Shkiwi Blog

April 30th, 2015

4/5/2015

The deer proof garden. If amortized each tomato will be worth approximately $200 this summer. If we get any. Chilis, probably $1.5 each.

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Work, children and trying to finish off the outdoor spaces work have all taken their toll.

I caught up with MM the other day and we both commented on how we miss your soliloquy.
A marvellous read indeed – I especially loved the sign off……

To be fair on your kids, sarcasm generally comes of age around the 9 year mark.
I heard M delivering a lesson in it to S the other day, of which he was blissfully unaware.
Love the innocence of that pre sarcasm age.

The outdoors is 99% done – just waiting for the silicon butt joint on the glass pool fencing to cure so that we can hang the gate.
Phew – that will be an elapsed time of 3 months – seems longer – like forever…
In saying that, I am super impressed with how it has turned out. Installing the glass fencing was my biggest concern as it is easy to really cock it up and for it look rubbish.
But the guy who supplied it all and came back to do the silicon butt joint and is economical in his use of words, said it was a good job.
High praise indeed.

Now we wait for the council to go through their pool fence and final inspections so that it can get signed off.
Just in time for shutting it down for winter.
Well almost that – we will keep it heated for S’s Pool Birthday Party later in the month and then see how things go.

M is really enjoying her fortnightly horse riding lessons and according to the horsey folk (her grandmother and the girl who trains her) she is doing really well.
She was tossed from a horse on Friday and had to go to the chiropractor to get hip, butt and neck put back in, but is still keen as mustard to get back in the saddle – good girl.
She has also got into the school choir and has started to go to relaxed, chilled out singing teacher too.
And soccer will be starting in a few weeks as well.

The boy.
He is training with one of NZ’s ex international players, Wynton Rufer, which is really helping his game come along.
At the end of the first term, he was chosen as one of the 5 in the Junior Academy Dream Team – not bad as the Junior Academy is made up of about 20 really good players.
A great achievement and really proud of him.
Again, soccer starts in a few weeks for him too.

Me, I am off to Taupo in a couple of weeks for Round 2 of our SuperKart Series.
The goal this time is to keep my nose clean and not hit anyone and smash the kart up.
The front nose was pretty much destroyed in the last round and has miraculously been repaired to its former glory, so I do not want that messed up.

K is lovely as usual and is suitably impressed by all our achievements.

Oh, I went to a Warriors Rugby League game the other day and say a one legged player – who would have thought.

Until the next chapter...

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Backyards

15/3/2015

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Marceau Baramundi

Our new backyard

Oh yes. Pics. Good Idea. I keep forgetting the before stages. A has had three games under his belt. He’s loving it. There are 7 10U teams in our “club” association, so a bit diff from Auckland. And all the dad’s (and most of the moms) understand the game. I’m not coaching and it’s hard to keep my mouth shut. Impossible.

The puppy is a border collie, but she’s red. From Oregon. M doesn’t know we’re getting her yet. A is beside himself waiting. She should be arriving Sunday next.

The weather here has been like an Auckland winter except colder. Unusually wet. M still cries some nights. “Why did we ever move? Bla, pa, aahhhh!” I think we’re moving into the next stage with A. The obnoxious one where he learns from peers and media to say things he gets in trouble for at home. Sarcasm is an unpleasant form of expression that we Americans seem to take to an unfortunate height. Whateverrrrrrrrrrrr! Smack! Not in this house, boy. The saga continues and I’m learning that I’m not only saying things my dad said, but a lot he never would have said. I’m wondering how really mixed up my kids will be.

You’ll be happy to know I’m out of the software business. Finally. What a wreck. I hung up my spurs with that outfit just before Christmas. Couldn’t stand the chaos and ambiguity and overall ill moral health of the environment. I was looking to kick bunnies every night. I’m still threatening them, but at least I’m not being cruel. Focus now is online retail through Amazon. 20 billion last year with 20% growth and this is early stage growth. Them times, they’s a changin. It’s more technical than I prefer, but it’s real and MINE! MINE, I tell you.

What a different world here. Where else can you put a canvas log carrier (bag) online and earn 12k/month? In NZ it would be about $89 for the year.

How’s the fishing, hmmm, I mean karting?

Glad you’re well. We must actually use our voices to communicate soon. I fear I’m loosing some of that ability. Well, gotta go. Wife is texting from the kitchen.

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April 30th, 2015

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Backyards

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