Training

No pics this week as the camera is poorly. We are struggling on towards the end of term next week. Stuart has is on antibiotics for a sinus infection.

We have been having pretty quiet weekends. Chantelle and I did another kayak trip on my birthday up to Houhora Heads. The forecast was not too flash and we were not keen on the size of the waves as we went into the sea, so we retreated to calmer waters and fished from the kayak around a small island. I hooked onto what was probably a sting-ray, but fortunately did not land it. Chantelle got a John Dory up to theedge of the boat, but it dropped off. We were trying plastic baits as they are recommended for kayaks.

Last weekend, I took Paddy and his friend swimming. We were headed for the town pools, but they were closed. I am training for a Tryathlon (sic) whih will be held tomorrow, so I really needed to have a swim. So we shot up to Lake Ngatu. The level was right down on account of the drought, but it was very clean and refreshing. I had a go at swimming and then running. Mmmmm!

Last night I tried the cycling run transition. Quite tough to run the km after having cycled about 7km hard out. The actual event involves a 300m swim, a 9km bike ride and a 3 km run. That is the short course that I have opted for. The longer course is the same swim but a 15 km bike and a 6km run. The event has been organised by our innovative Doctor's surgery as a way of getting blokes to exercise. I am the only white person who has been going to the training sessions because it is a Maori Health Provider. It has been a eyeopener spending time with Maori men as we all figure out ways of incorporating exercise into our busy lives.

I had better not say anything more as the event is tomorrow. We might have pictures.

Eric and Stuart both have done well in the school chess ladder and are in the training squad for the team. Eric will be in the second team and Stuart is a reserve at the moment. Chess club has been running 3 lunch-times a week for the whole of this term.

Patrick went on an overnight camp with his school last week. They did a variety of activities including an assault course and kayaking.