Emily's first triathlon in pictures

Join the movement and we'll start a revolution - stop all unnecessary shopping - separate your needs from your wants.

An even prouder dad

This coming Sunday I may possibly burst with pride or be at risk of having my face split in 2 by a extremely large smile . What you might ask could cause this paternal pride? My Emily has entered her very first triathlon - a sport I have been enjoying for over twenty years.

I was saying to her the other day that she is already, at 8 and a half, a better swimmer than I was when I started triathlon in my 20's

Next Friday after cricket she and a friend are doing a dance in the school talent competition. Sometimes I can't believe how much self confidence, self belief and an I can do anything attitude she has - the way I see it she is going to unstoppable.

Cameron who is 6 is reading chapter books on his own - he has discovered Zac Powers please tell tell me boys don't like to read.

Join the movement and we'll start a revolution - stop all unnecessary shopping - separate your needs from your wants.

Emily's first cricket match and her first running race.

Last Friday saw Emily play her first game of Kiwi cricket - an eight side junior version of cricket. And this coming Friday her second game and I've agreed as a parent to umpire/score (it seems quite complicated) but the teacher in charge Ruth is going to help me this first time.

I forgot to take my camera but on Tuesday, Emily ran in a 2km race the Bluewater Inn races that Teresa and a colleague have been doing the longer 5km. Emily had a blast. I was very proud and when she told me she wants to do her first triathlon I almost burst. She is aiming for the Ironkids race at Oceanspa put on by the local club.

Join the movement and we'll start a revolution - stop all unnecessary shopping - separate your needs from your wants.

Emily's ballet

Just some images from Emily's costume fitting for her ballet recital at the end of October.
Costume fitting.

Group shot of beautiful butterflies.

Waiting outside for Dad and Cameron to pick them up mummy made daisy chains.

Join the movement and we'll start a revolution - stop all unnecessary shopping - separate your needs from your wants.

Weekly traing 20July- 26July - Emily turns 7

Its time to get serious

Swim

2 swims total:3600m all with anle band and balls in hands. Going really well starting to feel the water on my forearms when I pull (early vertical forearm - or more commonly known as high elbow)

Bike

2 trainer sessions moved into a bigger gear. total:25.51 miles

Run

3 runs total:29 miles

Emily turned 7 today we have had a few tantrums. There have been lots of parties and in the last 7 days she has had 2, she has had sugar highs and sugar lows add to this her own birthday and party coming up plus today was a school trip which was parent help. So absolute excitement and sugar not a good combination.

Join the movement and we'll start a revolution - stop all unnecessary shopping - seperate your needs from your wants.

Latest happenings

No training last week. Just started again this week.

Greenhouse has broken zip on left side had to wire it together in wild weather. Tomato plants that were doing really well now not doing so well I think it just got too cold even for the greenhouse. I'm going to retry in july which is the middle of winter.

Emily has started swimming in the 25metere pool at swimming lessons. She does backstroke and frontcrawk but returns to the learner pool for breast stroke.

Cameron is a real boy. In the last month it seems he has moved into full blown boy in terms of noise, running around making car noises and general high levels of mad activity.

Join the movement and we'll start a revolution - stop all unnecessary shopping - seperate your needs from your wants.

Competition winners

Emily and Cameron have been taking part in a summer holiday reading program at the local library. They entered a colouring competition - Cameron won the unders 5's category and Emily was second in the 5-7 category. There were 350 children taking part in the reading program called Superheroes read.

I an currently reading several books by Martin Hawes a New Zealand financial/investment expert- I am learning how to invest for income which I want to be doing by the end of the year. I am also reading The Snowball which is about the life of Warren Buffett one of America's richest men and one of if not the best investor on the planet.

Our mortgage will hopefully be paid off by October. I came to the conclusion that the bank is stealing our money because on top of interest we pay them, they start adding all sorts of penalties if you try and pay it off quickly.

I am also reading loads of graphic novels (they used to be called comics). Teresa and I are watching less and less tv, most of it just a load of boring crap.

Join the movement and we'll start a revolution - stop all unnecessary shopping - seperate your needs from your wants.

Hawaii Ironman and other stories

Every year I watch this and it never ceases to motivate me. This time I got really excited and had a problem sleeping for a few days after. I also get grumpy a few days before, the same thing happens a few days before Ironman New Zealand which takes place only a couple of hours from here. My own personal countdown to my participation in 2011. After I finished Lanzarote in 1994 I had the feeling that I could conquer anything, I've achieved a huge amount since then. I wonder what I'll feel next time round.

Other news

Emily's first ballet recital is fast approaching. She had to miss her first swim lesson of the new term (advanced breathing class).

Cameron (not yet four) had his first swim lesson. All this took place on Saturday and it was one of those few days where a second car would have been useful but we survived.

Cameron

Emily

What chickens do - the Dust bath

Ethel lying in dust bath under lemon tree.

Ethel leaving dust bath.

What chickens do - Nest

Bertha getting ready to lay. She is sitting on one of the browns hen's egg.

Join the movement and we'll start a revolution - stop all unnecessary shopping - seperate your needs from your wants.

We survive birthday party

I forgot to mention midweek that I was off training. Trained in all 3 disciplines Tuesday as normal but didn't feel very well, feeling really tired especially in the shoulders and some symptoms of a cold. Both children are unwell and I had spent the previous weekend cutting /pruning some of our trees to provide some of next years fire wood.

The birthday party: Teresa and I are both teachers and have plenty of experience of handling lager amounts of children classes of over 30 and sometimes much larger groups and yet we were caught out on Saturday. There is nothing quite like a storm of 6year old girls in party mood especially when they have had 3 parties on successive weekends.

In the post party analysis and reflection we concluded that:

1. They were high before they got here


2. They wanted a sugar fix


3. The girls all know Teresa and I because we teach at their school- so they were familiar and not intimidated by meeting Emily's parents.
   
4. But the most important point was that 5 of the girls arrived together

This was significant because poor Emily got hit with 5 presents all at once and while she was dealing with one gift the girls lost interest and started getting their fingers into everything.

My initial reaction was to do what I would do as a teacher and get them all sitting down and quiet ready to listen but I held back because I didn't want to be overly strict because I thought Teresa would tell me off. As it happens Teresa wished I had because she realised that what was needed. We fianlly regrouped and got them busy doing games and eating and towards the end it started going as planned just in time for the parents to come and get them.

This is Emily's first party as a school girl and there will be many more parties and lessons have been learnt at this one. On a positive note the road was usable and the weather stayed fine so they could let off steam in the garden.

Join the movement and we'll start a revolution - stop all unnecessary shopping - seperate your needs from your wants.