Kapa Karate Kapa Karate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ciao
Blondie

4 very tired teenage boys one very tired Muma!!

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

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

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

Ciao Blondie

I am the FUNDRAISING QUEEN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ciao Blondie

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