PIA Southern field days

Our budding fencers hit the road full of excitement after spending Valentine's day with their favourite teacher.

The Health & Safety briefing lays down the law and its silence through to Waimate briefly broken as we count fingers and toes. Big sigh as no extras are discovered and we boost on to Oamaru.

It's quite warm so a frolic in the ocean is in order. Our Ashburton baby (Josh) has never been to the Moeraki Boulders so it would be rude not to stop. The lads introduce the tourists to mullets waving in the breeze as we attempt a Baywatch beach run. Generally, males and water are a recipe for disaster - think small children and multiple changes of clothes……Clearly we have an unexpectedly talented group on tour this year with the biggest challenge being Richard breaking his stick. Back at the van he updates his feelings journal and it’s smiles all round.

Now our parents are carefully selected from a long list of enthusiastic volunteers and Kylie Marriott and John O’Connell are presented with their PIA (this season’s must have) coffee mugs early on in anticipation of greatness. This is short lived for John and repossession is imminent. For those unfamiliar with PIA, our team leader is an undisputed superior driver. John does well initially in the mighty Ford Ranger and topping up his brownie points by getting the coffees in. Clearly he gives the Kitchen a workout at home. On upgrading to the minivan his rating plummets and all points are off the table as he is passed by 2 small elderly ladies in an electric vehicle. 

So our adventure is to the Southern Field Days in Waimumu where we are booked to work for New Zealand Fencing Competitions. We are looking forward to a big session with ex multiple NZ Golden Pliers winner and World Champion Nick Leifting - fencing royalty. Our training is the start of the journey to the National U21 Cadet fencing competition at Mystery in June. We have a programme sorted meeting our sponsors and all the famous people Team Leader says she knows. The team is pumped.

We have managed to pack most of the school's fencing shed into the mighty Ranger leaving just enough room for Team leaders field days bargains. Apparently shoes are on special.

Quotes

• We’re not in Hinds now….

• Josh building on his Hinds bus stop performance and upgrading to sand throwing.

• Seeing ex PIA student Reon Lundie at Telford

• Raging at the guest wifi connection.

• There are way too many imaginary yellow cars in the Yellow car game.

• Tea at Telford was at 530, all the baking is eaten with famine imminent by 9pm and a supermarket run is the first agenda item for tomorrow.