 Tim A
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Posted: 20 March 2009, 11:39 AM
Hi there,
just wanted a place to be able to keep contact with family et al while we are overseas.
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Tim A
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Posted: 20 March 2009, 11:43 AM
Once you are registered with this site, it is easy to keep up with any thoughts or questions. It will allow some up to date comments being posted from Europe.
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Tim A
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Posted: 20 March 2009, 11:34 PM
Gear List for World Schools Trip to Spain
The following is a list of clothing and equipment that the students need to bring with them for the trip. Students should have the opportunity to do their own washing or to use a Laundromat but they will have to think carefully about their clothing to make it last. (i.e we may not be able to wash and get heavy clothes like jeans dry whilst away). We have a 20kg limit. You will need to stick to this as every kg over is charged and you personally will have to pay for this. Your cabin bag cannot be over 7kg.
TRAVEL CLOTHES FOR ON THE PLANE
1 x sports shoes or something comfortable
1 x NGHS fleece top
1x NGHS Canterbury tracksuit jacket
1 x track pants blue or black
1 x Sponsor T.Shirt (hopefully) still being sorted
1 x Backpack (supplied)
OPENING CEREMONY CLOTHES
NGHS winter uniform
(tie, white long sleeve blouse, skirt, black stockings (2 pair in case of holes)
School blazer being provided by NGHS
Black lace up shoes( can be light weight ones)
COMPETITION CLOTHES
1 x orienteering shoes
Socks plenty
¾ length or full length black leggings or spandex
2x NGHS running shirts (being provided by school)
Gaters (if you have them)
Empty drink bottle
Sport ident
Description holder ( if you have one )
Small container or bag to hold ident and compass
TOILETRIES
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Hair Brush and hair tie
Sanitary items (if required)
Personal medication
Pain killers for headaches e.t..c
Small bottle of shampoo
Plasters/ strapping tape
CASUAL CLOTHES
1 x raincoat
Socks
Trousers/jeans
Long sleeve tops
Warm jersey fleece or wool
Running shorts or other spandex for training in.
Slippers if you like, but ones that do not take up a lot of room otherwise make it thick socks for around the hotel
Training tops
Woolly hat (dont forget it !)
2x Polypro top 1x polypro bottom
underwear
pyjamas
togs/towel (latter only needed if we swim)
comfortable waterproof shoes for lots of walking ( these maybe the same ones as you wear on the plane)
cap(supplied)
EQUIPMENT / BITS AND PIECES
The items below could be really useful when bunking in with others who may not be as tired as you.
Eye shades ( if you have them)
Ear plugs ( if you have them)
2x Wire coathanger and about 4 pegs to hang out small hand washing;
N.Z trinkets and souvenirs for swaps
Travel plug if you are bringing hairdryer e.t.c
Passport
Money
Underclothes Belt Bag (hidden)
Drink sachets
4x Plastic bags for dirty shoes and dirty washing.
Diary (optional)
2x pens - very useful for filling out forms in the plane
Paper for writing down addresses of new friends or training , making notes e.t.c
Books/ crosswords/cards small items to fill in time when waiting or on plane.
Snacks like wrapped barley sugars and maybe muesli bars. ( In spain we dont eat dinner until 9 p.m) some snacks could be useful.
Cup of Soups ( if your daughter will eat/drink them)
Outside of clothes belt bag (beware of pickpockets)
Watch ( so we can arrange to meet at certain times)
At your own risk and at your own discretion: cell phones, sunglasses, digital camera, mp3 player, ipod e.t.c
EXTRA GEAR FOR NORTH ISLAND EVENT
Please put these items into a small soft sided bag that can be stored while we are overseas.
Named compass for NI event
Sleeping bag
Pillow slip (have to make do for a pillow we DONT have space for a pillow DONT bring one.)
Towel for back in NZ
GEAR FOR TRIP UP TO AUCKLAND
The clothes you wear going up to Auckland are part of your gear going overseas. Dont wear separate clothes to leave behind there is no room.
You wi
Youll need a packed lunch for Sunday 5th April, we may not be stopping near a shop for lunch.
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Tim A
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Posted: 20 March 2009, 11:38 PM
Don't forget your student ID !
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Tim A
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Posted: 23 March 2009, 12:49 PM
Cabin bag info
It might be worth reminding people of the restrictions on cabin bags. Firstly dimensions, but also no pen knives no scissors, nail files etc, I wouldnt even take a nail clipper!, no bottles or tubes over 100ml, no aerosol deodorants , no sports gear ( I think they mean bats etc. ) These things need to be in the hold luggage. There are clear guidelines for medications as well.. in case you have any diabetics or bee sting allergy sufferers who need needles! But even inhalers .
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Tim A
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Posted: 23 March 2009, 12:55 PM
Itinerary for the trip
Itinerary NGHS Secondary Schools World Orienteering Competiton Spain 2009
Sun 4th April
" Arrive 10.45 at 127 Wharerangi Road Taradale. Depart Napier 11.00 a.m by minivan and drive to Auckland.
" 3 minivans for both NBHS and NGHS for students and gear. (Europcar Caruna Bay 12 seaters).
" Accomodation at Airport Goldstar Motel 255 Kirkbride Rd Mangere, Auckland.
4 small family units and 2 large family units
Mon 5th April
" Breakfast at motel, use minivan to travel to international airport. hand in vans.
" Lunch at airport and depart on Qantas 114 at 1.25 p.m transit Sydney, Bangkok London
Tuesday 6th April
" Arrive London 6.40 a.m. Depart from NBHS group and travel to accommodation at Windsor House Hotel, 12 Penywern Rd Earls Court, London 3 x 5 bedded rooms. Edmonds family join us with Holly staying at same accommodation and joining us for the time in London.
Wednesday 7th April to Sunday 12 th April
General sightseeing around London and training at parks in the London area.
Mon 13th April
" Depart Earls Court. Travel to Heathrow. Catch British Airways Flight 456 departs 8.20 a.m for Madrid
" Arrive Barajas airport Madrid 11.40 a.m. Collected by Spanish orienteering organization.
Tues 14th to 20th April- Orienteering events accommodation with other teams and all food, accommodation, cultural activities, transport and events organized and controlled by the organizing body.
Wed 15th April
" Meeting of Heads of Delegation/ Opening Ceremony/ Training/ Trial Event
Thursday 16th April
" Long Distance Race/ Prize Giving
Friday 17th April
" Cultural Programme
Sat 18th April
" Middle distance/ Prize giving/ Meeting of the Nations evening
Sunday 19th April
" Friendship orienteering event/ Prize Giving/ closing ceremony and Farewell Party
Mon 20th April
" Depart Madrid 6.30 p.m Flight BA 461 arrive London 7.50 p.m.
" Depart London Qantas flight 2 10.15 p.m for N.Z. Transit Sydney.
Wed 22nd April
" Arrive Auckland 12.10 p.m . Pauline F and Jenny H. leave group and fly to Napier. Rest of party stay at Airport Goldstar Motel. (same units but one less family unit). Evening meal and breakfast at motel. Catch up on sleep. Hire minivan for travel for next few days.
Thursday 23rd April
" Depart from motel as late as possible, lunch in Auckland and drive to Karanga Camp, Henga Rd, Waitakere. Join the NBHS and NGHS orienteering group that is travelling up from HB for the North Island Secondary School Competition.
Friday 24th April
" Breakfast at camp, packed lunch for day. Individual races Woodhill forest.
Saturday 25th April
" Breakfast at camp, packed lunch for day. Pack up and clean camp. Take all gear with us. Relay event Woodhill forest. Drive to airport to catch domestic flight to Napier. Return hired minivan. Parents to collect girls from Napier airport.
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tim.a
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Posted: 3 April 2009, 8:30 AM
Don't forget to check your gearlist carefully - it's a long way to come back for your O shoes !
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tim.a
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Posted: 8 April 2009, 3:14 AM
Spain update 1
it's about 11pm on Tuesday evening over here in London and I have today's update for you. I am using an old machine in an internet cafe and it seems to be missing some letters - not that you would notice, but from now on I won't go back to correct typos !
The flights across went very well - the kids travelled well and we got very favourable comments from fellow passangers and airline staff - well done kids.
Auckland Sydney was about 3 hours, Sydney - Singapore about 7 hrs and then an eternity from Singapore to LOndon. We arrived at 7am this morning.
We quickly got thru' immigration (WE used a phone to declare our food stuffs - no one on duty to check our bags).
The boys were quickly picked up and taken to their accom, while the girls found their way to Heathrow tube station and we managed to get the days travel for them on the tubes for £1 each. They loved the tube ride and coped very well with their luggage. We are staying just around the corner from Earl's Court underground - very handy.
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tim in spain
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Posted: 8 April 2009, 3:32 AM
Spain update 1
it's about 11pm on Tuesday evening over here in London and I have today's update for you. I am using an old machine in an internet cafe and it seems to be missing some letters - not that you would notice, but from now on I won't go back to correct typos !
The flights across went very well - the kids travelled well and we got very favourable comments from fellow passangers and airline staff - well done kids.
Auckland Sydney was about 3 hours, Sydney - Singapore about 7 hrs and then an eternity from Singapore to LOndon. We arrived at 7am this morning.
We quickly got thru' immigration (WE used a phone to declare our food stuffs - no one on duty to check our bags).
The boys were quickly picked up and taken to their accom, while the girls found their way to Heathrow tube station and we managed to get the days travel for them on the tubes for £1 each. They loved the tube ride and coped very well with their luggage. We are staying just around the corner from Earl's Court underground - very handy.
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tim in spain
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Posted: 8 April 2009, 3:33 AM
Spain update 2
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tim in spain
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Posted: 8 April 2009, 3:34 AM
Spain update 2
After dropping our gear off we hit the city with our cameraaaaas. Tube to Hyde Park Crnr, walk to Buck House - say hi to Liz and Phil - up the Mall to Horseguard parade where we saw them changeover then onto some lunch at Trafalgar Square. Onto to Westminster (where we scooted round the 500 strong anti SriLanka protst that drew a bit of media cover. WE WERE FINE !
Past parliament, into Westminster Abbey and then home. The girls were mixed with WAbbey, but they got treated very well there.
Having them in tracksuits makes them very high profile and they feilded a number of questions from the public while we were out.
Home for tea which was very welcome indeed. Then we got ready for our event in Britain.
After tea we tubed to Pimlico down in Westminster city. The local club's event ran out of an upstairs apartment, with the start and finish being a hallway leading onto a street.
The event (1 hour long for each group of runners) was a score event run in the city, with questions to answer instead of clippers to clip. It gave our girls a cahnce to check out their new northern hemisphere compasses.
The girls tackled it well, some running very hard, others nursing substantial leg problems that we know about. There were about 30 other runners, and they had dinner after the run - very civilised !
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tim in spain
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Posted: 8 April 2009, 3:34 AM
Spain update 2
After dropping our gear off we hit the city with our cameraaaaas. Tube to Hyde Park Crnr, walk to Buck House - say hi to Liz and Phil - up the Mall to Horseguard parade where we saw them changeover then onto some lunch at Trafalgar Square. Onto to Westminster (where we scooted round the 500 strong anti SriLanka protst that drew a bit of media cover. WE WERE FINE !
Past parliament, into Westminster Abbey and then home. The girls were mixed with WAbbey, but they got treated very well there.
Having them in tracksuits makes them very high profile and they feilded a number of questions from the public while we were out.
Home for tea which was very welcome indeed. Then we got ready for our event in Britain.
After tea we tubed to Pimlico down in Westminster city. The local club's event ran out of an upstairs apartment, with the start and finish being a hallway leading onto a street.
The event (1 hour long for each group of runners) was a score event run in the city, with questions to answer instead of clippers to clip. It gave our girls a cahnce to check out their new northern hemisphere compasses.
The girls tackled it well, some running very hard, others nursing substantial leg problems that we know about. There were about 30 other runners, and they had dinner after the run - very civilised !
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tim in spain
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Posted: 8 April 2009, 3:38 AM
Spain update 3
They were all back promptly after the race, back about 7:45, showered and into bed - not a sound !
We'll keep you informed
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valerie
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Posted: 8 April 2009, 8:30 AM
Good luck to you all
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tim in spain
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Posted: 9 April 2009, 4:40 AM
\well another busy day from the girl's side over here.
Our major training today was stairs work ! Most of them took the opportunity to run up the many underground stirs on our travels - and as for the steps of St Pauls - there were thousands.
his morning we experienced our 1st breakfast at the hotel - the kids good eat as much as they wanted - toast, cereal, boiled eggs - quite a lot was devoured !
We hit the tube to get us to picadilly - and we booked tickets to see a show - I've just returned from our one. Now, I think I have this right...
going to Phantom of the Opera - Sarah H, Sarah A and Louise
going to We Will Rock You - Holly, Naomi, Abby, Laura, Mrs Faiers, Tim, Ieuan and |Holly's parents
Going to Chicago was the rest !
After the tickets were booked we climbed onthe sightseeing bus trip that we booked in NZ. There are SO MANY buses in London. We purchased a great lunch from a great little shop next to the ticket booth and ended up having it at Speakers Corner - at the far end of Hyde Park.
The bus took us all ove the city of Westminster and The City of London - there was so much to see and the guides were good.
Lots of photos and of course all that stair work !
We had tea in a little italian restaurant in Picadilly - the kids choose from a great cheap menu - as opposed to Pizza Hut round the corner with pizzas at $30 each.
We are up early tomorrow - a Thames River trip and a serious training run on one of the maps we brought over with us and Hampstead Heath.
More updates tomorrow... By the way - the all slept well for theit 1st night - in bed by 10 local time and up after 7:30 with very few middle of the night wake ups !
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tim in spain
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Posted: 9 April 2009, 4:41 AM
Thanks Val - nice to hear from you...don't beleive all the bad news coming from London - we are having a lovely time !
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