SATURDAY 23 APRIL 2011
Well by 10 o’clock last night the boys actually did go to sleep! And there wasn’t a stir until 6:30 a.m. this morning. Earl nipped down to the harbour to check the sea condition and returned to rouse the late sleepers. The three older boys wolfed down some Milo cereal, grabbed the snack pack and you could taste the excitement as they set off aboard Kiora in the chill of the early morning.

It wasn’t long before the other three were up and about too though they dawdled over breakfast, played a game of monopoly then set off to the harbour. While they were gone I nipped to the shops, bought a soccer ball as Daniel’s had a puncture and got a few groceries. The house was locked up but when I returned I noticed the bikes were back but no sign of the boys. Clearly they’d gone off somewhere on foot. I opened up and nearly leapt out of my skin when three small bodies leapt from hiding and gave me a fright! Josh had found the bathroom window slightly ajar, climbed in and opened the front door for the others.
After some small refreshment I took them to the beach front where there is also a lovely field of grass where they spent some time playing soccer before walking back home. Then it was in and out – playing monopoly, off on skateboards, riding bikes, cricket in the garden until the others returned.
At sea the conditions were superb and they had fun catching red fish, mackerel, katonkel and skipjack. Red fish are on the orange list and it would not be right to take too many out of the sea – and strict rules control this too so most of what was caught was released.
Poor Jordon was hit by seasickness and vomited 10 times during the morning but this did not prevent him from landing a lovely katonkel.


Leo fared somewhat better and only fed the fish once. However, they enjoyed the day and seem not have been put off by their maladies. Next time I will dose them with Avomine!








We ate skipjack sashimi for lunch – some had left over fried fish and peanut butter sandwiches. Tonight, we will have meat!
I am now relaxing alone in a quiet house and will soon lie down and read my book. The gang have headed off with Grandpa – down the long beach to the Mond – where hopefully more fun will be had. They didn’t take a camera for fear of it becoming contaminated with sea and sand – so I will have only to rely on their oral reports. More later perhaps.