"We'll head for the rocks"

After sleeping late (to leave tsuken with the sunrise to blip!), I had a leisurely breakfast over the newspaper, and then a walk with daughter C and her boys.

Later this afternoon, both daughters headed back to Auckland, leaving S and me with four grandchildren; two with resident parents. I suggested to the energy filled lads (all three) that we could go to the beach, and go there by way of the point in order to find Grandpa a blip.

Initially, that idea deterred Mr H, who wanted direct passage to the water. Following a little dissembling on the part of Grandpa (I'll look for the photos, you can just
swim) we all headed off, with tsuken and Miss 7 following on. With surprisingly little complaint, they followed ma around the point onto our beach. Too many rocks until we reached the point where we always swim.

As we arrived, I saw a pretty kotare (kingfisher) on one of the rocks, and spent some minute taking photos. The next task was to supervise the children. The three lads (8, 5 and 5) were quickly into the water; Mr H and Young L most exuberantly.

Shortly after this photo and having retrieved them from wherever they were headed, Miss 7 ran down the beach, and in less time than it has taken to write this, was out of her clothes (all of them!) and following the lads into the water.

I put down the camera and joined in the water play, which was stopped only when Young L developed the shivers. We then all emerged from the water, used the towels and climbed back up the cliff path, to a snack before dinner.

I sometimes think that if we are able to encourage the young to care about the things that matter, and enough of us do so, this is our best chance of solving the problems faced by the world. Yet they do not deserve that responsibility, especially as we have not been able to modify societal attitudes.

I'm blipping later than usual, because of waiting to see what else (i.e. sunset) might be blippable. Nothing much, so I have gone with this photo of the lads walking off to get to the southern rocks. They returned when called, and I eventually helped them feel happy in the water, as the outgoing tide produced more shallows and more fun for the boys. Great time had by four grandies and one grandpa.

In need of sleep, an early night for me.