Fieldwork Season

I started my GNS experience Field work experience today - One day trip to Castle Point in on the East Coast North Island - High Tsunami risk area!

Next week I am off to Taranaki for a three day field trip - Next year its Nelson!

The photo is of a bed of sandstone with high energy flow/ripple effects, and a hammer!
The second of the lighthouse from Castlepoint headland. its about 1 hour further from Masterton - 2.5 hours from Silverstream

Look no trainer wheels.........

She is a big girl now and very proud of the fact she can cycle - in a straight line only- with no trainer wheels and yes odd shoes!!!!

honest we went past!!!

we were there!!!

Dragon boat races

Today was the second day of the dragon boat festival, the teenagers day. We watched some of the races before having a lovely lunch out at Mac's brewery, we then popped back to the car via an Italian food festival and the playground. it was fairly blustery. We then did a lap round the basin reserve - so yes we were there today - 4th day of the second test. Mr Vettori was trying his best but the black caps were struggling to make up the runs.

Wobbley Feet

Today Saffron went to the physio - we waited 4 months for the appointment - she is now getting referred to the orthopedic specialist - apparently one leg (left problem one) is 1/2 cm shorter and she is turning her whole foot over, from the ankle so needs sorting out ASAP. Expensive boots with good support are needed!
It could well have been from birth but not having a thorough baby check done it was missed.

So we have a reason for the wobbly feet after all.
She has exercises to do and will go back to physio in a couple of months.

More Dinosaurs

We found a real dinosaur on Matiu Island (the one in the middle of Wellington Bay). Well its been around since the Jurassic!!!
Matiu Island is now a native wildlife reserve and well worth a trip - even an overnight camp to see some of the great local wildlife! - well they get pretty livid at times too!!!

Well we are glad we are not in the UK - couldn't survive a large tax increase on wine! Nice to be able to say the local stuff is ok!

I have also been doing a flax weaving evening - well worth doing more of!

Cricket, Cricket, Cricket

well there has been plenty of sport recently - lots of cricket and Rugby - so we are enjoying that!
especially as we have now some nice new sofas and sky sports!!

The survey finally takes place this week on the garden for the architect to draw up plans for the garden and sleepout. Hope they have some good insect repellent!!!

Josh is settled back into school well and India is loving morning Kindy. Catherine the nanny is a huge hit and everyone is pretty happy. The kittens are growing fast and doing well. We got back to the zoo today to see the new Safari enclosures - shame they didn't have a real Hippo. Andy and Josh are doing a 12km cycle ride tomorrow - that should be fun! they managed the practice run 2 weeks ago in 1 hr 40 mins! Right off to bed - nights are getting darker and Autumn feels like its arrived - chilly starts!!!