Jolly Hockey Sticks!

After completing our marketing and grocery duties yesterday we ferried Ali to her first ever hockey game. Karen and I both found ourselves cheering and laughing and enjoying watching Ali more than we initially thought we would. Lily didn't really know what all the fuss was about but she was quite content to eat chips and play with the other three year old miscreants. We thought that perhaps no one had explained the basic principles of Hockey to the Waipu "Tui's" when after the whistle blew to start the game, all the kids continued standing and chatting and ignoring the "Lions" racing with the ball toward their goal. When one girl from the Waipu team did decide to get into the spirit of things and have a hit of the ball, it was in the wrong direction, furthering the cause of the "Lions". Coach Rick had a word to the girls at half-time and they took to the field with a renewed vigour, facing the right way and everything. When Ali found herself in the opposition's goal mouth with the ball at her feet, everyone yelled at her to hit it in the goal, and so she did! From then on, Ali involved herself at every opportunity and was duely rewarded with a trophy for "Player Of The Day". Coach Rick then informed me that it is the duty of Player Of The Day's parents to provide the lollies next week.