Samantha's Favourite NZ Commercial

Samantha wanted to share this commercial with everyone. She has had a few students over the years that she has wanted to try this with. Her favourite part is the baby's reaction at the 19 second mark. Enjoy.

Reena turned 60 and I missed it!

My Mom turned 60 this past week, May 22nd. It feels a little weird not being home to make fun of her for being old! Hee hee Thank goodness for the internet and cheap phone cards because I got to talk to her 3 times that day. Happy birthday Reena! (Thanks Donna)

Dan and Sammy spent some of this weekend at the Father/Son camp here at Camp Columba. The highlight for Sam was shooting the paintball gun at his father and shooting the slug gun at targets. This was the first time Sam had ever seen real guns and thought it was cool. Should I be worried?

Both kids played rugby this weekend and both won their games. It was a rainy morning and the mud that covered the kids was astonishing.

The COAL learning continues. We had burned through the lignite coal quite quickly. So we began asking around to solve this mystery. There are 3 different kinds of coal in this area. Lignite, being the cheapest, that burn quickly and not vey hot. Kai, which is the next up in price and burns hotter than Lignite. Ohai (pronounced like Ohio with no O at the end) is the most expensive and burns the hottest. We bought two feed bags of Ohai at The Warehouse, it was on sale and we wanted to see the difference. It really burns hotter! The radiators and the pipes were creaking with heat, and the floors were warm where the pipes ran beneath the floor boards. After this discovery we are now mixing our coal. We went to the mine and got both lignite and ohai and we burn it together. This will make it so we will use less and it should last a longer time.

I am hoping to go back to work this Wednesday. I am walking without any pain, stairs and forward bent knee steps, like lunging motion are still a problem. My knee feels unstable and does give out now too. I see an ortho surgeon in June and will make plans to fix this ligament tear. the school has been wonderful, they are working on giving me a classroom so that the students will travel to me and there will be minimal stairs and less pounding on the knee hiking from one end of the building to the other between classes.

I picked the kids up from school this past Monday and drove to Invercargill. I had arranged as a surprise to pick bunnies for the kids. They were very surprised. I love their reactions, it is so indicative of their personalities. Abby sqeals and jumps and claps and is outwordly happy. Sam gets a little weepy when he feels ovewhelmed and filled with joy. He puts his hand to his face, snuggles close to me eyes filled with tears and tells me he has always wanted a bunny. I love both of their reactions. Abby named her Sneezel and Sam's is Jeffy!

Cross Country was this week and both kids participated. The race was held in a sheep paddock laced with sheep dung. It was a rainy day, which did not bother the Kiwis at all. Some kids ran the race in bare feet, which we are still not used to. Imagine wet rainy weather in a field with sheep manure. Not pretty. Abby got 8th in her race and Sam did not finish last in his race, a personal victory. We are proud of both kids.

Te Anau & Milford Sound

We had a fantastic weekend. Early Saturday morning we piled into the car and headed for Te Anau. We had tickets booked for a bus and boat tour of Milford Sound. It's tough to describe with words the beauty and majesty of what we saw. Granite mountains rising straight up out of the water, 700 metres in the air. Dolphins, maybe 20 of them, escorting our cruiser out into the Tasman Sea; playing, leaping, and racing us. Waterfalls cascading down the sheer rock-face from invisible lakes, 200 metres above that are remnants of the glaciers that gouged these fiords from the granite. It was an exhilarating and breath-taking day. Enjoy the pictures.



You may notice that we have changed the layout of the blog. We wanted to set it up so we could increase the size of the slide show without blocking anything. We think this will do the trick. As always, if you want to view the photos in full size just click on the slide show.

Samantha's ramblings

The kids got their progress reports this week. I have been quite impressed with their school and the education system here in New Zealand. There seems to be a good balance between academics and child development. Their reports came in the form of a binder split into sections for the different subjects. As there are 3 grades in one classroom each child is essentially working in their own program at the appropriate level. The kids are tested in reading, spelling, maths and thinking skills and accordingly put into programs at their levels. We are extremely pleased with their reports, both Abby and Sam are reading well above their age group, and exceeding expectations in all subjects. More importantly, we are thrilled with the "out of the classroom" opportunities the kids are getting. Pukerau Primary is an Enviro School, meaning that each Monday afternoon, with gumboots on, the students head outside and work on projects that help their school keep their Enviro School status. Sam's group has been building a composter out of tractor tyres (NZ spelling). Abby 's group is draining the worm farm and spreading the juice into their vegetable gardens. Many other activities are on the go too, building Nature Huts, Bird Houses, Vegetable Gardens, Plantation and the list goes on. The kids are building a composter in our backyard as well (our pigs are gone). Sam has taken to leaving the house earlier in the morning and he walks down to the bus hut. This allows him to get to school a half hour before school so he can play with his buddies. He is loving his group of friends. Abby prefers to be chauffeured to school in the morning by her Dad, but that is coming to an end. Starting next week she will be either taking the bus or riding her bike to school. Music lessons in school are going well too. Sam is loving the guitar still and has expressed an interest in drums too, Abby is enjoying the piano. Mrs. Watt, their teacher really knows the children, her comments in their reports show that she has spent time talking to them, knows their strengths and weaknesses and shows a caring but firm approach. This change has been very good for the kids.

Kids Growing Up

Every so often I notice something that the kids have done or are doing that makes me think that they are one stage closer to adulthood. Tuesday morning while getting ready for school, Dan was making lunches I was unloading the dishwasher when the smell of cologne wafted out of the bathroom and into the kitchen. I asked Dan if he spilled his cologne as he rarely wears it. It turns out that Sam has been applying Dan's cologne and Tuesday he got a little carried away - 4 squirts! One under each armpit, in addition to deodorant, one on his chest and one squirt on his head...like the top of his head. With stifled smiles we began investigating. He was wanting to smell nice and would like us to buy some AX spray ( which could be used as tear gas). We taught him the spray into the air and walk through the mist technique and now we can all breathe easy at breakfast. Also, the other day Sam had his homework in his backpack and he did not take it out to hand it in. Once he got home he realized that is was still in his backpack, he happily said, "I am going to bike down to the school to see if Mrs Watt is still at the school and hand in my homework". And off he went. Sam is happier here, he has less stress with school, he is accepted by his friends, appreciated by his teacher/principal and he is becoming a responsible young man. Now we work in his table manners!
The other day Gerred phoned and Abby answered the phone. If you know Gerred and Abby you know that they love to tease each other. Gerred began with "Abb EE Gale"....and it went on from there. I would say that I listened to her sass and wit for a couple of minutes before the phone got handed over. The first thing that Gerred said was "Abby is getting the accent". I have noticed this as well. She has gone from calling me Mommy to just MUM. Every time she calls me now it is MUM, I feel it in my chest, slightly to the left...a tightening. I wish and long for her to call me Mommy, but as the age of eight plays out before us the word Mommy is left with the memories of seven and younger. Okay, I know I sound like a senti"mental" fool. She is, however, picking up the accent. When she says YES, it is more like YEES. And she needed a pen this morning to write her order for the Snak N Tack, she said "I need a PEEN". She was the first one in the family to use the lingo freely like, I need to use the toilet (instead of bathroom) and pass me the tomAHto sauce (for ketchup), tomato with a short a sound. She is embracing the language differences and is loving hearing the way they talk here. We are enjoying watching the kids grow up in a less stressful, kid friendly, less TV, no video game, more outside, imaginative, easier atmosphere.

I went to the doctor yesterday morning to be told that I will have to be off for another two weeks with surgery booked the end of June. The ACL tear has made me knee very unstable, it feels wobbly like it will give out. I am walking better, with little pain but stairs are not possible yet. I am hoping to get a new knee brace from Physio soon which will give me support and will let me return to work.

I know that this weekend in Canada is the long weekend. We would be going to the KOA in Port Huron with family and friends if we were back home. This weekend has been in my mind since we moved here as I LOVE going to the KOA. Last Thanksgiving we stayed in a cabin at the KOA, Shawn and Tanya, Olivia and Cate were there, Kris and Emma came for the day, Mom and Dad, Ger and Nikki and the boys were there, Auntie Ida, Toydie and Courtney, Ron and MaryAnne, Deb and Jay, Dana, Jeff and the boys (Abby will miss riding bikes with Jaykob this year) we will miss all of you this year. I hope the weather is good, although some of my fondest memories include rain, cold, heaters, washing vomity bedding and clothes, puddles, sweatshirts and snuggling. The KOA is a MUST DO upon our arrival back home. Have a great weekend everyone!

This weekend for us consists of a Te Anau trip. We are driving to a cafe in Te Anau to catch a guided bus tour. We get off and hike ( a bit) and visit bird sanctuaries, and a wildlife park. Then we board a cruise and travel out to the Tasman Sea and we will finally get to see Milford Sound. Then we will return to go through the Glowworm Caves. We will take lots of photos and post them for you to see.

Samantha's right knee

So, I have been nursing a sore right knee. The weekend that Abby and I went to the Mother-Daughter camp I was tackled during a friendly game of Flags. Both of my knees crunched to the left but the right knee immediately swelled up and has been sore. After 3 weeks of icing it and feeling no relief I decided to seek some help. Physiotherapy here in New Zealand is quite good and I was recommended a lady. She took me in and tried 4 weeks of strapping and ultra sounding the knee. She felt that she was not really making any difference and sent me for xrays. This past Wednesday I went for my x-rays with an appointment the Thursday at 4pm to see my doctor to read the x-rays. That went fine. Thursday at school my knee was swelling a fair bit and felt quite sore. At 1:30pm, just before my Foods class I went to go to the bathroom, turned sharply into the bathroom and my knee exploded. The pain was sickening and I couldn't put any weight on it. So I stood there, in the main corridor not knowing what to do. Luckily two staff members happened to hear my gasp from the next room and came to see what had happened. They dragged me out to her car and drove me to the hospital.
It turns out I have torn my right ACL and have torn cartilage in the right knee. I am off work for two weeks with an appointment to see an orthopedic surgeon (an American). The idea of having to sit on my behind for two weeks makes me a little angry, but the pain that shoots into my leg when I do hobble around lets me know that this serious.
With Melissa here we have things planned like a Cadbury Factory tour tomorrow, followed by a Highlanders Rugby game in the evening. Then next weekend we have a full day booked starting in Te Anau by bus and Milford Sound by boat, then we are booked to explore the Glowworm caves in the evening. I don't know.
New Zealand has a wonderful accident claim agency called ACC which covers all and every accident. I have not paid for anything thus far. I am told that orthopedics and surgery is paid for, as well as my wages when I am not working. It just doesn't feel right starting a new job, loving the new job and then I have to be off work.
Until next time,
Samantha

Another week in our life

It has been a quiet week here in New Zealand. Samantha and the kids enjoyed their second week of school holidays and are ready to go back to school on Monday. Abby went to camp this week and had a great time. Abby ended up in a cabin with Anna Maree, a friend that she made at the Mother & Daughter camp. Abby said that camp was different here but she enjoyed herself. We were invited down for a medieval festival on Wednesday night and enjoyed a great meal. There were 4 or 5 different meats served. On a slight tangent - they hunt wild pigs here. The chair of the camp board is going to bring us some to cook. We'll have to report back on how it tastes.


The weather has turned much more fall like. Lots of cold and damp days. Rain comes and goes many times on any given day. The dampness sometimes makes it feel colder than it is. As a result we are keeping our coal boiler going most of the time. It keeps the house fairly warm but takes a while to warm it up if we let it go out. It seems like the one load of coal a month might have been an optimistic projection. Two loads a month will probably be what we actually use. This morning produced the first really hard frost. There was snow again on the hills but none here yet. It is supposed to drop down to -2 C tonight. That means concern about water pipes at camp. There are a number of buildings that are unheated and uninsulated. Water pipes sometimes run exposed up the outside of building walls and are then run above the ceilings. The maintenance man came out today and drained the water to some of the buildings so he wouldn't have to worry about fixing pipes tomorrow.

Today was the second weekend of games for Sammy's hockey team. It was here in Gore and they played twice. Their first opponent was Alexandra. Sammy's team played really well and came out with a nice win. Sammy scored 3 goals. He was thrilled to get his first career hat trick. The second game was against Dunedin, a really strong team. Sammy's team lost 12-3 but played a better game than the score suggested. Sammy scored one goal in this game. After four games they are 2-2. More importantly all of the boys played much better this weekend than they did in last month's games.

You should check out the pictures of the kids at the pool. (Clicking on the slideshow will take you to the web album where you can look at full-size pictures.) They have giant inflatable slides and a cool kids pool. On Friday Samantha took the kids for a fun afternoon. It is a really great facility for a small town to have. The pool and the ice rink are in the same building. The pool is heated by the heat created from making the ice. A gymnasium is currently being built adjacent to the arena to complete the multi-sports complex. I'm looking forward to that being completed because it means that there will be change rooms for hockey.

Samantha had a throat infection this week so she visited a doctor. There was a $31 charge to see the doctor. Samantha was prescribed antibiotics and painkillers. She was pleasantly surprised that each prescription was only $3.50 to have filled for a full course of antibiotics and 360 Panadol pills.

One of the highlights of our week was today's arrival of Melissa Weir, our first Canadian visitor. Melissa has been the lifeguard at Lambton Centre for the past few summers and was also a favourite babysitter. Abby and Samantha went and picked Melissa up at Dunedin airport this morning. She is staying with us for the next 5 weeks. We have some trips planned and will be taking in our first Super14 Rugby match next Saturday. Melissa is taking a 10 day tour to Australia during her stay as well. Melissa was kind enough to bring an extra bag for use. It was full of toothpaste, deodorant, my hockey skates and helmet, some bedding, a couple of quilts, candy, yugi-oh cards, and much more. We all enjoyed emptying out the treasures from home. It's nice to have pieces of home here with us.

Check back next week for pictures from the rugby match. It just might be that some of us will have face paint and funny wigs on.