Fieldays

We live in Hamilton, which is in the Waikato. Centre of the North Island in New Zealand.
Largest area for farming you can find!
So every year they have the Agriculture Days at an event place a few miles from where we live.
We have lived here for 4 years and have never been. Ok we are not farmers so may explain it but it is not just for farming people.
It is generally a great, all be it expensive, day out.

This year we remembered about it a few weeks before it happened so we organised time off work and took the boys out of school for the day. Yes we are those type of parents, happy to take the boys out of school for a little fun!

It is of course winter time here, so everyone rugged up well for the long day that is historically known to be very wet and cold!

Turns out we got the most warmest sunniest day known for years. So sunnies were a must as it was very bright. Steve was with us but I didn't get a picture of him whilst he was driving.

Of course the whole event is about agriculture and farming, animals and anything else you can think of that comes under that title. (Food, clothes and gifts)
We just went to see the big tractors! Like this one....

The boys got to check it out further.....

Steve and I hummed and arrhed about maybe getting one as a climbing piece for the boys in the back garden.....but at $243,000 we decided they could have a $400 trampoline instead!!

Mini Golf

The boys have mentioned Mini Golf a few times recently and so at the end of last year, whilst in Auckland for a weekend, we had a family day out.

Everyone had such fun at this mini golf that had a pirate theme to it, there was some really good control of the ball from everyone and even 1 or 2 hole in ones!

come on mum, it is only a game

who's idea was it to play on stairs?

nice swing

the boys loved playing the hole on the ship

Fun was had by all and we can't wait for our next family day out

Sudden Dayout

At 5 to 10 this morning I got a text from my best friend saying 'Funky Monkeys on in 5 mins'

thinking she meant the tv, I quickly turned it on and tried to find the channel I thought it would show on, whilst also texting her back asking 'where?'

The reply I got back was not quite what I expected ' stage by river, city side'

So there I was screaming round the house for everyone to get their shoes on, me, who had just finished vacuuming was trying to get dressed, fast and we just flew out the door into the car.

Steve is driving over the bridge whilst we quickly discuss between us where we can park etc.

Ended with him dropping us off and he went to park the car.

The boys and I ran down the hill, past all these poor adults who must have thought we were mad, at the same time as singing 'head, shoulders, knees and toes' because you could hear the Funky Monkeys on the stage.

We found our friends, plonked down on the grass, watched the show and then told them that more than 5 minutes notice would be lovely next time!

Ben loves the Funky Monkeys, to the extent that if possible he would become the 4th Funky Monkey. He has met Chris, Neil and Joe many times and is always inviting them round for lunch, sadly they are always busy.

The event that was on was actually one that we knew about, the Great Race, a rowing race between Waikato University and Cambridge University, yes the one from England, that is usually racing Oxford!

But we had just expected to wander down to the river for the first race at 12.

Instead we ended staying out all day in the glorious weather that Hamilton has managed to produce for the last couple of days, having an impromptu picnic that was quickly brought from the local supermarket across the road.

With nothing else to do today and the fact it is Father's Day, then we had a great day out with friends that seemed to keep everyone happy.

Have a great week.

Kelly Tarltons

The boys Daycare have been doing an under water theme for the the term and so decided to take the older children to Auckland to Kelly Tarltons which is an underwater experience place with penguins and fish.

Unfortunately they went on a day that the boys were not attending daycare so if we wanted to join them we had to drive up seperately.

We decided to do this and also asked our friends Wendy and Eleanor to join us for the day.

So we had a road trip with 2 adults and 3 children, what fun!

We actually had a great day out. The kids were great in the car on the long drive north and they had a blast at Kelly Tarltons, they loved the sting ray and walking in the tunnel to see all the fish.

We even saw them diving in the tank and cleaning it out. The kids thought it was great to see someone in there!

Kelly Tarltons was built over 10 years ago under ground. They made a huge fish tank and then placed a tunnel through it so the fish are all swimming around you as you walk through. There is also an antarctic experience all about Scott Base and real live penguins in their own special built area.

Teddy Bears Picnic

Hamilton Parents Centre organises inconjunction with Barnardos a Teddy Bears Picnic in the park each year.
It is part of the Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival, but this year was the 13th year it had been running.

To us it is our major fundraiser, we organise it all and we get to keep the funds made at the end.

So this was my first involvement and it was a blast. We were lucky with the weather but only just, there were a few trickles of rain, but nothing that didn't just cool everyone down.

The kids loved all the entertainment and it looked like there was some fun had by all the teddy bears too.
It was a long day for everyone. I got there at 7.30am and the boys got there at 9. We left at about 4.30pm after cleaning up.

Ben had a great time, he got to see The Funky Monkeys, a local kids entertainment group who have been on the tv.

So all in all a great cheap day out. Looking forward to being part of it again next year.

A & P Show

We have taken to this country living with no problem at all.
Cambridge is a small town about 15 minutes drive from us. Very famous within New Zealand for being the horse capital and where all well known horse breeders live and train.
So you can imagine that if they hold an A & P Show it would be good.
Well it was small and cosy and we spent several great hours there.
The boys got to ride on tractors, or at least sit on them whilst I took their pictures.
We got to see lots of demonstrations from animals and lots of horse shows.

We got to sit and watch some wonderful show jumping, which the boys thought was great, even more fun when they kept knocking the poles down!
And we also saw some displays of ClydesDale horses which were magnificent.
All in all a good day out for free.

Glenbrook Vintage Train

Steve has always mentioned that there is a vintage steam train somewhere south of Auckland.
As both the boys love trains we decided to venture there one fine Sunday morning.
After quite an eventful trip there, hence to add I now know to take at least 2 changes of clothes for both boys whenever we go anywhere! We arrived to find a lovely sunny day with not too many people around.
We had some lunch and then ventured onto the lovely restored steam train for a 45 minute return trip across some of South Auckland's green fields.

The boys had a wonderful time on the train, although the ticket did allow us to go again but Ben decided that he didn't want to go on the train again, but did want to go on the little 'Rigger' that you could help with up and down the track in front of the station

Ambury Farm Day

Pony rides, tractor rides, wood chopping and lots of animals. All at a free day out for the kids.

Apart from the weather that could have been slightly better, we all had a great time. Definitely made bed time easy that night as the kids just died!



This was great fun, as the drivers made sure you went over every bump available. All the kids had such fun, but then so did all the parents as well.




Ben decided he had to do the scout challenge. So with the help of a friendly scout who kept the rope steady, Ben successfully made the crossing with little help from me.


We were very proud of him.