Netball Squad Announced

Talofa all

The team has finally been announced in the Samoa Observer today. Check out a great article here http://www.samoaobserver.ws/ for the names of the players in the squad for 2010. Article is titled "Netball's 2010 challenge". It might not be up until tomorrow though as they are a day behind on the web site. Looks like it's South Africa touring here later in the year to play too which will be great.

To the person from Sydney who asked me if their friend has got in, looks like she has and there is a great photo of her in action at the trials in the article. Check it out!

Netball, Netball, Netball....

What a treat. 3 solid days of netball!! Had to take annual leave of course but luckily the boss agreed so I have spent the last 3 days at the courts doing Umpiring training with visiting NZ Netball assessor David. We have done a lot of theory on the rules and sat the Centre level theory paper (the first paper). Passed that OK.

The Samoa National Netball squad have also been trialling for the team to go to the Pacific Games in the Cook Islands and to the Commonwealth Games later in the year so this has co-incided with our Umpiring training and given us games to do. Bit nerve wracking being in charge of international players but all in all the game is the same and is played the same no matter who they are! The team has been selected now and there is a practice game tonight between the Samoa National team and the Samoa Mens team. I will be sitting the practical part of my exam tonight during this game.

After this there is a plan in place for a sub-committee of the Samoa Netball Association to work on Umpiring and getting some people in Samoa qualifed to NZC level before the end of 2011 so that is giving me something to focus on. More theory exams, more practical assessments and I have to reach 7 on the Beep test for fitness. There is more to Umpiring than what anyone ever expects!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kitty

So we are back and within a few days have managed to acquire a kitten that needs looking after! I know I know you are all rolling your eye balls. Seems we have become the shelter for homeless animals around here. She is only 3-4 weeks old. Nearly gave her back after the first night as forgot how hard it is to have a dependent little thing needing your attention all the time. Either Adam or I had to keep an eye on her as she had not learnt about the dirt box so there were puddles happening in all corners of the house!!! Also same as when we got Jacky we had no bowls or boxes or anything for a cat!

This is how it happened. We heard "Hello - Hello" being called out and went out to the gate to find the neighbour standing there with a tiny fur ball. As the neighbours dogs and child were not proving positive for a little kitten she asked if we could help. Adam on one look was sold (ha ha I get my story in first!!)

We took her inside and promptly had to find a food and water bowl and something to use as a dirt box. Disposable plates and a cut down ice cream container had to do. There was no news paper in the house so paper towels it was and the poor thing had to eat dog food on the first night. Needless to say we got a bit more organised the next day especially after consulting the internet in how to look after a kitten so young.

Pleased to say after a week though she is now toilet trained and has learnt not to lie in her dinner and push it about with her feet as she sucks it up like a hoover! Very messy this technique. A piece of paper tied to garden twine is a great toy as is a toilet roll that blows conveniently around the lounge under fan breeze.

She is a happy and contented and well behaved kitty. Puts herself to bed in the bathroom and has a great personality. Bit of an ankle biter though!

We are going to be giving her up though as have found a home for her with someone who wants a cat. She will stay with us a couple more weeks until she is a bit older. It will be hard to let her go but we can't really manage with a cat as well as 2 dogs in our small house and who will look after her when we are away? No such thing as a cattery in Samoa!

Here she is. Molly (after our friend Molia).

Back "on island"

Talofa all

Yes back "on island" as the locals refer to being back in Samoa as!!

We had a fantastic, frantic 3 weeks in NZ. Thanks to all our family and friends who we got to see and who fed us lovely lovely NZ food (and now we are running on the sea wall to shift the extra rubber tyre!!)

Did some fantistic things while we were away such as going up north of Auckland to the wineries, Leigh saw mill for lunch, Morris and James pottery and craft places, Matakana for icecream... the list goes on. And that was just one fantastic day out! Also had Christmas at Latika and Hedleys then Boxing day was a quick trip to Wellington for Angela to surprise all her family with a visit, at Nana's house, arriving back in Auckland in time to win the 2009 cork count at the Parker residence!

We then spent a week camping in Havelock North and some time in Napier shopping (yes a pre-requisite of the trip!) and Flaxmere seeing family again.

New Year was spent at the camp site sitting out under the canvas dressed in long pants, socks, hooded sweatshirts and a blanket. Yes it was a bit cold. Even the hardened kiwi campers had the fan heater on under the awning!! We did attend the open air movies though at Black Barn Winery and it was a lovely night then. Saw Separation City a NZ film set in Wellington which had it's funny moments but also underlying depressing story lines!

Took the bus to Palmerston North and the closer we got the more the wind got up so we were swaying around and were then greeted with gale force breezes we couldn't stand up in and rain pelting on our window panes!! Welcome back to Palmy that is for sure. Caught up with some friends there and got a quick bit of shopping done before heading to Paraparaumu.

Jackie remembered us. Ahhhhhh isn't that lovely. She is thoroughly spoilt at Mum and Dads and seems to love living there. We had a day at our beach house in Waitarere fixing the water pump and preparing the house to be inhabited by friends who are coming over from the UK to get married in ..... wait for it ..... Levin of all places!!! I hope they can fit in there with all our stuff. Nice to see the place again though and again be welcomed with sand in the face as it blew up Waitarere Beach Road!

Then it was time for the Birthdays. Went to see the Lovely Bones and out for Mediterranean Pizza's for lunch for Mum's Birthday then through to Wanganui to say farewell to my brother, sister in law and nephew who incidentally has started crawling and been introduced to the joys of eating toffee pops while in NZ!!!

Went to see Avatar in 3D for Adam's birthday along with Nana (aged 87) and we all loved it. It is absolutely awesome and if nothing else you should go see it for the special effects. This is going to be the future of movie making and was an experience for the senses. We left there thinking WOW and were still talking about it over dinner at Lone Star in Petone.

Birthday number 2 for Adam was a picnic at One Tree Hill, dinner at Sails nice restaurant in Auckland Harbour and the Peter Blake exhibition at the Maritime Museum.

Flew out from Auckland yesterday. So funny to see everyone we knew on the flight. One of the teachers from the school with her children, the vet (so that's who the cat carry case on the conveyor belt belonged to? no cat I add hastily), the Deputy Prime Minister and the ex Dean of Alafua Campus. Surprising the plane managed to take off with our 3 suitcases loaded in the hold!!! Note to self - do less shopping next time!!

Thanks to all for another great Christmas and New Year in NZ. Now you all have to get planning and saving for the 40th Birthday party we are planning for 2011 in Samoa. Watch this space...