Christmas

Another year has been and it is holiday time again.

The summer days are here in NZ. We are starting to enjoy the summer warmth – I love it. The local climate is usually pretty kind with long warm days in the 20sC.

I don’t think Ellie and Mac love the heat. They look a little stressed on the hottest days so we are careful not to walk them in the warm – so that means morning or evening excursions!

My shoulder is now good enough to mow the lawns again and I even did two pull ups on my bar in the shed (but don’t tell my wife!) Still rather sore at times – I am making sure each day is active with some gentle stretching and range of movement stretches to get me back to strength. “We can rebuild him!”

I have spent a fair few weeks this second part of the year injured and recovering. Has given me some new perspectives. I realise how much I push myself – always. So when I am tired or grumpy or unwell I have usually done it to myself. Even when I tore my calf muscle I did not stop. Not any more!

Take it easy these holidays everyone. Peace.

 

Quiet End To The Year

I have not blogged for a while.

Have been recovering from a fractured scapula which I self inflicted by falling over playing hockey.

Bit of a shame as I was getting pretty fit and strong having made a comeback from a torn calf muscle in August.

So for the last part of the year I have been hobbling around so to speak.

The silver lining – still figuring it out – but it did slow me down somewhat which is not a bad thing. I remembered what a fantastic life I am . The gifts I have received in life and the good people I share life with.

School holidays are here! I’m not doing Christmas presents this year. A good feed and some Christmas songs and family time will do quite nicely!

I have quoted Seth Godin before – the man is a genius – here is a list from a few days ago. Brilliant. Don’t you just love the era we live in!

Assorted tips, hope they help

1. No stranger or unknown company will ever contact you by mail or by phone with an actual method for making money easily or in your spare time. And if the person or company contacting you asserts that they are someone you know, double check before taking action.
2. Don’t have back surgery. See a physiatrist first, then exhaust all other options before wondering if you should have back surgery.
3. Borrow money to buy things that go up in value, but never to get something that decays over time.
4. Placebos are underrated by almost everyone.
5. It’s almost never necessary to use a semicolon.
6. Seek out habits that help you overcome fear or inertia. Destroy those that do the opposite.
7. Cognitive behavorial therapy is generally considered both the quickest and most effective form of addressing many common psychological problems.
8. Backup your hard drive.
9. Get a magnetic key hider, put a copy of your house key in it and hide it really well, unlabeled, two blocks from your house.
10. A rice cooker will save you time and money and improve your diet, particularly if you come to like brown rice.
11. Consider not eating wheat for an entire week. The results might surprise you.
12. Taking your dog for a walk is usually better than whatever alternative use of your time you were considering.

Told you they were assorted.

 

Read Seth’s Blog here

Camp Raukawa

So we are on holiday again! The term sped by and we aimed at week 9 Camp as the end point. Camp was brilliant. I always forget just how successful a camp really is.

Parents, children, staff all interacting for a few days and 99% of the time it is simply a blast. You live in the moment – nothing else matters – no media, worries or stresses. Simply live – any challenges re behaviour or managing issues are solved quickly and then it is on to the next activity. Climbing, abseiling, high ropes traversing, flying kiwi, archery, flying fox, orienteering, obstacle course, kayaking, just playing, camp fire, eeling, playing spotlight – and of course watersliding.

Here are a couple of camp pictures -

There is someone under here – Angus – one of our senior class boys has burrowed under the water and created a big brown wave.

And how is this for another Year 5 student – Te Paea – walking along the high ropes course. And if we were able to follow the rope down to the ground you would find me on the end of the rope doing the belay thing.These children perhaps do not realise the fantastic opportunity they have experienced – being offered the chance to tackle such activities at a young age. The first time I have had an opportunity to do things like this was when I started taking children to camp as a teacher. Not once during my schooling or teacher training career did such an opportunity present itself.

Now I know that once you have done this type of activity and are able to reflect on it, it does enhance your self confidence. It does build resilience and an awareness of what to do when in a tough situation – learning is what we do when we don’t know what to do! Oh and it is quite a buzz climbing high, looking down and completing the activity.

Watching the kids do the activities is quite inspiring. Many of them just step up and do it. Some have a slower path to achievement, a few try and then achieve and a few try but are not able to complete. No one ‘fails’ as all are learning about themselves.

At St Matthew’s we will now introduce a yearly camp – a full week for seniors and 2 nights for the rest. I am convinced of the value of this endeavour and want to make it a permanent part of our education plans.

So what do you do after winning a championship?

Have a feed, clean the car, mow the lawns and take the dogs for a walk!

These pics have a slightly reduced quality to normal as I am using the cell phone’s 3megapixel camera.

Winning

I blogged recently that there was not much difference between winning and losing. This weekend it proved true with our Third Division Hockey team competing in the competition final.

We were scheduled to play another team from our club – High School Hockey Club – but not just an ordinary team. It was a masters team which has a core of players who have played year in year out for 23 years!

We have played them 3 times this season – a thumping 6-1 win pre season, then two regular season games – a 2-1 win and a 5-4 win just a couple of weeks later. Our team was top qualifier but the masters team had scored more goals and conceded fewer goals.

Me – it was on the sideline again – but hey – that is the way it goes – I warmed up and gave the leg a couple of good sprints and declared myself fit – just need a few matches to get back into the groove. Better to work on getting fit than being a liability on the field.

The game began with our team going a goal up and controlling our possession very well. The masters team struck twice to take the lead and we were 1 down at half time. And then the reasons why I like this team became apparent. THe talk is positive, things to do, effort to put in, a laugh or two and no whinging! I was just wanting to get out onto the field – much better to play than watch.

We scored in the second half and it was 2-2 but they replied soon after to go ahead and we had about 20 minutes to reply. Try as the boys might the masters team defended well saving on the line, avoiding a possible stroke (in my eyes at least) and then breaking out to cause some constenation in this spectator’s mind.

And then the unbelievable – a magic piece of brilliance by our centre half for a goal and a draw – with ten seconds left on the clock!!

As it turned out this was crucial momentum gained by our team – The Postmen – and into strokes we went. We went 1 up as they missed their first, our second was in and then our keeper saved, 2-1, we score again and they are denied once more by our keeper – 3-1 and that was that! Victory and a championship.

Not much separating the teams and it was our day. I have loved this season – we lost one game – and that was a first for me – and just fun to turn up, play hockey and play amongst a group of skilled players.

Below are a couple of pictures from a regular season game. We are in Red!

How is Your World Cup Coming Along?

By the Mangaone Stream

It has been a long week with the RWC kicking off in NZ on Sept 9. The Radio Sport talk back callers are working themselves into a lather re the All Black team and who should or should not be playing. It makes me laugh – these coaches have been at it for so long now why not just leave it all alone.

Playing hockey again this year has reminded me just how hard it is to play consistently each week. Obviously I am not a professional and cannot draw accurate comparisons but I have competed enough over the years to know that you can only play as well as your team allows, the opposition causes difficulties and other factors such as time of game, weather, stress levels, skills sets, tactics etc.

During one game this year I decided that there really was very little difference between winning and losing. I mean it is really just an attitude. If you win – great – if you lose – well it is hardly the cause for disgrace or anxiety. It just means the other team won the game. Somebody has to.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I glimpsed the other side of the coin – losing is not all that bad. You just lose the game. The other team won. OK shake hands, figure out what lessons you learn and that is it.

This year we have only lost one game and last night qualified for the final. I have not played for three weeks as I tore a calf muscle. Looking back it really hurt that first week and I could have rested a little more. On the mend now am pleased to report. Stretching the calf and continuing to rehabilitate it as best I can.

The calf muscle area has been very swollen and sore so I have decided to not even play a few minutes next week although I really really want to. I have never been is a team that has won so many games in a season. The best performance I reckon was one night when we had 9 v 11 and we, the 9 were without a goalie and we won by a couple. It was very enjoyable.

Enough of that – here are a few pictures of a walk with Mac and Ellie today and a short video!

Rangitane Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two buddies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring

Spring is here and time to get blogging again.

I have been a bit quiet lately – last couple of weeks have been rather unusual inasmuch as I injured my calf muscle playing hockey. Just went to sprint and bam, a cramp like sensation in my right leg (I thought it was cramp at first) but after hobbling to the sideline realised I had hurt myself.

Two weeks on I am just about walking with a natural gait again and can get about without too much discomfort. Looking back that first week was pretty unreal – pain every step – swelling and then the bruising came out. It is still a little swollen but I am on the mend that is for sure.

I have not been able to walk Mac and Ellie and that has been really odd. Walking is a big part of my day. I did get out in the weekend though and wandered to the river and back to the car. It was a wonderful feeling to be in the outdoors again. I thoroughly recommend it for all patients!

I am unlikely to be able to play hockey again however and may have to settle for sideline support. The team has done well, heading for the semis and hopefully we all play our best. If we do then a championship is the very real possibility. Still like the All Blacks – there are no sure bets – one game at a time and all that.

Off to bed now and a little heat on that calf.

Wons

It snowed in Palmerston North today. It was like a dream. Unusual sights everywhere. And Mac loved it. Here he is in full flight hooning around the back lawn like a balloon lurching around the room after you let it go. We laughed and laughed and laughed.

And another

iSplash

Ver nice app available from the app store.