Chantelle heading out to sea at Matai bay
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Easter Weekend
At last we get chance to catch our colective breaths after what seems like a very long term. There are 3 weeks to go to the proper end of term, but having 5 days off in a row will give us the rest we need to make it to the end.
We did our Good Friday bit yesterday. I always find it a very dull, depressing day, something to do with being in a very serious church service at 3pm. Our man had turned all the benches round so that it was like choir stalls. The boys went under protest and with extreme bribery. There were not much more than a dozen children in the church amongst maybe 100 adults.
Today the boys were awake and fighting at 8am! We went off to Matai Bay which is North East of here at the end of the Karikari peninsular. It is a well known beauty spot that I have not visited before, though Chantelle went with her school a while back. It was busy (for round here) with maybe 30 cars and 100 people by the time we left. Still the beach was big enough for us all. People were snorkelling, kayaking and going off scuba diving. We swam and did a bit of fishing. I caught a little fish, see pic. Only a tiddler and it went back in. Still it was the first one I have caught over here using our own gear. Chantelle of course hooked a bigger fish on her first cast, still not big enough to eat; sadly her feat has not been captured on camera because Patrick had run off across some dodgy rocks and needed us to escort him. I also learnt that it is not a good idea to leave your tupperware box of bait on the lowlying rocks where a wave will carry it out to sea.
Maybe there will be another Easter update; possible subjects will be: how the compost heap was made, Chocolate eating by Eric, Stuart and Patrick.
We did our Good Friday bit yesterday. I always find it a very dull, depressing day, something to do with being in a very serious church service at 3pm. Our man had turned all the benches round so that it was like choir stalls. The boys went under protest and with extreme bribery. There were not much more than a dozen children in the church amongst maybe 100 adults.
Today the boys were awake and fighting at 8am! We went off to Matai Bay which is North East of here at the end of the Karikari peninsular. It is a well known beauty spot that I have not visited before, though Chantelle went with her school a while back. It was busy (for round here) with maybe 30 cars and 100 people by the time we left. Still the beach was big enough for us all. People were snorkelling, kayaking and going off scuba diving. We swam and did a bit of fishing. I caught a little fish, see pic. Only a tiddler and it went back in. Still it was the first one I have caught over here using our own gear. Chantelle of course hooked a bigger fish on her first cast, still not big enough to eat; sadly her feat has not been captured on camera because Patrick had run off across some dodgy rocks and needed us to escort him. I also learnt that it is not a good idea to leave your tupperware box of bait on the lowlying rocks where a wave will carry it out to sea.
Maybe there will be another Easter update; possible subjects will be: how the compost heap was made, Chocolate eating by Eric, Stuart and Patrick.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Our first visitors
Well it's been a little under ten weeks and we have recieved our first visitors. They were Linda and Denis from Lancaster. I (Chantelle) have worked with Linda on and off( break for boys birth) since Feb 1996.
They are currently on a 7 weeks tour of the world. South Africa, Perth, then sydney, here, on to Fiji for 2 weeks ,back to Brisbane then lastly on to Hongkong. Enjoy. Good luck to both for the rest of their trip!!
As you can see the weather here in NZ is still super, a bit cloudier and cooler in the morning, but still lovely during the day.
They are currently on a 7 weeks tour of the world. South Africa, Perth, then sydney, here, on to Fiji for 2 weeks ,back to Brisbane then lastly on to Hongkong. Enjoy. Good luck to both for the rest of their trip!!
As you can see the weather here in NZ is still super, a bit cloudier and cooler in the morning, but still lovely during the day.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Birthday weekend
It is Monday morning as I blearily write this.
The main event this weekend was my birthday, conveniently on a Saturday. We celebrated in lots of ways. Lancashire Hot Pot made by Chan and Mandy at the social club on Friday. Lie in Saturday, then went and got a new bike in town. Rode it back home, good to be back in the saddle again.
We went fishing at Ahipara on Saturday afternoon. Not a very serious attempt as the wind was wrong, it was mid afternoon and the tide was going out. It was still nice to be casting into the surf. The last time I fished with our own stuff, was at Silecroft beach in Cumbria.
In the evening we managed to go out without the kids! To the Beachcomber in Kaitaia. It was full but quiet, we both had a seafood platter, fantastic scallops, squid and fish. Good wine too!
Yesterday was back to work with a vengeance, loads of new lessons to write this week, keeping me busy. The boys alternately messed the place up, ran round screaming and occasionally did more constructive things like riding their bikes. c got the bottom room ready for the arrival of her first guests from UK, due on Tuesday.
We went for a swim at Diggers in the afternoon and caught up with Ruth and Stephan.
Need to get teeth clean now and get into school early to use the copier.
The main event this weekend was my birthday, conveniently on a Saturday. We celebrated in lots of ways. Lancashire Hot Pot made by Chan and Mandy at the social club on Friday. Lie in Saturday, then went and got a new bike in town. Rode it back home, good to be back in the saddle again.
We went fishing at Ahipara on Saturday afternoon. Not a very serious attempt as the wind was wrong, it was mid afternoon and the tide was going out. It was still nice to be casting into the surf. The last time I fished with our own stuff, was at Silecroft beach in Cumbria.
In the evening we managed to go out without the kids! To the Beachcomber in Kaitaia. It was full but quiet, we both had a seafood platter, fantastic scallops, squid and fish. Good wine too!
Yesterday was back to work with a vengeance, loads of new lessons to write this week, keeping me busy. The boys alternately messed the place up, ran round screaming and occasionally did more constructive things like riding their bikes. c got the bottom room ready for the arrival of her first guests from UK, due on Tuesday.
We went for a swim at Diggers in the afternoon and caught up with Ruth and Stephan.
Need to get teeth clean now and get into school early to use the copier.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Marae live-in
Well we were going to have a quiet weekend, to catch our breaths and to help keep going through the 10 week long term. Yes, all our uk readers, the terms here are a bit of an endurance test. 4 terms of about 10 weeks separated by a 2 week break each apart from the summer holiday which is nearly 2 months.
Anyway we got a letter on Thursday announcing the first live-in for the kapa-haka group. The boys were up for it and so trotted off to Te Paatu Marae for 6pm on Friday. What another culture shock! 80 odd children being sorted out by one teacher, sleeping for 2 nights on mattresses in the hall. Plenty of parents popped in to help out with catering, and the children all wanted to be there. kapa-haka is a maori dance and song form, a version of which the All Blacks do before their games. There are lots of versions and types, some of the singing being so sweet it brought a tear to my eye. Other songs were shouted with lots of bulging eyes and foot stomping. Good anger therapy!
Eric and Stuart stuck out the whole do, stopping for 2 nights. Nice and quiet back at home with just Paddy and C and I. We did a stint of cleaning yesterday and helped clean up today, more than ome parents and less than others who stayed the whole time.
The school group is very popular and by all accounts quite successful. They won the Northland finals last June and then went down to Rotorua (aka Rotovegas!) for the national finals.
We were a bit concerned that the boys would be totally done in, but they have had a rest and seem fine!
In the news here: Local news a Belgian couple's car gave up the ghost (it cost them $1200 in Auckland) - that was the Northland Age front page story. NZ Herald: a drugdealer in Auckland was sentenced yesterday, his gang was making $37,000 a week.
Have a good week folks!
Anyway we got a letter on Thursday announcing the first live-in for the kapa-haka group. The boys were up for it and so trotted off to Te Paatu Marae for 6pm on Friday. What another culture shock! 80 odd children being sorted out by one teacher, sleeping for 2 nights on mattresses in the hall. Plenty of parents popped in to help out with catering, and the children all wanted to be there. kapa-haka is a maori dance and song form, a version of which the All Blacks do before their games. There are lots of versions and types, some of the singing being so sweet it brought a tear to my eye. Other songs were shouted with lots of bulging eyes and foot stomping. Good anger therapy!
Eric and Stuart stuck out the whole do, stopping for 2 nights. Nice and quiet back at home with just Paddy and C and I. We did a stint of cleaning yesterday and helped clean up today, more than ome parents and less than others who stayed the whole time.
The school group is very popular and by all accounts quite successful. They won the Northland finals last June and then went down to Rotorua (aka Rotovegas!) for the national finals.
We were a bit concerned that the boys would be totally done in, but they have had a rest and seem fine!
In the news here: Local news a Belgian couple's car gave up the ghost (it cost them $1200 in Auckland) - that was the Northland Age front page story. NZ Herald: a drugdealer in Auckland was sentenced yesterday, his gang was making $37,000 a week.
Have a good week folks!
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Wow! What a week.
Wow, what ha busy week.
First off Tuesday, at long last the shipping arrived. So it was Christmas for everyone. It was a joy to eat of proper plates ,drink from proper mugs and use proper cutlery. Everything is in one piece- TV, computer , bikes, glasses,DVD etc. WELL DONE ATLAS REMOVALS OF MORCAMBE. The only down side was the dissapearance of the entire box of fishing equipment. Well, the rods and reels arrived ok, but there was a fishing box full of tackle, some which were gifts from Great grandad to Eric, and some untried stuff from Arran. I has spent a whole day cleaning and sifting out old stuff. We can only assume that the lot has been disposed of by MAF.
On a lighter note the weather has remained great , so lots of out door activites and swimming.
Kaitaia A&P show was on as well this weekend. It's a popular local event held on the show ground ,just as you enter the town. Stuart and Paddy decided to enter which various versions of Tracy island. And to our delight Stuart won in catogory for recycled things ,and Paddy came in 3rd. We are proud!!!!!!.
Then on Saturday late afternoon, after sorting out the last of the boxes, we took our tent off to Diggers valley and enjoyed a night there.
First off Tuesday, at long last the shipping arrived. So it was Christmas for everyone. It was a joy to eat of proper plates ,drink from proper mugs and use proper cutlery. Everything is in one piece- TV, computer , bikes, glasses,DVD etc. WELL DONE ATLAS REMOVALS OF MORCAMBE. The only down side was the dissapearance of the entire box of fishing equipment. Well, the rods and reels arrived ok, but there was a fishing box full of tackle, some which were gifts from Great grandad to Eric, and some untried stuff from Arran. I has spent a whole day cleaning and sifting out old stuff. We can only assume that the lot has been disposed of by MAF.
On a lighter note the weather has remained great , so lots of out door activites and swimming.
Kaitaia A&P show was on as well this weekend. It's a popular local event held on the show ground ,just as you enter the town. Stuart and Paddy decided to enter which various versions of Tracy island. And to our delight Stuart won in catogory for recycled things ,and Paddy came in 3rd. We are proud!!!!!!.
Then on Saturday late afternoon, after sorting out the last of the boxes, we took our tent off to Diggers valley and enjoyed a night there.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Another week of firsts!
It has gotten around to Saturday night again and so it is time for a weekly update. I am finding that my time during the week is pnched by all the planning I am doing. So blog updates and lengthy emails are having to wait for the weekend. Thanks for all the nice emails people have sent. It is nice to hear from you all. It does make C and I a little unsure about how to deal with your weather news. It rained tonight but it is so warm that the humidity after the rain has shot up. It can be 100% humid here at this time of year, unpleasant if we have to be very active, but easily remedied by taking a dip.
Anyway the news. chantelle started helping out at a special school in town this week and has been enjoying the work. Not surprisingly they have also been happy to have an extra pair of competent hands as they are shrt-staffed.
Sorry about the typos in this piece, the blogger editor is in overwrite mode, so it is difficult to correct mistakes. That is my excuse and I am sticking to it.
As for the other firsts .... our first hangi (steamed group feed roots and meat all wrapped up and steamed for several hours), my first te reo Maori lesson ( lots of singing and dancing - the teachers must have trained at St Martins) , our first NZ agricultural show at Broadwood, complete with sheep shearing and log splitting competitions. Thanks to Les over the road, Eric and I had our first NZ bike ride. Awesome as they say over here.
til next week then, eh?
Anyway the news. chantelle started helping out at a special school in town this week and has been enjoying the work. Not surprisingly they have also been happy to have an extra pair of competent hands as they are shrt-staffed.
Sorry about the typos in this piece, the blogger editor is in overwrite mode, so it is difficult to correct mistakes. That is my excuse and I am sticking to it.
As for the other firsts .... our first hangi (steamed group feed roots and meat all wrapped up and steamed for several hours), my first te reo Maori lesson ( lots of singing and dancing - the teachers must have trained at St Martins) , our first NZ agricultural show at Broadwood, complete with sheep shearing and log splitting competitions. Thanks to Les over the road, Eric and I had our first NZ bike ride. Awesome as they say over here.
til next week then, eh?
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Trip to Cape Reinga
Saturday has come round again and after a very busy week at our schools, we wanted to go on an adventure. Set off for Cape Reinga at midday and after a lunch stop at a wharf near Houhora, we arrived at 2.30. Chantelle liked the rolling grassy hills on the way. I was impressed by the destruction wreaked by a recent bush fire on the Te Paki reserve. Eric reckoned it was great because we live near places like this and were not on holiday. Stuart hated it because it was too high up and he was convinced he was going to die!
Cape Reinga itself is the most visited northernmost point of New Zealand where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. We saw a container boat heading round the Cape on its way to Auckland from Oz, Chantelle was convinced it was the Sydney Express on its way back from England. And no, as yet our shipping from its last visit has not yet arrived!
Cape Reinga itself is the most visited northernmost point of New Zealand where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. We saw a container boat heading round the Cape on its way to Auckland from Oz, Chantelle was convinced it was the Sydney Express on its way back from England. And no, as yet our shipping from its last visit has not yet arrived!
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Back to skool!
Our apologies to those of you who have been waiting for an update. This week has gone by in a whirl what with school starting properly on Tuesday. The boys set off bright and early to catch their bus to Pamapuria, only to see it leave earlier than expected. We now leave at 7.55 and hang around at the bus stop. Their bus stop is outside the College, so I can drop them off on my way in. Handy eh!
They seem to have settled in OK, enjoying the activities and especially the daily swimming. the only sour note was some teasing on the way home on the first night, but this seems to have been promptly nipped in the bud by the principal. Stuart and Eric are in separate classrooms after all but meet up at break. They haven't said much about it, we are probably heading into the period where what happens at school remains a mystery to us parents apart from brief insights at parents evenings, or when one of them deighns (?) to enlighten us with a tit-bit.
My first few days back have been ok really. I have a range of classes from Y9 to Y12 none of which are particularly frightening especially when compared with UK classes. The Y12's are biologists and I think that class will stretch my subject knowledge nicely. All the classes have responded favourably to my teaching methods. One of the big surprises is the level of parental finance that is expected over here. Our boys were each given a bill of about $75 each to cover their stationery and trips and photocopying for the year. Students at college are expected to provide their own stationery including exercise books. Senior students have to buy their own textbooks costing around $22 each for maybe 4 or 5 subjects. The crunch comes when students sit in a lesson without this stuff and there is a grey area over what teachers themselves should provide for needy students!
Beyond school, we have had a quiet week. We managed an after school swim on Thursday down at Ahipara. Fantastic breakers which attracted surfers and body boarders. As it has been very humid here, it was great to get thoroughly doused in the surf. Not so good when Patrick got hit by a surf board and we had a few anxious hours assessing the emergency health system. The upshot was that he was bruised and shocked but there was no lasting damage.
Today is Saturday. Patrick and Stuart have signed up for the local football team "The Pirates".
Eric and I checked out the local recycling facilities. They have a rate of 45% recycled here. This is a lot to do with the $1.50 charge for each bag of rubbish removed on bin day. Not a lot of evidence of fly-tipping either.
This afternoon popped down to school to the opening of the new Library. Guest of honour was the PM Helen Clark - see pics below. Again the comparisons with UK were marked. Not only the Maori protocol of greeting and extensive speeches, but also the suggestions that Ms Clark go back to Wellington and get Mr Mallard to send up a big cheque to pay for a new technology block, marae and swimming pool. I didn't get to talk to the great woman in person, but the cream scones were nice.
They seem to have settled in OK, enjoying the activities and especially the daily swimming. the only sour note was some teasing on the way home on the first night, but this seems to have been promptly nipped in the bud by the principal. Stuart and Eric are in separate classrooms after all but meet up at break. They haven't said much about it, we are probably heading into the period where what happens at school remains a mystery to us parents apart from brief insights at parents evenings, or when one of them deighns (?) to enlighten us with a tit-bit.
My first few days back have been ok really. I have a range of classes from Y9 to Y12 none of which are particularly frightening especially when compared with UK classes. The Y12's are biologists and I think that class will stretch my subject knowledge nicely. All the classes have responded favourably to my teaching methods. One of the big surprises is the level of parental finance that is expected over here. Our boys were each given a bill of about $75 each to cover their stationery and trips and photocopying for the year. Students at college are expected to provide their own stationery including exercise books. Senior students have to buy their own textbooks costing around $22 each for maybe 4 or 5 subjects. The crunch comes when students sit in a lesson without this stuff and there is a grey area over what teachers themselves should provide for needy students!
Beyond school, we have had a quiet week. We managed an after school swim on Thursday down at Ahipara. Fantastic breakers which attracted surfers and body boarders. As it has been very humid here, it was great to get thoroughly doused in the surf. Not so good when Patrick got hit by a surf board and we had a few anxious hours assessing the emergency health system. The upshot was that he was bruised and shocked but there was no lasting damage.
Today is Saturday. Patrick and Stuart have signed up for the local football team "The Pirates".
Eric and I checked out the local recycling facilities. They have a rate of 45% recycled here. This is a lot to do with the $1.50 charge for each bag of rubbish removed on bin day. Not a lot of evidence of fly-tipping either.
This afternoon popped down to school to the opening of the new Library. Guest of honour was the PM Helen Clark - see pics below. Again the comparisons with UK were marked. Not only the Maori protocol of greeting and extensive speeches, but also the suggestions that Ms Clark go back to Wellington and get Mr Mallard to send up a big cheque to pay for a new technology block, marae and swimming pool. I didn't get to talk to the great woman in person, but the cream scones were nice.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Gone fishing
Just as we were heading out to Taipa Bay to check out the fishing competition, we got an invite to do some fishing on 90 mile beach. Ended up at Cooper's Beach for some body-boarding then had a look at the weigh-in. Didn't hang around for long, looked quite relaxed, lots of beer being drunk and prizes given out. No fish on show while we were there.
Our own fishing was fun and is mostly explained by the pictures below. It was great to see the boys running in the surf and up the dunes. That was one of the main reasons why we moved here, to see them doing more active things outside.
We got home at 10.30pm and Stuart was complaining that he had not had chance to watch his daily 2 hours of TV!
Our own fishing was fun and is mostly explained by the pictures below. It was great to see the boys running in the surf and up the dunes. That was one of the main reasons why we moved here, to see them doing more active things outside.
We got home at 10.30pm and Stuart was complaining that he had not had chance to watch his daily 2 hours of TV!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
