Wow what a day we have just had!
Chantelle and I got the boys up at dawn (615am) on a Saturday - no lie in this week.
We dropped them all off at 7am with Goff and Janet our fantastic neighbours who had agreed to look after them for the day, then we sped off through the murky morning to Unahi Wharf. There we boarded our boat for the day with Captain Merv, Mike and Rissy and Stephan as the other fishers.
We have spent many an afternoon fishing on the wharf and have seen lots of boats come back from the harbour. So it was ace to head out away from the wharf northwards.
How to describe the rest of the day? Highlights were catching Kahawai by pulling lures right through feeding shoals as shown up by flocks of terns. The anticipation as you near the birds and then see a bow wave heading towards your lure! Pulling in long traces with snapper and rays on each hook. Seeing skuas and terns close up. Being midway between Rangiputa and Kaimaumau and getting a different perspective on both places. Having so much quality adult time where everyone was relaxed and child-free. Spinning into a howling wind just for something to do and hooking into a huge kawahai using a rod I bought from Kaitaia tip shop for $3 and having a really good fight with it losing it just as it got to the boat.
What a day!! Thanks to all concerned for making it such a boss 40th birthday present. When can we do it again?
Stephan took lots of photos so we might be able to post some later on. Send us some piccies Stephan!
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Friday, March 17, 2006
After ERO!
Kia ora whanau
we have landed on another Friday night, yippee. this one is special because ERO have left our school. It has been a stressful week for me, even more than usual, as one obviously wants to be seen at one's best and the level of visible planning has to increase way over what it normally is.
The verdict delivered to the board is that we will not need an inspection for 3 years so we have effectively passed! We had a St patrick's Day and post-ERO celebration after school tonight, complete with Hangi and shots of Baileys how is that for cross-cultural fertilisation.
ERO are going into Chantelle's school next week so she will be the stressed out one!
That event has overshadowed most of my week. My birthday weekend was affected by it. We had a pleasant day on saturday, going out for a fantastic meal at the Orana with Ruth and Stephan and Ruth's cousin Chris. we took the boys for a swim at lake Ngatu and had a look for tua tuas at waipapakuri. It was the day of teh Te Houteawai beach race, where runners do the length of 90 mile beach. The winner did the 68 km course in 4 hours! That kind of achievement makes me feel pretty unfit.
Farm news: one of our bantams hatched out 5 chicks on Wednesday and they are now safely ensconced in a protected coop. I found the first ducks nest we have had. 11 eggs deep in a gorse bush. On Sunday we managed to get all 6 sheep into the race and trimmed their feet. It took impeccable team-work as the sheep are pretty flighty.
That's about it. Til next week.
we have landed on another Friday night, yippee. this one is special because ERO have left our school. It has been a stressful week for me, even more than usual, as one obviously wants to be seen at one's best and the level of visible planning has to increase way over what it normally is.
The verdict delivered to the board is that we will not need an inspection for 3 years so we have effectively passed! We had a St patrick's Day and post-ERO celebration after school tonight, complete with Hangi and shots of Baileys how is that for cross-cultural fertilisation.
ERO are going into Chantelle's school next week so she will be the stressed out one!
That event has overshadowed most of my week. My birthday weekend was affected by it. We had a pleasant day on saturday, going out for a fantastic meal at the Orana with Ruth and Stephan and Ruth's cousin Chris. we took the boys for a swim at lake Ngatu and had a look for tua tuas at waipapakuri. It was the day of teh Te Houteawai beach race, where runners do the length of 90 mile beach. The winner did the 68 km course in 4 hours! That kind of achievement makes me feel pretty unfit.
Farm news: one of our bantams hatched out 5 chicks on Wednesday and they are now safely ensconced in a protected coop. I found the first ducks nest we have had. 11 eggs deep in a gorse bush. On Sunday we managed to get all 6 sheep into the race and trimmed their feet. It took impeccable team-work as the sheep are pretty flighty.
That's about it. Til next week.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Autumn in the air
It has been a bit cold the last few mornings and I was wearing a jumper to feed the chucks this morning, so it must be Autumn. Mind you it is a pleasant Autumn, we have not long since returned from the nightly rounds feeding the chucks and checking up on the place. It is nice to be able to take our time on a Friday night as we are not worried about getting boys to bed and homework and other weekday concerns. We sat by the pond in the gloaming, with Zephyr lying on his back with his feet in the air trying for the part of family baby. There was a very clear sky so it will be colder tomorrow.
What a week, I didn't think it was possible for the weeks to get any fuller, but last weeks certainly did. ERO are coming to inspect the College next week, so there are some extra hours being worked. Chantelle's job has stepped up a bit as an extra child has turned up. Stuart was off school on Wednesday and we were lucky that our kind neighbours took him on for the day.
Eric did his swimming sports today, for some reason I have not established yet, he decided to only enter the year 6 breadths, and as that did not exist he did not compete in any races. He apparently enjoyed the free swim in the diving pool.
Patrick went off on a day trip on the beach at Rangiputa and seems to have brought half of it back with him in a dodgy smelling plastic bag. Given a few weeks tucked away under his bed, it will truly hum the house out.
We had a good weekend last one. I determined not to go into school at all. Instead I went to a marae on Saturday to meet with school parents and talk about visions for the future. It was 3pm before I got home. well worth it from my point of view for the social contact. But what a place as well! It was just outside the village of Herekino, which is abut 10km inland from Ahipara. The view from inside the marae was towards bush clad ridiculously steep hills. Apparently there is an amazing beach on the other side, but I didn't have time to check it out.
Back at the ranch we finally succeeded in getting the sheep into a race where we could examine them and check their feet. Considering we have not done this the whole time they have been with us, they were not too bad and now 3 of them have been trimmed. 3 managed to evade going into the race so we will try and have another go this weekend. One of the ewes is heavily pregnant so Eric and I have been reading up about lambing so we have some idea of what to expect.
On Sunday we had a much needed lie-in and then went out to Gum-diggers park. The boys had been there before so could give us a guided tour. It was well set out and a pleasant meander through the bush looking at the holes that the gum-diggers had made to extract Kauri gum from the swamps.
Thats it folks. Watch this space.
What a week, I didn't think it was possible for the weeks to get any fuller, but last weeks certainly did. ERO are coming to inspect the College next week, so there are some extra hours being worked. Chantelle's job has stepped up a bit as an extra child has turned up. Stuart was off school on Wednesday and we were lucky that our kind neighbours took him on for the day.
Eric did his swimming sports today, for some reason I have not established yet, he decided to only enter the year 6 breadths, and as that did not exist he did not compete in any races. He apparently enjoyed the free swim in the diving pool.
Patrick went off on a day trip on the beach at Rangiputa and seems to have brought half of it back with him in a dodgy smelling plastic bag. Given a few weeks tucked away under his bed, it will truly hum the house out.
We had a good weekend last one. I determined not to go into school at all. Instead I went to a marae on Saturday to meet with school parents and talk about visions for the future. It was 3pm before I got home. well worth it from my point of view for the social contact. But what a place as well! It was just outside the village of Herekino, which is abut 10km inland from Ahipara. The view from inside the marae was towards bush clad ridiculously steep hills. Apparently there is an amazing beach on the other side, but I didn't have time to check it out.
Back at the ranch we finally succeeded in getting the sheep into a race where we could examine them and check their feet. Considering we have not done this the whole time they have been with us, they were not too bad and now 3 of them have been trimmed. 3 managed to evade going into the race so we will try and have another go this weekend. One of the ewes is heavily pregnant so Eric and I have been reading up about lambing so we have some idea of what to expect.
On Sunday we had a much needed lie-in and then went out to Gum-diggers park. The boys had been there before so could give us a guided tour. It was well set out and a pleasant meander through the bush looking at the holes that the gum-diggers had made to extract Kauri gum from the swamps.
Thats it folks. Watch this space.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Kia ora koutou
Good evening folks. It has been a while since we did an update, not exactly lots of news as we get into the routine. Still adjusting! The weeks are flying past in a rush and so are the weekends. Lots of things going on to keep us all busy. Here we are just over one year in. This time last year the boys were very much english, reluctant to leave the comfort of the armchair. We saw to that by restricting their tv to 2 hours a day.
Now they dont watch that much. Stuart doesnt bother putting it on most mornings. He and eric wake up by having a good argument instead. In the evenings they potter about outside. Patrick has been wandering about under the trees by the drive, looking for insects. Eric goes to see the ducks or plays with the dog. Stuart will be starting another diy project, usually before he has finished the last one.
I have been enjoying going for a walk round in the last hour of daylight. It is cooler then, the afternoons having been pretty hot this last month. By the time I have checked on the multiplyin poultry sites, and the large chicken coop, the veggy garden, tried to get close to the sheep, it will be 8pm. I like to nibble away at the gorse and pampas as well. I am definitely making inroads. The regrowth has not been as vigorous during the hot dry weather. I am trying to interest the boys in clearing the area round the pond, but the price has been too low so far to entice them.
Schools are keeping all 5 of us busy now that Mum is working at the local primary as a teacher aide. Patrick is settling into his new school. He gets to wear a huge sunhat and looks smart in his green uniform.
It was the local agricultural show last weekend. Friday night was fair night when all the local youths get drunk and have pre-arranged fights. It was apparently a particularly unruly night this year with reports of 1000 youths in the streets.
We went on the Saturday for the family part. It was very pleasant. Various animals being paraded, a horse show, live music, fair-ground and assorted stalls. it was nice to see some kids from school taking part in the pet show. Stuart got second prize for his hand made boat. Paddy got 3rd for his flower arrangement. I entered 3 photos, because I reckoned I was in with a chance after seeing the quality of the entries last year. I didn't get any placings, but am over it now. It is good to support these things.
Sorry, but there are no pictures this week as the camera is getting too old. It needs to be restarted by taking the back off every time the batteries are changed. It has served us well, and we are saving up for a replacement. In the meantime you will have to rely on the words :)
Til next time then.
Now they dont watch that much. Stuart doesnt bother putting it on most mornings. He and eric wake up by having a good argument instead. In the evenings they potter about outside. Patrick has been wandering about under the trees by the drive, looking for insects. Eric goes to see the ducks or plays with the dog. Stuart will be starting another diy project, usually before he has finished the last one.
I have been enjoying going for a walk round in the last hour of daylight. It is cooler then, the afternoons having been pretty hot this last month. By the time I have checked on the multiplyin poultry sites, and the large chicken coop, the veggy garden, tried to get close to the sheep, it will be 8pm. I like to nibble away at the gorse and pampas as well. I am definitely making inroads. The regrowth has not been as vigorous during the hot dry weather. I am trying to interest the boys in clearing the area round the pond, but the price has been too low so far to entice them.
Schools are keeping all 5 of us busy now that Mum is working at the local primary as a teacher aide. Patrick is settling into his new school. He gets to wear a huge sunhat and looks smart in his green uniform.
It was the local agricultural show last weekend. Friday night was fair night when all the local youths get drunk and have pre-arranged fights. It was apparently a particularly unruly night this year with reports of 1000 youths in the streets.
We went on the Saturday for the family part. It was very pleasant. Various animals being paraded, a horse show, live music, fair-ground and assorted stalls. it was nice to see some kids from school taking part in the pet show. Stuart got second prize for his hand made boat. Paddy got 3rd for his flower arrangement. I entered 3 photos, because I reckoned I was in with a chance after seeing the quality of the entries last year. I didn't get any placings, but am over it now. It is good to support these things.
Sorry, but there are no pictures this week as the camera is getting too old. It needs to be restarted by taking the back off every time the batteries are changed. It has served us well, and we are saving up for a replacement. In the meantime you will have to rely on the words :)
Til next time then.
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