I am the FUNDRAISING QUEEN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ciao Blondie

Well another year done and dusted....

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 ............

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!!!

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?

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!!!!!

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....

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