Demolition Darby

Of course I wanna come! One of my older brothers requested for both me and my sister to come with him to Demolition Derby. (Demolition Darby) It’s a racing event consisting of different types of race cars doing set laps non-contact. Sometimes at the end depending on their budget, there’s a race where the cars can contact, do all sorts of tricks and jump over bumps and attempt to crash each others cars. Obviously we wouldn't pass on this great opportunity and it sounds like a lot of fun.

Before we arrived there we stopped at Carl's Junior for a quick bite before rushing off to the arena. Reaching Waikaraka (where demolition darby is held), we came to a stop as our eyes enlarged, my sister and I were so stunned to see how many people my sister and I were so stunned to see how much people were there. No surprises there, huh!

Strolling to the main entrance finding a long que of people who already bought tickets waiting to get in. Entering the grounds through the gates, I looked up seeing a long flight of stairs leading to the top of the stands. There was a barrier that separated the race, and the path at the back that leads to the food canteen. Listening to the sound of the cars lead us …. the corner as I got closer and the throng grew, we took a seat at the back which made it difficult for us to see. Switching seats, we sat on the grass not far from the fence near the tracks.

Prrrmm prrrm! The engines of the cars were getting ready to start, the sound of the engine completely drowned out the voices of those who were talking to me. It really made communicating with others difficult. Suddenly the green light appeared and off they raced, speeding through drifting as they reached the corner was incredible. Having a bet with each other choosing a number on a car, to confirm who would win. Apparently it seemed that my car I choose would always come 2nd, 4th,or 6th, but never first. So the pattern continued.

Shivering as it became chilly , caused my hand to become numb. Especially catching all the great action on the camera forced me to leave my hand from being warm. What was really funny was that, where we were sitting it was near the fence. Going down a few steps not far from where we were sitting, the fence there separated us from the tracks.

Grabbing some hot food I came back to watch the fireworks they had on display for us. ‘Oh my gosh’, it was just the best. To be continued......

Crimson Eclipse

My Planet Crimson Eclipse is unique in every way. Because annually in June the 6th there appears to be a full moon. So in the night time approximately at midnight there will be an eclipse and the moon will became crimson red. That is how it got it's name. It's also one of the colours I like! Anyways as the light shines down upon Glen Innes and gives those who look at it one wish. Just like a shooting star... but better because of the view.

Good Shepard Fair

That’s so cool! ‘Sure I wanna come’, as I replied to both of my little cousins. They just invited me to come with them to their fair, held at their school (Good Shepard). Yay! I can’t wait because I don’t really go to fairs often.

Driving off we were getting closer to their school. There were people there already setting up, which explains why it was packed even though it hadn’t started. We attempted to find a car park there but our spot was taken. We went through some sort of a narrow path between their church and the office. Numerous shack looking stores had large banners attracting their costumers attention, and describing their item they were selling.

Astonishingly so many people were there and the all the stores were available. The kick off was at 11:00. The layout of the shops were like so cool. Imagine standing right in the middle of the entire fair. It wasn’t just all food on one side, it was more like an activity (dunk’em) on the left side, candy floss in front of dunk’em, puppet show next to candy floss...well you get the picture. Browsing around I just couldn’t resist all the amazing things they had. So I went and got a cupcake that was beautifully decorated, also a cute lollie kebab, mild butter chicken, sugary churos (Spanish name for cinnamon donuts) and a lot they had to offer.

I don’t know how you would be bored because there were various types of interesting things you could do, I could list them all. Money golf, instead of hitting the golf ball in the hole, you had to hit the golf ball so that it would land on the paper money ($5, $10, $20, and vouchers). Ethnic food, Indian (butter chicken), Samoan (chop suey, taro), Tongan, (pig and yams). There was even a Filipino kebab. Toys on sale, at the end the kids were able to choose variety of toys to take for free, it can be as much as they wanted. Even paintball was accessible, $2 for ten shots at a photo of a teacher glued on wood.

It was such a pleasure to be there and a great opportunity. Can’t wait until next years!

Learning Basic Tennis Skills

Brand new equipment set out like the new rackets and tennis balls, also tennis nets for our school. Fun but also intense, tennis is a competitive sport. Learning for the first time and having Marcelle who was our instructor, was teaching us a few techniques in our first lesson.

Shaking, it was so nerve racking as I wait for my turn in line. Especially when me and Sela were the only girls, and the boys were winning most of the time. Sela pushed me forward, and I was hesitating to hold the racket, my hands became sweaty.

Doing an under arm serve sort of made me feel a little more confident. Then swinging the racket and actually hitting the ball over was an amazing feeling. Then it continued. After approximately 4 hits... I actually beat Zane! Phew! I was so relieved. The next game I lost, which was to Tanielu. I did’nt really care because I knew that I improved.

Now I am feeling so eager to actually have more turns. Beating like two more people to me felt like it was a fluke or luck. This game that we are playing right now is called the king of the courts. Whoever would win would swap to the king side.

It was a pleasure to play against my fellow classmates and I really had heaps of fun.

Outstanding Camp Highlights

Experiencing an enjoyable amount of time at Willow Park. Gave me so many ideas and highlights to publish on my blog. First highlight of mine was a cruise with Jonno and Nicky. Strolling towards the beach, creating rafts, sand castles, swimming when we had freetime, kayaking and doing so many more interesting things.

Pop! Out appeared my goosebumps, as it became very chilly as we cruised along the sea. The wind in my hair and the spit of the ocean water as it stuck to my skin like Velcro. Then we started to mess around with people by causing waves. Doing this we would surround them by circling right around. Creating huge waves, sometimes those who were on the kayak even tipped over.

The food as well was one of my favourite highlights. Knowing that every morning waking up to the delicious smell of toast. Then having lunch which looked so mouth watering. Next was dinner! It was just unbelievable, like you would hear the rumble of my stomach wanting to just take a snippet of the food. Dessert was even more divine. I mean chocolate mouse with pears, ‘WOW’!

All of the fun stopped there, but it was a pleasure staying there. Coming home on the other hand was my worst nightmare. Praying ever day, hoping each day would last longer. Each day came to an end, and the more disappointed I became. Heading home was a sad trip, we were moaning about why we would've stayed a couple of days longer. Dragging my luggage to the car, being grumpy to my uncle wasn’t a good start. The rest of the day was actually more fun then expected. Lucky me!

Living on the camp grounds (Willow Park)

Already being arranged and sorted into our groups, we then headed upstairs to our cabins to unload our luggage. The year 8 girls were in the same cabins together no.12, phew. Then safely leading my group down stairs ready to have lunch. I can’t really remember what we had, but I know it was a superb meal!

Our first activity on the rooster was a scavenger hunt. To get more familiar with the place, we had to search around for the photographed places on our map, along the way as we find each clue we can then tick them off. It was a bit of a struggle, as seeing most of the teams finished except our own group.
Announcing the winners we actually came 3rd overall. The reason why was because, this wasn’t only about who finished first, this also included how well teams explained their answers.

Wet games was another enjoyable activity of mine. Being able to get soaked, and laughing as other people transformed from dry as a dessert, to wet as a sponge holding in water. There were stations placed around the field.

One of the few activities I loved was where, both teams would grab a sponge soak it in full of water. Rush down to the bucket on the other end and then try to squeeze as much water as you can. Race back to the line and pass it to the next member of your team.

Aquila and Luke (senior leaders), were holding another station. The aim of the game was this: both Luke and Aquila would throw in the air, water balloons. Whoever caught it, had the ability to throw it to whoever. But then there was an opportunity for the kids to throw their balloon to whoever I threw mine at Aquila twice in a row. Smack! Right in the face and then the other one sort of like slipped into his shirt. Giggling after entertaining myself with the incident that has just taken place.

Next, was a few of my camp highlights!

Starting fresh at Willow Park

Heading towards school on a fine Monday morning felt unusual, I guess it was just the feeling of not being able to see many wild kids running around. The reason why for coming to school was to get prepared to leave for our riverside camp, held at Willow Park.

Shivering with excitement on the bus, couldn’t wait to abundant this place. Just about reaching Willow Park, my body swayed forward and backward, why? Because we were finally here, the bus was jumping over the bumps which lead us to Willow Park. It’s like imagining a person doing the caterpillar.

Just before unpacking all our gear and getting ready for lunch. We had to be sorted into our groups, these teams weren’t mixed with boys and girls. It was strictly boys groups and girls groups.

Final decision

After school on Wednesday’s held in our school hall, is something called the riverside club. Kids at our school year 4 to 8 are able to stay and experience some fun, well at least until 5pm. Annually, we have a riverside camp normally for year 5 to 8. And year 4’s will have their own special outing later on.

This year was different! The year 8 leaders, (Paulitia, Bobbi - Grace, Maree, Ocean, Kalim Tamati and Moses, including myself), had a tough decision to make. It was between going to Totara springs as usual but not including the year 4's, or going to willow park and taking the year 4's along with us.

There’s a advantage and disadvantage between both places. Discussing together and thinking real hard about what to choose. It finally came to an end. The court was closed. We chose ................... Williow Park!

Rugby World Cup Games

My Gosh! That was the most incredible display I’ve ever seen! It’s also the only opening ceremony that I’ve seen for the rugby world cup anyways. The first rugby match for rugby world cup 2011 is, All Blacks vs Tonga. How spectacular was this game.

Watching the sensational Richard Kahui who scored the first try in the rugby world cup. Then the opposition (Tonga) were fearsome and put up a very good match. Still the All Blacks made an effort to score more tries. Shifting the score to 29 - 3 for half time.

The man in the bright red shoes, Ma’a Nonu steps and the flicks a pass to … and then received it again. Amazingly he scored another try for the AB’s, I’m sure this made them feel even more superb. Tonga were determined and never gave up. All you see is Tonga fighting back by getting closer to the try line. This is when the powerful Sona Taumalolo (in Tongan team), the player that’s difficult to tackle. Pushes through and was able to score a try.

The massive crowd in red cheered loudly, and screamed when Tonga scored a try. Still that that wasn’t enough to be able to beat the All Blacks. Again swapping the score to 40 - 10, what an awesome performance from both teams. All Blacks walking with their heads held high, and the crowd giving a standing ovation. They were very proud!

Silly Sports Day

As I glanced across the bottom field, teachers had already set up their stations. Hmm... what’s going on down there. On Tuesday Team 5 ( Rm 19, 20, 21, and 22) had a silly sports day. Each class would rotate and experience some fun activities. All the classes started with their own teachers activity. Then they would rotate around the various kinds of activities.

Our very first activity was ball tiggy with our teacher Mrs Lagitupu. We had cones placed on the grass to mark the boundaries, and we were given coloured bands that represented what teams we were in. The aim was to throw the ball around to each member of your team and try to tag the people from the other team. But we weren’t allowed to run or throw the ball at the opponents but we had to pass it around with our team mates.. It was so funny and intense trying hard to get the people from the other team out. It was very challenging for my team.

The hooter went, so then we moved to the next activity. Ms Tito was the next one up. A long slingshot and different sized balls were spread out. As I went up, I aimed for my target which was the pink hoop. I had to try and get the ball to land inside the pink hoop so that I could earn 100 points for my class. The ball shot off and was rolling towards the pink hoop, everyone stood up and cheered until the ball slightly went over the side of the hoop. Ohhh! It was a near miss and at the end we had 10 points.

Again the hooter went. We walked to our next activity with Mr Harris. This activity was called the three legged race. We had a lace kind of thing and had to tie it around me and my partners (Kezia’s) legs and we had to carry a tennis ball on a spoon up to the cone and come back around. We were also timed. Moses and Casey were the fastest there and back. Me and Kezia were so hilarious and just giggled the whole way back.

For the last time the hooter went. We came over to where Mrs Nua was and had a bucket full of water, sponges inside and a empty bucket further back. We were in our groups and had to line up. We had to soak the sponge with water, pass it to the side to the next person behind us and the pass the sponge under our legs. We kept on repeating the pattern until we reach the bucket. When we reached the empty bucket, we had to squeeze out all the water and run to the front of the line.

Our group did not win but it was such a pleasure to be able to experience this day and I really enjoyed it. At the end I was soaking wet, and rushed to get changed ready for lunch time. Most of these activities included team work, where my team and strained to show. Anyways it was the most entertaining event I’ve had besides learning at school. Hopefully we would be able to do it again.

Argument

Technology has changed over time and developed over the years. This argument is to show that technology has definitely made a huge difference in our lives. The argument is why/ why not cellphones have transformed and made a change in our lives.

Back then they hardly had any technology and I reckon life was harder, for example phones weren’t portable, it was a struggle because you couldn't email, chat, keep in contact, communicate faster and more ways that makes it hard without technology.

But that’s why they’ve invented bigger, better, faster, and stronger technology. For example cellphones, iphones, ipad’s, laptops, there’s just so many new inventions still coming out. These technology are very popular around the world and everyone always try and be the first to get the latest ones.

My opinion and what I think of technology making a improvement in our lives is, yes and no. I am not certain as to why I decided to choose this option because yes technology has transformed our lives and has upgraded over the years. The reason why it’s easier for us to know where we are by an instant phone call, chatting with our friends, keeping in touch with our mates if they’re in different parts of the city or world, skyping or video chatting to see family and friends again, taking images to show other people what we’ve been up to, writing on the laptop, computer or whatever fancy technology we use. So that we are able to share with the world how we learn and improve in our learning, also what we do in our daily lives. There’s just a load of ideas as to why technology is such a popular device.

Like I said, I also choose no, the reason why is because for some people phones are just a pain and is just so irritating. I mean there’s a lot of possibility that your phone can have viruses, not work, load slow, sometimes when you activate a site, inappropriate pop up sites appear out of no where, it can also not big enough for your hands to text on or if touch screen type on. It’s a hassle and a big responsibility depending how much it costs and price. Also what you store inside your Sim card can be very personal but now could be erased. Sometimes when you actually know it’s out of your sight for good, maybe someone has found it and decide to keep it and store in their things. Some people if they are that wicked they can do far more worse things your things, for example find out things about you, blackmail you, pretend to be you and do something you didn’t do.

I don’t think that it has been proved whether or not technology has really improved our lives.