New Zealand...Where?!? All Whites...Who?!?

New Zealand, a land of approximately 4 million people... yes, I know, not a big population.
It is common knowledge that there are more sheep in New Zealand than people.

At the moment the FIFA World Cup Football Tournament is being held in South Africa. And our team, the All Whites qualified for a spot in this huge event. Soccer, or football as it should be called, is not our national sport, and for us this is huge. The last time an All Whites team qualified for the World Cup was in 1982.
Yesterday, the All Whites had their first game and played Slovakia, a European team ranked higher than us. The press didn't give our guys much of a rating, and we went into the game pretty much as the underdogs.  But these young men are committed to their game and especially to the people at home who are supporting them.
Although they did not win, they held Slovakia to a 1-1 draw, and sent the fans and the media into a frenzy. We are on the points table for our pool.... Yahoo!!

Congratulations guys, you did us proud. Next game Italy!

1000 Awesome Things...

 I have been getting regular emails from the 1000 Awesome Things website, and today I wanted to share awesome things number:


 #483  Do Nothing Days

It's like a mirage.

You see that distant Do Nothing day coming up on the horizon of your kitchen calendar. You stare at its white squarey blankness beckoning you closer and closer and closer. Time moves forward, days march on, and still nothing gets planned on that beautifully perfect patch of nothingness. No homework,
no dinner dates, no sports practices, no visiting mates. It's just you and you sharing a nice peaceful moment of alone time.

When you're lucky enough to score a Do Nothing day, do yourself a favour and do nothing. Give your brain a break and slip into easy bliss of lying in crumpled sheets, taking a long bath, and ordering out for dinner. Ditch the guilt while you swing in a hammock, cuddle with your cat, or curl up on the couch in front of the TV.
Once in a while it's good to enjoy a completely unproductive daydreamy day with as slow smile and no worries.

You earned it.

AWESOME!


Sign up to receive a daily dose of awesome in your email.
http://1000awesomethings.com/

Auckland Festival of Photography 12 June - my entries

Sam has encouraged me to enter a photo competition as part of the Auckland Festival of Photography.
The competition was open to anyone interested in photography, either amateur or professional, and the conditions were that the photos had to be taken on the 12th June, and was the photographer's interpretation of what a day in Auckland meant to them.

My thoughts were to capture Saturday sports, and I chose three photos as my entries. I have to say that I feel a little nervous now that I have submitted them.  But it's done, and I thought that I would share them with you all......

Supporting the team.. Parents on the sideline at a soccer match. Taken at Bledisloe Park, Pukekohe

Team talk..  Pukekohe Netball Courts.

Reflections of the Team....

Shadow Shot Sunday

Saturday morning sport is a huge part of our culture here in New Zealand, even in Winter.  People of all ages venture out to either support or play a variety of sports.  Soccer and Netball are two of the most popular Winter sports.  Yesterday I ventured out to capture some shadow shots of supporters and players. The weather was cold, wet and windy. The shadows were playing hard to get, but I did manage to catch a few. 

Thanks again to Tracy over at Hey Harriet for encouraging us to chase shadows.


Hope you all have a great week.