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.
 
 


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