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.

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

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.

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

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!