Keado’s Weblog

Sorry but have to carry on the saga tomorrow – 21:30 and I need some sleep. Drugs from rock injury still making the world a “wonderful and fuzzy” place. Now you know nothing of the injury yet, now do you?

Watch this space>

Last post 11th Feb – shocking, my apologies.

Suppose the best way to go about this is to venture back to the diary and see what happened. Pretty sure I’m going to leave a whole bunch out and then come back to it, so tough.

The week ending the 15th Feb was busy as usual. Working with the boys at Paramount Tues and Thur averaging 14hour days-leave for the office 5:45am and home around 8:30/9pm. Company is going to go far and still in the “holy crap we’re in business” stage. People are worrying about jobs and we’re hiring.  Somewhere in the week I know I went fishing, probably caught some babies and no dinner, but also know that I had great fun. Changed fishing spot to Army Bay rocks as it’s just more exciting, although can only go 2 hours before low tide to an hour after – otherwise going to need to swim back.

Sunday was Keagan’s surf club – she loves it and so do we – we get to spend the morning on Orewa beach, swimming and basking in the sun. Sat afternoon we went to the Kaminers. They moved to Stanmore Bay after the house in Red Beach they were renting was sold. We hadn’t socialised with them the whole of 2008 ~ always meaning to get together and thn life gets in the way. We had a great time and so did the kids -except when Keagan showed how to do a front somersault on the tramp,over did it, landed on her feet and bounced forward, head first straight off onto the grass below- we all went white [well, whiter] but she was fine. They showed off their hand reared cockatiel which took a liking to me and wouldn’t (a) leave me and (b) bit anyone who wanted to hold him. Apprently has never taken to anyone like this and usually just pots around – there we are, at the dining room table, with a cockatiel walking all over me.

Last week was usual Tues & Thur working, some fishing Mon I think. K’s horseriding going fantastic – JD started basketball and had his first game on Thur – training Tues. They apparently kicked butt and won 3-1. Pretty professional stuff, uniforms and everything. K also has her swimming which ended after 10min this week when a boy was sick on the side and in the pool – according to K he had rice for lunch. They had to close a few lanes…

Supper for me now so I’ll take a rest….so can you..refresh that cuppa

Into our 3rd year in NZ and it finally had to happen, 100% humidity, well somewhere between 98% and 100%. The temp overnight averaged 32deg, we’re blaming Aus. Having windows and doors open made little to no difference. Kept the fan on most of the day which at lease gave some “air”. The offsite office doesn’t even have the luxury of a fan, great!

Kids back at school and getting slowly back into a routine. K is in the digital class with only 18 kids, so nice and small. They have the use of the latest Apple Mac’s and in week two, starting Powerpoint slideshows. JD has an ex-SA teacher that’s know to be, as JD puts it, “strict but fair”. He really respects her and is enjoying himself. Nice to have a teacher that wants to teach him, not be his mother.

JD is down for soccer and basketball this term and K, well, swimming, art classes, horse riding, netball, triathlon, Jnr lifesaving.

Sunday she was finished. I took her 8:15am to do her first full practice. About 100m swim, 3km cycle and 2km run [think]. She went full on in the swim [walk/swim/walk/swim], then onto the bicycle. I could already see that she was hurting a little on the cycle but she was determined. Onto the run and she went well for the the first 500m and slowed, then walked, holding her side. When she came nearer us, went into a run again but 100m down, walked. She said she was getting a stich [does get them..] With about 500m left, she looked like she was hurting, so made the decision to pull her off – she held me tight, in tears, she was finished and hurting. Sat her down with juice and after a minute, she regained her breath and was fine. Just the excitement of the whole thing and her determination couldn’t match her current fitness – not that she’s unfit by any means. It was just something new and she wanted to perform like the others who had been doing this for a year on &off. They are all doing a triathlon on Sun and this was their last training session – this was K’s first.

After that, we went straight to Orewa for Junior Lifesaving training. She was tired on the sprints but still came 3rd, 3rd, 2nd, 2nd and 1st in 50m sprints. On the lying down/up/sprint/dive for stick/back – she’s was 1st,1st & 1st – some bigwig was there and told the head honcho of Orewa to watch K and another boy as they “got it” and were naturals..”some kids just get it”.. He even came over and coached K quickly one-on-one and had a chat to me.

Into the water for sprints & boards and eventually, an hour and a half later, all finished. We spent the rest of the day with Lee & Carmen on the beach for a picnic, swimming and collected a bag full of cockles.

Sat, day before, I had a long morning fish [nothing] then had a late lunch at Groblersdal before the boys packed up for a few games of pool at the local. I nominated myself as driver..there were 7 of us and we had a ball. It was a long weekend and the place was quiet for a nightclub/poolhall and normally no vests etc after 9:30pm – we [they] spent so much on the tables and bar that the manager allowed us to stay, no shoes/shorts/vests and all. Eventually left around 00:15am so not too late and everyone behaved.

Finally got hold of Hylt in Melbourne – I was getting a little concerned as there was no response to email/skype/txt for a few days but they all safe. The fire camewithin 4km’s of their home before they evacuated – lucky the wind pushed the other direction and all safe.

Only 85% humidity now, so not too bad

One more day – one more day of holidays and it’s back to school.

There have been parties, both adults and kids – beach – swimming – fishing etc. Today was no exception. I thought it was going to be a stunning morning so after a late fondue at Groblersdal, I set the alarm for 5:20am and once flask was full with coffee and the peanut butter sandwich made, I was off. Low tide was 6am so knew at Army Bay there was only 3 or 4 hours fishing time before the tide came in and it would be a little swim to dry ground. Got there and heavy cloud meant that it was still pretty dark. After the walk to the “point”, it was a little lighter but the day wasn’t turning out as predicted. Wind came up and some spitting from somewhere – looked around the dark every now and then to check the source. Wasn’t great and got a few bites but only babies – so back home by 7:45. The street was still asleep and I was back already.

Kids were up and after a good b/fast, called Lee to confirm Lifeguard training at Orewa for K – so by 9:45, we were all ready to rock ‘n roll for the day. It was her second time and she’s really a natural athlete – they get divided into groups of around 12 – she won her group beach sprints. Then 2 dads stand in the surf as “bouys” where they first run through the surf, around #1, along to #2 and out - gets to about shoulder depth – then around, grab “boogie board” and run/paddle to #1 – around to #2 and out. The group divided into 2 and she blitzed them both – first in both heats. I was in the water as support “dad” ensuring everyone was safe.

Jd was playing in the sea having a great time. Oh, before I helped, 4 of us went for a beach run to the end and back -cool-said hello to the beach house again. Stayed there until 1pm playing in the sea and at the park, basking in the sun. The sea was Orewa’s best – high tide, flat and little wind..

Left there, quick Mcdonalds drive through and off home for a siesta. It’s coming to school time so told the kids that when home, we’re closing the blinds and we are ALL on the bed for an afternoon snooze, around 2:30. K lasted 30min and I sent her to draw – Kim, JD and I woke at 4:20 – knackered. Coffee, some work and I promised Jd a ride on the beach, so dusted off my bicycle and the 3 of us cycled to Shakespear – first down to Okoromai, along to Army Bay and back to Okoromai and home. Funny trying to ride on the beaches with slicks..people looked at me very strangely but we were laughing so much, don’t think we cared.

Eventually home for a bath, dinner, reading at 8pm and in bed 8:30…9:22 now and think they are out - I know I’ll be sleeping early tonight. Who knows, maybe a fish in the morning?