15th January 1997

         Welcome back readers >:)
        Back to the diary of events while our guest was visiting us here in sunny New Zealand, home of the Americas Cup, The All Blacks, more than a few sheep, the odd tourist and the occasional cyclone...
        The next excursion was when Chris, my mother in law and the kids all went to Kelly Tarltons Underwater world. I decided not to join them as it isn't "4x4 friendly" - the walkway is a little like a conveyor belt that circles the huge tanks and I like to stay a while and watch the variety of sea life interact, "normal" folk can step off the carousal to do this but it's impossible in a wheelchair so it would frustrate me to go round and round in circles while missing out on all the fun stuff..who knows the sneaky eels might slip out for a bite the moment I was out of sight! So instead of an exercise in frustration I spent the afternoon with a friend. That was wonderful! It was peaceful and relaxing and it recharged my batteries a little. The rest of the family had returned by the time I got home and I spent the remainder of the evening in the kitchen preparing for our day out the next day.

        Day 5: Goat Island and a close call....We left home at 6am for Goat Island, a marine reserve. The car loaded with kids,Sebastian, picnic baskets (read shopping bags) filled with all sorts of edibles, towels, beach umbrellas and my mother-in-law. We arrived a little after 8:30am and then the fun began. There was the hassle of getting me to the beach which is a fair trek from the car park and down a fairly steep rocky slope. Chris carried me and arrived exhausted..ok I'll go on diet! We unpacked the gazillion things I had made, the chicken, eggs, salads, bread rolls, coffee, tea etc etc and then the kids and their grandmother went off for a swim. Tarryn soon returned unimpressed as the waves were pretty fierce and under the water there were rocks and hollows and she kept losing her footing. Anyway Candi and "Gran" stayed in the water for a while longer. As I was watching them I commented to Chris that they shouldnt be getting so close to the rocks as it wasnt safe. I kept watching and they went a lil further out and a lil closer to the rocks. Mother in laws hands came up in the "distress signal" I called to Chris to take a look."no its ok " he says " they are just waving..they probably want Tarryn to join them".."hmmmm" I mutter "surely she knows better than that..I am sure something is wrong." We watched a moment longer..by this time I was getting more concerned. The sure enough they hit the rocks, the waves pounded at them and Candi screamed for Chris and off he ran. Fortunately the rocks were accessable from the beach so he could run along the rocks to get to them. By the time he got to them they we a lil grazed and bruised from the pounding, also a lil shook up..so was I. You wouldnt believe the feeling I had..I was watching my daughter being smashed against the rocks, fighting to stay above the water and I could do nothing but sit and watch...its something I NEVER want to feel/see/experience again! Anyway it ended well, just a few bruises and scrapes to show for thier harrowing experience. Needless to say we left shortly afterwards. Next stop was Orewa beach..my favourite spot (apart from home) Lovely golden sand with blue seas and nice waves..just enough to make it fun but not enough to get into trouble. The kids got terribly sunburned despite the application of sun screen etc..oh boy are they suffering now!!

        Our next little adventure was very different...but that is lined up for my next journal entry. So once again folks.. Watch this space!
        So till next time remember "It is best to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" >:)

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