I was looking around for something to write about, and I came across this picture, the worlds smallest fish, the Paedocypris. When scientists measured the fish with a special microscope it measured only 7.9 millimeters from nose to tail when full grown. As well as being the worlds smallest fish it is also the worlds smallest vertebrate (or back boned animal)  These fish are found in the peat wetlands in Indonesia and there extremely small size helps them survive in droughts, they can also survive  in acid water with a P.H of 2.9 which is 100 times more acidic than rain water. Their habitat is threatened by forest fires and logging.

 I personally think this is a pretty amazing fish, firstly because of how small it is, only 7.9mm and that it can live in such conditions, in that must acid! I am also amazed at how the range of sizes fish can be the smallest 7.9mm the longest at 9m the oar fish.

Info and pics from: http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1555027.htm 

Knees shaking. stomach trembling, goosebumps rising. This was the students on the start line for the 2008 cross country at Te Awamutu Intermediate on the 13 of August. The year seven girls (me) were at 2:00 and as it was raining we are in the A.L.C until our race so we had no idea who had won the previous two races! We were called out to do a slow warm up run (around the netball courts) and some stretches. The people aiming to come in the top ten (me) were put in the front line, and people aiming top 20 behind us and so on. The clapper/hooter/starting gun went and we all zoomed of into the distance, (well not quite!) Our course was 3km around. My aim was to keep up to the front and hopefully gain the lead. I kept to my plan, and was in front about 1/4 of the way through. Through out the course were teachers and non-participating students directing us. The directions were O.K although we were unsure of where to go as at the top of one of the hills there was no markers! We splashed through the big puddle about 200m from the end, and with a sprint at the end I finished first. I was very happy as I though the compition might have been hard. Dad was at the end to greet me then he rushed off back to the farm.

Not only was the cross country an individual thing it was an interhous and interclass compition too. There was a lot of pressure on out class to win as we have had the sheld for the last seven years, (or something!) We had 6-7 in the top ten from our class and 20 in the top 40 so we have a good chance. We will not know till next week!

I now have the inter-schools at Porrit stadium on Tuesday. (eek) Wish me luck!!!!!!

On  Monday and Tuesday afternoons I am in a practicing debating team. The people who are not in the practicing team are going to Belmontsports exchange. (when our school exchanges students with a school in Auckland.) As I’m going with soccer, I am not part of the other five year 7’s with the change of being the only year 7 in the team. We have prepared speeches and done impromptu speeches on the spot. We have also done a debate on the topic they will be debating about. It turned out to be ‘experimenting and testing on animals should be banned.’ Personally I am not sure which I agree in; because cutting open animals is obvisly wrong, but would you chose a stray cat to be tested on andmaybe killed or friends and family? We think that the Belmont team will chose for animal testing being banned as it is slightly easier. So we have started researching because even though the practicing team is not actually going the other team needs someone to practice against. Tomorrow we are debating on whether home work should be banned. Luckily we have the good side: Homework shouldbe banned. I enjoy debating and it might improve my speeches!

On the 4^th of August I have my Irish dancing exam. (eek!!!)  It will be for grade four, in previous years I have passed grades; -1, 2 and 3 with highly commended and. grade 1 with honours. The exams includes bar work, centre work, theory and the main dance. The dance is made out of the small steps we do at the bar and in the centre, the whole exam only takes about 15 minutes. A tiny amount for all those weeks of practice!  Every Wednesday we drive up to Hamilton at 4:45 to dance practice, which is a bit weird because my teacher actually lives in T.A!  

For this exam we are dressed in black stocking and leotards, very weird sparkly (a bit puffy) skirts, a very hard to put on (the same material as the skirt) sash, safety-pined with a sparkly brooch, as well as a sparkly tiara stuck on with almost a whole bottle of hair-spray. Over all we do not look as bad (although VERY sparkly!) as we sound although all of us cannot wait to get new dresses next year! Our main thing is our shoes: Irish hard shoes. They are quite similar to tap shoes but instead of metal, a piece of fibreglass stuff. To some people they seem to belong on a witch as they are black and pointy. And as the name stats very hard, accidentally hitting your shin with one can make you almost screech with pain!

My dancing teacher Mrs Welton also takes ballet and character dancing, she was also in the New Zealand Ballet As well as the exams we do a large show at the end of the year with all the Dury-lane dancers it is huge(going for about two hours) and great fun to be involved in.

I am looking forward although I am VERY nervous about the exam, I know almost everything perfectly and my theory is pretty good. Wish me LUCK!!!!!!!!!!

O.k O.K I know Alex is probably almostup to 200 comments but still I have100 comments! (Thanks) Please keep leaving comments as I am now aiming for 150!

On the 26^thof July the Reds (my soccer team) was playing Western United in Glenview, Hamilton. When I woke up it was a very dreary day, with large grey clouds in the sky and a slight drizzle raining down. After a long lie in, the weather had got a bit worse. We drove up to Glenview with the hope that the weather would improved, well our hopes didn’t come true.  The field that we were playing on was practically deserted with only the game before us on the go. After warming up we ran onto the field that’s when the rain came down, so heavy at some point you could hardly see the ball. We battled the weather and VICTORY we scored our first goal. At that point the rain was at it’s heaviest and we were asked if we wanted to stop. No Way if we stopped the sore would be a draw, we wanted to win! The rain was clearing and at half time but the wind was bone chilling so we were bundled up with our sweat shirts UNDER our uniforms! Two more goals were scored and one very muddy field created. We came off in triumph, cheered for the other team and went home to a nice warm shower!

Yesterday night it was Mums Birthday party.  She was getting her hair blow dried at the hair-dresser, and as it didn’t take long the hair hairdresser asked if I wanted my hair curled. I agreed. She spent ages doing it. When it was at last finished it looked pretty neat. Mum needed to pick up the cake and balloons she also had to organise what food she wanted. So she told me to walk home. It wasn’t raining so I agreed, my hair was still curly when I checked in all the cars windows. After dad had let me in I re-checked in my bedroom mirror. They were all gone! All that was left was a slight wave and a whole lot of used damp hairspray. When I told dad we ran drove back down to the hairdressers just as mum was leaving. The hairdresser quickly straightened my hair which turned out to look a lot better than curls! She said that the moustire in the air might have flattened them or that it was raining (she didn’t believe me that it wasn’t!) It turned out for the best as I think that straight hair suits me better.

(P.s I will write a post on mums birthday tomorrow.) 

After my soccer practice on Thursday the 27th of June, I helped pack the family car for our holiday in Rarotonga. We were leaving at eight the next morning but due to customs we had to be there at 6:00am. Meaning we would have to leave at 4:00am (or earlier ) to get there in time if  we were leaving from home. So we decided to stay the night in a hotel which offered free parking for the amount of time your trip will take.  It was a very cosy room with a HUGE bathroom and really soft beds. The breakfast that was provided started at 3:00amfor the few early flights! We woke at five and devoured a yummy breakfast. After checking in we looked round the duty free shops HUNDREDS of times until our plane was ready to board.

The plane ride was only four hours and it was over before I knew it with the help from a few movies and lunch. The Rarotongan airport wastiny, most of it was outside.We were shown to our bus and welcomed on board with a flower necklaceand a bottle of water. after the very slow (the speed limit is 50 kph and 30km in town) and bumpy (the buses look ancient and they all rattle!)  ride we arrived at our hotel; The Rarotogan Resort and Spa.

 It was paradisebut very hot in jeans and T-shirts. Our luggage at last arrived I quickly ran down to were you hire the snorkel stuff, grabbed some and splashed into the water. There was GREAT fish, really pretty and colourful. After a long refreshing swim we had a lunch/afternoon tea meal of chips. (A lot of our meals were like that-at the wrong times!) There was a also tropical breakfast provided it was SOOOOOOOOOOO YUMMY; with all the fresh tropical fruits like paw-paw (papaia,) bananas, oranges, coconut and others. There was also yummy yogurt and croissants as well as my favourite COCONUT BREAD! The staff were all really nice and our room was nice and cool (with all the free shampoos and stuff) right on the beach! The water was bright blue and provided a beatiful view. We hired two little scooters to travel around on. We went around the back roads one afternoon on the motor scooters it was quite nice a showed a compleatly different side of Rarotonga.

There was a whole lot of activities that the hotel organised a few of the ones that I did were; Crab hunting (for the crab races the next night-it was really freaky picking them up) Crab racing (where you bet on a crab. There were some massive crabs almost as big as a ‘bread n butter’ plate,) hat making (out of coconut leaves-mine looked like a fruit bowl,) Sarong tying and making (where you made a sarong -$20 and then you were taught a couple of the 314 ways of tying it,) island drumming lesson (we were taught a few beats on the four different island drums,) A  coconut show(where you were taught about the ‘tree of life’ and it’s many uses,) a free scuba lesson (it was really cool, just like snorkelingbut you could go way under with out choking.) There was HEAPS of others including a night snorkeling tour I wanted to go on it but it was too ruff the night it was planed and it couldn’t be rescheduled.   

Between all the snorkeling and swimming we did a few tours. Our first one was “Tama’s lagoon tour” We were picked up outside the front of out hotel (by another of those bumpy buses) and driven half way round the island (32km all round) to where the tour started. The clear bottom boat was cool; you could see ALL the fish swimming under neat you but the snorkeling was almostbetter than at the hotel. There was heaps of giant clams! (which are Rarotonga’s paua as it is too salty for Paua to grow there.) They were really impressive. There was also a demo of how they grow the black peals (there is SOOOO many shops selling black pearls it is almost not funny anymore!) We were given a piece of bread and the fish came right up and ate it our of your hand it was great. I also saw a HUGE moray eel and one guy patted it! (NO WAY was I going thatclose!) There was also a yummy BBQ lunch and another coconut show as well as a sarong show. We also went on a mountain walk; our tour guide was called Pa, he was about 70 (with blond dreadlocks,) very fit and the islands medical man. It was an interesting and fun trip and along the way he showed us a whole lot of natural remedies. We also had a yummy role for lunch. There was thousands of mosquitoes though! The last tour that we did was the Raro Safari Tours. We went down all the back roads of Rarotonga and we were told all about the fruit trees and the history. The best parts would have been going up (and down) some really bumpy and steep tracks (”EEK”) And also another BBQ lunch (this one was nicer though!) Also one morning we into town to go to the local market. I was expecting something tiny. It was huge. There would hve been at least a fifty stalls. We couldn’t stay long but it was really neat!!!! ( we bought heaps-to dads disgust)There was heaps of people and fun! Also one time when Dad and I were snorkeling I saw a rock move; it turned out to be an Octopus! It was really graceful and it didn’t squirt ink at us!!!!! 

The trip was really neat, I did lots of thing that I have always wanted to do; see a shooting star, drink straight out of a coconut, see an octopus, try a prawn and  have a great holiday!! And guess what? I got to go back on the very day the school holidays were starting!

Have you ever thought of getting a pen-pal*? If you have it is a great idea, you get to find out what life is like in another country or town (if your pen-pal is from overseas or in a different part of the country to you,) or you could just send and receive letters from a friend just down the road. It is also always exciting to receive something in the mail, (there is hardly any mail for me; always bills and stuff for mum and dad.) 

I do have a pen-pal in Japan who came to stay with us for a week as a school exchange, I have also have a pen-pal in Scotland. Both were really nice girls and we were pen-pals for ages! My best friend and I also occasionally send each other mail-and we live down the street from each other! 

One thing that I have learnt is; that it’s more likely that you will receive mail if you send it. Because the person that you send it to is most likely to send one back to you, as they get a consent reminder every time they see the letter on the kitchen counter etc.

To find a pen pal: I wouldn’t recommend getting one off the Internet as there is some pretty creepy people out there. You could maybe ask your parents or relatives if there is a second cousin or someone  in another county or town who could be your pen-pal, or maybe an exchange student from school, even a friend you met overseas (if you have been overseas and if you met a friend.) Or you and a few friends could start a letter group thing; where you send mail in a circle. A ‘E-Pal’ is another way; where you receive and send emails; as sending letters to another county can be quite expensive.

So if you were already, or I have convinced you do get a pen-pal I really recommend it!

 *A pen pal is a person (normally in another town or country) who you send and receive mail with. (Usually  who you rarely or never see in person.)

(I will write a really long post on my holiday next week!)

I never failed once it was just a 2000 step process                 

Thomas Edison (when asked what it felt like to fail 2000 times trying to create a light bulb.)

I think this is a very inspirational quote, to even think what it would be like to have to try that many times is hard work; it is impossible to imagine what it was really like! Thomas Edison is one of the many people who if they gave up, our lives would be very different. Imagine life with out a light bulbs, cars, T.Vs or even things as simple as toasters. To me I would have to make dramatic changes, not read at night, have to bike everywhere, or get a horse (now that would be a good idea) I would also have to find another type of entertainment (with out T.V) And not have toast!!!!!!! So next time you are using something electronic, stop and think; can I live with out this? If the answer is no, remember thereis no such word as can’t. This may sound cheesy but its true, there was no ‘can’t when Thomas Edison was building his light bulb! 

In the last week of school we have science fair. this will be my first science fair, so when I heard that we would be doing one I didn’t really know what to expect. I first thought it might be like the ones you see on American high school movies; with the exploding volcanoes and confusing contraptions where there is parents, judges and students milling around. (and normally someones project blows up!) But listening to the year eights we are not even allowed to be with our projects when they are judged, only the judges will actually be in the same room as the projects.

 We spent a lot of time going over the scientific method in class , (they order and way that scientists carry out an experiment.) we also did two group experiments which were: ‘How does salt and sugar make a difference on the speed of ice melting?’ The other one was. ‘How does the shape of the wings affect the distance that a paper aeroplane would fly. I liked the paper plane one better as watching ice melt might even be more boring than watching paint dry!!  In the end (after and hour and a half) none of my group’s ice had actually melted!  After we had been taught all the necessary requirements it was time for us to start thinking of our question. The school science teacher came into our class one lunch time to give us ideas. I was going to do “how does different liquids added to bubble mixture affect how big the bubbles are?” But I was told that lots of others were also doing that question. She asked what equipment I could get my hands on I told her nails as dad always has spare nails in his work shop. I ended up deciding on “how does salinity (salt) affect the oxidation (rusting) speed?” I was going to use nails to test it on.

I got a science fair note book  (a vital part of the scientific method)and started to research I found out a whole lot of stuff about rusting and salt. My hypothesis (guess) is that the jar with most salt will rust the fastest. Tonight I started my experiment Mum got me some rock salt but it didn’t really dissolve so we heated up all of the five pots when They were cool I added the nails. They are now sitting in the kitchen rusting!!

I hope I have good results from my experiment and that it all goes well.

This is a report we did at school, we had a choice of elephants or wetas most people chose elephants.

The elephant being the largest and second tallest land animal is well known for its size. This amazing animal is full grown at 25 years although it can live up to a massive 65 years.

There are two species of elephants; the African elephant, which is the largest out of the two, at  two-four meters tall and weighing 7500kgs and the Asian elephant is smaller with littler and more curved ears. Another difference about the two elephants is that only the male Asian elephants have tusks unlike the African Elephant where both males and females have tusks.

In most other areas the two species are mostly the same. All elephants have two small eyes which are protected by very long lashes. They are colour blind and they have limited vision in strong light. Their large ears are all individual, similar to the human fingerprint. Most elephants have tusks which are actually teeth that continue growing until they reach 1.5 meters, weighing 45kg each. The tusks are used for digging, fighting, feeding and lifting. The skin is grey and big wrinkles help the elephant stay cool. And its nose; more well known as a trunk. As well as breathing and smelling it can be used to pick up food and suck up liquid and sensing.

 Elephants live in family groups called herds where all the elephants help protect the young. To communicate with each other they, trumpet, bellow, cry or snort. To indicate danger they flap their huge ears against their heads, and then the herd gathers closer together. Elephants only sleep for two-four hours at a time either standing or lying. 

Elephants live in deserts, mountains or tropical forests in Africa, India and Southern Asia. They eat grasses, leaves, roots and shoots if they are in the wild. If they are in captivity they will be fed hay, oats, potatoes and even some meat.

Even though they are such amazing and beautiful animals, poachers are still after them. They want the ivory that their tusks are made of. This is very valuable and it is used to make ornaments or jewellery.  People are also cutting down their habitat to make homes or factories. This is also reducing the number of elephants in the wild.

So we should do what we can to protect these beautiful creatures as they are endangered but their species deserve to survive.   

My dad is a farmer and he has one of those really cruddy Utes that N.Z farmers have. It is really, really, really, dirty, it also has a cracked door, smudges on  the windscreen and windows where our dog has licked them. It has four seats but Dad has trouble even fitting one passenger! It is like his traveling workshop with all his tools over the seats and our dog on the front seat so there is hardly any room!

He was discussing with my mum that he thinks he needs a new vehicle. He wasn’t that sure about what sort of thing that he wants . And when I was buying a friends birthday present up in Hamilton. After one of my soccer games (and as walking round a whole lot of girly shops is NOT my dads sort of thing) he was looking at a car competition (one of those flash looking 4-wheel drive things) and he called mum over. He said that he might need something like that instead of another Ute or a van like he’d been thinking.

So on the way home mum spotted the shop of the brand, that the competition car was. We stopped. I stayed it the car as it was a really cold day and I wasn’t in the mood for being freezing. They came back about 1/4 of an hour later and asked if I wanted to see the one that they thought might be appropriate. It was really flash with black leather upholstery and heaps of room and even a big enough boot for all dads tools and Norm our dog.

I had the birthday party at two so we had to get back. When I got home a couple of hours later I discovered our outside dog INSIDE! He was really good even when dad when out to the kitchen and he stayed right in front of  dads  chair! Well back to the car. I was told that after I had finished unpacking my small bag, to go and look in the garage, I thought that it might have been so that I could bring the clothes on the line in… But when I looked it was one of those big 4-wheel drive things which I found out was on trail for the weekend to see if it was the car for dad.

Dad took me to soccer in the morning; melted socks and all (see below!) in the trail car. We then went to our farm and drove up and down the big step hills at the back of our property just to check the 4-wheel drive. Dad thought it was pretty good, and I really liked the sigh light thingy. The next morning (this morning) dad took it back it was VERY dirty! ( the car washer can’t have been very happy!!)

So I was quite surprised when I got home from school to see a Honda Jazz sport (a trial car) sitting in our drive way! It has back seats that go right up so that Norm (dog) would fit in perfectly ( if we get it). We took it for a test run out to Pirongia and back, we then cheeked if Norm (our dog) would stay in it; he did! We then went up to Hamilton to see my Grandad he liked how the seats when up and down. I hope we get the Honda Jazz though Dad still hasn’t decided!

On  Sunday the 8th of June I was playing a soccer game in Hamilton. The morning started out a usual Sunday; me not wanting to get out of bed, rolling over, going back to sleep, etc. After feeding the cats and the dog I watched the ‘exciting’morning T.V and relaxed for a while. I was then told to get ready; my boots and shin-pads were already heating up by the fire, so I decided to warm my socks up too. I brought them out from my room and placed them by the heater and went to clean my teeth. When I came back they were still not warm so I held them just out from the heater… About 30 seconds later; after talking to dad I discovered that I had put them right on the heater. When I tried to pull them away, they were STUCK!! It turned out that they were made of nylon not wool; like I thought and they had melted onto the heater! My dad started laughing; and it was so not funny! After he had finished laughing he got a  knife  and a roll of paper towels and started to clean up my mess. After a lot of hard work, all that is left on our heater is a rather large smudge (right in the middle) and a horrible smell of burnt nylon when you turn the heater on!

So what I learnt from that  experience is that nylon melts and it is really smelly when it is melted! Also never put your socks too close to a heater!!!!!

(luckily I didn’t get into much trouble as both mum and dad found it funny!?)  Also this story has been changed a bit to make it just that bit more exciting/funny; but my socks really did melt!

On Sunday the 25 of May I was woken up at 5:00am by my dad, as I was competing in a soccer tournament in Auckland with the ‘rep’ team I had recently got into. It started at 9:00 though we had to be there at 8:20; with two and a bit hours to get up to Auckland.

We arrived (after some pretty horrible map reading on my part) to find my team waiting next to an ash-vet field. We were pretty excited as only a few of us have ever played on fake grass. But then we were told we were really playing on a normal field. We followed Matt sulkily to get our uniform; as it was our first tournament. It turned out to be the same black with red stripes; socks and pants (one stripe not 10) and a black top with one yellow stripe down the side!? It was meant to look like the Waikato colours.- Red, Yellow and Black. 

We did a quick warm up; passing. It was very hard as I had missed one of our two practices and I didnt know anybodies name! Soon after, the team that was first on the field was annoced. I was playing right defence. There was three attackers, two mid fields and three defence and the goalie . All the teams that we were versing were all from the wider Auckland region. After winning our first game (1-0); we all got our postions changed I ended up with center defence. And there was one attacker three mids and four defance as well as the goalie. We also won that game (2-0) but as we were getting tired and the next team was a bit better we had a draw.(0-0) Even though we had to get up so early it was still a really fun day!!!!

The Drive up to Hamilton 

The drive up to Hamilton was even MORE eventful than the actual competition!

We had McDonald’s for dinner and we were waiting in the car for the last person to buy there dinner. a van had its backing lights on and I made the comment;”Hey that car will have to wait for us to back” Well the driver certanly didn’t wait it started backing and didn’t stop until he/she felt the bump! We all let out a horrific scream as we felt the van rock!!!! As soon as the van stopped at St Paul’s we all crammed out to see the dent! It was quite big!!

The Quiz

On the 15th of May in the St Paul’s cathedral the 15th annual kids ‘lit’ quiz kicked off.
There was 47 teams of four (188 kids) competing to win thee grand prize of, $160 Book voucher value and a place in the National final. Second place got $100 in book vouchers and third place $40 in book vouchers.
There were 100 questions which were split into 10 categories. Each team had to chose a category to get double points for. The Categories were from elephants to the galaxy both of the Te Awamutu teams chose ‘magic’ as their ‘double’ category. After each Category been asked the ansers  were given follolowed by an adult question in which the adults could win a ten dollar book voucher and a book of there choice. There was also a ‘five dollar question where all the competitors had a chance to win five dollars of the quiz masters money! He was completely broke by the end of the night! The winners of each category won a book form a huge pile of giveaways! If there was a tie the tying teams had a sudden death question the other Te Awamutu team was in a sudden death question but the didn’t get it:(

It finished at about 10 and we didn’t get home till 11 after we had dropped everyone off! So a lot of us had the next day off!

On Saturday it was my first soccer game, well it was actually my first two games. I was asked to play for another team in my grade as they were short on defence players.

My first game was at 9:30 but we had to be there at 9:00 as we needed to warm up! I was a sub to start off with, as I was from another team. I got put on about ten minutes later as ‘right defence’ -we were winning 4-0 at half time. We swapped to an unwilling goalie, as the present goalie was promised if we were winning at half time he was allowed to play. I stayed as right defence and we scored one more goal before I was taken off to warm up with my ‘real’ team -the wolves. I thought this completely pointless as I was already warm; I was playing soccer two minutes ago! We went for a short run around to the empty field where we did goal kicks and goalie practice for the goalie.

We started our game at 11:00am where I was right defence again. The other team scored their first but final goal about 10-15minutes into the game but we matched their performance and scored a goal as well. Through out the first half we scored another three goals. At half time we were rewarded with oranges and jelly beans. Second half we got one more goal even though we were all very tired!!

As the teams I was playing for won both games I think it was a very successful but tiring soccer morning!

Where will you find roads without cars, forests without trees and cities without houses?

This is also from www.riddles.com it has heaps of neat riddles!!!! You should really check it out…

At 6:30am my Dad tried to wake me up before he went to the farm to milk the cows, but I must have taken AGES to wake up, because when I finally forced myself from my bed dad had already gone. I opened my presents on my parents bed, I got lots of cool stuff including a REALLY warm blanket for my bed, a Jumper and a pack of earrings.

I still had to go to school but that was O.K because we didn’t really do much work. We had a literature quiz what was actually quite fun because I knew some of the answers as I read quite a wide range of books. We then had to write a small piece of writing about five things that we are grateful for. After lunch we had french, we learnt how to say”how do you spell your name” and “what is your name” it was quite hard though. A small group of us got to miss out on half of singing, because in the afternoon we would be interviewing some people from the first school committee and we had to organise the video and questions. After lunch we had to interview them it was way harder than we all expected, but at the end I think we had all improved and we were making up questions on the spot!

After school I had soccer practice, all three of the open grade teams are training together so we get to train with people who have different skills than us. This makes it a lot easier to improve y skills etc.

Mum picked me up after. and we went out for dinner to the Thai restaurant in town. It was really yum, but very fulling; even dad was full! We had birthday cake for supper at home; it was a miracle we could fit it all in, but I suppose there is always room for CAKE!

After that I went to bed, I think it was a cool birthday. I cant wait till Friday night though as I am going to the mount with a friend!!

How many times can you subtract 5 from 25?

This is another riddle from www.riddles.com

On Tuesday the 8th of April we went on school camp. The pile of bags was slowly growing as I placed by bag out side our class, we did not need to be at  school earlier than normal but most people were there by 8:30. After the “If you do not behave you will be sent home” talk, we all piled into the cars we would be traveling to Ohope in. We stopped at a lake for lunch and a short bush walk to another little stony beach, so similar to the one we walked from, a lot of people thought it was the same place! We arrived at Ohope Christian camp at about 3:00. Way earlier that expected! WE went over to the beach and had afternoon tea before going to Whakatane swimming pools. We spent about one to two hours there. Playing a volley-ball/water polo type of game as well as going on the hydro slide and swimming. We had salad,  spaghetti and meatballs,for dinner.

The next morning everyone went groggily down to a  breakfast of toast cereal and spaghetti for breakfast before going in our class groups to the days activities. Room three was doing the high ropes and the amazing maze and room seven Shelly-bay, fishing and kayaking we would be swapping the next day. We started at the high-ropes. The guys that were taking us played some warm up games and trust exercises. One of them  was one person would stand on a pile of wood about a meter and 1/2 off the ground then the rest of the group would put there arms alternately in the air, their person o the wood was then expected to fall back and the rest of the group would catch them! It was so scary! You may think that people were heavy but when everyone worked together they were really light! We also had to get into partners, one of us were then blindfolded and the other one had to lead them though a really confusing course, then you would swap and the person with the blind fold would become the leader. Some of the obstacles were Walls, hills, cargo nets and heaps more! We then did the low ropes, they included a wall really high off the ground and you had to get everyone over it with only three people up the top helping and when toy had gone over you wee also not allowed to help! There was also a platform thing on the ground where you had to get everyone an  a platform and if one person touched the ground toy had to start again. There was also a rope thing too. After lunch we had the safety check for the highropes! We were at-last allowed them we had a demo and then we were set free. I went on a tire one first where there were about five tires hanging on ropes on the air and you had to swing across them to reach the next one, did i mention they were TEN meters off the ground? I also went on a platform one where you had to jump the platforms with NO handles to hang onto!I also went on a a wiggly pole one where you just had to climb up a wiggly pole! The bets one would have been the trapeze where you climbed up a REALLY high pole then you had to jump off a tiny platform into thin air to reach for a trapeze I dint get it though but jumping into thin air was really fun! We did the maze next it was made of corn maize and we had to find these card with the answers of the questions on but you had ti write what no’ the answer card was instead of the actual answer! We also had to find pictures on the answer cards as well. It was really cool. there was a night maze too that would have been cool to go in but as it was daytime so we couldn’t't! WE went ot the pools again in the evening and had roast chicken for dinner.

The next day it was our turn to go fishing, kayaking and to Shelly bay. We went to Shelly bay  except it was high tide we didn’t get to see the rock pol but it was still cool cause there was a really pretty walk with neat views of Ohope to get there, then there was heap ans heaps of really cool shells  and trees to climb. As well as the sea to wade in. (we are not allowed to swim in the sea at school camps) WE went back to the camp tired and hungry  to get changed into our togs to go kayaking. We had morning tea and went go to w=the wharf were we we wold be fishung  and kayaking. After and hour and a half=f of fishing I only caught a tiny fish! Kayaking was really fun we played ball tiggy and went round a sand bank as well as getting badly sun burnt! We went to Awakeri hot pools for a BBQ tea and swim. There was only like only like two pool but they were really nice and warm in the cool air. I was freezing after the BBQ and ran back into the pools! We were also allowed to buy lollies.(I didn’t) But the teachers ddin’t tell us that we wern’t allowed to take them back to camp and heaps of people ate theirs REALLY quickly and they were on a high all night!

The next day we packed up and played a couple of games of ruby before spending a hour looking round Ohope before heading of to Te Puke for lunch. We were allowed to buy our lunch. We then ate it a a park and played around before going home to our waiting parents.

That was our REALLY fun camp. What was your last camp? Or when is your next camp?!

What goes up when the rain comes down??

Clue: Don’t think to hard it is quite obvious when you know the answer!! I got this riddle of the website www.riddles.com you should have a look t is a really neat website! (and it may have the answer for this one) 

Every Thursday we have a student assembly at our school; this is where the Class Councilors and House Leaders captains run an assembly. We start with the opening Karakea as we do with all assemblies. Then there is normally a report or photo story about the latest camp or Inter-school sport event. This week it was about room ones camp to Waitomo and the inter-school cricket and touch rugby. There is also sometimes somebody who comes in and tells us about their job. Last week there was a man guy from the prison who is a drug dog handler he told us what his job involves then his dog gave us some demonstrations with a drug smelling cloth. It was really interesting. At the Assembly’s there is also a fairytale skit competition performed by two classes picked out of a hat the week before, it is really funny as the skits are original and there is a wide range of things that classes do. Luckily our class has not been picked yet!!!!  This week there was no job demonstration but the swimming sports prize giving. I got some certificates and a medal for the best year seven girl on the day!! It was finished with the closing Karakea what I still need to learn!!

Sorry to who ever has tried to link to  room 3’s blog though mine before today; I have had a small typo mucking up the link. It is fine now though.

On the Easter weekend I went to stay with my two boy cousins who live  in Cleavedon (near Auckland), because my mum and dad were wall papering the hose and they thought it would be boring for me; so I got sent up to Auckland! (yay!)

They live on a farm and one of them loves anything with a motor, so when my uncle had to hire a digger, if you happened to look in the drivers seat he is who you would find. I also got a drive; it is surprisingly easy as long as you remember to push the right knobs for the right things. Together my cousin and I did a lot of the work that was needed. Even though there was a digger we had to unload all the dirt by hand it was very, very hard work!!!

They also have horses-Annie and Chrissie whom I was allowed to groom and ride what I enjoyed, because even though we own a farm we do not have horses. My uncle took a video of me on the horse (Annie) and will hopefully send it to me.

As it was so hot we were swimming in their friend’s pool. It was a really neat pool; two meters deep and a funny triangle shape, but warm as it was solar heated.

As it was Easter we got Easter eggs! I ended up eating too much chocolate. But we ran it off by playing lots of games of soccer against the trampoline

  The Little Gold Shoe…Once upon a time there lived a king and queen, they had only one daughter she was very, very beautiful and well mannered and they loved her more than anyone had ever thought possible. Soon after the young girl was born her mother died, the King remarried soon after thinking his new wife and her daughter would be good company for his lovely young daughter, he couldn’t have been more wrong, her new step mother was both mean and ugly like her daughter and she made it her job to make the kings daughter miserable.

The King died soon after his new marriage now the young girl had no one to stand for her and was treated as a maid not as a kings daughter, she cleaned scrubbed and dusted she was not rewarded for this and was not allowed to eat sit or talk to company but her place was among the ashes in the hearth of the fireplace, where she sat in the hearth thinking of the times her mother and father where alive the, happy   joyful times this was her favourite pastime. This is how she gained the name; Cinder-girl.

One day a rumour arrive that there was a prince coming and that he would attend the villages local church the following Sunday. The step mother and her daughters rushed around gaining the finest dresses and jewels she could find, and poor Cinder-girl watched, sure she would never have a chance of going. When Sunday came the step mother had scrubbed her daughter so hard her skin was almost washed off. When all was ready the step sister when up the Cinder-girl and exclaimed, “Are not I the best in the land isn’t it somehow different to all your rags” The Cinder-girl timidly asked if she may to go to church, the step sister answered with a scornful laugh “how dare you even think of it, you beggar girl, how could you even think that the prince will look at you!”The Cinder girl wepped at her cruel words, but the stepmother did not even let her weep in peace for she threw a pot of peas on the floor “Pick up all these peas and boil them for dinner before I get home or I will kill you”

As the Cinder-girl went to get water from the spring to boil the peas one of her tears fell into the water, and up came a huge pike, “why you weep so little girl.” And so she told the pike all her problems, the pike told her to “you will go to church with all the others as long as you do as I say” The cinder-girl nodded. “Go along the path until you get to a hollow oak tree in this shall be a dress; the finest you have ever seen, put these on and ride to the church on the horse that will be standing next to the tree.  Sit in between your stepmother and her daughter, but do not speak to them as they will surely recognise you. Leave before the end of mass and take your dress off and replace it with you rags. I will have dinner all made by the time you get back.”As she hadn’t

The cinder-girl was happy as she hadn’t heard kind words in days and so she went to the oak tree and in it was the finest dress she had ever seen she put it on and went off to church, she went inside and sat in between her stepmother and sister. The whole church seamed to glow at her beauty and the young prince couldn’t keep his eyes off her through. Remembering the pikes words she left far before it was to finish and jumped on he horse, seeing the prince following her she yelled “lightness before me, darkness after me” She swapped her dress for her rags and ran home to see the dinner cooed and set on the table. He sat in the ashes where we have become accustomed to find her.

The queen was very disappointed to see that the Cinder-girl a done all that she had asked, as she loved to find faults in the young girls work. As the Sundays came and went the Cinder-girl went to church with the help of the pike many times , the prince grew more and more in love with her and one day he was waiting for her to leave, and  as she was running down the steps she stumbled and  lost one of her gold shoes, the prince grabbed it. The Stepmother was also ready to follow her, and the young girl had no time to get out of her finery so she threw her rags over the top, and ran into the house and sat down on the hearth of the fire, where we have become accustomed to find her.

When the Queen and her daughter arrived home they were angry at the fact that the fine girl at the church had got away, this made the queen even more grumpy than usual, so poor cinder-girl had no peace and was sweeping and scrubbing till dawn.

One morning the queen came into the house with the news that the prince was looking all round the country for the maiden that fitted the shoe, as she new that the Cinder-girl was far more beautiful than her own daughter she shut her in the oven, when the prince arrived the queen did all she could to fit her daughters fat foot into the tiny slipper, but it would not fit so she cut off a piece of her long toes and a piece of her heal. Then a little bird sang out;

“Chop heal cut toe in the oven is whom fits the shoe” “What’s that?” the prince inquired as the bird sang yet again. “Oh nothing” said the Queen but the prince ignored her and open the oven, to discover poor cinder-girl who fitted the gold shoe first try. As the prince was asking her hand in marriage he saw a small piece of gold cloth so he removed her rags to discover her gold outfit, what proved she was the true madden he had fallen in love with at the church.

At the wedding they danced and danced all except the Step mother’s daughter who couldn’t dance as her mother had cut of her toes.

The End

On Saturday the 8th of march I was competing in the Waikato athletics champs, at Porritt stadium in Hamilton.

My first Event was the 800m it was very, very tiring as the people at the front started off really fast! As though they were running a sprint! But I got a nice purple ribbon for coming 5th!

I had a bit of a wait before my next event; the 100m heat, the fastest 8 people out of the 3 heats got into the final, I came 3rd out of my race so I had a chance…

I had long jump next I beat my personal best by a centimeter; 3.82m! but I was very far off winning; the winner jumped 4.74m!! 

I had a four hour wait until  my next event. ‘boring!’ I spent a lot of my time going backward and forward to the results sheet to find out if I got in the 100m final; it turned out that I came ninth, and was 1 tenth of a second from getting in!! But was pleased I got so close as the sprints arnt my good point.

My last event was the 1500m, I was normally Quite good at it but in the heat and being tired from swimming I only came 4th, but I got another pritty purple ribbon. 

But the Medals look alot more impressive! *sigh*   

Title: Alone on a Wide, Wide sea                                                                                                         Author: Michael Morpurgo                                                                                                              Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books                                                                                            Number of pages:308                                                                                                                     Genre:Adventure                                                                                                                                      ISBN: 0-00-723463-5, 9780007234639Turn the first few pages of ‘Alone on a Wide, WideSea’ and you will be pulled into the in’s and out’s of Arthur Hobhouse’s life.  Alone on a boat toAustralia, with no clear recollection of his earlier years, he befriends fellow orphan; Marty. He recounts the vague memory of his sister Kitty singing ‘ LondonBridge is falling down’, while placing a small key round his neck with the words “wear this always.” He then promises himself, that one day he would go back toEngland to find her.   Through the first part of the story it explained, the horrors of Mr Bacon’s private hostel, the joy of finding a home, the sadness of losing loved ones, the struggle of getting out of depression, and also the happiness that follows this. I loved how the author described this, it made you feel as if you were a character.  As Arthur settles down with a wife and family, he keeps quiet about the quest to find Kitty until one day his daughter, Ally asks “Daddy why do you wear the key?” then the adventure begins.With a boat built they are ready to go, until one day Arthur is diagnosed with a brain tumor, he tragically dies, but Ally decides to carry out her father’s goal and sets sail with the handmade boat; Kitty IV. As she sails to
England, she meets up with the strangest of people and makes the most unexpected of friends. I liked how in this part of the book it repeated the loneliness of Ally as it did with Arthur, with out making it any less interesting.  

 I loved the book; where it was set, how it was written and mostly the characters, my favourite would have been, Ally or Alexis; she was one of the most stubborn, but kind and caring characters I have ever read about. Ever since she heard about Kitty she knew she would one day sail over to find her. One of my other favourite characters would be Aunty Megs who was the boys foster mum, she took them in with all her other abandoned creatures and kept them as if they were her own. One character I couldn’t stand was the evil Mr Bacon who treated the boys as if they were pieces of dirt, making them do all the work, even things they were not capable of. There is also lot of emotion in the book what more easily shows the joy and sorrow Arthur went though. 

The only thing that I would change in the book is to more clearly state how old Arthur is or how many years have gone by, as it was a bit confusing to tell how old Arthur was. But other than that Michael Morpugo has written a really great book.  

Please leave lots of comments as it is a really great book.

On Tursday I had my fist band practic. When I first arrived in the A.L.C I was very unsure of what to do as I was new to the School band. As unlike most year sevens I had been playing my instrument, the Cornet (in photo above) before intermediate so I was good enough to play with the year eightss. I had my spit cloth and pencil at the ready as Mr Stanbridge started with the ‘c’ scale.The music wasn’t too hard, as my other band teacher pushes me pretty far, but there were some pieces that I got completely lost on as I haven’t had much practice. One that springs to mind is Spongebob Sqarepants (!), there is some really fast bits in there!!!!!! 

Also half way though our French lesson ,a girl came in telling me to go to Jazz band I was very surprised as I didn’t think I would be in it, but I went anyway and was glad that I did, as we played a really fun and ‘Jazzy’ piece.

I am really glad that I am in the two bands as it is really FUN!!!                                 

Every Wednesday at 5:15 I have Irish Dancing; I have been Dancing for 6 years and I am I am up to grade 4. (We start a grade -1).
I have just started for the year and we are learning a very confusing dance, but I have almost mastered it!! (Yay), we also have to remember an old dance what I have completely forgotten! I hope I can remember it by next week!
The Dance that we have to remember is from our yearly production (not really that long ago, but I have a really bad memory), run by the dance company that I dance with. It is really fun and a great experience as it is at one of Hamilton’s main theaters. There are all sorts of dancing types in the presentation; from Hip Hop to Ballet and everything in between!
Our dance presentation is for St Patrick’s Day, but we are dancing on the 12th of March, so that we don’t get mixed in all the Easter presentations that will be on around the same time.

On Saturday the 16th of February the Waikato Rodeo was on; We were a few of the thousands that observed the days events.
We drove up to the entrance and were greeted by an older man wearing a cowboy hat, asking us if we would like a program, we accepted and drove to, where everyone was parking and found a space.
We were meant to be meeting our friends from Ireland but they had given us the wrong mobile number, so we decided to sit on the bank and watch the riders, while keeping an eye out for them. Five or so minute’s later mum spotted Jill and we moved over to where they were sitting.
The event that was on was the bareback Bronc where the riders try to hang on to a bucking horse with no saddle, one handed. (Not my idea of fun!) One of the riders fell off and his horse rolled on top of him. (OUCH)
One of the horses in the Saddle Bronc (two events later) tried to climb over the fence, before the rider was on, or the gate was opened! it got stuck half way over and panicked. It was helped by a brave organizer.
Barrel racing was the fastest event that we saw where the riders go as fast as they can round three barrels placed in a circle, the fastest time was 18.53 seconds!
The Rope and tie, team roping and the steer wrestling were to events that evolved lassoing a calf or steer, jumping off your horse and tying the animals legs up, as fast as you can. (if you are an animal lover this is not the event for you!)
The events that involved hanging on to a bucking animal, was the most popular events. The aim off this was to hang on to your crazed animal until the hooter went indicating you can get/fall off! The animals buck because the have an annoying piece of rope tied round their middle, just above there back legs; this plus a rider on their backs is too much to bear and the go crazy!
We were all hungry so we decided to get ice creams as there was 10 of us we had to get 10 ice cream, you could almost see gold cones in the sales mans eyes!!!!!
The Rodeo was really cool and really different as I have never been to one before!

On Sunday the 10th of February, I was woken up at 6:15am by my mum telling me I’d better get up, if I didn’t want to miss the triathlon! I slowly got up and we were at the place were the triathlon was by 7:30am just in time to beat the traffic. We had an hour long wait until everyone was ready to start; the race organizer finally told all the competitors to start moving up to the pool. After a really long wait I was finally in the pool our group was finally in the pool. When the starter went, we were all rushing to the end; I was first out of the pool! When the race was over we were given a medal, drink and fruit. The race was really, really fun and I’ll do it again any time!!!!!!!!!!

On Febuary the 4th I had my first day at Te Awamutu Intermediat!!!!! It is really cool with heaps and heaps of experiences, I have tried out for the referee group, I am going to be in the band, I got this cool blog, will go on some really neat camps, we are also hoasting a Japanese student!!