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Greetings and Salutaions!

Due to the fact that we are moving house today there will be no blogs (sad we know) for the next week...or until we get the internet back again!

Please try and hold strong at this time. We know it will be painful but if we all pull together I'm sure we will make it through these uncertain times.

As always we are very grateful to those of you that take the time to read our blog and at this glorious time of year we send you a giant big red Thank You! It's in the shape of a Santa too...close your eyes and all will be revealed!

We wish you all a very,very Happy Christmas

Love from Ollie and Amy xxx

where's all this great weather we've heard so much about?

Snap is probably the loudest of all card games, as well as being most likely the simplest. For both of these reasons, mainly the first, it is one of my favourites. Whenever I play, the game usually descends into a bellowing shouting match or an awful farmyard of noise, if we play the ‘animal noise’ version. A woman and an estate agent were about to arrive for a viewing at the house so I knew everything had to be perfect with behaviour at its best. Entertaining Skye with cards seemed a sensible way to keep her amused for the duration of the viewing. Now, what card games would 4 year olds be able to play? Of course Snap was my first choice but knowing the noise level it required I was put off. However I saw a great opportunity to ‘reinvent’ the game for a whole new generation...‘Whisper Snap’! I explained the rules to a very attentive Skye and when I got to the part about shouting Snap if she saw a pair I said ‘You have to whisper the word snap. it’s very important that you whisper because that’s how you win. If you don’t whisper ‘snap’ then it won’t count. I am a genius! It worked! On that divine morning I played the first ever recorded game in all Snap history (I think) of ‘Whispering Snap’. And what a success it was! Skye loved the game, and, after a few gentle prompts, became very good at the game. So for any parents who have yet to teach their child the wonderous game of Snap for fear that your ears will be ever more left ringing each time it is played then please don’t delay any longer. ‘Whisper Snap’ could be for you!

Another of Skye’s favourite games at the moment is Pairs. You know the one where you have to make pairs from matching tiles that are all placed face down? She has an amazing memory! There was no need for me to kindly (if not reluctantly!) let her win, she needed no help in that area! I made the fatal mistake of offering a free ‘Dairy run’ (Sweet shop visit) to the competitor that won five games in a row. I did not win but ended up five dollars worse off! We don’t play for that kind of prize anymore. Now it’s ‘The winner has to give Uncle Ollie a kiss’ or ‘The winner mustn't punch Uncle Ollie for the next hour’. The only way I had of attempting to win was by placing my head on the table and trying to see the reflection colour of the tile on the table. As Dad taught me, sometimes cheating is the only way! I was dismayed to see a few days later however that Skye had worked out this great way to cheat too!

One night Skye asked me to read her a bedtime story. We spent a few minutes choosing the perfect book. This was actually more a case of Skye casually reclining on her bed whilst directing a tippy toed, clambering Auntie through a number of boxes that were to high to see into, guessing which book ‘felt’ like it would be a good one. Eventually a ‘Barbie Princess’ edition was picked and we both sat down ready for an exciting adventure (If I’m honest I was not expecting great things!). Now when I was little, a bedtime story had to include Mum or Dad ‘doing the voices’ and varying their pace, volume and vocal levels of excitement until I was enthralled by whichever Famous Five book we were reading (yes Enid Blyton was a must in those days!). So of course over the years I have perfected my own bedtime story abilities and have even mastered looking ahead whilst reading so that Mrs Grumbles or Prince Sebastian don’t get their voices mixed up. There is nothing worse than the valiant hero of a story suddenly coming out with a great phrase like ‘I’ll get you, you swine’ in the sweet voice of Alice the chamber maid. It spoils everything! I did my best to entertain Skye and apparently she loved my version of the story. Since then I have read most of her books, including one about Diggers. Not my favourite subject area but nevertheless searching for the dog’s missing ball in a pile of rubble was not as boring as it might sound!

* * *

On Saturday we went to nearby Totara Park for Mac’s end of year Football Team BBQ. It’s a huge park with outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, bit of forest and lots of open space. The kids all loved it and it was a chance for the Dads to try and beat their sons at football; although I think the only thing they won was a loss of breath and a sweaty forehead! I was sad I wasn’t old enough to take part in the ‘Lolly dash’ (sweets are thrown for the kids to try and grab), and looked on with green eyes as the children counted up their winnings. Oh and yes I did steal a chocolate when noone was looking! I’m only human after all...well only Amy anyway!

The residents of New Zealand take their BBQ’s very seriously. And I mean SERIOUSLY! Some families go down to the park or beach just before sunrise so as to get the best spot and erect gazebos, tents and all sorts. They bring down their gas BBQ’s (none of this charcoal rubbish) and cook all manner of delights! I’ve never seen so much preparation go into a family picnic gathering, it’s a little daunting! Luckily the team event was far more low quay, and dare I say it...British?! Everyone with us was laughing at the ‘Bros’ as they call them. Even so our BBQ still had steaks! A treat Ollie is keen to get used to! 

On Sunday we went swimming again, but this time to a more conventional pool. I even swam a few lengths before my lungs fell out of toes! The great thing about the pools in South Auckland is that they all give free admission. I know! Ollie and I are still amazed by the fact...nothing is free at home! There was an indoor and an outdoor pool but as it wasn’t that warm I decided to stick inside and amuse myself with the sight of a Korean man in the next lane who was doing a front crawl arm action whilst walking, face down, through the water. In fits of giggles I looked up to see the sign for the lane he was in actually did say ‘walkers/talkers’ although I think this guy took it a little too literally. Unless this is a new technique I haven’t heard of yet. ‘The walking front craw’?!

The weather over the last few days had been horrible. For the main reason that it has just been constantly raining. Yesterday it was Mac’s school awards ceremony and by the time we had taken the five minute walk up to school, we were all drenched! The ceremony had been planned for outside but due to the rain, had been moved indoors at the last minute. This meant that there wasn’t enough space for all the parents and due to ‘health and safety’ they could only lay out about 40 chairs and the rest of us had to stand behind, crouch in front or for the most part, hover in doorways trying to keep out of the torrents. Considering the entrances and exits were so crammed full of parents, I would have thought this to have been more of a fire hazard than a few measly chairs! Who knows. 

Anyway Skye and I left Ollie to try and find a space where she could see better and finally settled for a patch just behind the school kids. The floor was full of big puddles but there was nothing to be done but sit on them. A soaked bum for two hours was an interesting new sensation for me to experience. The National Anthem was sung before the Head Teacher gave an interesting opening speech which was followed by the class excellence awards, which dragged on for what seemed like an eternity. Then the children all sang a song. Skye and I enjoyed that part! An ex pupil gave a very inspiring speech about his time at the school and following experiences at Intermediate and College. He had gained a scholarship to one of the top schools in the area and was back to encourage other young pupils to do the same. Following his speech, two of what appeared to be his friends or one friend and a tutor, stepped onto the stage and performed a Haka. Now in my ignorance I didn’t know there was more than one Haka but afterwards I asked Nigel and he told me that there are many that belong to different Maori tribes. It was an awesome display of vocal power, physical strength and insane tongue gymnastics. It looked like the young guy had a mask on with the faces he was pulling. The Huka sent the whole room into a powerful spell as we looked on with awe and fascination at the two men on stage.

Finally there was the cup giving. I’ve never seen a Primary school with so many cups to award! There must have been at least ten and probably a few more! But the most important, judging by the children’s reactions, had to be the house cup. As the pupils waited in anticipation, the teacher on stage proudly held up the trophy with its green, blue, red and yellow ribbons fluttering from the handles. As she announced the second place, Kaori, the yellow team and Mac’s house, let out a massive roar as they realised they were the winners. Obviously Mac was very proud to tell us that ever since he had been at that school his team had won the cup!

I really enjoyed participating in the schools evening and experiencing a very different education system to my own. At first glance it may not look so different but when I found out the schools are only partially Government funded and how the set up differs it made me realise how lucky British children are. For all its faults, our schools are definitely well set up to provide an excellent standard of education for our children. I am also of the opinion that perhaps we could learn something about improving the area of creativity and sport from other countries, but academically I believe we have it pretty sound. This is not to say that I didn’t witness an excellent standard of achievement at Mac’s school, because I did, but the talk the board of trustees gave highlighted the fact that perhaps this school was one of the higher achievers and that others were simply written off because of their racially varied intake. This guy was saying that of course it shouldn’t matter where children come from, they all deserve to do as well as the next. Looking around the room there was a vast proportion of Pacific, Asian and Maori children and parents and it was refreshing to see such varied cultures all integrating, apparently very well, together. Of course there are problems, but this school seem to be very aware and committed to offering a fantastic equal opportunity ethos.

Before visiting New Zealand I had no knowledge really of Maori people and definitely didn’t realise they were still very much a part of New Zealand. In my ignorance I suppose I had assumed that like many tribes they had been horrifically disposed of by settlers as many others across the globe have been. In a way perhaps, this is partially the case but from an early age children at school are educated and taught to speak simple Maori terms. Mac and Skye both sing the national anthem in both Maori and English and at the awards ceremony, certain parts of people’s addresses were given in both languages. New Zealand is definitely a country proud of its roots and varied culture and they take great pride in preserving and honouring it. 

As I sat and watched the little children walking across the stage clutching their medals and certificates I was reminded of when I was at school. Back then all I dreamed of was being grown up, having my own money and doing ‘grown up’ things. Sitting on the wooden floor with a wet bum, suddenly all I wanted to be was a child again. No responsibility, no real worries (panicking that so and so may not be talking to you the next day I have come to realise does not class as a real worry), no commitments or restrictions, your whole life ahead of you. Ahhh the days of bliss that I wished past me all to quickly. I will always have a sense of ‘if only I could do it all again’ because if I could, I would definitely have tried harder to win more awards at school and not be put off by the thought that it wasn’t cool! Because no adult cares about whether it is cool to achieve! It is only a childish falsity that most of us would have fallen victim to from time to time.

When I have my reminiscent times of mild regret and nostalgia I recall one of my favourite stories. It was one of the best, not just because Dad did a great interpretation of a grumpy, hungry troll or Mum made the grass sound absolutely, mouth watering delicious, but because of the sentiment that is so so true. ‘The Three Billy Goats Gruff’ holds one of the greatest statements I know and although it doesn’t always have to be the way and life is what you make it, unfortunately for me it so often seems to be the case. The grass is always greener on the other side...

13/12/11

when we were young...

‘YELLOW CAR!’ 

Punch.

‘I said I WASN’T playing!’

‘YELLOW CAR!’

Punch. Punch.

‘For the last time, I said, I’M NOT playing anymore!’

As we sped along the freeway towards Auckland city, Uncle Ollie suffered many minor injuries due to the out of hand ‘Yellow Car’ game that was unofficially taking place. Much to Mac’s disappointment, Uncle Ollie had had enough of being beaten to a pulp and was trying to put an end to the unruly game. He was struggling however because Skye and his own sister had also decided to play along and they two were jabbing at any piece of exposed flesh available to them. I’m not sure the game ever came under control, we just arrived at Mount Eden and everyone became distracted...for a while. I suppose that particular game was some relief from the mammoth ‘eye spy’ tournament that has taken place on every car expedition since we got here. Most of the time the game runs smoothly, but every now and then Skye will become fixated by one particular word, e.g. chair and repeat it continuously until some would finally take a turn and say ‘something beginning with C’, at which point she would guess...‘Steering Wheel?’. I haven’t laughed so much on a car journey since the days of Ollie singing along to a Gwen Stefani song many years ago!

From the top of Mount Eden we could see pretty much the whole of the city. The sky tower looming high above any other building (long gone are the sky scrapers of American cities), the marina and harbour, the big bridge, the viaduct and the 2011 World Cup Rugby stadium, built for the tournament. It isn’t a huge city but it is far more pleasant to look at than most. Situated right on the waters edge and surrounded by little tree covered islands, it’s an awesome view. The land is mainly flat but every so often there is a random hill that sporadically appears. Mount Eden itself has a giant volcanic crater at the top. Ollie spent a few minutes arguing with Nigel about what rocks were or weren’t volcanic. I stopped listening part way through, it wasn’t a very scintillating discussion! After attempting to take a few panoramic shots and Ollie complaining that we need a better camera (which I suppose we do), we all got back in the car and drove down into the city to find some lunch.

The viaduct has loads of bars and restaurants, including a giant fish market that Ollie is already obsessed with. Most of the buildings were built for the world cup so the whole place looks very new. Here also was where a helicopter recently crashed while putting up the christmas tree. The story made the news headlines and Ollie, Char and I had actually been there when the crash had occurred! Deciding on fish and chips we sat outside the market. It was pretty windy. Charlotte commented ‘Every time we all eat out we seem to get wind.’ Hmm...!

We spent the afternoon at Mission Bay, a long stretch of beach on the outskirts of the city. It was a pretty place and the kids were in the water immediately. Unconvinced by the shouts that the water was ‘warmer than last time’ neither Ollie or I dared to go in. A cup of coffee definitely seemed the better option!  Back at home it was time to prepare the food for the BBQ we were having that evening. Rob and Chris, Nigel’s parents, came over and brought some very tasty homemade chicken kebabs. It was a great evening and really nice to get to know some more people here. 

Sunday it rained and rained, and oh, rained some more. Ollie, Mac, Skye and I went to a nearby swimming pool and the kids wouldn’t stop talking about the amazing ‘Hydro Slide’. Unfortunately this outing did nothing other than cement my unhappy realisation that we were no longer able to class ourselves as children or even young adults. The sad fact was that we were now...grown ups.

I hadn’t been to a fun pool in a long time. As the four of us bundled into a family changing room and Skye threw off her clothes I suddenly wished I was 4 again too. Instead I had to hobble round a corner trying to push my ever lumpier body into my bikini. Now I know I’m not ‘old’ by any stretch of the imagination but you have to admit that there does come a stage in your life when you realise you don’t quite have that perfect adolescent body that you still like to imagine you did. That lovely flat stomach that you never had to try with has suddenly turned to mush and it’s now a case of berating yourself for not doing enough exercise every time you catch yourself in the mirror after a shower. Anyway, after my deeply unconfident body moment I finished getting Skye into her togs, persuaded Mac that we ‘wouldn’t look’ and finally got him to get changed. Meanwhile Ollie had somehow changed without anyone even realising. 

Stepping out of the changing rooms, Ollie and I immediately felt like giants at a Borrowers’ swimming pool. The slides were tiny (apart from the ‘hydro slide’), the water spouts came up to our shoulders and the lazy river was thigh deep. Even the main part of the pool came up to our ankles for the most part. What had happened to us? Where had the super cool amazing fun pools with rushing water, crazy slides and water fountains like these gone? Had some cruel hobbit come in and changed all the fun pools? Had my memories been distorted? As Ollie came whirling down the Hydro Slide with Skye on his lap they almost flew out the end of the landing tube, most of the water actually did! Why was everything so small? And then it hit me. Everything wasn’t small. We were just big. We had grown up. This horrible, depressing fact sunk in even harder as after an hour both Ollie and I were panting. ‘How long have we been here? Is it almost tome to go?’ Ollie looked at me with eyes that were begging for the answer to be yes. Meanwhile Mac and Skye were still running up the steps to the slide over and over. Never tiring. ‘Come on Uncle Ollie! Take me down again!’ yelled Skye. Obviously twenty times down the big (well bigger) Hydro Slide wasn’t enough!

Then the thing that used to annoy me more than anything when my family used to go swimming happened. We would all be having fun and then suddenly Dad would say he was feeling cold and would have to get out. I used to wonder how the hell he could be feeling cold when I was boiling hot and we were in a warm pool! But now, finally, all these years later I understood. Because without realising it, I found myself wading through the shallows, shivering, and thinking ‘I’m cold’. Since when had I turned into Dad?! Or more to the point, since when did I get to the point where fun pools just weren’t so fun anymore and more of a tepid ankle paddling experience? So, cold and slightly wet I made it over to my towel to sit and watch Ollie take the slide over and over. Poor guy. To see Skye and Mac having sooo much fun made me smile. It was their turn now. But it wasn’t all bad. Chasing Skye round the lazy river was lots of fun, not so much falling out my bikini top and not realising, but some things never change.

* * *

Today was Mac’s Sports Day. Now. I thought that it was an English tradition that it would always rain on a schools sports day, but apparently not. This morning, just as we were about to walk up to the school, the clouds exploded and we were greeted with yet another bout of rain. I’m not angry at the weather here so far, I’m just a little disappointed! It’s not cold at all and when the sun is out it’s absolutely scorching, but so far I have experienced more rain than I did the whole entire time we were in America! Anyway. The rain didn’t last long and we found out the event had been moved back a couple of hours. All was not lost! The fact that the Sports Day did take place on the intended day is definitely an improvement on back home. One year I think I didn’t even have one the weather was so bad for weeks!

We cheered and shouted as Mac won almost every one of his races. He would have won the hurdles too, but tripping over one set and then crashing head first into the second and third kind of hindered him! I don’t think he finished last though. His running race was brilliant but the real surprise of the day was the long jump. Mac certainly jumped the furthest in his group but I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t make the longest jump in the whole event! He was almost out the sand pit! All the teachers were very impressed and stories of his jump were soon passing between them. Overall his house won the most points and were declared the overall winners. Ollie and I were very impressed by our little sporty nephew and by the giant grin on his face I think Mac was pretty proud too! 

I can’t believe it’s less than three weeks until Christmas! It feels very odd to not be surrounded by miserable cold weather and maybe a little snow. Never the less I am already satisfying my yearly Mince Pie addiction and we’re all getting into the Christmas spirit. We have been dancing to Christmas tunes most evenings, always led by Skye! One of her favourites is Jingle Bells, and thanks to her I have it permanently going round in my head. Well, I have her interesting version of the lyrics in my head! Now please everyone, sing along...

Jingle bells

Jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Old Mc farm

It is to ride

On a one horse open sleigh

Hey!

(Repeat)!!

6/12/11