Tiri Trip

Ali at the Tiri lighthouse
Ali had a school trip to Tiritiri Matangi Island, a bird sanctuary in the Hauraki Gulf. We left early this morning and drove down to catch the ferry with our neighbour Mel, and two of her girls, Asher and Willow. The 20 min ferry ride was a highlight for the kids, and then we were there. One of the volunteer guides showed us around, telling us about some of the rare and endangered birds that we saw along the way, and showing us the blue penguins nesting under the steps of the path.

Ali's favourite was Gregg the Takahe who she remebered from 2 years ago when we last visited. The Takahe were thought to be extinct until 1948 when someone found some in Fiordland. Now with intensive breeding programs there are about 150 Takahe so it's a real privilege to have lunch with one. Gregg was hand-reared as a chick 16 years ago so he is very friendly with people.

Teach a girl to fish

This afternoon it was high tide and high time Ali learned a thing or two about fishing from that old master, her Dad! We drove down to our local park where the river runs by. Right on cue, Ali landed her first fish ( a whopping baby Mullet) and after I showed her how to catch two at a time, she went and out did me by catching three!! A new record for this family that may stand for some time. We took our bounty to the beach after picking up Karen and Lily to try for something more meal sized. Ali and Lily took great delight in carrying their dead fish everywhere, much to our amusement but alas, our time and tide had run out, not to mention the heaven's opening and soaking us all. Lily told us at dinner she was "thankful for you letting me hold your dead fish Daddy". So it looks like we have a family of fine fisher-people and maybe one day soon we'll be bringing home a feed.

They say if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day, if you teach a man to fish you get rid of him for a whole weekend. Does this apply to little girls as well?
The "Whopper".I'll swap you your Mullet for my Mullet and this handful of sand................somewhere, this Mullet is needed.Where's the meal-sized one Dad?Oh, it got away? and it was this big you say?

Labour Day Weekend

It's been a busy weekend for us with painting the ceiling of our kitchen whilst keeping the girls amused enough to keep out of the way and not get painted themselves. We also took a walk around the property and moved our electric fence to give Sausage more grass to eat. Whilst I was giving Ali a piggy back she made me laugh with her understanding of the Kiwi accent. She asked me why the cow in the neighbouring paddock was looking at us. I said "Well Ali, It's just curious and it isn't a cow, it's a Steer." She thought about this for a moment and said " Is that why they call them Steers, because they just look at people?"

Back to school

Yesterday was a Teachers Only Day at Ali's school to make up for Saturday being a school day. We took the opportunity to go into town to the pools while all the other kids in the district were in class - haha. Phil was able to come and so we had a great time racing one another down the waterslides.

Today Ali was back at school and Lily went to playcentre with Mum. I snapped this one early this morning so the light wasn't great but she just looked so adorable reading her Superman comic I had to get it.

Look at the size of this little darling!

It's a bit blowy outside but not raining so we went to explore the neighbour's paddock and collect some pine needles to mulch our strawberry patch. At some point in the past someone has chopped down some trees there and made a little seat out of a tree stump with their chainsaw. Ali and Lily enjoy playing amongst the stumps and looking for creatures in the leaf litter. Phil did his one of his best Steve Irwin impressions when we found this giant centipede.

The rest of Calf Club

The forecast for today was for thunderstorms, so we were lucky that it was warm and sunny all day, then five minutes after we got home the heavens opened and it poured down.
Lily liked the candyfloss
Ali's flower saucer.
All the decorated eggs, Ali's is in the green egg-cup near the sign.

Lily pats Angel the kid.

There are 3 posts today so scroll on down to older posts to see the others

Calf Club at last

This is our neighbour Grace with her lamb Tissue who won first prize in her section.




Today was Ali's school calf club day. Ali brought Friendly Pat and the judge remarked on how friendly she was, and Ali received a certificate.Ali's dish garden was a beach with a sunbathing dolly.
Her flower arrangement was in a thermos.