Well you can see that we have more additions. Carol it REALLY wasn't planned that way - promise. Yes I know, since you left we got a kitten, then a chocolate lab, 8 lambs and now 7 piglets (probably more by the time you read this!). You just timed it all badly. What's more they will all be growed up by Novemeber ('cept Rust, he's already growed up). Anyway, Octavia's septuplets are like puppies and sooooo sweet. Olympia has been grunting and shuffling all evening and must be about to drop but we've just checked on her (it's not raining tonight!) and she is still in one piece. The girls found out about the piglets as they walked down the drive to catch the bus bit could not go and look as the paddocks are so muddy. I therefore met them on the drive this afternoon with 3 pairs of gummies and we spent the next hour oooohhhing and aahhhing at the new arrivals. I love the way the piglets huddle together and move as one. Octavia was snorting/breathing over them and the huddle lifted and fell in response to each breath. She also does a quiet deep grunting and seems to be sending off to wee one at a time. She grunts, one ambles off to another corner and wee's, comes back and the whole thing starts again. Our student Miwa is thoroughly in awe of it all. I don't think she has ever seen a pig before, let alone a litter of brand new ones.
Nil else to report. I have more piccies but it is probably as well that I cannot get the camera to download. Hopefully it will work when next lot arrive. Oh and the names? H and A had given them ridiculous names from LOTR when they arrived but we decided that they should now have 'proper' names. If you have a baby at Cedar Lodge you definately get a name (unless your a sheep of course).
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Just in Time!
Eric found these when he fed the pigs this morning!
....and isn't he the proud father!! 7 in all, not sexed yet but names will be required!
Mommy-In-Waiting!
The REAL Daddy.
....and isn't he the proud father!! 7 in all, not sexed yet but names will be required!
Mommy-In-Waiting!
The REAL Daddy.
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Eureka!
I've sussed it! To get anything done round here you just have to be a pig and pregnant. The Cedar Lodge porcine maternity unit took it's first two admissions today. We await with baited breath the imminent births. Eric is playing anxious father to a tee (or is that tea?). He was going to check on them after dark but....it was raining. Well he's not THAT concerned apparently!
Alice had her first riding lesson today. She LOVED it. I will let her tell you about that. Harriette has created her a website for this purpose but it has yet to 'go live'. I took the camera but the battery was dead!!!! Luckily I had the old fashioned one as well but will take digital piccies next week.
Alice had her first riding lesson today. She LOVED it. I will let her tell you about that. Harriette has created her a website for this purpose but it has yet to 'go live'. I took the camera but the battery was dead!!!! Luckily I had the old fashioned one as well but will take digital piccies next week.
Monday, July 26, 2004
No More Sleepovers - EVER!!
I mean it, they are a total disaster, well here they are. I thought Alice's one would be so much better as there were only 3 friends (+ Sarah with Harri), but no. It started off OK, I picked up the girls at about 2pm on Friday (teacher training day) and took them to the movies, sweets, frozen coke etc and then went to see New York Minute. Definitely a girlie movie for the 9 - 13 year olds. They loved it! Then home for tea. Eric had followed my instructions to the letter, and more, and the dining room looked lovely. They had a party tea, all still going well at this stage, except I forgot about the cake! Anyway they then sat down enthusiastically to watch Seabiscuit (c/o Carol). H and A had seen it before and loved it. And these were real country girls, Sams mom a horse trainer, Kathrine mad on horse riding and of course Alice had got those riding lessons for her birthday. Well then the trouble started. H and Sarah were dead keen to watch it but it must have been too old for Sam, Abbey and Kathrine, or they were just too hyped up to concentrate. Anyway the rows started as H and S wanted to watch but couldn't because the others were making such a din. A dilema here, I mean it is Alice's party. Anyway I suggested that they younger ones all go and play with the Bratz dolls in H's bedroom (student is in Alice's), which they agreed to do... for awhile. They got bored with that and another row when they invaded the living room, again interfering with S and H's viewing. I then went in and told them all to be quiet for the last 20 minutes of the film. A few minutes later I heard Alice crying and go in to find 4 of them in tears!!! It was nearly midnight and they were all tired and foul! I tried to lighten things up and eventually remembered the cake. Bought that in for candle blowing out and with film finished I thought they'd then settle down and sleep. By this stage it's 12.30am, H was asleep in her room, Sarah and Miwa were asleep in the living room and only the 4 10 yr olds were still up. So I went to bed, and slept. I woke up at 4.45am to find these 4 STILL up and playing!!!!! Well I went in and told them in no uncertain terms to go to sleep. Lights out and finally they did.
In the morning it was all rush to get Sarah and Harriette to the courts for 10am. I finally got back to find Alice in tears as they were all falling out, out of sheer tiredness I would guess. Well I couldn't wait to get the girls returned home I can tell you. Finally got them home at 12.30am. I wanted to explain and apologise to moms but they weren't in, except Robyn who totally understands. I dread to think what tales the other 2 conveyed to their parents! The girls all insisted that Abbey had an asthma attack, of which I saw no evidence. Oh it was all just too terrible. At the point when they were all in tears I could have joined them. Yet again we had tried so hard to give our girls a nice birthday and failed miserably.
In the afternoon, we finally had some time with Miwa and took her for a stroll around the paddocks. We took Inca, Ben and Rust with us so they could have a good run. They spend a lot of time locked up at the moment with lambing, I am paranoid about them going into Claire and Ians paddocks. The girls were quite happy playing on the silage bales in the back paddock so I asked them to watch the dogs and went to plant some cauliflower plants I had. I also thought that I could watch that bit of fence line from the veg plot where Inca and Ben are apt to get through to Claire and Ians. I had not been there more that 5 minutes when I heard Ian yell at tremendous volume from his house obsenities at Ben who was slinking down their side of the fence about 20' away from me. I could have died with frustration and embarrassment. I hauled him out as quickly as possible, which was not very quick as he was scared witless by now and would not come near me for fear of a beating (we do that regularly of course!!!). 5 minutes later I saw Ian come down and lamb a ewe that had obviously been having difficulty. That's why Ian saw Ben so quickly, he was walking straight towards the ewe he had been watching. (Sods Law)I, however knew that Ben knew that afew days ago there was a dead lamb in the same place and that's where he was headed, but I can see Ian seeing it totally differently. I dreamt that night that Ian tried to shoot Ben!!!
This same afternoon we lost a set of lambs. En route from the girls and dogs to the veg plot I spotted a ewe that had lambed. I stolled up to check on them and found they were both half dead, freezing cold. I got a towel and rubbed them hard to dry them off and layed them in the sun. Mom came and did lots of licking and one bleated but they looked far too small to have any chance of survival.
The two sows look fit to burst and despite being in pain with this (prolonged) episode of gout, Eric has spent the weekend converting the stable into a luxury porcine maternity unit. I told him a birthing pool was OTT!! He has this total fixation with hanging some gates which he has acquired from Richard and Robyns semiderilict piggery on their new farm. He keeps running different ideas by me but try as I might I cannot raise the same enthusiasm that he can. Carol I really do try not to go 'Mmmmm' in that way but he sees straight through me and gets upset at my lack of interest!!!
Sunday was a nice day. H, A and I took Miwa to the Mount for a walk then soak in the hot pools. The weather was perfect and I revelled in lying in hot water out doors watching the sunset and para gliders. And all this in the depths of our winter!!
I had a fit of panic Sunday evening. I had done just about no work on Friday and decided to take it as time owed. I then had a vague recollection that one Monday morning I had an early start. Thank God I checked my diary. It was today. I had a lecture to give to 17 year old High School students in Hamilton at 8.45am!!!! Now not only had I not prepared it but my printer was was playing up and I could not print out handouts. So just when I thought I could go to bed and finish my book I had to dig out my computer and prepare a powerpoint. I only needed to adapt some stuff I already had but even so..... On arrival this morning at the school I could not get in the classroom and then they could not find the data projector. It then was in a room that was locked and the teacher was a way, then we couldn't get it to work. FINALLY it got sorted and I think I gave a reasonable talk despite all of this. The teacher certainly was very appreciative.
I keep meaning to mention the floods and earthquakes in Whakatane (have I done so already?). A river floodbank was breached and many farms and houses were flooded. As if that wasn't enough they then had over 100 earthqukes over the next few days, some of which were felt over here in Matamata. And I think I've had a rough few days. Puts thing in perspective doesn't it!
Tomorrow I am off to Taumarunui to do a clinical assessment and have quite a busy week ahead. Hope you have all had good weekends. I'm definitely going to finish my book tonight!
In the morning it was all rush to get Sarah and Harriette to the courts for 10am. I finally got back to find Alice in tears as they were all falling out, out of sheer tiredness I would guess. Well I couldn't wait to get the girls returned home I can tell you. Finally got them home at 12.30am. I wanted to explain and apologise to moms but they weren't in, except Robyn who totally understands. I dread to think what tales the other 2 conveyed to their parents! The girls all insisted that Abbey had an asthma attack, of which I saw no evidence. Oh it was all just too terrible. At the point when they were all in tears I could have joined them. Yet again we had tried so hard to give our girls a nice birthday and failed miserably.
In the afternoon, we finally had some time with Miwa and took her for a stroll around the paddocks. We took Inca, Ben and Rust with us so they could have a good run. They spend a lot of time locked up at the moment with lambing, I am paranoid about them going into Claire and Ians paddocks. The girls were quite happy playing on the silage bales in the back paddock so I asked them to watch the dogs and went to plant some cauliflower plants I had. I also thought that I could watch that bit of fence line from the veg plot where Inca and Ben are apt to get through to Claire and Ians. I had not been there more that 5 minutes when I heard Ian yell at tremendous volume from his house obsenities at Ben who was slinking down their side of the fence about 20' away from me. I could have died with frustration and embarrassment. I hauled him out as quickly as possible, which was not very quick as he was scared witless by now and would not come near me for fear of a beating (we do that regularly of course!!!). 5 minutes later I saw Ian come down and lamb a ewe that had obviously been having difficulty. That's why Ian saw Ben so quickly, he was walking straight towards the ewe he had been watching. (Sods Law)I, however knew that Ben knew that afew days ago there was a dead lamb in the same place and that's where he was headed, but I can see Ian seeing it totally differently. I dreamt that night that Ian tried to shoot Ben!!!
This same afternoon we lost a set of lambs. En route from the girls and dogs to the veg plot I spotted a ewe that had lambed. I stolled up to check on them and found they were both half dead, freezing cold. I got a towel and rubbed them hard to dry them off and layed them in the sun. Mom came and did lots of licking and one bleated but they looked far too small to have any chance of survival.
The two sows look fit to burst and despite being in pain with this (prolonged) episode of gout, Eric has spent the weekend converting the stable into a luxury porcine maternity unit. I told him a birthing pool was OTT!! He has this total fixation with hanging some gates which he has acquired from Richard and Robyns semiderilict piggery on their new farm. He keeps running different ideas by me but try as I might I cannot raise the same enthusiasm that he can. Carol I really do try not to go 'Mmmmm' in that way but he sees straight through me and gets upset at my lack of interest!!!
Sunday was a nice day. H, A and I took Miwa to the Mount for a walk then soak in the hot pools. The weather was perfect and I revelled in lying in hot water out doors watching the sunset and para gliders. And all this in the depths of our winter!!
I had a fit of panic Sunday evening. I had done just about no work on Friday and decided to take it as time owed. I then had a vague recollection that one Monday morning I had an early start. Thank God I checked my diary. It was today. I had a lecture to give to 17 year old High School students in Hamilton at 8.45am!!!! Now not only had I not prepared it but my printer was was playing up and I could not print out handouts. So just when I thought I could go to bed and finish my book I had to dig out my computer and prepare a powerpoint. I only needed to adapt some stuff I already had but even so..... On arrival this morning at the school I could not get in the classroom and then they could not find the data projector. It then was in a room that was locked and the teacher was a way, then we couldn't get it to work. FINALLY it got sorted and I think I gave a reasonable talk despite all of this. The teacher certainly was very appreciative.
I keep meaning to mention the floods and earthquakes in Whakatane (have I done so already?). A river floodbank was breached and many farms and houses were flooded. As if that wasn't enough they then had over 100 earthqukes over the next few days, some of which were felt over here in Matamata. And I think I've had a rough few days. Puts thing in perspective doesn't it!
Tomorrow I am off to Taumarunui to do a clinical assessment and have quite a busy week ahead. Hope you have all had good weekends. I'm definitely going to finish my book tonight!
Friday, July 23, 2004
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
10 years old Today - Well yesterday
Well it didn't last - Harriette's good mood was very short lived and at the moment she is stropping around as she doesn't have a phys ed T shirt for tomorrow. She has 2 shirts and has only had Phys Ed once since they went back so I'm not getting involved!
Eric woke with gout this morning which has left him almost completely immobile. He managed to get to work but came home early and has been sofa bound since. I hate it when this happens, which admittedly is only about once every 3 years, but it is a real pain. I end up doing all his work on top of my own!!
Alice had a good birthday yesterday minus one point when she was supremely cheeky to Eric and got a slap! Anyway she had horse riding lessons from us and Stan and was over the moon with that )she has been horse mad for about 2 years now!). I hope it doesn't last as we said she could have a horse when she's 12 if the enthusiasm continues!! We picked them up from school and went to see Shrek 2. Yes I know the rest of the world has already seen it but if you haven't you must go. Daddy you would love it. Eric said Richard did not enjoy it. I find that impossible to believe and plan on interrogating you on the matter when we next catch up Richard! After the movies it was dinner at the Lone Star. Alice loves the pork ribs they do there. In fact it's just about all we ever order. I was determined to have something different this time. I did and regretted it, it'll be back to ribs for me when we next get there. Harriette did not fair well, she had ribs and decided the sauce was too sweet then swapped with me and didn't like my burritos! We got home at 10.30 and Alice slept until 9am. She stumbled into the living room bleary eyed and said 'Do I have to get the bus this morning' obviously oblivious to the fact that E and H had left and what the time was!!
Harriette and Alice have to share bedrooms for the next 2.5 weeks as we have a Japanese student again. This one is on a different scheme and will be attending college (High School) so Harriette will be escorting her there then walking to Intermediate. I will let you know how that goes.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL (our son-in-law-2-B). I hope you got your card in time.
And Claire and John, HUGE CONGRATULATIONS! We are sooooo pleased for you. Health Visiting advice might not be available face-2-face but is always on the end of a phone/email.
Must go and put the boys to bed.
Eric woke with gout this morning which has left him almost completely immobile. He managed to get to work but came home early and has been sofa bound since. I hate it when this happens, which admittedly is only about once every 3 years, but it is a real pain. I end up doing all his work on top of my own!!
Alice had a good birthday yesterday minus one point when she was supremely cheeky to Eric and got a slap! Anyway she had horse riding lessons from us and Stan and was over the moon with that )she has been horse mad for about 2 years now!). I hope it doesn't last as we said she could have a horse when she's 12 if the enthusiasm continues!! We picked them up from school and went to see Shrek 2. Yes I know the rest of the world has already seen it but if you haven't you must go. Daddy you would love it. Eric said Richard did not enjoy it. I find that impossible to believe and plan on interrogating you on the matter when we next catch up Richard! After the movies it was dinner at the Lone Star. Alice loves the pork ribs they do there. In fact it's just about all we ever order. I was determined to have something different this time. I did and regretted it, it'll be back to ribs for me when we next get there. Harriette did not fair well, she had ribs and decided the sauce was too sweet then swapped with me and didn't like my burritos! We got home at 10.30 and Alice slept until 9am. She stumbled into the living room bleary eyed and said 'Do I have to get the bus this morning' obviously oblivious to the fact that E and H had left and what the time was!!
Harriette and Alice have to share bedrooms for the next 2.5 weeks as we have a Japanese student again. This one is on a different scheme and will be attending college (High School) so Harriette will be escorting her there then walking to Intermediate. I will let you know how that goes.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL (our son-in-law-2-B). I hope you got your card in time.
And Claire and John, HUGE CONGRATULATIONS! We are sooooo pleased for you. Health Visiting advice might not be available face-2-face but is always on the end of a phone/email.
Must go and put the boys to bed.
Sunday, July 18, 2004
A rather pleasant weekend
It's 11.50am and we are off to WaterWorld in Hamilton shortly. I have been promising the girls all holiday a trip there but colds etc have precluded such a trip. Anyway as they are back to school tomorrow it had to be today. We were going yesterday but the weather was foul and after standing in the rain for 2 hours watching Harriette play 2 games of netball I was really not in the mood. I don't think she was either as she didn't make a fuss when I suggested postponing the trip until today. Actually on the subject of Harriette not making a fuss she has been most odd this last 24 hours. It started yesterday when I was washing up, she came and started drying up!!! I looked at her very puzzled and decided she was working on staying up to watch the rugby. She did later ask but didn't make a big scene when I told her no, in fact she joked around. Then this morning she came into bed for cuddles and later when I asked her to make her bed she said 'OK'!!! (she didn't but that's not the point, moreso when I asked the second time she did it and STILL didn't make a fuss). I'm totally confused. Maybe it's the relief of going back to school tomorrow and getting away from me after 2 weeks of 24/7. Maybe it's the new vitamin tablets I bought. Eric was not impressed when I spent $75 on various pills and potions on Saturday, children ones for Alice, teen ones for Harri and winter protection for us. I got Harri hers to try and tackle these sores on her face that still have not completely cleared up. Anyway, if the heaps of Vit B's in them have improved her mood I'd spend $75 a WEEK on them. Whatever it is it's wonderful and I am enjoying her because I know it won't last (but God if you decide it should then I will be thrilled!).
The rugby was for the Bledisloe cup, part of the tri-nations. It was played in Wellington and it TIPPED down. It is a long time since I have seen a pitch so wet. By 1/2 time the score was only 3 - 0 to us. Anyway we finally won 16 - 10 and therefore retain the cup. Got to go.
Back again. It's 9pm. WaterWorld was fun for the kids. Eric and I watched and lazed in the sunshine reading. The gardens are nice there with outdoor pool, BBQ areas, volleyball court, mini golf and kids play areas. A definite must for the summer. There was a bunch of about 25 boys there with some adults playing rugby and then practicing the haka. Good fun to watch. Harriette and Alice had their 1/2 hour on the flumes then spent most of their time in the diving pool. 4 springboards at 2 heights and 7 high boards at 4 heights. Harriette got onto the higher springboard but although Alice tried twice but she exited by the steps on both occasions. It was pleasure to see all the kids following the strict rules, notably no climbing the stairs until the board was clear. In an hour of constant use not one child even tried to sneak up early.
Another day of beautiful weather but because of the recent rain I still could not get into the veg plot. I did though manage to pull up the tiny thistles poking through the asparagus patch this morning as I walked back from feeding the pigs and giving the dogs a run. I was going to plant a fejoa tree I bought during the week but no. I am amazed at how quickly the eucalyptus trees have grown in the native tree stand I have started down in the back paddock. We bought them for a dollar each about 2 years ago and only planted them a few months ago. They have gone great guns since. the rimu tree that Mom and Daddy bought us last summer we decided to keep near the house for this winter and I have being using the mini greenhouse Juliet and Kev bought me for my birthday to protect it and my potted (at the moment) and frost-tender-when-young pohutakawa (NZ Christmas tree so called because of the fabulous red blossom that appears in December).
The ground is incredibly wet. The dogs don't need to find a trough to drink from when they have been haring around the paddocks, they just drink from the nearest puddle. This morning when Eric fed out in the front paddock he put a pile of silage down then dragged the last 2 packs on the plastic to an area a little down hill. After spreading it out Chilli and Freckles noticed the 2nd pile and belted down. Freckles lost her grip and slid downhill with front legs pointing forward and back legs in between front ones and her sitting on her backside. She stopped when she careered into Chilli!!
Friday night we had a lovely relaxing evening with R + R. The meal was much appreciated by all and after-dinner entertainment consisted of everyone trying to answer Kids Trivial Pursuit - I can tell you we all struggled with some of those questions!!I could manage the 'Birds lay their eggs in what?' and 'What colour was Postman pat's cat?' type questions but some of the others were awful! And this was for kids! When I think how much TP I played in South Africa in the 80's...
Well I'm going to make sandwiches (isn't it amazing how organised one gets on that last evening before term starts-when one isn't turning up hems of uniform dresses that is!!) then off to bed. New book now. I finished The Pact by Jodi Picoult yesterday during my lazy afternoon. I could have cried through the last 1/4, such passion (I remember being that in love at 17!) and such tragedy (sadly I remember that too), gripping.
The rugby was for the Bledisloe cup, part of the tri-nations. It was played in Wellington and it TIPPED down. It is a long time since I have seen a pitch so wet. By 1/2 time the score was only 3 - 0 to us. Anyway we finally won 16 - 10 and therefore retain the cup. Got to go.
Back again. It's 9pm. WaterWorld was fun for the kids. Eric and I watched and lazed in the sunshine reading. The gardens are nice there with outdoor pool, BBQ areas, volleyball court, mini golf and kids play areas. A definite must for the summer. There was a bunch of about 25 boys there with some adults playing rugby and then practicing the haka. Good fun to watch. Harriette and Alice had their 1/2 hour on the flumes then spent most of their time in the diving pool. 4 springboards at 2 heights and 7 high boards at 4 heights. Harriette got onto the higher springboard but although Alice tried twice but she exited by the steps on both occasions. It was pleasure to see all the kids following the strict rules, notably no climbing the stairs until the board was clear. In an hour of constant use not one child even tried to sneak up early.
Another day of beautiful weather but because of the recent rain I still could not get into the veg plot. I did though manage to pull up the tiny thistles poking through the asparagus patch this morning as I walked back from feeding the pigs and giving the dogs a run. I was going to plant a fejoa tree I bought during the week but no. I am amazed at how quickly the eucalyptus trees have grown in the native tree stand I have started down in the back paddock. We bought them for a dollar each about 2 years ago and only planted them a few months ago. They have gone great guns since. the rimu tree that Mom and Daddy bought us last summer we decided to keep near the house for this winter and I have being using the mini greenhouse Juliet and Kev bought me for my birthday to protect it and my potted (at the moment) and frost-tender-when-young pohutakawa (NZ Christmas tree so called because of the fabulous red blossom that appears in December).
The ground is incredibly wet. The dogs don't need to find a trough to drink from when they have been haring around the paddocks, they just drink from the nearest puddle. This morning when Eric fed out in the front paddock he put a pile of silage down then dragged the last 2 packs on the plastic to an area a little down hill. After spreading it out Chilli and Freckles noticed the 2nd pile and belted down. Freckles lost her grip and slid downhill with front legs pointing forward and back legs in between front ones and her sitting on her backside. She stopped when she careered into Chilli!!
Friday night we had a lovely relaxing evening with R + R. The meal was much appreciated by all and after-dinner entertainment consisted of everyone trying to answer Kids Trivial Pursuit - I can tell you we all struggled with some of those questions!!I could manage the 'Birds lay their eggs in what?' and 'What colour was Postman pat's cat?' type questions but some of the others were awful! And this was for kids! When I think how much TP I played in South Africa in the 80's...
Well I'm going to make sandwiches (isn't it amazing how organised one gets on that last evening before term starts-when one isn't turning up hems of uniform dresses that is!!) then off to bed. New book now. I finished The Pact by Jodi Picoult yesterday during my lazy afternoon. I could have cried through the last 1/4, such passion (I remember being that in love at 17!) and such tragedy (sadly I remember that too), gripping.
Friday, July 16, 2004
Christmas in July
Well it had to be so didn't it. I take 2 days off (Thursday and Friday) and it rains!!!! Soft gentle stuff but no less wet. Bang went my plans to attack the veg plot. Mind you I have a chest infection and am not exactly feeling on top of the world so I guess I would not have done much anyway. It is now Friday lunchtime and as R+R are coming for roast pork supper tonight I know I won't be blogging later so thought I'd do it now. Eric and I laid in until 9am - outrageous! It has been harder and harder to get up as the girls holiday has progressed. 6.15 am will be a big shock next Monday! Eric is off to Matamata to buy some bits for the kitchen. I had planned to go with but after a burst of activity on housework am feeling shattered so won't.
Rust is surviving his probation. They boys are getting used to each other and last night slept together in the one pound with no problem. We have kept them locked up more than usual as we really want to keep an eye on Rust but take them round the paddocks twice a day. It was always good to see Inca and Ben running around like lunatics but seeing the 3 of them together is even better. Ben is happy to charge around for awhile but gives up very soon and leaves it to Inca and Rust to entertain us while he skulks back to his hole! Eric was very concerned that Rust was lying ourside in the wet while the black dogs were in the kennel so he moved him back to his own pound. Stupid dog laid out in the rain there too so it is obviously his choice and not that Ben won't let him in!
The weekend. Well as many of you are aware we postpone our Xmas dinner until winter when we can enjoy a proper roast meal without melting in the heat of mid-summer (I wish!) and have the fire going so it feels a bit like Xmas. This year it was J and K's turn to host the event. Last year their house was undergoing seriously major upheaval and we looked forward to the time it would all be finished. We went up on Friday and with Bridget here we left the dogs with her to guard and protect her (don't laugh). Remember Carol when Inca lept up barking at his own reflection when we were away and had you scared witless at the thought of some stinky M---- pacing around outside ready to rape and pillage!? Anyway we had a rachette (spelt wrong I know but when we refer to it as a 'rat shit' it is very hard to remember the proper name!- hot plate on the table on which you fried meat and small metal pltes underneath on which you melt cheese) for dinner having settled the 4 girls down to pizzas in front of the video. It was very nice. We then watched a brilliant rugby match, Pacific Islands v. All Blacks. Although our boys won the PI's were ahead for some of the first half and it was a very exciting physical game. Quite a few of our local boys are in the AB team now which is great to see. This w/e it is AB v. the Wallabies (without George Regan unfortunately). I reckon the AB's will win again.
Anyway the w/e. On saturday we went here:
Port Waikato.
The girls just climbed on rocks, which are in the middle of the picture but you cannot see, so we adults were able to walk a good distance at a good pace. The only problem was after an hour of this Eric spent the next few days a near cripple!! Poor guy, his leg bothers him more this last 6 months than it has done for awhile. I never actually realised how many pain killers he took until recently. Not all the time you understand but when he is in pain he does go through quite a lot. Bella had our undivided attention as Jazz was away and I'm sure she ran 12 - 15 km all in.
We then drove back to J and K's to prepare duck in honey sauce, roast pots and a million and one other veggies. We had Christmas pudding, Truffle Torte and cheese and biscuits. It was when the cream was being used that the trouble started. It began like this:
and got worse! Personally I think aerosol cream has a lot to answer for! The evening drifted on lazily. I must have had too much too drink because I can't remember how we passed the evening. Maybe the rugby was on Saturday!!
Sunday was spent as proper Sundays should be, a lie-in reading with lots of tea, up to prepare a seriously large breakfast for which neighbours Ian and Judy joined us, and lots of chat. What made it perfect was that it was gloriously warm and we could sit on the deck enjoying this view.
What did you look at when you ate your Sunday breakfast?
Rust is surviving his probation. They boys are getting used to each other and last night slept together in the one pound with no problem. We have kept them locked up more than usual as we really want to keep an eye on Rust but take them round the paddocks twice a day. It was always good to see Inca and Ben running around like lunatics but seeing the 3 of them together is even better. Ben is happy to charge around for awhile but gives up very soon and leaves it to Inca and Rust to entertain us while he skulks back to his hole! Eric was very concerned that Rust was lying ourside in the wet while the black dogs were in the kennel so he moved him back to his own pound. Stupid dog laid out in the rain there too so it is obviously his choice and not that Ben won't let him in!
The weekend. Well as many of you are aware we postpone our Xmas dinner until winter when we can enjoy a proper roast meal without melting in the heat of mid-summer (I wish!) and have the fire going so it feels a bit like Xmas. This year it was J and K's turn to host the event. Last year their house was undergoing seriously major upheaval and we looked forward to the time it would all be finished. We went up on Friday and with Bridget here we left the dogs with her to guard and protect her (don't laugh). Remember Carol when Inca lept up barking at his own reflection when we were away and had you scared witless at the thought of some stinky M---- pacing around outside ready to rape and pillage!? Anyway we had a rachette (spelt wrong I know but when we refer to it as a 'rat shit' it is very hard to remember the proper name!- hot plate on the table on which you fried meat and small metal pltes underneath on which you melt cheese) for dinner having settled the 4 girls down to pizzas in front of the video. It was very nice. We then watched a brilliant rugby match, Pacific Islands v. All Blacks. Although our boys won the PI's were ahead for some of the first half and it was a very exciting physical game. Quite a few of our local boys are in the AB team now which is great to see. This w/e it is AB v. the Wallabies (without George Regan unfortunately). I reckon the AB's will win again.
Anyway the w/e. On saturday we went here:
Port Waikato.
The girls just climbed on rocks, which are in the middle of the picture but you cannot see, so we adults were able to walk a good distance at a good pace. The only problem was after an hour of this Eric spent the next few days a near cripple!! Poor guy, his leg bothers him more this last 6 months than it has done for awhile. I never actually realised how many pain killers he took until recently. Not all the time you understand but when he is in pain he does go through quite a lot. Bella had our undivided attention as Jazz was away and I'm sure she ran 12 - 15 km all in.
We then drove back to J and K's to prepare duck in honey sauce, roast pots and a million and one other veggies. We had Christmas pudding, Truffle Torte and cheese and biscuits. It was when the cream was being used that the trouble started. It began like this:
and got worse! Personally I think aerosol cream has a lot to answer for! The evening drifted on lazily. I must have had too much too drink because I can't remember how we passed the evening. Maybe the rugby was on Saturday!!
Sunday was spent as proper Sundays should be, a lie-in reading with lots of tea, up to prepare a seriously large breakfast for which neighbours Ian and Judy joined us, and lots of chat. What made it perfect was that it was gloriously warm and we could sit on the deck enjoying this view.
What did you look at when you ate your Sunday breakfast?
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Saying Hi to Dusty.
Well as you can see we have a new addition to the household. We spent the weekend talking labs (J and K's black lab Jazz was away being mated) and how we dreamed of having a chocolate lab. Eric has been on strict instructions since starting his job that the ONLY 4 legged waif or stray he can bring home is a chocolate lab. Anyway he got to work on Monday to receive a message that a guy had one he wanted rid of. Rust is 2 years old, neutered registered etc but played rather over enthusiastically with the orphaned lambs that were reared in his garden. He had killed 2 lambs and a kid. The owner wanted to give him a chance before he shot him. Anyway here he is, Eric bought him home after work today - on probation! We have been watching him like a hawk as we, and Claire and Ian, are lambing at the moment. After giving him a few hours to find his way around we took him out the back paddock where the sheep and lambs are. We had Rust on a lead but Inca and Ben were off as usual. Well Rust showed no interest in the wooly ones so Eric let him off and I called him from a way away. All 3 bounded over to me, all ignoring the sheep. We then went to the next paddock and they charged around after each other like lunatics, including bounding up and down the filthy dyke. We then went and fed the pigs, when the 2 photo's were taken. Shame you cannot see the pigs. They've got huge and the gilts are both in pig. So Rust is doing OK so far. He is rather boisterous but as a 2 year old in a new home he is entitled to be. Also he has never been in doors so has yet to learn that dogs don't go on sofas etc. Inca has followed him around all day and Ben has kept out his way as a rule. They have snapped at each other once or twice and there has been the odd growl but I guess they have to establish a pecking order. Since belting around the paddocks together I think Ben has decided Rust is OK. They have also done a few laps of the house full pelt. I was on the deck this evening when the 3 of them hurtled up as one end going at about 60mph. Quite daunting all that power heading for you at speed!!
I have to say that the weather has been absolutely gorgeous this last 4 - 5 days. Warm and bright blue skies. I have a sore throat today and, not really in the mood for work, spent the morning sitting on the deck catching up on reading. It is so nice that the pressure at work is off for awhile.
I will tell you about the weekend later in the week. I meant to do it yesterday but we had a powercut. Did the only thing we could really and lit candles and went to bed!
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Quick blog, tired, got a headache and want to get into my book.
Cooked Fragrant Lamb curry this evening (with No 47, no lamb in the freezer - I must send Eric out to do some slotting). I thought it was bland and the girls left theirs so a recipe not to be repeated I feel. Bridget was not around for supper so didn't miss much. She has today found accomodation so will be moving out next week. We were promised storms today so of course the sun has shone throughout. Bet they come over the weekend!
Brian (an old boy from Dukes who lives in Auckland) sent us a BBC webpage today talking of the bed weather you are having/have had in the UK. I have no sympathy. Teach you to have disgustingly nice summers while we shivered our way through our last one. Do I sound an incy wincy bit jealous?! Hope you all managed to baton down the hatches. We have to on a regular basis here.
Had respite from the hormonal one today as Ellice along the road wanted her company - can't think why! (Does that sound terribly wicked, I do love my daughters desperately I promise, just don't like them much sometimes!!) So it was just Alice and I. Alice is into Bratz dolls in such a big way. As I sat working at my desk she was on the floor in a complete fantasy land with these things. Facinating to listen to. The 'dolls' were off for month long holidays in exotic places and obviously came from very rich families!!
Chilli is in disgrace. I found him laying down sunning himself in the middle of my veg plot this afternoon! Chasing him out was hard work as he needed to run through the electric tape which had obviously pinged him coming in, and he wasn't keen to do that. All the other cows had gathered to watch the sport so letting the fencing down to get Chilli out would result in them coming in!! Anyway that is what I had to do in the end and, Thank you God, the traffic flowed one way, the right way.
Harriette recently had the sewing box out and of course never put it away again. Dusty found herself a cotton reel to play with. Unfortunately it was the one with clear thin thread. I must have rolled up 100' of the stuff which she had chased round all the kitchen chairs and tables and through the living and dining rooms. Being clear you would never know that it is there until you get tangled in it, which is how I found it this morning, and it was almost impossible to see where it had gone.
Dogs have spent most of the day binned up after I spotted Inca 3 paddocks away in Claire and Ians paddock next to their drive. They have a few lambs around so I was glad that Ian and Claire were away. I only took my eyes of him for 5 minutes - if that. I have warned Bridget to keep them that way for the weekend, especially as C and I are back now!
Went shopping for goodies today for the weekend. Made the Xmas pud and a truffle torte. Yummy. In the chemist I was reminded of those aging processes that I seem to be reminded of more and more these days. I was looking through the vitamins for something for the girls, Alice is now sniffing and sneezing. I really had to stretch my arm fully to read the labels. I know I didn't have to do that last time I bought them!! I guess they make the print smaller these days! Actually I always had the girls on vitamins in the winter in the UK and I genuinely believe it helped ward off the bugs. Here I have not found any that Harriette will take sine the large Tesco's supply ran out and here she is full of sores and cold. Yuk. Anyway I found some with Echinacea (checked the spelling on the bottle!!) and told Harri she was taking them regardless of the taste!
I've mentioned the Meningococcal B vaccine campaign that is about to start here, before. Well the vaccine had finally got licensure and has been big news today. At the same time there is a 7 month old little girl, Charlotte laying in Intensive care in Starship, Auckland. Her father was interviewed on the radio by Linda Clarke this morning. The girls and I sat rivetted to this and I cried. Reflect on this if you are having a bad day. 2 weeks ago Charlotte got sick. A red mark appeared on her neck and within half an hour she was black and blue and her fingers looked gangrenous. She has had both legs amputated through the knees and both hands removed. Today the doctors told the parents that a leg is infected in the bone and further amputation is likely. Her parents have told her not to hang on if she doesn't want to. Can anyone imagine what they must be going through? And then the anti-immunisation people come on the radio and tell us all that the government are making a big mistake introducing the vaccine and that they should sort out poor housing etc to stop the disease. Good housing and health didn't stop it attacking Charlotte, or Alice's school friend Casey who died of the disease 2 years ago. Such a wicked disease, how can anyone deny protection for their children against it?
So much for a short blog!! Not sure whether I'll blog over the weekend. Have a good one.
Love Michelle
Cooked Fragrant Lamb curry this evening (with No 47, no lamb in the freezer - I must send Eric out to do some slotting). I thought it was bland and the girls left theirs so a recipe not to be repeated I feel. Bridget was not around for supper so didn't miss much. She has today found accomodation so will be moving out next week. We were promised storms today so of course the sun has shone throughout. Bet they come over the weekend!
Brian (an old boy from Dukes who lives in Auckland) sent us a BBC webpage today talking of the bed weather you are having/have had in the UK. I have no sympathy. Teach you to have disgustingly nice summers while we shivered our way through our last one. Do I sound an incy wincy bit jealous?! Hope you all managed to baton down the hatches. We have to on a regular basis here.
Had respite from the hormonal one today as Ellice along the road wanted her company - can't think why! (Does that sound terribly wicked, I do love my daughters desperately I promise, just don't like them much sometimes!!) So it was just Alice and I. Alice is into Bratz dolls in such a big way. As I sat working at my desk she was on the floor in a complete fantasy land with these things. Facinating to listen to. The 'dolls' were off for month long holidays in exotic places and obviously came from very rich families!!
Chilli is in disgrace. I found him laying down sunning himself in the middle of my veg plot this afternoon! Chasing him out was hard work as he needed to run through the electric tape which had obviously pinged him coming in, and he wasn't keen to do that. All the other cows had gathered to watch the sport so letting the fencing down to get Chilli out would result in them coming in!! Anyway that is what I had to do in the end and, Thank you God, the traffic flowed one way, the right way.
Harriette recently had the sewing box out and of course never put it away again. Dusty found herself a cotton reel to play with. Unfortunately it was the one with clear thin thread. I must have rolled up 100' of the stuff which she had chased round all the kitchen chairs and tables and through the living and dining rooms. Being clear you would never know that it is there until you get tangled in it, which is how I found it this morning, and it was almost impossible to see where it had gone.
Dogs have spent most of the day binned up after I spotted Inca 3 paddocks away in Claire and Ians paddock next to their drive. They have a few lambs around so I was glad that Ian and Claire were away. I only took my eyes of him for 5 minutes - if that. I have warned Bridget to keep them that way for the weekend, especially as C and I are back now!
Went shopping for goodies today for the weekend. Made the Xmas pud and a truffle torte. Yummy. In the chemist I was reminded of those aging processes that I seem to be reminded of more and more these days. I was looking through the vitamins for something for the girls, Alice is now sniffing and sneezing. I really had to stretch my arm fully to read the labels. I know I didn't have to do that last time I bought them!! I guess they make the print smaller these days! Actually I always had the girls on vitamins in the winter in the UK and I genuinely believe it helped ward off the bugs. Here I have not found any that Harriette will take sine the large Tesco's supply ran out and here she is full of sores and cold. Yuk. Anyway I found some with Echinacea (checked the spelling on the bottle!!) and told Harri she was taking them regardless of the taste!
I've mentioned the Meningococcal B vaccine campaign that is about to start here, before. Well the vaccine had finally got licensure and has been big news today. At the same time there is a 7 month old little girl, Charlotte laying in Intensive care in Starship, Auckland. Her father was interviewed on the radio by Linda Clarke this morning. The girls and I sat rivetted to this and I cried. Reflect on this if you are having a bad day. 2 weeks ago Charlotte got sick. A red mark appeared on her neck and within half an hour she was black and blue and her fingers looked gangrenous. She has had both legs amputated through the knees and both hands removed. Today the doctors told the parents that a leg is infected in the bone and further amputation is likely. Her parents have told her not to hang on if she doesn't want to. Can anyone imagine what they must be going through? And then the anti-immunisation people come on the radio and tell us all that the government are making a big mistake introducing the vaccine and that they should sort out poor housing etc to stop the disease. Good housing and health didn't stop it attacking Charlotte, or Alice's school friend Casey who died of the disease 2 years ago. Such a wicked disease, how can anyone deny protection for their children against it?
So much for a short blog!! Not sure whether I'll blog over the weekend. Have a good one.
Love Michelle
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Another holi-day, or two.
This evening I have to go into Hamilton for the last of these Pinnacle evening meetings and as I seem to have accrued so many hours owing lately I have worked a short day. Hence me blogging at 4.30pm. Have just read Carol's huge blog. Her entries are rare these days and it is nice when one feels one has caught up with her life.
The girls are currently watching a video and Eric is pulling down some plasterboard in the kitchen, having decided that that bit needs hardboard instead. He had an interview yesterday for a Court Support Officer but it sounds a bit boring. If he gets it he will have to balance all that up with whether he will be able to get some good networking in. The job he is currently doing is boring but local, part-time, reasonably well paid and he doesn't have to use his own car for work. Just boring and nothing to do with law!! The interview turned out to be on one of the rare days I have appointments during the gilrs holiday. Thank heavens for Bridget and days off. She was in Hamilton and Eric delivered the girls to her befrore his interview. They went shopping and came home with goodies from birthday monies.
As I sit in my office, well a corner of Harri's bedroom, I look out on Claire and Ian's paddocks. Today we have had sunshine, hail, rain, thunder and lightening. Now we have that late winter afternoon overcast sunshine. The ground is soaked from the millions of inches of rain that have fallen over the last 2 months. Consequently I have got no work done in the veg plot. I cleared the maize patch and planned to plant lupin as a green manure but haven't managed it.
I went into Hamilton yetserday to do a clinical assessment. The nurse did not do her vaccinator training course in Hamilton and I am quite concerned at the basic things were not covered on her course. Consequently what should have taken me 1 1/2 hours took nearly 3 (again!). This all meant I had to negotiate rush hour traffic to get home! I thought that this would at least get me out of cooking supper but no. Eric was curled up on the sofa reading!!! He's terrible when he gets stuck in a book, and now he is stuck in a series - the Sharpe books. I think there are 13 of them!! I made pumpkin pasta. Sounds Yuk but was surprisingly tasty and definately something I would cook again. Needless to say Alice didn't like it!! I have come to the conclusion we overeat!! Carol stop choking on your tea. Bridget eats miniscule portions AND doesn't eat chocolate. She is obviously very traumatised by recent events. Who doesn't eat chocolate? I ask you! We then had a game of Pictionary (well A, H, B and I did, Eric read). Alice played very well but by now it was well after 9pm and she was very tired and started to get cross with me when I could not decipher her pieces of art. Threads of her fathers traits coming through.
I arranged Alice's birthday pressie yesterday. Can't say more in case 'the gifted one' reads this and lets the cat out the bag - she is SOOO good at that.
This weekend it's Christmas. Well it is for us. As we now have Xmas in summer we have a 'proper' Xmas meal in the winter. Have done this every winter since we arrived with Juliet and Kev. and they have been brilliant. Their house this time. We are up there from Friday and will eat Sat afternoon. Duck this year from the recent duck shooting season, compliments of Ian (J and K's neighbour). Log fire, Xmas carols, games and lots of booze - perfect. Unfortunately it has coincided with them having French Tahitian students but they are girls only the same age as our so hopefully they will all occupy each other.
Nil else to report. Good to hear things are better Lu. Chin up.
Love to all
Michelle
The girls are currently watching a video and Eric is pulling down some plasterboard in the kitchen, having decided that that bit needs hardboard instead. He had an interview yesterday for a Court Support Officer but it sounds a bit boring. If he gets it he will have to balance all that up with whether he will be able to get some good networking in. The job he is currently doing is boring but local, part-time, reasonably well paid and he doesn't have to use his own car for work. Just boring and nothing to do with law!! The interview turned out to be on one of the rare days I have appointments during the gilrs holiday. Thank heavens for Bridget and days off. She was in Hamilton and Eric delivered the girls to her befrore his interview. They went shopping and came home with goodies from birthday monies.
As I sit in my office, well a corner of Harri's bedroom, I look out on Claire and Ian's paddocks. Today we have had sunshine, hail, rain, thunder and lightening. Now we have that late winter afternoon overcast sunshine. The ground is soaked from the millions of inches of rain that have fallen over the last 2 months. Consequently I have got no work done in the veg plot. I cleared the maize patch and planned to plant lupin as a green manure but haven't managed it.
I went into Hamilton yetserday to do a clinical assessment. The nurse did not do her vaccinator training course in Hamilton and I am quite concerned at the basic things were not covered on her course. Consequently what should have taken me 1 1/2 hours took nearly 3 (again!). This all meant I had to negotiate rush hour traffic to get home! I thought that this would at least get me out of cooking supper but no. Eric was curled up on the sofa reading!!! He's terrible when he gets stuck in a book, and now he is stuck in a series - the Sharpe books. I think there are 13 of them!! I made pumpkin pasta. Sounds Yuk but was surprisingly tasty and definately something I would cook again. Needless to say Alice didn't like it!! I have come to the conclusion we overeat!! Carol stop choking on your tea. Bridget eats miniscule portions AND doesn't eat chocolate. She is obviously very traumatised by recent events. Who doesn't eat chocolate? I ask you! We then had a game of Pictionary (well A, H, B and I did, Eric read). Alice played very well but by now it was well after 9pm and she was very tired and started to get cross with me when I could not decipher her pieces of art. Threads of her fathers traits coming through.
I arranged Alice's birthday pressie yesterday. Can't say more in case 'the gifted one' reads this and lets the cat out the bag - she is SOOO good at that.
This weekend it's Christmas. Well it is for us. As we now have Xmas in summer we have a 'proper' Xmas meal in the winter. Have done this every winter since we arrived with Juliet and Kev. and they have been brilliant. Their house this time. We are up there from Friday and will eat Sat afternoon. Duck this year from the recent duck shooting season, compliments of Ian (J and K's neighbour). Log fire, Xmas carols, games and lots of booze - perfect. Unfortunately it has coincided with them having French Tahitian students but they are girls only the same age as our so hopefully they will all occupy each other.
Nil else to report. Good to hear things are better Lu. Chin up.
Love to all
Michelle
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
My Hero
Stan that is. He sorted my comments and now they are back to useable ones that you can get in and out of easily. Thank you Stan.
Monday, July 05, 2004
I've copied,pasted and done everything the Halcion website tells me to do but I STILL can't get the 'old' comments format back!!!!
Anyway, Hello!
I had every intention of blogging last night but after an exhausting weekend Eric and I were in bed by 8pm and I think I read about 2 paragraphs of my book (China Lake by Meg Gardener, quite an original story and I am enjoying it but there is something I don't like about it and I can't put my finger on it!) before falling asleep. The moral of the weekend is, 9 girls for a sleepover is too many!! Saturday was busy with running in and out of town for netball and then to pick the girls up from the pools. In between of course was getting the dining room decorated with streamers and balloons, and preparing the food. I thought we had made quite a good job but Harriette didn't seem to appreciate it (Alice did!). On collecting the girls we took them to the video store to get 2 movies. Now here the trouble began. Harri has a nice bunch of friends, generally, but some of them come from quite religious familys and whose parents have strict rules about what they can watch (no Harry potter for example). Now I don't have a problem with this (except the deprivation that any child must suffer being excluded from the wonders of HP) but...one of these girls left the video store in tears because one of the other girls had said "We can't watch any good movies because of..." Oh dear. Anyway we got them home once they had agreed on 2 choices. Eric and I then spent hours washing up and serving food, washing up and serving food, washing up and serving food....
We then disappeared off to the bedroom and read. The girls watched one video. All well. Went and got them Milo's (with marshmallows) and settled them down for video number 2. 10 minutes later H and one other came in complaining because some of the girls were chatting and they couldn't hear. I went out and it turns out 4 of the girls had seen the movie and weren't prepared to watch it quietly again. So I slung them into Harriettes room. Apparently one girl was upset that Harriette wasn't entertaining her well enough! Later, when the video had finished, I tried unsucessfully to get them to pipe down and go to sleep (they were all crashed out on the living room floor). We then gave up and went to bed. Later Alice came in ,"can't sleep, they're all talking too much". She climbed in with us. I went to sleep. Then Harriette woke me up tapping me on the shoulder saying "This is my worst birthday ever!!" She had moved into her bedroom (which adjoins the living room) and still could not get to sleep because of the chatter. I should also add that on her birthday Harriette was awake at 4am and this was now more than 20 hours later! I then went in and told them to pipe down again. One particular girl could be heard above all others but just kept saying "it wasn't me". She is very good at that! Anyway I then had to stop Harriette launching in to this girl and having a full blown row (I had visions of said girl demanding I phone her parents at 1.30am to collect her)! They were all on speaking terms in the morning though - just.
Next morning we finally managed to drag ourselves out of bed. When I asked the girls to lay the table for breakfast one said "we shouldn't have to were guests" tongue in cheek I think/hope!!
Three of the girls were collected and taken to church and we delivered the others home later in the morning. We took Sarah and Kathryn home last and spent the whole afternoon sitting in the sun on Richard and Robyns deck chatting and regailing the traumas of the last 30 odd hours. It was so nice to catch up with them and it was a wonderful wind down time. Kids were off playing netball or something.
So all-in-all probably the most unsucessful of birthdays. I must say it was only 2 girls that caused most of the disagreements and generally the others were all well behaved and very pleasant.
So I hope that this all explains the lack of blog yesterday.
Today is the first day of the school holidays. Harriette has these lesions on her face which she had a few weeks ago when she had a chest infection. The antibiotics for her chest cured it but they have returned. I spoke to the practice nurse who said to take her back to Andy. Eric did so this afternoon and Andy told Harriette she had to have 2 weeks off school. She was so excited until she realised that she was on holiday for 2 weeks and he was winding her up. Robyn had previously told me she thought these were 'school sores' and could not understand my quizzical look. Apparently they are a staph infection and quite common amongst school kids here. From what Eric relayed of Andy's comments it sounds like Robyn was right. More antibiotics, creams and iodine for Harri.
Bridget has just commented that I am writing a long blog, which means you will probably have given up reading it by now so I will finish.
Night night all.
Anyway, Hello!
I had every intention of blogging last night but after an exhausting weekend Eric and I were in bed by 8pm and I think I read about 2 paragraphs of my book (China Lake by Meg Gardener, quite an original story and I am enjoying it but there is something I don't like about it and I can't put my finger on it!) before falling asleep. The moral of the weekend is, 9 girls for a sleepover is too many!! Saturday was busy with running in and out of town for netball and then to pick the girls up from the pools. In between of course was getting the dining room decorated with streamers and balloons, and preparing the food. I thought we had made quite a good job but Harriette didn't seem to appreciate it (Alice did!). On collecting the girls we took them to the video store to get 2 movies. Now here the trouble began. Harri has a nice bunch of friends, generally, but some of them come from quite religious familys and whose parents have strict rules about what they can watch (no Harry potter for example). Now I don't have a problem with this (except the deprivation that any child must suffer being excluded from the wonders of HP) but...one of these girls left the video store in tears because one of the other girls had said "We can't watch any good movies because of..." Oh dear. Anyway we got them home once they had agreed on 2 choices. Eric and I then spent hours washing up and serving food, washing up and serving food, washing up and serving food....
We then disappeared off to the bedroom and read. The girls watched one video. All well. Went and got them Milo's (with marshmallows) and settled them down for video number 2. 10 minutes later H and one other came in complaining because some of the girls were chatting and they couldn't hear. I went out and it turns out 4 of the girls had seen the movie and weren't prepared to watch it quietly again. So I slung them into Harriettes room. Apparently one girl was upset that Harriette wasn't entertaining her well enough! Later, when the video had finished, I tried unsucessfully to get them to pipe down and go to sleep (they were all crashed out on the living room floor). We then gave up and went to bed. Later Alice came in ,"can't sleep, they're all talking too much". She climbed in with us. I went to sleep. Then Harriette woke me up tapping me on the shoulder saying "This is my worst birthday ever!!" She had moved into her bedroom (which adjoins the living room) and still could not get to sleep because of the chatter. I should also add that on her birthday Harriette was awake at 4am and this was now more than 20 hours later! I then went in and told them to pipe down again. One particular girl could be heard above all others but just kept saying "it wasn't me". She is very good at that! Anyway I then had to stop Harriette launching in to this girl and having a full blown row (I had visions of said girl demanding I phone her parents at 1.30am to collect her)! They were all on speaking terms in the morning though - just.
Next morning we finally managed to drag ourselves out of bed. When I asked the girls to lay the table for breakfast one said "we shouldn't have to were guests" tongue in cheek I think/hope!!
Three of the girls were collected and taken to church and we delivered the others home later in the morning. We took Sarah and Kathryn home last and spent the whole afternoon sitting in the sun on Richard and Robyns deck chatting and regailing the traumas of the last 30 odd hours. It was so nice to catch up with them and it was a wonderful wind down time. Kids were off playing netball or something.
So all-in-all probably the most unsucessful of birthdays. I must say it was only 2 girls that caused most of the disagreements and generally the others were all well behaved and very pleasant.
So I hope that this all explains the lack of blog yesterday.
Today is the first day of the school holidays. Harriette has these lesions on her face which she had a few weeks ago when she had a chest infection. The antibiotics for her chest cured it but they have returned. I spoke to the practice nurse who said to take her back to Andy. Eric did so this afternoon and Andy told Harriette she had to have 2 weeks off school. She was so excited until she realised that she was on holiday for 2 weeks and he was winding her up. Robyn had previously told me she thought these were 'school sores' and could not understand my quizzical look. Apparently they are a staph infection and quite common amongst school kids here. From what Eric relayed of Andy's comments it sounds like Robyn was right. More antibiotics, creams and iodine for Harri.
Bridget has just commented that I am writing a long blog, which means you will probably have given up reading it by now so I will finish.
Night night all.
Friday, July 02, 2004
Birthday eve.
Evening all. Quick blog as I am preparing for Harri's birthday tomorrow. She and her gang are meeting after netball, going swimming then coming back for tea, videos and a sleep-over!
Had a good day yesterday, lots of driving and didn't get home until 9.30pm. The clinical assessment I did in the afternoon took 3 hours!!. The longest I reckon they should take is 2 but this nurse could talk, and she was a little disorganised. Passed though. She paid me a huge compliment though when she said that she aspired to teach as well as I did!!!
I had an evening do at Te Kuiti supporting the Pinnacle presentation. Felt a bit bad as my 10 minute slot turned into an hour due to all the questions on all the big changes around vaccines and their storage which are coming in here.
I have taken today off and seemed to have done nothing but clean and shop. Actually I don't have to do much cooking as Harri's tea list was pizzas (I'll make tomorrow), burgers, chicken nibbles, sausage rolls and a chocolate fondue. Easy.
School finished today for 2 weeks. As usual Hinuera had an end of term assembly. I reckon almost every parent in the school attends this. Hinuera is so well supported by the parents. Saw Robyn briefly who said that Richard is under the weather with a throat infection. We have both Catherine and Sarah here on Sat night and they were hoping for a night out but doesn't look like it will happen now. Get Well soon Richard. (I bet you were still out fencing in the rain weren't you!!).
Louise, I forgot your birthday. I am soooo sorry. I hope you had a good day. Special hugs 000000000.
Vanessa, great to here from you. email in the next few days - promise.
Well I must go and wrap some pressies. Love to all. Oh, something I keep meaning to ask (anyone). Do Connex South East still run the trains in Kent. Connex have just (well several months ago) won the contract to provide Aucklands rail service!!!!! We don't have a rail service in Matamata (or any public transport at all really).
Had a good day yesterday, lots of driving and didn't get home until 9.30pm. The clinical assessment I did in the afternoon took 3 hours!!. The longest I reckon they should take is 2 but this nurse could talk, and she was a little disorganised. Passed though. She paid me a huge compliment though when she said that she aspired to teach as well as I did!!!
I had an evening do at Te Kuiti supporting the Pinnacle presentation. Felt a bit bad as my 10 minute slot turned into an hour due to all the questions on all the big changes around vaccines and their storage which are coming in here.
I have taken today off and seemed to have done nothing but clean and shop. Actually I don't have to do much cooking as Harri's tea list was pizzas (I'll make tomorrow), burgers, chicken nibbles, sausage rolls and a chocolate fondue. Easy.
School finished today for 2 weeks. As usual Hinuera had an end of term assembly. I reckon almost every parent in the school attends this. Hinuera is so well supported by the parents. Saw Robyn briefly who said that Richard is under the weather with a throat infection. We have both Catherine and Sarah here on Sat night and they were hoping for a night out but doesn't look like it will happen now. Get Well soon Richard. (I bet you were still out fencing in the rain weren't you!!).
Louise, I forgot your birthday. I am soooo sorry. I hope you had a good day. Special hugs 000000000.
Vanessa, great to here from you. email in the next few days - promise.
Well I must go and wrap some pressies. Love to all. Oh, something I keep meaning to ask (anyone). Do Connex South East still run the trains in Kent. Connex have just (well several months ago) won the contract to provide Aucklands rail service!!!!! We don't have a rail service in Matamata (or any public transport at all really).
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