House full of blokes

While much of the South Island and the South of the North was reeling from the devastating earthquake last week, Cromwell kept ticking along - counting our blessings, checking our survival kits and emergency evacuation procedures.  Our thoughts have definitely been with the communities disrupted and affected by this major event.  It has certainly given us all pause for thought about our own preparedness and the safety of our homes and communities. Back in little old Cromwell it was junior pantomime week.  Our four New Entrant/Year 1 classes and a Year 2 class joined forces to present the rollicking tale of The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  The majority of the children are 5 and 6 years old and they did an amazing job of singing and dancing along to the tale for three performances.  Five classes of children for a tale with four main characters means quite a stretch in imagination - we had a class of fantails, a class who made the bridge, a class of billy goats, a c...

Another big week - they all seem to be this time of year and I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling that way.  Monday of course brought the long anticipated first Community Board meeting for our new board.  I was of running late - I got pulled into a classroom so that the teacher could deal with an issue - I was on time for the 2pm start - just didn't quite make it for the 1:30pm briefing.  Robin didn't give me any grief this time - I'm sure he was thinking this is a pattern...becoming a habit. It's official - I have a badge It all felt a wee bit strange walking into chambers, name plate on the table, my fellow elected members around the main table, and a wee bit wedding like, the CODC executive team at the head of the table.  The media off to the side and public on seats along the wall. The meeting started with the elected members being sworn in.  I was a wee bit worried that this would have a religious element - I felt reassured when I read the meeting ...

We love carbonara at the Harry house.  It is a meal that is rich and decadent - but can be a cheap and cheerful flat meal made with cream, eggs, a small amount of bacon and parmesan - follow the link to my smoked chicken and bacon version (you can easily omit the chicken or bacon) Smoked Chicken and Bacon Carbonara .  This is not the budget friendly version.  This is a truly decadent version made with Stewart Island smoked salmon that I purchased at the Cromwell Farmer's market.  Stewart Island smoked salmon is hot smoked.  It has an intense and woody smoked flavour - absolutely amazing on a platter, eaten simply on crackers or rustic bread - but also amazing in this recipe that feeds 4-6 people.  The addition of some capers right at the end would really complement the rich smokiness - unfortunately I didn't have any this evening - it was still great without them. Ingredients 500ml cream 200g hot smoked salmon - chunked 3 eggs 3 spring onions - cho...

My week was a bit of a whirlwind affair with a few community events and activities for me.  I attended the Central Otago Primary School Athletics Championships on Tuesday with the 54 strong Goldfields Team. The start of the Year 6 boys 800m race.  Goldfields boys were first and second in this event - awesome result! This is a fantastic event run by COPSSA (Central Otago Primary Schools Sport Association).  The Terrace School in Alexandra take the lead role in the organisation of the athletics day, which is held at Molyneux Park.  Each school takes responsibility for managing an event and we have the amazing Mrs Simmers from Goldfields on the long jump every year.  We are very grateful that even though she has moved into semi retirement, she still agreed to come and play in the sand pit this year.  Athletics day is a huge organisational effort with schools from Queenstown, Wanaka and throughout Central Otago sending students aged 8-13 along to compete. ...

This week my thinking turns to an issue that is brewing in the background in Cromwell.  There is a petition to Council, columns in local print media and letters to the editor - so the ball game at the forefront of this week's blog is touch rugby.  There has been lots of talk in Cromwell over the last month or so about the charges for the Cromwell Rugby Club Summer Touch competition and I have been asking those I meet for their opinion on the charges for the use of the Anderson Park grounds.  There has been a very mixed response - and I am quite surprised by that.  Some people are very firmly of the opinion that this should be covered in rates - their arguments include: we are already paying for the upkeep of the grounds, we want to encourage community involvement in physical activity and the cost to the council of the grounds not being used is roughly the same as the cost of grounds that are being used.  On the other side of the fence I'm hearing: it's user pays...

I attended the first Council training session for elected members on Wednesday of this week.  Most of my Cromwell Council and Community Board colleagues had attended training on Monday - it was just Robin Dicey and myself at the Wednesday session from Cromwell along with elected members from the Teviot Valley, Ranfurly and Alexandra.  I'm afraid I didn't make a great first impression arriving a few minutes late - I rushed out of a pantomime casting meeting at school and then had a slow trip through the gorge.  Hopefully I will get my timings more accurate for the next meeting.  Robin made sure my lateness was noted. Windows Surface Pro 3 - to make sure we are all working away in the background First order of business was training on our new devices - we have all been issued with Windows Surface Pro 3 tablets for our three year term.  There were a couple of quips from the IS guys (nothing to do with Islamic terrorist movements - information services) about t...

I am writing this week's blog from the Goldfields Primary Book fair.  There is a family browsing the books, while outside the School duathlon is being run.  I'm quite enjoying my quiet little spot - but I do feel like I am missing out on some of the fun by being hidden away in the back of the school hall.  I'll be here all week 8:30-9:30am and 2:30-4:00pm - there are loads of lovely books and everyone is most welcome to come and have a browse - we get a large commission that we take in books and all sales count toward this. Scholastic Book Fair all set up in the Goldfields hall I have eyed up a couple of items that will make their way across the Tasman for my nephews for Christmas - but my own lummoxes have moved on from being excited about coming to the book fair and choosing new reading material.  Lummox 1 and 2 are busy buried in study - exam season is upon us (at least they tell their mum they are buried in study).  Number 3 should be hitting the books...