The Jump

  

THE JUMP 

My heart was racing faster than anything in the world,I felt like I was going to just quit the whole thing and back out.I was fifty eight meters off the ground about to jump. I knew that after I had done this I would feel great but for now I felt like I was doing something that was way out of my league. The crowd was going wild like they were a heap of wild cheaters, they were really ready to see this jump. As I was about to jump I just imagined how proud my mum and dad would be if I did this and I tried and how much happier they would be if I won the whole competition.


I took a step forward and jumped, in no time I was in the air I did one front flip arch my back and I shot down into the water.As the water touched my face I felt so happy that I had done it and not backed out.When I came out of the water all I heard was I crowd going crazy clapping,I then swam myself out of the water were my sister was waiting for me with a towel in her and hand she had a huge smile on her face. I got out of the pool and went to a stand next to the bench where everyone was waiting for the next person to jump in.Once everyone was done jumping ( showing off as I liked to say) it was time to announce what place everyone came.There was twenty people jumping that day so I had some competition.As the man was saying who came third my heart started beating faster and faster.When he was announcing who came second I just looked at everyone in the crowd then just thought of my mum,the man said with a very loud voice in second place we have Olivia Mayhem! The crowd went wild, everyone was clapping and cheering and yelling out my name,I walked out onto the podium. I felt like I was the most awesome person in the world and that I could fly!When I went home and told my mum she looked like the most proudest person in the world.


And yes, that was the proudest moment of my life.

Rata

      

Rata

Rata trees have dark, glossy green leaves with beautiful bright flowers once they have bloomed. The flowers only bloom at Christmas time just like the Pohutukawa tree. 
Did you know that the Rata tree and the Pohutukawa tree are actually related?  Both Pohutukawa and Rata belong to the genus Metrosideros, the iron hearted myrtles, a reference to their hard, very heavy, dark red heartwood. 
Both flower in red around Christmas time or early summer and they belong to the myrtle family with Manuka and Kanuka.
The scientific name for Rata is Metrosideros Umbellata. 
There are three types of Rata, Northern Rata, B/artlett's Rata and Southern Rata. The Northern Rata is more likely found in the South island and in Westport. 
The Southern Rata is found all up and down New Zealand. The Bartlet’s Rata is very rare and is hardly found with its white flowers and pale, papery bark, which make it unique among New Zealand.