TRIP TO RUGBY SCHOOL

Today Grant went on a Year 12 trip to Rugby School. As the story goes a lad at the School,William Webb Ellis, bored with kicking the ball decided to pick it up and run. Grant said he probably ended up with a detention and a beating by his peers in the changing rooms later. A beating he might have got but a detention was less likely as all sports in his day were organised by the senior boys. To add to the story, told to the group by the local historian is that he would not have picked the ball up as he would have been kicked to death but have caught the ball ( as was allowed) and then ran with it (which wasn't). And they weren't playing soccer but a game of mass football. Grant was amazed by the influence past students of Rugby School or "Rugbians" have had on not only the game of Rugby but sports world wide. The Gilberts (as in the rugby balls) were Rugbians, the game or squash was derived from a game called 5's originating from rugby. Of course they've had their fair share of famous people. The Author of Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie, Tom Arnold (If you know your Educational Philosophy - "Muscular Christianity"). All the students have to read Tom Brown School Days fro their A level course so were very interested in Tom Hughes. As with all schools like this tradition is strong and fees are expensive. Rugby has honors boards dating back to the early 19th century and boarders pay about $22000 NZD per term to attend the school A statue of Webb Ellis can be seen at the centre of the picture
The plaque reads " This stone commemorates the exploit of William Webb Ellis with fine disregard for the rules of football as played in his day first took the ball in his arms and ran with it originating the distinctive feature of the rugby game A.D 1823" Apparently having "fine disregard for the rules" was contentious as there were no rules.

Honors boards line all the sports and assembly halls dating back to the 19th century. In the Temple Reading Room they have also saved some of the original desk tops with past pupils names etched into them. Looking up the High Street towards the main entrance to the oldest part of the school

The cricket pavilion said to be the oldest in the world that is still in use. Built in 1852 for around 152 pounds money all raised by the senior boys of the day

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM WITH THE OLIPHANT-AKUHATA'S

This weekend we hosted Jeannie, Taumata and Taitimuroa from Whakatane who are now living in Glasgow, Scotland. On Friday, Sharon had to find Luton Airport to pick up our fellow antipodeans en route from Morroco. Friday night Sharon, Jeannie and the kids just hung at home had a delicious kiwi roast chicken dinner and Yorkshire pudding, while Grant went to the pub with Andy (from Matawai) and his head of Dept Rob. Rob's thinking of doing an NZ teaching exchange so was keen to pick Grant's brain about teaching in NZ. On Saturday the group split again with Grant and P going to football in Luton while the rest caught the train to London to go to the Natural History Museum. Although P's team lost their friendly derby match to Luton Borough, P had his best game of football yet. He's been playing mid so is learning how to play at both ends of the field. After the game they caught up with the rest of the whanau in London. Being Saturday, the Museum was really busy. The kids favourites were the Dinosaur and ecology exhibition's. Also on this weekend was Ireland playing rugby against England at Croke Park, Dublin. So we decided to find a pub in the city to watch the game and have some dinner. Unfortunately by the time we found one, they were either full or too smokey for the kids. So we decided to go for a Chinatown buffet (thanks Jeannie). We all arrived home very full and tired. Early rise on Sunday morning for bacon, eggs and tattie bread (irish fried potatoe bread). Sharon dropped the Oliphant-Akuhatas off at the train station just after 11am. Another busy weekend.

All the kids minus Paraone outside the Museum. Liam, Taumata, Taitimuroa and Ngahuia "We're from here everybody"
Ngahuia in the large mammal section of the museum
Through out the museum are assistants who help and give in depth explanations on their area of expertise. Here the kids are told about different dinosaurs All the young ones in the foyer of the museum with the life size skeleton of a brontosaurus in the background.Can anyone tell me were is Chinatown? All the Muru's with full bellies after the "all you can eat" in Chinatown and tired legs after a good day at the museum

RAGE @ THE RABJOHN'S

A special night for our whanau. The Rabjohn family invited us for dinner and bowling on Saturday night. Karen introduced herself to Sharon at Gymnastics and has been so friendly and helpful. Karen has been a great new friend for Sharon and has often gone out of her way to help our family. e.g. currently we have the use of a Rabjohn's spare desk, DVD player, printer and DVD selection including Ian's prize Star Wars DVD series.The night started with a Rabjohn Kids v Muru Kids and Mums and Dads 10 pin bowling competition. The Muru kids were out numbered so had little chance of winning. The match of the day was the Mums and Dads which wasn't decided until the last bowls with a victory to the Muru's. Sharon was on fire all night strikes left right and centre almost freakish. Grant on the other hand was very below average often making the gutter his home. Following the bowling we all went back to the Rabjohns for drinks and Dinner, a delicious Chicken Chaseur and chocolate gateau & cheese cake. After Dinner the girls challenged the boys to a game of BUZZ on the playstation ending one game all. Then the kids played POPSTAR which definitely brought Paraone out his shell as you may have gathered from the photos. Overall a fantastic night with a wonderfully friendly family.
The kids doing the serious and silly pose for the cameras. In order Paraone, Liam, Lucy, Ngahuia, Mathew , Amy, AndrewNgahui and Lucy do their "Avril Levine" singing Sh8ter Boy Paraone and Amy singing McFly. We told the Rabjohns Paraone was the shy one in the family. Boy! were we made to look silly. He was the main entertainer
WHAT DID WE SAY!!!! (P being his shy little self)

Thanks the Rabjohns

HAMLEYS, HARRODS & TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Sharon and the Kids in front of Nelson's Column at Trafalgar Square. Below Liam rides one of the Lion statues at the base of the column.

An occupational hazard of riding the tube during rush hour. No hope for claustrophobia or body odour issues
The shops of Harrods all very tasteful and equally expensive. Sharon and Ngahuia wish they married into money or to an inheritance. "No hope of that Girls"
"Look Papa! can I have one to drive to Ohope School. It's only GBP 22,995 ($70,000 NZD)
Liam and Ngahuia try out some of the toys in Harrods. "Mum they've got my favourite marbles"
Grant and the kids pose for a photo in New Zealand House in front of the pou carved by Master Carver and Artist Inia Te Wiata

Photo in front of "Kiwifruits" a store behind New Zealand House that specialises in products from NZ. Unfortunately everything also cost 3 times as much. The Kids each brought a "K bar" and we all shared the Pineapple lumps. Disappointingly they were out of watties tomato sauce.
Spot the kiwi's having lunch at Trafalgar Square. They're usually the only ones who have homemade sandwiches, cordial, fruit and a packet of chips ( I mean crisps).

"Some days you're the pigeon and others you're the statue". Liam and Paraone doing their best not to get pooped on.
All the whanau strike a pose at Trafalgar Square. Below Grant waiting for Julia Roberts to show up at Nottinghill.

SWIM N' SKATE

First day af the half term break we decided to take a trip to Hemel Hempstead's "Liesure World". This thriving town is situated about 25 min south of Dunstable. The theme park has ice skating, a pool with heaps of water slides, bowling, restaurants, cinemas and a really smokey bar (we all cant wait until the smokefree legislation kicks in over here).

Ice skating has always been a dream of Sharon's and even though we now all have our fair share of brusies we took to it like "ducks to water." Grant who was still suffering from is latest injury didnt last very long (poor old koro and his bad knees) but Liam, P and Ngahuia lasted the distance. The pool was pretty busy, packed with school hoidaying families but was a really fun day out!

WALKER'S WELCOME

The Muru's made the 2 hour trek north on the M1 to the Walkers of Bramley. It was great to see Colin again (although it's been 7 years) and to meet Karen David and Katie. We met Colin at Woodall Service centre on the M1 and followed him to their house in Bramley. Karen made us a lovely lunch and we all watched the video of the last time Colin was in NZ (Nov 1999). It was a real laugh. The kids looked so different. Colin also showed us some footage of when he was in the All Whites. That afternoon Colin, Karen, Katie and her friend took us to this HUGE shopping mall called Meadowhall in Sheffield. 300 shops, 11 cinema, 3 floors, free parking all under the same roof. Liam brought some cubemen and P some goalie gloves and an Arsnel pin. We left the Walkers around 5pm and on the way home stopped at a Pub in Nottingham for our first Pub meal at the Boxton Inn. The meal was pretty average but appetizing. Ngahuia had some chicken fingers. Liam and P had Lamb roast and Sharon and I had the Pork . We arrived home around 8.30 a good day. Thanks the Walkers