Finally got around to checking the water filters the other day. I took the first one off and it was brown. Which is to be expected because the Bore water here is full of iron, but I probably wasn't expecting it to be quite as brown as it was. But still it's two years since we got the new filter system installed, so it was about time to replace them. You're supposed to replace them once every year, but then filter systems always say things like that because they want you to spend the money every year on the new filters. ANYWAY. I took the first one off, realised it was beyond being able to just clean with a hose and ordered some new ones. Once I'd collected them (and a new UV Lamp) I, with Sarah's help, installed them. Installing the new water filters wasn't that hard, but installing the UV Lamp turned out to be a right bastard. It was easy enough to get the old one out, then it wasn't even that hard to get the Quartz sleeve out and to give it a clean. Thankfully it wasn't even that dirty. But my god, getting the farking thing back in. I reckon I spent about 20 minute with it dangled, trying to get it to fit through the bottom hole. In the end I thought "shit what am I doing wrong?" and realised duh, if I just look with my eyes down through it I can easily see how to line up the hole. And straight away I got it installed and working. What a muppet! That's 25+ mintues of my life I won't get back, all the while thinking "Shit if I can't get this working we're going to have no running water at all in the house until I can get someone around to fix it!" Thankfully it never came to that. This is what I do had to do, in case anyone apart from me cares!
Two week ago we all went to the Cricket! It was New Zealand Blackcaps vs India, a T20 game. Peter and Mary came too, as did Joseph. Beth was quite hesitent about the whole thing, asking lots of questions about how loud it would be, would it be scary loud etc. I tried to explain to her that it's just fun, we're all there to have a good time and that it won't be that scary. Once we arrived we walked in and were given KFC Bucket Hats as well as bits of paper with 4/6 on them to hold up should one get struck! Once we got in and found our seats, we had to wait. Because of course the rain kicked in didn't it. It always kicks in when there's a game in Napier, it's not even a joke anymore. Thankfully though the rain let us and the game got to get underway at about 8:30pm, at least an hour after it was supposed to. Beth finally warmed up to the whole thing, the music, the cheering, the people wearing silly costumes, the fun. I don't think she really cared too much about the cricket. Theo seemed more interested in the cricket, but he was also very interested in snacks and food and could we please go and get another drink of Fanta etc etc.
We saw NZ bat and they got a decent, though not amazing score. Then it was India's turn to bat and they were doing pretty well. At 11pm though I said to Sarah we've GOTTA go home, the kids were knackered, I was knackered etc. And the game still had ~15 overs to go. It was crazy. So we left and good thing we did too because as soon as we were about to leave the stadium, down came the rain again. Fast, heavy, instense rain. So the rest of the game was called off anyway - at least we managed to get out before the mad rush to leave though. Overall the kids had a great night I think, they got to experience Live Cricket with all the fun and noise and lights etc that goes with it. It was a good night!
There's been two lots of Kapa Haka performances recently, first was at school which was supposed to be both Beth and Theo but Beth was feeling sick. I went to see Theo's performance while Sarah stayed home to look after Beth. He was really good, singing and doing a Haka etc. It was also neat to see Joseph and Isla do their thing as well.
Then we had the School Performance at the Napier Civic Centre. Sarah, Theo and I dropped Beth off and then waited for the performance to start. Theo and I sat together while Sarah had a seat all to herself (we'd only decided the night before I'd come too and only just managed to score a ticket). It was lovely watching Beth up on stage, she did an amazing job with her school group. She said it was very, very noisy which is why she was a bit worried about what it was going to be like at the cricket. But she did a great job, it was wonderful to see. Afterwards we went and got dinner with the Moonies as well.
Beth got a letter in the mail last week telling her she'd made it into GalaxySenior Elite team! She was very pleased with herself. The letter arrived stuffed with glitter etc. So yes, a big year ahead for her, she found out last night they're going to make her a flier (the one where you get chucked up in the air) so she's both excited and nervous for that.
Monty the pool guy came over and fitted the waste water outlet. It's something he said he'd do ages ago so I'm glad I got him to do it. Then I told him he owed us about $1,600 for all the extra work Esapso had to do. He wasn't so chirpy after that. I sent him the invoice yesterday, so we'll wait and see if he pays it or how much I have to badger him to do so.
Gardening lady has been doing a lot around the garden but haven't seen her for a while as she's moving house etc. She's been really good at making the front garden look a lot less shit though, I hope she keeps coming back.
Was the work Christmas party last Friday night. Even Jordan (who's started work with us) came, even though they've just had their new baby. Good on him. It was great fun! I dressed up as Shane Warne with a blonde wig and my Aussie Cricket Shirt, a pink cricket ball and a durry hanging out of my mouth all night thanks to a few ciggies someone from work lent me. I didn't smoke them, just let them hang all night. Oh yes and Sarah got me some white Zinc to go on my face, which completed the look! I came second in the fancy dress, so that was good!
Brewed Christmas Beers for work a couple of weeks ago, I think I might have mentioned that already. They're now cooling in the fridge, I'll clarify the Pilnser this weekend and give it a week to settle.
OMG yes! Theo finally consented to a haircut. A proper haircut. He looks so much happier now, his hair isn't ALWAYS in his face. Sarah said his teachers fussed over him heaps when he arrived at school with his haircut.
Christmas rapidly approaches!
Tim
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