What I’d do

1

Saturday morning is a disaster.

Always. The aim is to get our three kids and dog out the door and to various sports fields in all parts of town by 8.30am. The first problem is inevitably socks. Despite having all week to find them, there is always some child of mine with their head deep down in the washing pile or under the bed searching for a sock, pair of shorts or football/hockey shirt. Despite coming in pairs, socks never stick together. There’s always three trips back inside the house for a missing boot, shin pad or mouth guard.

2

In the afternoon I play football not because I’m good

but because getting out with a bunch of likeminded men chasing a ball for a couple of hours does wonders for my mental health and physical fitness. During the week I travel a lot for work, so I’m sitting on planes, sitting in cars, sitting at desks and occasionally lugging camera equipment around. I have a weakness for cooked breakfasts and a well-made pie, so by Saturday I need a run around. Football concludes with a beer and banter. I love the loose talk among my team mates about who did wrong and why. They used to harass me that I hadn’t scored a goal in five years. Then I scored a goal.

3

We don’t own an iPad. During the week we hide the TV remotes so the kids can’t watch anything. Sunday is different. I leave the remotes out on the coffee table and if we’re lucky we get a sleep-in until 8am. Sunday is officially a day of rest in our household. Regular, organised activities are banned. My wife has coined it “Sunday — Mum Day.” This means we all get on our bikes and go down the New Plymouth coastal walkway to a coffee spot.

4

Currently we’re halfway through an 18-year renovation project so Sunday afternoon is the time I devote a couple of hours to mowing, painting and generally walking around looking for lost tools. I enjoy mowing the lawns and listening to podcasts. By 4pm I’ve retired to the couch to watch the Warriors lose or to take the kids on in cards or some board game. I put the kids to bed, kiss my wife and slip out the door to the airport. I like the descent into Auckland. The city finally seems at peace. My weekend concludes with this game I play with Auckland airport staff where they hide the trolleys and I try to find them. It’s the final piece of chaos in a perfectly chaotic life I’ve chosen. Hadyn Jones presents Fair Go on TVNZ 1 Monday nights and Good Sorts, on TVNZ 1 News on Sunday nights.