Nordic Walking

Last Sunday I finally got the opportunity to try Nordic Walking with Sandrine, our next door neighbour.

Sandrine is a qualified Nordic Walking instructor, and during the term takes classes from the local neighbourhood house. But I got my own one on one lesson, and I needed it. I didn’t  find it easy to do.  Sandrine said not to think too much (that part should be easy!) as you tend to do it wrong if you think too much about what you are doing, and that was true.  I need a lot more practice, and only got it right some of the time, but it was fun, and I would like to do it again.

If you get the chance – give it a go!!!

Early birthday present

Last week I got my birthday present a month early.  Rob felt sorry for me as I was the only one without a new one……………….

Avalanche….. Hopefully not a indicator of things to come!

It has knobs on the up and down thingys on the front…………….

They make the suspension hard or soft or something in between!

I apparently have the best spiky things out of all the bikes…………

Disc brakes….

That need to be bedded in – so I am avoiding narrow tracks with sharp bends! and steep downhills! Oh hang on – I avoid th0se anyway!!!!!!

And it has very good advice on the handle bars….

Aside from all the smart comments, it is very nice and I find it way better than my old one to ride and much more comfortable – I am very spoilt….. As for my old one… Cameron has been riding it all of this week – and what is scary is that it doesn’t look too big for him!

Christmas Dosh – All Spent

Cam got a warehouse voucher from Nana & GUB and dollars from NAL – what he really really really wanted to buy was a bean bag……  So Rob took him to The W.are.ho.use and of course they “usually have them, but had sold out!”…..

So Cam paid for Dad’s potplant pot to cash the voucher and get the change (Dad repaid him later Nana – IN FULL) and Dad took him to B.un.nings and S.po.tlig.ght and nobody had any he either liked or could afford to buy ($50 to $75 for an empty bean bag!) AND fill with beans as well!

Mum and Dad suggested Tra.de Me – which went down like a lead ballon, because he thought it would be second hand and dirty and take for ages to arrive…………………….

But, we actually found a brand new, in the packaging one, that he liked on an auction that was closing that day.

Four days later (long holiday weekend) the bag arrived, but all the stores in Hamilton that we went to were out of fill.  Off to Nana’s Cam went for a holiday, and the morning he came home, Dad found filler at M.itre. 10 M.ega B.ris.coes. Yayyyy

First question in the car on the way home – has my bean bag been filled?

And if he feels lke it, it is big enough to share…..

Now he wants a RAT!

Barts Mishap

The Story

Kitchen help

Cam has been wanting to help in the kitchen – so the other night I got him to peel potatoes.  He asked what to do when finished – said put them in the pot and cook them, so we can mash them.  I guess I should have been more explicit about cutting them up first…………………

They cooked in the end and were just great with this…………….

Thanks Rodger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8.20 pm Waihi Beach – 1st Jan 2009

excuse the quality – it is off my phone and it doesn’t do the night justice.  It was a stunning evening to be on the beach.

Camping

At Waihi Cam slept in a tent.  He was “GOING TO SLEEP IN IT BY HIMSELF!!!!” until about 5pm, when he started to chicken out.  Del to the rescue, she kindly dragged her mattress out into the tent and spen the night with him.  YYYAAAYYYY DEL!

Come Sunday, back at home, the kids decided that they would “camp out” in the tent in the back yard. Iwa was invited to join them.  Everyone was excited and helped get the tent up…………….

Even dolly was doing her bit

Cam & Albie managed to get the poles out without dropping any on each others feet!!!

At 9 all was good:

ready for sleep

But by 9.45 everyone was back inside!!!!!  And we want to go camping in a camping ground!

Cam had an incident inside as well – but that can be another story……………….

Holidays in Waihi

We have just had two lovely nights at Waihi Beach staying with the Gowers. This was the view from their lounge window when we arrived on Thursday.

And their front lawn…

We have all enjoyed it, but the kids especially so.  The first afternoon they had a swim in Del’s uncles pool, and a spa or two at home.  Cam helped make tea and Albie and Miss D made fairy cakes.

The first night we were there we had a lovely walk along the beach at 8.20 at night.  There were still masses of people at the beach and it was a beautiful night…… If I can work out how to get photo’s off my phone…… I will show you.

Yesterday morning (after the kids had a spa) we went down to the beach and even I HAD A SWIM.  The water was lovely.

As per usual though Albie was a blue lipped shivering thing and unfortunately I didn’t get a photo of him before it started to rain and we had to head home… After the kids had another spa or 2 to warm up, we headed over the hill to Whangamata to catch up with the Morgan’s. We found them down at the beach with a boogie board.

Cam decided to stay in Whangamata for the night with the Morgans (and 3 other boys his age – rather more attractive than another night with Mum and Dad!)

And we headed back to Waihi Beach – and a dinner of fresh fish caught by Del’s Dad and Mike. Albie was chief fillet flouerer.

And Del’s Dad taught Albie and Miss D about smoking fish…..

“Ssshhhhh – don’t tell Rodger – we ate his strawberries!!!”

And then before bed – guess what – yep another spa!

The next morning while waiting for the call to get Cam, Albie and Miss D had a spa, gave Maggie and Charlie a brush and then took them for a wee walk with Del & her Mum. It is good to see Albie and Miss D confident and happy to spend lots of time with two beautiful dogs.  Cam too is now much better with dogs after spending time with these dogs and the Morgans puppies.

Miss D capped off the weekend by pulling out a tooth………………

And Albie – well he just didn’t want to come home.  Even called Dad’s bluff about leaving him behind and would have got his bag out of the boot given half the chance.

THANK YOU GOWER FAMILY FOR A LOVELY HOLIDAY!