Beauty within.

4 very tired teenage boys one very tired Muma!!

2012-02-02T11:56:00.002+13:00

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

2012-01-21T09:09:00.003+13:00

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

Well another year done and dusted....

2011-12-31T15:11:00.002+13:00

alot of changes this year some great some good and only a few stinkers. On a whole a much better year than in the past 8 years the seond half of the year has been wonderful for Samuel and I. We have had a lovely xmas and xmas day, and are going to have a New years dinner lamb roast (only time we can eat it or afford it!!!!) and trifle sponge, and during the day we are doing FANNIE ANNIE nothing!!!!

We are selling fundraising thundersticks (light random pattern ADULT sized light sticks) at a NYE venue and band concert 9now shifted to inside venue!!) has been raining for days here so everyones NYE plans are changing.... because of it.

I hope everyone has a lovely New Year and time with their families.

Ciao
Blondie

Baby pics ............

2011-12-09T21:20:00.005+13:00

Introducing Riley Ralph Garry Allen. Dad Kevin Mum Debbie. They are so thrilled and what a gorgeous boy he is I had loads of cuddles and clucking!

Samuel had huge cuddles and Riley squeaked and squirmed and made all those beautiful baby noises.

The smell of new baby is intoxicating and I got to spoil Riley too.

Ciao
Blondie

A new baby yay!!!

2011-12-08T22:48:00.002+13:00

My ex future sister in law and also my friend for over 20 years had her first baby tonight born 6.49pm a boy weighing 3.5kg by c section I am making a hurried trip tomorrow after lunch spending a few hours then travelling home tomorrow night.

Or being this close to xmas I wont get to see the new baby until after 28th Dec!!!!

I'm so excited after 10 years of trying 20+ miscarriages we have a baby.

I will post pics of course

Jaxx it is Debbie and Kevin of course!!

Ciao

Will this luck END?

2011-12-01T22:52:00.002+13:00

I checked my lotto ticket today and won $422 dollars 5 numbers on a FREE ticket I won when you put your old non winning tickets into a barrel for redraw!!!!

ALSO 2 amazing things happened today I didn't mention but 10 years ago I got this most amazing one off solid sterling silver thumb ring imagine 3 mens belt buckles looped and it is as wide as knuckle to knuckle solid heavy and unique I love this ring WELL when Samuel andI went to the Wales Samoa RWC game I LOST IT!!!! was gutted very upset actually I didnt put it on as I had mesh gloves on and some mornings it doesnt want to go on easily I THOUGHT I had stashed it down my usual hiding place ( yip my bra) dumb I know, and jumped up and down so much it was dislodged ALTHOUGH how anything can escape my boobs and bra is beyond me!!!

Samuel had camp all last week just got home tonight he had my bum bag that I wore on that RWC game day and in the mesh zipped pocket was my ring!!!!!!!!!!! I whooped with joy and danced around even, then tonight looking in my make up case I found my missing white gold earring that was lost on same day as ring ........ HOW blardy cool was that!!!!!

I am on cloud nine tonight, money and jewellery how special am I!!!!!!

I want to say another thing with my winnings the horse race money I gave $100 to the foodbank of food items all on special items amounted to 10 grocery bags quite chuffed with that nearly 85 items not bad shopping eh, $100 to SPCA for puppies and kitten food, $100 to womens refugee shelter, my dad always said pay it forward today I gave $100 to plunket. alot I know but that was 10% of winnings nearly so almost the same as tithing at a church!

My son had an awesome awesome camp sun surfed and sand at Whangamata snorkelled fished kayaking climbing tramping, tenting came home brown as a berry lucky bugger and unpacked his bags put 2 loads washing on he hung it all out had shower had HUGE dinner in bed 915pm!!!!!!! He is his mothers son thats for sure......

Have an awesome weekend everyone.

Ciao Blondie

OMG you wont believe this!!!!!

2011-11-01T21:07:00.002+13:00

I take my dad's numbers every year and this year I WON $3800 !!!! His numbers 3-6-8-9-12, how tinny AM I!!! In regards to the Melbourne Cup 2011 YAY FOR DAD and me.

Thanks Dad.

Ciao Blondie

A busy busy weekend we had....

2011-11-01T12:10:00.002+13:00

Kapa Haka competition in PAEROA which we have been practising for all year (Hauraki competition) we left at 7am ( met at 6.30am) arrived home 10.30pm!! We had a fantastic day performed for 28 mins and watched some fantastic college groups as well smoosshed with other groups had lunch sang and laughed.

The kids came 4th marks were seven catergories out of a possible 100 we got 96,97,98,98,98,99,99!!!!! and came fourth the winners must have got 100's!!! On Sunday I just blobbed and didn't move far I even slept, cause on Saturday i drove 6.5 hrs and did a total of 499kms, we drove up through Tirau Matamata came home through Tauranga Rotorua WENDYS beckoned in Tauranga that was the main drawcard and we did a whole road TRIP, stopped and saw THE RENA, so all in all a long day.

So now we are just onto the fundraiser wind up segment of kapa haka where we are booked and appear at local community functions for an appearance fee normally $1000 a function some $500 ones but they don't get the full group for $500. Oh and of course the obligatory school wind up functions.

Hard to believe this year of school is nearly done Samuel has Camp Nov 27th through to 4th December so theres only 4 weeks left of school really....

Hope everyone is having a calm slow week.

Ciao Blondie

A long weekend and what AM I DOING?

2011-10-22T21:11:00.002+13:00

BBQ fundraising for the Japan trip for Samuel it is standing on your feet being nice to paying customers, ALL day long for SFA, and coming home stinking of onions!!!!!!!!!!

BUT I always see loads of people and yakk all day long, and make money at the end of the day AS I don't have the capacity to write out a CHEQUE for the Rugby trips the KARATE trips, the Japan trips!!!! sheeesh never ending, and another upside IT wasn't raining!!

We will do BBQ SAT/SUN/MON then its back to work Tuesday, and from next weel an extra 3-5 hours a week work I may have a little wed/fri job looking after an 18month old for 5 hours a week I'm not sure as I'm over little ones at the moment.

I have showered and all CLEAN of BBQ eau d cologne!!

I will be too tired to post tomorrow and then cutting onions and getting bread and napkins ready for Monday BBQ...... so I will say this

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

THEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

ALL BLACKS

our National Rugby team vying for the RWC !!!!!

Ciao
Blondie

The boys T-Shirts...........

2011-10-07T13:46:00.005+13:00

I have managed to find a business here to make me up some T-Shirts for Samuel these are going to be his xmas presents. He goes on and on about "The names Rooby Roo" and Scooby he has a thing with T-Shirts at the minute and loves the funny sayings. I have saved the pictures to load them onto blogger but am now going to delete them so snoopy pants doesn't see them. I mean the pictures I had saved in a folder he doesn't get access to my blog and actually doesn't know how to view my blog anyhoo....

Hope everyone has a nice school holidays and enjoys the rest of the RUGBY WORLD CUP matches "Show me the rugby" Yay Yay Yay

Here's a nice photo..........

2011-10-01T17:31:00.003+13:00

I found this photo of me boy!!!!!! see WHITE men can jump!!!!!!!! he loved being the lock and his height now makes him a perfect chocie for that position..... If you win alot of ball from the lineout you can set play and runs from there and have go forward play!!!!!!

Have a great RWC weekend.....

Ciao Blondie

RWC pictures.........

2011-09-27T19:40:00.006+13:00

This is our RWC house I have loads of flags around everyone but Australia I don't mind any other team winning but them!!!!!!!!!!!

Watched Japan Canada today good match Japan should have won but they threw it away in last 8 mins. Watching USA Italy now might be a write off me thinks.

THIS weelend is miserable weather and there is 7 games on this weekend and one on Friday what a bugger RUGBY IT IS then!!!!!

Ciao Blondie

Pictures Pictures Pictures......

2011-09-27T13:41:00.007+13:00

Well here are the photos 1st one he is one week old, 2nd one 2 weeks old, 3rd and 4th 3 months, next one 4yr old, and the last one ON HIS 15th birthday with his birth friend Ashley these two are like brother and sister and are 9 days apart she being older (annoys him) he is now 6ft 1" and still growing funny how a little chingy bubba can grow ITS ALL the FOOD he eats!!!!

I will post more pictures of his presents later probably tomorrow or Thursday.

See no posts for ages and now heaps of posts and photos to boot.

Ciao Blondie

My baby is 15 today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-09-23T23:23:00.002+12:00

Well it is here my baby is 15 today ?I woke him with the annual photo taking 5.57am!!!!!!!!!!!! Every year without fail I do realise one morning I'm gonna get a picture I SO DID NOT want to see!!!!!

I bought him a gorgeous leather and chrome MANDORA (his words) bracelet very manly and a T shirt he is right into funny sayings and has sooo many t shirts he loves them. One t shirt has "chainsaw beats paper scissors rock!" the other one is all pine trees being chased by bulldozer "Run Forest Run" and he got another one that says "the Ka Mate Kid" a silhouetted figure in a maori costume doing a high karate kick ( the Karate KID!)

He got hugs and kisses all day and loads of compliments on his man bracelet, he also got an ear cuff type sleeper thingy with maori design on it, lots of money. We went out for dinner to our favourite restaurant BBQ MASTER took one of his friends (5 other friends went to AC BATHS )swimming and afternoon pizza lollies drink and chips (snack only 4 LARGE pizzas garlic bread 4 bottles fizzy 1kg lollies 4 bags chips)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will post some picture later on. I am actually pretty tired we got home at 10pm once we unpacked tidied sorted I am just getting to bed!!!!!!!

Ciao Blondie

Who could not love RUGBY?

2011-09-20T20:14:00.004+12:00

We had a fantastic day Samuel won the tickets months ago and the day dawned, we travelled up no problem rained all the way there stopped at the warehouse bought a tarpaulin (waterproof plastic sheet), stepped outside SUNSHINE!!!!! Signage and directional arrows to game great parked less than 50m from venue, arrive 12.40 gates opened 1.30pm walked 30m to our seats up 2 flights stairs and BINGO 3 rows back from barrier WHOOP WHOOP and right behind goalposts.

The Samoans warmed up in front of us MAN THEY ARE HUGE the game was good atmosphere good, no dramas, lots of chanting singing and cheering and clapping. Finished 5.30pm took an hour to get to Tamahere just outside of hamilton had dinner with friends Roast Lamb veges and gravy AND PUDDING!!!!!! Got home 10.30pm tired but well worth the day.

We are thoroughly enjoying the rugby the tourists and the hype we are lucky to have 3 teams staying in Taupo, Ireland South Africa Wales Samuel and the Kapa Haka group has been apart of the official Powhiri (welcome) to Wales and had dinner with the Welsh a swanky affair and the kids loved it that was 10 days ago then they Welcomed South Africa Saturday and got to meet Viktor Matfield and Bryan Habana and Smitz and the rest of the team he is loving it next Welcome is Ireland when they arrive.

Due to our lineage Samuel can play for NZ, Wales,Scotland Ireland, England, South Africa, Fiji so he is 7 nations through and through!!!!!! BUT his choice Japan he wants to head there once leaving school and working and playing business rugby in the sports side and do karate over there and there is SOME serious serious money being thrown around for NZ Maori who can speak Japanese and are rugby players so he is ALL THOSE THINGS and he is right into Sports Therapy and Pschology unit at school at the moment and his PE teacher says he will do well.

I have only missed one game so far when in transit home on Sunday!!!!!

ROLL on more RUGBY!!!!!

Ciao Blondie

I should digress a little here.......

2011-09-01T09:50:00.002+12:00

Samuel has consistantly and regularly BEATEN and "beaten up " by scoring direct points and "hits and strikes" the 16yr old and 17yr old in our Taupo karate club, blood noses black eyes split eyebrow bone just minor stuff GEORGE the sensei says "block faster move faster" etc, so Samuel knew he could beat some of the boys in the group easily, but the sheer enormity lead up and mental side EXCITEMENT nerves who knows it all got a bit much I think.

BUT we have a lifeline TAKAHASHI loved the venue tournament sooooooooooooo much he wants to do it all again BUT in MARCH when it is warmer he arrives 5 days before OUR huge snowfall and road closures etc etc and FROZE he didn't like it and I guess when you travel all around the world you can pick and choose the months you want to come.

So in MARCH RUGBY wont have started Samuel has 6 months to get sorted and get prepared so thats what he is aiming for and given he will have December January OF NO other events but karate training he will be sorted he may go to TURANGI to the other higher black belt instructor to train with him so he is doing 4 trainings a week over XMAS holidays his reasoning the other guy is actually the main one who chooses NZ TEAM and has more influence and he does have a very soft spot for Samuel I said maybe 1 EXTRA night a week so he isn't run down etc.........

The school sports programme has started him on an intense programme short sharp weights QUICK movements like weightlighting movements of clean and jerk etc to exact FAST muscle movement to mimic his own fighting style press ups chin ups etc and a little cardio.

The sports psychologist is seeing him once a week too so all in all I think it may be better for him.

So heres hoping it all moves forward.

Ciao
blondie

Karate was a disaster.............

2011-08-27T14:10:00.002+12:00

My poor son we spent hundreds dollars at physio Arnica Symphytum cream and drops and massages and ankle strapping to NO AVAIL!!! Samuel couldn't successfully perform his Team Kata "Empi" it had a huge jump in it and a push off, he attempted it gingerly in practice no good, THE group of boys he fought in 16-18yr olds they were HUGE AS!!!!! They constantly LEG SWEPT his sore foot and keep hammering him MY SON GOT UGLY UGLY UGLY MEAN and lost it he was OTT I was embarrassed for him and embarassed for myself, he threw a tanty after (well threw his gloves and mouthguard down) it took me an hour to calm him down he was wound up and shoulders tight and hrrrummmmmpppphhhfffity, WHAT did we learn NO RUGBY at least 4 weeks before a tournament, and HE is seeing the SCHOOL SPORTS psychologist for MIND over matter exercises HE really over psyched himself and the older boys got under his skin too, the high performance school programme is going to help him BULK UP as he will always be the youngest in this group OF 7 YOUNG MEN he did learn his weakness though and hopefully will grow from this I do hope so BECAUSE the UGLY MEAN young man I saw was not PRETTY AT ALL. Once the lads turn 19 they are in the OPEN MENS division 19-35. So he will have to toughen up eh.

It was an intensely long weekend and by Sunday night at 7pm I had had enough we got home 8pm after cleaning up and packing away gear THE NEXT annual tournament is Palmerston North next year, THE CLUB is now in training for the WORLD CHAMPS I think Samuel may have missed his chance to be chosen, 2 days after the tournament we went out and had coffee together, I said to my son, I KNOW you love karate but what I saw on the FIGHT day was not you and WASN"T good, and may have hurt your chances, Takahashi wont want TANTY throwers or people representing NZ if they are sulky little tanty throwers.
Also he isn't old enough yet to work through those MENTAL barriers like TENNIS players when their game is off the drop a few sets and either disintegrate or lift their game and overcome the mind games. He has had the last 2 weeks off karate to help recover the foot and has done all the right things for physio, he has not walked anywhere etc to help stay off foot no kapa haka last week either BUT back into from this MONDAY. I did point out WE have been so insanely busy last few months I daresay he was burnt out mind wise too, HE didn't go to school Monday after tournament because when he is TIRED like that he gets INTO mucho trouble when tired!!!!!!!!

We desperately need rain now I bet we have a dry long summer.

Ciao
Blondie

Well the time is here...

2011-08-11T21:14:00.004+12:00

Karate competition, BUT to back track the WEEK FROM HELL.

5th August RUGBY, Smauel was to play half a game but NO they started game late NO REF!!!! Samuel played first half WAS supposed to come off at halftime, they the coaches and manager keep him on. HE was injured with 2 mins to go.

He bruised his inner ligament on his KICKING LEG, and wrenched the muscle PHYSIO every morning this week Arnica Sympnytum drops (internal) Arnica Symphytum cream to rub on Brufen pain relief HE HAS iced his foot every interval at school and every lunchtime, then every night when he got home from school.

He has done all the appropriate exercises and stretches he WONT be doing the 6 hr training tomorrow BUT will train Saturday morning, and THE FIGHT day is SUNDAY afternoon he is WIRED!!!!!!!

I have worked all week double days to have half of today off and tomorrow and half of Monday!!

I am tired and I do hope I cope all weekend. This afternoon after school our kapa haka kids were at a marae for a huge TANGI (funeral) doing dishes, table setting up and clearing resetting tables 400 people through in 2 sittings, Samuel went from 330pm till 8.30pm, they were still going when we left!!!

I can't wait for this week to end HAVE A GREAT weekend everyone!!!

Ciao Blondie

More Snow...........

2011-07-31T09:34:00.003+12:00

This shot is from Napier Taupo Rd Richmond heights end looking back over across Lake to Acacia Bay........ On this day we had a BBQ in town fundraising for Samuels Japan Trip April 2012 I had seven layers of just TOPS on 3 layers pants 2 pairs socks scarf hat AND was still a little cold!!!! Last Tuesday when we had this Snow Mount Tauhara waas covered TOP to BOTTOM and on its surrounding foothill farmland I hadn'tseen that for over 25 years!!! Temp that day last week 4 degrees ALL DAY!

Whoop Whoop SNOW!!!!

2011-07-30T16:00:00.005+12:00

Last Tuesday we had snow not jus a little snow HEAPS of SNOW along the foothills behind Acacia Bay right through to Tokoroa, Atiamuri etc etc................ This is just out our front door!!!!!!next time I will get the whole shot from Acacia Bay right along spectacular and freezing too boot.

Ciao Blondie

Some more photos...............

2011-07-30T15:49:00.007+12:00

Well the first shot is the "whanau" (group), Samuel and Teiria in the mirror, the boys kneeling at the conference room before the Te Arawa regionals (SPOT the whitest legs my son!!) next photo Samuel and Maya, Samuel Rerehau, Keirai, Gabriel last shot Mika, Amy, Memory, Samuel, Teiria, Maya I have some more photos too!!!!!! next post worth a look see.

Ciao Blondie

Samuels RWC moment!!!!

2011-07-19T21:58:00.004+12:00

NOW for my stupendous NEWS yesterday 18/7/2011 we had the RWC roadshow here with Tamati from ONE NEWS my son dressed up in WALES gear (our adopted Team in Taupo).............................................................................................................................................

pictured with his friend Jamie in the USA gear SAMUEL won tickets to the rugby world cup game in Hamilton Sun Sep 18th 3.30pm WALES vs SAMOA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was thrilled he WAS STOKED we are sooooooooooo going YAY and he was on TV and he was/is on the front page of the paper AND he was on radio and got filmed for PROMO video!!!!

whoop whoop RWC here we come.....................

Ciao Blondie

A few dress up photos!!!!!!

2011-07-19T21:53:00.005+12:00

First 2 self explanotary BUT the Indian one he is winding up to do a HAKA!!!!!!!!

Ciao Blondie

Now the rugby photos!!!!!

2011-07-19T21:47:00.006+12:00

Samuel is the tall one in the headgear he is also the one being lifted!!!! up we have had a great season I LOVE RUGBY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will tell you why soon...............

Ciao Blondie

A few pictures of me son!

2011-07-19T21:12:00.006+12:00

The first photo is of the girls!!!! They start off all smiley and twirling then this is their HAKA build up face!!!

The next photo is some of the group at the motel getting ready, Samuel in forefront.

The next is some of the boys , and last is Samuel Aniwa and Reuben Samuel on left!!!!

the group tally is around 35 - 38 max is 60 people.

More photos to come...

Ciao Blondie

Kapa Haka all done and dusted.....

2011-06-18T21:13:00.004+12:00

After 6 months of hard core practicing and 6 weeks of 5 days a week practices, the day arrives, but to re cap. Wednesday I shopped for 45 people for Thrusday night dinner (mince pasta n vege) bread n butter pudding. I worked all day Thursday just so I could have Friday off,
I worked 8am til 5.30pm then headed to Marae and started. 2 other mums helped me we got dinner sorted and started on the lunches, cut up cucumber and tomatoes grated carrots and cheese boiled eggs for eggy mash, cut ham slices to fit pre buttered 100 buns and re bagged, then pre packed apple mandarins mufins, and peanut slabs and bottled water. Only thing to do was add the buns.

Finished at 11.30pm, headed home 50 people slept at the marae I DIDNT!! Got up 4.30am arrived 4.45am and started brekkie me and 1 other mum, porridge for 45, spag baked beans and left over mince and pasta all mixed in with cut precooked sausages and HOT MILKY MILO and MADE up all the buns for lunch and WRAPPED them before ANYONE GOT UP!!!!!! temperature -2!!!! woke others 5.30am Iwas told too do that though (brekkie nearly ready), all asleep most snoring!!! no movement went back 5.45am flicked lights on and said all CHEERY "wakey wakey" not MISS popular that's for sure. Filled 2 HUGE SINKS brekkie and dishes and clean up over in 40 mins flat

Brekkie down bus driver arrived 7am they left 8am!! After much checklists and doublechecking gear etc.

I stayed at school had long HOT shower in the peace and quiet changed and waited for Powhiri (welcome of B.O.T) meeting to finish then Te Reo teacher and I headed off.

The DAY was superb bare bodies ta moko (inked tatto) feather piu piu (flax skirts) and loads of haka,chanting.poi,singing it was awesome!!!! The group looked amazing and were pumped up that's for sure.

Spent 3 hours in conference room area getting everyone ready, hair, make up. moisturising, lips legs backs, kakahu (costumes) and then warm ups and practice.

Edit to stage THERE on and for 22 mins coming on they were so loud the blew the speakers one boy ripped his G String (worn under marau similar shape to scottish sporon) one boys rakau stick cracked the stage floor, THE LIGHTING flickered on and off momentarily they sang their hearts out AND WON 1st in Whai Korero (speech) came 4th overall. finished 7pm had dinner home 9.30pm unpacked bus tidied gear said goodbyes home 11pm TOO BED!!!!!

Next major competition is the Hauraki in September and Tuwharetoa festival in October. But they will have other little performances to do.

HUGE day loads of happy kids DID jack nothing today Samuel had no work no rugby no jobs!!!! It was bliss.

Samuel is also in the Manu Korero Speech Finals (Maori Speech ) at the Natinal competition end of June, and he has been chosen to travel to Japan in April 2012. HE IS excited already............

NOW its hard out karate training YAY.....

I went mooching today got myself a belt at the warehouse that I tried on 6 weeks ago could only get it too 1st hole TODAY it's on 4th hole!!!!!

FANTASTIC!

I hope everyone has a relaxing Sunday.....

Ciao
Blondie

Are we getting winter yet?

2011-06-05T13:49:00.003+12:00

Heck it's been mild and rainy and humid and a few frosts but where is winter!!!!

I have bought some gorgeous black leather knee high boots in my favourite brand KUMFS and extra wide fit and calves $489 down to $139 (trade me) only worn twice AND they are beautiful SCORE bought a GORGEOUS coat from farmers white and black print $150 down to $50 double score got me some fancy nancy knee high patterened stockings for my NEW boots and NEW Mary Jane shoes I love them (like I used to wear to high school the flats with ankle strap in black leather), I LOVE IT I am in shopping heaven again and it is just FAB. AND I'm still saving money!!!!!!!!!!!

Samuel is 2 weeks away from KAPA HAKA competition and it is ALL ON, Patu (hand held mere), Rakau (stick),Poi,Haka the group is huge and we have been there Mon Wed Thurs 3 hour practises after school and Sat over night until sunday every week for the last 4 weeks WE have all day practice tomorrow and two PRE competition performances this week coming FULLY kitted up (ink tattoo etc and cultural costumes etc).

Rugby is full steam ahead and although yesterday was wet and miserable and cold it was fun Samuel has worked every saturday (sushi not open on Sundays now over winter) but is open all this weekend he has to squeeze in practice and karate as well, this week BUT no karate or rugby next week as TUTORS want NO INJURIES last competition had 4 broken arms on stage.

I am having another day off work so I can go to the KAPA HAKA competition which is Fri Sat Sun June 16th onwards crowds of 3000-5000 expected so thats full on then and we will all be tired as!!!

Have had this whole weekend off AND IT has been great!!!

AND as a little footnote I have lost 7kg in 8weeks!!!!! sleep no stress no bills and well it makes life easier.

I do hope eveyone else has had a nice weekend.

Ciao
Blondie

Thank goodness the weekend is over........

2011-05-22T17:08:00.002+12:00

That was a mammoth weekend shopped for the 50 people, cooked 1 dinner 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and oodles and oodles of dishes, I slept at home though.

Staurday family I work for are away and I had been left a list of jobs to do!!!!! niiiiiiiicccccccceeee
NOT. Picked up Samuel 8.30am dropped at rugby did 2 hours work, watched Rugby GREAT game despite a narrow loss, picked up Samuel he went to work i went to Marae and helped woth food and dishes, Samuel arrived back at 4pm, I helped served up dinner then WENT out for dinner to my FAV place it was scrummy. Kids finished up SAT night at midnight got to sleep around 1am not too bad.

Headed to work for 2 hours early this morning Sunday went to Marae did brekkie dishes went home did 3 loads washing, went back to Marae got Samuel spent 1 hour at storage shed sorted and condensed took load to dump.came home picked in said washing FOLDED and IRONED!!!! now sitting on me BUM I have earned my rest, we popped our dinner in the crockpot early this morning corned beef and we are all set!!!

I do this all again next weekend as another KAPA HAKA noho( practice etc).

Ciao
Blondie

And the rugby season commenceth!!!!

2011-05-20T06:45:00.002+12:00

YAY rugby is here we are playing pre grading divisional matches. Looking forward to being graded in the premier grade again. Cold rainy and just what a rugby season needs, Samuel didn't make the noumea team but they are still hardout fundraising as a team towards it.

Have a kapa haka wananga ( practices) from Friday today 4pm until Sunday 4pm its MY BIRTHDAY today and I'm cooking at the marae today have to shop for 50 people that's 2 dinner 2 breakfasts 2 lunches and supper morning tea and afternoon tea last time 3 trolley's $600 this time probably $800-900 WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA that's a lot of trolley's!!!! And being a bargin shopper we get good bang for our buck.

I'm having dinner at the marae with the kids tongiht slack i have to cook me own birthday dinner and share it about 50 others!!!!! and then home tonight, tomorrow is kapa, then rugby 10am, then Samuel working then kapa haka then I'm going out for dinner to my favourite place BBQ MASTER it is divine such a cool place. I have to work anyhoo and I'm being floggged there anyhoo what's more Mahi!. (work)

Seen as the kids will be at the marae Sunday morning I am sleeping in and with ALL the frosts we have been having just as well!!! TIS freezing! a heap of snow on the mountains.

ciao
blondie

Did I say saving ? i should have said SPENDING

2011-05-08T06:25:00.002+12:00

Its been an awful few weeks weather wise winds storms powercut TAUPO only, tornado, which brings me tomy post.....

My life is a whirlwind of JOB, JOBS at home list of JOBS to check off I am a chronic list maker but achieve nearly everything on that list everyday. ( a new list starts everyday too WHERE do these jobs come from?).

I have been lucky I am the proud proud new owner of a laptop!! believe me this is huge for me Jason transferred over all my stuff from desktop to laptop then it arrived home and I had just to connect to wireless broadband (wonderful SO friggin fast) YAY.

I am typing this in bed ! It is so cool Samuel Jaspa (cat) and I have settled in great Sue is not so stressed and we are saving WELL I'm spending laptop, 5 new pairs pants 3 tops 2 NEW BRAS long overdue new undies, bio oil chondrotin capsules (the mega big pottles!)flax pills (like fish oil same benefits mine was primarily 20 years ago for psoriasis but it does hair nails skin etc), face cream hand cream heel cream, Samuels magnesium capsules for lung function in asthmatics, shoes, walking socks, new handbag new clothes for Samuel curtains for my room, these are ALL things long long overdue and IT IS such a pleasure and thrill to be able to spend money on myself albeit mostly medicinal, I am sleeping better, and am alot more relaxed.

I have even started walking again and thats exciting for me all the things I bought were heavily discounted and if not on special, so I was thrilled with that too.

I have been to Rotorua twice shopping, and Tauranga yesterday to see an old friend of the family ( has just had major stroke 78) they were lucky they nearly lost their Dad 5 days ago so I wanted to go and see the family and Father, I was able to take beautiful Taupo books (as they lived her over 40 years) the family loved them and father, the mere fact I had money to do so and have petrol money to get there and worry was to me a relief and I for the first time felt humbled by the mere thoguht it was such a small gesture. Financial things matter they can be small things that bother you but the release of the last 4 weeks for me has been a tonic of sorts.

Samuel is busy as ever working karate kapa haka fundraising for rugby sevens trip to Noumea WHOOP WHOOP, his first term report was stunningly great OF course the impetus was do well then you can purchase a PS3 he had been saving SOOOOOOO hard so PS3 2 controllers, warranty 3 games and $900 later he is the proud owner of what he wanted! now he is saving for sevens trip and karate trips(should they arise). and he is very frugle with his money too so that is a relief he knows the money is hard earned and therefore not to be thrown away...

Something else I have started up again my weekly envelopes I used to save $10 a week for Samuel birthday, xmas food, xmas travel, clothes money vet bill so that it eased everything along a little, well I have saved over $300 towards these things in the last month on top of all my spending so I am on top of things again and it feels liberating. My weekly budget is now only with groceries utilities and saving envelopes $290 it feels like xmas every week to me I had made a list of all the things I needed to catch up on LIKE the pills clothes shoes socks undies etc etc and finally yesterday I did that, I am now saving to update my 16 yr old car which has done 271,000km and is a true workhorse of a station wagon!!!!!! I dont want a new car certainly can't afford that but just to update, so that's me. After 8 years of struggle I have arrived.

Ciao

Well Happy Easter everyone..................

2011-04-24T12:11:00.002+12:00

I am finally shifted and settled, I moved one house down (just down the driveway!!), my friend last September had a operation on her foot it never healed and she worked on her feet all day 9 - 10 hours she couldn't cope the work changed her shifts to the WORST hours and in effect pushed her out.

She was seriously struggling and with rates and living it was becoming evident she could lose her home, so I gave notice and we condensed 2 houses into one well 2 1/2 actually A HUGE SHIFT, I sold nearly everything I own in fact I DID SELL everything and just took a bed and 3 sets draws and clothes thats it!!!!

So in a house we have 5 cats a dog 2 fish and 3 adults (50+, 43(in may) and nearly 15!!) phew this easter there is actually 5 adults and all the animals (one son came home for the weekend and his girlfriend) so my friend has gone from no one to a FULL HOUSE!!!

I am saving already no rent and we are sharing phone power and food costs, for the first time in 9 years I can actually relax a little.

I know of 4 other families condensing and amalgamating this month alone things and times are geting tough, finances are always tight for families and at the very least a juggling act.

Alot of my friends have said why sell? things I certainly have no attachment to material things NEVER have and since I CAN"T be in my family home NOTHING absolutely NOTHING means anything to me anymore.....

The move was easy peasy weather wise I had 2 huge garage sales, and sold 2 things privately and 1 item through (trademe like ebay)........ I will at some stage get some clothes I need a few things not much.

I do however have some things in storage Samuel's baby things and precious memories of my Dad.

I have had a relaxing day yesterday watching movies nodding off, and chilling FIRST TIME in months, I am relaxing again today I ALSO took 10 DAYS OFF WORK (I know shocking eh!!!!) first time in 6 years I TOOK time off although I cleaned packed moved and hucked out cupboards etc, (when my family that I work for are away I take holidays when they take holidays), so all in all I feel great, I will be back online seriously from next Saturday probably!

Once I get the laptop sorted IT'S ready to go I just have to pick it up from IT guy!!!

I hope everyone is eating drinking and relaxing....

Ciao

HOLY HOLY I have arisen...........

2011-04-21T16:37:00.002+12:00

I am sorry for the delay I have been shifting HOUSE and I have just spent the last 4 weeks HEAD down arse up!!!! MY friend and I are condensing houses (we pay both of us power phone internet sky etc etc etc) I eat at her house most nights and we are down at her house every other day!!!! It made financial sense aside from she had stopped working and financially she was in shitters ditch!!!!!!

It helps me out (no more rent), it certainly helps her out BUT another big shift for me (just down end of my driveway there si so much more to tell), BUT I am offline for awhile again as no computer ATM (well that's a lie I have no computer jsut waiting on a laptop to be delivered GEARED up and transferred over with all my info) well thats me folks I have to go and I am only on a friends computer briefly!!!!

Ciao

Schools back and it's full on again.

2011-02-12T11:40:00.008+13:00

The first photo is of Samuel in his NEW BEST FRIEND TSHIRT thanks to Chris H for picking up Samuel loves loves loves it and I think he may even sleep in it! The second is his sports day Friday 11th January 2011 his house colour RED the theme "Oh red Indians" he won a prize.... yay The third is him and his friends before going to school. the boy in Blue is the same sidekick from the "red pimp suit and superman" photo from last year!!!!

The school year started with a BANG, and Samuel has some really nice Teachers and is back into the Karate, Kapa Haka thing again and swimming throw in his part time job and yip he is busy! (hopefully that will keep the girls at bay for awhile!).

School fees/donations are ridiculous are THEY NOT! ours increased from $150 to $180, then they have CORE subject costs on top of that of $160!!!! scientific calculator $85 last year $115 this year lucky I didn't need uniform stuff as I was sorted from last year, although new sandals size MENS 10 bought 3 weeks before school try them on 2 days before school NAH AH now SIZE 11 !!!!

I am enjoying this year so far I at the end of last year had my hair semi coloured and permed AND CUT WAY SHORT!!! (trainee hairdressers needing models) I didn't like it BUT as I said to hairdresser "Oh well it's only hair it will grow" Now I love it again my fluffy bouncy curls and broomstick dragged through a bush in the morning look. I can even clip it up again like I used to when my hair was long and curly.

I have a few photos YES i do I know I always say I will post some and don't get around to it well here goes.

Ciao
Blondie

My other BIG NEWS!

2011-01-26T22:23:00.003+13:00

My young son got a holiday job at a NEW local SUSHI place he LOOOVVVVVVVVES SUSHI and he gets to eat some for free, he MAKES it and then GETS PAID as well he is in heaven he works 4 hrs a day and in a fortnight he earn't LET ME tell you quietly I AM IN THE WRONG JOB!!!! is all I can say!

He has bought some shoes, clothes, jean shorts and some incidentals boy things HE LOVES it! and I love it too he spent all afternoon looking for clothes and BOUGHT the 2nd cheapest options in most and then the cheapest bargain was jean shorts $6 half price $3 at the (second hand clothing store ) he wanted retro worn look cheap as to rip up etc, HE REFUSED to pay $120 (on sale jean shorts), I know he loves it cause he tells me every day!!! YAY my son, you now owe me XXXXXXXXXX!!!!!!! The invoice is in the mail.

Ciao

I survived "Do I get a medal?"

2011-01-26T22:06:00.002+13:00

Xmas day was lovely we got all our shopping and goodies earlyish, scored a plump Turkey and had all the trimmings had a lovely cheesecake for pudding Samuel loved all his goodies he got T shirts books and a speaker phone thing for his Mp3 player (looks like a yo-yo and has serous base sound) and some DVD movies etc. I got a diary and a HUGE huge container of my favourite moisturiser.

We managed to eat sleep rest and SWIM at the lake (Lake Taupo Central North Island NZ), biggest Southern Hemisphere Fresh water lake NOT man made.

New Years Eve arrived HUGE fundraiser and made HEAPS money selling some seriously BIG KICK ASS glowsticks!! that random flash in light sequences THEY are sooo cool and so did 1200 of our customers!!!!!!!!!!!

Whilst the family I work for were away I still worked on and off doing mail runs and animal feeding NICE and washing (normal house duty things as if family were still there) as they had 15 days off I couldn't drink until after 7pm once animals had been sorted SO sorted of spoilt my days off (supposed days off) why can't people with ANIMALS organise Other CARE!!

They arrived home and 4 days later the parents went away leaving me with kiddies, for 8 nights (well that turned out so wrong), DAD arrives AUSSIE appendix ruptures in hospital wont release him misses flights etc comes home 4 days after said time!! Me and the kids had a ball we swam, played, made lego forts, water slides, biked, played cards monopoly, played Barbie dolls hairdressing school (1000 clips and butterfly clips in my hair IT FELT LIKE!!!) baking, painting, bubble making generally had a blast.

I am a little over kids ATM only becuase I am so tired but 1 more good nights sleep I should be ok. (young NORTY kittens at other house WHOM jump on you and play at 3am NOT CUTEY CUTEY!). and young girl who wakes at 6am so cute but NOT! boys woke at 8am most mornings.

I am home in my own house and bed and it feels GREAT!

All in all we had a lovelish break but I will take some days too myself soon say a 4 day break! JUST ME! (well and Samuel of course cause I can't leave him on his own!)

I hope everyone has a nice last few days of school holidays!

Ciao

On the home stretch to the FAT MAN COMETH!

2010-12-23T15:17:00.002+13:00

We have our last fundraiser tonight KAPA HAKA, whilst performing on Sunday19th for Taupo promo shop till u drop xmas day, A guy booked the kapa kids for a private function ($400 thank you very much!!!) a birthday party we getting ready at 6pm (inked up "moko" etc) and dressed rehearse then onto the party for an 8pm show!! HOW COOL is that (tiring but cool), I worked today from 9am until WELL I'm still going I am finishing at 5pm (nothing like being flogged right up to the day!) I have cleaned 2 houses and then done 9 loads of washing today 3 OF my own, and 6 of SOMEONE ELSES!!!! 2 towels, 1 clothes, 2 sheets and 1 miscellaneous.whilst they are on holiday I guess I am NOT! have to feed cats and water lawns etc! oh yay for me...

I honestly thought I wouldn't hold out until today BUT I have managed JUST! I made $400 on 2 sales this week alone so that boosted the holiday coffers,I am off to do a little of my own ironing AND A FAIR chunk of someone elses ironing, hang out the last load of sheets ! THANK GOD they wont take long to dry, and THEN I can relax tomorrow and xmas day, the only DIRTY clothes and things are what we are wearing ! I may at this stage wear them for 3 days so AS NOT too do anymore washing!!!! lol the food is bought we have 2 extras for xmas day.

MY JASON is coming here (his family have abandoned him AGAIN and he was having xmas alone THEY MAKE ME WANT TO MURDER I SWEAR!!) and I'm ok with him coming here but when you have brothers, Aunties Uncles, in your own town where you are WHY can't any of them invite him over!! (his parents are off tripping down south for 4 MONTHS!!!! they have no responsibilities or conscience or duty of care! he is their son WTF is wrong with these people!)

Vent over for now, but my christmas cheer took a denting when I got the text last night to say "I'm alone for xmas what are you doing?" and of course then I had 60 questions why haven't he family his family asked me over around or INCLUDED him!!!! and they wonder why he has SEVERE mental illness issues THEY FARKIN CAUSE IT!!!! ok enough! Then I stopped cause I realised I could be making it worse BY pointing out HOW MANY of HIS BLOOD FAMILY don't think of him!

I have only bought presents for Samuel and the 2 kiddies I look after nobody else FIRST time ever! feels strange but as I said to my friend where we are going for xmas its about friends your "family" extended( as in my case) and or otherwise and good food good company, and at least we have a house to live in and a job.

To be Thankful

A few things I am thankful for is my gorgeous SON, his kindness, his humour, his unconditional love, his brilliance, his handsomeness, his helpfulness, his spirit, MY friends whom always ask after Jason first and then me (because that's how it should be), I am capable of a normal existence in between moments of chaos. I am thankful of my good health, I am amazed at how I give to others readily and freely, also involving myself in all manner of committee and school based events and thankful I have a job that allows some flexibility to be able to do so,I am thankful that I have friends who appreciate all I do for them, and they immediately jump to my defense when needed,I am thankful my circle of friends whom defend my privacy to the hilt!! in regards to family! My friends ROCK. I am thankful of my elderly neighbours whom regard Samuel as a grandson! I am thankful my son has a nice group of friends long may that last!

Some things I wish

I wish I was more patient, I wish I was more forgiving (Family), I wish sometimes I wasn't so darned hardnosed, I wish I was in a position to offer more volunteer hours at school, I wish sometimes there were more hours in the day.

I hope everyone has a nice xmas and a relaxing time enjoying friends and families company however your family unit is made up....

Ciao
Blondie1 and Son.

Just call me SANTA..........

2010-12-16T06:30:00.003+13:00

Cause surely SANTA hasn't ever been this busy!!!!

Just so I haven’t forgotten everyone was our programme of events from the last few weeks until school ENDS, which is DEC 10^th (oh to be back at school) End of year activities and prizegivings and exams it has just been one big BLUR!!!! I hope everyone is well staying out of trouble and looking forward to relaxing at XMAS like I am!!! AND please please do RAIN DANCES as it is so hot and dry it’s terrible.

We have been so DAMNED busy with kapa haka and karate its insane WE have won the right to hold the karate NATIONALS next year and we are fundraising every 2^nd Saturday to raise $18000!!! The kapa haka we had Friday 26^{th November}(pre cycle race) we fed 100 people entertained danced sang and then had to clean up got home 11pm!!! thought I would email through our next 3 weeks of timetable we have kapa haka swimming FRIDAY 19^th, at Jump Jam all day sat 20^th November from 8am until 7pm!!!!

NEXT week is Cycle challenge (nov 27^th) and all that week we have kapa haka tues/wed/thrus/fri night is WELCOMING cyclists onto school and performance then SAT morning we have karate BBQ organised for fundraising and also a RAFFLE going at Pak n Save Sunday and then the next week is Activites week at school for all Year 9 and he has practices karate kapa haka and swimming everyday afterschool right up until SCHOOL ENDS so we are flat out next weekend too, following week we are at school Tues/wed/thurs with kapa haka as FRI night 3^rd December is MARAE stay over as we have to be at Mount Tauhara for Contact Energy (600 GUESTS!!!! Including Iwi groups etc) official powhiri and welcome and entertainment party!! IT WAS 10 HOURS of on and off performing and eating!! Have all day gig Saturday then Sunday is Karate again fundraiser, Week of Dec 6^th is final week of school and we have junior prizegiving kapa haka 3 nights then swimming then Karate BBQ we aren’t free until December 18^th and even then that weekend we have Karate fundraiser on!!! A garage sale at my place IT is 80% set up NOW as of December 16th.

We then have the garage sale 18th december next fundraising is selling amazing "Thundersticks" (random light sticks like lightsabers!) at the New Years Eve concert and at THE STAN WALKER and ANIKA MOA concert Whoop Whoop oh and DJ Rumble will be there and Ivy Lies!!! WE then have A HUGE HANGI fundraiser at End of January and between then I WILL BE ON HOLIDAY I swear!!!!!!

I have kept up with all me gardenign etc and house cleaning (spring/summer huck out!) so IT MAKES me relax as if I see jobs to do I get up instead of relaxing! DAM IT!

Swimming stops in the week of December 17^th being last lesson, then Samuel will go back to 2 nights of karate until school starts again on February 3^rd, then its FULL on as they have a huge KAPA HAKA competition in Rotorua in March so will be practising 3 nights a week for that again and the saturday's as well for it.(and chuck in swimming as well and its BUSY central all over.

Samuel did really well in Year 9 exams got a lot of Excellence in Maths English Science Social Studies, a few achieved with merit, and 2 achieved so he was pleased with that.Also got a principals MERIT award and National recognition awards for Karate.

I got photos of course and SOMETIME I will load them.

I don't know about you guys BUT this year is busier than ever, and we got our tree up 2 weeks ago, but I fear xmas will be very lean for us and our extended friends, it has been a horrid year really finances wise HERE'S hoping 2011 is mucho better.

I hope all of you have relaxing enjoyable holidays with friends and family AND some of you are even getting married!!!!!!!

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Ciao

Far out November already....

2010-11-01T12:58:00.007+13:00

last few weeks been absolutely flat out with kapa haka(KH) and karate, kapa haka performed at the schools 50th Jubilee we were there from 8.30am until 3.30pm helped set up 600 seats the kitchen seats and tables the outdoor seats and tables then helped dish up the hangi for 500, then did UNTOLD DISHES!!!!!! whilst the group performed for 2 hours!!!! then helped pack it all away whilst the jubilee group went to photos and afternoon tea and mingling then of course the dinner which other entertainment was used. as people were seated they performed in time sets of 25 mins then break 5 - 10 mins then back into it as each different set of 100 came through, the Pacific Island groups performed later in day and then in the late afternoon the school orchestra too so entertainment was on offer all day. Long day but highly successful.

The KH group has been practicing for 3 days during week and 2 hrs on a Sunday or Saturday arvo as we just competed in a Hauraki meet held in Waihi, GOSH the performances JUST blew me away 1000's of people everywhere and singing galore. GOT up at 4.30am left 5.30am got home 9.30pm!!!!!!!!!! Yesterday Samuel and I DID NOT move off the couches! we were stuffed.

I have some pics BUT not the ones I want to put on never mind!Samuel is second from right!and the 3 girls are the senior members they are 16yr olds, SOME of the other schools MAN their boys/men were scary as!!!! and the girls/women JUST beautiful.The group has 15 girls and 12 boys BUT some of the boys didn't either A: have permission to go or B: had the I can't be bothered to go (touch rugby and sports takes precedence!).The boys wear black g strings and their backsides are decorated and black inked accordingly! (not a job for the fainthearted!).

ALSO the school kapa haka group GETS NO acknowledgement or merits for their performances and or work throughout the year!! HOW STUPID is that they the Te Reo classes ( the classes in their official capacity get merits etc) but they are EXPECTED to do ALL powhiri welcome ,wero and challenges and perform at schools discretion but give them acknowledgement and distinction ERRR NO, and it is a lot like this through out other schools THIS was touched on by ORGANISERS of the 2 most recent competitions we have been too of late, A SHAME really a BIG SHAME! but indicitive of current mood towards encouraging Maori to be Maori.(and I NOW remember what shied me away from my culture over 30 years ago, the backlash is still prevalent however it was so nice to see such enthusiastic performances and pride I even ran into a couple I haven't seen for 10 years!!!).

That being said Samuel is continuing to take Maori and Japanese next year BUT only after a SCHOOL head meeting 3 heads and the principal and me, I argued that Kapa Haka is performing arts and cultural (ie drama and music components), and Te Reo class is the language literature component, and japanese will be vital for his karate and where he wants to head later with his karate, travel etc he will pick up Spanish again next year in his spare time the school argued that the MOE has to know WHY this student (and others) aren't taking drama or music I said kapa haka is performance drama acting singing etc etc and is cultural heritage too, perserving waiata and legends etc his Te Reo teacher and Japanese teacher all supported his request very strongly so that helped too. They finally agreed and I know that there are not 1 but 3 other students are taking 2 languages 1 other girl does Maori/Japanese and another student does French/Japanese.

Samuel has just had an interview with Tpo District Council with the Asthma Funding programme for Asthmatics "Swim For Life" our co coordinator here in Tpo district secured $100K of funding for swim programmes( to roll out to all schools in our district) and the Asthma foundation put in a substantial amount of funding for children/students who had Asthma and needed SWIM LESSONS, we applied beginning of this year and Samuel couldn't swim 10m without huffing and blowing and or stopping, (has never had swim lessons) they and the coordinator is looking at presenting Maori/PI swim programmes to encourage more attendance and are using Samuels story as their Guinea Pig poster Boy, he had to do a write up and they Council and coordinator were blown away by his writing! THEY hope it will bring more people to apply for the funding which is under used!

They KH group are hard out this week and next, 4 day practices for another competition on Nov 13th the group has been asked to powhiri and perform at a CONTACT ENERGY launch at Mt Tauhara Dec 4th WHERE we will be bused to a location and the group has A WOW FACTOR performance for the Kaumatua and guests in the guise of an out style haka and true AMBUSH will be spine tingling stuff thats for real, they have to perform at Senior prizegiving Nov 10th and then another competition then Junior prizegiving, then final assembly!!!!! THEN that's it for the year! phew!!!!! Samuel is down to one night a week karate whilst this is all on and then when school finishes will go back to 2 nights a week karate I will get a 3 month swimming pool card for over summer so he can keep up his swimming and stay on track. BUT I am looking forward to no school as this last month is CRAZY!They the KH group might also be doing 3 day busking over xmas to fundraise for early year competiton in Rotorua. (thats a HUGE competition)

I do hope everyone is keeping busy and only 56 ish sleeps until xmas! eeeekkkkkkkkk

Ciao
Sharon

I love the holidays....................

2010-10-05T12:18:00.002+13:00

Samuel and I have slept in every day until 9am ish one day until 10am (but very late night) as 2 of the week nights he had friends stay over, we have played upwords,scrable and crib, in the first week when weather was cruddy, this week we have been out in the sunshine gardening early morning until 1045 11am ish when it is getting too darn bright/hot (dare I say that), I have caught up on all my jobs pulling beds out and furniture and vacuuming under everything will do edges tomorrow and thurs mow lawns thursday wash sheets and air blankets so all caught up pre going back to school TERM 4 OMG!!! as Sunday we have KAPA HAKA practice all day.

Samuels school finish on Dec 10th they have approx 8 weeks schooling left BUT 1 week is strike interrupted, 1 week is year 9 activities week so in effect only 6 weeks of school then 6 weeks holiday!!! gawd give me school any day! I have been working on my pre tan tan all this week in the sun too, nice

Samuel karate club has just secured from Wellington and Auckland THE RIGHT to hold next NATIONALS Aug 2011 (I know right before the RWC) but we are thrilled we have raised so far $2000 and need to raise another $15000 in 11 months very doable and if we succeed and do well Takahashi may very well say Taupo Nationals ALL the time it makes sense there are Wellington people Auckland people Whanganui people and New Plymouth people Turangi and Taupo we are the most central place.

I love this weather and have scrubbed me BBQ and got it all ready for the onslaught of summer YAY YAY YAY.

Hope everyone is having nice holidays too.

Ciao

Kapa Haka Festival was great....

2010-09-22T20:31:00.005+12:00

On Wed 15th? I think yip of september the TNT(Taupo Nui a Tia) Kapa Haka performed to raptuous applause!!!! the boys did a "Poi" stint and my son got to perform doublehand poi tricks and single handed poi tricks (he was the only one) and the crowd went wild I will have some amazing photos soon I hope of his get up he looked like a true blue Maori Owwwwww. The other boys did just single poi single hand tricks they had a ball we sold 600 hangis on first day sunny on second DAY hail rain and wind NOOOOOIIIIIIICCCEEEE! not.they are now in training for Wairakei performance A big affair, and next years Te Arawa festival!!!! BIG HUGE DEAL!!!!!

Tomorrow is my babies birthday he will be 14 yrs old!!!he is set to head to Sports Awards and its semi formal got our tickets today as he is nominated and I do hope he receives something ON HIS BIRTHDAY would be soooooo cooool he feels bummed he has to attend school at night on his birthday but the lure of food and nibbles has him leaning towards its ok !!

I don't need to speak of the FOUL WEATHER!!! but it is cold wet windy and rainy and I am over it over it!!!! my house resembles Wing Wah's laundry 24/7 now!!!! (except today it was sunny ish!).

I got my son a mini mini speaker "Divoom" to run his MP3 off and it is the dinkiest thing he is charging it upa s I type so he can use it tomorrow on his birthday, it runs his cellphone music through the speaker and a notebook, pcp, gaming devices, ipod's so pretty darn handy!! 2 people I showed today went and bought one each I thought WOW thats pretty impressive not bad sound considering.....

He is getting music vouchers, t shirts, smellies, games, PS2 stuff and other items that I know of so far so all in all he should have a nice birthday we are having his favourite dinner spag n meatballs, and garlic bread and chocolate cake for pudding then straight off to Awards.

Labour weekend is a big event here for Karate and did I say Samuel has improved out of sight one of the senior black belts said to me a few weeks ago he is getting stronger and faster and striking harder (he bloodied the seniors face and HAD blood on Gi to show me!!! nooooiiiiiiccce!)

I hope everyone is keeping sane and ahead of their washing piles!!!!!!!

Ciao

And another weekend bites the dust!

2010-09-05T20:49:00.002+12:00

A huge week swimming,karate,kapa haka, rugby organising(wind up do), and then Friday Saturday Sunday cooking for 24 people dinnerx2, Brekkiex2,lunchx2, I made lasagne, casserole cooked sausages and french toast with bubble n squeak! and DIDI a small mountain of dishes THE KIDS help though and not alot of sleep was had.

It was cold and the practises were long and involved, but alot was achieved, and now for the polishing the boys found out they have to wear "maru" g strings under the bum flaps THAT was hilarious....

When we got home we unpacked the CAR from blankets, clothes mattresses and food, AND did 2 loads washing, I had a karate meeting to attend then I came home and vaccummed cleaned bathroom toilet and kitchen Samuel vaccumed) we then fell down into chairs exhausted (cornbeef in crockpot) had mashed potatoe and pumpkin and veges!

We are now both heading to bed and I BET I snore heaps!!!!

Ciao

I have this coming week off (fingers crossed) and I will be at school Monday, Tuesday organising Rugby folder for our Thursday night POTLUCK dinner YAY (organised by me), Wednesday at school Thursday cooking dishes for the potluck dinner I am going to do a crockpot of chilli mince and one of curried sausages AND a pot of RICE.

I hope the weather holds out for the week

2 DAYS in a row sunshine UNBELIEVABLE

2010-08-23T13:16:00.003+12:00

We have sure had some rain, and although rugby has finished doing your shopping/chores/business around town makes for miserable times when its raining!!!

Samuel has been hard out practicing for Kapa Haka he is thoroughly enjoying Te Aha Maori Classes and Te Reo, and they had planned a weekend Wananga(meeting/hui) August 26th (night of) all day 27th-29th!!! YOU eat sleep and breathe Kapa Haka I put my name down as kitchen bitch!!!!

YIP you guessed it get to school Friday arvo to pick up Samuel as per usual (school just finds out A RAVE is on that Friday of the Wananga) and hastily moves weekend meeting forward to yip the weekend just gone on 2 hours notice! I have been cooking dinner breakfast lunch supper morning/arvo tea for 20 people and will do it all again on the 3rd sep-5th sep!!! the last "RAVE" that happened and the students were at Marae practicing etc, a head count revealed EXTRA BODIES!!!! haha so never again the Maori Teachers said its too hard too contain 20 students let alone the hanger ons!!! lol

I did my famous chilli mince A HUGE HIT, in the crockpot of course, AND my equally famous butter chicken these are dead simple and I just add noodles to one and rice to the other NOT HARD. Lunches were baked stuffed potatoes as I wanted the kids to have complex carbs as they rehearsed Fri until 1am sat morn and then rehearsed Sat sat night until 12.30am Sunday I did cheese on toast for supper and soup (once again in the crockpot! pumpkin soup homemade) I had 3 crockpots 1 was mine 2 on loan!!

I did cooked brekkie both mornings sausage bacon french toast and grilled toms with spag and baked beans mixed. And made savoury scones muffins and me yummy Chocolate cake (Black forest with cream!)

Now amazingly several of the students had never had chilli mince OR butter chicken and they loved it I put the usual into me chilli but this time I added rissoles cut into quarters and mince onion garlic toms spag tinned and tom puree along with grated carrot grated courgette chilli beans mushrooms Now several of the students came back for seconds and I said to them AT the END what was in it you should have seen their faces priceless I got "ohhhhhhh I don't like carrot/garlic/mushroom onion BUT I could not taste it in that your the BOMB WHAEA"(pronounced "fire" means mother), I made homemade butter chicken sauce and they loved it yet when asked what was in it you know curry spices coconut milk chilli they were amazed (what do they eat at home!) Samuel was laughing he was like gee you guys I am spoilt! and yet for us it is just a matter of assembling and letting the crockpot do all the work, I did easy peasy stuffed apples with sultanas and cinnamon and brown sugar for pudding one night and bread and butter pudding the next night easy stuff really.

The next meeting I am doing stuffed potatoes for lunch corn fritters for another lunch they are having roast pork one night and roast chicken the next night and the usual cooked brekkie. But a request has been put in for bread and butter pudding and the chocolate cake surprise surprise!I must say though not much sleep went on and they were tired I WILL remember to take ear plugs next time OR sleep in my car with the seats folded down like I normally do where it is peaceful and quiet!I can fit JUST a king single mattress in the back of my station wagon is VERY handy.

We got home around lunchtime emptied car (which was a disgrace) showered did 2 loads washing got them dry miraculously and had lovely chicken chasseur with mashed carrot and parsnip garlic mashed peas with fresh mint and butterfly potatoes! I did however manage a nana nap in that time too and do some grocery shopping. Had an amazing sleep NO WONDER! and am back on deck today.

I hope others have had productive weekends and been doing my SHARE of relaxing!

Ciao

A fantastic weekend despite the RAIN..........

2010-08-16T21:01:00.003+12:00

4 hours in the RAIN at RUGBY wet heavy cold rain AND mud for AFRICA!!!!!!

It was the highlight game of the season our boys lost BUT they lost with style integrity and PURE MANA!!! the haka at the end of the game was UNBELIEVABLE!! one that stopped the whole crowd and the supporters AND the 1st XV teams and supporters arriving for next game! The coach of the other team was in awe of the TEAM and their spirit he spoke to them and encouraged them to GO FORWARD and build on what ALOT of other teams dont have HUGE HEART!!!! I was so proud of them AND to show it they DUMPED the entire water bin over me and I got a team hug and chant and "WE LOVES YOU MRS MASON"!!! I cried and thank god I had spare clothes (right down to socks shoes and undies ) the 2 rotten coaches rung in their apologies AND I WAS it again BUT I am pleased it was me.......

Karate was great long tiring but great SAMUEL secured two 3rd placings a commendation so in all had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend HOWEVER as of last night I had lost it big time I cried and threw myself into bed weeping and so dog tired I cried myself to sleep!!! AM a bit jaded today and battle wary, but know another good nights sleep and I will be right. After driving to karate thurs night friday night up early sat morning in the cold wet and rain all day saturday it felt like and then driving to karate sat and turning around and doing it again Sunday I was wiped out!!!!!!!!

And now it is sort of relaxing time I just have to organise a rugby end of season lunch/dinner and thats it.

I hope everyone got through the wet n wild weather ok.

Ciao

Karate Rugby Karate Rugby Karate Rugby

2010-08-13T13:24:00.002+12:00

We are nearing the end of Rugby season for our team (they have played their hearts out), BUT they have had no COACH for 4 weeks and it has showed NO one person would put there hand up and coach these boys 2 dads did but one works shift work another could only do every other thurs and not tues AND NEITHER of them could front on a SAT, (one cant drive for gods sake!) then no one would turn up THEN one QUIT because he wanted FULL AUTONOMY (some players are brilliant one has already been poached for RBHS Rugby Academy) 4 are in the King Country Rugby Development side and there are 5 - 7 players who have MEAN skills (my new bestest word!) the rest have GREAT SKILLS but need guidance and commitment and their SKILLS BASE built up!. I am desperately trying to secure FUNDING and COACHES for next season BUT dont know why the schools dont DO MORE these are some of the naughty boys YES ADMITTEDLY but they DEFINITELY need strong leadership, continuity, boundaries, and a person who has Mana and Respect (alot of parents want me too step up) BUT I have this thing where AT 13/14/15 yr olds THEY NEED MALES there not a mum/female/organiser (which I am brilliant at) coaching I dont know ALOT of teams refer to me AS THE COACH because they havent seen the OTHER MEN ever on a saturday and YES the boys cetainly listen to me thats for sure THERES no mucking around WHEN Mother of the Brothers is there (their team haka has BROTHERS featured very strongly in it! hence my nickname).

I am in awe of these boys they are a ramshackle lot with drive and determination BUT their commitment levels and stickability need working on AND A PASSION for the game only comes from a strong switched on coach! Who can keep them focused and on track.

Now I do realise that it is a HUGE commitment to say yes yes I will coach the team BUT if you as a person say you are going to do it WHY then would these men NOT COMMIT to it THEY (we ) all knew the time frame of the season it was clearly marked out and FORMS were given out outlining grades times and length of season, THESE boys will flounder IF left and drift away AND YES some will definitely be in more trouble (and already are) if NO ONE SCOOPS them up and sorts them! (I soooooooo want to Blindside some of these boys the "fixer" in me is very maternal towards some of these boys...

Then there is Karate! Karate over 4 days 3 hrs last night 3hrs tonight 5 hrs tomorrow and 8hrs Sunday (competition day NZ NATIONALS!) Rugby will be finished AS of tomorrow 12noon and then ONCE this weekends over we are taking a chill pill for a week or two. Karate is great for Samuel and can be and probably will get him places (ie tournaments and travel etc) Samuel just completed his Year 9 Speech and is in the finals (once again last year he got 2nd by 1/2 a point in Yr 8) his speech was on Karate something he is clearly passionate about and IT SHOWS, he is growing before my eyes HIS new Gi that was purchased by his Sensei 1 week before AUSTRALIA trip is creeping up already (too short) thats been just on a MONTH! He now wants to add a bit more height so he can play 2nd row in rugby a s a FRONT lineout jumper!!! (yup get him!).

So it looks like my years of Rugby and or Karate aren't ending any time soon!! Oh joy maybe a coaching seminar HAS my name on it! AND that said A NEW JOB as I now want to at least put my hat in IF ASKED (which means afternoons twice a week and Sat off in Rugby season!) OR some kind person will sponsor the team (they even had to play in 2nd hand uniforms that weren't the best and most of the team shorts were A: too small B:or ripped from previous teams!) my thinking is if you treat a team shabbily and poorly and with little regard WHAT can you expect back THIS GROUP of boys will go through the grades together until school finishes I PRAY something changes soon!!! (I am very protective of these boys and defend them too the hilt when I have had too THE PRINCIPAL and I have already had words STRONG WORDS), some of their family situations and circumstances ARENT great and don't make for pretty reading at all! they are a collective group and a big group and most are all friends(15 of the 24) and knock around together WE ARE trying to steer them into Waka Ama and Kapa Haka to give them Whanau and togetherness and a sense of family and belonging I have also put my hat in for HELPING with Waka Ama and Kapa Haka. Which I am thrilled about (I know both the Te Reo Maori teachers and they are thrilled I am there too!)

It is a vicious day out COLD SUPERWINDY and miserable YAY we get too stand in it tomorrow for RUGBY!

After this weekend I will definitely WORK on some PHOTOS!!!!

I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

Ciao

Well survived the COMEDOWN of excitement..

2010-08-05T11:26:00.002+12:00

of the Australian trip BUT only just!!! ONE very full of himself LAD and he has grown another 4 cm in like a month HE is towering over alot of people and played his FIRST ever EVER position in rugby as 2nd row in the lineout AND made every jump and every pass WAS even more so full of his own importance! eeeekkkkk (I am growing a monster!)

I will try hard to post some pictures soon of aussie BUT I am having problems resizing photos and downsizing grrrrr it is doing my head in, not much else to report Samuel is hard in training for the NZ National CHAMPIONSHIPS in AUG 13th - 15th!!! Iam hoping he A: goes up a dan(from 1st to 2nd) B: does well and improves on his last efforts to feel MORE important( oh yay) C: gets choosen fulltime for the NZ team!! or is strongly indicated for the TEAM Takahashi Shihan is here for the Nationals and is here in NZ Samuel will get the luxury of another 5 days training ACTUALLY I will post his KARATE REPORT he did on the trip for the NZ Magazine Karate Kicks Butt!!! (lol nah I dont know what it is called I'm just being silly!)

Queensland Trip Report 2010

Well for 7 weeks now I have been fundraising, and after writing countless letters, organising sausage sizzles and walking around Taupo selling raffle tickets I have finally raised enough money to head over to Australia. And it should have been easy but no I went and fractured my toe, which meant no Karate, Rugby, Rugby practice or school sports even for 7 weeks. And I only got medical clearance to leave 2 weeks before competition day. Right away I got set packing my bags. Togs, clothes, sunnies jandals camera, ah oh yea and my Karate Gear. Then there were the phone calls and e mails to Grant Stove organising the finer details (poor Grant mum is such a worrywart).

On the day of the flight I am not nervous at all, and as the plane taxis down the runway, lift-off! We are on our way! Heading through Brisbane customs (must not laugh… at accent) and then we head out into the wonderful world of… Motorway? Yep 5 hours on a plane then another 4 ½ hours driving, past places like Gin Gin and Gympie and Moojimbia and I thought that NZ place names were strange. We finally made it to Childers and had met our host family we were just starting to relax when I get told that I had to get my Gi on. What!? We have training today?

Another 4 long days of training with Takahashi Shihan ensue. Which include blood, sweat and breaking sticks. Learning new Kata, improving old Kata going over and over basics and improving Kumite skill. And the BUNGEE CORDS who bought the bungee cords? They were just wonderful! Added tension to your arms just to make the hard training harder. But it was worth it, I have come home more STRONGA! FASTA! MORE TWISTO! Ah yes very good.

Saturday competition day already? First of all the Kyu grades battle it out in Kata and Kumite. Working up to brown belts then team Kata then finally it’s the black belts turn. I had to do Heian Nidan as my knockout Kata. Not my favourite but I still tried. And with my Kumite I thought I would do better than I did but oh well I will just get them next time. The finals done everyone was lined up Australia one side NZ on the other, the all important haka begins TARINGA WHAKARONGO! TARINGA WHAKARONGO! KIA MO! HI! Oh yea those Aussies were scared. The fighting was intense a blood nose, sore bones, bad bruises and a hospital bound person. Knock em down! NZ win TEST MATCHES 5-4 woohoo.

After the competition we get our good clothes on and head to the Isis club. A great end to an amazing week. Good food, good company and lots of dancing. There was a lively band playing old schools songs and a game of ball rush going on outside on the field. The last day was an early start and after saying goodbye to our host families it’s another 41/2 hour trip back to Brisbane airport. But the trip was made more enjoyable with techno music blasting from our phones we were a mobile rave! The music reverberating in the minds of the slightly hung over Sensei’s, a few laps around the airport shops it’s finally time to board our plane, it was great fun in Australia and I had an awesome time but it is wonderful to be heading back home. As the plane is coming in to land the captain announces its 3 degrees down in NZ. 3 degrees! Yep we are back home. Thanks to Grant and Mark for organising a great trip. and to anyone considering heading away on these trips, do! It is a fantastic opportunity

Samuel Mason, Taupo

And a kiwi has landed!!

2010-07-26T03:59:00.003+12:00

Yay got one very excited tired boy home... HE HAD AN ABSOLUTE BLAST!

Although he was tired he yakked all the way home!! I didn't recognise him when he came out his hair was spiked up and he had FRIGGIN DJ Dane Rumble shades on FUNNY!

I left Taupo at 9.45pm MET a lady on the way at Cambridge to drop off 38 Animorph books she bought off me through Trade Me (like EBAY), arrived Airport 11.40pm flight arrived 15 minutes past midnight EARLY! and only had to wait 10 mins.

We just got in car and drove, we stopped Tokoroa for MCDONALDS as Samuel hadn't eaten since 6pm and WAS STARVING we ate on the side of the road by the MOBIL garage (TOKOROA!) it was flippin freezing DEW and ICY grass all the way we are going to be in for a boomer frost.(we were in the car though).

Got back at 3.15am Samuel had quick shower to freshen up and wash hair he felt stinky and yuck, emptied training bag whilst he was in shower, then tackled the small suitcase 2 small loads washing one on now and I'm waiting till it finishes 10 mins time to put next load on(and we are done!) and well he's in bed now tucked up I had turned electric blankets onto 2 before I left and had oil heater timed to come on at 2am to take chill off air (although I have a nightstore I had seen that we are going to be -3 !).

Strangely I am not tired funny that but I am in pyjamas and I am heading to bed probably wont drop off straight away but bet I will be tired later on today IF I don't sleep! I do however have to go to work at 3pm.(must remember to set alarm!).

Thanks to everyone who helped in getting my son over there and thanks for the well wishes ONE HAPPY MUMMY now son is home!

EVERYONE have a good day whilst I'm sleeping!

Ciao

Traveling home again................

2010-07-25T14:29:00.003+12:00

Samuel is on his way home they are leaving Childers 2pm after morning training and their flight leaves 9pm.

I spoke to him this morning he sounded fine a bit bummed HE LUCKED out in the kata and kumite fight rounds (knocked out in first rounds) not KO knocked out just eliminated. BUT in the all important NZ Australia test matches he WON his bout!!! IN FACT NZ won the entire test match match ups!!!

The boy at training he has been beating frequently over last 6 months he blardy lost too, HIS words I sucked BADLY!

He did however factor into that conversation the night before he had had fish n chips for dinner AND at midnight was helicopter vomitting and managed to redecorate the entire toilet!!!! (blurk) I spoke to the billet mother and she don't worry he was fine after we got him to the shower and cleaned up and back into bed etc, he said he felt weak though so never mind A WEEK of training and then intense fighting has probably taken its toll poor little bugger.

At least now he knows what is involved and what to expect he said his words "There was black eyes blood noses and A ZONED out before he hit the mat fella!!! was intense mum intense!

I have missed him terribly only text him 6 times rung twice SO I think I didn't do too badly in the scheme of things .

He has a CD of pictures to bring home with him so that will be cool when I get them loaded I will have a photo display up.

I am off to have a nana nap now as house is warm and I am tired I worked this morning only 4 hours in an emergency WAS not happy being woken up I can tell you!

Enjoy rest of the weekend.. my cellphone and landline will be off over the next 24 hours (due to coverage and SLEEPING) so IF anyone is trying to ring THEY wont get me!

Ciao

Rang Samuel and A PHOTO at last...

2010-07-22T08:59:00.006+12:00

IF you click on the photo you get an idea of how TALL my son is getting he is nearly 14 the other boy at FAR LEFT is 15 and Samuel nearly reaches the DAD at the BACK !!!! I also hoped to send him away with his old Gi to wear so to save his NEW Gi for competition days Sat/Sun in 2 weeks his old Gi has gone from fitting to NOT FITTING too short in legs and arms, but he took it so he had a spare anyhoo.DUHHHHHHHHHHHH I forgot I had already put this up (gee I must be tired!)

I managed to get billet information we weren't supplied with any before they left, the billet parents have family in New Plymouth and she the mother knows Taupo well (she was thrilled with the mountain and lake scene coasters she could name all the mountains and that impressed Samuel). She has a 13 yr old boy too and older children 19 and 21. SAMUEL is having a ball training is relatively easy he says, AND THE BILLET parents have a PET SNAKE!!!!!! they get to hold it tonight when the DAD is back from his job (works in the mines).

He is managing his contacts ok, woke up yesterday came out in shorts and singlet and the host mother was like OMG its freezing he said why whats the temperature she says 10 degrees he said "heck it was -5 at our place last week and -3 and -2!!" he said its warm but not stinking hot so that's good.

The billet family are in charge of the canteen and food at the tournament so SAMUEL is in pig heaven!! they also had Wii, PS3, and a pool he will be sad to leave me thinks!

I said I would ring on Saturday night once the first day of tournament rounds is done.....

So I can relax a lot now it peed me off that our NZ guys couldn't or didn't supply billet information when I asked last week I mean your child traveling overseas and you don't know to who or exactly where they were going to be based!

I am still in me pj's YAY

Ciao.

Got a text yay

2010-07-21T08:23:00.002+12:00

Heard form le said child he text me late last night a long text flight ok trip up ok food ok im ok (lol) and bits inbetween.

Mary H he has his own cellphone I acquired one through friends (for him to keep) before the Aussie trip so at the very least I could ring him.

Had a good sleep after the Monday night debacle! Just only got up 30 mins ago as I work int he afternoons 2-6pm Tues/Wed/Thurs got spoilt for dinner at my friends house Roast Pork! all the trimmings.

Am off to town son too mooch.

If I could warm up!!!

Have a good day.

Ciao

One kiwi off to KICK AUSSIE BUTT!!!

2010-07-20T09:04:00.002+12:00

Well I am back home in Taupo, we drove up to Cambridge (10mins or so from Hamilton Airport) stayed at Cambridge Motor Camp arrived 8pm by the time we unpacked made beds (you had to take own linen only $50 for the two of us) in the same CABIN NEVER AGAIN, gawd my son is a restless noisy arse sleeper rustling scratching farting snoring sheesh!!!! I was awake at 12.30 pm 2.20am 4am up at 4.50am at Airport 5.30am!!!!!!!! and just as well shyte it was busy people everywhere. Had breakfast there well something light anyhow. Took 2 photos and said our goodbyes I cried a little (choked back the sobs I am such a friggin booby when it comes to my son!).Traffic was awesome on way up and back was worried last night though as there WAS alot of FOG on the way there and THE SENSEI drove up from Turangi 3.15am this morning he said there was alot of FOG too!

Arrived back in Taupo 8.30am AND HOW IN THE HELL does one manage to make ONE WHOLE LOAD of washing overnight!!! I forgot to take a towel and had to dry myself with my PYJAMAS (ohhhhh yuck!) I then washed sons pyjamas too and the sheet I took that covered the windscreen incase of frost! (was none but it rained a little!) emptied car of sheets blankets (small oil heater that we took to make the cabin cosy!) and dressing gowns Large bag of washing! and am airing car out.

So with that I am now off for a nana nap once washing is finished I am SHATTERED completely shattered!

Sun is out and I am blardy going to bed again!!

Have a great day.

Ciao

SUNNY DAY and 2 more sleeps.....

2010-07-18T09:42:00.003+12:00

Samuel had a sleep over Friday night 5 teenage boys SLEEP over was not an appropriate word for it more like talk and giggle fest!!!! 3am finally when I said please settle down you have 5 mins then I am seperating everyone and ONE will have to sleep in my ROOM!

We all awoke around 9.30am and had a HUGE cooked breakfast and boys went home around 1.30pm... WATCHED the All Blacks last night YAY (wish Piri had stayed on and N OT USELESS TITS Cowan!!!)

Got last minute doctors things (liquid nebules for the PORTABLE nebuliser) and dispensation letter for that medication.

Samuel received his team shirt they are "Silver fists!!" He looked great and a club photo was taken with both the boys going and their club mates.Only about half the club were at training on Thursday night.

I have a measley amount of washing done to put into the suitcase jeans and shorty pyjama pants things (got those at the warehouse $2!!! got more underwear!! for the trip $2.47 a pair!!!)

It is 2 more sleeps and today we will pack car we are staying at a Cambridge Motor Park (just have to take our own blankets), and its only 15 mins from Airport.

Might do some gardening today IT IS a beautiful sunny day and NO FROST even!!!!

Enjoy the last day of school holidays ........

The MOST amazing thing happened today.....

2010-07-13T23:20:00.002+12:00

Samuel and I have been parked outside Countdown Pak n Save throughout the holidays selling raffle tickets for his up and coming TRIP in just 6 MORE SLEEPS.

As you do you speak to loads of people and chitter chatter well I do the most chitter chatter, anyhoo a lady comes over says"Oh hi to Samuel nice to see you" she asks me about him and I speel off int the whole history AS YOU DO, she says how nice it was to have a young man speak to businesses himself and selling like he did HER and HER husband were very impressed with him, they bought around 10 tickets one day last week. SHE then went onto to say she would buy some more SHE did she bought 5 more..............................................................................................

BUT ON LEAVING she shook my hand and put into it $200 in $20 notes and said "I know how hard it is to fundraise and you must be so proud of your young man this is for him!!!", I knew it was more than $100 I could feel the weight of the bills, I WAITED until she got in her car and I unrolled the bills $200 BLARDY DOLLARS I was blown away Samuel when she left gave her a BIG HUG and towered over her and said how grateful he was, he beamed she patted his shoulder and was beaming herself I BLARDY CRIED didn't I I am such a BOOBY at times.

We also whilst there sold 85 tickets and got around another $15 in just donations!!! people are so damned generous and it blows me away.We are selling again tomorrow and then that is it for us until FRIDAY and then feet up over the weekend.

WE have all necessary medications forms clothes shoes toiletries and TRAVEL cabin bag. SAMUELS karate Dojo instructor SHOUTED him a BRAND NEW Gi to travel with so that was so kind I have washed it twice it UNSTIFFEN it and had his DOJO badge sewn onto it so we are ready to go now.

We have been experiencing HUGE FROSTS -5 twice this week, followed by -3 frosts 2 of those and tomorrw only -1 whoop whoop and boy the payoffs are STUNNINGLY sunny days almost SUNBATHING weather!!! haha NOT.

I get to pay forward my good fortune tomorrow to another person whom will be unsuspecting of it but will guess its me, THE sooner you pay forward the better it is for everyone.

Chill out everyone NO pun intended.

Ciao

The BIG CHILL..........

2010-07-01T08:57:00.002+12:00

The biggest frost this winter has arrived AND I was out in it at 7am dropping a language student off at SKI SHOP for SKI TRIP!, then straight to school to drop Samuel off for the "Manu Korero Trip" which meant up at 6.15am and in the shower AND MY GOD it was freezing WHY didn't I shower and wash my hair last night and blow dry it then WHY!!!!

Samuel house colour day was a blast, HIS outfit got a prize (chocolate bars), his friends loved it most off the Rugby team (Maori boys and PI boys) loved the HAT!! Teachers said where were the GIRLS!!!! and one man at the petrol station SAID PIMPS need big as glasses with BLING so that's what I am looking for today glasses to add to the DRESS up box.

That is after I have hung out 3 loads washing (where does it come from) well dress up stuff, swimming stuff yesterday JELLY wrestling clothes and a set of sheets and I am one of those people whom wash colours separately and white things together and towels and sheets separately.

I am now doing more ironing then have a rugby meeting at school, I have chicken legs and thighs in onion rosemary sauce in crockpot and have SQUEEGEED (wipe blade) all our windows in the house THEY were running a river this morning and they seriously needed clearing that is the pits! Consequently I have every window AT the other end of the house open clearing night air from the rooms and drying rest of windows off THE lounge door is shut tight and when I went down the other end of the house HOLY CRACKERS the cold air is shall I say "it takes ya breath away!!".

Right I have spare time so ironing it is, and a hot cuppa tea (now that is unusual for me you know its cold when I'm drinking hot drinks!)

I hope everyone is as warm as I want to be!!!

Ciao

CLEARANCE whoop whoop..........

2010-06-30T08:33:00.008+12:00

Houston we have clearance. Yesterday the sports ortho doctor gave Samuel clearance to go to Aussie, he is NOW over the moon he was quite down in the dumps I had realized he was anxious and worried but seeing him yesterday he must have been secretly holding a lot back (at least he can do that because he was quite a different lad last night).

AND on an unrelated note MY SON was 168cm in FEB they were weighed and measured yesterday at LIFESKILLS with proper doctors sliding measuring tape he is 179cm!!!!! he has grown 11cm in 4 months!! (holy fark he is shooting up way past his friends now I saw the 4 of them on the weekend and he is way above the others!) and 59kg!

SO Aussie $ were obtained $450NZD for $350 NZD eeekkk that's with handling fee I might add, insurance paid for, seminar paid for,Aussie internal travel paid for, TICKET GOT, all he has to pay for is Departure tax!!! YAY.Medical forms obtained to cover traveling meds, and copies of medical clearance has to be taken, ALSO had forgotten that in International sport competitons BANNED substances come into play and VENTOLIN is one of them so a dispensation letter was got for that!!! personal first aid kits got, and they needed VINYL sparring punch mitts WHY? I hear you ask because the normal cloth mitts soak up too much blood and the spectators find that gross!!!! (go figure the vinyl ones are easy wipe!!!! noiiiiccccceeeee)

I will get the billets present next week IT is our FAMOUS Lake Taupo shot looking across the lake towards the snow mountains (on coasters!), these are my most favourite gifts, some on here have had them Jaxx I got a big picture of that scene (she loved that scene), Chris got coasters cause she LOVES the cold ha ha (NOT!), you can get lovely scenes and even fishing and boating scenes the other boy is getting his billets a glass koru.

Today is Start of "SPIRIT" week at school and my son well lets just say its right up his alley! Today is house colours day tomorrow "T" day and Friday famous dead person!! He is ALL RED today and tomorrow unfortunately is representing school at a Manu Korero competition (Maori debating and speech and has to wear his uniform) he is guttered because he wanted to GET out the MR T outfit you all remember that one don't you?I will post a picture of todays EFFORTS!!!!! The bottom of the pants has faux fur and the collar bottom of sleeves has huge faux fur and the bottom of the jacket is 1/3 faux fur I scored that entire outfit for $12!!!!! (a bargain!) The photo is Samuel and his mad as just as crazy friend!! They looked superb (his friend is BLUE house if you hadn't guessed already!) CLICK on the pic to get the FULL appreciation of how DAM bright the outfit is it is also velveteen the other material and is shinyish!

I am just ironing and hanging out washing today IF IT EVER warms up!!!!! Oh and heading to bank to pay for travel insurance and blue punch mitts (he has red BUT they needed both colours as they would either be fighting in a red corner or blue corner depending on opponents colours!)

Have a good day

Ciao

End of a WET WEEK....

2010-06-24T20:45:00.002+12:00

Tomorrow ends a thoroughly wet and nasty cold week (frosts, winds, RAIN HUGE RAIN!) ohhh and Rugby yay go the Maori!!! ohhhh and more rugby Saturday night! GO the AB's .... not too mention Under 14 Rugby yay ! Go our team!

In answer to Anonymous questions yes we got a $88 refund on sausages took a lot of working out on their part but not how I explained it there was 22 bags at 4kg per bag we were quoted $3.99 per kg they charged $4.99 per kg simple really 22x4 = $88 overcharged took them awhile to get that figure BECAUSE each bag weighed different some had more than 4kg some had less (it was shall I say hair-pulling) material SO I JUST said look average it out because they only priced and stickered one bag and scanned multiple bags yay see. After 10 mins we all agreed on $88.

Samuel is hard out selling raffle tickets $1 tickets to WIN $708 worth of jewelery and we have sold 350 tickets so far he is selling all over the holidays and with only 25 days left to go IS BESIDE himself......

I do hope everyone is staying relatively warm!

Ciao

Fully into RUGBY

2010-06-22T12:39:00.002+12:00

I drive my friends and family insane in RUGBY season I am an addict and an avid follower of all things RUGBY!!!

But I do draw the line at driving 3 hours to a UNDER 14 game and changing warming up TO HAVE NO BLARDY team arrive to play us THEY DEFAULTED (yes I am yelling) game scheduled for 11.30am they arrive with 13 players and had to default due to A: lack of numbers AND B: also they did not have NZRFU and BOP corresponding paperwork (ie team draws and identikit NZRU photos)! We played them any way in a friendly (we had one of our boys sent off YES in a friendly and they beat us 30-20!!) had they had they right amount of players and paperwork they would have had a WIN!

It is disappointing that Coaches and Team Managers aren't pulling finger and abiding by the rugby rules! I arrived at carpark at 7am with 45 HOT out of the oven sausage rolls for the trip (they were devoured int he carpark before we left!) ONE delicious bacon and egg pie gone before Rotorua, 12 bananas and 12 muesli bars gone before Whakatane!!! 3 x 2litres of water that was just the 11 in the van I drove over, there was a small people mover with 6 boys they dam near ate the same amount!!! and a car load of others.

IT was a thoroughly neat day we were all very tired and glad to be home, this Saturday we the team are only traveling to Rotorua! THANK GOD!

Our language student Chen has finally gone home we will miss him and Chris H made the most beautiful card for him and he thought it was "too beautiful" he said!! He may be BACK in mid July which I thought was even funnier.(he may come back to us until end of year or next February when University starts I suppose because he sat his Entrance exam 2 weeks ago.

We have had some mean as rain and wind and HUGE FROSTS! but today is only 9 degrees and sun is out my clothesline I hope doesn't snap IT IS CHOCCAFULL!

Hope everyone is having a great day.

Ciao

It has taken nearly...

2010-06-11T13:38:00.003+12:00

all week to recover from Fri/Sat/Sun and then MONDAY marathon hell clean!!!! I feel I am nearly back to 100% firing on all cylinders!!

WE have been swamped with rain and DEAR GOD I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow for RUGBY!(watching it is cool watching it in the rain is not cool!)

I am off to do some quick cleaning then into town to get son. GET all the rugby stuff sorted for tomorrow DRINK ORANGES WATER BLANKETS wet weather gear etc injury stuff and then REST!!!! Having yummy shepherds pie with mashed potatoe on top.

EDIT most of water and oranges done cleaning half done!!! off to finish rest now I AM OVER CLEANING this week I TELL YA!

Hope everyone has a nice weeekend (stay dry where you can)

Ciao

No rest for the WICKED...........

2010-06-07T13:46:00.003+12:00

I have decided I must be WICKED for the whole entire WORLD!!!!!!!!!! then cause have I rested Errrrrrr NOOOOOOOOOOOO.....

I didn't reset my alarm and off it went at 6.30am AFTER the BIGGEST EVER weather RAIN BOMB hit our area I swear to god I thought the roof was gonna CAVE IN it was UNBELIEVEABLY HEAVY!!!!!! that was at 5am!!!! and it woke me up it was thrashing onto the windows I woke with a start so did the cat!!!!!

SO there I am awake at 5am but went back to sleep then ALARM went off at 6.30am SO up I got RAIN PISSING DOWN i had brekkie got dressed THREW me famous spaghetti and meatball/rissoles into crockpot for tonights tea AS I ARENT COOKING or chopping anything else and WENT BLARDY grocery shopping at 6.55am !!!!!!! I was the only stupid MAD person in that supermarket I then went and got petrol and then went to pak n save as they open at 8am I FORGOT FRIGGIN dishwash! (dont ya hate that)....

I was home by 8.05am and I STARTED!!!!!!!Rubbish day here for me (how exciting BUT it is when you have normally only half a rubbish bag) and I had today 3 rubbish bags (BBQ rubbish) and I walked it down in RAIN!!!! ONE VERY FULL recycling bin AND 12 large boxes that the SAUSAGES came in (hellers) and SHYTE they are nice sausages too..... I get that all done get back to house WHERE ARE MY CAR KEYS oh poopy bugger snot bollocks I then tromped through three bags of rubbish and a bin TO NO AVAIL!!!!!!!!!! I unpacked groceries from car AND LOOKED in there a gazillion times went back to the rubbish again NOPE!!!!!!!! and thought to hell with it I was so wound up and shitty and WET BY THEN I didn't care if the DAMNED keys were in the rubbish or not!

So I then unpacked groceries inside and kept looking for keys WENT to bathroom 3 times NOPE not in the bathroom cupboards where I had been!, not in my bedroom where I had been, NOT in the pantry where I had been BY NOW I WAS livid!! but I still kept unpacking and looking, and TELL ME WHY you keep RELOOKING over the places you have already looked in!

I then had to put away night befores dishes that had been washed and I CLEANED benches, MY HOUSE was a PIGSTY!!!!!! literally I thought I am sooooo tired BUT this has to be done (Samuel had not long been up) he put away and cleared surfaces ahead of me and also DID HIS LUNCHBOX up for tomorrow folded our CHINESE LAUNDRY washing off the clothes horse, SO I started I wiped benches windowsills fridge microwave, kitchen cupboard doors, I then dusted (wet wiped), CLEANED light switches wiped doors door frames, (I knew my period was soon) and guessed it would come today or tomorrow BECAUSE I get the mean hell bitch CLEAN FREAK going on and go like a whirlwind!!!!I then thought why is MY GEORGE FOREMAN grill crooked and THER UNDER THE GEORGE FOREMAN was my friggin CARKEYS I dodnt remember putting them there AND HOW I missed the when I was wiping benches I will never know!!!!! ( although I moved everything else to wipe under it I DID NOT move that)........ THAT all took 3 HOURS!!!!!!!!! and it was only 11am!!! WTF

Samuel in that time had vaccummed and wet wiped the skirting boards and vaccummed edges, and tackled GARAGE as it was pissing down last night when we finished we just pushed trailer into garage, we unloaded sorted and repacked car with my every day normal car things, ( a camp chair umbrella sun umbrella jumper leads soft chilly bin bags etc you know all the usual things some books to go to Salvation Army shop a top too, some bread trays to drop back to pak n save, so MY unpacked clean car IS PACKED TO HILT again!!!!!

ALL that took too 1pm we have had ham and tomatoe and cheese and spaghetti toastie sammies I have IRONED 4 days worth of ironing only took 40 mins!!! (but that was only cause I was tired!) I was starting to FLAG (as you can imagine!)....... I finished at 2pm I AM officially over it and glad I have done a mean as super clean I am deliriously tired have a sore base of my neck though across shoulders, I need a jolly good massage!!! (I may use hot wheat bag actually) I HAVE NOT BEEN WALKING but dont care!!!

I am going to the movies at 4.10pm to see BLIND SIDE and I am going to practice escapism for a couple of hours I will enjoy my dinner I plan to be in bed at a resonable time though......

IF you made it through to the end of my exhausting POST go LAY DOWN NOW!!!!

Ciao

We are tired as BUT we managed GREAT.......

2010-06-06T22:26:00.003+12:00

Friday and Saturdays BBQ's were great FINE frosty cold as, TODAY RAINY BLUSTERY WINDY and BLARDY AWFUL!!!!!!!! but we have 25 sausages left out of 1300 and 2 loaves of bread THATS IT!!!!!

We have packed the car 3 times TO THE GUNNELS unpacked 3 times and then CLEANED UP 3 times we are BBQ OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had so much fun though and it is always nice to hang with my son AS TIRED as we were we work well together as A WELL OILED team...... He is as fussy and methodical as me and quite the trooper!

His 4 friends helped us and WITHOUT them we couldn't have done it at all...........

We have cleaned up and done dishes and sorted and packed away we both showered and washed HAIR cause shyte onions and sausages stink AND we are ALL CLEAN again....

WE HAVE NOOOOOOOOOOOOO plans for tomorrow NOT ONE (although housework must be done and wash floors) truly I have 70 loaves of BREADCRUMBS and tromped through shit on my floors!!!!!!!!!!! I thought there is no WAY IN hell im cleaning up until its all over rover...... I will potter through that slowly and I have to do GROCERY shopping tomorrow BLURRRRRKKKKKKKKK I am going to do it EARLY AS so I can not be in traffic and public arena BECAUSE traffic and town will be hectic........

I hope everyone has enjoyed themselves over the long weekend and IF it isn't raining tomorrow A WALK BECKONS for me A LONG ONE to blow out some cobwebs!!!!!

Ciao

SAUASAGES SAUSAGES BREAD BREAD ONIONS ONIONS

2010-06-05T07:02:00.003+12:00

HOLY cow sausage sizzles are well underway and we have 1200 sausages 68 loaves of bread and 25 kilos onions AND MAN we stink of onions and sausages..........

WOKE to frost and bitter cold temperature yesterday but fine day AND where the BBQ are situated at TAUPO warehouse you are in shade ALL DAY it was however a good day and we all had FUN, we are now off to do it all over again we have sore feet sore backs our hands stink of onions YES we use gloves (but being the organised person the onions have been pre cut the bread is already servietted up and ready to go THE sauce bottles are FULL!!!!!!!! (we use drink bottle squirty ones).

We have tables stools to sit on if required tongs a plenty GLOVES and Countdown (yes we went from Woolworths to Countdown this week), has stored the sausages until we need them THAT is great.

HOWEVER they quoted me $3.99 kilo for precook each bag $16.20 get there and its $4.99 and now the bags are $20.90, $120 more than we budgeted ALSO THE BREAD lady didnt order our 68 loaves of bread!!!!!!!!! there was none for us and NOT enough for us to purchase so we have had to race around getting bread!!!!!!!!!!! THE MANAGER of countdown and I are having a meeting on Tuesday and the lady that quoted and wrote us down for $3.99 sausages (as I had it written down as per kilo and the bag price too) isnt back until Tuesday hopefully we get our $120 back as goodwill, and the fact that I had to spend $150 on bread at another supermarket (and miss out on the onecard points on that!), oh well we press on.

STAY warm drive safe and have a nice day

Ciao.

Pray HARD.....

2010-06-01T11:29:00.003+12:00

Just over 2 weeks ago whilst at karate Samuel injured his right little toe( a green belt 4 belts lower than him) did an arm block right block WRONG BLARDY ARM came down at right angles to his toes outstretched he was fully extended and she A LADY of 45yrs age managed to fracture his toe. We went to the doctor when it happened,he was understandably guttered and we are now playing a MAJOR WAITING GAME!

We went back to the doctor this morning and he says NO RUGBY for at least 3 more weeks potentially 4 weeks so thats 6-7 weeks no rugby!!!!!, no karate for at least 10 days to 2 weeeks which means a total of 4 weeks off karate AND WE CANT get clearance to go on AUSSIE TRIP for at least 4 more WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! which makes it 6 weeks mark!!!!! (with only then 19 days until trip HE MAY not get clearance!) and thats what concerns me IF he is carrying an injury HE MAY very well DO MORE DAMAGE whilst away and possibly FAVOUR that injury and foot/side and do damage anyways OR heaven forbid get hit again in that spot AND FRIGGIN FAINT from the pain!!!! (as ya do when ya stub ya toe anyhow IMAGINE a fractured toe, LITTLE toe at that!) because they have a lot of jumping and landing on ball of foot outside edge of foot and kicking off tiptoe stances!!!!! and of course the MERE FACT you are expected to kick into objects bags and BODIES when competing!!!!!!

Thanks CHRIS H for listening and thank god I didn't howl I nearly did and there is something so gutteral about a heart wrenching sob!

I have one very upset munchkin it didn't help that when we are both upset we only have to look at each other AND BAWL our eyes out SO no eye contact at docotors walking to car he was slumped over head down then dropping one sorry self to school and NO EYE contact at school office I WANTED TO SCOOP him up and cuddle him to me.

SO I got on the phone to my witchy brew lady ( my naturopath) and WHY in the hell I didn't think of it before Arnica Symphytum LIQUID for internal injuries and severe trauma I blardy used the cream form when I MUNTED my foot leg and calf in a horrible freak accident! and he can take some calcium and heres hoping that in the next 4 weeks we/he makes a GREAT recovery. THE body language and look on his poor face was heartbreaking the TRIP is all but paid for and I have thought EVEN if he went and didnt compete but trained as training is 4 hours a day 2 hr sessions twice daily he would still get GREAT EXPOSURE! and if he didnt get to compete WHERE it is full contact chest and groin protectors it is no holds barred so thats way more physical.

I am getting ASL (Arnica Symphytum Liquid) soon and he can have some at school lunchtime today I have rung ahead he has to meet me and then this arvo and before bed IT IS 4- 5 times daily then back to 3 times in 3 weeks and then twice daily 1-2 weeks after that so FINGERS CROSSED and pray hard I know he is fit and strong and healthy but please let him be right.

It is raining and miserable cold and disgusting enough to match my demeanor I am trying hard to think positive and be positive I have to ring CHAIRMAN of KARATE tonight as forms are due this week to be faxed and completed and sent on!!!! FINGERS and any delicate TOES you can muster!!! please cross!!!!

A worried mummy

Ciao

Holy cow WHO took the WARMTH AWAY!

2010-05-26T11:36:00.003+12:00

Jesus its freezing today!

I re read yesterdays post I SHOULD point out THE COLLECTIVE we is not me (I am not going ) for me to go it is another $1300 NZD ($480 flight $90 taxes $200 travel and $88AUD PER NIGHT for accommodation as I am not member I have to pay accommodation) and that amount doesnt take into consideration INSURANCE or SPENDING money so there is another $600NZD at least! so at nearly $2000 I definitely wont be going!

I woosed out this morning I had 2 meetings with RUGBY coach of all teams at college and principal and by the time that finished IT is raining HARD and icy rain sleety yucky cold RAIN! MAYBE I should walk undercover in town and only get partially wet.!!!!

I have yummy meatballs in crockpot with pasta sauce ready for Spaghetti tonight and vege platter!!!

I am now in BBQ prep mode and will get into town to organise more stuff after lunch and then hopefully tomorrow relax a little !

Stay warm infact stay inside!

Ciao

Karate updates....

2010-05-25T21:52:00.002+12:00

THANKS to Samuel's amazing effort in selling $600 worth lego stuff and AMAZING buyers from trade me (some of them over the moon to get lego) and generous buyers (ChrisH and family), we were halfway there.....

Lake Taupo Sports Advisory Council agreed to $200 cheque (then we get a phoencall it is UPPED to $500!!!!!!!!)

This afternoon Lakeland Lions has put in $300 so all in all we have THE MONEY for Samuel to go HE IS SOOOOO DARNED excited and I am so proud of his efforts towards going.

It will go fast the 7 weeks and I am meeting with the HEAD Sensei this saturday to fill in forms we will be at doctors to get medical clearance and letters for INHALERS and medication he will be taking with him too, have had bags checked for appropriate size (cabin one) went to Airport and put it in the measuring device!, have had towels embroided and bag WITH sponsors LOGO (organised today) have got the permits and prices for the BBQ (sausage and onions and bread and all that stuff) have BBQ booked for Queens Bday Fri/Sat/Sun that will be club BBQ to go towards Samuel the other boy and the Instructor from Taupo so thats all good.

Next week around WED rest of the money will be paid to CLUB for Samuels fees and competition and travel (when in Aussie cause they still have 300kms to travel once landed), then just have to purchase mouthguard and gloves and punch mitts. (my Employer is getting that so thats good too!)

YAY we nearly ready to go infact we probably could go NEXT WEEK at this rate!

Well now that I havent walked for nearly 2 weeks I am raring to go and get back into it! (yes int he rain too!)

Hope everyone is staying WARM and DRY!

Ciao

Happy Birthday to me...

2010-05-20T22:49:00.003+12:00

I have had a lovely day and THANKS to all the well wishers **42** today, I spent the whole of last night camped out at MHJ getting $1 jewellery for fundraising and YIP ($700RRP later) we spent a whole $2!!!!! 17 hours camped out and with every blanket in the house there AND even chairs and a lazyboy and the trailer we were sorted.

I spent the rest of the day CLEANING out car blankets clothes food shoes uniforms beds pillows etc and then showered did 2 loads of washing and then ate and then SHOPPED (grocery) then worked THEN homemade pizzas for dinner, THEN THEN THEN we went and met Chris Stew Brylee Griffin Teddy and Coco WOW COCO is so damned cute TEDDY liked us once the barking stopped (2 mins flat), Samuel and kids had fun, WE YAKKED (not long enough) I GOT a bootiful card THE PINK LADY BOOBY ONE!!!!!!! and it is lovely, thanks Chris the other cards very very nice.

HAD beautiful chocolate mud cake and cream, diet coke and THEN we had to head home!!

Everywhere i went today I told people it was me birthday and I had a nice day !!!!! VERY TIRED only 5 -6 hours sleep last night so off to bed now .

Ciao

Sales Sales Sales.....

2010-05-15T06:34:00.003+12:00

It is exciting when you sell things and my son even more so. I get home yesterday and 4 more sets of lego SOLD, Chris H thanks (Samuel was blown away) Griffin will be excited as hell I'm SURE!!! so the running toal is up to just over $600 I was awake at 5am stressing about whether we will infact get there, OUR applications to hold 2 BBQ's on Queens Birthday weekend have been accepted so we have one at our local Warehouse and one at Whitcoulls NOW I Know for a fact that if it rains in Taupo you are BUSY BUSY and TOWN is hectic! so fingers crossed WE are having MONDAY of Queens Birthday off AS A REST DAY we will both be knackered!.

All in all we are doing as much as we can and thats all I can do. I also was up filling 8x2litre RUGBY water bottles as spares and CUTTING 9 oranges into segments! have packed car (last night) with the follwoing TARPAULIN, large wollen blanket, waterproof blanket, chairs and a 4 step FOLD OUT GAZEBO!!! CAUSE its raining and cold and yuck! waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa WINTER sports just gotta love them!oh and me trusty sunbrella YOU can fit loads of people under a sunumbrella.

IN RUGBY season I wear proper hunting and fishing gear TOPS mainly and of course trousers to keep warm and generally have 5 layers on and run around with a large sun umbrella!!! (yip to keep the rain off me I hate poncy little umbrellas THEY are hopeless! I need a big grunty GALE PROOF umbrella!

Well better wake me boy he NEEDS at least 30 - 40mins to relax AS HE does his contacts!!!! (patience is not our best trait !) we have to be at SCHOOL at 8.15am! eeeeeeek after me telling RUGBY TEAM off about being late IT had BETTER NOT ME!

UPDATE rain held off BUT we used all the water for injuries and drinking used the FROZEN water packs for A BLACK EYE and shoulder injury USED the woollen blanket twice for INJURY stops and one of me fold out chairs, ORANGES ALL GONE CHUR cool eh!

Have a dry warm weekend!

Ciao

Slowly does it......

2010-05-13T22:50:00.003+12:00

Missed out at LTYASC (youth advisory sports council), but have forms from lions, kiwanis and waiting to get a call from baytrust. SAMUEL sold more of his lego last night for $75 so he has $160 from that and have sold Narania books for $100 so we are nearing $500 THE college principal needs letters and will present to the board next week (phew lucky) and FINGERS crossed $200 there!! I am going to email right now the CHAIRMAN in Wellington and plead for some funding and if he can put it too the committee and they vote on it see what happens.

Have guy from Youthtown here in taupo he knows me well PUSHING along for Samuels cause so HOPEFULLY we may have something there boy its tiring talking to and ringing places and retrieving forms!!! I have been running around like a mad thing most forms being fastposted so we wait some more. It is gathering some momentum and I so hope he can go!

Aside from all that I am busy with Rugby and work and form filling out and listing stuff on Trademe NZ website (version of Ebay). Worked lasy night until MIDNIGHT am very fragile and tired AM going for a huge walk ont he weekend to blow out some cobwebs and think!!!!!!!!

Hope everyone is having a good week so far.

UPDATE 10 mins after listing STARWARS and SPIDERMAN lego sets they sold on Buy Now (knew they were too cheap darn it!!!!) oh well there is another $60....... I had emailed previous lego buyers too let them know NEW listings and voila TOO LATE they are gone!!! (Samuel will be thrilled!!!)

Ciao

Well the wheels of industry doth

2010-05-12T12:10:00.002+12:00

turn ever so slowly I have application forms BUT some have to go to head offices etc and well it could be 7 - 10 days have spoken to the College Principal and am awaiting his decision (sounds favourable but who knows)waiting for Waikato Sports House to call back and have all the paperwork we need and letters and presentation folders sorted so NOW we WAIT, am waiting to hear from Youthtown AKLD office have forms in to get permission to hold BBQ's and we wait!!!! Have 2 more people to see about permission for BBQ's and then thats it. It is all a waiting game. AND this is what I am fearful off that in the waiting we may miss the deadline for the finances to be paid (oh well I am positively hopeful).

I even went as far as too my bank BUT I am a solo parent and although I have worked for the same people for the last 6 years I dont work ENOUGH hours, (shakes head) I have no DEBTS no HP no creditors. (and we wait), but alas my income doesnt support the amount we would need. AND I sure as hell aren't going to a loan shark NO MATTER WHAT (I am just throwing that in there I am desperate BUT NOT that desperate!)

ON an amazing note Samuel sold his first lego sets got $55 and the paid him $85 so we have nearly $400 we are nearly 1/3 of the way there....... and there are sooooo many watchers on all his trade me auctions so that is super cool (fingers crossed).

Ciao

The LONG awaited news......

2010-05-10T23:48:00.003+12:00

3 Weeks ago Samuel was asked if he wanted to go to Australia with the NZ team as an individual not in the team though THEY said they would send details I waited 10 days I hounded our Karate Dojo master, whom in turn rang appropriate member, finally stuff arrives AND heres the rub: NZ TEAM was selected last July (Samuel just missed out then as he had only had his black belt one month), BUT as it so happens he has been training against a NZ JUNIOR TEAM member and whipping his butt!!! He was extended an invitation NZ TEAM have known since November that there would be an Aussie trip and have made funding applications to Youth Advisory Councils etc and had most of their trip subsidised (then club will top up NZ TEAM members only!!!!!) WE (me and Samuel by ourselves have to come up with $1300!!!in less than 7 weeks I am DEFLATED)

I dont have that sort of money and he IS DESPERATE to go I feel useless and helpless as a parent that I cant afford it, BUT we have listed alot of stuff on TradeMe and have just missed out by 3 weeks in the Lake Taupo Sports Youth funding (which pees me off), HIS dojo master is so keen for him to go, as he said tonight he stands a GREAT chance a securing a place and some medals!! I said well maybe the club should pay half (he said they can't), ITS like they are dangling the carrot and now we will run out of time!!! THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS are next year and THERE is talk the NZ TEAM will be bolstered by performances at this Australian event.(I didnt tell Samuel that part)

I have an appointment with the college principal to see if the college will fund some of his trip, and hopefully I can put some money towards it I have a measley $300 IF I could sell my soul I would! My budget is extremely tight and I need a small miracle if he is too go, we have to wait for OFFICIAL letterhead to have a letter to allow us to hold a Queens birthday weekend BBQ at Warehouse (on the sun/mon) and one in town on the saturday if WE dont hurry someone else will beat us to it!!! these places need to know what and who you are fundraising for I understand that I do.

I am not going I cant afford two of us to go AS MUCH AS I WANT TOO, I am off to think, and try not too stress, Samuel spent all weekend arranging his karate folder and papers and has 1 other folder with achievements merit excellence and SPEECHES made his most recent top marks papers from maths science etc, and the letters outlining costs and events and where the TRIP IS etc, and lastly his own CV letter about his goals and achievements to date he spoke to YOUTHTOWN today and we have to send a letter to AUCKLAND Youthtown on official letterhead which I wont get until after THIS SATURDAY so that will leave less than 65 days to raise the money!

HE is selling his much prized lego sets, books, and star wars stuff WHICH HE IS VERY reluctant to let go but he knows it all helps.

Cross all your fingers and toes we are going to need it.

Ciao

WE have given up waiting AND GETTING annoyed

2010-05-05T08:04:00.003+12:00

NEVER MIND hopefully soon WE will have news!

Have been super busy working doing extra days Teacher Aide days and now am Manager for our U14 Rugby team IT HAS 27 13/14 yr old BOYS!!!! (they soooooooooo need managing).

Walking is going great ALTHOUGH very cold am only doing 7km - 10km walks and trying for a long walk every 2nd weekend NOW that rugby is upon us!

Have purchased heaps of DRESS UP costumes for sons SCHOOL SPIRIT WEEK have a kings costume, a sailor costume, super moustaches a chinese sanpan hat thingy and a SUPER COOL red chinese kimono cotton black edged jacket!

Got some contact lenses for Samuel for rugby and he wore them to school yesterday THINKS IT IS AWESOME!!! $210 (consult fitting and lenses 95 pairs of lenses) so thats a good deal I think.

THE FROSTS have arrived big time yesterday very fresh, THIS MORNING bitter tomorrow morning UGLY BITTER I bet!!!!!

Well I am off to warm up and walk now that the freezer outside is starting to thaw and try to get some washing dry when it warms upand the sun gets around on my line!.

Ciao

NO NEWS YET......

2010-04-22T11:37:00.002+12:00

nadda. zip. nuffin.

Ciao

Finally end of week TGFT....

2010-04-16T15:53:00.002+12:00

I have worked 44 hours I normally only do 25!!!! 30 MAX! I got to lay in though until 8am and didn't start work today until 11am finsihed 3pm thats all good I walked before work nothing strenuous today I am not walking tomorrow or sunday I am RESTING!!!! I have VERY VERY BIG NEWS!!!

But alas I can't say until Monday or Tuesday of next week could even be later thatn that I HOPE NOT cause tis exciting!!!

IF it is sunny tomorrow or sunday I am laying in the sun ALL DAY well at least 40 mins EACH SIDE!!

I am going to read YES I AM I am going to lay in YES I AM I am going to have a relaxing weekend (might squeeze in some V8 watching too!).

Have a lovely weekend everybody.

Ciao

Yikes I am busy busy busy YES!

2010-04-14T08:23:00.002+12:00

Sorry I am so busy RUNNING around after kittens I am out the door generally before 7.30am for a couple of hours then back in afternoon and then once dinner is done and dusted back out to the kittens again!! (blardy things) thay are cute though! In between all that I have been gardening and washing usual stuff BUT NO blardy sunbathing darn it all. CANT do it at the place where I work as tradesmen are there (they are working around my comings and goings GIBSTOPPERS).

I have managed 3 walks only in the last week but hey thats better than none.

Jackie Auckland maybe I was walking so darn fast all ya saw was a BLUR!

No seriously I do most of my walking around a 2.3km lap block by my home.So if I am doing a 10km it is 4 laps then the 1km lap at end taking me just over 10km and I work it out like that, IF I do really long walks I walk ONE WAY and organise someone to get me at the end like 14km,16km,18km etc.

Have been known to be dropped off at Wairakei SH1 9km North out of Taupo and then walk to 3 MILE bay 6km out of Taupo heading South SH1.

Just a short note washing is finished and IM out the door to kittens.

Ciao

Im a JINX..........

2010-04-07T08:35:00.003+12:00

I must have jinxed the weather it pissed down all Tuesday afternoon and through last night WE DEFINATELY need the rain thats for sure BUT have awoken to sunny skies BUT very cold.

Went for a walk early was very CRISP!!!!!! makes you walk a bit faster I'm sure.

Over Easter I forgot to say I got given a few eggs AND I REGIFTED them to others (so A: I wouldnt eat them and B: I only like the marshmallow ones (pinky, pineapple lump and that range of flavoured ones from cadbury and pascall) I thought a good idea of mine thats for sure (means we or I DONT OVEREAT on the EGGS!!!)

AM heading into town to BRAVE the hordes yesterday traffic atrocious! town madhouse getting to BANK near impossible FINDING a park even NOT HAPPENING oh well will bite the bullet and go PLEASE PARKING FAIRIES be nice!!!

***UPDATE*** was only in town for 90 mins have so far this morning WALKED done 2 loads washing, grocery shopping (forgot friggin dishwashing liquid I HATE THAT wasn't on list and I had made a mental note too!) paid 3 bills parked in town and walked to where we could YAY. Only place had too wait was POST OFFICE paid for 3 trademe trades (like EBAY) groceries away and dont start work until 1pm so all in all a good morning. UMM too cold to sunbathe BUT got some good sunbathing in over Easter might brave the breeze (which I need it too be breezy to dry the washing!) but makes sunbathing NOT CUTEY.

Have a great day whatever it is you are doing.

Ciao

Glorious 4 days off.........

2010-04-05T14:48:00.002+12:00

I have done sweet fanny annie, walked sunbathed and READ and didn't leave the house over the entire EASTER weekend until today at lunchtime TRAFFIC not too bad BUT IDIOT drivers HIGH!!!!!!

Went out to Taupo Motorsport Track to watch a friend race spent a couple of hours out there and have just come home, we are having a BBQ tonight YAY, had opur Roast Chicken the other night then next NIGHT ROAST LAMB with allllllll the trimmings last night sweet n sour homemade sauce and homemade meatballs with rice blardy beautiful....

Have only had 2 marshmallow easter eggs the PINKY ONES they is my favourite!!!!!!! and a small handful of mini easter eggs candy covered shell ones HAVE had lovely lay ins until 8am!!! which in fact is 9am!!!!!!!! (daylight savings finished here 2 nights ago so WE wind clocks one hour back!!!)

Am at work tomorrow and all week then family is away for 5 - 7 days and I AM ON little kitten DUTY!!!!!! they are super cute BUT super naughty!!! (brother and sister!!) they get seperation anxiety IM SURE!!! I can at least let them out in the morning and jolly them along and then they get shut in at night for there own safety!! ( I will take day trip to Rotorua though I told them I am not hanging around all day for kittens!!).

The weather has been glorious just glorious long my it continue into next week too.

I hope everyone has had a lovely Easter and have been relaxing and enjoying family time.

Ciao

Yay 4 days off........

2010-04-02T12:35:00.002+13:00

Finally four days off in a row WHOOP WHOOP...... The weather brilliant BUT friggin COLD MORNINGS (like frost n fog), walking brilliant, food brilliant (like still eating lol) no seriously food very good, 10 hours at work yesterday because not working today or Monday (so I get flogged ).

I got up at 6.30am walked 10km then we into the housework have done all the usual including windowsills and edges, 2 loads washing even wiped out the microwave done 2 cutlery draws and one (THE KITCHEN JUNK DRAW), pantry tidied and the plastic cupboard YOU all know the one the one where EVERYTHING imaginable gets jammed in thru the week the lunchboxes drink bottles and then on Saturdays we normally tidy it, but its a day early, school shoes out airing in sun sneakers out airing in sun,school bags out in sun, IM gonna be out in SUN very shortly!!!!!!!!!!! sunbathing.

Lawns mowed WED and groceries sorted SHIT we were on to it this year no mucking around WE were in and out like troopers!!!!!! DIDNT even forget anything so that is even better I made delicious fish pie last night smoked fish fillets and smoked fish tinned and the marinara mix that you buy from supermarket FRESH mixed in with white parsley sauce homemade and topped with mashed potatoes and served with peas AND GARLIC BREAD!!!!!!!!! being last night was COLD IT was hearty and warming!!!!!

We are having Roast chicken and veges tonight AND I have peeled all the veges and made the platter and got everything ready SO I am now in relax holiday day mode!!!!!!! easter eggs all sorted and wrapped up in cellophane etc. Tomorrow night I have sweet and sour sausage meatballs and rice with bok choy (my friend and I have planned all the easter meals as for the first time in 5 years she has 3 days off at Easter!!!).

Son had an awesome week got First exam results back Excellence in Social Studies, TOP MATHS SCORE YR 9, Excellence in Science. HE HAS excelled and I was so thrilled for him he is applying his time accordingly and I said to him it pays in the end and you are retaining the information obviously. He spends approx 45 mins to 90 mins on homework each night and on weekends me and him do revision questions and pop quizzes. ( shit as the questions get harder I sure as hell wont be passing them!)

His sports is really coming along now too Karate is now into FULL contact sparring so I needed to get PADDED punch glove mitts not full boxing gloves and he is LIKE WHOOP WHOOP finally contact!!!!!!, Rugby he has to train for a 3KM time trial so he has run home 3x this week in 2.3km 14mins UP A HUGE HILL, second day to my work 2.7km 12 mins (no hill), and this morning 3.3km totally flat 15mins (one stop for his asthma)he probably set out too early as air temperature was very COLD, so he is aiming to run everyday thru holidays as their time trial is first week back IF the time set by coach isn't achieved they are cut! Also school has their cross country end of April and he wants to do well their HE did really well in school athletics and made it into all of his running events to finals AND FOR HIM thats a huge achievement.

It is lovely to be home and I am glad all me jobs sorted I am now going to sunbathe and relax.

HAVE an EGGciting EASTER!!!!!

Ciao

Hurry up Daylight savings........

2010-03-30T12:16:00.002+13:00

IT is blardy DARK and cold now when I am walking AND I DONT LIKE IT!!!!!

Only another 8km I am getting in extra JUST in case of rain because I am determined NOT too get wet and cold and miserable AT the beginning of the season!!! (Autumn/Winter).

Forgot vital ingredients for spag meatballs so into town straight after walk WHILST grocery shopping SUCH cheap meat and bargins I decided TO SHOP today instead of tomorrow PROBABLY WISE CHOICE, got home whacked crockpot on high CAUSE normally its on at like 7am didnt get it on until 11am!!!! LAST late Tuesday night YAY Ia m a bit over late nights if YA HADN'T guessed!!!

Apart from that had yummy ham and egg lettuce burritos with tomatoe and carrot and NOW heading into shower BEFORE work starts have teacher Aide work tomorrow so that was another reason for a double up of walking ......... and groceries so in hindsight I have saved myself less stress alround..

My neighbour NEARLY lit her fire 2 nights ago and last night I TELL ya we will be lucky to make it thru the next 7 days without the fire I reckon!!!!!

Hope yall doing something nice today.

Ciao

Just a plodder...

2010-03-28T09:36:00.002+13:00

Only walked 8km this morning was nice though I HAVE NO JOBS TODAY no LISTS and nadda happening WHAT A FIRST for me eh!

Sunny again and I am going to sunbathe again, lounge around and generally do sweet fanny annie.

Have roast chicken for diner sorted (veges all peeled) green veges all cut I do a platter of everything and just blast it in the microwave with parsley margarine and black pepper for 4 - 6 mins and voila green vege medley done.

I could be gardening I could be doing housework BUT I AREN'T going to ... I have no inclination to do that today for some reason (Friday I did the sheets and change bed thing so I am caught up with washing and ironing etc).

With Easter just looming I will do some gardening over Easter and mow lawns maybe tues/wed and DO our grocery shopping WED so we don't have to venture into TOWN!!!! (I hate Taupo at long weekends and EASTER) it is bedlam WHAT I do love is just mooching in town knowing I don't have to do SPECIFIC jobs in town with the THOUSANDS of others, I can even WALK into town and get picked up as everyone will be here for the racing and I will have people around to at the very least pick me up should I need to.

WE are all looking forward to Easter and the break in ROUTINES will be nice AND the fact school holidays are then starting it is even better YAY no getting up early no rushing no RUNNING around to rugby/badminton/swimming (karate however goes all year round and the only days off is xmas and easter!!).

Samuel rugby coach is organising practices for holidays so that should be interesting ..... hope it all fits in with our plans and my work etc, sure it will. Oh and NO MORE LATE night working YAY!!!!!! Thats even blardy better.

Have a nice day.

Ciao

Walking walking walking....

2010-03-27T08:50:00.002+13:00

I walked on Thursday I walked this morning EARLY like 5.30am early I couldn't sleep I walked 12 kms then went back into bed to warm up (well LAY down) and have just surfaced WAS very FRESH this morning BUT the sun is out and it will warm up SO I will lay in the sun probably. Havent heard from up the line, I TEXT'D Jason yesterday evening Howz it going are you settling in ok keeping busy blah blah blah GET BACK "yes" very helpful not! Oh well he is pottering around today fixing someones oven, and says its a hell of a lot warmer over in the BAY lucky bugger.

Have worked walked and whinged all week, have had some restless nights sleeps but managed to have better sleeps last 2 nights (because I put AN EXTRA blanket on the bed AS I think I was cold! I know I was cold!). Or maybe because of the following indiscretion!

Forgot to say when I went to the movies I had a very SMALL one scoop icecream made them find the smallest, AND I SUFFERED for 2 days HEADACHE, INCREDIBLY SORE TUMMY, BLOATED, ABSOLUTELY FOUL WIND (sorry TMI), and no toilet for 2 days then A RESULTING MESS on 3rd day blurrrrrrrrrrrrrk, was a silly mistake and I knew I would pay for it BUT hells bells come on, for 3 afternoons wed, thurs, fri I felt gross and really had no energy and CONTEMPLATED every day going home early and just wanting to LAY down and rest! TODAY I feel mucho better no tummy ache no headache no bloating and suprise surprise no WIND!

WILL walk again tomorrow and then into 10 - 12km walks next week am going to walk every 2nd day and STEP it up a bit and walk 2 SUPER long walks over Easter seen as extra people will be here to act as PICKER uppers If I need to be. And on Easter Monday when everyone is out the RACE TRACK (car) I am going tp walk approx 16km a 11km walk loop from my place then approx 5km walk out to track not sure on that exact distance to track from town BUT its close to that when they drive it I will get someone to measure distance out there and adjust my end accordingly.

And when I arrive at the track there will be hot chocolate and HOT FOOD there for me to carbo load on (oh and my scrummy protein biscuits!!!)...

I am off to have poached eggs and tomatoes on toast.

Have a nice weekend whatever you are doing.....

Ciao

FOOTNOTE about pissy DOG!

2010-03-24T12:33:00.002+13:00

I forgot to say I rang the council, they rang me back this morning APPEARS this dog has other indiscretions, he has chased and bitten the postie, rushed a young girl (girl was on road biking learning to ride out with DAD) causing her to crash and fall and injure her hand and knee, RUSHED a mother with pram trying to bite the wheels, IT IS its 4th indiscretion in a month THE OWNERS defence the DOG IS OLD and grumpy well GUESS WHAT SHOOT the fucker (well humanely put down I guess in PC terms for others who need PC reassurance) BEFORE it seriously harms someone OTHER than an adult!!!

NEXT footnote I HAVE NOT HAD BREAKFAST AND I AM NOW PISSY myself!!!!! I have just made myself tuna and pasta BECAUSE I seriously need food, NOW I remember what used to annoy me about this particular male friend, this is how it started.

LAST night I get a text RING ME tonight at 9.30pm at night I of course was at movies, THIS person knew he was in Taupo for a few days and SAYS" oh well YOUR loss on coming out to dinner had you answered we could have all gone out once again you miss out" MY RESPONSE "Get stuffed, you knew you were coming RING ahead and at least forewarn us, I dont generally drop things for other people YOUR no different, however I DO HAVE an organised TIMELINE for my week I could SQUEEZE you in say next week" (I only speak to him in those endearing terms!) BUT in the person to person call he then says no worries AFTER I have finished in the morning WE WILL have breakfast MY DEFINITON of breakfast is any time from 7am - 9.45am!! then it becomes morning tea until 11am THEN IT IS LUNCHTIME from 11.30am until 1pm NOW SO I didnt walk WHICH in hindsight I should have (it is NOW PISSING DOWN with torrential rain! and FREEZING COLD) I am still frozen although NOW headachy from lack of protein and carbs!!! A little better from just having eaten though. I start work in just over an hour and will no doubt get a call or text later (or not as the case normally is with this particular friend, I do use that word loosely here) I always tell him how in the hell you have a successful business is beyond me, he just roars with laughter (we are the same antagonistic personality and banter off each other almost like brother and sister banter makes for VERY heated discussions at times!) He also knows I will tell him is time management sucks the big kumara.

I am now making a peppermint tea TO relieve my headache!

Please be warm tomorrow!

I am walking a 15 km tomorrow DONT care if his lordship is WRITING A CHEQUE for a million dollars HE CAN jolly well wait!

Whilst a charmer he is not, being on time is not one of his greater points, MIND YOU with all the moaning I am doing today I AM SURE as hell not much of a breakfast date or a lunch date person at the moment I WOULDNT want to take me OUT EITHER!!!! AND I look like an eskimo WRAPPED UP too.

End of yesterday.........

2010-03-24T08:19:00.004+13:00

Was a washout I worked and then decided to go out for some escapism (for me thats the movies) saw Maos Last Dancer, was a really nice movie but arrived home A: tired B: quite emotional whether thats what movie or combination of tired and sad parts of movie not sure had A ROUGH SLEEP and should be walking BUT I AM awaiting a friend who is taking me out for breakfast NOW I WISH I had gone walking (although it is FREEZING!!), and I wish I had eaten at 6am CAUSE I AM NOW STARVING, and feeling more starving by the second!!! Maybe I should walk so it takes my mind OFF FOOD!!!

We have cloud cover and because of rain yesterday it has caused a COOLING effect it is COLDER NOW than at 6.30am this morning I have just put long sleeve top on with short sleeve top over that and A CARDIGAN I started the morning in a short sleeve t shirt!

I AM COLD because I am tired!!! Thats a given, I WILL HAVE poached eggs for BREAKFAST to protein load AS I CAN feel a crap day coming on otherwise!! I should have turned my electric blanket on last night CAUSE I was cold in bed too!! OH well we live and learn I suppose.

I am going to put my walking gear on and try and do some walking BUT sure as eggs the text IM awaiting will come and that will be that, I should have said I am walking first thing how about 9.30am!!! I do hate waiting for people, he said I have some things to do in the morning then we will have breakfast!!! WELL WHEN cause its fast becoming my MORNING TEA time!!!! lol

GAWD at this rate I will be having a FULL COOKED BREAKFAST christ you dont realise how hungry you are until THE next morning I had dinner at around 6pm last night and have not eaten since (Tuesday for me is Burrito night!) and considering I make my ONE burrito with lettuce leaves as the wrapI havent had carbs since yesterday mid morning!!! I should stop talking about food CAUSE I am making myself worse, off to have DRINK OF WATER!!!!!! (WHOOP WHOOP)...

***UPDATE***

Have eaten one piece of toast with marmite and cherry tomatoes and black pepper I feel a little better SUN is desperately trying to break through IT IS TRULY FREEZING I am not walking I am COLD!

My goal today is too make it too dinnertime without a NANA NAP!!!

Hope it is warmer where ever you are.

Ciao

GOOD GOD some women!!!

2010-03-23T11:26:00.002+13:00

DO that at a beauty parlour IT TOOK 3 hours nearly inbetween drinking WELL her drinking me drinking bubbles and orange (Cause I had forgotten school had half day today) must REMEMBER to A: pick up SON, I had A COOKED BREKKIE delivered to BEAUTY therapists to help soak up the bubbles (I only had 2 glasses) my friend and the therapist we all shared THERAPIST only had half a glass.

Appointment was at 8.30am and went until 11am WAS VERY VERY NICE, the therapist knows us well and was lovely it always is warm in there and smells nice and YA sort of nod off I suppose (maybe that was the bubbles).... I am suitably relaxed and warm oh and my hands and feet feel nice MY face is all glowing so IT was lovely.

I didn't hear from Jason as such, I text him at like lunchtime Monday just to say "I hope you arrived safely , as I didnt hear from you, I know you were busy busy Sunday, hope you had a great sleep!" I get back "Sorry YEP arrived, and yip good sleep!!! Funny, he will be busy this week sorting change of Doctors and re registering into mental health system up there and WINZ etc all those things, so NO doubt I wont hear anything until weekend, EVEN funnier I havent heard from his sister in law (my suppossed friend WE KNEW each other LONG LONG before the Allen boys were EVER on the scene!) Oh well I know everyone has busy lives including me.

As always Tuesday is CROCKPOT DAY with meatballs (I am working late) and my neighbour (my friend) is watching Samuel until I get home( because of course now there is NO Jason here so ONLY 2 more weeks of late work !) YAY thank goodness.

Year 9 Term one performance reports came out and Samuel got 23 Excellent and 3 satisfactory (graphics which he isnt fussed on, PE which his Asthma impinges on, and COOKING (and all in the attitude column!) of all things!) HE WAS PISSED about the cooking one, BUT THRILLED with all other areas AND the Principal writes lovely comments so I am very pleased with his progress into college LIFE!!!PLEASE LONG MAY THAT CONTINUE!!! SO FAR son is doing Monday Karate, Tuesday Rugby Wed am DEBATING 7.30am then Wed arvo Badminton Thursday arvo Rugby and Friday Swimming HE IS LOOKING forward to Easter and school holidays!!!!! HE CERTAINLY deserves a break! Thursday is normally Karate but WHEN a grading is close or Takahashi is here he will opt back to Thurs karate trainings AS agreed to by the Rugby coach.

Today is murky and overcast, a humidish wind and THE RAIN well its hanging off at the moment.

Have just set my alarm on phone to JOG my memory to GET MY SON I sooooooooooo know I am going to forget!!!

Hope everyone is staying warm. WILL we MAKE IT TO END OF MARCH without heater!!!!!!

Ciao

Physically and emotionally WIPED OUT!

2010-03-21T16:15:00.002+13:00

I walked yesterday after DINNER forced myself !!! BECAUSE this morning I FORCED myself to lie in until 8am!!! (I know not much of a lie in!)...

Jason was here EARLY with all his (which are actually mine) blankets and linen I have washed 6 woollen blankets and underblankets and mattress protectors and 2 sets of sheets of his (which are actually mine) AND GOT THE WHOLE DAM LOT DRY!!!! It is Windy and Sunny here so was a perfect day for it! I HAVE lay in the sun and apart from 8 loads of washing ( my machine takes king size blankets and queens perfectly), DONE NOTHING ELSE! I HAVE lounged around in my lava lava all day feeling totally drained (sleepy drained), AND although I know I have achieved alot this week I FEEL very tired today understandably. HAD resonable sleep, and know I wont get decent sleep for another few nights yet ( disturbed sleep at this time of month I hate that you are laying there all asleep and warm and WHAM hello GET UP NOW or face washing an entire bed lot of linen!!! this happened at 4am WAY before my usual stirring time and I slept on and off until 8am).

Am suitably ahead for this week and need to be AS NOW its all on me. (No differetn than before BUT now I know its ME and no one ELSE.

Jason and his Dad left Taupo at around 1.30pm, HIS MUM didnt come down, Oh well NO LOSS. They haven't text yet to say they have arrived I'm sure at some stage he will remember. The farewell I didn't linger for as IT is all too hard and I DONT want me upset and then Jason more upset, than he already is.

My friend is taking me to the day spa on Tuesday morning to SHOUT me a manicure, a pedicure and a facial NICE EH.... She says I need spoiling and I NEED to take a deep breath and step back.... (we are having BUBBLES TOO!) Easy for others to say these things harder for me to acknowledge. Lucky my teacher Aide work isn't in full swing yet as I may have missed the opportunity.

This Sunday has been warm and relaxing (to me it is relaxing).

I hope everyone else has been doing something nice for themselves.

Ciao.

A SUPER LONG WEEK

2010-03-20T12:54:00.003+13:00

I have made it through to TODAY BUT ONLY JUST thats a bonus in my book, I have walked 10km TUES 15km WED 10km THURS 10km TO walk out some stress (one of those walks was at 8pm at night didnt get in until 9.45pm!!!)

I have cleared out a LARGE ROOM filled with (disorganised chaos) Jason's room where he stays YOU COULD NOT see any inch of floor OR BED or DRAWS it was truly heinous! EVERY surface was stacked high and ONE LARGE rubbish BAG went out, 22 BANANA BOXES of STACKED STUFF (just random things in it!) some boxes only HALF FULL!

TOOK 2 days to tidy and sort, I HELPED clear out AN ENTIRE med sized shed FULL OF CAR PARTS and motors and panels and bonnets, 3 trips to the DUMP later down to ONE TRAILOR LOAD that he listed on TRADEME and SOLD the same day (people have just picked it up!)..

I HELPED clear out AN ENTIRE WORK VAN packed to the hilt WITH tools and shyte that Jason hoards collects and WONT THROW away!! IT has taken us until TODAY to get on top of everything, I have worked EVERYDAY and even did 4 hours extra in between all of THAT!!! I have washed all his clothes AS THE PILES of clean and DIRTY was together SHIT I HATE THAT!!!!! BUT its done I have washed all his bedding and aired it so that his mother DOESNT COMPLAIN!!!! (although she has already SAID "why do we have to have him at our place" SHE is another I COULD QUITE happily PUNCH in the HEAD!!!

Jason has TRULY worked hard all week he vaccummed his place EDGES AND SKIRTINGS and dusted even (well brush attachment on vaccuum!(sp) ). He likes lists and crosses off what he does and NEEDS to be kept busy!

He is doing ok BUT its the wounded puppy dog looks and LOST puppy dog looks and THEN the animal caught in the HEADLIGHT LOOKS I cant handle (tugs at my heart strings) and the reassurance looks I get that I cant help with that DO MY HEAD IN, I have cried a few nights (one when I was walking) HEAVEN help anyone who came across me!

I have aching everything shoulders back arms FROM LIFTING and sorting and STRESS no doubt, I made sure I kept on top of all my own STUFF (housework and household) SO I WOULDN'T lose it completely, I AM TRULY POOPED today and didnt sleep in as WE had a CAR BOOT SALE school fundraiser up at 6.50am and there at 7.30am started 8am..........

Tonight for dinner I have crumbed chicken and roast VEGES I NEED COMFORT FOOD and I am having a spa AT MY FRIENDS (next door neighbour!) and watching RUGBY my favourite pastimes!

I have eaten REALLY well all week and even one DAY DIDNT EAT AT ALL (not good I know BUT boy I thought I would HURL at any portion of food that crossed my lips I DRANK WATER ALL DAY though!)

I am trying to stay cheery and upbeat BUT I KNOW I am emotional and I have been sick in the stomach for 2 days now like churny sick just like a few months ago or last month I cant remember (wake this morning AND HAVE my period so thats 2 cycles 16 days apart then this one was 39 days apart!! I am keeping track!)

I am going to lay in the sun this afternoon managed 2 days sunbathing as well inbetween everything going on, and I very well may read!!!!

I hope to have happier days ahead!

Ciao

Sometimes do you wish you could...

2010-03-15T22:44:00.004+13:00

JUST jump off the Earth and stop!

My partner (well in the loose sense of the word we dont live together HELL we dont even SLEEP TOGETHER), is unwell again (Bipolar), and is heading away to family, WHY because I am in no position to physically support or financially support him thanks in PART to my rotten bitch of a mother, and thanks in part to HIS less than caring family WHOM continually bury their heads in the sand and LEAVE the caring to me!!! 9 YEARS I have struggled and valiantly tried to hold all of us together ... I lost that battle again today AND I JUST cant do it any more, it is sad to think THAT I feel I have failed not him, it doesn't register to him and I would never let on, BUT I do feel I could do more BUT WHAT....

5 YEARS AGO I packed up house lock stock n barrel after my father died at 54 it was ALWAYS SAID I would go home to CARE for my mother BEARING in mind she was only 57 (AND NOT UNWELL mentally or physically), so we sold up everything (imagine moving to a 70's house) where NONE OF MY modern furniture fitted the rooms I DOWNSIZED everything superking bed TO A QUEEN FFS!, none of my bedroom furniture fitted either ETC ETC ETC, we get there BUT NOO she decides the INVITATION doesnt include Jason my partner of 4 years! (we were engaged well still are in a loose sense! complicated I tell ya!) THE DEAL was we live there (my mother had a GRANNY flat built on with ensuite etc), we pay utilities and RATES and insurances THATS IT, potentially saving between $400 - $600 a week!!! BUT no 7 days before xmas of 2004 WE ARE GIVEN notice YOU MUST LEAVE the house (by way of lawyers letter!), JASON had had an episode and was in ROTORUA hospital for 6 weeks (mental health ward), my mother refused to watch Samuel while I went to see Jason (which was only on the weekends AS I WAS WORKING!) so HER intentions were very clear,we lived out of the back of my car me and my son for a few nights then I SLEPT on friends lounge floors and RUMPUS rooms until 8 weeks later we secured a house (imagine trying to rent in TAUPO right before xmas NEW YEAR!) thus ensues Jason's recovery hindered BY LACK of continuity in housing, we shifted 3 times in 8 weeks! WE move from a perfectly nice location to my mothers then had to store a household of furniture (remembering downsized AT a huge cost to me!) in a panelbeaters workshop!), then shift that out when we secured a place, WE (namely me ) I had at one time 4 jobs and worked 7 days a week IF YALL think I do too MUCH NOW ASK JAXX how much I WAS DOING!!!!!! 4 jobs and caring for my family AND MY PARENTS I nursed my DAD until he died.. and doing urgent WAIKATO hospital runs in the dead of night!

THE life and WORK I DO and how I live now IS A HOLIDAY compared to WHAT MY LIFE WAS!

My mother PROMISED me $25,000 BUT recanted when I rang and told her I had found a place Jason was back and THAT the money was to be put to good use as a COURIER RUN in which I could supply income for my family (and THEN JASON could come and go at my work with me AS HE WISHED) and become available which I had applied for PENDING the $ because she knew I HAD MOVED ON and would now be able to sustain our family ably SHE SOLD THE FAMILY HOME and threw all her toys out the cot and FUCKED OFF, I got $1,500 it cost me $900 to set up my new place SO I SAID thanks I managed to move AND BUY new tyres!! how generous of you. After the no money phone call I changed my cellphone and unlisted all my numbers (just recently a detective friend) found it EXTREMELY HARD to source info on me! Surprisingly I am well versed in COVERING my tracks.

MY mother has written me OUT of the family will and the living inheritance (THAT I AM entitled to CONTEST because of PROMISES made whilst my father was alive AND THE WHOLE family had agreed on this BUT I CHOOSE NOT TOO YES I HAD very good legal advice on this matter BUT IT WOULD take YEARS and as my sister was still alive WE my mum and her WERE ALL ENTITLED to a 1/3 share! A COSTLY affair and to leave HER WITH NOTHING WAS NEVER my intention) because although she feels leaving me with nothing suits her I CAN NOT bring myself TO LEAVE her with nothing I am younger and stronger! AND have proved I can survive (always have since when I first left home at 15!)

SO far I have paid $58,000 in RENT! and all the utilities and insurances SO I HAVE LOST big time and stepped away FROM my share of family $, (my choice!) BUT as my mother so eloquently put it SHE wont have HIM in the family fullstop! HAD we been in MY FAMILY HOME I would be in a financial position today WHERE it doesn't matter how OFTEN Jason falls off the radar WE would have money behind us to ALLOW him recovery time. I still to this day CAN NOT bring myself to DRIVE near or down MY FAMILIES STREET, I had lived there all my life 37 years!

I have supported both my sister and my mother through some horrendous times and WHEN I NEEDED support I was shown the door ! SO thats it for me YOU fuck me off IT cut off a tthe knees and THATS it thye drew the line in the sand !

MY FRIENDS (BAR one) whom I have many HAVE all fully supported Jason and I THROUGH EVERYTHING and without them I truly wouldn't have survived. Interestingly my mothers family have no contact with Smauel and I either and or my fathers parents SO thats how it is!

Jasons family just say oh well we would love to help BUT just cant!!! What sort of fucking response is that!! Soft cocks!!! sorry I get so damned angry, I know he will be there in part with his family BUT they treat him like the SMELLY OLD DRUNK UNCLE at the family wedding in the corner that no one wants to talk too!!!! It breaks my heart....... because of course YOU CAN CATCH MENTAL ILLNESS from living with people WHOM HAVE mental illnesses!!!!

I refuse to contact my mother, and her and my sister have not spoken to me in 6 years, I dont even know what country they are in I know its not NZ, so at least I cant beat the SHIT out of my sister WHICH is what I told her IF SHE EVER SETS FOOT back in TAUPO! Believe me there is a lot more to this AND I WILL never forgive them for the intentional hardship they placed me in!

AM I STILL ANGRY HELL YES! I am not in the forgiveness PLACE yet and quite possibly will never be THATS MY CHOICE (please no condescending or patrionising remarks!)

I have paid the ultimate price TO love and care FOR ANOTHER human being, and neither my family or his FIND IT in their hearts to have COMPASSION, I feel sad tonight and the familiar feelings of dread towards a terrible situation. I now have to help Jason stay WELL ENOUGH because his family (parents THEY ARE RETIRED! and no they aren't old he also has 3 younger brothers 2 of whom are in Te Puke as well) they aren't coming to get him until the weekend !! Last time he got really bad he was found NEAR WELLINGTON looking for directions TO KAWERAU (Whakatane WAY) ALOT can happen between now and THEN.

I AM offline until after the weekend WHEN I KNOW he will be in relatively safe hands.

SLEEP glorious SLEEP

2010-03-14T08:32:00.002+13:00

I slept soundly from 10pm until 7.30am and lay in until 8.15am SO thats good for me, I have had me easter buns and yoghurt and cereal, WAITING for air temperature TO RAISEohhhhhhh about 20 DEGREES so I can lounge in the sun!!!!!!!!!!

Not as cold this morning BUT definately chilly nipply!

I need to clarify more on yesterday, THE DOG was bearing its teeth and snarling viciously in my opinion like hard out and I was VERY CONCERNED not frightened and when it lunged IF I HADNT kicked it IT WOULD HAVE got my lower leg NOW I DONT give a rats arse about PC bullshit IF A dog is going in for the "kill" then I have have EVERY REASON to defend myself and IF that involves exerting extreme force I WILL, I dont give a toss if its someones PET or domestic animal, I am not about to have my leg ripped open or BADLY bitten because its a SUPPOSEDLY nice dog (breed) TOO BAD!

And if I got fined I don't care either, so I will ring Dog Control on Monday and see what happens owners of dogs will always say Oh but there so friendly and THEY never do that, they are normally so well behaved WELL theres always a first time and I AINT gonna be it! KEEP your dogs under control and supervise, THATS dog owners responsibilities and job if they can't DONT have a dog simple!

We are currently watching a movie, then I am waiting for WARM air to lay in the sun in, AND I will read out there too! APART from that I have nothing else doing BLISS! Will probably go for a swim IF it ever heats up!! We are having homemade crumbed chicken drumsticks stirfry veges (cauli broc carrot onion beans cabbage courgette parsley to garnish) and homemade chunky dry roast potatoes for dinner I am going to make some savoury scones for lunch sweetcorn ham and cheese like a scroll type scone?. AND I might drag the BBQ out for I feel we need to have some more BBQ's as very soon IT WONT BE BBQ weather!!!!!!!

Have a super sunday whatever you are doing.

Ciao

HOLY HELL

2010-03-13T17:02:00.002+13:00

After last nights wind WE AWOKE to A HUGE FROST and COLD AS CLANGERS! AND me the stupid ninny is out in it walking I thought I would comfortably do 7km and push on to 10km I ended up doing 12km AS IT WAS so crisp and cool I just kept going!!! PLEASED with that....

NOT PLEASED with someones MUTT COCKER SPANIEL who rushed me and aggressively growled then proceeded to rush in around behind me and lunged to bite ME DOG 0 ME 1 I KICKED it fair in the head and sent it packing THEN I hurled abuse at the owner and said KEEP YOUR MUTT contained It had left the property and come at me from down the road was in FULL run mode by the time it got to me I HAD STOPPED in my tracks and just stayed still not speaking or moving BUT BOY did it and the OWNER get there curry up, I said to her " I have been walking along here for over 5 months now AND IF I EVER have that dog come at me again I will KILL IT! AND there section isnt fenced SO I will be laying a complaint with Dog control, FURTHER around my walk (on my last lap) there was a staffy pitbull cross AND HE WAS HUGE I was a bit wary but he gave me no TROUBLE stupid eh I DID however ring the pound BECAUSE it was hanging around the park WHERE children were AND I ASKED the kids if it was there dog!

I have worked all day doing housework vaccuuming (everyone helped), some washing hung out ADN the rest of the time gardening and trimming and sweeping up, had to go and get the electric hedge trimmer IT WAS GRUNTY AS!!! I WANT ONE! and then deliver it back as I only had it on hire for a half day! I DID HEAPS WITH IT!!! yay (everyone helped out too), WE are having our favourite dinner A MIXED grill chops sausages chicken and tomato and onion and courgettes mixed with homemade wedges!!! SO IM off to help prepare dinner I am gonna shower and shave before bed !!! so I can slip into a clean BED SMELLING CLEAN instead of garden FRESH!!!!

Have done a minimal amount of ironing and WE are all sleeping in tomorrow YAY I have easter buns for brekkie and soy yoghurt! ($6.79 for a 4 pack) so its a treat!

Hope everyone had a good productive day!

Ciao

Friday down and its WINDY AS HELL.........

2010-03-12T22:06:00.002+13:00

Yip worked all day cleaning at my FRIDAY JOB and had 20 mins breather before swimming and I stayed in CAR, and had a nana nap!!!! worked brilliantly 40 mins of kip and I was alright, I am however yawning as I type this AND heading towards me bed SOON after I finish this post.

Had lovely cottage pie with mashed potatoe on top and NO CHEESE on my 1/5 of pie!! with Tomato and onion crusty bread (the others had that!), a chocolate log with sliced peaches and cream (none for me!) it was REALLY NICE and welcome as tonight is blustery and cold and bllllluuurrrrkkkkkkkk..

Tomorrow some Easy Peasy walking just 10km and some EASY PEASY shrub trimming with AN ELECTRIC hedge trimmer WOOOOOO HOOOOOO I am so looking forward to that! and thats it I have washing done ONLY 1 load and it will go out tomorrow I HAVE NO IRONING nad we are having A BBQ toomorrow night and thats IT!!

Hope everyone has a good weekend .

Ciao

Thursday down and where did it go too!

2010-03-11T22:50:00.002+13:00

I have worked all day 3 loads washing to start with CLEANING an entire van and car out OF BUILDERS tools and materials and boxes and PARAPHENALIA (what a shyte of a job that was), worked this morning and then back again this afternoon I AM OFFICIALLY knackered and I have a 7hr day of work tomorrow THANK GOD I washed all our sheets today and did some housework (not much though!)...

I am truly wiped out walking again early this morning probably didn't help either although only a 5km walk, TOMORROW after work I have swimming lessons(son), then home james and FEET UP I PROMISE!!!!!

Will walk again Saturday a much longer walk probably push out a 10km and see how it feels and how I HOLD UP!

REST DAY SUNDAY I SWEAR!

Ciao

A leisurely walk....

2010-03-10T13:31:00.003+13:00

I managed a walk this morning just 5km and it was nice just to stretch legs out a bit tight up top but ok!!, NO SUNBATHING yesterday but got osme sunbathing in today! I went to my friends yesterday and helped them clean 2 x people 2.5hr ONE ROOM head down arse up and WE shifted a huge amount and tidied and vaccuumed and WELL ITS DONE thank god!

Samuel has had some more exciting news he made Captain debating team (at school) he was thrilled, and was voted Student Councillor for Year 9 students along with another boy and 2 other girls SO thats out of 193 students! COOL.....

Am heading off to work soon and will walk again tomorrow I walked into town this morning my friend picked me up when I got there and we had coffee! (I have trim Soy latte DECAF!!!) and its nice I always had trim decaf, NOW just soy. AND she remarked since I have stopped the whole dairy thing I DONT need to go to the toilet WHEN WE are in TOWN, we would always manage to get ONE JOB done and I WOULD be like OH I need to go to the toilet! I lasted from 7.30am this morning until 1pm before I needed to go (thats including no 1's as well!) AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DONT KNOW WHY I didnt look into it before OH well!

Hope everyone is doing something nice.

Ciao

Didn't get to lie in..........

2010-03-09T11:01:00.002+13:00

but have done all my "incidental" jobs for the week and am currently home ready to sunbathe and read and already have dinner in the crockpot MIGHT later after sunbathing ADD SOME PHOTOS!! Feeling better today and am itching to walk SO with the prospect of RAIN coming I am heading out for a walk tomorrow morning and will help a friend MAJOR clean a room out SO THAT will be all good exercise EH!

Typical I am at the computer in my togs already and its clouding over was sunny all whilst I was in town and warming up!

OHHHHHHH forogt to say on the Sunday morning as we were the first ones up at the LODGE we even beat the owners up!!!! WE was having our brekkie and A BIG FAT MUMMY pukeko came up the steps with straw and grass in her beak and poked her head in the door IT WAS SOOOOOO COOL and then when she waddled off her BIG FAT PLUMP white bottom tail feathers looked soooooooo funny!!!! and their gangly legs it was amazing to see so up close inquistive things they are.

WELL I may be sun shivering in a moment!

Have an awesome day.

Ciao

WELL MONDAY!

2010-03-08T13:59:00.002+13:00

I am a bit flat today and sore, not ouchy sore but achey sore!

Had a resonable sleep BUT didn't want to get up! Have been to work SQUEEZED IN most of my grocery shopping and am now heading back to work.

WILL walk 6km on Thursday morning and see how I feel and then do a 10km probably Sat and into it again.

FORGOT to say the friend I saw was an ex lover, a married man at the time as it so happened. HE had lap band surgery and went from 260kg down to 130kg he looks amazing BUT he was always a handsome bugger even at 260kg, I was so proud of him I HUGGED him a bit more enthusiasticly(sp) than I probably should have!!! lol we have known each other for 15 years and he IS certainly a handy person to have around and IS A GO TO GET IT DONE GUY!! (security and REPO work) and boy YOU dont want to mess with him thats for sure!

GOD I am brain fried today I feel zombie ish!

OH well back to work and then home to cook and DO some IRONING and then I am going to TRY HARD to stay awake for MY PROGRAMMES tonight!!! bet I dont waaaaaaaaaa MIGHT just pull lounge bed out and watch programmes lying down BUT THEN I WILL NOD off and MISS THE WHOLE DAM THING!

I might even get a sleep in tomorrow (whispers that quietly and tries not to put it out in the universe so SOME bugger cant muck it up!).

Have a great afternoon .

Ciao

Whoop Whoop...........

2010-03-07T16:17:00.004+13:00

Samuel got to go up a DAN and was thrilled by that BUT the boy whose place might have been available has been cleared to stay in NZ TEAM so is competing!! IT was nice away and GOOD for Samuel to go hard out and he enjoyed it SO THATS ALL that matters!!!

A LONG weekend driving sitting on me BUM!!!!!!! and at the Karate VENUE...

OH AND WALKING ME SLATS OFF Whanganui had the Relay for Life walkers down there ( for cancer supporters and survivors!), I JOINED IN!!!!!!!!

I WALKED 21.2km in 3hr 40mins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOOP WHOOP I started at 1pm and finished at 4.40pm WHILST the karate guys were training I was walking me little buns off !( AND IT WAS FARKN HOT AS!) they started at 1pm and finished 5pm (warm up and warm down included!) so it was perfect ONE of the other mothers from Taupo was LIKE GOOD GOD woman thats committment for ya!

Journey down 2hrs 45 mins (had to negotiate TOWN TRAFFIC for IRONMAN START!!!!!!), arrived 9.15am SO WELL ahead of time BUT GOOD as we rested stretched and had time to regather thoughts etc. (managed to get ventolin OFF another person down there!) LYNISE yes I would love to take you up on that offer (but WOULD it be POSTABLE?), oh well lets see. Because he has spares at SCHOOL permanently and like you should have spares at A: where I work etc and car, I REMEMBERED I had loaned out 2 ventolin 1 each on different occassions to a girlfriend of mine and REMINDED her they needed replacing!
Yesterday morning they went from 10am until 12 noon then had a break and did the 1pm to 5pm slot and by the time we had stopped at supermarket to get HOT CHOOK (half) I also got chippies for RUGBY sat night, diet coke and TIP TOP thick easter TOAST yummmmmmmmmm!!!

For dinner I made pasta and chicken with tom basil onion mushrooms pepper etc AND WE LOVED THE place we stayed at WAS DIVINE!!!!!!!!!!!

JESUS Whanganui PAK n SAVE has to have the CHEAPEST GROCERIES IN NZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! literally they were DIRT CHEAP I had already done a huge shop before I had left HAD I KNOWN I would have waited!!!!

After dinner we watched crusaders blues, then had a spa then HIT THE SACK we were BOTH MUNTED!!!!! my son rubbed cream into my tired legs and feet.

Up early 7am (on a sunday waaaa) had muesli for brekkie and then that divine toast, karate started 9am and finished 11.30am I HAD lunch with an old friend of mine and we headed home at 1pm WE HAVE unpacked I have washing on and BOY IT IS HOT, I am over driving and sitting and CANT wait for NAE NAE'S time!!!!!!!!

Having a BBQ for dinner ALL food is being cooked on it!!! (potatoe chunks and chicken nibbles and legs!)

WELL FOLKS I AM OFF to relax and have a Raspberry vodka RTD!!!!! (ps. I didnt drink down there!)

Ciao

KIDS ya just gotta love them!!!!!!

2010-03-05T22:10:00.003+13:00

Sunbathe done PACKING done housework DONE, mowed lawns even, DINNER sorted!!!! DID SOME IRONING, put more washing on its 9pm SON informs me HE IS LOW ON VENTOLIN !!!!!!!!!!

AND IM LIKE WTF!!!! we are leaving 6am in the morning to meet with someone in Turangi whom is gonna drive us over the PARAS as they are heading down too so we are following them, AND WHERE AM I GONNA GET spare ventolin !!!!!!!!!

Asthmatics and heart patients CAN GET emergency supplies at other pharmacies BUT BOY IT IS HARD!!!!!!!!! I may not yet be able to source any WE HAVE HIS nebuliser and the Asthilan nebules BUT geez LOUISE that farks me off at TIMES!!!!!!

IM not the one whom takes it and YET IM MEANT TO FARKIN know when it is running out!!!!!

HE my son has done this once before AND BOY DID I TELL HIM OFF about it, I DIDNT THIS TIME because I DONT want to send him too bed upset and ME YELLING because I cant do anything about it now!!!!!!!!!

See yall on the Sunday....

OHHHHHHH and resorted to googling motels hotels and backpackers THE ANNIDON first on list RUNG THEM and VOILA we have secured somewhere to stay!!! THANKS Janene for thinking of us MOST APPRECIATED! BUT I had rung 6 others RANDOMLY before giving up and thinking WELL I WILL just wing it!!!!

The Auckland and Wellington Karate members got billeted out as they travel the furtherest, and OUR sensei was meant to ring up for us he tried two nights through the week and couldnt get the people so we missed out never mind at least he tried!!!!

SHIT at this rate I MAY JUST DRINK!!!!!!!! whilst IM DOWN THERE!!!!!!!!!!!

OHHHH and seen as the WALK FOR LIFE RELAY is down there I am gonna walk my 12km down there with all the other mad people!!!!!!! I have packed my walking gear and shoes and HAT and walking belt etc!!!!! WILL post back how I did!

Ciao

Have survived to the end of the WEEK

2010-03-05T12:09:00.003+13:00

BUT ONLY just!!!!!!

Finished my work I did 17 hours in first 2 days this week alone!!!!!! I only normally work 25hrs ish! finished up week of 35hrs! NOT cutey...

I have washed all the sheets and there out drying as I type! I am currently wanting to throw some lunch down TO the ABYSS of my tummy!

I AM SUNBATHING!
I HAVE TO PACK!
I HAVE TO GET TO SCHOOL to get child TO SWIMMING!!!!
WE HAVE TO brave traffic which is TRULY HEINOUS! I HAVE however made the beds thats a start and done the kitchen and bathroom etc, left to do is pack and sunbathe NOT too stressful! and then vaccum I HATE coming home to a messy house! AND IT WILL BE a very long weekend.

FINDING somewhere to STAY IS BECOMING A STRESS though!, oh well WE WILL just wing it and HOPE like hell we find somewhere! Lol I could easily sleep in the car BUT Samuel needs leg room and will need a DECENT SLEEP, I DONT HAVE DIRECTIONS to DOJO YET!!!!!!!!!!!! I DONT KNOW WHAT TIME it starts!!!!!!!!! (sometimes the geriatric of a SENSEI is A: forgetful B: SENILE sheesh.... ALL I know we need to be on the ROAD at 5am AT THE LATEST! OUR sensei hadn't been able to contact the SENIOR member of the Whanganui dojo to see if WE can stay there SO I am winging IT !!!!!

COULD be an interesting weekend!

***** UPDATED*****

Directions delivered ok, starts 10.30am BECAUSE Wellington and Auckland members coming too SAT finishes 2.30pm so thats 4 hours training then Sunday 9am until 12 noon SO thats not bad BUT its intensive HARD YAKKA, better find a place to stay BECAUSE Whanganui has relay for life ON that weekend AT THE SCHOOL where the Karate is being held !!!!!!! NOOOOIIIIIIICCCCCEEEE...... I had better find somewhere or IT could be interesting! to say the least.

Got a walk in yesterday and AM walking tonight after dinner and WHEN IT COOLS down! I am doing a 10km walk tonight, as I arent doing any down in Whanganui!

RIGHT ohhhhhh another job PAINT MY TOENAILS RED thats first then make some LUNCH!! then sunbathe then pack then school then rest of housework!!! WE are having Tacos for dinenr and Samuel is having STUFFED potatoes to BULK up carbs! and pasta on the side HE was feeling good last night so THATS a bounus all the protein cookies and the fluid replacement drinks must be working!

Everyone have a glorious weekend.

Ciao

Great gadsby.......

2010-03-04T12:07:00.002+13:00

TOWN is hectic IRONMAN fever is in full SWING!!!!

What not to do go walking into town AS ALL THESE athletic bronzed buff bods ROCK PAST ME at a hundred miles per hour!!!!

Walked into town early met a friend in there walked 9km 5km around my place and then the last stretch through into town and around our beautiful boat harbour and lakefront!

HAVE one very tuckered boy he is CURRENTLY at school but have fed him up on PASTA and chicken last night, left overs this morning and PACKED a protein filled carby lunch! with BUCKET LOADS of fresh fruit and ICE COLD WATER.....

He is looking forward to Whanganui trip, he had 2 masters (from Japan) comment on his technique and stances last night "very good" so fingers crossed he is JUST so determined and focussed HE DESERVES to go far this year and he is certainly up there !!!

Sunbathed already now into the rest of my day!

GLORIOUS WEATHER HERE hope it lasts!

Enjoy yourselves today!

Ciao

Walk done AND boy was it

2010-03-03T09:53:00.002+13:00

like lumping lead legs around this morning I FINISHED work at 10pm!!!!!!! waaaaaaaa I was had it by then, legs tired, eyes tired, body generally tired!!!

Up at 6.30am this morning to GET his nibs to school for 7.30am DEBATING and Zenith speech group THEY are learning the Parliamentary formats and ACTUALLY visit parliament end of year so he is DEAD KEEN on that! Walked after seeing that teacher so I can fit everything into my day.

Arrived school waited to see rugby coach, as there is rugby meeting and practice run JUST friendly after school just needed to point out he will be leaving at 4pm , Samuel had debating this morning he has swimming at school, then rugby after completing a full days school work, then at 4pm is being picked up from school to head down to Turangi for the first of 4 days training for karate! (and including last night 5 nights!!).

FORGOT to say I have NEW protein cookies APPLE SPICE CRUMBLE and shit they are so nice I think I could live on them THE double chocolate fudge brownie was only 48gms and we didn't like that one!, the ginger spice is 65gms and is very nice, BUT the APPLE crumble one is 83gms!!!!!! AND a BIG COOKIE TOO!and has apple sultanas AND IS SOOO NICE Samuel and I love them!!!!! I get them through my employer (she and her business partner have an elite gym going in Taupo appointment only and one on one training only, they are $36 a box of 12 ) we have half a cookie after exercise and Samuel has half after walking to my work and then half straight after Karate! I have half after each "smaller" walk but a WHOLE cookie after 14km + walks!

Will walk again tomorrow and do a night walk on Friday just 10km and then DO my 21km next WED probably or THURS!! and thats it for me I will go back to just 10km walks 3 x a week, and save the longer walks for the weekend NOW that more work beckons....

Last night I heard from a friend that one of our mutual friends MUM had passed away on Sunday so I am off to the funeral well to hopefully see her before the service and pay my respects and then head into service but sit near the back so I can head away as I am working, mother was only 57 and was sudden, they are such a nice family I was shocked to hear the news.

On that note I had better A: wash my hair B: get some fruit C: hang out washing D: head into town E: remember to put nice clothes in CAR!

I hope everyone remembers today THERE ARE people outside of your own families who DO CARE.

Ciao

Walk done and A VERY quick walk almost...

2010-03-02T07:48:00.002+13:00

a HALF GEISHA run!!! Was DARK though to start with sheesh.

Now into shower and grocery shopping before work which is up and down as young fella still off school and appointments abound for parents SO I AM IT, a disjointed day is just what I dont need!

Darn it all, bit cooler this morning NOT frost cold but overcastish, yesterday cold morning and STINKIN hot day, gawd ya can't win at the moment.

Have a moderate start to my day then it gets crazy WORKING quite late until 9pm so its another long day.

PERHAPS in Whanganui on the weekend instead of walking I will rest and snooze inbetween watching training!

Right onward! Have a good day.

Ciao

WHERE has today gone?

2010-03-01T21:13:00.004+13:00

The family I work for their young fella has had an awful accident FELL down wooden stairs and split lip, pushed 2 front teeth through LIP and busted teeth, PARENTS FULL DAY Livestock Sale(animals) ME stuck with very sore little man !! from 8am until 6pm!!!!!!!! A long day I have come home WHIPPED up a very quick dinner, homemade meatballs and a stirfry vege base cabbage, onion, mushroom, capsicum, carrot, beans, broccoli, cauli!!!! with oyster sauce IT WAS divine!!!!!

But instead of eating mine I went for a quick walk (6Km) while Son ate as we have a huge WEEK Karate tonight, WED night THURS nite then a 2 day NZ SQUAD TRAINING in Whanganui.... HE and I will be well and truly poked BY MONDAY!!!!!!!

And I just know I wont get any decent walking in!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow morning a 10km walk AND WED morning a 10km walk and THURS morning a 10km walk CAUSE Friday I am working ALL DAY Saturday we are leaving to travel to Whanganui at 5am in the morning WE NEED TO BE there at no later than 8.35am!!!!!!!!!! Our karate instructor is trying to get us some place to stay in Whanganui BUT as it was a RUSHED decision we might not be able to stay with any of the Whanganui DOJO members, Wellington people have to come up and Palmerston North people will be travelling over etc!!! SO a SAT SUN walk is out of the question I will be working FLAT OUT ALL week too!!!!!!! MAYBE a stroll in Whanganui to clear my head might do me some good!!!!!!!

OHHHHHHHHH big gloat moment Samuel got TOP year 9 MARK in his school for english 99/100 IN his PAT test, and 98% in Science, and 98% in Social Studies, 2nd in Year 9 Maths HE IS STOKED I AM SUPER PROUD!!!!!!!!!!! yay yay yay.........

I am off to watch my programme "Brothers and Sisiters"

I hope everyone had a lovely day.

Ciao

Wasn't too late.......

2010-02-28T09:33:00.002+13:00

Got home at midnight SO not too bad, slept until 7.40am lay in bed until 9am!!!!!! I have no washing no ironing no jobs as it WAS ALL DONE yesterday I am still in me lava lava BUT might go for a short walk today sun is peeking through AND I THINK it is gonna be HOT!!!!!!! Got some sunbathing in yesterday and will do that again today.

Might even head in for a coffee THATS if town not too busy!!!! IRONKIDZ is on here this morning (weetbix wouldnt hold a triathlon here Waipahihi School (my son old primary) does it AND THEY DO IT VERY WELL!!! for the last ohhhhhhhh 13 years I think THERE major fundraiser). Saturday was across the lake swim, and NEXT weekend is the IRONMAN !!!!!!!! 2 weeks ago was Kinloch Triathlon so IT IS ALL about exercise and buff bodies everywhere!!!

A short post today last night you could hear the concert music ALL over town, IT WAS A STILL NIGHT and a full moon AND BOY did it get cold!!!!! Was a superb evening for a concert!

Hope everyone has a super day!

Ciao.

2 MORNINGS in a ROW FROSTS!!!!!

2010-02-27T10:52:00.002+13:00

WOW BIG frost yesterday and this morning CRISP CRISP FROST!!!! I do sooo love this time of year it is glorious!!

Last night our CORNBEEF WAS SCRUMMDIDDLYIOUS we had salad instead of veges CAUSE it was sooooo darn hot.....

And thats why we get frosts HUGE temperatures THEN HUGE DROPS overnight not good for asthmatics!!!

I walked this morning 10km BEAUTIFUL at 6.00am just still and beautiful LAKE flat as , just glorious AND HUGE SUNNY SKIES just glorious .

AND at 8am we went garage saleing I love garage saleing it is so nice to moocha round, I got a gorgeous duvet cover in blues for my son, and spent the rest of my money on other nic nac things.I have washed the cover and only have 10 things on my washing line AND just 2 of those things ARE IRONING!!!!! YAY even better.

I got too sunbathe yesterday and right now I am going to sunbathe some more, I have my famous meatloaf in the oven as boys are going to have meatloaf salad and mashed potatoes yummmmmo.

I on the other hand are having whatever the kiddies WANT and it could be my equally famous nachos, or equally famous macaroni cheese who knows!

Yesterday whilst I sunbathed I got too read my "Mana" magazine from cover to cover BRILLIANT and I enjoyed the warmth I didnt sunbathe until 3.45pm and managed 40 mins each side!!!

TODAY however probable only 25 min per side MAX today is going to be a scorcher BELIEVE ME!!!!!

And on this glorious day HAVE a good day whatever it is you are doing!!!

Ciao