Fishing at Orakei Wharf

Today we went fishing at Orakei Wharf, and Madeleine caught two fish!  She is officially the Best Fisherperson in the Family.  One fish fell off the hook before she finished reeling it in, but the other made it all the way to the bucket.  It wasn’t very big, probably about  15 cm long, but she was very proud of herself and couldn’t stop talking about it all the way home.  We let it go before we left, despite her deep desire to bring it home and keep it as a pet.

Lulu and I didn’t last long in the heat and rather fish-gutsy smell wafting about, and headed up to Bastion Point for a bit of shade and a quick ice-cream. Bess had a fantastic time rolling around in the spots where fish guts had once been…she may be cute but she can be kind of disgusting at times too!

Here’s a pic of the proud fisherwoman at work, and her little fish swimming around in the bucket.

Watch OUT for my Mini!

A few weeks ago some prat pulled out in front of me when I was zooming along a city street at a fair clip (probably about 50 kph), and I smashed straight into him, in his 4WD.  I got a massive shock, the mini got a horrible dent, and now our insurance company will have an enormous bill. Read more of this post

Name suppression madness

I know this topic has had  lot of coverage, but I have to add my voice to the chorus: WHY oh WHY did a businessman get permanent name suppression upon being convicted of possessing 300,000 pornographic images, including some of children?  (And I’m not even going to get started on the pitiful sentence of four months home detention.)

Apparently, because he was a “pillar of the community”, and to name him would be a much greater punishment than if he were not well known.

Well, boo hoo.  This is ridiculous on so many fronts.  I think anyone convicted of possessing pictures of child abuse is likely to lose the majority of the respect, friendships, and social acceptance that they once had.  And so they should.  Why does the fact that he was “well known” in Palmerston North mean that he doesn’t have to suffer the same judgment?

The very fact that the judge called him a “pillar of the community” beggars belief.  At the very most, this vile man once managed to sustain a veneer of respectability.  He was never, and is certainly not now, a pillar of any community.  He is a criminal, and there is no reason to keep his identity secret.

The name suppression laws in New Zealand are becoming a joke, albeit a joke that leaves a very sour taste.  If you’re prepared to commit a heinous crime, be prepared for the punishment.

Sleeping with the fishes

A couple of weeks ago the girls became seized of the idea that they simply HAD to have a goldfish.  On the basis that it was all funded from their pocket money, and that they would be responsible for all care, we agreed.

Andrew carefully investigated the options, and a starter kit was settled upon, which came with tank, filter, decorations and three goldfish.  We took the gear home, set it up, waited the recommended two days for the water to, well, do whatever the water was supposed to be doing, and that Sunday three goldfish came home.  Harry, Fred and Riley became merry little members of the household.

But alas, that wasn’t the end of the story.   Read more of this post

It can’t get too hot for me

I’m loving summer.  At the moment, Auckland is just sweltering.  Every night it cools down a little until about 9pm, and then (although I think this is actually impossible) it just seems to get hotter again, and by about 10.30pm the air conditioning is back on and the girls are kicking off their sheets.

People are complaining about the humidity, plants are dying, and some of the earth in our back garden is so dry it is cracking open.  But, I love this heat.  I’m not bothered by hot nights, and now that I’m on to my second Auckland summer, my hair isn’t getting frizzy in the humidity anymore.  (If you could see my hair you’d be pretty impressed that it ever got enough life to get frizzy at all, but it did, for about a month, last summer.)

This afternoon the girls didn’t even want to go to a park, which has literally never happened before in their lives.  So we jumped into the pool instead, which was a much better idea and I’ve got no idea why it hadn’t occurred to me earlier.

But as I put Lulu to bed she noticed that some leaves were blowing off the tree in the front lawn, and asked me if winter was on the way.  No, I cried, its miles away, but it was a good reminder – enjoy summer while it lasts!  Get outside, all ye in the southern hemisphere!

Happy Birthday Bess!

Little Bess, the quietest and best behaved member of the family by far, turned four on Sunday.  She came to us as a teeny weeny scrap of a puppy, and we’ve loved her to bits from first sight.  She’s had a few difficult moments in her life, with two operations so far for wobbly knees, a bout in dog hospital on an IV after scoffing all the Easter eggs one year, and so many failed attempts to catch mice and cats that I’ve lost count.

Despite these crushing blows, she has remained the most gentle and tolerant dog I’ve ever come across. She’s a supreme child magnet, and cannot go to a park or sit outside a cafe or school without being inundated with pats and tickles, and she bears it all with great composure.

She is so well behaved that when we pick her up from the kennel after a holiday I sometimes wonder if they are going to give her back, and when we last took her to the dog groomer they liked her so much they gave us $5 off and put bows on her ears!

So here she is, the cutest, most good natured dog in the world.

How long are these school holidays?

Today the news is full of the new education standards that will be rolled out in New Zealand primary schools this year.  All the stories say that children are going back to school today.  But no!  Not all children – Madeleine doesn’t start school until Thursday.  I’ve got no idea why, she’s been on holiday for about a hundred years, so its not as if she needs more time to rest.

In fact, we all need a holiday from the holidays, because MAN they go on for a long time.  Lulu went back to pre-school last week, and its really been a good thing for her.  Poor child was getting desperate for some play time with children her own age, and I think Madeleine is about to expire from boredom.  Although we’ve taken her to every park, museum and other child friendly attraction we can think of at least 10 times these holidays, its all got boring and stale to her seven year old tastes.

Madeleine turned seven yesterday, and was thrilled with all her presents and the attention that having a birthday brings.  Here’s a pic of the two little monkeys hard at play at a local park.

Finally – a picture of the beach

I know we’ve been back for about four weeks now, but I’ve finally downloaded the photos we took while on holiday at Tutukaka!  I know, its terrible that we only took four photos, but we were having such a relaxed time I guess I never thought about it.  Ah well, we have the video.

So, here are two photos taken at the bach, one at a fantastic pizza place at the Tutukaka marina, and the girls being cute with a flower.  Happy days. Read more of this post