I'm Back Blogging!

First up.....Sorry that I haven't been around for a bit. I was quite sick for a while, all better now but it threw me out of wack and I'm just now getting back to normal. Also poor Mum has been sick also so we all need to send some prayers her way for a speedy recovery!

And Hi there to Dorene!! Nice that you have popped in, I will be in touch with an email but just wanted to you to know you have not been forgotten.

I've had heaps of photos from Raewyn and Andy, thanks guys!

And I have had some big long chats to Joanne and Mum in NZ, can't wait to see you both!

After a bad week I really needed to get out of the house and I had promised to take the boys to the drag racing at Umm Al Quain. Off we went, I was still feeling sick but was looking forward to an antidote of noise and action (mad I know...). I was a bit nervous because it's a real male sport here and I was expecting the local men to be out in force. We went because they advertised a family stand and it turned out to be really good. The evening was commentated in Arabic, the guy was kinda funny even though we had no idea what was happening. There were some very nice cars, a nasty smash and some ultra noisy 'Top Fuel' cars. The top fuel cars were from Sweden I think. Scott thinks I'm nuts because when the first of these went I had my camera ready (we were sitting right on the start line), when it accelerated I got such a fright with the noise that I screamed and dropped my camera, luckily it was around my neck - not that I thought about it!

After that I plugged one ear with my finger,shot with one hand and the camera squished against my face and crouched down and used Scott's elbow to block the other ear. Talk about laugh!!! next time I'll remember the ear plugs!

Last weekend was super busy. Jake had his big rugby tournament and on the same day Scott was kart racing. Jake's team lost all their games, very unusual for them. I was still really happy with how Jake played, he was getting into the action and really enjoying himself. It's nice to see him get the ball and run with it. His confidence has increased a lot lately. And...he had no injuries at all......yeeee haaaa!!!

Scott's karting went really well, another day of missing out on the podium but it was a great days racing for him and no crashes or injuries. Scott said to me on the phone after the first heat that "it was the first race of my life" meaning that up till now he has just been learning and has had it easy with small fleets and now he is in seniors, fighting it out, and it's "for real".

Scott is doing amazingly well, he finished seventh on the line with some of the DD2's and a couple of hotshots behind him despite having serious under-steer for the final. He is getting great at overtaking but still has to work on getting better starts.

Grant has had a bit of time off, mainly spent working on the kart and doing a few odd jobs around here. Now that I'm feeling better I've been trying to get the house back into shape. Things really deteriorate when nobody is cleaning....ah - that would be me I guess! Anyway I'm still happy just to be feeling better, hopefully Mum will be on the mend soon too.

Next weekend will see us going to a couple of birthday parties (an 11th for Jake and a 60th for Grant & I). Perhaps I will get to join the photography club for a field trip somewhere. Other than that it will be nice and quiet for a change.

P.S. I have cut down on the number of posts showing, just look in the archives for the older stuff. Hopefully this will make it a bit quicker to load for you lot on dail-up.I may reduce it from three to two, let me know if it makes a difference. All my posts are heavy with photos so it will still be a bit slow.

Christmas Parcel has Arrived!

Thanks Mum and Dad, it's finally here, thanks for all the goodies!


How is this for a history Posted on 4th December
Left NZ on the 6th December

Arrived Dubai 29th January
Collected 30th January

Where was it in between, no idea, but it was probably interesting!

Grant decided to check with the central Post Office in person today as we were beginning to think that the parcel really was missing for ever. What a coincidence when he found that it had only just arrived the day before and the notification had just been sent out.
Everything was in fine shape and it was so nice to have a mini Xmas all over again.
Jake was just bursting with excitement as you can imagine, he was upstairs all evening immersed in Star Wars fun. Scott was his usual cool self but soon had his head buried in the Karting book. Grant finally had to remind him that there was homework waiting - that way Grant got to check it out too.
I was really spoilt, I've got that lovely paua bracelet on right now. A million thanks to you Mum and Dad, what a special boxful of treasures for us all.

Thanks also for the message Dad, you are very good!
Wish we had some of those spuds here, have to make do with some all the way from Australia.
I planted a tomato plant, what a sad wee thing it is. Everything I planted late last year has struggled because it's been so cold. We had 6deg the other night. Over the last few days its warmed up quite a bit and at last I can see things begin to take off.

Here is a quick run down of the karting last weekend. It was a big disappointment. Scott and Grant had done a heap of preparation and on the day everything was looking good. For some strange reason the race day only consisted of two heats and the final.
Race 1 - Scott got taken out (run over) by another kart on the first corner. He eventually managed to get unstuck and finished the race last.
Race 2 - great competition, Scott finished 3rd behind two very fast karts, a great race.
Final - Scott got hit by another kart that spun out near to him, first corner yet again! Kart damaged and parked up for the rest of the race.

It was very disappointing after all the anticipation, still, I guess that's racing. The kart was pretty bashed up, Grant says he can get it all straightened out without to much cost. They had a big rear bumper installed as per the new regulations but are reconsidering the style. The plastic one is a bit large and seems to be more of a target for pushing and barging so I think that a different one will be appearing for the next race. Scott also has a new number "54" the old one was taken in the senior class.
Other than that everything's fine!


OK I'm off to bed now, just gone midnight and I've got to be up at 6am. Not sure where the time goes and the place looks like a bombs gone off. Guess I'll be busy tomorrow!
Love and Hugs to you all!!

Credits:
Xmas Parcel - Paper is from Happy Christmas by Robyn England at ScrapArtist
Hearts from Dragonfly Dreams by Helen Parkinson
Font is Kwekel
Kart Race - Built Tough kit by Amber Clegg
Journal Stamp from RAD Refresh by Kim Christensen (both ScrapArtist)
Quote by Kate Teague
Font is Milk & Cereal

Mid-week Mutterings

This is my second attempt at writing a post, hopefully no more interruptions! The boys are at school, Grant is down at the kart track getting ready for the practice session this afternoon. He will pick Scott up at 12.30 and Jake's off to visit a friend straight after school. This means I have the day rest of the day free from my taxi duties. Actually, I should go into School for a short session with Jake, I've told him to stay in Arabic and read quietly (hopefully no one will notice....shhhh).

Jake enjoyed rugby over the weekend, he has been working on his fitness and its making a difference at last. Scott and Grant have the kart all sorted for the weekend (first race of the 2007 season).
The weather has been really cold and unpredictable lately, however, very little rain. Yesterday a sandstorm was blowing up around here making a mess of everything. Today it's nice and fine again.


I have made a bit of time to sit and do some scrapbooking pages, It's fun but the time really runs away, I love putting things together slowly and fiddling with all the elements till I'm happy. I will have to go back into the old albums and do some pages based on old photos but I seem to only just keep up with the recent stuff. In this set there is one of Jake taken on Boxing day. He had been soooo looking forward to getting a big box of leggo for Christmas. Grant picked it up on his trip to Seattle, I was very impressed that he remembered and got the right one. Well, for Jake to wait even one day before tackling it was hard, he was up first thing in the morning as the sun streamed through the window. I don't think he even noticed that I was taking this photo, his concentration was complete.

This next photo was taken up in the stands while we were watching some of the 24hr race. It was quite chilly so I was giving Jake a cuddle. It would have been nice if Scott had smiled but this is his normal face (very serious).

Lastly, Jake playing rugby last weekend. He did well and enjoyed the day. His club has three teams playing in the Under 11's. They are all improving and are lucky to have the most excellent coaches. Now I must get back to my chores, washing to hang out, bathrooms to clean etc. This weekend will be a busy one and it will be good if I'm on top of things. We have a party tonight for some good friends who are leaving Dubai, and then racing all day tomorrow. Grant has work over the weekend also so I'm not sure how it will all pan out. I think I'm officially a mechanic tomorrow, that should be fun. I do polishing and fetching and that's about it!

Credits:Leggo: Unamused Boys Kit by Jessica Bolton at Scrapbookgraphics . Ribbon and Treasure Word, Its a Guy Thing kit by Doris Castle. Inked Edge by Kim Hill. Paper Arrow, staple and photo corner by Linda GB, Star Bazar Kit from ScrapArtist.

Family: Swirly Q kit by Tracy Rivera at ScrapArtist (Apprentice). Date Stamp by Amber Clegg SA

Rugby: Background from Ophelia kit by Linda BG and Elements from the RAD collections by Kim Christensen both at ScrapArtist