Twelve weeks?

I remember this moment

2011-06-08T19:33:00.004+12:00

My daughter, Senpai Zoë, hugs (holds) me after the fortieth fight.

Aaaahhhhhh, I feel like I can breathe again. It's now a month (yesterday) since my shodan grading. I've been ill and miserable for most of that time - and that was so unexpected. It really took the gloss of my achievement. I started to wonder if I had really done the grading at all - I was feeling so old, and tired, and lethargic.

But yesterday, and today, I have suddenly started to feel like myself again. I have some energy, I have a little excitement brewing about my next steps in the karate journey, and I can look at the grading photos and think, phew! That was me and I was OK!

My kyu grade days are over - I'm feeling sad about that. I had some great classes and teachers in those six years. Someone told me recently that moving up to our black belt class is like the transition between secondary school and university. The teaching is less structured, the learning is at your own instigation and pace, no one hassles you or reminds you of your syllabus. You have to work out what to do and why. There is no more being drilled in the basics. You need to be totally self-disciplined. The journey really does start again.

I had my first shodan class yesterday - a full hour of bo work. Loving the stick!

Crash city

2011-06-01T21:22:00.002+12:00

Unbelievable. Three weeks out and I have giardiasis, a cold sore and a sty in my eye. Shit (literally) for three weeks. Lucky it's post grading I guess, but I feel old and tired and sick as! Also self diagnosed with PGD - post grading depression. Previous six months was a piece of cake compared with this :)

Shodan - 7 May 2011

2011-05-10T09:20:00.003+12:00

Done and dusted.

Exhausted, and I don't know what to feel about it all just yet.

More later...

One week to go

2011-04-30T10:39:00.002+12:00

Wow! The weeks fly past don't they? In Wellington for a long weekend. Not a gi in sight. Very strange times. I'll be pleased when it's done. The question at the moment isn't 'will I forget?' it's more, 'how will I cope when I do forget?'

Breathe, lower the stance, relax, and just let it flow. As my husband likes to say..."you've done all the work, it's all in the kete, just let it out now."

Fun times.

Four weeks!

2011-04-05T21:42:00.002+12:00

Whoa, this is the big one. Three more serious weeks of training, a quiet week and then my grading. Kinda worried, kinda blasé. Weird times. I know I'm fit, I know I've done heaps but also know that on the day I'll feel every sloppy kick and mistimed technique, and wonder what I should have done more of. When I'm put under pressure it all flies out of my head so quickly.

I don't want to be judged as unworthy.

I hope my spirit, technique and strength all unite to pull me through on the day.

Weary
Jo

First dojo visit of the new year

2011-01-04T19:49:00.002+13:00

In town for a bit between holiday spots and I made it to the dojo. The new shinzen is well on its way.

Karl and I went through all of our kata, self defenses (basic and intermediate), and yokosuku. It's good to be back. Off for a wee run now. I haven't quite formalised any training plans yet - working on it at Pounawea - and the 'start' will coincide with the start of the karate year on January 24.

It will be great to have a date to work to - but I know what to do. Know my syllabus, get super fit.

Christmas Blessing

2010-12-25T22:46:00.004+13:00

How could your life be anything but blessed when you have helped to create something this good?

My darlings; Ben, Zoë, Phoebe, Jack and Jed - Christmas 2010.

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!

2010-12-10T19:49:00.002+13:00

I've been asked to do my shodan grading! Wahhooooooooo! No actual date yet, but sometime before June next year and in our dojo! Sweet.

Tomorrow is my youngest son's 2nd kyu grading and also his 14th birthday. It's also the end of the year for the club. Do I break for a few weeks, do I carry on, do I do more....? So much to think about now. The countdown begins...where to start?

Very excited!

I am back - is there anybody out there?

2010-09-01T20:33:00.003+12:00

Golly -perhaps there was nothing happening? But now there is...and I'm back.

My eldest son graduated last weekend and I was utterly taken back by my reaction. I am not a clucky, clingy, overly ambitious mother. I don't push my kids. Sure I encourage, but I believe the best comes from standing back and letting them find their own talents. This could all be bollocks of course and I could just be lazy. Anyhoo!

My boy graduated and I felt it! I was so damn proud, I kept touching him and standing by him gazing in awe at this wonderful person that I played a part in the making off. I loved the ceremony, loved the regalia, loved the post-grad party, just loved the day. Yaah.

He is staying on to do Clinical Psychology, and a Phd. so will be at uni for some years yet. This is the first step. BA Psychology, First Class Honours degree. Yup - I'm a proud mum.

This is his favourite photo of the day: girlfriend, sister, mother.

The man and his university

Crossing the stage

The capping

My good side?

2010-02-23T20:35:00.002+13:00

I think I have discovered my 'good' side for all future photographs! No wrinkles, no odd sized eye, no awkward smile...I like it! The oyster was pretty damned tasty as well!

Back to the Catlins - February 2010

2010-02-21T21:11:00.004+13:00

The Catlins has now been officially recognised as a place name by the NZ Geographic Board. Hmmm, I thought that was always its name!

I visited recently with my bookclub and experienced one of those perfect days. These photos are all from out at the Owaka Heads.

Not a breath of wind the day we were here - but the deformed bushes suggest it's not always this calm!

Snail's trails - I guess they were looking for something?

Mesmerising seaweed. We saw paua gathers launching themselves through the seaweed with no trouble - but it always gives me the creeps and I feel it would wind itself around my legs and neck and hold me down.

The rock structures out at the Heads are amazing - these look like a patchwork of fields as seen from an airplane, but are actually only an inch or two across.

More from the far north

2010-02-09T20:36:00.001+13:00

Car ferry crossing the Hokianga Harbour Narrows between Rawene and Kohu Kohu.

St Mary’s Church, Motuti where Bishop Pompellier's relics are buried...

Loved the first sentence here...on a board at Gumdiggers Park, whoa!

Cape Reinga and that mysterious tree

Tapotupotu Bay

Heading to the top

2010-01-26T20:13:00.005+13:00

I've now been north of Auckland. Still didn't quite find the anticipated summer - more of a warm and humid greyness. We did 'sights' rather than beaches and my togs stayed dry in my suitcase - probably a relief to all other beach goers.

Ruapekepeka - Maori war battle site - English position is in far distance

Stone Store (oldest stone building in NZ, 1832) and Kemp House in Kerikeri - relics of missionary settlements

A Moreton Bay fig tree in Russell, planted 1840

My feet relaxing on the verandah of the Pompellier Mission: it's the sole surviving building of the French Catholic mission to the Western Pacific. It was built to print Maori language books in 1841. Bishop Pompallier and his Marist missionaries printed almost 40,000 religious texts in Maori here in eight years.

The world's largest waka, 30m Ngatokimatawhaorua, built for the treaty centennial in 1940, will be in a fleet of 29 waka and 2000 paddlers celebrating the 170th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi at Waitangi next week. It hasn't been in the water since it was launched at Waitangi in 1940.

Pounawea #3

2010-01-08T18:30:00.003+13:00

Pounawea #2

2010-01-08T18:16:00.002+13:00

Shopping trip to Balclutha

Trying for that perfect cup of coffee

Pounawea New Year 2010

2010-01-08T18:02:00.004+13:00

I was lucky enough to have ten days down here alone. Bliss - to do what I liked, when I liked; walking, riding, eating, sleeping, reading, shopping, maintenance...a little of everything each day.
It was a rare time of quiet. If the weather had been warmer I would have been completely satisfied.
But, it was the usual Catlin's mix of hot, cold, rain, wind, calm, mild, hail, blue and grey - often all within the same hour. Ah well, if it was better weather it probably wouldn't be the unspoiled, lovely, quiet place that it is?

Together again

2009-12-23T20:05:00.003+13:00

Buried Dad's ashes last weekend. Was a lovely wee ceremony with all close family (except for Ben who is in Vietnam) attending. Followed by a scrumptious afternoon tea at my house.

The stone is from Jedburgh, Scotland. Nigel brought it back a few years ago and thought Mum would like it on her grave, as she never quite made there (Jedburgh was her Dad's hometown, while Hawick was her Mum's).

It's ten years this year since Mum died and we buried Dad there on what would have been their 52nd wedding anniversary. We toasted them with Bailey's, ate chocolate ginger (Dad's favourite snack) and licorice allsorts (Mum's favourite lollie).

13

2009-12-12T21:44:00.003+13:00

Another birthday down. My baby is now a teenager and I think he has a lovely birthday week. An excellence award and also runner-up top scholar at prize-giving on Thursday. Movies with a great bunch of friends on Friday (his birthday). Followed by promotion to 3rd kyu (advanced green) at his grading this morning.

18

2009-12-06T17:43:00.004+13:00

Perfect day - from dawn to dawn. Lovely daughter, superb party. Well done me!

Girls can do.....

2009-11-16T19:03:00.003+13:00

I soon will know more about roofing, flashings, spouting, hip joints, windows, more flashings, painting, water systems, septic tanks, etc, etc... Been down to Jedforest this past weekend and there is a bit or work required. The roof seems to have about six different sections, several of which have not been flashed well, or at all, and the spouting seems to have directional issues.

The baby birds (possibly starlings?) seem very comfortable in the verandah ceiling space with the parents staying busy providing worms every 20 -30 minutes the entire weekend

Yaaas, can't wait. Wish I was slightly more proficient in handy skills.

Sparring, huh!

2009-11-05T22:34:00.004+13:00

Tonight I got: spat on, sweated on and bled on. I don't mind being kicked, punched, swept, etc - but really - some people need to learn to keep their bodily fluids to themselves. One wee tip would be to shut your damn mouth and a second would be, oh gosh, don't bleed in the dojo - it's not rocket science!

Also, I think my scales are buggered. In three days the scales went 69.7, 69.4 , 67.9 - yeah - I lied last post. 69.7 is sooo close to 70 and that's a round number. And while that is a downward trend, I would be happier if it had happened over three weeks than three days. It's all just bollocks since in three days I have done nothing to deserve those numbers. Sigh. The the jump up will dispirit me - I am such a lame duck at times. AND YES I DO KNOW IT"S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS!

And, I love my car. I have just realised that after three months of thinking, "I'm driving a white, Toyota, automatic, blah." I am now thinking, " I like my wee car". I like walking up to it, I like driving it, I like parking it.

Twelve weeks

2009-11-03T21:20:00.002+13:00

It is indeed twelve weeks until a family wedding up in Nelson and so what better reason than to embark on a wee fitness and heath spree? I have no karate related goals to chase at the moment. I’m in that lovely 1st kyu space where; I know my entire syllabus, there is no chance of a grading for ohhhhh probably two years, so, while the focus is ofcourse constant improvement and fitness there are no ‘set in concrete’ dates to work to.

So, Nelson, beaches and bikinis seem like good things to focus on. Actually, I think I may be visiting the Bay of Islands the week before the wedding – so even more beaches and bikinis!

Twelve week plan: ramp up cardio, curtail crap food, and be happy. I’ve managed to curb my addiction to mochas and go back to a long black with little trouble (and a dollar saving each time). I’ve almost stopped ‘having’ to eat with my coffee, reduced it to an occasional piece of nougat (umm yum – at Deisoline and Mojo’s – just devine!).

Gym, karate, intend to throw in a swim – just not sure where…maybe after Sunday kata class, or Tuesday general class. Skipping! I’ve made a bet with Jack that I will be able to skip for thirty minutes by Christmas day, yeah – wee bit of work required there too.

I’ll just throw out the number here – much as I dislike sharing this sensitive info – I feel it might (but probably not) encourage me to be vigilant. 69.4 ewwek…

Gym Mon, Tues, Fri morn. Karate Tues, Wed (x2), Thurs (x2), Sunday. Swim – somewhere, Skip, somewhere…Walk a little, eat well, snack well, yada, yada, yada.

Jedforest

2009-09-20T20:36:00.003+12:00

Just a quickee...I visited my crib today - It's down at Pounawea at the top end of the Catlins. It's been in my family for 58 years, originating from three railway huts that were joined together. Then a rather ugly extension to the front and back in 1976 gave us an indoor bathroom and a bigger living area.

BUT, as of Monday it is all mine. Was my Grandad's, then my Mum's, then my Dad's and now it's mine...Lot's of work to do, it's been a little neglected over the past ten years.

But it's mine - I actually own a holiday house ;-)

Books on a sunny day

2009-09-06T20:44:00.003+12:00

The book club I attend meets monthly on a Sunday afternoon at 3pm. Inevitably these are the most beautiful Sunday afternoons of the month, and I often feel a vague tinge of regret at ‘having’ to go and spend the last two hours of my weekend day talking about books when I could be at home reading one of my own.

It’s odd because once there I rather enjoy it. But since working fulltime I feel the need to hoard every spare second of free time and squeeze out all its goodness – or I don’t quite stay sane.

I usually waste my spring and summer Saturday mornings catching up on sleep (autumn and winter is for watching schoolboy rugby). I feel perpetually sleep deprived – too many early morning gym sessions during the week. By the time I drag myself up and read the newspaper the day is well on its way and it can be 2 or 3pm before I feel inclined to do anything useful – very happy to lounge and read however.

Sunday mornings are gym, kata class and Mass. Home for a latish lunch and then, again, it’s 2pm before I’m ready to go. Go for me being a rather inadequate term for what I actually do – more reading anyone? Housework doesn’t get a look in. I am a sloth and a sloth by nature – luckily my man is my exact opposite. He seems to thrive on maintaining the house in a livable state and attempting to create order out of absolute chaos.

That all said, this weekend I have actually done some real work – haven’t finished it, or have any idea what is going where, but… My dad’s house has finally been cleared out and I have now acquired more armchairs, sofas, wall units, towels and bedding, than a person knows what to do with. I live in hope that with kids going flatting next year they might need some of it. But I’ll probably store it for a year and then dump it…. meanwhile my lounge looks like a 70s junkyard.

Family times

2009-08-30T20:11:00.002+12:00

Coffee and catch up with three of my guys. Gosh they are a laugh. Jack spent 5 minutes trying to get from one side of the table to another by sliding under it - he didn't fit - and had us in hysterics moments before this rather solemn shot.

I'm attempting to be arty here - not a previously known quality in my life skill set. I'm attempting to mix up buttons and old earrings, of mums, with dad's valves and things that I don't even know the names of - garage stuff - to create a memory thingee! I'm trying to find a circuit board to mount them all on. I will post when finished. Oh, the house sold in the first week! Meaning that I may now own a crib in Pounawea - to be confirmed.

Outstanding Forward!

2009-08-23T19:18:00.003+12:00

Yes! Jack won the "U 13 Outstanding Forward" trophy today at his club prizegiving! Great finish to the 2009 season and his Junior Rugby career. He's a happy chap and I get to sleep in Saturday mornings from now on. That's a win - win if ever I heard of one.

Open day

2009-08-22T21:13:00.003+12:00

Today was the first 'Open day' for my Dad's old house today. I lived in this house for 7 or 8 years and while I have a few fond memories I think it stopped being 'my' house when Mum died ten years ago. Dad died earlier this year and by then the house was unrecognisable from the place I grew up in. Lets just say my dad wasn't into house maintenance or tidiness and was a obsessional hoarder.

In the ten years since Mum died it was turned into a place I didn't really want to visit. So, to see it stripped out (tonnes and tonnes of acquired crap removed), with minimal furniture and everything in sight painted white is just odd. I hadn't realised how 70s it really is. It's like I'm seeing its bones. AND! It is the cleanest house in Dunedin. My sibs and I spent last weekend, along with many other weeks and months of removing Dad's treasures, cleaning every surface.

Last game of the season - fabulous try

2009-08-22T20:49:00.004+12:00

Jack - mouthguard in and no sign of a bleeding nose!

Jack's last rugby game of the season and his last as in the Primary School division. The next five years he will play for his college and then move on, hopefully, to club rugby. His team had a great turn out this week, and even had a couple of reserves, so the coach moved Jack to play as a back - to see if he was as fast as he shows he is at practices.

This was a huge change from his normal position as lock in the forwards! It was really weird to see him hanging out in the line waiting for the forwards to get the ball out to him and at times you could see him itching to get in and play as a forward. A bit of a worry too as as a forward he doesn't get a lot of time practicing the running passing the backs need to be so good at.

Anyway, in the second half - right in front of us - he gets a great pass from Hamoa(?), fends off a boy or two and sprints for the line to dot down a fantastic try! Wahooo...what a way to end his rugby year and primary season. Oh, his team won as well! He got 4th in his school cross country on Friday as well, so he's feeling pretty chuffed about it all.

Big brother Ben came to watch - with his ever present football (not the smartest thing to bring to a rugby game!)

Book and cakes

2009-08-18T21:56:00.001+12:00

I love my job. I get fudge cake along with returned books.

Mornings

2009-08-10T20:26:00.003+12:00

It's getting lighter and lighter in the mornings these past weeks. I am so ready for spring this year.

Mud and blood

2009-08-07T21:47:00.002+12:00

Jack's victorious Dunedin U 65kg Metropolitan Blue team after their comprehensive win in Milton. They also won their tournament in Millars Flat a month ago. Jack's nose was a bit bloody - even after having it well cauterised.

Babies and boots

2009-07-26T19:25:00.003+12:00

Cheesy grin from Phebes.. Latest cute utterance (I'm her godmother so I'm allowed to think it's cute). She's not three yet and leaning out the window wondered... "Daddy, who paints all the houses". "House painters" was the helpful reply.

And I have just sold my first ever item on Trade Me!I'm officially never wearing heels again.

I'm also attempting, not very successfully, to not to go mad as my son attempts to finish his science fair project tonight.

White is the new...?

2009-07-16T10:41:00.003+12:00

Haven’t heard from the insurance company yet – but since I was looking for a replacement car anyway I got cracking with searching for a new car…

The want list was:
• Late model (as late as the budget could afford)
• ABS brakes
• Manual
• Not white
• Sedan

I ended up with a WHITE, AUTOMATIC, 2006 Toyota Corolla GL 1.8 sedan - three out of five. Every car out there seems to be a white automatic. Grrrr. Yes, it’s easy to drive and yes, autos are better than they used to be – but it’s not really driving is it? I feel like I’m on a bumper car track. All I have to do is steer and push the accelerator. I think I’ll fall asleep while driving this thing. Lovely as it is.

Also, it’s harder to take a decent car photo than it looks, especially in winter when the sun is in limited supply. I won’t be pursuing this as an alternative career option!

I went and cleared out the mitsy yeaterday. Four bags full of absolute junk: ropes, books, towels, tennis balls, bike pumps, a hammer(!), a bible(!), hockey pucks, maps, sun cream, etc, etc. I will try mightily not to put it in the new car. What a sad sight the car is. I had a good look at the impact spot and am grateful it wasn't a wee bit further back towards me. As it was I had a stiff arm and neck for a day or two.

Whoops!

2009-07-08T18:02:00.004+12:00

This might be the end of my Mitsy Chariot! Dude crossed the centerline this morning and wiped me out. Not a great start to the day. It was towed away, I'll hear tomorrow if it's a fixer or a write-off.

I want to be two

2009-07-06T20:45:00.004+12:00

I have just changed gyms and as I removed my programmes, from my expensive ex-gym's folder, to take to my new, cheap, gym I noticed the rough, intermittently kept, listing I have kept of my weight during the two years there. A huge swing of 2.5kg, up, down and around. Unbelievable!

All the effort, all the energy and all the time that my poor brain spends thinking about weight and fat. All those kms run, weights pushed, stairs run, karate classes attended and so on. And GOLLY GEE WHIZ, I pretty much weigh the same all the time.

I suppose I should be grateful that my weight doesn't swing by 10kg or even just go up. It’s actually pretty much stable month after month after month, with little peaks and troughs. Think positively! This is exactly where my body should be; good eating, bad eating, exercise, little exercise. It just stays here.

I love my gym, and karate, and I love feeling strong and fit - so obviously the exercise I do is not about losing weight (Hmmm, bit of a failure if it is!) and a stupid number on a scale - so I say. But it sorta is! That's how my mind sees it every single day, when I dressing, or walking, or exercising, or whatever; it's always saying "too fat".

I wish I were two again. I wish I could have a day when I didn’t think I was fat.

Phoebe (2) and Ben (21) decorating the wall of Ben's flat.

Mid winter

2009-06-25T22:31:00.002+12:00

Must be time for Timaru Beach Training Weekend! Hurrah! Mostly a good weekend. Awkward mix of family doings, relationship issues and lovely, lovely karate time including a shodan and nidan promotion with candidates from our dojo.

I had a good time but will do things differently next year. Much as I adore my in-laws a karate weekend really needs to be a karate weekend and doesn’t mix well with ‘family time’.

The dojo session had its usual unique ‘Timaruvian flavour’, a little bit of this and that kept those from Dunedin smiling. With the gradings taking up a lot of time very little syllabus was done and it became more of a social weekend – a chance to catch up with others of the same grade from other dojo and also friends who now train elsewhere.

The beach session on Sunday morning was at the more respectable hour of 10.00am due to the nidan promotion starting at 7:00am. It was certainly warmer – but I missed seeing the sun rise over Caroline Bay – although I’m sure many of the karateka, who were out late the night before, appreciated the couple of extra hours in bed.

The water was chilly, as usual, and all from Dunedin got their hair wet – not always voluntarily (Sensei!). No photos as I was participating, but here is one of some of our Dunedin black belts the day before.

Poo

2009-06-06T17:17:00.003+12:00

It's been a tough couple of weeks. The start of the dreaded winter blues I guess. All I want to do is eat and sleep. Work is full on; sick people, people on leave, maintenance problems, no time to get ahead. Karate is fineoh, small classes as it gets colder, regulars not so regular. Home is a mess, literally, figuratively and all the bits in between. My car had broken down days before I want to sell it...and I have to work at the weekend! So not me!

The only good thing about winter is flannelette sheets. I love that moment when you slide into a hot bed and lie there soaking up the warm. Next best is waking up and realising that you are as snug as a bug and wouldn't wish to be anywhere else but right there. I always have to get up - but for a moment or two it is perfect.

Off to Terminator tonight, brrrr...

Mystery visitors

2009-05-20T20:36:00.005+12:00

I don't have a very big readership - possibly because I don't have much to say, and I don't say it very often. It's just a little bit of me (the nice tidy version) on the few occasions I can get close to the computer.

So, when I weed out all the random visitors who stumble on this blog I find that I have two reasonably loyal viewers. One in Christchurch and one in Auckland. A big cheery hello to you both! I'm no technical whiz - so I don't know who you are. I do know one of you uses a Mac :-) and one doesn't :-(

If you're ever feeling chatty feel free to send me a comment one day. Otherwise I'll just continue on with my self indulgent bits and pieces.

Osu (if you're a karate dude)
and

Cheers (if you're not)

Still standing

2009-05-18T20:52:00.003+12:00

30 down...

The very end

Grading pix

2009-05-18T20:07:00.004+12:00

Awful photos - tiny camera with no flash.

Senpai Zoë, Senpai Diane and Sensei Seán all having a wee go at me. Last few fights. I'm learning quite a bit from looking at the photos - firstly that even though Senpai Zoë is taller then me she is lower in every picture and it's really obvious in the video. I need to lower my stances considerably. It gives her heaps more power and stability. It's quite ghastly watching the videos, makes me feel very inept. My kicks are pitiful. But there we go, I did the grading, I have the tab and I was still standing after thirty one-minute controlled sparring bouts.

Just back to training properly last week. It's great to just do classes. I love my new kata - Saiha. Haven't had a crack at Tensho yet.

1st kyu

2009-04-30T13:25:00.003+12:00

Grading is all over. I will probably not have any more gradings in that dojo. I have fair few bruises to show for it, but I was still standing at the end of the sparring.

Fantastic club turnout on a chilly night; Jun Shihan, 2 x Kyoshi, 2 x Sensei, 2 x Sandan Senpai, 2 x Nidan Senpai, 4 x Shodan Senpai and lots of kyu grades. Missed my (now) fellow 1st kyu buddy Karl though :-(

My two girlie Senpai role models gave me a drubbing and my Sensei husband contributed to a bruise or two. Glad it's over.
I think my training was pretty good, but I'll be writing down a few tips for next time. Gotta move more in the sparring and stop just running into kicks and punches. Gotta get a few more moves - use some combinations and try things out.

Senpai daughter gave me her old belt - with the tab already on, so I will train with that around my waist for the next year or so - and hand back my husbands old one that I have been wearing as a 2nd kyu. Senpai Zoë is an inspiration to me - I want to learn her kick, it's so awful to be on the end of it. My hips are the colour of battered red roses. Not a pretty at all.

OSU!

R.I.P ZL4RW 73S

2009-04-24T19:19:00.003+12:00

My dad died suddenly on Monday - it's been a long week with the funeral today.

Are you sore yet?

2009-03-30T20:25:00.002+13:00

"Do you have any sore muscles?" Asks my 17 yr old daughter casually, as she whisks up a chocolate mousse for dessert.

"Nope" I answer blithely while puttering away on the Internet.

"Well you need to work harder next time then!" She GROWLS at me!!!

We trained together yesterday - bit of bag work, bit of pad work, and a medicine ball applied, from height, frequently to the stomach region.

I love my stairs

2009-03-23T22:13:00.002+13:00

I was 'doing' my stairs yesterday and was amazed at the love hate relationship I have manufactured for each repeat of the stairs.

First time up is pretty much always my least favourite. The ipod isn't always on the right tune. It's harder that it should be and there are a whole heap still to do. 2 and 3 are much the same. I start to wonder how I ever make 10, my quads ache.

By number 4 I'm realise that my breathing is actually OK and that was almost fun.

Five and I'm cruising - Piece of cake, halfway already - ah hah! It is working...

6 - yeah another one down.

7 - Not a good one. 3 more to do, breathing a little more heavily at the top.

Maybe that will do - I know I can do ten - do I need to ten again? Maybe 7 is a good number today?

At the bottom, look up the stairs - find a better song - My sharona - the perfect beat (I never said I was fast!) and I make number 8 without too much bother - keeping in pace with the beat.

9 - replay that song - Phew, a bit harder to get all the way to the top on beat - but do-able.

10 and it's over again for the week. Feeling GOOD.

But should I do another? - Just because I can? Nah. Head home on wobbly legs and think about how bad I'd look doing any syllabus right this minute.

Tip of the day - kata

2009-03-22T12:42:00.002+13:00

Tsuki no kata:

Keep all stances tight and low. Look in direction of first two punches - 45 degrees... Rotate hips for gedan, then gedan/chudan punch. Keep sanchin stance tight on turn...explode into two jodan punches. Keep fist chambered for mae geri. Keep in same 'plane' for junzuki punches/nukite strikes. Kiai on first junzuki. Swing around hard for first nukite. Swivel into next nukite - but set stance first and then strike hard. etc, etc.

Great to have an hour kata classe now, and to just concentrate on one kata for the whole class. I'm getting the feel or this kata finally - so tricky with all the stance changes at first.

More classes please!

2009-03-18T20:10:00.003+13:00

Loving my karate at the moment. I feel like I done the right training at the right pace this time around. I may never be a fabulous brown belt, but I am being the best brown belt I can be. I'm really looking forward to this grading being over though so that I can concentrate on refining my techniques. I don't want to change too much at the moment, just do the stuff I need to do as I know how now. But, I can't wait to then spend the next year (or so) polishing, polishing, polishing. Relaxing into the moves and really making them work, rather than just remembering what the moves are.

I seem to be sweating heaps more this time. Poor Senpai Zoë was apparently sprayed with sweat each time I kicked her tonight. I had put my shin guards on for the whole class (have a few bruises from yokusoku) and they are coated in a shiny vinyl stuff. Obviously the sweat was pooling and then swishing out each time I contacted her. Yuck! That is so disgusting...It's usually the guys dripping on us girlies. Maybe 'more fit - more sweat'?

It's just so much fun!

6 weeks

2009-03-16T20:06:00.003+13:00

Phew! Six weeks. Panicking a wee bit. Time to choose between fitness and technique...ahhh no, no, no.

"Technique before Strength, Spirit before Technique" This will be my mantra for the next 6 weeks.

I should be good with the spirit, I'm doing my best with technique. Strength? - yeah, well going hard there too, but will always be pushed to the limit I guess and then technique gets sloppy and then there's only spirt left (that and a good jab - punch, keep the hands up!).

These beauties are not designed as landing gear, when swept. I went down like a tonne of bricks - still don't know where the foot came from.

Meanwhile Senpai Zoe is not back training after gaining a mild concussion (foot applied briskly to the forehead). Three weeks and still experiencing; headaches, nausea, noise intolerance and difficulty concentrating at school. It's a laugh a minute in our house.

I'm still dreaming kata and kihon, etc...Sad as the dreaming is not helping the reality. Just need time in the dojo now. Scared I'm not doing enough. Scared to do more in case I get too tired or injured. Tricky, tricky, tricky...

Light week

2009-02-23T21:50:00.002+13:00

9 weeks out and this is my 'light' week. Not sure how I will cope with that? Probably feel like I'm slacking off.

Today I arrive a work with great plans for the day, but having 'forgotten' to plan my food. Someone calls in sick and I end up out on the buses morning and evening and working the afternoon as well. I finally get home at 9.30 pm after doing the grocery shopping and picking up boy from his bass lesson...so how did the food go on a 'relaxed' day?

Carb, carbs, bloody carbs. Breakfast was fine same same old...eggs soft boiled, yum. Then darling husband turns up at my first bus port of call with a date scone and a mocha! He thought he was doing me a favour - chilly day and he knew I was under-prepared both in clothing and food for the day. Lovely, lovely, lovely thought. But a bad start - and he didn't know I had already grabbed a bag of pineapple lumps from one of those damn boxes in the staff room, double bad.

Lunch fine-e-oh. Grabbed some sushi - just the cost ($7.50) was irritating as I usually bring my own - not sure where my head was this morning...Oh yeah I do! I didn't hit the gym at 6 am as usual - I 'rested' until 7.15, so out of routine already.

Any hoo, saved the date scone until 3.30 and afternoon tea. Then ducked out at 5.30 for a quick mocha and a toasted sandwich (bread,bread bread!) then arrive back for the evening shift to find Mr Man (why is he so nice?) has left a wee helping of nuts, a plum and a chocolate bar for my supper! Fortunately I had presence of mind enough to get out on the bus and save them for tomorrow.

Home late and a plate of casserole from the slow cooker and a slice of brownie that Jack made after school.

Not so bad in quantity, but choices not great. Carb city - no fruit or vegies to speak of...and NO EXERCISE AT ALL.

Tomorrow calls - back to gym for light work out then plan breakfast, lunch, tea and snacks. Drop first karate class and just go to brown belt class. That is the plan :-)

Tuesday tuesday

2009-02-10T21:24:00.002+13:00

Tuesday brown belt classes ROCK! Great syllabus, great teacher, great fun and you get sweaty too! Excellent way to finish a long day on the buses. I LOVE being a brown belt!

Twelve weeks

2009-02-05T17:43:00.003+13:00

All is going well. Date for grading has changed to a Wednesday night - very strange after years of Saturday morning gradings. Should be OK as night is when we normally train. The going to work the morning after could be a little tiring - no nice lazy weekend to relax over.

Training and eating are going to plan. Worry not enough of one and too much of the other - but that's par for the course.

It really is twelve weeks this time.

I'm going to invite all my 'lady' friends and workmates etc to this one. Not sure if they will be impressed - probably just see me cry. But it will be a long wait (2 years?) until the next (Shodan) grading.

I saw a 6 on the scales for a day last week! First time for a while, it's gone again just now. But obviously hovering around the corner.

Babble babble, been a hot day.

The crossing

2009-01-24T16:20:00.003+13:00

Tongariro and Ngauruhoe
Emerald lakes
Red crater on Tongariro
Jo, Jack and Sean with Ngauruhoe behind

All went really well. Took about seven hours, with an early start of 6 am. Jack walked well.

The craters looked amazing the lakes and ground steamed around our feet. The army was apparently practicing off in a far valley, but at the time we were convinced the craters were booming! Very scary.

The weather was perfect, still and mild for the ascent, bright sun with a breeze on the tops and then overcast for the trek down and out through the forest.

All over and back to our car by 2.30pm and zoomed off to Taupo for a lovely relaxing spa or two.

Fondue do

2009-01-10T19:59:00.005+13:00

Had a fondue do last night to celebrate Ben turning 21. His dad provided the beef, venison, rabbit, blue cod and paua ( all culled with his own fair hands) for the main, while I did the dessert fondue; chocolate, fruit and marshmellows. Veges were optional. Tequila seemed to be the drink of the evening. Fun times.

Today I was in at the dojo, I have a good routine that gets me through all my syllabus and keeps the heart rate up for 45 minutes, ends with a circuit - ugh, burpies are hard on my back. But loving getting back into it all. Stairs tomorrow then away for the week to the North Island and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The long range forecast is improving for our time up there, however there are swarms of jellyfish at Mt Manganui -double ugh!

Ben 21

2009-01-09T00:34:00.003+13:00

1 week

2 years

7 years

14 years

18 years

Just a day

2009-01-09T00:05:00.002+13:00

Today turned into a rest day. Listen to the body! I was just was a little sore in too many places to head in to the gym for another cardio session, this is the joy of being in what I'm calling week -1. Next week is week 0, more holiday, with no programed training apart from a seven hour wander amongst some volcanoes (although I'm dithering about taking my gi to Auckland, there is a class on Monday night I could attend...might do that yet). So this week was a ease in after Christmas and I feel as though I've done OK. Weights again in the morning.

Tomorrow night we are having a do for Ben who turns 21 on Monday (When I'll be away). Phew 21! I was married, owned a house , and had been working for 4 years by the time I was 21. Ben is at varsity completing a psychology degree, and has just moved away from home into a flat last week.

It won't be a big party, just a few family and friends. He wants to fire up some fondues, so his dad will come up with a variety of meat; venison, rabbit, paua, etc. While I get to do the chocolate and fruit for dessert. Half the family is still away on holiday, so we will do a big family lunch later in the month. I've spent the evening baking kiwi biscuits (Chocolate chip cookies) and sausage rolls - some of Ben's favs.

I've also put together a photo album and Cd of Ben from 0 - 21 years old. It was a very nostalgic trip thru my life, his smile seems to falter at about 7 when my first marriage broke up. And the photo of my mum with all the children, 5 days before she died, made me cry. It's been 9 years, but I've been missing here more and more lately - very odd

Slow start

2009-01-08T00:25:00.002+13:00

Lazy days at home and work. I love this time of the year, even at work it feels like a holiday and is so relaxed. Great being there on my own, getting thru heaps of backlogged work.

The gym is all good too. Going at odd times as they are still on their Christmas hours, good to have a steady programme again and I can feel a little burn here and there. Not looking forward to the early morning starts that will take over in a week or so.

Been to the dojo a couple of times, amazing what you(I) forget in three weeks. I guess my new stuff just hasn't bedded into my brain yet. The floor isn't any softer either.

Went to Twilight tonight - wasn't looking forward to it as I loved the books, but once I got over the shock of the faces not being the faces I had in my head it was pretty good, mindless entertainment anyway.

16 weeks

2009-01-06T09:51:00.003+13:00

Well, really it's 14 weeks until my grading. This week is an oddity with me home alone (yee hah!) and not working much and then I have a week away in the North Island doing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing - hopefully getting better weather than this! And then the fun really starts...

Training up for my 1st kyu grading. I have had a great chat with Senpai Di and between us have nutted out a training schedule. I've eased back into the gym this week after a few months of lack lustre attendance and I started with the lovely stairs again - a little depressed at how hard they are.

I know that a lot can be achieved in 14 weeks, but for me it's a matter of finding a good balance between work and exercise. I tend to be filled with guilt over what I haven't done rather than pleasure at what I have achieved. It's all so subjective as well - fitness. Sometimes when everything hurts and you're tired out it's very hard to remember that you're doing OK.

I struggle (a tad) with the whole food thing too. Always wanting to lose weight and yet knowing that I am perfectly fit and heathy as I am - a good fighting weight :-) But there is always that dream of looking great in a bikini - pipe dream that it is at 46. I am soooo shallow!

So anyhoo, yesterday I had a great weights session at the gym, ran some stairs, did my push ups, and ate healthily. Today is cardio at gym and call into dojo (first time since 6 Dec!) and run lightly over my sylllabus. Classes don't start up until end of Jan.

Plus I get to babysit Phoebe today - bonus, bonus, bonus.

Cruise pix

2009-01-05T18:32:00.002+13:00

Not so pretty, but home is home. Vollendam docked at Port Chalmers.

Story seas just off Milford Sound.

Captain Cook's Cottage - in Melbourne of all places!

Last Supper.

Seán, Jo and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The little things

2009-01-05T17:22:00.005+13:00

The Cruise was fabulous and Seán's lectures to the Elderhostellers were well received. I throughly enjoyed life onboard the ship as could be expected - little to do except read, eat and mooch about. Not withstanding the norovirus outbreak of course!

Favourite moments were; entering our cabin every night to find an origami towel creation, loved these ones the most; choosing from the menu each evening - such yummy food and no cooking or washing up to do for two weeks; chatting to the lovely people in our tour - especially Fran, Dorrie and Geri (our tablemates); visiting my home town at midpoint of the cruise and popping home with the children.

Tents and itouches

2008-12-29T00:19:00.003+13:00

In a tent in Arrowtown with my daughter using her itouch and the neighbours wireless connection! They haven't passworded it, duh! Lovely night starry sky. Night night :-)

Cruisy

2008-09-18T22:03:00.003+12:00

Five weeks to cruise time. Coming out of a long cold winter the body is a little pallid and while it's karate ready it's not so bikini ready. Not that it’s a tropical cruise, but there do seem to be plenty of swimming pools on the boaty boat boat.

So, a few weeks of cardio blast at the gymbo, a little mindful eating, a walk a day and then a new bi-ki-ni to stun all those elderhostellers who will be sharing my boat.

I'm hiding away a few good reads for the trip as well. Including a smattering of NZ books that I 'should' read, being a good wee librarian. I imagine they will get left at the bottom of the suitcase though, and the light & fluffy chic lit will be chosen instead. But I can try.

Brown

2008-09-07T21:22:00.003+12:00

I have been a 2nd kyu, brown belt, for a week now and only been to one class – that’s a bit of a record for me. Usually I can’t wait to head back in and learn my new syllabus, but I was pretty tired after this one. A few bruises, here and there, but mainly weary of training.

So, a week off…and gosh, I feel even worse. I think it’s a myriad of things; the end of winter, lots on at work, fighting off those bugs that I have successfully kept at bay for the last couple of months, etc. It could even be my stupid thyroid medication – big fuss in the news about side effects caused by a new formulation of a drug that 70,000 New Zealanders have to take. Weary, weary, weary.

It was a good grading though, I felt pretty decent most of the time – can’t jump for nuts and the stairs that I have been racing up and down for months felt ten times worse on the day– but hey, that’s the point I guess.
So, my next six months (apart from learning my new syllabus) is all about learning to spar – better protection and better techniques – punching, kicking. I want a yokogeri like my daughter’s.

Anyhoo, the photos are pretty crap so only a before and an after. And I guess I’ll drag myself down there next week.

Glorious wattle

2008-08-24T13:24:00.003+12:00

Spring is just around the corner and our wattle is in full bloom. Each morning we wake to tui and bellbirds singing as they fossick for nectar – or whatever it is they fossick for in trees.

Is there such a thing as light sparring?

2008-08-24T12:57:00.001+12:00

No, and the bruises prove it.

Mind the head

2008-08-18T22:11:00.002+12:00

An update as instructed…

Ok, ok, Senpai, I do feel guilty about not heading down to the dojo tomorrow at 6am, but it’s just so cold!!! I have no excuse; I’m just not going. And worse, I probably won’t make Tuesday night class either – work thing, grrrr.

One of my favourite senpai sent me the following video clip with the helpful comment “What do you think of my new move?” Much is made of me not protecting my head and much is made of a certain other senpai, who will be visiting on the day of my grading, being able and willing to kick to the head. It was enough to make me wince. Whether it’s enough to make me block my head? Who knows?

A snowy day on the bus

2008-08-18T21:51:00.003+12:00

Last Saturday up in Halfway Bush. We usually cancel the buses when the weather is like this, but it caught me unaware and once I was heading up the road it was too tricky to turn back. Fortunately the bus is quite heavy and, while it was snowing, it wasn’t icy so there was no slipping or sliding.

I even had the right bus for the conditions - note the penguins on the side :-)

Excuse the photos, I only had my camera phone.

Beach training - Timaru June 22nd

2008-07-15T13:33:00.003+12:00

A couple of new senpai

2008-07-13T21:22:00.003+12:00

Last fight is over

2008-07-13T21:12:00.004+12:00

A hug with mum at the end. Zoë's friend and mentor,Senpai Di rushes up from one side while Sensei Seán, Zoe's brown-belt teacher (and stepfather), comes from the other side.

Zoë's last fight was with me, Grrrr!

2008-07-13T21:03:00.005+12:00

I was told halfway through the grading that I would be Zoë's last fight. The candidates often get to choose their own last fight person - often their training partner or an inspirational teacher and Zoë had been thinking bout two or three different people. But she wasn't given the choice in the end. Jun Shihan told me it was me and I was flabbergasted, It was a big honour to be given to a green belt! So I asked a few blackbelts for advice and was told to go really hard out. So I did.

Awesome Zoë

2008-07-13T20:35:00.003+12:00

Well, my wee girl just rocked. Most amazing weekend; from the trip up to Timaru, when she got a little emotional, to the day of her grading where she shone right though to the last fight - which was with me!

It's here at last

2008-06-19T23:06:00.002+12:00

Sunday: kata class
Monday: sick in bed
Tuesday: work
Wednesday: sick at home, but not in bed
Thursday: back to work, general class,sparring class
Friday: annual leave, off to Timaru
Saturday!!! Zoë's shodan grading
Saturday night: party, party, party...

Gut-buster

2008-06-15T18:25:00.001+12:00

Saturday - ran a 7.3 hilly gut-buster that my gym organised. Got 2nd in the run/walk section. i did it with Phoebe in a push chair. Whew, haven't run for ages.

Another week slides by

2008-06-13T21:53:00.002+12:00

Friday: gym after work.
Saturday: rest day (lollie day!).
Sunday: kata class, stair running with Zoë.
Monday: gym in morning, bag workout pm with Zoë.
Tuesday: general class.
Wednesday: skived off two classes! Took Zoë to optometrist and went home and cooked tea - sat and ate tea with family - a rare treat!
Thursday: general class, sparring class, lasagna at Senpai's.
Friday: gym after work.
Yippee the weekend!

One week to Zoe's shodan grading and we think she has a broken toe! Off to X-ray it on Monday...

Wed - Thurs classes

2008-06-05T22:51:00.004+12:00

Wednesday fitness class - no Kyoshi, so a slightly relaxed class with Senpai Laura. Some odd combination that, as usual I just never quite get the hang off.

Wednesday green belt class - just me as usual. Steve and I did self defences, kata etc. Good to get the repitition. I almost have them sorted.

Thursday general class, same old same...then Senpai Gary, from Timaru, took Karl and I for 20 minutes or so and we got to do self defences again - yee haaa! Doing OK too. Senpai had a few suggestions, just got to remember them...Did yokosuko 1,2,3 as well. Got to learn not to jump the foot sweep, just move back and flick the leg up...

Thursday sparring class. Taking it slightly easy for a couple of weeks as the two kyu gradesare in their last weeks of preparation for shodan grading. They did mainly fitness stuff while the rest of us practiced blocks and defenses and then had about 20 minutes of free sparring.

Pizza and chat for supper.

Tuesday beginners class

2008-06-03T19:32:00.002+12:00

An hour long beginners class. Good enough fun. Focus on some basic kicks with a little cardio thrown in.

Partner work - YES!

2008-06-02T17:53:00.001+12:00

Training today was great! I was honoured to be invited to the dojo to train with the other shodan candidate. It’s kinda cool, because as a ‘slightly older’ woman sometimes I wonder if I’m taken seriously, or if I’m keeping up. I know I occasionally squeal at the wrong moment, my eyes water on occasion – often after a particularly strong impact, or maybe my age (lack of suppleness) just doesn’t always lend itself to a spinning, jumping, sotomawashageri (I imagine I look like a inebriated grasshopper)

So, to be asked by Steve, who is in serious kick ass training mode, three weeks out from his black belt grading, to come down and do some partner work has just made my week. I’m a happy girlie. It was fun too. I’m finally getting to grips with my intermediate self-defenses and learning how to fall a bit better. So, anyway...bag work, kata, self defenses, yakosoku, Steve’s self defenses, kibadachi combinations…an hour of fun on a public holiday.

Twelves weeks (again!)

2008-06-01T19:37:00.003+12:00

Jacob's ladder from the top

Time to get my exercise on the up and up. I never really stop, but start to take it a little more seriously as a grading comes closer. I haven't got a date for my brown belt grading but assume it will be late August. That's 12 weeks and time to get serious.

Zoë's Shodan grading is in Timaru, in three weeks! Whew, that's come about really fast. She has been really lucky with; her training partner - the lovely Karl, her brown belt syllabus teacher - Sensei Seán, and of course her mother - the amazing me! I have been watching over her quietly. She doesn't take advice well from a lowly green belt. But I've been making sure she stays healthy, sleeps and eats well. I pick her up from parties when she's drunk(!) only the once, thank goodness. And best of all I go stair running with her each Sunday after kata class.

Jacobs Ladder was our stairs of choice for this training – and what a killer set of stairs they are. Funnily the first time we went to find them we got the wrong stairs and thought we were pretty hot shit making it up and down 5 or 6 times. Later that week we discovered the real Jacobs Ladder…287 stairs of alternating steepness and widths – the last 25 or so are really, really, really steep. I only ‘made’ it up 3 times and if the truth was told I only ran it properly the first time.

Zoë was amazing, having a real goal helps, (your mind is a powerful thing when running stairs) and a mother who yells encouragement from behind for those last hard stairs when your legs are dead. Anyway last week she could run it 5 times, so we thought this week we would head back to our home ground stairs (195), of a nice uniform width and grade.

Man, we powered up those stairs 10 times, talking, chatting, and not having to bend over and almost puke at the top of each set. We rocked!

Anyhoo…Lots exercise, eating well, and refining techniques…12 weeks… here I go again :-)

Visitors from Paris

2008-05-07T22:39:00.004+12:00

Had a lovely evening visit from Rebecca, Pedro and Alexandra. Rebecca is a freind of Julie; whom I meet in Noumea, New Caledonia and who has also visited us in Dunedin and now lives in Paris.
(Pedro, Alexandra and Rebecca)

They came for dinner on a rare night when all 6 children were home, so it was 11 for tea, squished around the table.

Jack entertained Alexandra with stones, shells and glass buttons while we chatted.

Seán and I then took them on a tiki tour to see the glow worms at Nicolls falls.

Lovely people, safe travelling!

Start time again - not that I ever stopped :-)

2008-05-06T20:56:00.002+12:00

This is now the blog of a full time working mother. No time for the previous inconsequential marking of time and events to entertain the world and myself. No time to write of random guilt filled thoughts in the hope of working out how life should work. No time indeed for much other than work, karate, and eating. Always time for eating.

I am aware it is 3 months until my next grading – 2nd kyu! A brown belt! A reasonably serious grading, with 20 fights at the end. I feel tired and old just thinking about it tonight. Other days and nights I am excited and can’t wait for. But when I have had a couple of classes where I am criticized (constructively I’m sure) enough for me to feel absolutely useless, incapable of making any action truly effective, incapable of the simplest jab, reverse jab, it all feels like too much – am I playing at this?

My body is not a body that is particularly instinctive about anything (other than eating and reading). But I love my karate, I find it exciting and thrilling to use my body to perform moves that could be dangerous. I love pushing myself physically and I love the mind games that go with the whole hierarchical nonsense of martial arts – it’s all kinda fun when you’re ‘in’ it.

But gosh, winter has hit – the body is old, cold and not warming up in the hour-long classes, my back aches. And now I need to make more of an effort – get more fit (fitter). Techniques need to be snappier, sharper, and effective even. Know it all inside out, backwards, upside down. And it’s hard to motivate this sturdy, solid body when it’s just work, work, and work all week. I want to lie down and read for 3 months – not an hour, or a few days – I want months of lassitude, and total indulgence.

I don’t want to get up to frosty 6am starts to lift weights and pound out a few kms on the trainer at the gym. I sure don’t want to head down to the coldest dojo in the world and start rolling around on the floor – and yet that is what I will begin to do next week. 12 weeks to concentrate and get cracking. Blow away the cobwebs.

Its on again.

50 years ago...

2008-02-28T22:04:00.002+13:00

My favourite couple in the whole world! Married for 50 years a couple of weeks ago.My parents-in-law :-)

18

2008-02-27T21:28:00.004+13:00

They really are growing up. 20, 18 and 16, all have lovely 'friends' - seen here at Jed's 18th family do.

The easist cake ever - sponge roll covered in a 'replica' newspaper article all about Jed - he has a night shift job loading paper trucks in the wee hours of the night and tossing bundles out around the town.

Jed's $300 car!

Abel Tasman

2008-02-07T22:24:00.000+13:00

A few shots from our fabulous walk in the Abel Tasman National Park late January. Just beautiful beach, after beach, after beach. The most glorious, in our eyes anyway, was Bark Bay. So lovely that we couldn’t tear ourselves of the beach and lagoon to retrieve our camera from the hut. It may just have been a combination of weather, tide and mood, but we couldn’t have dreamed of a more perfect place while we were there. But that place now remains in our memories.

Who has the time?

2008-02-07T22:09:00.000+13:00

Yes, well. Time is an issue here. Working fulltime is a whole lot harder than I thought it would be. Apart from the step up into quasi-management stuff and all that that entails, it's the hours, and hours, and hours that are spent at work. When am I meant to fit in the gym, karate, supermarket shopping and....the children????

Wow. I don't, however, have a new respect for working mothers. I just ask why do it? Thank the Lord for my 12 years as a stay-at-home mother and then eight years part-time work. I think I would be mad if I had had to work fulltime for the past twenty years. I suppose I should be thanking the two men in my life who made it feasible for me not to have to work fulltime.

I have so much guilt about not being home after school and so much annoyance at how little time I have to myself. I have put gym and karate above so many other things recently, because I know that if I begin a slide into slothdom and chubbiness I will be no good in other areas of my life. And yet I have no time for those other areas anyway so in a way it's wasted effort.

Christmas Eve

2008-01-04T09:41:00.000+13:00

It's not often we get our large and motley family all in one place now-a-days. Teenagers have a habit of actually leading lives of their own. Also, there are so many extended family branches popping up - girl and boy friend families along with all the steps and exs - that we all want to contact and to see on Christmas day. So, we are attempting to start a new family tradition whereby we will get together on Christmas Eve just before midnight Mass each year. Worth a shot anyway.

From L-R: Hugh, Joseph, Lorna, Seán, Me, Jack, Jed (eyes shut deliberately!), Zoë and Ben. Seán's to the left, mine to the right and Jack is ours - Almost happy families :-)

Home alone

2008-01-02T16:51:00.000+13:00

For a while anyway… It’s an odd time of the year. Ben is away partying in Nelson, Jed, rabbit shooting in Bendigo, Zoë is baby sitting at her dad’s and Jack’s still up in Timaru holidaying with Seán and his children (from where I have just returned).

So, for a glorious night or two I am alone! What bliss, I look forward to this time of the year all year long.

All done

2007-12-09T19:19:00.001+13:00

My grading is all over – for another six months, phew!

It was a funny grading. Just nine karateka lining up to be tested. We have had low numbers attending the dojo over the last few months and many that should have been grading this time just didn’t have the class numbers. Great attendance by the higher grades – who must be bored silly watching the lowly kyu grades go agonizingly slowly though the basics. I can almost feel them wince at times, but good on them for being there, on a sunny Saturday morning, and supporting the club – and coming along to fight the two needing sparring partners – Jerome and me.

Lots and lots of basic techniques for the three beginners, a fair few push ups and so on, then through the self-defenses, kata and yakusoku etc and etc – until the big finale for me – and the big worry – sparring! I was pleased and surprised to see only ten wee men up on the board for me, and fifteen for Jerome. I had thought it was fifteen and twenty. But I’m always happy to do what I’m told at a grading! So I had bouts with a kyoshi, a sensei, a sandan, two nidan and so on down to the brown belts and one green belt. Last fight with my husband – a sensei.

I was pretty knackered by the end. Fit as I – and I am very fit – it was just so hard to breath, just no time at all between fights.

Today I have a few bruises – mainly shins and arms – and my entire chest and shoulder area is tight as tight, don’t like to sneeze or take deep breaths. I assume it’s from the push-ups and a bit from the sparring. They weren’t as terribly hard on me as they could have been but my body feels very used today.

So, I am now a 3rd kyu – advanced green belt - and I have a new kata to learn and six new self defenses and six months - August ‘08 - until I grade to brown belt. Bring it on!

Nerves galore

2007-12-07T22:25:00.000+13:00

Sparring tomorrow, wish me luck :-)

Santa parade

2007-12-02T22:16:00.001+13:00

We had two buses and a crowd of book-related characters in the Santa Parade yesterday. Lovely day and good fun waving to all the children.

Breathless...

2007-12-02T22:06:00.001+13:00

Six days until my grading and I'm starting to get butterflies. Yeap, I know, I know, just gotta teach them to fly in formation or some such blather... I have a rib that is poking out where it oughtn’t. I have two bruises on my elbows that are actually on top of other bruises and my shins look like - I actually don't know what they look like, but it isn't pretty. Which is a shame as it's been lovely weather here and I’ve been wearing my three new dresses to work off and on lately.

We had a great sparring session last Thursday - in preparation for another karateka’s shodan grading - lots of blackbelts and other sparring grades turned up and gave her a special session. She was on for all the fights - 25 I think. The rest of us simulated, well it was real actually, a grading going on around her. We each had turns with her and two at a time had five fights out beside her. Doesn't make sense and it’s too late at night for me to bother thinking about it. But it was hard and heavy and I was knackered after five serious bouts.

I was dumped on the floor several times, once landing on the rib I had just paid $100 to have rubbed out. I am obviously a little heavy on my feet. I ache from it. I do so worry about making a fool of myself on the day. But there we are, that is part of it, I suppose. Humility and perseverance.

Bedside

2007-11-16T21:56:00.000+13:00

There is one question that a Librarian dreads more than most - especially when asked by another Librarian..."So, what do you like to read?" My mind goes instantly blank – I have no idea what I am reading, have read or want to read. I do read widely in all genres but would hesitate (for hours) over who is my favourite author or what is my favourite book.

Anyway, awaiting a recent job interview that was the question I wasn't looking forward to, and so I took a picture of my bedside cabinet, just as it is most of the year - no embellishments, not even a dusting. This is what it is always like - full of library books waiting to be read. Many gaining overdue fines while just sitting there waiting to be picked up. Many more are on the floor. See the list below of books that are on loan to me at the moment

I don't read them in order of getting them, just as they take my fancy. I hate the choosing of the next book to be read and frequently start one or two before I settle on one. Most of these babies are from our stack - older fiction that no longer graces the public shelves. I like old series - Patrick O’Brian, James Lee Burke, Lindsey Davis, C S Forester - oh they are all mystery thrillers, but I like fantasy Sci-Fi too, Paul F Wilson, Chick Lit vampire bites. I don't even mind an occasion Scottish bodice ripper - Karen Moning indeed...Oh, and I adore historical sea novels – Forester and O’Brian – swoon, swoon.

So, instead of asking what is your favourite author or what do you read? Ask what are you reading now? You'll get a more truthful and less pretentious answer.
Tonight I am reading Peter Dexter’s Train, and loving it.

Items checked out to me....

Bloodline : a Repairman Jack novel /
by Wilson, F. Paul (Francis Paul)

Cadfael. Series two

Devil may cry /
by Kenyon, Sherrilyn,

Emotionally weird : a comic novel /
by Atkinson, Kate.

Exile's return /
by Feist, Raymond E.

The four agreements : a practical guide to personal freedom /
by Ruiz, Miguel, 1952-

The Four agreements companion book : using the four agreements to master the dream of your life /

Great books to read aloud /

The harlequin /
by Hamilton, Laurell K.

How to win friends & influence people /
by Carnegie, Dale

King of foxes /
by Feist, Raymond E.

The lazy boys : a novel /
by Shuker, R. Carl, 1974-

Love in the time of cholera /
by Garcia Marquez, Gabriel,

Now is the time to open your heart : a novel /
by Walker, Alice, 1944-

Pocketful of names /
by Coomer, Joe.

The spider's web : a Sister Fidelma mystery /
by Tremayne, Peter.

Stone of farewell /
by Williams, Tad.

Strangerland : a family at war /
by Drysdale, Helena.

Train : a novel /
by Dexter, Pete

Phoebe worships at my feet

2007-11-11T13:04:00.000+13:00

Phoebe has discovered the joy of ascending and descending stairs. It's still a fraught process for those older and wiser.

How to fall asleep when you are 10

2007-11-10T17:19:00.000+13:00

Got it :-)

2007-11-08T21:49:00.000+13:00

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. I am brilliant. I have the job. I am now the blankety blank blank for the blankety blank blank. I got the job! I am wonderful and slightly sozzled as well!

Work then karate, a quick trip to super mart to get something for tea and the most delicious tea in the world. Sitting with my daughter reading and eating salmon and cream cheese on French bread, with a gin and tonic and then strawberries and Turkish delight – oh and some grapes. Weird, but it works for me and I am indeed brilliant and I have a new job and staff and buses and I’m the boss! Yaah me!

The book you ask? I am reading the most hilarious book, about the Queen discovering a mobile library and then starting to read. Called ‘The uncommon reader’ by Alan Bennett and very, very funny.

Oh and did I mention that I am brilliant and ever so slightly sozzled, on one miserly(or not so) G&T), I am no drinker, but I am brilliant!

A glimpse of what life might be like…

2007-11-06T21:59:00.000+13:00

Youngest child at school camp, oldest child lives with father, two middle children visiting father for tea, stepchildren out of sight…Just the two of us!! Phhooo eeeeh, life could indeed be good!

Off to work bright and early – picked up car from the panel beaters and to work on time. All day out on the buses, so no time to mull over the coming job interview. Meet husband outside work at 5.30 and walked two blocks to the movies had a coffee and lollies. Good enough movie – Atonement. Liked the book better but no mind. Then outside by 7.45 and it’s still light. The plan was a quick tea and then a wee training session to make up for the class I missed by going to the movies, but I wasn’t hungry yet and so up to the dojo, two blocks away.

A lovely hour of training - just the two of us. Kihons with push-ups, yakusoku, kata and kata with weights. No teaching, just doing, doing, doing. I need lots of repetition to bed in the patterns.

We then decided to go home for a bite rather than dawdle in town. What a luxury; 3-4 hours of time to do anything we wanted in the middle of a week. This will be what it is like when the kids are all grown up and it’s just the two of us! Time, space, and energy to do whatever strikes us whenever we feel like it. I can’t wait.

A beginner again

2007-11-05T22:17:00.000+13:00

Tonight it was club night at the dojo. It’s a concept that is brilliant in design but severely flawed in that no one much comes. Monday night is traditionally a black and brown belt class. But recently it was decided to open up the first Monday of each month to the whole club, so that we can mix, see some black belts training and see our head guy, Jun Shihan, as that is the only class he attends.

Well, it started off OK, about five or six extras the first month, the next month two or three turned up. And then tonight there was just me – a lowly green belt - with a jun shihan, a kyoshi, a sensei, three senpai – (sandan, nidan, shodan) and two first kyu brown belts - nine in total. It made for an interesting bow in and out – kinda like this:

jun shihan

kyoshi

sensei

sandan

nidan

shodun

brown and green belts

It was interesting – a bit like being a white belt again. I could understand what they are saying, but my body wouldn’t do the moves. It’s a very bunkai (practical application) class. No syllabus (which is what I am silently screaming out for 4 weeks out from my grading!)

But never mind, it was an experience in humility and I don’t even mind that I got not one of the combinations or applications off perfectly (or even close). It was great to train with these guys many of whom have been training for over twenty years.

Cool – scary – totally recommended.

Random pix

2007-10-30T21:06:00.001+13:00

You can take the girl out of the library - but you can't get the book out of her hand! A weekend trip to Hanmer Springs with Sean.
The men fixing the aerial after big winds last week.

Jed has another accident that will cost his mother at least $1500! Grrrrrr....

Full on

2007-10-30T20:57:00.000+13:00

Just a quickee! I am working full-time for the next few weeks. First time since 1987 when I left work to have my darling Ben who is now 19. I had about 12 years as a full-time mum and then the last 8 years part-time here and there. But my boss has left and I have been appointed as 'acting' for a month while they decide who to appoint to the position. I have my application in and an interview time is set for next week.

It's quite scary - full-time! When do I get to go to the gym and read books and lounge around? It's OK at the moment with longer days and sunny weather, but I imagine in the middle of winter, when I will be leaving for work and getting hme in the dark, it will pall a little.

Scary, because my youngest is still only 10 years old and that's a lot of day to be away from him. No more school trips (hurruh!), but added guilt and worry of who is home when, who is looking after whom and with karate three nights a week, most importantly, who is cooking tea?

Scary because I think I might enjoy it - all that time away from home.
More later...have to swot up on interview questions and answers :-)

Ouch!

2007-10-04T21:41:00.000+13:00

Just home from my regular Thursday night sparring class and I have a few sore bits. One of our club members is preparing for her shodun grading in December so sparring class is just that for 45 minutes, one and a half minute fights, swap partners and fight again...that's about 20-25 fights - allowing for swap times. Everyone is pretty knackered by the end.

Usually we’ll do some kihons as a warm up then some foot work techniques, or pad work, or maybe sparring techniques – just hands, or just feet. But for the next couple of months it’s going to be sparring, sparring, and more sparring. Which is great for me as my next grading is my first sparring one and is 15 fights at the end of the grading – so this is the best preparation I could hope for.

I do however have a bag of frozen peas on my lap as I type this (one-handed) and am icing my thumbs one at a time. They are a definite weakness with me. Not keeping my fists tight and catching the thumb when blocking kicks. Ouch! My big toe isn’t feeling too good either. I tried to sweep someone, but somehow just buggered my toe instead.

I’m the lowest graded person there most nights and am not that great at it – yet! The guys could just wipe the floor with me any time they choose to – fortunately they are not like that and teach me as I spar. That said, they do like to sweep me and it’s not many fights that I don’t have to get up of the floor once or twice, or thank them for not taking my head of with a kick that I didn’t see fast enough to block or move from.

It’s the girls (women) that whack you the hardest though, as they don’t hold back anything. Di’s punches are ooahffy (the noise I make when they connect with my stomach) and Zoë’s kicks are just plain ghastly. I’m hobbling around with a dead thigh thinking ‘No, no, not another one in the same place – move yourself woman!’. I’m not very light on my feet yet! Always that yet! I will improve. I am improving!

Instructions tonight included: “keep side on’, ‘hands up’, ‘move in and out’, ‘duck’, ‘punch straight – don’t whack’, ‘kick higher’, ‘retract your leg faster’, ‘close your fists’, etc, etc.

All good fun.

Shorty

2007-09-18T11:05:00.000+12:00

So, I’m 44. How short is too short? I know I’ve seen women down town and thought “Whoa! Too short!” And I know that knee length is about the limit for work, but what about non-work days? I have a top that I wear as an overdress (over jeans), but I want to wear it as a dress, over tights. But do I look daft? My husband doesn’t think so, but he’s not very impartial and he would compliment me on wearing a potato sack. Grr, it’s so hard to see yourself as others do. I don’t want to wear it and look silly, but I don’t want to not wear it either. Hmmm…I'll try to post a picture.

My boss is about to get another job and I have to start thinking about whether or not I want to ‘step up’ and take on a job with more responsibility. I am so bored at the moment. I can do my job in a daydream and frequently do. Not good. But it would be full-time work, something I haven’t done for 20 years!! Shockers. I was an at home mum for 12 years and then part time since then. Jack my youngest heads to secondary school next year, so I could manage with no after school care requirements, but do I want to do it????? The extra money would be handy, but it would mean I would have no time to myself and I might just go mad. Then again, it could be what I need to stir myself out of my usual lethargy. It might even leave less time for eating? But when would I get to the gym? Oh, well something to think of. We’ll find out tomorrow if she is leaving.

School holidays start next weekend, ugh. Have to encourage Jed and Zoë to study for their end of year exams, and find entertainment for Jack while I work and they sleep. No plans for actual holidays, although I’m going to take Wednesday next week off – my birthday :-)

Go time...

2007-09-09T17:35:00.000+12:00

I've just begun my second program at my 'new' gym. Still loving it, the trainers, the programme, etc. My sore arm had a massage last week - hard enough to leave bruises, but I think it is working. He is confident I only need one more 'rub down' and it will be better. It hasn’t ached since he did it, although it still feels tender with certain movements - that could be the bone spur that the x-ray found, I suppose.

Spring is finally here and I’m getting in a lot more walking with the lighter mornings and generally nicer weather. It is about 12 weeks to my grading and I need to be super fit and strong. Starting to do daily press-ups now and just thinking all the time about karate, fitness and food.

Not stressing, just thinking – a lot. I may be the only one grading at my level, which means I’ll be out on that dojo floor all alone and all eyes will be on my failures and weaknesses – that is the hardest thing for me. Because I really don’t like being in the limelight and I do make mistakes. It’s a mind thing and I need to know that I can do it all well – even if it doesn’t happen on the day.

Enough, but it will all be training, training, training, from here on…