Champion Nyle's Race Walking Record.

Nyle went to Palmerston North to do a race walk in an attempt to get into the New Zealand team for the Oceanic Games in Australia in Feb next year.
Only the first two placers will gain a place to represent New Zealand, Nyle told me although she could do the time necessary, it was not a sure thing because she has injured her back and pulled some muscles too. The best she could hope for was 2nd, which is good enough.


She raced the good race until 3kms from home when she aggravated her old injuries and had to limp on home, but still she managed a time of 1hr55mins 55 sec 1.55.55 a personal best again even with the slow last 3 kms. She came in 2nd behind Rosie her friend.

Well done Nyle you really are a champion.

So in February Nyle will represent New Zealand in the Race Walking at the Oceanic games!

In Court with Grandma!

This is so funny I had to share it.

Spring-Fest, portrait

A Maori lady Repeka,from our Church, invited us to the Spring-Fest Carnival on the foreshore, she shouted us wild venison sausages for lunch which we had with wine, then she made us try her Kina sandwich, Kina is a seafood not eaten by people other than Maori, but we had a try and it was .... sort of ok, edible anyway, The Kina comes from Sea Eggs and is yellow in colour. Followed by a special lemonade apple. Yumm that was a nice lunch. Then we both had our portrait drawn by a local artist, Repeka had her portrait drawn in a sea setting, he drew her as a mermaid! A siren singing in sailors,

He asked what I was famous for and I said taxi driving, so he drew me as a taxi driver, driving a Rolls Royce car! I love it.

We listened to the music and the singing for a while before we made our way home. Thankyou Repeka for a lovely afternoons entertainment.

2011 Buller Half Marathon.

Nyle winning the Buller Half Marathon race walking.
You can see her winning style, and her winning smile.
Well done Nyle in a personal best time by 6 minutes,
sensational.

Porsche and her Dolly

Porsche puss cat and her Dolly, lazing in the sun and enjoying a snuggle on the conservatory sofa.

Nyle winning the Marlborough half marathon

My Daughter Nyle, halfway through the Marlborough half marathon race, which she walked as a Race Walker.
Nyle WON this event.
She race walking at full speed here among the vineyards of Marlborough.
The short video which was supposed to be a still shot is of her crossing the line as the winner in a time of 2hours and 11 minutes. Well done Nyle.

Clicking on the video should allow you to see Nyle crossing the line and some of the crowd watching her do so before I lowered the camera and caught her legs!

Hanging baskets of flowers

Two baskets with Lobelia and other flowers and a small bird ornament in one.

One of my many hanging baskets of glowing colour, I think these might be Livingstone Daisys but I could be wrong, however I do know they are lovely and brighten our patio.

Time for a joke.

A little boy was doing his math homework.
He said to himself, 'Two plus five, that son of a bitch is seven.
Three plus six, that son of a bitch is nine....'
His mother heard what he was saying and gasped, 'What are you doing?'
The little boy answered, 'I'm doing my math homework, Mum.'
'And this is how your teacher taught you to do it?' the mother asked
'Yes,' he answered.
Infuriated, the mother asked the teacher the next day, 'What are you
teaching my son in math?'
The teacher replied, 'Right now, we are learning addition.'
The mother asked, 'And are you teaching them to say two plus two, that
son of a bitch is four?'
After the teacher stopped laughing, she answered, 'What I taught them
was, two plus two, THE SUM OF WHICH IS FOUR.

My favourite Orchid.

My favourite Orchid is flowering again, after an absence of flowers for 2 years, because of heavy frosts. the photos were taken one month apart as the flowers opened.

Qantus Award winning Photo.

Godwits in flight,

Photographed by David Halliett of The Press Newspaper. Scanned from the Newspaper.
A wonderful photo I wish was one of mine.

Qantus Award Photo winner.

Win a road trip in NZ

Just click on Icon, answer 2 easy questions and your in the draw.

Just a little joke for the day.

Mussel and Peach Frittata.

Since you all enjoyed my other recipe for mussels I thought I would share another.

Mussel and Peach Frittata.

12 cooked chopped Mussels 1TB Olive Oil
Chopped Onion 1 clove Garlic
2 TB Parsley 2 TB SR Flour
1 Egg separated Squeeze Lemon juice
Half cup Chopped cooked Peaches Salt and Pepper
Mix everything together with egg yolk, then beat egg white stiff and fold gently
into the mixture. Stir til mixed. Pour into a oven proof pan and cook in oven on medium heat til nicely set and cooked..
Or this can also be cooked as fritters, fry spoonfuls in hot oil on both sides then drain on absorbent paper.
Or cook in a fry pan on top of stove til set then put in over under the grill to set the top and finish the cooking.

Curried Coconut Mussels.

I decided to share with you all the special mussel recipe that we like. Hope you try it and enjoy it too. There are no hard and fast amounts just use what you have.

Curried Coconut Mussels.

Dice a large potato and a large onion and fry lightly in butter till part cooked. Add 1 t sp Curry powder salt and black pepper stir till mixed in hot pan. Add a can of Coconut Cream,about a cup full of chopped cooked mussels and simmer a further 20 minutes, stirring.
Serve over steamed rice with a green salad.

Porsche playing in her basket.

Porsche loves her basket, she plays with some of her toys in there too sometimes.

Nyle and Shane

We spent a lovely afternoon in Nelson visiting My daughter Nyle and son-in-law Shane. Eating Chocolate eggs and hot cross buns.
Nyle won 2 gold medals yesterday in Christchurch, for 20km Race Walking.
Well done Nyle.

A great excercie.

EXERCISE FOR PEOPLE OVER 50

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.

With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can.

Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.

After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags.

Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute.

(I'm at this level.)

After you feel confident at that level,

put a potato in each bag.

.

St Patrick's Day

Happy St Patrick's Day to you all.