June, brrrrrrrr

It seems so unnatural to be shivering and complaining about the cold in June.  We have almost gone through 2 cubic meters of wood and we still have the rest of winter to go.  A few days ago the temperature got down to 2 degrees C, of course that also coincided with several of the windows being left open overnight.  As you can imagine we could see our breath when we got up in the morning.  The other thing that actually does seem June-like is the rain, even the locals are starting to complain.  There have been heaps of roads closed due to flooding and mudslides.  In fact on our walk last Sunday we came across a fresh mudslide on the Waihi Beach coastal trail.
There was a huge fresh scar just up the slope from the  path, and the majority of the material carried on down to the ocean, needless to say for the rest of the walk I was a little paranoid. We had started out our walk going along a trail that seemed to be well worn, at least it started out with a well maintained staircase.  Some how we got on the wrong path and ended up scrambling up a very wet, root and leaf strewn "goat path" alongside a very steep cliff.  After discovering that the trail didn't get any easier, or flatten out, we turn and headed back to the beach sign to confirm our location. It was at this point that we discovered the actual footpath further down the beach. The path we started on would be passable in the summer, but as wet as it was, it was treacherous at best.

We traveled up to Wahi Beach in the rain, which stopped just long enough for us to go on our walk.  We decided to turn around before reaching the end of the trail, and it was a good thing because as we were walking up to the car the clouds opened up and another torrential downpour ensued.  The trail would have become a slippery quagmire.

We were able to get some great pictures before the rain however. It was a pretty quiet weekend again, plans are close to home most of the time due to the rain, however there is plenty within an hour's drive for us to do, so we can nip out between the clouds and see some amazing things.

 The kids are 2 weeks away from term break.  They get 2 weeks off starting first week of July. We have signed them each up for a day camp which I think they will enjoy.  Then shortly after Term 3 starts we are taking a week to go to Samoa,  I think we are all looking forward to that. 

I am not sure what we are going to do for Canada day, hopefully we can watch some of the festivities on the web!  If you can believe it we are unable to purchase fireworks anywhere!  They only sell them once a year on Guy Fawkes day.  Fortunately our neighbours will be coming to the rescue once again, as they have some fireworks left over.  So we will have our own little celebration a day early! (International date line don't ya know)

I seem to be on a bit of a ramble this week, all over them map.

This past Thursday Connor's class went to Waimarino adventure park for the afternoon, as per usual they needed transport.  I volunteered to drive and, stayed to help with the days activities.  They did three activities, a rope obstacle course, rock wall, and volleyball. I spent most of the time helping with the rock wall, the kids learned to 'belay" as well as climb.  This adventure park also has an after school program, the kids are picked up from their respective schools and shuttled to the park to wile away the afternoon on the various facilities while awaiting pickup by their parents.  The schools here sure take advantage of the weather and opportunities to get the kids out of school, a very well rounded approach to their development.  The kids are very supportive, all shouting encouragement when some one is undertaking a challenge such as the rock wall.

Well I guess that is all for this week, I am about to bundle up and head out on my bike for some exercise before the lingering clouds release another onslaught.


Don

Rain rain go away!

Greetings devoted followers.  I think our weather here in New Zealand is mirroring the rainfall I know some of you are experiencing in Manitoba.  Yes, the skies are regularly opening up and pouring forth on us here.  We live on the top of a hill and there are times that I wonder if the house isn't going to slide down into the estuary!  It's not unusual to have a 100 ml come down in a day.  Rain isn't unusual here in the winter but even the locals are a little agog these days at the amount of rain coming down.  I fear that my winter lettuce and silver beet will never grow.  They are existing at the moment but certainly not growing.  The weeds however are reveling in whatever conditions come their way - that apparently doesn't change no matter where you are in the world.

The McLeod's have been taking it easy for the past few weeks, sticking close to home.  We'd love to be doing some more hiking in the area but with the rain it would be a wallow in mud then anything else.  So instead we just hang about and corrupt the neighbors.  We arranged for a babysitter last Saturday and had an honest to goodness night out with our neighbors.  I had my first pedicure in NZ and took Jacqui, the neighbor, along for the treat, and then we picked up the men and went for drinks at the 'club' (Chris - the hubby - is quite the well connected Tauranga business man), dinner down at a lovely no children allowed restaurant, and then more drinks on the Strand at a bar watching the comings and goings of all the cute (and not so cute) young things on a happening Saturday night.  We weaved our way home by midnight feeling like grownups, not necessarily parents!  Some of us spent Sunday recovering.  Others of us went and practiced our tennis with our willing children.  Poor Aidan volunteered to bounce me balls so I could practice my backhand and spent the whole time dodging my wildly hit balls and actually took a few body shots.  What a good sport!

This weekend was the NZ version of the May Long, called the Queen's birthday.  Unbelievably, this is the last long weekend until October!  Ark.  These people don't know how to build relaxation into their national psyche.  So unlike Canadians.  So to observe this long weekend we decided to go camping with the neighbors.  Camping here in NZ, in a proper campground, is not at all like Canada because there are cabins for rent that have all the comforts of home.  So that's what we rented, with the neighbors along side of us.  They hauled down their major fishing boat and the guys were able to get a great round of fishing on Saturday for a few hours before the next round of storms hit.  Connor and Aidan both caught about 3 fish a piece and Don caught the biggest fish of the day, a Snapper.  That's what he is cooking up for dinner as I type. Sunday the rain fell horizontally given the 100 km wind speed so lots of time was spent playing board games - typical camping stuff.

This week I was snookered by my oldest son. At school they have been practicing (i.e. running endless laps around the school field) for the cross country race.  EVERYONE has to run the cross country race, but you can choose to run it on as a competitive or a non competitive runner.  My kids definitely committed to the non-competitive, pacifists that they are. Anyways,  Aidan came in 20th on his practice run last week and I was saying that if he improved on his result on race day I'd buy him a slurpee.  One should note though that we don't actually have 7-11's here, but McD's sells frozen cokes - same same.  Connor piped up that he walked his practice race, what was I going to offer him??  So, by the time the negotiations were done it was agreed that a top 20 finish in their respective race got a slurpee, a top 10 finish merited a slurpee and $5, and a top 3 finish desired a dinner at the restaurant of the kid's choice.  Don went down to watch the actual race.  Aidan ran first and came in 16th.  Then Connor took to the field.  While all the other kids took off like rabbits Connor actually, he tells us, employed the strategy of slow but steady so that by lap 3 as the kids were running out of steam he happily chugged by them and claimed 3rd place.  He surprised everyone, including himself!.  We got off easily on the meal front as he asked to go to McD's which we picked up on our way down to the campground.

So there you have it, the update from the McLeod household.  I wanted to mention that we will be missing out on a very happy event on  Friday.  Don's nephew Gord will be getting married to the utterly lovely Jess.  It's a hard time to be out of the country because we love being around for these big McLeod events, watching the kids run around like crazy souls and dancing up a storm on the dance floor.  Please know that our thoughts will be with you guys!  Happy wedding!

Much love, the McLeod