Summer Might finally be here!!

Had quite a fun week this week, Piret's older sister came for a couple of nights then her and Piret's other sister took the car and headed for her summer house (Batch) She left Piret and i her scooter to use for the two days they were away. So piret and i drove around quite a bit went to a few different places for a Run and also went into town (20km). Was great fun its a pretty powerful scooter we going along at 70km on the gravel the whole way hitting a top speed of 90 well that was intill Piret started to hit me telling me to slow down!!! damm woman!!!

Yesterday we went to one of our Wedding venues to meet the owner and have a look around. Was very nice garden only problem is if it rains!!! just just have to pray for some good weather!! We are pretty sure on the date now aswell, we are thinking the 1st August, did think about having it a week later as that is closer to the date that we first meet how ever many years ago it may be. But because the world champs start on the 18th August might be a bit to close and i also liked 1st august cos its a easy day to remember!!! well i say the now anyway.
We hope to go into the wedding planner again this week to talk about what we need so we can get a price as to how much we will need to save up! and also start to book all the places.

Once again dont have to much planned for the week ahead there was talk about us going to Pirets older sister batch but yeah not to sure as to whether we are. kinda hope so as weather here is starting to warm up so might be a bit of fun!! Most batchs here are located nxt to lakes not the sea!! I think we would be going mid week as Pirets mum has to go away so it wont matter if we take the car for a while.
We have lots of orienteering this weekend coming too. We have a 3 day event which is relays everyday and then on Saturday we are going to another event so 4 events in 3 days so that should be interesting!!! not to sure as to where they are yet but the one event that isnt part of the 3day is 2 hrs drive of the other events so Saturday will have a bit of traveling.

Well thats all for now. Still waiting for some Strawberry recipes!!!

100 Controls and a million Strawberries

Well another weekend has passed and another Orienteering event done. First better say what happened during the week, ok well not to much did a bit more wedding stuff slowly moving along with that. We went and saw the wedding planner lady to try and figure out how much its gonna cost to use her, so she has now given us a form as to which things we would like to have. Man the list has things that i would never have thought about, Pillow for rings, even had bird cage or maybe a cannon which Piret seems to think they use to send her last name away with could be kinda fun to have thou. So we have worked our way through that and then been looking at what we think we can do our selves to try and save some money. The wedding planner lady adds 10% to total cost and thats her cut, which isnt to bad as it will be easier to have her assistance and also knowledge i guess.

Piret has been searching the net for dress designs, now its just a matter of trying to figure out who should make it!! GOD the one she found was on a NZ page cost over 3000bucks i hope it wont cost that much here!!! The wedding planner has half the stuff herself like chairs and tables and things like that but we still have to pay to hire them but im sure its cheaper than trying to get them ourselves. Venues are still bit of problem we can use one of the ones we liked but not the other, we have since found a really cool place but we think its somebody's house so we might go knock on there door and hope they might let us. We think we have sorted out the Reception place as there isnt really much option for that. The total cost is still gonna be way cheaper than NZ, Piret was reading on this wedding forum as to how much people have been paying for there wedding, most are around 60,000 to 70,000eek (8000- 9000NZ) then some said they paid as little as 5grand NZ. We better not get to excited thou. Got to find a venue and intill then its kinda hard to work out how much it will cost!!

Didn't do do much else last week Pirets dad came home on Friday from Finland So he fixed the lawn mower which was broken (Dammit all) and then he did all the new lino in the entrance area which looks bit better now. He left Sunday afternoon back to Finland. Piret and i went orienteering on sunday did a 100control race. I had 100 controls in 15km normally for 15km i would have 25 or somewhere close to that. It was a big of a challenge trying to concentrate for that many controls at about 80 i started to make lots of stupid mistakes. at the start i was running in a good size group and was orienteering really well for a change then we had map change which was to a map with only contours it had 4 different loops and u would do them all in different orders to other runners and unlucky for me i was the only one with my order in the group so the others put so much time on me as they were running together. Then yeah started to hurt after control 80. Came 6th over all which was kinda dumb as would have liked to be further up as always. There was wicked thunder storms while we were running, made the swamps way harder to run through too.

If anybody has any good strawberries recipes please feel free to send me them as we have so many of them and cant use them fast enough!!! soon raspberries are gonna be ready too then i think we are gonna have some problems as all i will do is eat Berries!!! mmmm yummy
Not to much planned for this week, gonna try and pick venue and book that, then also would like to get some more prices from Photographers and also somebody to Video wedding.
Today is a National holiday not to sure why but im told we are supposed to make a big Bonfire have a bbq and get wasted!! hmm all sounds good apart from its pissing down outside and has been all day. Ohh well might have to grill the meat in the oven and sit around a Fire inside!!

Few more pics have been upload onto my fotos aswell

Jukola!!!!

We left Piret parents on Friday early morning we decided to try catching a train to Tallinn. Cost 90eek to go in first class, got free coffee and internet. If we were to catch a bus it would cost 120eek each and the train is a bit faster too. So kinda stupid not to take the train from now on I think. We got to Tallinn at 9pm then had to walk to one of pirets friends to drop off our stuff then headed into town to do some shopping. Didnt buy anything luckily thou.

The next morning we had to catch the ferry which left at 7am it only takes 2hrs to get to Finland as we were on the fast ferry, was a lot smoother than going over the cook straight!!! Took us just over 2hrs to drive to Jukola well that was till the start of the traffic jam, it wasn’t completely stopped just slow roll for about 30min. We had 2hrs before the start of the woman’s Relay which started at 2pm so was enough time to find the rest of Pirets club mates and set up our tent. The event center was in an old airbase. The event center they had set up a Supermarket, about 4 huge sports shops, a restaurant and two large cafes ohh and i had better not forget the Church.

Piret went into the warm up pen about 30min before her start she was running leg one for her club they were starting in place 554 out of 1000 so she was smack bang in the middle. The area where your map is waiting has rows of wire above you head there is 50maps in a row so piret was 10 rows back. They number the teams for the results the year before. And then if your team didn’t run the year before then you will start at the back. The start chute is about a 300meter sprint before u get into the forest, when you start in any more than 3 rows back you probably wont look at your map intill you hit the forest or in some cases about the 4th control or more. Piret came back in place 73rd so she made up quite aot of places!! The other 3 runners in her team all had good runs and the team finished 42nd so pretty good really!!


The mens race didn’t start till 11pm so we had abit of time to burn afterwards so did a bit of shopping (new compass WICKED) cooked up a bit of dinner then a powernap. I entered the warm-up pen about 30min before the start and proceeded to warm up was kind of crazy running back and forth with 1500 others we created quite the dust storm. It doesn’t get dark till about 12ish and then is only dark for about 2hrs at most!! We were allowed to go towards our map with 5min before the start was such a mission trying to find it then I started to get nervous that I wouldn’t find it in time. I was team number 651 out of 1500 so I was close to the middle as well. When the starters gun went (in this case it was Anti aircraft gun fire) it was a mad sprint, I nearly ran over some guy who had been tripped. You would have to spot the gaps and then sprint hard through them, as we came to a hill the speed dropped and nearly got to a walk before we hit the top not to sure why guess it was the 1500 people all trying to run up a chute about 10meters wide!!! Once we hit the forest had to try and figure out where I was heading in the end kinda just kept following the heap of people in front of me, the first leg was a nice long one trying to split us up a bit. I managed to read my map a few times on the way but by no means was I orienteering. Did this for about 4 or 5 controls just passing more people as I went. Then had first mistake arrived at one control to find ohh its not my one!!! They have split controls to try and stop the following but when you have 1500 people and only 3 options you still end up having a lot of people going to the same one. Once I figure it wasn’t mine started to panic as I didn’t really have any idea where I was, Finnish forest is really flat and lots of rocks so its kinda hard to relocate!! Lucky for me a number of others all hit the same problem so we proceeded to do a bit of grid searching just really running around and looking to see if others found it we kept passing others going in the opposite direction who I guess had the same problem but ended up at my control and wanted the one I had been to. After we found it just really did the same thing followed and tried to orienteer as much as I could. Ended up in 316th so made up a few places but still should have made up more if it wasn’t for my mistakes!!

Todd oates (another NZer) was next out he lost 4 places after a large mistake near the start where he lost over 100 places but then made them up throughout the rest of the race. Then had the rest of my club mates. after showering (yes ben it was a communal shower which was about 20meters long with shower heads on each side no walls just naked men all around you!!) I went to bed after as it was soooo dammm freezing and was 1am and I couldn’t really be stuffed standing around watching. So slept till 7am to just get up and go to the event centre to see the winning team coming in. My teams last leg runner (7th leg) still hadn’t gone out infact I think 6th hadn’t either. I think my team finished just over 400th place which isn’t too bad as we weren’t that good a team!! It was a pretty amazing experience to run leg one in such a Huge relay will make any other event I do seem soooo small. Cant wait till nxt years one!!!
Check this You tube Video of mens start!! its Wicked to think im in there somewhere!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL1_fBABswI

The Venue Search!!

Well yesterday we spent the morning searching through the local tourist book for old manors and other cool things like that, We were looking at places where we could possibly have a wedding. We made up a bit of a list and then went for a look. The first place we visited was a kinda a Accommodation place had big section out back with a bit of a lake and bridge wasn't to bad but all the kids slides and things like that weren't to appealing.

Second stop was a Old manor, when we turned up to the place we discovered that its now being used as a school so left not really having a look. this was the problem with a few other Manors too, we did find two places that are of interest but one of which they haven't had a wedding there in some time so dont know if we will be able to go there which is a pain cos it was quite a cool old manor. One problem we face is we don't think its going to be that bigger wedding and some of these manors are HUGE and would be stupid to have such a big place. the other thing is some of them provide accommodation and also food. but we have a feeling that the Food wouldn't be that flash and also the accommodation would be pretty simple.
We might go into the wedding planner lady and see if she knows any way we can get to use the old manor. Cos maybe if its cheap enough we would use both venues we liked one for wedding and other for Reception. We have to decide if we will use the her to help plan the whole wedding or just parts of it. Cos she could get a bit cheaper rates but then we will have to pay her.

We also had a look at places to have a dinner at and there are not to many options there was one nice place that had what looked like a good menu had about 4 options for large groups and only cost 260eek (35nz) for the most expensive meal which was a 3 course feed so thats not to bad!!!
Ohh well lots to think about!! i wont share the fotos for the places we like as leave it for a surprise :P

Bit of painting!!

So bit of a week review, Did a fair bit of painting this week, painted some doors and then a massive cupboard, wasn't really to exciting but was kinda good doing something different than mowing lawns. Still got to paint another few doors and walls but anyway plenty more time for that later. Went for two runs around Lake Viljandi which was nice as havent run there before its about 13km around but then one day we got picked up at one side of lake. So just wanted to go swimming in the lake the weather here is starting to get over the 23 degree mark and when there is no wind it feels sooo hot. The lake looks pretty good for swimming in a few places they have imported sand to make nice beaches they also have a sauna in the middle of the lake so you swim out pay a bit of money then have a sauna, pretty cool idea!! Saunas here are very popular so many family's have there own. Ive been out in the sun a bit trying to work on my tan but Pirets already blacker than i have ever been in my life it only takes her about 10min in the sun and shes browner than me or my sister can every get!!!

Our Vege garden is growing hard core think we gonna have a lettuce overload soon!! must be the daily watering that we do!! if only they had a sprinkler system then we wouldn't have to keep on going down to the stream to get water for them. we made a fence for our peas to climb up just got to make one for our Beans now but think we still have a bit of time for that.

The European soccer champs are on at the moment so every night i get to watch two games, think i can watch 2 games every night in till the end of the month so that should keep me busy, my TAB account is now back running so hopefully i can earn some money off these games too, or loose it but ohh well makes it more fun, so far im up 15bucks but better not get to excited!!

Nxt weekend we are heading to Finland so we travel to Tallinn on Friday morning then catch a ferry (3hrs) to Helsinki early Saturday. Its going to be a exciting weekend, i get to meet up with some other NZ friends that are over here and i also get to run Leg one. now for those who dont know the event is called Jukola i think its the worlds biggest Orienteering relay, There are over 1500 mens teams entered each team has 7 runners so the first leg is pretty crazy starting with 1500 others all running towards the same controls. It starts at 11pm and then will finish the nxt day around 7ish for fast teams but i think my team will be well off the pace. The woman have there own relay which starts way early at 2pm they only have 4 legs they still have over 1000 teams entered. All up i think they are expecting 14 044runners this doesn't include all the Club helps for the good teams!!

Well thats all for now

Home again!!!

Its good to be finally back at Pirets parents, seemed alot longer than a week but body pretty tired from all the racing. Looking back at my results it was a good learning as it was my first Major event in 5 years and is alot different to any NZ nationals!!! me getting into the A final is pretty awsome but i was disapointed in keeping on making stupid mistakes in every race just would have liked to have some clean runs. European champs is really hard to make it into A finals beacause each nation can put 6 Runners into each race so 2 in each of the 3 heats, at the world champs you can only put 3 runners in (one in each heat) So when the 8 best countries each put two in each heat it means theres already 16 runners and only 17 go through to A final it doesnt leave much room for the rest. Some ways i wish i was heading to World champs least i still have one more big race in late July so hopfully by then i have sorted out my Orienteering

Piret and i spent 2hrs washing clothes all the swamp running in Latvia sure makes it fun to wash!! After finally finishing that we checked on our Vege garden its growing pretty hard out had to pull a few weeds out and water them all, hopefully soon we can eat some lettuce maybe should give it a few more weeks let it get nice and big.


Piret and i havent really got to much planned for the nxt two weeks. We still trying to work out how much money we have to spend before we get to UK and if we can afford any other trips between now and then, we might head back to Latvia later on this month as there is a 3day there. they say they have Prize money for top 6 places which is pretty good. Might hire a rental car and see a few sights but yeah will have to see how much it all costs. We have planned to do a 6day event in Wales just before we start to work. It about a hr out of Cardiff so hopfully can head to Barry which is my Grandmas home town!!

The weather here seems to be getting warmer which is good. hopfully means the lawns wont grow so fast!!!

EOC Day Eight/Nine: Middle Final/ Relay

After watching all the A finalist i was looking forward to my race, i was starting just behind a eesti guy and Ross was 6min behind me, i had been told that it was very tricky and you had to pay attention the whole time as you were running through alot marshes to try and find small features. after the 3km warm up run to the start and the continuous killing of mosquitoes i entered the Forest only to, well get lost, yep great start lost 6min one number one and "hello Ross" so then started to run with him, we stuffed number 4 and Ross got away and yeah thats about it kinda gave up after that, legs were kinda smashed up from not wearing long socks all week sand mind just wasnt into it so decided may aswell call it a day.

Map: i did MB
http://www.orientesanas.lv/cgi-bin/reitti.cgi?act=map&id=62&kieli=en

Ross, Piret and I decided we would head out for dinner as it was our last dinner together, Ross and i looked like the local bums drinking our beers on the park bench before we headed to a Pizza place for tea, we got this pizza which was cheese, cheese, cheese and then a few strips of ham it cost like 14nz and was half a meter wide it was huge feed us all easy and we still had two bowls of chips to try and eat too. ohh well we know for next time anyway.

The nxt day it was the European Relay champs we werent aloud to have a relay team so Ross and i just had to watch was kinda boring and all we wanted to do was go out for a run as the forest was so fast and guys we cranking out 4min kms whichs is damm fast for orineteering!!! The eesti girls team got there first top 6 placing so that were all preaty happy. The men on the other hand did shit and were well off the pace.

Piret and i got a ride back to Eesti that night which ment we missed the EOC party which was kinda dumb leaving Ross all alone. If we stayed for party it would have ment we would have bussed home which costs abit and also take ages!!! so We ended up finally home at like 12pm was cool to find a package from mummy with some chocolate and peanut butter mmmmm yummy