Maks Update 21st Aug 2006

Mak's spent the night with her mom on Friday night at Sarah's place and I caught up with her on Saturday afternoon. She was in quite a grumpy mood when Donne dropped her off with me and it was either pay attention and play games with her or she got herself into an absolute grump. I usually just put her in her cot if she misbehaves but seeing as she's been alittle unwell lately I felt it best to keep a close eye on her and keep her hydrated with juice in a bottle which she carried around with her from a-to-b...via-g-d-t-q-x
So for the four hours since she arrived it was games, reading books, chasy, and more which absolutely knackered me so by the time I puther down for a nap I was barely able to stand so we had a nap before bath and dinner time. She was rather calm after than so we just chilled out watching tv and reading books till it was bed time.
Sunday we were up at 9am, dressed and down the road to wash Donne's car as it was in quite a state and I wanted to help her out. We drove down the road where I soaped up the car and scrubbed it down as best I could but there was too much gunge attached to get it all in one hit so I'll follow it up next week and finish up vacuuming out the interior but its all good now. Then we came home for lunch and waited for Donne to come round as we were going to go shopping then pop over to her house so I could help her clean her flat. I figure if to clean it out would help give her more time to relax and allow her a better more comfortable place to rest if all the hard work is done. So I vacuumed the flat and cleaned the kitchen while it allowed her time to catch up on the laundry. She made us lovely burgers for lunch that were absolutely delightful and hit the spot perfectly before continuing with the big clean. Maks was taking an afternoon nap during this time which was great for us to get on top of things. It was a great day and I look back thinking I had a perfectly productive weekend and got heaps in and alot done, albeit it wasn't for me I like the sense that I was able to help her out.
We'd only take her car out there and seeing as it was too late and too cold to take mak's out of bed I ended up crashing at Donne's with the intention that we would have an early morning start. I woke up just after 5am thinking it would be time to get up soon but I had fallen back to sleep just as fast I'd woken up and next I looked it was 06:22 oopsie we'd slept in, so knocking on Donne's door to wake her up it was a dash to get her and Maks ready in time to make it to work on time. We left and got stuck in traffic where Maks was soon fast asleep and didn't wake up until we got home to my place after dropping Donne at work.
Got her to daycare shortly before 9am and she was off with her toys waving a small handed goodbye as I left for work.

A long productive weekend

It all started early friday morning as I prepared for a round of golf at the local public course (Chamberlain Park). I arrived early as I wanted to make the most of the day and ended up sitting around due to the fog/mist that lay across the entire course so I made the time up by practising my putting which has always been the major downfall to my final round score.
Once the mist cleared around 9am I took to the tee joining two other getns Andrew and Tom I met that morning and we went round the course in just under 4 hours. Shot 86 due to my terrible wedge play but my putting has improved dramatically which kept my score down nicely.
After the round of golf it was back home to tidy up and clean the apartment once lunch had been put down the human tracked and make sure I had plenty of clean clothes for Makayla when I picked her up from daycare. Well sure enough 5pm came around quickly and I popped down to pick her up and bring her home for a bath and dinner where she made quick work of dinner which mean't I had to cook for more her. Donne came round to pick her up about 18:30hrs to which I then ran off to meet my team from work for a dinner to celebrate coming fist in revenue for the month of July. It was a good dinner with great company but I was rather shattered from a long day and wanted an early night as had golf with the boys early the next morning.
We had dinner at tony's steak house on Lorne street and I was not too impressed by either the service of the meal unfortunately which was rather disappointing, but I'm over it as we didn't have to pay for it.
If your in Auckland New Zealand and want a good steak, you need to visit Lord Nelson's on Victoria Street in the CBD, and you'll get a perfect steak the way you like it, cooked to perfection.
The morning started on saturday rising at 0530am and leaving for an early tee-off time at Formosa country club with Simon and Jason. Seeing I was still feeling abit raw from the day prior it affected my swing but my putting was again improved.
We finished early around 1230hrs to which I then called Donne as we had a plan to go shopping but that was cancelled and I decided to stop by the supermarket and stock up on the way home. Donne dropped Mak's off mid-late afternoon and went back to Sarah's for the night while I took the little grump. Sunday was again a sort of early start giving Maks a bath and breakfast then we jumped in the car (I had Donne's car as I promised her I'd clean it for her) and it was down the road to wash and vacuum Donne's car. it looks way different now, lets just say that and leave it there. Then Donne came round here just after noon and we went shopping for some items at the Warehouse (where everyone gets a bargain) then went back to her house where we spent the entire afternoon cleaning her house out. It was a really productive day I was quite happy with all i'd got done even though it wasn't for me. Ended up crashing at Donne's house as we had taken her car out and it was late and Mak's was in bed already. Before she went to bed she joked that she'd wake me at 0530am - yet it was me her had to knock on her door at 0622am saying "Uh-Oh" needless to say we ran a little late getting to work.
Well that was the weekend in a nut shell, apart from the Maks update above.....

Maks update Aug 16th 2006

Picking Maks up from daycare yesturday afternoon I noticed that when I held her in my arms the heat I could feel coming from her was a little warmer than usual. Placing my cheek to her forehead it was rather warm but not a enough to become a warning indicator. We walked down to my Aunty Betty's for dinner and met Karyn and Danika there where the two would hug, hold hands and naturally fight over the toys.
I didn't become concerned till we tried to give Maks her dinner and she just wouldn't touch it and more so when I read her daily report card from daycare that Donne had said she didn't sleep well or eat her breakfast. She ate well at daycare but otherwise wouldn't touch any food but instead was thirsty, very thristy.
I texted Donne my concern and we agreed to have her checked out at starship, so after we all had dinner we rocked on up the road and sat and sat and sat while waiting for a nurse to see her.
After arriving about 7pm we were finally seen about 10pm and we gave her some medicine and general check up, also gave her some more ventalin and I've never seen her so scared before, was quite disheartening but it had to be done as we keep telling ourselves. She's back at daycare today tho, it was just a check up as she's been sick for most of winter

Maks Update Aug 15th 2006

Last saturday while sitting at work in front of a computer that has as much processing speed as a dead squirrel on the side of a road I received a text from Donne saying that she was going to take Maks for her first 'real' haircut at her hairdressers.
About an hour or so later I received a second text saying that her haircut was hilarious and this didn't hit home until I picked her up from daycare yesturday afternoon. When I arrived I found her sitting at the table with 2 other children just chilling out eating a biscuit. Just as soon as she saw me she gracefully slide off the chair and walked her way over to me with arms held high.
She only had a trim but the way the hairdresser cut it makes her look more like a boy so we ensure to dress her in pink for the time being until her hair can grow out again.

Gas Price update

Shell began the move yesturday dropping 91 by 4 cents which is only marginal to the 6 cent increase a month or so ago but is a move in the right direction. Petrol prices are more or less like 3 steps forward and one step back over the past year ever on the increase. It now cost's double the amount to fill exactly the same car as it did 5-6 years ago which is staggering to say the least.
THe price's dropped as stated on lastnights news report that the NZ dollar is stable enough for the price reduction, this I find hard to believe and expect is just a plot to hide the next increase in fuel.

Diesel remained the same with no change.

Broke 90

i've only done this a handfull of time before but breaking 90 is a true marker when aiming to get your handicap down and being able to shoot a low score.
Played Huapai on where after playing there the previous Sunday where i shot 92 I only shot better by 3 strokes finished with an 89. While it's only 1 shy of 90 the marker has been broken nonetheless.
The worst part of the days is that my putting, never really my strong point in the game held me back yet again from clearing a low 80's score. Making 42 putts of which 6 were un-necessary 3 putts - so more work on my short game and hopefully we'll be posting lower scores in the short term.

Neville Ian Stark

Father to Five, Husband to Bernice and more recently Majorie, Grand father to Rachel, Rebecca, Marcia, Michael, Leanne, Karyn,Phillip, Matthew, Melissa, Kate & Andrew and Great Grand Father to Riley, Danika and Makayla. And countless more......
Loved by all whom knew him, those people came in shear numbers to pay their final respects to Neville Ian Stark at Hamilton's Salvation Army Hall yesturday.

The blessing of the day is that my mom and dad were able to make the funeral just in time. They were due to fly down from Hong Kong thursday night but a typhoon had kept all the planes grounded so they missed their scheduled departure time. They were trying to get on to a Qantas flight but could only get wait listed to which unfortunately they missed getting seats as many other people were also trying to find connecting flights out. Finally they were able to find seats on an Air New Zealand flight that would arrive into Auckland at 9am on the day of the funeral whereas the funeral service was scheduled to commence at 11am sharp. Jake kindly offered to pick them up from the airport and drive them down to hamilton where they made it at 10:55 and not a moment later. I was so happy to see them that I had to struggle to keep back the tears of sadness for the occaission and of shear joy that they had made it.

During the service Makayla was quite active to say the least but we got through with serveral kind words and pray's and dad admitting openly in public for the first time that I'm aware off that he used to steal the pinky bars from Grandad's service station back in the day. I had always thought he was much younger at the time but I learnt otherwise yesturday didn't I 'pinky boy'.
At the conclusion of the service I was a pallbearer carrying Grandad's body to the awaiting hearse and for a small buy, it weighted ALOT but even though I'm sure I've put a back mussle out it was a great honour.

After the service there were refreshment drinks with chit chat and mingling around the snack foods. Donne shinned brightly keeping a smile on my face as while makayla usually does that I was running around madly changing nappies, getting food and so on and so on but it's all good. After 30-60 minutes we decided to join Karyn back at their motel to relax for a small while but after stopping by burger king for some refreshments we received a call that the burial had been brought forward so headed directly out to Gordonton cemetary. Makayla was fast asleep and continued so even after putting her in her pushchair, not even the Corp band's music woke her.
More tears and final farewell's as his body was committed to the earth and flowers were placed over his casket and was happy to see his salvation army cap n hat perched aloft on the casket.

As noted below Donne came down with me which mean't so much to my family and was a welcome comfort of support and I cannot thank her enough for that. Your presence was greatly appreciated for making me laugh and keeping my spirits high.
Thank you

Maks update August 6th 2006

It's been a rather hectic week with maks being sick throughout the week but she's well on the road to recovery now. Last Wednesday I was at work for roughly over two hours before I received a phone call from Kindercare advising that Makayala had woken from her morning nap with a temperature over 39 degree's. This caused concern so ran straight down from work and picked her up and dropped by the doctors on the way back (must say its handy having them nearby and Doctor Peter Norton is Fabulous with her). We've kept her home for the remainder of the week to allow her to fully recover to which she only now has a runny nose so we're almost clear. She should be able to go back to daycare tommorrow, well I hope so as I can't afford any more sick days.
Friday morning I received a phone call from her Uncle arranging for a round of golf which worked out well as Donne also had the day off and was meeting a good friend we used to work with at Freedomair. I don't think she's seen lil mak's for quite sometime so she would've developed and grown alot since then. Donne and I have noticed that she's grown taller as of recent and know this by her ability to reach things off the dining room table and off counter tops with her lil chubber fingers.
Friday arvo we went to visit her Aunty Leighann at her new flat in hillsborough/Mt Roskill where she was entertained releiving me of some pressure and allowing time to sit back and relax. Leighann will be flying out to live/work in Singapore in a few months time so I want her to spend as much time with Maks as she can before her departure.
Saturday was an early start to what turned out to be a very long day, where my alarm went off at 6am, my secondary at 06:45hrs so I could get up at 7am. We had to be out the door no later than 8am for reason's that will be explained further on. Felt guilty for waking her from her slumber but she soon woke up when she found it was bath time (she's really enjoying bath time now and kicks a hissy fit when the time comes to get out) then it was weetbix for brekkie and a bottle of milk.
We departed my apartment 5 minutes late as were scheduled to pick Donne up at 0830 from her house, but we made good time and arrived 1 minute late. We then made our way south towards Hamilton or "the Tron" for my Grandad's funeral service.
We made good time and had time to pop quickly in to McDonalds to grab breakfast for Donne and myself before continuing on.
During the service, Mak's had a nice nap on the route down so was full of energy during the funeral service running around, ripping up our tissues and trying to climb on to stage. She only sat still during the songs sung through the service.
She was getting quite restless so fortunately Jake offered to take her out and entertain her while Donne and I could remain in the service.
Following the remembrance service there were snacks provided and the opportunity to meet family and friends but we had to depart after a short while as Maks was getting restless once again.
During the burial she was unaware of anything as she was fast asleep in her pushchair and had no idea what was going on until we were back at the motel to rest up. Donne had a rest so I kept maks busy so not to interrupt her mothers rest, although she did get away from me a few times to wake her mom up, Sorry Don.
After a good long break it was pushing on 6pm so we went over to my uncle Ray's house for a snack and be with family and friends before making the long push home.

Golf Swing Clinc

This morning I was waching a re-run of the ING Golf Show on sky and caught the background on the AUT Golf Swing Clinic where it show cased specialised training and coaching in regards to all facets of the golf game from putting, chipping, course management and more. What sold me on the idea is that the golfer shown in the program is a guy I know who works at Golf Downunder, a regular shop I visit frequently and where I've spent most of my money recently. Jaq as noted by the shop owner Regan is said to be a very talented golfer who should soon turn pro. What they were able to show him at the clinic is by wearing a special set of goggles the goler is able to view a tiny small screen that relays an image from a camcorder in real time showing various views of the actual golfer. The camcorder can be placed at any angle eg. in front or to the rear so the person wearing the goggles can visually see exactly what they are doing at each stage of their swing. What Jaq was able to see in his own swing is that his club face was coming into the body too close so with this new tool can correct his swing by seeing where it is in relation to his body position. An amazing tool as any golfer can tell you, as when you stand over the ball you can't see any part of the swing which is why we need a coach to view and break it down. In past they have recorded the image and then replayed it back on a tv screen for analysis which you then need to take back and try and rectify. With this new training tool you can cover all of that during the swing checking position's and alignment to the body, club and ball.
The golf clinic has training lessons focussed on all groups from beginner, intermediate to advanced levels of golf.
This is something I am most interested in checking out for myself and after talking to Jaq later today will arrange an appointment to check my swing.