So another season of winter hockey has drawn to a close, leaving just the team socials to attend. Actually, the Astroturf season finished a month ago but for some reason the grass season only ended last Saturday. I don’t really know why but it must have something to do with maintaining the mystery that surrounds grass hockey.

Well my grass team had a blooming good season. Out of our 15 games, we lost just once and conceded a meagre 10 goals. It could have gone all pear shaped, like it did last season when we lost our semi-final, but thankfully it did not. Last Saturday we won the final 2-1 so we are the champions! I’m pleased to say that I managed to contribute 6 goals this season.

Chantal’s grass team had a strange season. For the vast majority of the season, they resembled the Portugese rugby team by losing heavily and by the end of July had only scored two goals (both scored by Chantal). Out of the blue, however, they won their first game in three or four years (I do not lie!). They say success breeds success, which proved to be true, as a few weeks later they again beat Sydenham. Two wins in a season for Selwyn Ladies’ Grass Hockey team ranks up there in sporting achievements with the USA beating England in the 1950 World Cup. I’m not sure what happened to the Sydenham players as Selwyn were due to play them again last week but they defaulted. Rumour has it that they have all been cast out of Sydenham Hockey club for bringing dishonour to it!

As for our ‘turf seasons, we both ended up playing a higher grade (Premier Reserves) of hockey than we intended to. Chantal ended up playing between the sticks as her team’s ‘keeper defected to another team during the season. I’m pleased to say that Chantal is probably a better goalie than the ‘defector’ and had a good season. It was particularly satisfying when Chantal’s team beat the defector’s team 1-0! However, Chantal’s team found the first part of the season tough going and were relegated. I’m sure that many of the team were secretly pleased though, as they then went on to win the lower grade’s final (first grade) so will start next season back where they started!
For reasons not quite made clear my team were also placed in the Premier Reserves. We knew it would be a tough season as our approach to playing is slightly less serious than some of the others. Particularly against the school teams that train two or three times a week and turn up 45 minutes or so before games. Who knows what they talk about. In contrast, most of my team turn up a few minutes before games and sort out playing positions once the game is under way! Anyway, we suffered a few heavy defeats but also started to string some results together half through the season. Anyway, we managed to not finish bottom so have maintained our position in the Premier Reserves for next season.

That just leaves my grass team's end of season social to attend before the summer season starts. I don't intend to play may games as I have other things I plan to do but...

Whiteware heaven - you can have enough!

You might think we are Trade Me biggest fans, and you are probably right! As we arrived in NZ with practically no furniture and very little else we had to get stuff from somewhere. Enter Trade Me, NZ answer to E-bay. We have had some great bargains, like an old schooldesk (think 1960's) for just $1, a dining table for $10 and what about the $7.50 bike? It works, too, although you do need to peddle to get it going......

Anyway, recently we have also discovered that rather than spend all our money and buy things, we could be sellers, too. Just seeing your auction closing, hoping for a bidding war, it can get awfully exciting. So, after the upgrade of our washing machine we sold our old leaky toploader for $15.50. Considering we bought it a year ago, on Trade Me for $50 I think we have done quite well.

With the purchase of our new house we ended up with a silver fridge freezer, that was built into the kitchen. This fridge freezer still had a warranty on it, it was less than a year old. As we always wanted a beer fridge we decided to keep the white fridge freezer we bought brand new in October last year. The white fridge freezer in the laundry

See attached link:

http://phandcr.blogspot.com/2006/11/growing-up.html

However, most beer fridges are very old, and it seemed such a waste having a new fridge freezer as a spare. So, on it went on Trade Me and last Sunday it was sold:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=116397704

The 'winner' of the auction will collect the fridge freezer next Sunday,

I was kind of sad that we sold the fridge freezer, it was the very first item of whiteware that I had ever bought brand new. However, as soon as we receive the cash I am off to the bike shop, to get a road bike (Pete got one, so I 'need' one, too!).