Today we had a brilliant day and just what was needed to lift me out of the down in the dumps mood into which I was sinking. We got up fairly early had our usual weetabix with honey (4 for Sam, 3 for me and about 12 for Will) and then we drove to Splash Planet about 20 mins up the road. This is a water park and we were a bit worried that the rain which has dogged us for the last two days would continue... but it held off. If you went to a theme park in England when the school hols had just started it's rammed and you have to queue for at least 2 hrs for each ride and it costs about £70 to get in... but not in NZ, this is when the lack of people is a blessing. We paid £35 for the three of us and took a picnic of salmon and avocado sarnies and spent the day shooting down tubes into massive swimming pools. It was brilliant. We also played crazy golf, went on go-karts and jungle buggies and spinny dingy things. Whilst we were there we met up with a family from the camp site so Sam also had more kids to play with and honestly, there were no queues... unbelievable.
We spent all day there and left as they closed the gates, we drove back to the campsite and cooked up a pasta with mushrooms, courgette, aubergine, asparagus, onion and garlic with tomato and cream sauce mmmmmm... followed by chocolate and red wine (coke for Sam). And we have just realised that we have now passed the 4 month mark today!!
I would attach a picture from the splash planet but the stupid camera broke again (we will have to pick up a new one in the Jan sales) so instead here's a picture of all the lovely surfers from the Mount... by the way Mum and Joni thanks for the girly hugs xx
Larry, who sends me several bits of information each day on which to comment provided the following which I thought might interest you. It is the latest piece of information released by the New Zealand Ministry of Health re growing concern for citizens waistlines. To whuch of course, I have added a bit of comment of my own.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that 1 in 4 New Zealanders are now clinically obese and worse, 2 in 3 people in the Pacific Islands communities there. It seems that this growth in girth has taken health workers by surprise and one major knock on effect is that many New Zealand corpses are now too large to fit in standard N.Z. coffins. It also seems that the authorities are not prepared to vary standard plot sizes in the cemeteries, consequently those in larger coffins than the standard are buried at the ends of rows where 'they will not encroach upon other graves!!!'
Wow! are those New Zealanders scaredy-cats or wot!
One other hilarious aspect of the beuracratic mightmare suffered by those responsible for disposing of the dead is that the supersize coffins will not flow on tracks to the fire at the crematoria, as again they are built to take the standard size coffin - indeed it seems that the cremators themselves are only just large enough to receive the standard. Cremation then, it seems, is not an option for the oversized in New Zealand.
It appears therefore that all of those larger than life All Blacks' forwards are destined to spend eternity shunned at the ends of rows in NZ graveyards. Not much of a celebration for the best rugby players in the world, is it now?
Love you
Dad
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
ReplyDeleteI went for an audition today for one of Santas helpers but I got turned down because my chestNUTS were tooooo cold.
The crazy woman's been to see me with her carrots, and Bill who fell in the snow. Very
funny got surrounded by the rest of the horses.
He then lost his camera case you can imagine how happy he was!!!!
Festive greetings
love Archie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
happy Christmas to you all
ReplyDeleteI will turn on computer for SKPYE at 9pm tomorrow in the hope you will be available
Love to you all
XXX
GrandmaL & wavesurfer Grandad
Hi Everyone, Just caught up with your last couple of weeks stuff. Glad you had a good day to report. Hope Chrismas day was good, and there was some surf, we went to the beach near us on 27th, it was brilliant although raining and misty but there were loads of surfers and body boarders. Someday soon that will be me in my wet suit....I got one for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteAlso I wentin the sea on Boxing Day! Wasn't very warm...I think they said itwas 8degrees...very excillarating..it was for charity. Would definately do again! Hope the sea is much warmer for you!
S. xxxx
Well it's 2.10am here, I've just caught up on your last month, I've been slacking, I can now proudly say I've read every single blog post ruthie, I don't comment a lot - well ever, because lately I've got so much to do and a lot of it is on the computer and I read your blog and then go back to work, but it's school holidays so I'm not working at the moment and I miss you and think about you all the time and thought I'd say hi and let you know I am your silent stalker. Your van looks posh! How lucky to have got that when you did, your blog is fabulous ruthie, you really should look into getting it published when you get back, as a travel guide or something. I'm loving being a big important teacher, I have a new group starting with me soon, a fashion and photographic makeup course which is 20 weeks long and is 1 evening a week, more work but I love it so much, and suppliers give me free stuff, loads of it!! Poor Nanny Rose is currently in hospital and will be going to live with Grampy, the mouse and Princess Diana in the next few days, it's a relief though, she's been in so much pain for a long time now, she had a stroke last week and is now on lots of lovely pain killers and is out of it bless her. Sean is still mad, scary, evil, gay and cute in equal measure. Jimmy is still pretty much like his dad actually, melody is growing up, we are going to see JLS on Monday in Cardiff for her Christmas Present, I'm just as excited as her and have my JLS diamante hoodie ready. Thankyou for your lovely blog, I cant wait till the next installment. Love you lots,
ReplyDeleteJowannaP? xxxxx
I don't know whether we are going to get to speak to you today, because I know the signal is not good where you are at the moment, and with the time difference and all. So this is just a note to wish you all a Very Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThe snow has left the wilds of Lincolnshire, for the moment, thank goodness. Now we just seem to be having nice Lincolnshire rain and fog!
I miss you all. Lots of Love, Mum xxx