So much to write, I'll keep it short. I want to finish writing Xmas cards tonight.
Firstly, school camp. I've decided (and you'll be pleased to hear this Trish) I really like Wellington. It is big city (well OK city), with all the feel of central government, nice shops and charming to boot. We spent day one travelling down. 35 school children and 12 adults had one carriage. I thought it would be hell but I have to say the time passed quite painlessly. Unfortunately, the weather was not too good and some potentially stunning views were not. We travelled down the spiral line that was featured in Billy Connelly's NZ series. It was good to know what it looked like from the air. The staff (of 2 or 3) give a run down of the history of the towns as we travelled throughand there was indoor and outdoor viewing platforms. The indoor one was hogged by another primary school on the way down. I ended up sitting next to Tony, a dad who works with Eric. He was good company and we chatted for hours. Half way there we stopped at National Park. I had always wondered which national park this referred to but was enlightened on the trip. This is a place name - Duh! The cafe here was surpisingly good. I don't know why I was surprised, I've said before, NZ's eating places are usually good. I just thought being miles from anywhere and having the monopoloy they didn't have to really try. The coffee was a welcome change from the British Rail quality of the that offered on the train. Is it something to do with the motion? I'd have thought that would increase the chances of a decent latte or cappucino. We finally got to Wellington and, after a 20 minute walk, found ourselves at a fabulous YHA. I was VERY impressed. I will not go into the details except to say they had thought of everything. If ever you are looking for accomodation in Welly just find the YHA opposite the New World (a supermarket), which incidently has the best range of wines and beers I have ever seen in NZ.
Day 2 was lots of walking. First to the Beehive (our house of parliment). Well actually the beehive is the admin block. The actual parliment is next door and far more elegant. In fact the buildings are 3 separate 'joined up' constructions and it is criminal that the beehive was built when compared to the other 2 bits. The bit in the middle was first. Then a 'wing' was bulit on. When the second wing was to be built instead of building a replica of the first, and giving some symmetry to the place the modern monstrosity of the beehive was built. After a very interesting tour, a chat from Chris Carter the environmental minister and bumping into our own MP it was off to the botanical gardens.
View from the gardens.
Again, very pleasant. They ramble over a hill and the cable car trip was very welcome! Off then to the least successful bit of the trip, a boring visit to the Mexican Ambassador. I think the idea was that the children would practice their Spanish but Madam Ambassador only spoke in English and therefore so did the children. We watched an all too long video, in Spanish and finally left! I always think of an embassys as being a grand building with lots of security, this was a suite of offices off Lambton Quay (the main shopping street)! Oh well, another bit of education. Some shopping followed and then the kids had (too much) free time back at the YHA. In hindsight it was too long and they got into 'he said, she said' rows. A planned girls (moms) trip out to a bar was cancelled when we thought the teacher might need some moral support. Oh well, thank heavens for New Worlds wine!
Day 3 was off to Te Papa, a 5 min walk away. Te Papa is the natural history, history and science museums in one with a sprinkling of art. I really liked it. It is on the waterfront and has fabulous views.
From a balcony at Te Papa
The afternoon was free time in Wellington as long as the children were accompanied by an adult they could do whatever they wanted. Problem was the girls all wanted to shop and the 4 moms were adamant they weren't shopping!! So it was up to the 7 dads, who I have to say rallied brilliantly. I took a group off to Eastbourne across the harbour on the ferry.
A gentle meander across and a glass of wine in a cafe while the girls played on the beach.
Very civilised. I have to confess we did do some shopping first, but Harriette and I esconsed ourselves in the wonderful Dymmocks bookshop. Not wanting the kids running around the hostel creating havoc we got them to organise some skits for the evening. This has to have been the best bit of camp. I laughed all night. One group did an Austin Powers take off with the boys swaggering around as girls, all make up, padded boobs and bare midrifts. Another did a quiz with some parents, including yours truely, answering questions (why was Mr Barford, one of the dads, sent home from camp aged 12? don't ask, something to do with rum and girls in underwear!!, and a AB's vs England rugby score, which I got right!!. I lost because I refused to stick my chest out and cock-a-doodle and ended up with obsenities like 'Up the AB's' charcoaled over my face. And so it went on. Incidentally Harriettes group won doing a take off of a TV programme Downsize Me.
Day 4 was a VERY LONG day. A 5am start to get the kids breakfasted, packed up and to the train station by 7am. One of the dads had the brilliant idea of hiring a taxi van to ferry all our baggage to the train station. One of the girls had cut her foot and would not have been able to walk so she went with the baggage. The train was delayed, and delayed. Can you believe it? After National Park we could only travel at 40km/hr because the tracks were too hot!!!!! Now this was on a nice sunny but certainly not scorching hot, day. What on earth do they do in mid-summer. Any slower and we'd have been in reverse!!! Add to that that at National Park we had to wait for the south bound train to get in and the driver to have his lunch break before we could leave (they swap crews), and of course they were late getting in because they had travelled down at 40km/hr. We finally got home at 7.30pm, 2.5 hours late. Of course we had not catered for feeding the kids tea and they were very tired and very hungry. They behaved brilliantly and every parent, and their teacher, should be proud of those kids.
Photo's are limited as Harriette had the camera for the trip down and the battery was dead when I did want to use it. The next day we had lost all the photos she had taken and the memory card was corrupted and buggered so I finally had to buy another one.
Tried but still didn't manage to catch up with Trish (Milky NZ's Mom). Hopefully 3rd time lucky.
So much for 'firstly camp' that's all I have managed. I'll continue catching up soon - promise! Night night.
Oh looks like Eric has got a place on the Professionals course for January. A solicitor/barrister by June is looking more likely by the day!
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