Sport sport everywhere

Sport. Sport seems to be a fundamental element of New Zealand life. Sport, in particular, for young people. Any sport. And the great thing is it doesn't matter how crap you are so long as you give it a go.

This has been great for Jack and Barney. Kids in the UK, and Jack and Barney were no different, are expected to stay indoors, not be a nuisance, and be a passive consumer of such delightful things as computer games, gaming consoles, TV and DVD's. When they were out and about outside they went to the cinema or shopping or cafes. This is the urban kids, the majority of kids. Parks were where the Pikeys hung out making life miserable for everyone else particularly their peers. Jack and Barney never missed an opportunity to avoid undertaking any exercise whatsoever.

Now. OMG! Barney is playing football! And Frisbee. He's in the team. Wow.

And Jack. Jack has joined the local cycling club and has started racing in the time trial on a sunday afternoon. This Sunday Sean came home, chest swelling with fatherly pride. 'He came first in class. I think he has got potential'. We are so proud of him. Tour de France 2016? watch this space.

Both of them have never looked so healthy.

P.S. Barney has also had a growth spurt and Jenn is now officially the shortest in the family. She's not happy but will have to get over it.

happy 20th wedding anniversary

Its Sean and Jenns 20th Wedding Anniversary! OMG.

That went way too fast and it is now an undeniable truth that they are middle aged. Ouch. We don't know what the secret of a happy marriage is. We don't think there is one. We just grabbed each other as children and have clung on together for dear life over the past 2 decades as life has ebbed and flowed around us. Its been a blast. And it seems to have worked for us. We reckon its that we still keep laughing both at and with each other. That and we have never been afraid of pressing the big red GO button and find something more interesting to do when life gets too dull, its that or divorce we reckon. Although Jenn is wondering if we haven't pushed our luck too much with the latest revolution.

They are planning a bit of a shindig tomorrow night at the Blue Pub in Methven where they will be eating some delicious food and watch Hot Club Sandwich perform their repertoire of original songs about life in New Zealand. Can't wait. Another excuse to raise a glass and toast life, the universe and the futility of absolutely everything. Hoorah!

injuries and holidays

Sean slipped up on a slippery stone and something went crack in his ankle and he went down and floundered around under a bush swearing for a few moments! Fortunately we were on our way back down from a walk on Mount Summer and were only a few meters from the car park. It was very painful and swelled up like a balloon. He was laid up all day monday taking loads of drugs and watching loads of crappy TV and playing loads of computer games. But by Tuesday all was well and he was off out to Winslow with Steve the Brother in law. Just goes to show. You need to be careful out there, the isolation can cause you major problems if you make a mistake.

The boys are on school break for two weeks. Have no idea how to entertain them as the cash is running out and neither Jenn nor Sean are working yet. Yikes its starting to get a bit scary.