The other day us netball umpires got together to do our first trial beep test. When we had a visiting NZ Umpire over in January he suggested we set a goal to reach level 5 by March then level 7 by May. We also need to sit our theory in May or June (yes have applied for that) and if we can pass and progress will have some qualified umpires up to Regional level by the end of the year.
Anyway we measured the 20 metre course, set up the CD and away we went. The recording (the downloaded one) was a little fuzzy and not sure the beeps were quite at the right intervals all the time but this is Samoa after all!
We ran up and down and up and down in time with the beeps. I got to level 8.5!!!! Wow. All the boot camp training Adam has been putting me though must be paying off! I was actually quite nervous about the test as when I did it at home up and down the drive (and on to the grass as the drive was not long enough)I got to level 6. Looks like I'm on track anyway, now just have to sustain it however it's Easter so I'm off for a 4 day relaxing break staying near the Piula Cave pools on the North East part of Upolu. The running shoes will go but may not make it out of the bag. Plenty of easter eggs are going to get eaten including the extra special Lindt bunny Adam got me the other day for WST$18!!! At least they are selling them here this year. Will report back on the snorkelling prospects near Piula and might think of you all as I sit under my palm eating Easter Eggs and having a Jack!
Friday, April 2, 2010
The Hurricane
So interesting is our life! The vacuum cleaner emitted a funny sound, wound down and clouds of smoke poured out of it the other day. Oh well it was quite old I suppose. At home this would not be a problem but vacuum cleaners are not common around here. Cleaning the house is usually done with a sulu or broom. Buggar that though when 5 minutes with a vacuum cleaner and the job is done. So off to see one of our friends Dad who runs an electrical importers shop. He is palagi by the way! There were 3 to choose from which was a surprise. Thought there would only be 1 and that would be it! The Samoan shop keepers were not a lot of help - well as I said not much experience with a vacuum cleaner or was it just with customer service?!
Actually to digress the cleaner at work was found one day trying to clean the whole library with the pipe end of the vacuum, with no brush on. No wonder it was taking so long! I had to give a demonstration on how to vigorously vacuum backwards and forwards. It still did not get done this way but in some half arsed dragging of the brush towards you kind of action! Anyway back to the purchase.
Adam went back another day when one of the palagis were there and received a bit more help in the way of the cleaner boxes so you could at least read the specs. A choice was made. A 5% discount given, on account of being a palagi friend, and the cleaner is now at home. It is the hurricane as it sounds like one and is proudly black and yellow! Can't actually believe Adam brought that one home! In the end it was the only one with a recognised brand name - Kambrook - and had an old Briscoes sticker on so here's hoping its with us as long as the last one. Oh and funny that we had a vacuum cleaner to sell for a friend who moved back home and just got rid of that one 2 weeks ago before our one decided to blow up. Sods law huh?!
Actually to digress the cleaner at work was found one day trying to clean the whole library with the pipe end of the vacuum, with no brush on. No wonder it was taking so long! I had to give a demonstration on how to vigorously vacuum backwards and forwards. It still did not get done this way but in some half arsed dragging of the brush towards you kind of action! Anyway back to the purchase.
Adam went back another day when one of the palagis were there and received a bit more help in the way of the cleaner boxes so you could at least read the specs. A choice was made. A 5% discount given, on account of being a palagi friend, and the cleaner is now at home. It is the hurricane as it sounds like one and is proudly black and yellow! Can't actually believe Adam brought that one home! In the end it was the only one with a recognised brand name - Kambrook - and had an old Briscoes sticker on so here's hoping its with us as long as the last one. Oh and funny that we had a vacuum cleaner to sell for a friend who moved back home and just got rid of that one 2 weeks ago before our one decided to blow up. Sods law huh?!
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