Attitude TV

Over in NZ we have a fantastic TV show called Attitude TV. Last week it was on Kate Horan who has got the same condition as Paddy and is heading off to Beijing to compete. The show was all about her lead up to the games, plus how they grade athletes for the paralympics and also the modern technology for making prosthetic legs. John and I got very excited watching it! Here is the link, it is very interesting if you get a chance to see it.

http://www.disabilitytv.com/shows/show/kate_horan_in_holland/

Also on the same show was Oscar Pistorius,

http://www.disabilitytv.com/shows/show/oscar_pistorius/

How they classify athletes

http://www.disabilitytv.com/shows/show/classification/

At the Limb Centre in Holland

http://www.disabilitytv.com/shows/show/limbs_centre/

Hope you enjoy watching it all!!!

A birthday party

Yesterday P & G went to a birthday party, the excitement was huge! It was held at the kindy and it was a rabbit theme, so they had ears and a little tail to put on, very cute! They had a face painter there as entertainment and this is the result, I thought they looked fantastic!

Paddy

Georgie

A school trip...

Last week Emma's school took all the year two children out to Ambury Farm. The year two students are learning all about fibres and where they came from, so it was off to the farm to see some action. Ambury Farm is a working farm that is open to the public and you can go along and see how a farm operates. we saw sheep being shorn, we learnt how to hand spin wool from a fleece and also how to do felting. It was a fantastic day and very informative. We also saw lots of baby animals as it is lambing and calving season in NZ.

A bit of home baking

While Jo was staying with us I made her a chocolate and biscuit slice, and she couldn't get enough of it. It is absolutely delicious, and the kids love it too! Of course they like to help and then of course lick the bowl afterwards. I used to love doing that when I was little! Because I think the slice is so nice I thought I would post the recipe as it is so very easy to make, and no cooking in the oven makes it even easier!

Hedgehog Slice

250g plain biscuits broken into small pieces

1/2 cup desiccated coconut

1/2 cup Castor sugar

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

1/4 cup cocoa powder

100 g dark chocolate chopped (I used Hershey's choc drops)

100g butter

1 tbsp golden syrup

1 egg lightly beaten

Icing

2 cups Icing (powdered) sugar. Sifted

1/4 cup cocoa powder. Sifted

large knob of soft butter

Boiling water

1. Lightly grease an 18 x 28cm slice pan. Line base and two long sides with baking paper, extending paper 2cm above pan edge.

2. In a large bowl combine biscuits, coconut, sugar, nuts and cocoa

3. In a small saucepan stir chocolate, butter and syrup over a low heat until melted. Cool slightly and add egg. Sir wet mixture into dry ingredients.

4. Press mixture firmly into prepared tin using the back of a spoon. Place in fridge.

5. Icing- Mix all ingredients together and add enough boiling water (do this gradually) until you have a spreadable icing. Spread on slice, place back in fridge and chill until firm. Slice and enjoy.

6. This slice is kept in the fridge.

Now I don't have any photo's of what this looks like, but please take my word for this it is very moreish! But I do have one of the girls enoying licking the bowl!!

On the trampoline

The other day Paddy was jumping on the trampoline without her magic leg, way to go Paddy!! Since she had her operation she has become so good at hopping, she can get around really well. In the morning when she gets up, she crawls, but the rest of the time when she hasn't her leg on she hops. Kids are just so good with getting on with things!

Nanny Jo

John's Mum has been over staying with us for six weeks. Last time we saw her the twins were only five months old, so we had a bit of catching up to do! Unfortunately for Jo we have have had the wettest winter ever on record, the good news for Jo that it wasn't any better in Wales, they have had the wettest summer ever! In six weeks she only saw four days of sunshine, but we did have numerous storms, don't you just love winter! It was so good that Jo could see the girls now, they are at such a lovely age and the just grow up so quick!

Off to the rugby!

I am a bit behind in the news from the Walsh household, but I am going to try to catch up today! Two weeks ago (yes I have been very slack) John and Emma went with Andrew and Michael to see the All Blacks (NZ) play the Wallabies (Australia) at Eden Park for the Bledisloe Cup. NZ and Australia are highly competitive with each other, especially when it comes to the rugby! I am very pleased to report NZ won!! (Sorry to all the relatives in Aussie reading this, I am sure you understand!)