan was there to show Wayne the way home – ok, not that bad but was good night. Sat more of the street came for a barbie – I wanted to watch the elections but was shouted down – had to wait until 11pm to watch and at least got the last hour of the counting – eventually got to sleep 1:30am after watching interviews, resignations and more.

We’ve decided to hold off on the lifesaving until next year, so Sun morning was a quiet one. No club run, no golf, wasn’t quite sure what to do. Wind was heavy so couldn’t go for a fish – there was a full 2 hours when no kids [somewhere in the road], no guests [they went for a walk to the marina to watch boats] – Kim watched tv-I read the latest fishing mag and had a little nap = so cool.

Once a year there is a major event – Wayne cuts his hair. For the last few months JD has refused to have a haircut to look like “uncle Wayne”. Well, every year around his birthday, he has a haircut – pretty short one. So, now, JD is ok to cut his hair “like uncle Wayne”. This afternoon, the locks will be coming off for summer – watch this space…

Welcome to November>  Pretty quiet start to the November..

Week was a standard work-school-activities-nothing too exciting. Friday I went with K’s class to TeriTeri which is a bird sanctuary island just off Shakespear. We caught the ferry 9:30am from the Gulf Harbour Marina and after a quick 12min trip, we arrived at Teri. Myself and another father had 7 kids in our group with a guide – I think the kids lasted 45min before “I’m hungry” “when are we eating” After the third special tree and yet another Tui [bird], they were bored. I said if they don’t behave, we’ll head back to class – in my day that would have been enough to shut up – these kids “cool, then we can play on the computers and kill things”..ye right.

The guide eventually half gave up stopping and showing – we finally arrived at the lighthouse to join the rest for “morning tea” i.e. FOOD Enjoyed the rest of the day walking on the island and left on the ferry 3:30 back home. Didn’t have much time to relax – Halloween

Kids were all dressed up and ready to roll by 6:30 and off we all went. After about 5kg’s of sweets each – we decided to call it a night. Lee, Carmen & kids joined us for dinner and a few drinks – quiet night.

Sat was a late start to the morning – K went to horseriding in the afternoon and I took JD to Orewa for the Silverdale Fire Brigade show. Helicopter stunts, water, boats and of course the annual set-a-car-on-fire stunt. This year they also demo’d cutting a driver out a car, roof and all.

Got back in the afternoon for drinks at Alison’s house with Leana & Quintin – lets just say that the quiet afternoon ended a little late. True to form, we went earlier than everyone else but funny night. Deb’s got up at 3:30am to take Q to the taxi for the Auckland half marathon and then her and Leana went to the city at 7am to watch. I was up at 4am but went back to sleep – enough torture not being able to run and didn’t feel lile going and watching.

Sunday was a stunning summer’s day and after a full bacon & eggs family breakfast, we had a traditional Sunday morning, paper and orange juice. I even lay flat on the outside table basking in the sun. Fruit lunch under the brolly and late afternoon drinks with Alison’s and Birley’s to end a mello weekend.