Beach Education at Riversdale

On Tuesday the 19th February Sally and assorted teachers and parents, including Sadie who was allowed out for the day, took 72 children to Riversdale Beach for their biannual Beach Education trip. Making sure everyone was present before getting on the buses was an important part of the trip. When we had arrived the surf club gave a short overview of the day. The three groups rotated around the activities. One activity was investigating the IRB. How would you rescue someone from the water? How would you right the IRB if it turned over in the water? The other two activities were learning about how to stay safe at the beach? and a video with several scenarios on beach safety.

Lunch was after this and then games and sand castle building before the water activities which proved an experience with quite a GOOD SURF RUNNING. A good day was had by all.

Carl's Olde Bicycle and, it has rained - a little bit!"

We are dry! However 2mm yesterday and 3mm so far today! Carl's Olde Bicycle has been a dry weather bike for years. However due to 3mm in 1/2 an hour and since Sadie was halfway downtown when the rain started, necessity became the Mother of invention. Of course the Sprite bottle is but just a copy of Carl's much larger lemonade bottle of yore. The lemonade bottle succumbed to the ravages of time some years back. The replacement looks smart though and is 'clean and green.".

Carl's record on this bicycle, around the Mole/Wood/ West/North/Udy Street circuit of Greytown still stands. 12 minutes from a standing start in 2002!


Note: Carl's Olde Bicycle was gifted to Evan the future Sadie in 1999 when Carl 'saw the light' and crossed the ditch to Brisbane. It is now an item of note in Greytown. With Sadie on board it has reached approx 7.55 kph downwind and downhill for some 12.23 seconds!! It was touch and go whether the aged, sleeping Labrador was able to catch the speeding duo!

It is now often propped up around Greytown with the security lock firmly fastened whilst Sadie is busy chatting over housekeeping tips and distributing bottles of "Greystoned" libations for those that have done a paticular favour.

21st year as a teacher - 1st day back - 1 February 2008

Carl and Sue remember well when we three (them and the future Sadie) recaptured Sammo from Palmerston North (Kensington Place) where she had been co-habitating with Kris and Jo whilst completing her teacher training. Sammo was returned to New Plymouth as a new teacher and now this is her 21st year as a teacher. Schools have been Westown, Waitara, Berhampore, Newlands Intermediate and now Greytown. It has been said (don't know who by) that teachers are born not made. Sammo is a born teacher. Life skills gained bringing up 4 classy offspring for the first 19 years prior to teacher training has given her a wide range of personal and professional capabilities; these have been welcomed by parents of the children she has taught

Sadie is now the teacher aide at the teacher's place of residence. The apprenticeship has some 21years still to run!!