Hairdo's,exams,photos

Samuel in his new work uniform and new hairdo below photo was the before look of old hair.

What a mad dash in the last few weeks Samuel has passed NCEA level 1 with a Merit endorsement already with just his internal exams he is only 30 marks away from AN EXCELLENCE endorsement so should get there comfortably his teachers say!! ?yay all the relief of that and the stress is off him he is wrapt I am thrilled to bits..... now he has external exams coming and has a great study schedule going..

2 weeks ago he got a HUGE pay rise and lost his job all in one day $100 for 4 hours work but at the end of his shift they don't need him anymore ( it was 1 month off  2 years working for them), they have employed new fulltime staff and are using the saturday hours to bloster the new employees hours no drama, Samuel finished closed door walked over to COFFEE house had a 30 min interview started work last Tuesday after school training and Friday after school last week worked Labour weekend and is now working weekends school holidays and public holidays!

He got a new hairdo and colour OH the life of teenagers what a blast wish my parents had been cruisy like I am then I wouldn't have been such a madam! some before and after shots eyes closed is the before shot.

He loves his new job and the bosses there knew him from the sushi shop and said he picked stuff up so fast they were super impressed, said it's easier if the have a little knowledge and not too many bad habits.

I have been working extra for the last month my boss had major knee surgery and I have picked up an extra 10 hours a week work I KNOW come xmas I will have earned my 10-12 days off IF I GET any holidays!

Ciao Blondie

I'm such a useless mother!

I forgot to blog my babys 16th BIRTHDAY on Sunday, but when you read what we have been doing you will understand SIT down and get comfortable this is going to be a long haul post!!!
June 2012 all things going swimmingly then HELLO wheels fall off and where we were staying was untenable ( a prodigal son returned  AN UNWELL prodigal son!), me and Samuel were desperately looking for new digs and IT HAD to be like within 48 hours we ended up bunking down in a friends rumpus room for 3 weeks until we found somewhere it isn't ideal but it will do it is close to town and school.

July is exam getting ready month and Samuel like all first time NCEA examers was studying hard out like they do WHAT I HEAR you say some students ok a few students keep on top of things Samuel is one of those. He has as of today 74 credits internally already you only need 80 to pass so he is well and truly sorted before external exams and is relieved most of the pressure is off. HE has applied himself really well, and has been to Mon/Tues/Wed/ after school turtorial and Thurs lunchtime... for the last 2 months+.

That's inbetween Kapa Haka, Karate and fundraising, although some of those have been buttoned back a bit to concentrate on studies.

So we packed and moved twice in 3 weeks had to find A household of furniture and start from scratch NOT an easy task when you need everything!!!!!! And it has taken this long to get things I have been garage saleing to find things and some bigger items were gifted to me a small fridge, a secondhand washing machine, i even needed cutlery, bedding, towels etc etc etc.

Samuel had Karate nationals the week before internal exams he got two 2nd places, and MOST improved and BEST technique trophies from Takahashi (Sensei from Japan), it was a Thrus/Fri/Sat/Sun then the Monday that's when the exams started! Samuel ate twice as much that week went to school every morning with a FULL cooked breakfast to tide him through.

Kapa haka has had most weeks one or two Powhiri and fundraising Hangi, the group is doing all our towns Powhiri for Citizenship awards, last week they had on the Monday, am Powhiri citizen ceremony 11am Primary school Powhiri yr 7/8 welcoming, 2pm Powhiri, Taupo Youth awards Powhiri 7pm!!!! then WED Hangi to prepare 300, Thurs Tuwharetoa Festival performance, Thurs 200 Hangi prepare for Friday festival lunchgoers!! This week the group are performing at the School Sports awards opening the awards ceremony and we have only one other Powhiri I CAN'T wait for the holidays.

We are in fundraise mode, the downside is I can't go this time as the cost is $4000 per person so that's too much for me and Samuel to go I don't have the earning capacity to fund that much (thats with fundraising taken off it's about $6000pp) or a partner to contribute, BUT I do my bit for the entire group and the kids it is all about them at the end of the day they are the ones performing at the cultural festival week long then 7 days holiday plus 2 days travelling. I am however looking for more work or more hours to maybe get myself A MUCH earned break I am tired, well over tired, and even if Samuel goes I can rest here without him JUST won't be as warm!! I just don't think I will make the 12 months until I get a break.

Why you ask? My silly boss went skiing and 3 weeks ago tore 3 of the 4 knee ligaments, he needs major surgery BUT they won't operate until swelling goes down and A RESONABLE movement level returns, I inbetween all this have been Driving Miss Daisy!! mail errands, chauffering etc, when he has the operation I will more than likely have extra hours there  14 week recovery then physio then rehab etc then after 6 months MAYBE it will be right, BUT until then no biking driving skiing trailbiking tennis sports and he did all those things!

I am thoroughly looking forward to school holidays.... lie in a little even.

I do hope everyone has been keeping warm and sane!

Ciao
Blondie

The show was fantastic.......

The production was fantastic opening night amazing MY SON stole the show he pranced and danced as a specialist dancer flinging arms legs and SMILEs a mile wide, his portrayal as the EDITORS wife classic, his part as the 2nd leads mother priceless, his walk on PIMP PART was memorable BUT as the EDITORS WIFE he was delightful, a group of people around me said who was that boy and how well he danced an dlit up the stage I was sooooooooo proud, he never has showed an interest in drama or performance BUT after last nights show he rocked it...... First picture Mrs Luce, 2nd picture he is the male partner of girl in yellow skirt, last picture he is far right in green sequins as one of the PLANT evil helpers!!!

Well its nearly winter!!!

THE RAIN gosh have we had rain phew, we needed it but not that much!!!
Samuel auditioned for school production and got 4 parts A specialist dancer, The Dentists mother, Miss Luce the flirtatious editors wife, and a pimp!!!!!
For the last 7 weeks practises have been Tues Thurs 3.30-8.30pm, sun 10am-6pm,  and Wed 23rd is opening night Sat 26th final night Im going 23rd and 26th. On top of that he has had karate one night a week, kapa haka one night a week, work on Saturdays I have one very tired muchacho!!! And throw in 3 internal assessments cross country ERUPT festival (here in Taupo for 10 days) and the kapa haka kids have had a few performances there, and then the drama and dance kids have gone to workshops there and I have one very very tired muchacho!!
THEN the biggest news is we have confirmation of HAWAII trip Aug 2013 12 days and we are competing at the Pacific Indigenous Festival. 30 people $120,000 later!!!! But its fundraising on a very large scale Hangi $2000 per hangi, Performances $800 a time, Monster Monster garage sales, and community events we will marshall at be the gophers anything they want us to be runners helpers we have a 3 day conference and we are the kithcen bitches for 1000 punters. We will do anything anywhere for anyone shift houses clear land we have on other occasions planted pine seedlings cleared paddocks tree pruned etc etc etc.

Oh and I have to work on me BIKINI body that i do so I ordered me $300 walking shoes but bargin found them on trademe for $60 YAY so walking it is and I have 60 weeks to get to sorted........
I will no doubt have photos to add of the production. Samuel gets to go the "Naked Samoans" tomorrow through school lucky barstard.
So heres to the fundraising LONG HAUL ...............
Ciao Blondie

Pictures (self explanaory!)

Here is some pictures of the NEW hairdo and some of the Japan clothes more pictures later as I need to go to facebook to download pictures of the trip and not shopping!!!!! They had such a ball and he loved Disneyland, he cried at Hiroshima, absolutely loved Miyajima shrine island he went to Kobe all by himself on the train, and HAD KOBE BEEF as a last night meal with hist family!!!!!!!!!!!!!! spoilt huh...

Whoop Whoop me baby is home.....

After a long night due to a psychotic OTT mother (one of the boys in the trip mum), me lad is home he came home with $1 in his pocket in yen and $40 NZ dollars he had an absolute ball loves it wants to go back and is tucked up in bed we have unpacked bags, put on 2 loads of washing, NEW JAPAN clothes sorted and hang up he even bought shoes!!

Back up to the OTT mother and my shite awful day, I was due to spend the day in Auckland shopping, BUT my stoopid bosses husband hadn't told her I had askled for time off she had organised hospital appointments as he was away, and I was the back up or No 2 plan!!!! I started at 9am finished 4pm arrived Auckland 7.30pm, had my favourite dinner WENDYS setttled in for a supposed quite night BUT NO caught up with an old flame up in AKLD visited a lot of old haunts and had a ball!!!

Arrive back to my motel at a reasonable time cellph starts ringing and texts at 12.30am 1am, the SAID mother couldn't find flight details and WHY was their flight not on tracking schedule she hit overdrive did I have the Japanese agent numbers, could I ring, can I check etc and it was still going on at 1.30am, I finally turned my phone off and text back I NEED SLEEP, I get hold of AIR NZ to find their flight number had indeed changed flight delayed by 4 hours and then another hour they finally touched down at 1.45pm!!! instead of arriving 8.25am A VERY LONG DAY.

I am tuckered out and drained but elated to have me son home. He had so many stories and this happened and this happened, he cried at Hiroshima and loved the Shinto Shrine Island, ENJOYED all aspects of the food, had Kobe beef on the 2nd to last night with his host family!!! The girls at the girls school SCREAMED CHEERED and chased them everywhere they EVEN had their own SAFE PANIC ROOM!!!!! They the host family are very wealthy and he got spoilt, wants to go back again soon and wants to even maybe to an exchange............

He has lots clothes 4 shirts 2 jacket things jeans and shoes, little gift things I got beautiful chopsticks and a ring holder fabric one, he got nic nac things for his friends.

I am now heading to bed I am very tired myself.....

One happy muma.

Ciao
Blondie

Facebook is great really!

Heard from me boy via Facebook, having an amazing time but a few facts he is WAYYYYYYYYYYY to tall for the toilets has to duck to get in!!!! He can buy a coffee super large for $1 and a MEAL for $1.60, there was about 2 million people (teenagers) at their local hang out MALL WTF thats insane, they are shopping up a storm he says the NEON lights at night amazing the food great people everywhere people on every train, mall, street noise LOVES it went to Disneyland yesterday TOKYO absolutely LOVED THAT........

What a life eh.

Me I'm BBQ fundraising for Karate Nationals did Sun/Monday doing Wed/Thurs then Sat/Sun of last week school holidays ............. then no more BBQ's unless of course Samuel decides no more trips (somehow I doubt that eh!!!!!!!)


Ciao Blondie (oh and I have only eaten 3 marshmallow little easter eggs good eh)

Konichiwa and away he goes....

A neat day travelling took our time 2 stops for food and drink a toilet stop 5 hours total motel OK, very handy to Airport 4 mins, nice nice PUB downstairs lovely pub meals early early to bed.

Up at 2am downstairs 3am Airport 3.30am check in brekkie coffee, they departed 5.30 flight 6.45am NZ Time arrive Tokyo direct 4pm NZ time 6.30pm Tokyo time, I went back to Motel had nana nap, shower then on the road traffic not too bad, 3 stops one nana nap at Hamilton university 45 mins, another stop at Putaruru at State Insurance Driver Reviver station, FREE coffee FREE muffin, FREE sausage sizzle that was nice arrived home 1pm, changed over vehicles re fuelled ready for return trip (I'm doing this all again in 2 1/2 weeks), emptied overnight bags, put washing on AND put my PJ's on and am NOW relaxing!!!!!!!! at 2.30pm.

Total amount of Trip after last night and refuelling $6412 AND NO muma did NOT cry, yay.

Have a very Happy Easter....

Ciao
Blondie

5 more sleeps yay.

BUT SAMUEL has the FLU/COLD he has been home Thurs/Fri and he is being dosed up with panadol lemon honey drinks strepsils, lemon ginger tea WATER and REST sleep and general slobbing he was sooooo upset he doesn't wan't to be sick in a different country I said unless your arms and legs are amputated YOU ARE still going!!".... Mean eh!

Well we are packed everything in the pack and day pack and a little room to spare, BUT I had to buy 2 more short sleeve polyprop tops $40 and a lightweight parker $30 (last years one too blardy short!) Snow has landed in Japan so they have to take polyprop or thermals !!!

Bought $20 worth of extra toiletries (tissues wipes hairspray and an umbrella first one too big!) they have to carry tissue packs FOR toilet paper there is no paper in the public toilets!!! Ewwwwwwwwwwww

so new running TOTAL $6292............... bought the presents Samuel got a $50 petrol voucher from friends and a 25c fuel docket so thats our contribution to travelling up costs.

Oh and on a side note Samuel is 188cm tall he has grown 5cm since December 4th!!!!!!! He also has new hair colour black fringe front and sides and bright red back and top and black base neck area and side tail LOOKS amazing!! Will take photos of that too today.

Nice

You know I will have loads pictures and that I will miss him terribly!!!

Ciao Blondie

18 days to go YIPEE

Well we are well in truly down to the last few days and I just need to get 3/4 pants and the medical letter to travel with.

Although there has been a few more earthquakes and little Tsunamis it is WAY WAY WAY up North far away from where they are headin.........

The original price per trip was around $$5437 now WITH all the incidentals and add ons and little things you dont think of ACTUAL COST of trip $5982!!!!!!

Samuels pack was paid for by my employers, he received $450 in donations from Whanau (extended family) ($200,$100,$150) we have had BBQ's every month for the last 10 months we have bought on special where we could, and the jandals and scuffs were half price the pack was 70% off the NORMAL retail shoes 20% off power adaptor money belt locks 60% off I got $490 NZD in yen was $30,000, 2 weeks later $490 NZD in yen now $33,000, we might get another $170 worth of yen to cover the first 2 days rail travel as they have moved there 9 day pass to encompass their huge rail trip down to hiroshima and the Shinto shrine ISLAND stay overnight with an old school japanese shinto festival, with only boys going the teacher is taking them to the Movie place where the REAL McCoy kung fu, karate and samurai movies are made (I have probably already said that), Samuel is beyond excited he has worked so damned hard for this trip and I KNOW he willl absolutely love it Tokyo has 68 MILLION people with 9 cities within TOKYO each city housing around 7.5 MILION 2 of the shopping centres have between 180,000 and 220,000 people EVERY DAY!!!!!

The breakdown is as follows
Trip acc/flight only $4013
Yen $980 NZD
Pack day pack cover $248 NZD
Travel uniform $115 NZD
Shoes $127 NZD
Power adaptor money belt pack locks $47 NZD
Presents host family $70 NZD (one gift per person thats how they do it!)
Robe and boxers $20 NZD
Acc AKLD prior to flying out $90 NZD
Dinner AKLD $70 NZD
Breakfast $20 NZD
Diesel travelling up $15 NZD per person
Medication Inhalers steroids and letter $40 NZD
Toiletries $18 NZD
3/4 pants $40 NZD
Socks $20 NZD
Jandals/scuffs $15
Folding umbrella $15 NZD

With the small amount of yen to pay for $170 TRIP now stands at $6152 NZD the tutor has said the MORE you buy here in NZ the better if you have to buy everyday things over in TOKYO it is hugely expensive!! Who is she kidding IT IS EXPENSIVE fullstop.

I do hope they thoroughly enjoy themselves and have a ball, what an experience eh!!

All I can say I am so glad BBQ's are over for this trip.

Ciao Blondie

Clever clever Boy

My gorgeous clever son has now tonight BEEN graded in Karate for his 2nd DAN BLACK BELT 12 months ahead of schedule and he is all smiles I am so very proud of him and he works tirelessly and puts 120% effort into his karate all the time, he has worked out now when school ends for him (college) he will be a 3rd DAN BLACK BELT!!!

Ciao
From one very proud Muma!!!
Blondie

Kapa Haka photos

Well photos yay and the mens haka scored 99.7/100 so they were wrapt WHY? because all the other teams had 20 MEN or more our TuWharetoa had 7!!!!!!

For competing as a senior team member he got 12 credits NCEA level 1 if they had made it too finals (Te Matatini 2013 Aug that gets 40 credits!!!!!)

I am lucky enough to have found some Tuwharetoa festival photos from 2011 will post another time of the whole group.

Ciao
Blondie

Kapa Karate Kapa Karate

Some weeks I don't know where I'll be when Samuel goes to Japan in less than 6 weeks I know one thing for SURE I will be sleeping!.........

We have well Samuel has had Kapa Haka practice 3 times a week for the last 6 weeks, and yesterday the Competiton day loomed, we stayed at the Marae Friday night cooked for 45 for dinner after alterations practice (one final time) got to bed midnight I was up at 5am, had shower PITCH black and foggy everyone quiet well some snoring. I then tackled breakfast for 50 people sausages bacon eggs hashbrowns spaghetti baked beans! Kids and adults dressed in Kakahu (costume traditional Maori costume) and on the road by 9am, lucky competition was only at Rotorua!

I am officially Kapa Haka'd out, we saw some AMAZING Senior teams and the sweat blood and tears, BODIES muscly glistening with sweat and the energy FAR OUT! we all had an awesome day and got home at 10.30pm... they came 10th out of 28 teams and that is just Te Arawa region not the whole of NZ, if you make Top 4 then you go on to Nationals (Te Matatini 2013 and Teams will practice for 18 months right up to competition Day).

I don't have photos of actual performance official photographers were there and had all rights but I will get some off the others before they went on stage, but here are some photos from the Parachute weekend and the MOST recent Sports Day at school Feb 10th Samuel of course RED HOUSE their theme was fire.......

We have one or 2 more BBQ's to do and we are only $350 away from $5457 NZD (Accommodation and Flights $4015 NZD, Food $480 NZD(30,000 yen) Pack and covers and day bag $248 Shirts $115 Shoes $140 Spending money $400 NZD Auckland Motel and Dinner $150 NZD , it hasn't been hard work just long and arduous at times, and I get to spend time with my son that's always nice alot of people comment how mad capped we are dressing up joking and fundraising and how committed Samuel is to his fundraising efforts I say to them whilst Samuel wants to do all these things then fundraising WE MUST do.

It has taken 10 1/2 months to fundraise and we are done, I just have to get a power adapter for Samuel's Ipod (he bought his friends old one for a bargin price too).

NEXT weekend Feb 25th 26th Samuel has his Black Belt Training in Turangi and we will stay the night there so we can have dinner with the club members and a catch up and Samuel gets to catch up with the other teenage club members, ALSO of course Samuel awaits to hear if he goes up to 2nd Dan Black Belt!! 9 months ahead of schedule. Takahashi also will hopefully announce or pick the NZ Team for the World Champs, ( If Samuel is chosen then more fundraising! BUT this time we will approach Businesses and Business friends for Sponsorships! and sports funding grants).

Oh and also NOTE the RED HAIR Samuel had his hair dyed before school too bright red, before he goes to Japan he will get black tips on the faded red, to jooch it up a bit. He loves his red hair wonder what colour he goes next little monkey!

Hope everyone is keeping busy WHO am I kidding we are ALL BUSY!

Ciao
Blondie

4 very tired teenage boys one very tired Muma!!

Oh boy where to start huge pack to go large trailer (forgot to take photo of that), one very very very BULGING packed car!!! bags clothes shoes and mostly food, left Taupo 1.30pm arrived 4pm after a couple of food stops, then vendor set up from 6pm - 8pm home to house by Mystery Creek, up at 6.30am and back to stall by 8am and wait THE weather FRIDAY atrocious and EVERYBODY that came through gates was soaked to the skin themselves there bags there tents the works it was slow going and not hugely successfully but we raised about $300 and thats better than nothing and the boys had HUGE HUGE fun.

They bought a singlet each Tshirt each dog tags each and bracelet each, I took the crockpot and made spag bolognase one night for dinner it cooked all day while we were at event, butter chicken another night and corned beef the third night we took breakfast stuff, we took most of our own lunches and only bought one lunch each and the final night dinner each, WE were so so so tired I am still not quite caught up on my sleep, the boys made new friends saw some of their school friends there and I made some new contacts for markets and things so some of the negatives were hugely outweighed by fine weather good food and with all the thousands of people there not one fight nasty word or even agro behaviour it was fantastic, the music actually was really good I got to see my fav performer of the moment Bella Kalolo she is gorgeous and has the most sryupy voice...... all acts are either christian based or church affiliated we will go again next year but just as spectators and ENJOY ourselves more!!!!!

It is very nice to be home we having BBQ fundraiser this weekend Sun/Mon so back into it Samuel has work, then Friday sat Sun is Kapa Haka practice 3pm-11pm then 9am-9pm and 9am-9pm they are 14 days away from competiton so it is all on...... We can't post pics or video of what they do as OTHER groups poach your ideas!!!!!!!! it's very hush hush I don't even think I can type THIS!!!!! hahaha

Ciao Blondie

I am the FUNDRAISING QUEEN

At the end of January they have the "parachute festival" christian rock festival 4 days of mayhem music and moshpits.

So I go and orgnaise a fundraising stall "thundersticks" giant foam batons which when activated by button they flash random colours then push again slow fade colours then push again and one colour flashes then push again etc etc they can have batteries replaced so last ages.

We are staying at accommodation right opposite venue, myself Samuel and his 3 best friends and my friend Sue.

Samuel has worked everyday since school stopped and hasn't been away or had a rest his last day of work is next Wed then the following week on Wed is school, BUT his Kapa Haka group started training 2 weeks ago there first HUGE competition Feb 18th trainings are Wed 5.30-10.00, Saturdays 3.30-11pm closer to competition day they do a FRI/SAT/SUN training so he is all out flat out busy. Him and his friends are so excited and are really looking forward to it.

With an expected crowd of 30,000 and up to 45,000 we hope to do well, and some of the money is going towards Samuels next fundraising requirement his Kapa Haka group is going to Hawaii end 2012 beginning 2013, also THE NZ team is being chosen for Karate World Champs Samuel is fingers crossed hoping to be chosen.

Because of the following on Thursday night his Sensei started training him for 2nd Dan black belt and the requirements for it he knows most of the "moves" just now executing to perfection he will be at End of February when Takahashi gets here will have had his 1st dan for nearly 3 years normally you go up a dan at the 4 yr mark.....

George reason for early acceptance is because Samuel trains so hard and goes to nearly every training he is the only student who goes to training through the holidays and helps with the littlies and Samuel has really come along in the last 12 months.

So fingers crossed if Takahashi gives him the nod then he will be so excited, because when Samuel got his black belt he was issued it 6 months earlier than everyone else as he had done so well and as I explained to him hard work perserverance and determination reap rewards.

His Japan trip is what we are fundraising for now we are nearly there we have about $900 left to fundraise total was $5300 and as a minimum we have to sell 1500 units we are taking around 4000 we may need more who knows.

We go up to Hamilton on Thursday and don't get home until Monday, will be a long weekend and with music going all day and up until midnight probably not much sleep happening!!!

I will update after the mammoth weekend and maybe with pictures....

Ciao Blondie