Saturday 29 September 2012

Camp Waihola

On a nice mild Friday afternoon recently I packed my overnight bag and drove down to Camp Waihola, well my GKB drove me. We picked up a 12 year old on the way and rendezvoused with the rest of the youth group at the camp, along with
the kids from Balclutha.
 
kitchen and lodge
 
My GKB left me there, he is not quite sure what the attraction is in wanting to spend any great length of time with thirty or so young teenagers. He picked me up the next day when I swapped over with one of our other leaders. It is only 20 minutes drive from home so not too far to do the trip twice.
 
 
early sunrise
 
The camp is set in farmland and there is a lake is on the other side of the state highway, which we didn't go to. In the photo above you might be able to see the fog rising from the lake in the distance. (The lake and the highway are hidden behind the hills).
 
early morning fog
 
This photo is taken to the right of the one above, more early morning fog, it burnt off very quickly and by the time we'd had breakfast it was a lovely sunny morning
 
 
informal game of touch rugby
 
Some of the kids played a game of touch while they waited for the first organised session to start, while others cleaned up the dining room and did the chores - there's always those chores to do.
I went for a bit of a walk, touch rugby is definitely not my 'thing'.
 
 
 
Past the playground for the little ones - we had some young families with us as well, their parents helped in one way or another.
 
 
 
Past some ponies in the top paddock...

 
...and in a paddock further down the hill, a very pregnant ewe and another one with triplets,
you can just see the leg of the third one on the other side of her if you look hard...

 
 
They all seemed to have more than one baby to look after.
 
pie fight
 
We had thirty plus very energetic bigger kids to care for...and one of them, a 2 year old, picked a daisy and gave it to me. No stem , just the flower. Cute.
 
very blurry daisy.

All in all it was a good weekend and the kids enjoyed themselves. A lot of fun had by all.
 
I felt great while I was there but as soon as I got home and sat down in my own nice comfortable easy chair I felt extremely tired - I wonder why?
 
 
Diana
 

Monday 10 September 2012

...in like a lion...



 
 
Spring has arrived and and contrary to the saying - 'in like a lion and out like a lamb', September arrived with beautiful, balmy weather. But that was just a tease - tonight the elements are roaring against us and snow is forecast to sea level. The lion has arrived!
The wind has battered some of my spring flowers so I picked them and brought them inside, I like them all clumped outside but like them inside as well.
 
 
 
 
The blossom is out on the trees and the streets around town are looking lovely.
 
 
 
I went out with my camera a couple of times and took photo's. Some on a lovely sunny day...
 
 
 
 
...and some today as the weather began to change.
 
 

 
 
You can see the clouds beginning to build up.
 
 
 
I love the blossom trees and don't have a one of my own so I really enjoy this season, short though it is.
 
 
 
 
And below is a shot of the front coming across the plain from the south. The hill was just disappearing from sight and I reached my gate just as the hail began, it was a race though. Phew.
 
 
 
Goodnight all, enjoy your week :D
 
Diana
 

Monday 3 September 2012

The bird has flown

Yes the big silver bird has flown...and taken number one son with it. But he is reunited with his lovely wife who didn't come over with him. The flight was delayed in leaving by an hour and a half because of a medical emergency in the Pacific but they got away eventually. He had to start work the day after getting home so I hope he was able to sleep on the fight. I know I don't sleep when I am travelling so I try to travel during the day and sleep in a (stationary) bed at night.
 
It was a liesurely holiday, real kiwi style. He arrived, sat down and got up again when it was time to leave.
Well not really but we didn't do much.
 
Soccer with middle grandson
 
Watched the grands play sports. Ours is the blondie.
 
Netball with youngest grand-daughter (WD)
Youngest grand-daughter is growing fast, I keep telling her to stop, she is now taller than me, but she just laughs.  I'm not used to the girls in the family being taller than me, only the blokes.
 
coffee after the soccer
We took my little mother out for lunch one day and and another day just went out as a family, i.e. just me, my GKB and our 3 kids and ate lunch at a pub. Great. We followed that by going up to eldest daughters home for coffee.
 
Dad, Mum and the kids
 
The weather behaved, and has just packed up today, so that was a bonus seeing as it was the end of winter while he was here. As you can see, my GKB was in shirt sleeves so the temps were pretty good, we were able to sit outside in the sun a few times and chat and drink even more coffee - oh dear  :)
 
And of course he caught up with friends and other family members as well.
 
 
Well that's it for another few days.
Have a wonderful week .
 
Diana