Apolgies for the blogs all coming along like busses (none and then loads) but we've been a wee bit busy what with one thing and another. Any way this blog actually happened yesterday...
oh and pictures may be a bit thin on the ground as internet connection so slow at the YHA will edit and post pictures tommorrow...
Yes, we made it to the station on time. We took the Transcoastal Train from Christchurch to the InterIslander ferry at Picton. The train went through some beautiful parts and we got to see some sights in particular as it followed the coast at Kaikora. Standouts were seeing Dolphins leaping in Kaikora Bay (big tick there), big fat seals sunning themselves on rocks and the salt pans at Lake Grassmere – never knew they were red. The views were stunning – what else did we expect. Happy holiday makers waving at us all the way, except for the grumpy ones that pretended that they hadn’t seen the train of demented wavers. The train was old but serviceable, it had those connecting bits between the carriages and the doors that slammed themselves on your fingers if you weren’t careful (yeah Jenn – even after the safety announcement when we was told to be careful). The buffet car was just like home – all day wangy English breakfast muffins and toasted cheese sandwiches and the vilest coffee imaginable all at an extraordinary price. Home from home.
At the front of the train was an open air viewing carriage. There was a casual warning about keeping your parts and equipment in the carriage and not leaning out due to: vegetation, rock faces, tunnels and other bits and bobs. We had to remind Barney on a few occasions that his head was not necessarily the best bit on his body to lose.
The Interislander Ferry was a treat. It was called The Kaitai formerly known as The Pride of Cherbourg (ex of P&O Ferries). Sean and Jenn were convinced they’d sailed on it across the British Channel. It was exactly as all cross channel ferries are. Except in New Zealand the foot passengers board by walking across the car decks, whilst they are loading. Interesting.
We did what we always do and head for the outside. Have we written about the wind yet? Have we mentioned that it’s windy here? Well we take it all back. That wasn’t wind that was just a light breeze. IT was fairly stiffly windy out of Queen Charlotte Sound (very picturesque and sort of fiordy), then the wind really picked up as we moved out into Cooke Straight and then it really started to blow as we moved into Wellington Harbour. There was people blowing about everywhere, people were losing their chips, children sunglasses, hair and dignity. So of course Barney and Sean just had to edge themselves to the rails holding on, clothes and hair streaming out with the wind so strong that they were unable to breath properly and their cheeks were flapping like a couple of spacemen hitting max warp. Great fun.
We all give the whole days travelling a great big thumbs up. It was really enjoyable experience – if you ever come here you should do it!
We decided that even on our paupers budget we were not going to suffer the shuttle bus and hobbling through the street with all our luggage so we splurged and took a taxi. Even though we knew the $20 was on the steep side it was worth every cent. Door to door of the YHA.
Even better the YHA had a New World (think Sainsburies) over the road. Jenn and Sean went for a forage and their eyes were on stalks after months of privations in the South we was surrounded by falafels and organic food and shelves and shelves overflowing with shiny glossy produce. It was a bit like Christmas. Any way after tea the YHA laid on some entertainment in the form of a fire alarm. So out we shuffled obediently outside whilst a number of the younger more recalcitrant guests lingered unsure in the dining area. Hiding in a sheltered spot trying to avoid the wind Jack steps outside and notices that the firestation was just 50 meters away down the end of the road. Suddenly we are all out on the pavement watching the firestation lights flashing and the firemen jumping around into various bits of equipment and engines and the doors opening and the engines coming rushing out sirens blazing up the 50 meter stretch of empty road screeching to halt outside the hostel to the sounds of cheers and claps from the occupants. Several embarrased looking firemen jump out of the engines, one of whom, probably the boss one, not looking happy at all probably bored from having to do this several times a week no doubt. Anyway it was a false alarm and we were all allowed back in quite quickly.
However it turned out that our next door neighbours were a mixed bunch of lads of lack beared age (danes, Swedes, Germans and a couple of isrelis) having a beer and a bit of a party before heading out on the town. Graons from Jenn and Sean as the voices got louder and the music got louder. Jenn gave up and knocked firmly on the door and then said sweetly if you are having a party could you turn it down or take it downstairs? Nice boys apologised and the music was down. And then they went out for their evenings entertainment.
We all slept soundly.
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Jail House Rocks
The intrepid Monahans departed Ashburton for the big city, Christchurch, late in the afternoon (this is delayed as we haven’t been on internet so posts going up in bulk) (thanks for the lift little sis and big Dan) pitching up at the Jail House Backpackers late in the afternoon. Jenn found it on the internet and it looked quirky, the old Addington Jail converted to a back packers hostel. The rooms were the cells, it looked like it had been built in olden Victorian Days and reminded Jenn of Porridge, those whitewashed stone walls and narrow metal gantries. The kitchen was well equipped for a backpackers and it was all clean and good. We had two adjoining rooms with bunk beds which were very sturdy and very comfortable. With a 6am start for the Transcoastal train that would take us to the Interislander ferry that would take us to Wellington and the North Island that was a good thing. We spent the afternoon saying goodbye to Christchurch and took a walk through Hagley Park, past the Avon River and the punting and onto the Botanic Gardens which were lovely in the brilliant sunshine.
All had an early night after playing cards, chess and yatzee with about 5 different phones, clocks, DS’s set to alarm we felt sure that we would be up in time...
All had an early night after playing cards, chess and yatzee with about 5 different phones, clocks, DS’s set to alarm we felt sure that we would be up in time...
Godbyes Again
Well, thats it. After a few lazy days of packing and playing giant tetrus for real the container (aka ‘The Luggage’) was packed, sealed and collected. It will be making its way home and be arriving at the end of February. We are looking forward to getting it to its new home sometime this year.
Mixed feelings but mostly happy at going home. Sean will be bereft for a while, he will miss the sun and the sound of nothing and not having to see any people. He is adamant that he really really hates people. Jack and Barney are on adventure mode. It’s all good and exciting, so that’s a relief not to have teenage tantrums – oh the guilt!
On the whole it’s been a blast. New Zealand is a very beautiful place with much to offer the right people and it’s the best place in the world to come and have fun for a while. We’ve enjoyed it but it really is time to go home.
WE spent a lovely last day out with Jenns sister all the kids and Granddad as well in Peel Forest. It was a nice way to end.
So the days have finally dwindled down to none and its time again to say goodbyes and thankyous. Especially to the Davidson’s next door who did so much for us, as Jenn’s sister said “It’s been emotional”. But we hope we left leaving behind people who will miss us.
Mixed feelings but mostly happy at going home. Sean will be bereft for a while, he will miss the sun and the sound of nothing and not having to see any people. He is adamant that he really really hates people. Jack and Barney are on adventure mode. It’s all good and exciting, so that’s a relief not to have teenage tantrums – oh the guilt!
On the whole it’s been a blast. New Zealand is a very beautiful place with much to offer the right people and it’s the best place in the world to come and have fun for a while. We’ve enjoyed it but it really is time to go home.
WE spent a lovely last day out with Jenns sister all the kids and Granddad as well in Peel Forest. It was a nice way to end.
So the days have finally dwindled down to none and its time again to say goodbyes and thankyous. Especially to the Davidson’s next door who did so much for us, as Jenn’s sister said “It’s been emotional”. But we hope we left leaving behind people who will miss us.
Friday, 7 January 2011
the beginning of the end
Well, its here. The container has arrived, marking the beginning of the end of the adventure. Mixed feelings. Excitement about returning home. Sadness at leaving. Panic attacks at 2am at the thought of what needs to be done before we leave and what needs to be done when we get home. And more excitement at the fun bit in the middle when we travel.
We decided that we needed to get our stuff back as economically as possible and decided to avoid removal companies and do it our selves using a freight forwarding company. So far its been way cheaper and easy to organise. But until we've unpacked our stuff in Norwich its too soon to say. It does of course mean that we've got to do all the donkey work in packing and securing our stuff. Sean is giddy with tension and rushing at getting it all packed. Jenn and the boys are being patient as the thing doesn't get collected until Tuesday - thats a whole five days! Plus if we pack it all now we can't use our stuff! So we gave him a cold beer and a pat on the back and all is calm again.
We have also sold the Mondeo. Good old Trade Me classified add. Posted on the monday, sold and cash clutched in our sweaty palms by Thursday. Yay! Sean is looking forward to sitting in a van again and has been perusing the classifieds back home for a likely suspect. So it was off to the kiwi bank to buy some pounds. Good job the exchange rate went our way - thats been a first!
Just 7 days to go before we board the train out of Christchurch and 22 days before we step of the plane at Heathrow and Jenn gets to kiss the ground.
We decided that we needed to get our stuff back as economically as possible and decided to avoid removal companies and do it our selves using a freight forwarding company. So far its been way cheaper and easy to organise. But until we've unpacked our stuff in Norwich its too soon to say. It does of course mean that we've got to do all the donkey work in packing and securing our stuff. Sean is giddy with tension and rushing at getting it all packed. Jenn and the boys are being patient as the thing doesn't get collected until Tuesday - thats a whole five days! Plus if we pack it all now we can't use our stuff! So we gave him a cold beer and a pat on the back and all is calm again.
We have also sold the Mondeo. Good old Trade Me classified add. Posted on the monday, sold and cash clutched in our sweaty palms by Thursday. Yay! Sean is looking forward to sitting in a van again and has been perusing the classifieds back home for a likely suspect. So it was off to the kiwi bank to buy some pounds. Good job the exchange rate went our way - thats been a first!
Just 7 days to go before we board the train out of Christchurch and 22 days before we step of the plane at Heathrow and Jenn gets to kiss the ground.
Monday, 3 January 2011
Tramping
We have just got our heads around the fact the we have just one and a half weeks before we start our journey home! And we need to do all those things that we planned to do but haven't got round to. The top of the list has been our illfated tramping expeditions. We had planned to get a lot of this in but various foot injuries in the rapidly aging senior Monahans stopped play.
So rather impetuously the day before yesterday we checked out the weather chose to ignore the forecast and packed our bags and headed for the hills. Given that both Sean and Jenn are somewhat unfit (due to aforementioned foot injuries) we decided to do 'tramping light' and selected a nice little 3 hour walk out on a leg of the Mount Somers track to Woolshed Creek Hut.
As usual we had to stop on the way out for supplies (go nowhere without food) and didn't arrive at the car park until lunch time. Munching our sandwiches as we all booted up - still at least it saved us having to carry it - the car park was looking worryingly full. The huts operate on a first come first served basis. We quickly came up with a plan B - we walk home again in the evening. Simple.
It was a scorching afternoon and a blistering Nor'wester was blowing up. The 2 litres of water we had taken with us didn't last long - Jenn wondered why males can't pace themselves or make sure that everyone else has had some. The track was easy to follow and climbed and climbed and climbed in the relentlessly roasting hot wind. We stopped for a break at an old coal mine and waited until the sweating stopped. Giving up after about 10 minutes we continued. Any way the views were, as ever, spectacular.
Eventually we got to the top and could finally see where we were going - a lovely homey looking hut at the bottom of the valley by the creek. 
The hut was packed. But we managed to nab the last four beds - ow we thought to ourselves rather smuggly how lucky were we! Little did we know as we pulled off our boots and got our feet into the cool crystal clear water of the creek. 
The huts are quite basic but serviceable. You have to take all your own kit as there is no power but there is a wood burning stove for heat if you need it. There were two bunk rooms and a kind of kitchen/living area with stainless steel areas for cooking and tables and benches. The 'beds' are single platforms with mattresses on and you have to get up close and personal with whomever just so happens to be beside you. No gender separation just find a matt and claim it with your sleeping bag.
So we had our various tins of beans/meatballs/ravioli and tea and biscuits - love camp food. And settled in for an evening of visiting the local highlights - the very wobbly indiana jones chasm foot bridge (Jenn only got as far as the middle before she had to turn back)
, playing cards, making dams in the creek
, breaking rocks in the creek and reading books. As the light went down we took to our bags and got ready for a nights 'sleep'. and then the trouble started. Who remembered to bring earplugs? There was snoring to the left, snoring to the right, snoring up above and from the next bunk room as well. People getting up at all hours to go to the loo. But mostly it was the snoring. Out of the 20 or so people in our bunk room about half of them snored. The Swines!
Sean and the boys were up early (we debated at great length on the walk home whether you could actually get up early if you technically hadn't been to sleep the night before) but Jenn managed to get up late. Sean got fed up and got a cob on because he didn't want to wake Jenn up (too scared) and she wouldn't wake up on her own. But we were up and out by 8am - which is pretty amazing for us. The weather was cloudy and cool and the walk down hill mostly. We were back at the car and off on our way for a cafe breakfast by 10.30. Breakfasting at the Alford Forest Coffee shop.
Jack got the best deal with a small full english breakfast. Poor Barney felt very let down by his choice of a bacon sandwich once he'd had a gander at Jacks bountiful plate of glistening bacon, sausage egg, bean, hash browns and toast. But he managed to hold it together as the tears nudged his eyes ' I didn't know I could have had that'. Bless him. Its a lovely little cafe and well worth a stop off it your passing and in need of sustenance.
1:9
So rather impetuously the day before yesterday we checked out the weather chose to ignore the forecast and packed our bags and headed for the hills. Given that both Sean and Jenn are somewhat unfit (due to aforementioned foot injuries) we decided to do 'tramping light' and selected a nice little 3 hour walk out on a leg of the Mount Somers track to Woolshed Creek Hut.
As usual we had to stop on the way out for supplies (go nowhere without food) and didn't arrive at the car park until lunch time. Munching our sandwiches as we all booted up - still at least it saved us having to carry it - the car park was looking worryingly full. The huts operate on a first come first served basis. We quickly came up with a plan B - we walk home again in the evening. Simple.
It was a scorching afternoon and a blistering Nor'wester was blowing up. The 2 litres of water we had taken with us didn't last long - Jenn wondered why males can't pace themselves or make sure that everyone else has had some. The track was easy to follow and climbed and climbed and climbed in the relentlessly roasting hot wind. We stopped for a break at an old coal mine and waited until the sweating stopped. Giving up after about 10 minutes we continued. Any way the views were, as ever, spectacular.
Eventually we got to the top and could finally see where we were going - a lovely homey looking hut at the bottom of the valley by the creek. 
The hut was packed. But we managed to nab the last four beds - ow we thought to ourselves rather smuggly how lucky were we! Little did we know as we pulled off our boots and got our feet into the cool crystal clear water of the creek. 
The huts are quite basic but serviceable. You have to take all your own kit as there is no power but there is a wood burning stove for heat if you need it. There were two bunk rooms and a kind of kitchen/living area with stainless steel areas for cooking and tables and benches. The 'beds' are single platforms with mattresses on and you have to get up close and personal with whomever just so happens to be beside you. No gender separation just find a matt and claim it with your sleeping bag.
So we had our various tins of beans/meatballs/ravioli and tea and biscuits - love camp food. And settled in for an evening of visiting the local highlights - the very wobbly indiana jones chasm foot bridge (Jenn only got as far as the middle before she had to turn back)
, playing cards, making dams in the creek
, breaking rocks in the creek and reading books. As the light went down we took to our bags and got ready for a nights 'sleep'. and then the trouble started. Who remembered to bring earplugs? There was snoring to the left, snoring to the right, snoring up above and from the next bunk room as well. People getting up at all hours to go to the loo. But mostly it was the snoring. Out of the 20 or so people in our bunk room about half of them snored. The Swines!Sean and the boys were up early (we debated at great length on the walk home whether you could actually get up early if you technically hadn't been to sleep the night before) but Jenn managed to get up late. Sean got fed up and got a cob on because he didn't want to wake Jenn up (too scared) and she wouldn't wake up on her own. But we were up and out by 8am - which is pretty amazing for us. The weather was cloudy and cool and the walk down hill mostly. We were back at the car and off on our way for a cafe breakfast by 10.30. Breakfasting at the Alford Forest Coffee shop.
Jack got the best deal with a small full english breakfast. Poor Barney felt very let down by his choice of a bacon sandwich once he'd had a gander at Jacks bountiful plate of glistening bacon, sausage egg, bean, hash browns and toast. But he managed to hold it together as the tears nudged his eyes ' I didn't know I could have had that'. Bless him. Its a lovely little cafe and well worth a stop off it your passing and in need of sustenance.
1:9
Friday, 31 December 2010
Happy new year
Happy new year everyone. Thank you all for your messages and cards and stuff. It was really lovely to hear from you. Jenn cried - AGAIN!
We arrived home on New Years Eve tired but ready to embrace the New Year. Definitely not in the right frame of mind though. We think you need your friends around you. Missed the party! Still we spent today having many New Years Eves listening to Seans internet radio following it around the world until we got to the UK as we cleaned the car ready to sell it. Somehow it seemed properly New Year once we had heard Big Ben chime.
The saying goes 'you can't polish a turd but you can roll it in glitter'. We proved it wrong. The Mondeo is sparkling like it was its first day out of the factory. Lets hope somebody wants to buy it before we step out of Ashburton.
Oh and we discovered that the chicks have been busy whilst we were away and have had a very successful attempt at hatching chicks MII. We were wondering where they had gone. Bubbles has three and the vicious white one has one. No doubt they will all be horrendously loud cocks...
2:13
We arrived home on New Years Eve tired but ready to embrace the New Year. Definitely not in the right frame of mind though. We think you need your friends around you. Missed the party! Still we spent today having many New Years Eves listening to Seans internet radio following it around the world until we got to the UK as we cleaned the car ready to sell it. Somehow it seemed properly New Year once we had heard Big Ben chime.
The saying goes 'you can't polish a turd but you can roll it in glitter'. We proved it wrong. The Mondeo is sparkling like it was its first day out of the factory. Lets hope somebody wants to buy it before we step out of Ashburton.
Oh and we discovered that the chicks have been busy whilst we were away and have had a very successful attempt at hatching chicks MII. We were wondering where they had gone. Bubbles has three and the vicious white one has one. No doubt they will all be horrendously loud cocks...
2:13
traditional kiwi christmas
We've just got back from spending our christmas in traditional kiwi style. Camping at the beach (or you could go bush but we went beach) -Waikuku Beach to be precise:
View Larger Map
We went for 5 days with the Davidsons next door (they are caravaners and we took the tent). We spent a lot of time practicing our doing nothing much skills (skills gained on many days at Whitwell - we look forward to showing them off next season back home). Sean in particular was focusing on achieving Masters level.
We got blessed with the weather most days with the exception of Wednesday where it decided that biblical rain was called for. We escaped the cabin fever by taking a tiki tour to Oxford. Oxford in the rain sucked. We couldn't find anywhere that we wanted to lunch in (either restaurant gastro or cheap and greasy bakery/cafe you can eat it but it will have had a face - the boys went for this option and Sean and Jenn got theirs from the local supermarket). So it was a fun lunch steaming up the car - small pleasures. We took the scenic route back stopping off at Ashley Gorge Reserve for a damp squelch at an historic camping ground and then onwards for a tramp on Mount Thomas (the rain had gone down to a light drizzle). Jenn managed to convince the boys that it would only take half an hour and when they got back to the car they could finish of the Hokey pokey (think Crunchie bar if it came in squares) and the liquorice. Well they took off at a gallop and managed an hours walk in 40 minutes. Shame they can't do that more often. Still it was good to be back in the trees with the smell of honey of the black fungus and the sound of the bell birds calling. Back to camp to discover a few leaks and a little damp but nothing to distressing. As it turns out we got off lightly as there was major flooding elsewhere - the main route one south was closed at the Rakaia Bridge. A long slow evening playing cards and reading. The weather returned to sunny for the next day which was good as Jack decided that we all ought to see the sunrise.
Even Jenn wasn't moaning about the 5.30 start as it was just magical.
We spent the next few days doing nothing much and playing on the beach kite flying, jumping waves and playing frisbee.
Barney especially enjoyed the surf being a bit of a selkie. Great fun way to kick off the long holiday home.
2:14
View Larger Map
We went for 5 days with the Davidsons next door (they are caravaners and we took the tent). We spent a lot of time practicing our doing nothing much skills (skills gained on many days at Whitwell - we look forward to showing them off next season back home). Sean in particular was focusing on achieving Masters level.
We got blessed with the weather most days with the exception of Wednesday where it decided that biblical rain was called for. We escaped the cabin fever by taking a tiki tour to Oxford. Oxford in the rain sucked. We couldn't find anywhere that we wanted to lunch in (either restaurant gastro or cheap and greasy bakery/cafe you can eat it but it will have had a face - the boys went for this option and Sean and Jenn got theirs from the local supermarket). So it was a fun lunch steaming up the car - small pleasures. We took the scenic route back stopping off at Ashley Gorge Reserve for a damp squelch at an historic camping ground and then onwards for a tramp on Mount Thomas (the rain had gone down to a light drizzle). Jenn managed to convince the boys that it would only take half an hour and when they got back to the car they could finish of the Hokey pokey (think Crunchie bar if it came in squares) and the liquorice. Well they took off at a gallop and managed an hours walk in 40 minutes. Shame they can't do that more often. Still it was good to be back in the trees with the smell of honey of the black fungus and the sound of the bell birds calling. Back to camp to discover a few leaks and a little damp but nothing to distressing. As it turns out we got off lightly as there was major flooding elsewhere - the main route one south was closed at the Rakaia Bridge. A long slow evening playing cards and reading. The weather returned to sunny for the next day which was good as Jack decided that we all ought to see the sunrise.
Even Jenn wasn't moaning about the 5.30 start as it was just magical.
We spent the next few days doing nothing much and playing on the beach kite flying, jumping waves and playing frisbee.
Barney especially enjoyed the surf being a bit of a selkie. Great fun way to kick off the long holiday home.2:14
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