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!

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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