Xmas 2006

I think Zoe has some of her father’s character, don’t you?
Sorry I have been lax in writing the blog over the past week or so. The lead up to the major regatta last week and the actual competition have been very taxing on my time. The local sailors did not perform very well as the sea breeze built to around 18 knots each afternoon, and the Nelson sailors in the “P Class were all light and inexperienced. However they learned valuable lessons.
This week I am having to conduct a learn – to sail course on my own as the enrolments were down. Schools finishing their year very late have mucked up the planning. The weather this week has been perfect for learning to sail with light winds in the morning increasing a little in the afternoon.
There was snow on the tops of the mountains last night (20th December!)
Yesterday there was a spectacular fire on Haulashore Island at the end of the Boulder Bank. I was asked to stand by in case extra firemen needed to be ferried to fight the blaze. The Coastguard took half a dozen fire fighters and a portable pump across and the blaze was extinguished in a couple of hours. I took my pupils across to the island this morning and walked through the fire area. The blaze could have denuded the island if it had been left. Well done N.Z Fire Service!
Las time I forgot to mention that the orthopaedic surgeon who looked at my wrist gave me an injection of cortisone which has relieved the discomfort. There is still a little tingling in the tips of two fingers, so the cure may not be complete. I am able to use the wrist fully with no pain.
Lorna finished her temporary job this week and is flat out registering sailors for the “P” and Starling nationals here in January. She is regatta secretary and will be busy with this until the end of January.
We have unloaded some of our belongings into the car which will be put into storage while we are away for a couple of weeks. We intend to go somewhere deep into the Marlborough Sounds for Christmas and New Year returning to the camp on January 5. I start another learn to sail on the 8th and then we are into the major contests.
There may not be another blog for a week or two, so, Merry Christmas everybody and a happy New Year.

The picture is of Saturday Optimist sailing at the Yacht club.
Summer might be here! The 1st December saw fresh snow on the mountains with a very light dusting on some hills near the city. The heater was out of the cupboard
Each week I seem to have a visit from someone from up north. Len and Daphne from Bucklands Beach and Gael Robinson (nee Harrhy) in the last fortnight.
Our sailors continue to show improvement, and the increased activity around the club is pleasing to all.
There is a colony of penguins who live under the clubhouse. They are noisy when there is no activity in the building.
On Monday evening one of our sailors was sailing in his “P” class when a little blue penguin jumped in to the boat with him. The bird had been swimming round close by for a while and then decided to hitch a ride. The lad sailed back to the Yacht club ramp where he and his family petted the penguin for a while before putting it back in the sea. The bird swam around and appeared to have difficulty in diving so it was taken to the local bird rescue organisation who are looking after it. The things that happen when you are around and about!