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
Friday, 31 December 2010
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
Saturday, 25 December 2010
Happy Christmas everybody
Its christmas night and the sun has just set we are feeling slightly achy from all the nuts and cheese and watching The A-Team (Jack got it for christmas). We've said it before but we'll say it again its just to damn weird having christmas at mid summer. Where's the incentive to feast drink and make merry when the sun is high in the sky, you've got swallows building nests in your shed and you're out helping your neighbours bring in their hay as the sun sets?
Anyway, we monahans gave it our best shot to do it kiwi style. So it was up with the lark for a present ripping open frenzy. The boys did very well. Jack looking so cool in his new German Army parka - he's going to need that very soon when we step off that plane into the new subarctic climate in the UK. And a widget for his camera so he can take some cool pictures. Barney got a mobile phone, a bushmans hat and an All Blacks watch. Sean got a fossil fish and a very fetching neck pillow and eye mask for his coming travels. Jenn got some wool dye (for all that stuff she's been spinning), and a rather lovely Lazy Kate hand made by Sean (also for the spinning go look it up on google if you need an explanation) and a beautiful silver spoon from Parliament in Wellington.
So we made plans were for a joint big family affair with the Davidsons next door. The girls were especially chuffed as they have never had a christmas with the cousins and aunty. So in the kiwi spirit of doing as much as is strictly necessary the barby was wheeled around to the least windy side of the compound and some steaks were defrosted and salads knocked up and vast quantities of beer put down to chill. Jenn went all out and made a pavlova (kiwis have a very very very sweet tooth and love their puddings to be teeth achingly sweet):
which was yummy and she thinks she will have to institute a new family tradition of mid summer pav fest. Expect your invites in June.
No crackers or hats. No nuts. No turkey (or suitable vegetarian substitute), or christmas puddings. No brandy, champagne and orange juice breakfasts, port or sherry. No old movies or cheesy repeats of those rubbishy old favourites (Jenn misses The African Queen but dug out her old copy of Casablanca instead). No storing the beer outside the back door with the cream and vegetables that wont fit in the fridge because of the vast amount of cheese thats in there. And, worst of all, no time with the people that we like to spend time with.
Anyway in keeping with the traditional kiwi christmas we are off camping now for a week. Back for the new year when things get busy preparing for the return journey.
We hope that you all have the best christmas ever. And we wish you all a very very happy near year. Whatever it brings. XXX
3:20
Anyway, we monahans gave it our best shot to do it kiwi style. So it was up with the lark for a present ripping open frenzy. The boys did very well. Jack looking so cool in his new German Army parka - he's going to need that very soon when we step off that plane into the new subarctic climate in the UK. And a widget for his camera so he can take some cool pictures. Barney got a mobile phone, a bushmans hat and an All Blacks watch. Sean got a fossil fish and a very fetching neck pillow and eye mask for his coming travels. Jenn got some wool dye (for all that stuff she's been spinning), and a rather lovely Lazy Kate hand made by Sean (also for the spinning go look it up on google if you need an explanation) and a beautiful silver spoon from Parliament in Wellington.
So we made plans were for a joint big family affair with the Davidsons next door. The girls were especially chuffed as they have never had a christmas with the cousins and aunty. So in the kiwi spirit of doing as much as is strictly necessary the barby was wheeled around to the least windy side of the compound and some steaks were defrosted and salads knocked up and vast quantities of beer put down to chill. Jenn went all out and made a pavlova (kiwis have a very very very sweet tooth and love their puddings to be teeth achingly sweet):
which was yummy and she thinks she will have to institute a new family tradition of mid summer pav fest. Expect your invites in June.
No crackers or hats. No nuts. No turkey (or suitable vegetarian substitute), or christmas puddings. No brandy, champagne and orange juice breakfasts, port or sherry. No old movies or cheesy repeats of those rubbishy old favourites (Jenn misses The African Queen but dug out her old copy of Casablanca instead). No storing the beer outside the back door with the cream and vegetables that wont fit in the fridge because of the vast amount of cheese thats in there. And, worst of all, no time with the people that we like to spend time with.
Anyway in keeping with the traditional kiwi christmas we are off camping now for a week. Back for the new year when things get busy preparing for the return journey.
We hope that you all have the best christmas ever. And we wish you all a very very happy near year. Whatever it brings. XXX
3:20
Thursday, 23 December 2010
Christmas eve
We guess this is the day that we begin to feel our distance from home the most acutely. Everything is topsy turvey. The sun is shining and we've had a solstice. But it was the summer one and not the winter one. It ought to be cold. We ought to be out about spending time with friends and family. We ought to have put up some decorations and holly and ivy. So traditions are on hold until next year. For now we are keeping it kiwi.
And do nothing much. Not the same as nothing as its doing nothing much.
But we did decide to risk life and limb and take a walk up in the hills. What with the ankle injuries we decided to try and avoid the steep woody foothills and go as far as we could in the car (we know: what a cop out) to minimise risk of further injury and an easy way to get to the views.
It was raining in the plains but we left it behind as we climbed up the Mount Hutt ski road. We say road, the tarmac ran out within the first 50m and the road became more of a rubbly track etched into the side of the mountain. A rock face to one side, which was losing rocks all over the road and a precipice to the other side. Sean drove, Jenn sat clenched beside him. Knuckles white as she gripped the passenger door. We don't know why because, lets face it, if a boulder did decide to launch itself onto them or the car suddenly veered of the road over the edge it wouldn't have done her any good. But it was worth it as within a mile or so of climbing, scrambling and general escapading we made it to a lovely spot with a good clear view over the plains and the fluffy clouds. Even Jack and Barney stopped moaning and enjoyed themselves.
Looking forward to christmas day now and a barbecue and lots more doing nothing much for the next couple of weeks before we have to a lot of much. (Mostly panic we suspect).
3:21
And do nothing much. Not the same as nothing as its doing nothing much.
But we did decide to risk life and limb and take a walk up in the hills. What with the ankle injuries we decided to try and avoid the steep woody foothills and go as far as we could in the car (we know: what a cop out) to minimise risk of further injury and an easy way to get to the views.
It was raining in the plains but we left it behind as we climbed up the Mount Hutt ski road. We say road, the tarmac ran out within the first 50m and the road became more of a rubbly track etched into the side of the mountain. A rock face to one side, which was losing rocks all over the road and a precipice to the other side. Sean drove, Jenn sat clenched beside him. Knuckles white as she gripped the passenger door. We don't know why because, lets face it, if a boulder did decide to launch itself onto them or the car suddenly veered of the road over the edge it wouldn't have done her any good. But it was worth it as within a mile or so of climbing, scrambling and general escapading we made it to a lovely spot with a good clear view over the plains and the fluffy clouds. Even Jack and Barney stopped moaning and enjoyed themselves.
Looking forward to christmas day now and a barbecue and lots more doing nothing much for the next couple of weeks before we have to a lot of much. (Mostly panic we suspect).
3:21
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
weather two
Its been interesting watching you guys in the UK shiver your way through yet another winter of "snow fed chaos" and endless reams of journalistic twaddle on "why can't we cope when it snows?". We are hoping that Heathrow is cleared by the end of January.
We would hate to feel left out of the "weather chaos" so we've been having a rare old time with what is known locally as a "Nor'wester". Gar the natives will say and look mystically into the distance when reminiscing about the Big One of '86 or some such other. Basically its a very hot and hard wind that blows in from the Northwest. Apparently it sends people mad. We can believe it. The Canterbury plains heat up like a frying pan and the air is so hot and dry. And it blows. Hard. On Jenns local weather windscale its really very bloody windy. No windows can be opened and the house rattles and shakes and the windows bow and buckle as it sucks and blows.
Sean is sulking as its so hot and sunny outside but the wind is relentless and there is no escape from it so he has been trapped in doors. A bit like a caged bear with a bit of a headache and with nothing to do but stare out the window at the sunny blue sky and count the minutes, hours and days of it that he's got left of it before he has to face the gloomy grey of a UK January. Everyone is hot, headachy and narky so there have been arguments galore. Still it should only last another couple of days. And it makes a change from watching the telly.
3:23
We would hate to feel left out of the "weather chaos" so we've been having a rare old time with what is known locally as a "Nor'wester". Gar the natives will say and look mystically into the distance when reminiscing about the Big One of '86 or some such other. Basically its a very hot and hard wind that blows in from the Northwest. Apparently it sends people mad. We can believe it. The Canterbury plains heat up like a frying pan and the air is so hot and dry. And it blows. Hard. On Jenns local weather windscale its really very bloody windy. No windows can be opened and the house rattles and shakes and the windows bow and buckle as it sucks and blows.
Sean is sulking as its so hot and sunny outside but the wind is relentless and there is no escape from it so he has been trapped in doors. A bit like a caged bear with a bit of a headache and with nothing to do but stare out the window at the sunny blue sky and count the minutes, hours and days of it that he's got left of it before he has to face the gloomy grey of a UK January. Everyone is hot, headachy and narky so there have been arguments galore. Still it should only last another couple of days. And it makes a change from watching the telly.
3:23
weather one
Saturday saw a blistering hot day (touching 30oC in the wind) and an invitation to a barbeque with the neighbours in the evening. For the day the sane ones stayed in doors rather than get fried outside by the UV (the sun was so intense your skin could feel it hitting it). Walking down to the neighbours at about 5.30 Sean remarked "wow look at that cloud bank in the south" thinking nothing more of it as we sweated away on the walk down. A large broiling cloud was bubbling away on the horizon coming at us from a southerly direction.
Within half an hour the wind had began to whip about. Paper plates, plastic cups, wine glasses and the odd skirt whirling about in the gusts. Within in an hour the temperature had dropped by about 10oC and within two hours the cloud had rolled in and the wind was really blowing and the temperature was down to a cool 15oC or there abouts. That was a southerly. half the adults braved it out moving round to a less exposed side of the house and the others (women and children) took to the inside. Luckily the intrepid monahans had thought to pack fleecy jackets so with that and the wine they were ok. A nice time socialising was had by all.
3:26
Within half an hour the wind had began to whip about. Paper plates, plastic cups, wine glasses and the odd skirt whirling about in the gusts. Within in an hour the temperature had dropped by about 10oC and within two hours the cloud had rolled in and the wind was really blowing and the temperature was down to a cool 15oC or there abouts. That was a southerly. half the adults braved it out moving round to a less exposed side of the house and the others (women and children) took to the inside. Luckily the intrepid monahans had thought to pack fleecy jackets so with that and the wine they were ok. A nice time socialising was had by all.
3:26
Friday, 17 December 2010
Day at the races
We are a bit out of synch at the moment with the blog due to an internet connectivity problem (we blew Grandads 10MB download limit and were punished by being reduced to 0.006MB speeds).
All this happened last sunday (12th December). Jack had his penultimate race meet out at Barhill/Rakaia Road. Which was fortunate as it was also race day at Methven. So we decided to drop Jack off to do his thing and drive off to the races and pick him up later (this involved an additional 60km drive but thats nothing out here). As usual, as it was a Sunday and on this occasion we had all decided to come along, so we were running late. Jacks in the car hissing like a cat whilst we are all still doing stuff but anyway we all get in the car late with about 40 minutes to do a 45 minute journey. Only Sean says "we've got no petrol!" yes says Jenn I told you that yesterday. Seans grip tightened on the steering wheel and his teeth clenched just a little bit. We all feel the Gees as Sean does something out of character and starts driving too fast. Screeching to a halt in the petrol station. Anyway off we go to Barhill at break neck pace (luckily no cops and Jenn saying quietly Sean do you think you ought to slow down just a bit, you wont get a fine at this speed you will get a ban and your license removed). We get to Barhill. Nothing but tumble weed. We drive round the block. Tumble weed. "Did you ask last week exactly where it was" says Jenn. Seans grip tightens just a little bit more on the steering wheel "No I just assumed that Barhill/Rakaia meant Barhill" So we drive down the road to Rakaia. Meantime Jack is in the back having the biggest strop ever as the time for registration came and went (Jacks club is a stickler for these things). And yes there they all were at at Rakaia but fortunately the club there was slack and Jack got to race.
He came in third. Happy chappie.
Sean, Jenn and Barney then went back the way they came to the races.
No but seriously more like this:
Over here its the trotting races with some very lovely looking horses and buggies. The crowds were out in either their very best gear for a day at the races or in their everyday gear. Great fun and a great opportunity for anthropological study.
4:33
All this happened last sunday (12th December). Jack had his penultimate race meet out at Barhill/Rakaia Road. Which was fortunate as it was also race day at Methven. So we decided to drop Jack off to do his thing and drive off to the races and pick him up later (this involved an additional 60km drive but thats nothing out here). As usual, as it was a Sunday and on this occasion we had all decided to come along, so we were running late. Jacks in the car hissing like a cat whilst we are all still doing stuff but anyway we all get in the car late with about 40 minutes to do a 45 minute journey. Only Sean says "we've got no petrol!" yes says Jenn I told you that yesterday. Seans grip tightened on the steering wheel and his teeth clenched just a little bit. We all feel the Gees as Sean does something out of character and starts driving too fast. Screeching to a halt in the petrol station. Anyway off we go to Barhill at break neck pace (luckily no cops and Jenn saying quietly Sean do you think you ought to slow down just a bit, you wont get a fine at this speed you will get a ban and your license removed). We get to Barhill. Nothing but tumble weed. We drive round the block. Tumble weed. "Did you ask last week exactly where it was" says Jenn. Seans grip tightens just a little bit more on the steering wheel "No I just assumed that Barhill/Rakaia meant Barhill" So we drive down the road to Rakaia. Meantime Jack is in the back having the biggest strop ever as the time for registration came and went (Jacks club is a stickler for these things). And yes there they all were at at Rakaia but fortunately the club there was slack and Jack got to race.
He came in third. Happy chappie.
Sean, Jenn and Barney then went back the way they came to the races.
No but seriously more like this:
Over here its the trotting races with some very lovely looking horses and buggies. The crowds were out in either their very best gear for a day at the races or in their everyday gear. Great fun and a great opportunity for anthropological study.
4:33
Schools out for summer
Barneys now finished school. The lead up was filled with activity. Wednesday night saw the school prizegiving at the big hall in Longbeach for a 2 hour - yes we kid you not 2 hour long - prizegiving. We think they thanked everybody right down to the pet rabbit brought in on pet day in October. At 9pm the ceremony was over and then the supper began. We have learnt that in NZ no function is complete without a plate and food. Might explain why there are so many amply proportioned people in the community. We had had enough by then and ducked out quickly after saying our hellos.
Last day of school decamped to Lake Hood for a day of water sports. The usual parents and families to provide all the transport, supervision, equipment, such as boats, jetskis, kayaks, donuts, biscuits and hot dogs (everything here is about food it seems). Barney, being 13 now and so much a grown up didn't need any adult supervision so that let Jenn off the hook. She and Jack cycled up after lunch to show willing and supportively making the right noises. Jenn also got to say thank you and goodby to Barneys awesome teacher, Mrs Jackie Quinlan. She is the best teacher in the world. ever says Barney. We wish her luck with the baby in 2011.
4:29
Last day of school decamped to Lake Hood for a day of water sports. The usual parents and families to provide all the transport, supervision, equipment, such as boats, jetskis, kayaks, donuts, biscuits and hot dogs (everything here is about food it seems). Barney, being 13 now and so much a grown up didn't need any adult supervision so that let Jenn off the hook. She and Jack cycled up after lunch to show willing and supportively making the right noises. Jenn also got to say thank you and goodby to Barneys awesome teacher, Mrs Jackie Quinlan. She is the best teacher in the world. ever says Barney. We wish her luck with the baby in 2011.4:29
Sunday, 12 December 2010
Its just a jump to the left
Going to the Panto isn't going to happen this year (boo hoo says Jenn as its her favourite thing to do at midwinter) so Sean, Jenn and Lou did the next best thing. They went to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show at Christchurch. Staring Richard O'Brien as the Narrator.
It was really rather jolly good! Lovely to see Richard was working that denim in a full teddy boy suit with biker boots and breaking the cardinal rule of fashion: denim on the top or denim on the bottom but never denim all over or you'll look like susy quattro. But the award for most stage presence had to go to Dr Frankenfurter! Wow! Juan Jackson was possibly the sexiest man to wear a pair of fishnets and heels ever. We almost got knocked off our seats with the charisma. Sean says he's not gay but he would...
The audience did the usual dressing up thing - though in some cases we think that they hadn't it was their normal attire. Lots of singing along, some annoying quoting the script verbatim going on. Rice throwing, water squirting and some very adult content. We had a very good time. Sean says its the best stage play he's been to in a long time - he has realised how much he has missed sitting in the cabaret tents at music festivals...
5:
It was really rather jolly good! Lovely to see Richard was working that denim in a full teddy boy suit with biker boots and breaking the cardinal rule of fashion: denim on the top or denim on the bottom but never denim all over or you'll look like susy quattro. But the award for most stage presence had to go to Dr Frankenfurter! Wow! Juan Jackson was possibly the sexiest man to wear a pair of fishnets and heels ever. We almost got knocked off our seats with the charisma. Sean says he's not gay but he would...
The audience did the usual dressing up thing - though in some cases we think that they hadn't it was their normal attire. Lots of singing along, some annoying quoting the script verbatim going on. Rice throwing, water squirting and some very adult content. We had a very good time. Sean says its the best stage play he's been to in a long time - he has realised how much he has missed sitting in the cabaret tents at music festivals...
5:
Barney goes to Wellywood
Barney was off last week for an overnight school trip to Wellington - very excited by the prospect of a short hop on the plane across to the other island.
He went without so much as a glance behind him and came back dark and glassy eyed and very short tempered but happy nonetheless.
He got to do and see some cracking things. Such as a TV studio where the class made and posted a video news cast: http://capitale.blip.tv/file/4480317/
HE also got to go to Parialment and visited John Keyes office - John sadly wasn't there to meet'n'greet them but Barney was most impressed to learn from Johns PA that John was a very sociable man and was often inthe bar chatting. Barney was also very impressed by the knowledge that there was a secret bunker underneath the building. To which we all are thinking it doesn't sound that secret when even a bunch of 13 year olds knows...
Still he was chortling at the fact that he spend nearly $50 on mints - 'I was addicted to eating mints' - including a packet of Parliamints that he bought at the parliament (you see what they did there? ha ha mints...ments..).
5:36
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Hobnobbing with the local gentry
This is a little behind the times because the internet it very bad at the moment.
Saturday night saw the Monahans hobnobbing with the local gentry at their annual shed party.
Don't let the words gentry and shed fool you into any judgements. Firstly the 'shed' usually housed a combine harvester with plenty of room for a spare jumbo jet. It was huge and in it was a bouncy castle, a gladiators style pugel sticks thingy (any one remember Gladiators? The one where you and your opponent climbed up on opposing podiums and then knocked seven shades of something out of each other with big sticks until one of you falls off?), a barbecue and a bathtub bar (basically a bathtub filled with ice that the guests dumped their beer in and everybody helped themselves). Add to this loads of the locals, hordes of screaming kids and the odd bit of runaway livestock then that about does the ambience.
New Zelanders do not do gentry, you really can't tell who owns stuff and who works stuff. There was roughly half the GDP of the south island in that shed and you wouldn't know it. Most had just stepped out of their blue overalls or changed out of the kiwi farmer uniform of boots, thick woollen socks, very short 1980's nylon shorts and t-shirt/vest (fleece jacket if its chilly). We are trying to get a photo of the iconic kiwi farmer but are afraid of the subject taking offence...
Anyway, the entertainment was fairly familiar to us by now: music, beer, lots of beeer, more beeeeer. Drink lots more and then some more, and then all pile into the truck with the designated driver – you could tell who they were because they could still stand, sort of, and walk uprightish – and drive home. We decided as it was a lovely evening, to cycle the few miles and decided to leave on our bikes before everyone else got in the trucks. Safest all round we thought.
Jack was elsewhere at a 16th birthday party in town. So Jenn had to remain sober and drive into town at midnight to collect him, her little hands gripping the wheel in sheer terror waiting for a drunken kiwi farmer in a truck to drive over the top of them or into the side of them or some other horrific accident. Thankfully they made it all the way out to town and back home again safely.
5:39
Saturday night saw the Monahans hobnobbing with the local gentry at their annual shed party.
Don't let the words gentry and shed fool you into any judgements. Firstly the 'shed' usually housed a combine harvester with plenty of room for a spare jumbo jet. It was huge and in it was a bouncy castle, a gladiators style pugel sticks thingy (any one remember Gladiators? The one where you and your opponent climbed up on opposing podiums and then knocked seven shades of something out of each other with big sticks until one of you falls off?), a barbecue and a bathtub bar (basically a bathtub filled with ice that the guests dumped their beer in and everybody helped themselves). Add to this loads of the locals, hordes of screaming kids and the odd bit of runaway livestock then that about does the ambience.
New Zelanders do not do gentry, you really can't tell who owns stuff and who works stuff. There was roughly half the GDP of the south island in that shed and you wouldn't know it. Most had just stepped out of their blue overalls or changed out of the kiwi farmer uniform of boots, thick woollen socks, very short 1980's nylon shorts and t-shirt/vest (fleece jacket if its chilly). We are trying to get a photo of the iconic kiwi farmer but are afraid of the subject taking offence...
Anyway, the entertainment was fairly familiar to us by now: music, beer, lots of beeer, more beeeeer. Drink lots more and then some more, and then all pile into the truck with the designated driver – you could tell who they were because they could still stand, sort of, and walk uprightish – and drive home. We decided as it was a lovely evening, to cycle the few miles and decided to leave on our bikes before everyone else got in the trucks. Safest all round we thought.
Jack was elsewhere at a 16th birthday party in town. So Jenn had to remain sober and drive into town at midnight to collect him, her little hands gripping the wheel in sheer terror waiting for a drunken kiwi farmer in a truck to drive over the top of them or into the side of them or some other horrific accident. Thankfully they made it all the way out to town and back home again safely.
5:39
Friday, 3 December 2010
A career is born
Well here we are and its December already.
We've been hearing all the stuff about the snow back home and some kind of famine is already happening in the shops. Jenn says thats no biggy it sounds like the kiwi shopping experience. Kind of wish we were there and kind of glad that we are here and decided to stake an extended holiday until the new year. Although the summer is very familiar as we had heat for about a week and now its overcast and cool and looking to stay that way for the forseeable future. The wind is now thankfully down to a moderate breeze but the flies are out in force.
It was a week ago when it suddenly dawned on everybody that there was only 20 odd days until christmas and then Sean has to pack away his tools lovingly in bubble wrap and they begin their journey home. A short panic and plans were hastily drawn up for the erecting of a fence, building of pillars and fitting of front gates for Chez Davidson. It will look positively palatial and a million dollars by the time he's finished.
So this week its been all go for Monahan and Sons as Sean made use of Jacks free time to do 'fun stuff' such as go shopping at Bunnings and hire mini diggers and augers for post holes.
It turns out that Jack has a natural aptitude for the mini digger, much to Seans chagrin. Sean spending an hour or so concentrating till his eyes squinted and his brow sweated and still making half arsed wobbly scrapes. Jack jumps in and away he went in minutes. Sean tells Jack that if you can dig a hole you will never be out of work. A career is born?
5:41
Saturday, 27 November 2010
Competitive mountain biking
Today saw Jenn and Barney accompany Louise and Amy with young Daniel riding pillion in the trailer doing the ATS Longbeach Mountain Bike Coastal Challenge (www.ats.co.nz/Blackboard/ATS+Longbeach+Mountainbike+Coastal+Challenge.html).
It was an early start (on the road for 8.45am – early for us remember we are on holiday until the end of January) we didn’t get lost on the way there and arrived in plenty of time. Barney was looking forward to getting his bike out on some proper gnarly tracks, Jenn was just hoping that her big purple Kettler could just get her round without mishap. We all got off the blocks ok but within five minutes it was obvious that us chicks were just holding Barney back so he was off like a rocket and left us for dust. Louise did a sterling job dragging the trailer behind her. No major mishaps. River crossings were a bit on the hairy side. Jenn decided that the Kettler wasn’t going to make it on these (not 'cos shes a big fat scaredy chicken) and abandoned the idea of not getting wet feet very quickly opting to just suck it up and wade the distance.
Only one mishap. Jenn managed to fall off her bike backwards down a slope when her chain came off on a tricky uphill climb – into a prickle bush. She decided that the wisest thing to do was to just lie there like an upturned terrapin with legs and arms waving in the air gently calling fo assistance until someone came along and pulled her upright. In her defence any struggling out of a prickle bush just means more prickles going in.
Free pop, sausage in a bun and a fairy cake afterwards. Barney did the course in 54 minutes, and we came home in 1 hour and 36 minutes. We wont mention that we were overtaken at one point by three geriatric joggers...
At least we got to see some coastal countryside on a historic farm that we wouldn't otherwise get to see.
6:47
Friday, 26 November 2010
summertime and the living is easy
Whilst home is knee deep in early onset of winter and snow over here the temperatures are hitting the mid 20's the skys are mostly blue and the wind has dropped to moderate to breezy. Seans roasting himself like a sunday joint, Jenns taken to the shadows and the boys are just enjoying each day as it comes.
Much to Barneys dismay ("its so unfair!") Jack has finished his exams on Wednesday and has left school. So whatever happens now is beyond hope. He spends his days in utter indolence moving, sloth like, between the computer and the TV for roughly 18 hours a day. Which has already driven his mother to shrieking pitch. She doesn't know why it bothers her so as at least he isn't in a crack house somewhere listen to crunk junk or whatever it is that is down with the kids these days. She is reminded that when we get back to the UK he will be putting in some very serious effort to get his UK qualifications back on track...so he's like yeah like shut up mum already like yeah!
Jenn has done damage her foot using a running machine, just as Seans ankle is all better, so still not gone tramping yet! So as she is mostly sitting down she has decided that, as the days are disappearing so very quickly before we come home, she really needs to get her spinning thing done. So she surfed Trade Me (www.trademe.co.nz) and picked up a new toy...
...and has been swearing at it in frustration ever since. Everyone keeps out of the way and no one is allowed to say "I thought the object was to slow life down and to achieve a zen like relaxed state of just being?" and other helpful comments like "look, Aunty Jennifs making wool. From wool." As she mutter swear words and gives dark looks whilst the veins in her temple pulse.
Sean has been keeping himself busy doing stuff like fitting out toilets, laying floor, doing up horsefloats and fencing. And when he's not doing that he's getting out his long bow, trying to fly his kites (apparently the winds all the wrong sort which explains why he can't fly it) or just sitting roasting drinking cold beer and listening to his internet radio.
Still christmas soon, what fun.
6:48
Much to Barneys dismay ("its so unfair!") Jack has finished his exams on Wednesday and has left school. So whatever happens now is beyond hope. He spends his days in utter indolence moving, sloth like, between the computer and the TV for roughly 18 hours a day. Which has already driven his mother to shrieking pitch. She doesn't know why it bothers her so as at least he isn't in a crack house somewhere listen to crunk junk or whatever it is that is down with the kids these days. She is reminded that when we get back to the UK he will be putting in some very serious effort to get his UK qualifications back on track...so he's like yeah like shut up mum already like yeah!
Jenn has done damage her foot using a running machine, just as Seans ankle is all better, so still not gone tramping yet! So as she is mostly sitting down she has decided that, as the days are disappearing so very quickly before we come home, she really needs to get her spinning thing done. So she surfed Trade Me (www.trademe.co.nz) and picked up a new toy...
...and has been swearing at it in frustration ever since. Everyone keeps out of the way and no one is allowed to say "I thought the object was to slow life down and to achieve a zen like relaxed state of just being?" and other helpful comments like "look, Aunty Jennifs making wool. From wool." As she mutter swear words and gives dark looks whilst the veins in her temple pulse.
Sean has been keeping himself busy doing stuff like fitting out toilets, laying floor, doing up horsefloats and fencing. And when he's not doing that he's getting out his long bow, trying to fly his kites (apparently the winds all the wrong sort which explains why he can't fly it) or just sitting roasting drinking cold beer and listening to his internet radio.
Still christmas soon, what fun.
6:48
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Miners
We are sad to have heard about the mining accident in Greymouth. We guess that you all have heard the same. A tragedy. Our thoughts are with those that have lost folk that they care about.
7:50
7:50
Monday, 22 November 2010
irrepressible urges to grow stuff
We've been busy with the summer. Knowing Jenn she just couldn't stop herself and, with Louise, Sean, Jack and Barney, made a mini vegetable patch. Its now making salad, spring onions, carrots, coriander, basil, bok choi, spinach, strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower, french beans and tomatoes. oh and three blackcurrant bushes that jenn bought before they decided they were going home. Not bad.
Although, the broccoli and cauliflower came a cropper as Jimmy the old nag (Louises ancient, greying, cantankerous yet very smart horse) thought he would give them a go. Down went his head, up came the plant chew and spit out and on to the next one till he had worked his way through half the plants and was spotted. Still they looked like they've survived their ordeal.
Any way in case you are wondering why there is that funny netting stuff around one of the beds thats because of the wind. Which is always blowing. Hard. The weather will change in moments from 25oC sunny and blue sky to a southerly blowing up and there being snow on the mountains again. Really is a reason for the four seasons in one day! If you ever come pack for all weather related eventualities, you'll be need it.
Tonight we eat Bok Choi
7:52
Although, the broccoli and cauliflower came a cropper as Jimmy the old nag (Louises ancient, greying, cantankerous yet very smart horse) thought he would give them a go. Down went his head, up came the plant chew and spit out and on to the next one till he had worked his way through half the plants and was spotted. Still they looked like they've survived their ordeal.
Any way in case you are wondering why there is that funny netting stuff around one of the beds thats because of the wind. Which is always blowing. Hard. The weather will change in moments from 25oC sunny and blue sky to a southerly blowing up and there being snow on the mountains again. Really is a reason for the four seasons in one day! If you ever come pack for all weather related eventualities, you'll be need it.
Tonight we eat Bok Choi
7:52
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Barneys birthday
Wow, Barney has turned 13! Happy Birthday Barney.
He celebrated by having a few mates over for the usual boys running around screaming hitting stuff and drinking as much fizzy pop as you could get down you without throwing up and running around screaming hitting stuff some more. Only this year was a bit different, it was outside in the sunshine rather than in a victorian terraced house in winter. Jenn and Sean didn't need a rest and a packet of Ibuprofen after this one. Cupcake icing competition, where we discovered exactly how much buttercream icing you can put on a cupcake before it falls over, war game, trampolining and the mummy game. Great fun.
Barney did well in the pressie department. He got a camera from Sean, Jenn and Jack, an Ipod from the Davidsons next door and Grandad flew by and gave him $50 before disappearing off to someone elses party. He also got a whole bunch of pencils and paper from his mates, including some much coveted charcoal pencils. He's been scribbling away ever since. And says its been the best birthday ever thanks.
8:60
Canterbury AandP show
Its the Canterbury A&P show (think a souped up version of the Norfolk Show). Everybody gets a day off on Friday. So we had to go and immerse ourselves in some proper NZ culture. So we packed ourselves of early with a packed lunch and took Amy next door with us. It was scorching hot, clear blue skys and temperatures hitting high 20's.
The sunshine here is so powerful you can feel it hitting and burning your skin - really feel that ozone hole. So, hats all round and plenty of sunscreen is compulsory. We miss pollution, it keeps the UV off.
The animals were splendid. Barney and Jack were well impressed with the sheep. Sean made a beeline for the chickens (sean has developed a chicken thing and is becoming something of an expert on the subject). And Amy loved them all.
We saw competitive sheep shearing competition, ye gods it was hot sweaty and stinking of sheep in the shearing shed.
We saw extreme pole climbing, wow that champion pole climber was up that pole like a ferret after rabbit. Never seen a human being move so fast vertically and then back down again. We saw tractor pulling, yep tractors racing each other pulling a huge lump of concrete. The sheep dog trials were also fun. And the log chopping competition was also fun. 
The boys and Amy were most taken with the helicopter rides, sitting right by the fence as it took of and came into land. The wind blowing peoples hats off and the grass flat, it was like the evacuation of Saigon in 75.
And Jenn finally got a spinning lesson. Now she needs to buy a wheel.
Icecreams all round and the drive home sucking Werthers toffees (they call it butter candy here).
9:63
Saturday, 6 November 2010
Do they have bonfire night in NZ?
Yes, well kind off, they do now. We hope you all had a good bonfire night. With a great big conflagration and lots of 'ooohs' and 'ahhhs' and loud bangs. We love bonfire night! Always tell about that time we went to Marcus's annual bonfire night bash. You remember the one, where the rocket went up, the rocket got half way then went out, then started to pivot mid air 45o degrees as it began its fall back to earth, then re-ignited itself and proceeded to rocket back to earth, crashing with an enormous bang through a neighbours cat flap. Oh such happy days.
Anyway, yes they do do bonfire night over here, not as big though on the social calender. Fireworks are only for sale for 3 days before hand. You can imagine the monahan household, Sean to Jenn ' don't forget to buy some fireworks. You know you can only get them for three days' Jenn heard this so many times before she gave up and went shopping in the nick of time. It wasn't until she was buying them that next door pointed out that they weren't in the city now and were surrounded by livestock of all different varieties and the neighbours wouldn't be too happy if we went for a reenactment of the battle of the somme day one. So Jenn put back most of the contents of the shopping trolley and picked up a box of sparklers and what was described as roman candles. Lots of fizz but no bang, or so we thought.
Anyway, we gave up waiting for the sun to go down at 8.30pm (not forgetting we are hurtling towards summer solstice) and then got going with our cheap chinese fireworks. Lots of sparkley sparklers for the wee ones and sean lining up the 'Roman candles' (quotation marks intentional because they weren't, not as we know them anyway). Sean did his thing and up went the first one, poof BANG. horror struck silence as we waited, nothing else to do as we had already lit it, to continue, poof BANG and so on. No sounds of screaming, or thundering hooves as livestock stampeded so Sean, by now oblivious to anything but setting light to stuff and making it go bang, just carried on. Great. But a bit weird not having a bonfire or hot chocolate or it being really dark and cold. Oh well. Next year. Hope yours all went well and we are sad we missed it!
9:68
Anyway, yes they do do bonfire night over here, not as big though on the social calender. Fireworks are only for sale for 3 days before hand. You can imagine the monahan household, Sean to Jenn ' don't forget to buy some fireworks. You know you can only get them for three days' Jenn heard this so many times before she gave up and went shopping in the nick of time. It wasn't until she was buying them that next door pointed out that they weren't in the city now and were surrounded by livestock of all different varieties and the neighbours wouldn't be too happy if we went for a reenactment of the battle of the somme day one. So Jenn put back most of the contents of the shopping trolley and picked up a box of sparklers and what was described as roman candles. Lots of fizz but no bang, or so we thought.
Anyway, we gave up waiting for the sun to go down at 8.30pm (not forgetting we are hurtling towards summer solstice) and then got going with our cheap chinese fireworks. Lots of sparkley sparklers for the wee ones and sean lining up the 'Roman candles' (quotation marks intentional because they weren't, not as we know them anyway). Sean did his thing and up went the first one, poof BANG. horror struck silence as we waited, nothing else to do as we had already lit it, to continue, poof BANG and so on. No sounds of screaming, or thundering hooves as livestock stampeded so Sean, by now oblivious to anything but setting light to stuff and making it go bang, just carried on. Great. But a bit weird not having a bonfire or hot chocolate or it being really dark and cold. Oh well. Next year. Hope yours all went well and we are sad we missed it!
9:68
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Birthday cake
Jenns niece had a birthday. She's a 10 year old dinosaur nut. So it had to be a dinosaur cake wot we made. Grrr:
So happy birthday to Amy.
PS the cake was delicious as well
10:72
So happy birthday to Amy.
PS the cake was delicious as well
10:72
Monday, 1 November 2010
Halloween and Hamner Springs
Jenn and Louise were sent away for a surprise girls weekend in Hamner Springs. Louise it seems hasn't had a night away from family for nearly four years! We think she must have been getting desperate. So off they were packed of in the Mondeo for a weekend of pampering. The journey there was marred by a strange incident with a lorry. The lorry joined us somewhere along the road as the girls were following a coach and then proceeded to tail gate the girls, you could see the flies on its grill and nothing else said Jenn nervously laughing. That alone wasn't a problem because new zealanders tail gate as their natural driving style. After it flashed its lights and got even closer and then honked its horn. Jenn suddenly felt like they were in a reenactment of the film Duel. They decided to turn of the road and let the lorry go. Got its number and will give him a peice of their mind!
Hamner is a lovely spot about 1.5 hours north of Christchurch and it has natural hot springs. So it was a steam bath, massage and soak in the hot pools for them. The village itself is very touristy but in a nice way, very relaxed, as you would expect. The motel room was awsome, more like a studio apartment. Jenn thinks they got an upgrade as the receptionist was a bit confused and thought that it was a couple of ladies who had booked rather than two ladies if you catch the drift and promptly changed the room to one with two beds. Anyway, they found a copy of Forest Gump DVD and the fridge was well stocked:
the lemon was to ward of scurvey...
In the meantime back at home Sean was left with the boys and no car and a Halloween party to get Jack dressed up for! Jenn had been asking Jack what he was going to do all week but never got an answer so, as usual Jack started to panic on the morning that Jenn was going. Its too late now he was told. Sean came to the rescue and Jack spent the day having an art attack and went to the party as the Mad Hatter:
On Sunday Jenn and Lou took a walk up the conical hill to see the view and doesn't she look relaxed:
One last dip in the hot pools and then it was off home again to survey the damage.
10:73
Hamner is a lovely spot about 1.5 hours north of Christchurch and it has natural hot springs. So it was a steam bath, massage and soak in the hot pools for them. The village itself is very touristy but in a nice way, very relaxed, as you would expect. The motel room was awsome, more like a studio apartment. Jenn thinks they got an upgrade as the receptionist was a bit confused and thought that it was a couple of ladies who had booked rather than two ladies if you catch the drift and promptly changed the room to one with two beds. Anyway, they found a copy of Forest Gump DVD and the fridge was well stocked:
the lemon was to ward of scurvey...In the meantime back at home Sean was left with the boys and no car and a Halloween party to get Jack dressed up for! Jenn had been asking Jack what he was going to do all week but never got an answer so, as usual Jack started to panic on the morning that Jenn was going. Its too late now he was told. Sean came to the rescue and Jack spent the day having an art attack and went to the party as the Mad Hatter:
On Sunday Jenn and Lou took a walk up the conical hill to see the view and doesn't she look relaxed:
One last dip in the hot pools and then it was off home again to survey the damage.
10:73
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
school year winding up for the wind down
The school year seems to getting ready for the end of the year (which is in December).
Barneys school (Longbeach if you remember http://www.longbeach.school.nz/Home) is throwing events thick and fast. Last week was country day. Which was basically an excuse to bring in your best pet. In this case, as its a country school, that seemed to involve dogs budgies or rabbits (if you were a bit townie) or sheep, horses, calves and a couple of chickens for the farm folk. Chaos. But everyone else seemed to know what they were doing.
Yesterday was sports day for all the local schools. No school buses so we all had to get to Hinds School under our own steam. There seemed to be about a million schools there. But on the whole exactly as we remember sports day to be. It was the taking part that counted no matter how fat, unfit or just plain crap at it, you gave it ago. Barney gave it his best. The highlight was the high jump. Not sure how the scoring was supposed to go as no matter if everyone knocked the bar of the ladies still raised it and everyone still went round again till the half hour was up and the whistle went. Jenn unfortunately could only stay for an hour or so because she 'had to help Sean'.
Jack in the meantime is desperately trying to get his points to get his NCEA level 1 - if not he's going to have to do GSCE's all over again and we don't want that now do we (?). So for him its gearing up for exams and he's doing mocks. Last week was science and geography and german. German he's enjoying but will fail as he's so far behind. But we don't care so long as he's enjoying it. The other two he got merits for. Sadly they were just mocks. However, it turns out that if he doesn't turn up for the real thing those marks stand and he can have those. Mmmmm. We wondered. So what exactly is the incentive now to sit the real thing?
The sun is shining and its properly summer now and the local A&P show is on this weekend (A=agriculture P=produce). Awsome.
11:77
Barneys school (Longbeach if you remember http://www.longbeach.school.nz/Home) is throwing events thick and fast. Last week was country day. Which was basically an excuse to bring in your best pet. In this case, as its a country school, that seemed to involve dogs budgies or rabbits (if you were a bit townie) or sheep, horses, calves and a couple of chickens for the farm folk. Chaos. But everyone else seemed to know what they were doing.
Yesterday was sports day for all the local schools. No school buses so we all had to get to Hinds School under our own steam. There seemed to be about a million schools there. But on the whole exactly as we remember sports day to be. It was the taking part that counted no matter how fat, unfit or just plain crap at it, you gave it ago. Barney gave it his best. The highlight was the high jump. Not sure how the scoring was supposed to go as no matter if everyone knocked the bar of the ladies still raised it and everyone still went round again till the half hour was up and the whistle went. Jenn unfortunately could only stay for an hour or so because she 'had to help Sean'.
Jack in the meantime is desperately trying to get his points to get his NCEA level 1 - if not he's going to have to do GSCE's all over again and we don't want that now do we (?). So for him its gearing up for exams and he's doing mocks. Last week was science and geography and german. German he's enjoying but will fail as he's so far behind. But we don't care so long as he's enjoying it. The other two he got merits for. Sadly they were just mocks. However, it turns out that if he doesn't turn up for the real thing those marks stand and he can have those. Mmmmm. We wondered. So what exactly is the incentive now to sit the real thing?
The sun is shining and its properly summer now and the local A&P show is on this weekend (A=agriculture P=produce). Awsome.
11:77
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Rodeo fun
Its labour weekend here which is the southern side doing May Day except its not May its October. The Rodeo was on in Methven and, well we couldn't let an opportunity like that go by. So it was off to Methven we went. It was awsome. Sean thought said it reminded him of banger racing in Kings Lynne...
We saw them ride the bulls, the horses and the sheep.
Saw some truly terrible falls. Stand out moment was for one poor chap during the bareback round. They ride bareback with the exception that they have one hand strapped, yes strapped, to the horse. We asked ourselves was this wise? No surprises when some of the cow boys come off and their hand is still attached. This poor fellow came off and couldn't get his hand out. He was thrown here, he was thrown there, and the horse kept on leaping and a bounding around the arena. Sean says the expression on the cowboys face as he ran past will live with him forever.
Prizes go to this guy for the best moment though:
11:82
We saw them ride the bulls, the horses and the sheep.
Saw some truly terrible falls. Stand out moment was for one poor chap during the bareback round. They ride bareback with the exception that they have one hand strapped, yes strapped, to the horse. We asked ourselves was this wise? No surprises when some of the cow boys come off and their hand is still attached. This poor fellow came off and couldn't get his hand out. He was thrown here, he was thrown there, and the horse kept on leaping and a bounding around the arena. Sean says the expression on the cowboys face as he ran past will live with him forever.
Prizes go to this guy for the best moment though:
11:82
Friday, 22 October 2010
why livestock sucks
Update on the chicken situation. After the moment of tremendous excitement of seeing the lovely fluffy cute little chicky we came crashing back down to earth with a vicious bump.
Another chick did indeed hatch but somehow got its poor little head bashed in. It was just about alive but looked as if it had either been seen to by its sibling or got injured in some weird chicken scratching incident. Cause and culprit unknown. Sean had to be a manly man and take it round the back of the garage to help it on its way.
Meanwhile we took the remaining 12 (yes 12) eggs away and wondered what to do as they had been in there under those chickens for some time. We tried holding a light up to them (candling is the proper technical term apparently). Then we tried gently shaking them by our ears to hear if there was any slooshy sounds. We were advised to do this carefully as a bad egg can go off like a grenade. We didn't want that to happen.
Any way we decided that they were all dud and Louise was putting them on the compost heap when one of the eggs went 'cheep'. She brought it in and yes we all heard it go cheap. So it was put in the airing cupboard over night. The next day, yes, there was a definite crack. The crack started to go all the way around and then bingo the top popped off and there was a little wet chicky. Any way to cut a long story short it had dodgy legs. Lou took it too her chicken guru to see if anything could be done. Sadly no and that little chicky was dispatched as well.
In the meantime the one healthy chick was ready to go out and about a bit. So off it went for a walk with its mothers. Who in their limited little chicken brains thought the paddock with the dog was the place to be...the rest you can guess.
So then there were none.
The dog still hasn't apologised.
Suffice to say when we come home and Sean gets his chickens they will be from Mrs Eglund the chicken rescue lady and there will be none of this egg hatching shenanigans.
11:83
Another chick did indeed hatch but somehow got its poor little head bashed in. It was just about alive but looked as if it had either been seen to by its sibling or got injured in some weird chicken scratching incident. Cause and culprit unknown. Sean had to be a manly man and take it round the back of the garage to help it on its way.
Meanwhile we took the remaining 12 (yes 12) eggs away and wondered what to do as they had been in there under those chickens for some time. We tried holding a light up to them (candling is the proper technical term apparently). Then we tried gently shaking them by our ears to hear if there was any slooshy sounds. We were advised to do this carefully as a bad egg can go off like a grenade. We didn't want that to happen.
Any way we decided that they were all dud and Louise was putting them on the compost heap when one of the eggs went 'cheep'. She brought it in and yes we all heard it go cheap. So it was put in the airing cupboard over night. The next day, yes, there was a definite crack. The crack started to go all the way around and then bingo the top popped off and there was a little wet chicky. Any way to cut a long story short it had dodgy legs. Lou took it too her chicken guru to see if anything could be done. Sadly no and that little chicky was dispatched as well.
In the meantime the one healthy chick was ready to go out and about a bit. So off it went for a walk with its mothers. Who in their limited little chicken brains thought the paddock with the dog was the place to be...the rest you can guess.
So then there were none.
The dog still hasn't apologised.
Suffice to say when we come home and Sean gets his chickens they will be from Mrs Eglund the chicken rescue lady and there will be none of this egg hatching shenanigans.
11:83
Monday, 11 October 2010
Chicks have had chicks
Wow! Remember those chicks we got? Remember Bubbles with the poorly leg? Well those chicks have had chick (s? yet to be confirmed as there are 9 eggs under those hens). Check out the new arrival:
Everybody say hello. Lets hope its not a Cockerel...
PS Update on Fidget the lamb - she still growing well and is looking swell.
13:94
Everybody say hello. Lets hope its not a Cockerel...
PS Update on Fidget the lamb - she still growing well and is looking swell.
13:94
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Queenstown ladies sing this song...
We have been camping in Queenstown, adventure sports capital of the world and historic gold rush area. Yeehah. Mecca for adrenaline junkies (gamblers and rich folks). How was it? Jack and Barney thought it was the bees knees. Sean and Jenn weren't so sure. It was busy and reminded Jenn of Newquay in high summer Yuck. A real tourist trap. Lots to see and do though, if you are young and carefree its a fun place to be.
We began our adventure with a car crash. Jenn had her very first accident in 24 years of driving. She rear ended someone at a single lane bridge. The Mondeo remained unmarked by the incident so nothing to bad. For those of you familiar with Norwich this is a spooky bit now as the Bridge was the Edith Cavell Bridge. For those of you who don't know, there is a statue of Edith Cavell outside the cathedral, as well as a pub named after her. Doo do doo do.
Jenn made Sean drive the next 200 metres up the hill along the gorge to the campsite. We camped at the Top Ten Arthurs Point Shotover camping ground. The camp manager raised one elegant eyebrow almost to his hair line when he found out we were camping. Aparantly we were the first family camping that year. We found out why a little bit later. We should have realised when we noticed there was snow still on the hill tops and the ski field was still open. It was so very very very cold at night. But the lounge and kitchens were toasty and warm and we spent a good evening playing cards, putting wood on the fire and drinking hot chocolates and avoiding going to bed until we had to.
We had resolved not to move the car again until it was time to pack up to go home. So out came the bikes and off we went to Arrowtown. The sun was shining and it was a great ride out.
Quaint.
It seems to be the place where the kids that went to Queenstown go when they've grown up. Great fush'n'chup lunch with vinegar! Nzers don't do vinegar on their chips as a rule, odd. Very sobering historic Chinese gold miners settlement. Some stories of the young men who came and got left behind for whatever reason to grow into an impoverished old age. The ride back was not so jolly. It turns out the reason why the ride in was so nice was because we were going to face the head wind on the way home. OMG did it blow hard and gusty.
Following day was cycle trip into Queenstown for Seans birthday treat – the Luge!
Great fun had by all. We recommend it. Going up in the cable car and the chair lifts were an adventure in themselves. White knuckle ride for those who don't do heights (that would be Jenn then).
We moseyed on down to the lakeside where there was an artists market and some live music. Then it was back to base for another night of cards and instant mash potato with baked beans. Yum. And another cold, cold night of not quite sleeping.
The Sunday saw us pack up camp and the long drive home. We had planned to go through a very scary mountain road to Wanaka for lunch. However, we turned right instead of left. Now this shouldn't have been a problem but right took us away from Queenstown and petrol. 10 kms up the road Sean says “ umm we need to get fuel soon”. As we approach the turning for the the Scary zigzaggy James Bond in Switzerland mountain road we stopped. Looked up. Looked at each other. Looked at the fuel gauge. Turned, looked behind us at the trailer. Looked at the boys. And decided that that would be a very dumb thing to do. We opted for the less thirsty route to Cromwell. After about another 5 kms the car spoke. “Ding”. “That was the fuel warning light” said Sean. Sean began to sweat a little which in turn made Jenn a bit nervous. We were about 25kms from civilisation on a twisty turney mountain pass road with no idea how generous Ford were with their fuel warning system. Jenn reckonned that it was a Ford and therefore catering to idiots so it would be quite generous. Sean said he hoped so because, he reminded Jenn, if the engine cut out so would the steering and the breaks. “Oh” gulp. So after some very fuel efficient driving from Sean we crept up the mountain through the pass, down the mountain (fingers very crossed here) and onto the valley towards Cromwell and fuel. We made it! Sean filled the tank and calculated that we had less than ¾ of a wine bottle of fuel left in the tank. Ice creams all round. So top tip. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FUEL TANK FULL ENOUGH. There is not a petrol station on every corner out here.
We had a very stylish picnic at Lake Dunstan and then of to a soak in the hot pools at Tekapo before taking the last stretch home. Which was nice.
14:99
We began our adventure with a car crash. Jenn had her very first accident in 24 years of driving. She rear ended someone at a single lane bridge. The Mondeo remained unmarked by the incident so nothing to bad. For those of you familiar with Norwich this is a spooky bit now as the Bridge was the Edith Cavell Bridge. For those of you who don't know, there is a statue of Edith Cavell outside the cathedral, as well as a pub named after her. Doo do doo do.
Jenn made Sean drive the next 200 metres up the hill along the gorge to the campsite. We camped at the Top Ten Arthurs Point Shotover camping ground. The camp manager raised one elegant eyebrow almost to his hair line when he found out we were camping. Aparantly we were the first family camping that year. We found out why a little bit later. We should have realised when we noticed there was snow still on the hill tops and the ski field was still open. It was so very very very cold at night. But the lounge and kitchens were toasty and warm and we spent a good evening playing cards, putting wood on the fire and drinking hot chocolates and avoiding going to bed until we had to.
We had resolved not to move the car again until it was time to pack up to go home. So out came the bikes and off we went to Arrowtown. The sun was shining and it was a great ride out.
Quaint.
It seems to be the place where the kids that went to Queenstown go when they've grown up. Great fush'n'chup lunch with vinegar! Nzers don't do vinegar on their chips as a rule, odd. Very sobering historic Chinese gold miners settlement. Some stories of the young men who came and got left behind for whatever reason to grow into an impoverished old age. The ride back was not so jolly. It turns out the reason why the ride in was so nice was because we were going to face the head wind on the way home. OMG did it blow hard and gusty.Following day was cycle trip into Queenstown for Seans birthday treat – the Luge!
Great fun had by all. We recommend it. Going up in the cable car and the chair lifts were an adventure in themselves. White knuckle ride for those who don't do heights (that would be Jenn then).
We moseyed on down to the lakeside where there was an artists market and some live music. Then it was back to base for another night of cards and instant mash potato with baked beans. Yum. And another cold, cold night of not quite sleeping.The Sunday saw us pack up camp and the long drive home. We had planned to go through a very scary mountain road to Wanaka for lunch. However, we turned right instead of left. Now this shouldn't have been a problem but right took us away from Queenstown and petrol. 10 kms up the road Sean says “ umm we need to get fuel soon”. As we approach the turning for the the Scary zigzaggy James Bond in Switzerland mountain road we stopped. Looked up. Looked at each other. Looked at the fuel gauge. Turned, looked behind us at the trailer. Looked at the boys. And decided that that would be a very dumb thing to do. We opted for the less thirsty route to Cromwell. After about another 5 kms the car spoke. “Ding”. “That was the fuel warning light” said Sean. Sean began to sweat a little which in turn made Jenn a bit nervous. We were about 25kms from civilisation on a twisty turney mountain pass road with no idea how generous Ford were with their fuel warning system. Jenn reckonned that it was a Ford and therefore catering to idiots so it would be quite generous. Sean said he hoped so because, he reminded Jenn, if the engine cut out so would the steering and the breaks. “Oh” gulp. So after some very fuel efficient driving from Sean we crept up the mountain through the pass, down the mountain (fingers very crossed here) and onto the valley towards Cromwell and fuel. We made it! Sean filled the tank and calculated that we had less than ¾ of a wine bottle of fuel left in the tank. Ice creams all round. So top tip. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FUEL TANK FULL ENOUGH. There is not a petrol station on every corner out here.
We had a very stylish picnic at Lake Dunstan and then of to a soak in the hot pools at Tekapo before taking the last stretch home. Which was nice.
14:99
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Happy Birthday to Sean
Its the last day in September so that can only mean one thing: Its Seans Birthday. So we celebrated in traditional Monahan style with a cup of tea in bed followed by presents and a delicious victoria sponge cake, wedged together with Boysenberry Jam (its a NZ jam thing) and more whipped cream than you can shake a cow, at for breakfast. MMMmmmm!!
Sean got a Tui T shirt from the Davidsons next door and a very swish new IceBreaker Merino wool fleece from Jenn Jack and Barney.
The Monahans are now of on their very first NZ camping expedition to go wild in Queenstown. Sean has a birthday date with the Luge (http://www.queenstown-nz.co.nz/information/product/?product=skyline-luge/) and we may even get Jacks zorbing adventure in too. You never know.
LOL
PS jsut noticed that the computer is still on UK time so its tomorrow already...
15: 106
Sean got a Tui T shirt from the Davidsons next door and a very swish new IceBreaker Merino wool fleece from Jenn Jack and Barney.
The Monahans are now of on their very first NZ camping expedition to go wild in Queenstown. Sean has a birthday date with the Luge (http://www.queenstown-nz.co.nz/information/product/?product=skyline-luge/) and we may even get Jacks zorbing adventure in too. You never know.
LOL
PS jsut noticed that the computer is still on UK time so its tomorrow already...
15: 106
Saturday, 18 September 2010
The first day of a year of summer
After what seems like a year of winter, of gloom and of sombre contemplation of what we have done to ourselves the sun finally seems to have come out again.
We woke up this morning to a crisp frost and clear blue sky. It was just glorious so, for no other reason than because thats where the mood took us, we decided it was officially the first day of the Monahans year of summer. We broke out the tent to test it out. So this post is for our camping buddies. We hope it makes you smile and want to get booking next years camps.
Can you hear the sky larks Ms Lark?
P.S The air is very clear here so sun block, hats and sunglasses are going to be the rule. Sean has already burnt his head and face! Luckily he is so old now that its a bit late to worry about the aging effects of sun.
17:118
We woke up this morning to a crisp frost and clear blue sky. It was just glorious so, for no other reason than because thats where the mood took us, we decided it was officially the first day of the Monahans year of summer. We broke out the tent to test it out. So this post is for our camping buddies. We hope it makes you smile and want to get booking next years camps.
Can you hear the sky larks Ms Lark?
P.S The air is very clear here so sun block, hats and sunglasses are going to be the rule. Sean has already burnt his head and face! Luckily he is so old now that its a bit late to worry about the aging effects of sun.
17:118
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Mount Cook
Seans ankle is much mended now so the monahans decided to get some skiing in before the end of the season and booked a last minute weekend away to Mount Cook. Barney and Jenn wanted to take Jack and Sean there after having such a great camp.
Sean and Jack went skiing on the noddy slopes of Round Hill (budget, buggered ankle and total amateurish nature of the pair of them dictated lift passes to the more adventurous slopes was out of question - Jenn said NO!) and Barney took to his Snowboard again. Jenn went apres ski and drank alot of coffee and read 'Blink' and tried not to laugh out loud when she saw the boys gliding past.
We didn't bother hiring any gear other than skis, boots and boards and Jack decided after a very comical if very desperate uncontrolled slide down the hill arms (with ski poles) waving in panic trying to grab the air to slow him down before crashing over.
Luckily the rain held off until the Sunday. So the Monahans walked the Hooker Valley in the rain and then went and steamed gently over coffee, hot chocolate and cake in the luxurious surrounds of the Hermitage hotel. The money seems to be mainly with the Japanese, Indians and Brits at the moment.
18:123
Sean and Jack went skiing on the noddy slopes of Round Hill (budget, buggered ankle and total amateurish nature of the pair of them dictated lift passes to the more adventurous slopes was out of question - Jenn said NO!) and Barney took to his Snowboard again. Jenn went apres ski and drank alot of coffee and read 'Blink' and tried not to laugh out loud when she saw the boys gliding past.
We didn't bother hiring any gear other than skis, boots and boards and Jack decided after a very comical if very desperate uncontrolled slide down the hill arms (with ski poles) waving in panic trying to grab the air to slow him down before crashing over.
Luckily the rain held off until the Sunday. So the Monahans walked the Hooker Valley in the rain and then went and steamed gently over coffee, hot chocolate and cake in the luxurious surrounds of the Hermitage hotel. The money seems to be mainly with the Japanese, Indians and Brits at the moment.
18:123
Monday, 13 September 2010
Should it be spring?
We are feeling abit out of sorts. Its spring today. Jenn says her body is saying that it ought to be autumn. Its all wrong. Everyone else said shut up and enjoy it. There is going to be a year of summer now after a year of winter. The sun has come out after what seems like weeks of cloud and rain. Although its getting warm and very windy which means a Nor'wester is going to come rattling through again so the good weather wont last long.
So for you folks back home who keep talking about blackberry picking and the end of the camping season heres some photos to cheer you up:
The trees sean planted are now in blossom
And here's fidget the lamb. Remember her, she's gone from strength to strength but was lonely so we got her another orphan to play with - he doesn't have a name - don't tell anyone but sadly he has a different destiny to fidget and he wont be staying long :-(
18: 125
So for you folks back home who keep talking about blackberry picking and the end of the camping season heres some photos to cheer you up:
The trees sean planted are now in blossom
And here's fidget the lamb. Remember her, she's gone from strength to strength but was lonely so we got her another orphan to play with - he doesn't have a name - don't tell anyone but sadly he has a different destiny to fidget and he wont be staying long :-(
18: 125
Saturday, 4 September 2010
The day the earth moved
Earthquake! 7. something or other on the scale at 4.30 odd in the morning. Awoke to the earthmoving to thoughts of: Whats that? I'm going to die! No. Its just an earthquake. Back to sleep I go. The floor beneath us shaking from side to side for a minute. Not long. Nothing broken, Jenn and Sean snuggled back to sleep - very tired as still feeding Fidget the lamb and the loss of sleep is catching up. Suddenly the rest of the house burst into life as Brian started running around in a semi-naked state of giddy excitment and woke everyone up who wasn't already awake. Not sure if Sean was more disturbed by the earthquake or the sight of Brian in nothing but a pair of old grey jogpants.
Christchurch seems to have born the brunt as its where most of the old buildings are. Earthquakes are nothing new here so modern buildings are built for it. So, aside from some minor inconvenience (power, water, roads and sewage disturbances), nobody died and all is well. A lot of older buildings and some businesses will be affected. But nobody died! After two days of nothing but DISASTER and TALES OF HEROIC SURVIVAL IN NCONVINIENT (NZers don't use spellcheck) SITUATIONS we are left wondering waht happens when people actually do die and loose everything? Hmmmm.
The tremours have continued all day and on. Kind of thrilling.
Christchurch seems to have born the brunt as its where most of the old buildings are. Earthquakes are nothing new here so modern buildings are built for it. So, aside from some minor inconvenience (power, water, roads and sewage disturbances), nobody died and all is well. A lot of older buildings and some businesses will be affected. But nobody died! After two days of nothing but DISASTER and TALES OF HEROIC SURVIVAL IN NCONVINIENT (NZers don't use spellcheck) SITUATIONS we are left wondering waht happens when people actually do die and loose everything? Hmmmm.
The tremours have continued all day and on. Kind of thrilling.
Sunday, 29 August 2010
A surprising anouncement
We guess this is not going to come as much of a surprise to those closest to us. But we have an official announcement to make. We have decided that, as wonderful as its been to spend some serious quality time with the Davidsons Down Under and as great a place as New Zealand is, its not for us. After five months we have found out something that we hadn't planned for. We are English. We miss home. We miss our old life and we miss you all too much. New Zealand is a smashing country with so much to offer but there are places that you live and places that you visit. Norwich is home and New Zealand isn't. It can't be helped.
So we have decided to see out the summer, and then at the end of January WE ARE COMING HOME! Why then? Well Jack has a small matter of making sure he's got his GCSE equivalents in the bag and lets face it 18 months of winter would be too much for anyone to bear! So we plan on sqeezing as much out of the experience as we can, after all we can't go home without fitting in all the seasons. That would be just too embarassing:/
So we have decided to see out the summer, and then at the end of January WE ARE COMING HOME! Why then? Well Jack has a small matter of making sure he's got his GCSE equivalents in the bag and lets face it 18 months of winter would be too much for anyone to bear! So we plan on sqeezing as much out of the experience as we can, after all we can't go home without fitting in all the seasons. That would be just too embarassing:/
Lambs, eggs and daffodils
Spring is undoubtedly here. Not only are the Daffs out the chicks have started laying (more on them in another post) but Sean opened the curtain this morning a said "oh, theres a lamb by the water trough". OMG! There really was a lamb by the water trough.
The poor thing was wet through and hadn't been cleaned off (because it was raining - has been for two days now), it was unsettled and trying to get out of the rain as it bleated pathetically. Its mother, Lilly, stood a few metres away and just wasn't interested. So the poor wee thing and Lilly were brought into the makeshift stable (the woodshed) and cleaned up a bit. Lilly has rejected the poor wee thing so we are now bottle feeding it. Jenn managed to milk Lilly for its first very important feed. That was fun. She thinks that a future in sheeps milk is not the way to go and is cured of that idea.
So everybody say hello to Lucky (age about 5 hours) - she will be if she makes it through.
The poor thing was wet through and hadn't been cleaned off (because it was raining - has been for two days now), it was unsettled and trying to get out of the rain as it bleated pathetically. Its mother, Lilly, stood a few metres away and just wasn't interested. So the poor wee thing and Lilly were brought into the makeshift stable (the woodshed) and cleaned up a bit. Lilly has rejected the poor wee thing so we are now bottle feeding it. Jenn managed to milk Lilly for its first very important feed. That was fun. She thinks that a future in sheeps milk is not the way to go and is cured of that idea.
So everybody say hello to Lucky (age about 5 hours) - she will be if she makes it through.
Monday, 23 August 2010
Dunedin
Well Jenn and Sean have been having a fun couple of days. Jenn has made contact with a research group in the University of Otago in Dunedin and was invited down to meet them and to give a seminar on her research. So on Sunday off they went with Sean as co-pilot and Jenn clutching a USB with her life's work in her sweaty hand. They stopped at the Moeraki Boulders. Weird boulders that look otherwordly, like giant shot from a war or alien eggs:
Sean got to spend Monday having a good old nose around Dunedin and saw many fine things such as the Scottish Shop packed with all things Scottish. Sadly, he resisted the urge to buy a sporran. Rather tellingly the shop sold flags. Irish flags, welsh flags, Scottish flags, New Zealand flags. But not a George Cross or Union Jack in site. Hmmm. He wondered. He also got accosted by a nutter whilst oohing and aahhing at the very fine railway station. “Whos the head of state@ yelled the nutter aggressively. “John Key” Sean said forgetting the golden rule with nutters (which is do not make eye contact and do not respond). “NO! ITS THE QUEEN!” screamed the nutter back. Sean beat a hasty retreat to the art gallery. Jenn had a fun day with a bunch of academics, some of whom she actually understood, others of which she didn't entirely (Sociologists...still struggling there with the language). She gave a seminar, speaking for 40 minutes, some of which probably made sense. For those who know her well will know that this was no small achievement.
The railway station
Robbie Burns
Ummm yumm the cadburies chocolate factory
Later that day they rendezvoused at the Octagon and spent a happy half hour in McKinlays shoe shop, home of Dunedin made shoes. And Sean bought a pair of boots that will last him for the rest of his life. Photo to follow when the boots arrive.
Sean got to spend Monday having a good old nose around Dunedin and saw many fine things such as the Scottish Shop packed with all things Scottish. Sadly, he resisted the urge to buy a sporran. Rather tellingly the shop sold flags. Irish flags, welsh flags, Scottish flags, New Zealand flags. But not a George Cross or Union Jack in site. Hmmm. He wondered. He also got accosted by a nutter whilst oohing and aahhing at the very fine railway station. “Whos the head of state@ yelled the nutter aggressively. “John Key” Sean said forgetting the golden rule with nutters (which is do not make eye contact and do not respond). “NO! ITS THE QUEEN!” screamed the nutter back. Sean beat a hasty retreat to the art gallery. Jenn had a fun day with a bunch of academics, some of whom she actually understood, others of which she didn't entirely (Sociologists...still struggling there with the language). She gave a seminar, speaking for 40 minutes, some of which probably made sense. For those who know her well will know that this was no small achievement.
The railway station
Robbie Burns
Ummm yumm the cadburies chocolate factoryLater that day they rendezvoused at the Octagon and spent a happy half hour in McKinlays shoe shop, home of Dunedin made shoes. And Sean bought a pair of boots that will last him for the rest of his life. Photo to follow when the boots arrive.
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
News flash town gets new sign!
Ooooh Ashburton has got something Norwich hasn't. A shiny new sign! Not some rusty peeling orl bit o' tin.
Sunday, 15 August 2010
School camp
Barney has been away on school camp and Jenn went along as parent helper (yikes!). They do things differently here. No coach for these guys just a rag tag convoy of various vehicles driven by parents (including the horse float rammed to the rafters with as much sugar and cheap carbohydrates as could be managed). First stop was a trip to Round Hill Ski Field. Where skiing and snowbaording was on offer. Barney took to the snowboard and actually managed to stay upright. Here's the evidence:
Wonderful, gorgeous crisp clear blue winters day. So when Chris and Pup from mountain rescue and the police came and gave a snow survival talk it went down very well. More about them on day two. There were actually three of them but the third one had to 'stay with the police car' half way down the mountain just in case 'anything happened to it'. Needless to say we woke him up when we drove down off the ski field.
We stayed at Glentanner and this is the view we woke to:
Day two saw more of Chris and Pup and the silent third partner and lessons on how to cross rivers and carry out the wounded along with stories of sewing up your own injuries. After lunch we headed off up the valley to Mount Cook Village, the Hermitage and Hooker Valley. Jenn nearly crashed the car as the view was just breathtaking. The boys (Barney, Bradley, Bailey and Alex) did a sterling job taking it in turns to be co pilot/DJ over the camp. It makes Jenn smile to think that in years to come there will be four boys who will always be transported to a specific time in their lives whenever they hear: Nena's 99 Red Balloons, Men at Work Down Under, David Essex Hold Me Close, Blue Oyster Cult's The Reaper and ELO's Mr Blue. Personally by the end of day four Jenn was just about ready to scream if any of the aforementioned were ever played again. The hooker valley visitor center was very sobering. Did you know there are five or so books in there and each page is dedicated to a person that has lost their lives on Mount Cook. Jenn has yet to find out what glissading means, but it seems to be popular method of death on a mountain. Can you imagine cause of death: Blown off the mountain?
The third day saw the cloud move in and a talk from the Helicopter pilots at Glentanner, a trip to the Hermitage and The Sir Edmund Hillary Centre for some fabulous 3D movies. The helicopters were a big hit with the boys and everyone got to sit in it. Later a trip to Twizel for Black Stilts breeding recovery programme. Why? These are just about the stupidest birds imaginable. And finally a trip to a salmon farm. Where up the patron of this establishment gave a talk. As he flustered about anchoring some newspaper to a table, proceeded to harangue his wife for a hammer, gathered us all around a fish pond to ooh and aah as we firstly fed the fish and then cheered as the assistant caught a fish thinking that they would show it around perhaps let some eager fingers touch the fish and then put it back. But no. About 20 odd kids and several adults (90% of whom are farmers I will add) stood in shocked silences as the fish was slapped on the table and the hammer came down. The patron then gave a very interesting lesson in dissection and fish biology. That fishes heart kept beating for the entire time in its poor little disembodied state. Fascinating all the same. Especially when one of the feistier girls asked at the end ' is there a better way of killing them other than beating them to death?' Oh how we laughed.
That evening was the last evening so it was the traditional camp concert. Much hilarity and hysterical activity (by this stage sleep deprivation and o'd'ing on the aforementioned sugar and carbohydrate was peaking). Star turn went to Alex who might be a bit 'outside the box' but he has a set of lungs on him that can turn out a glorious tune.
The last day saw us all packing in a fog of exhaustion and a light drizzle, off home with a stop half way for some RnR at Tekapo's hot pools (sadly not proper volcanic ones). The parents didn't go in they sat around in a stupor drinking huge fish bowls of coffee.
Wonderful, gorgeous crisp clear blue winters day. So when Chris and Pup from mountain rescue and the police came and gave a snow survival talk it went down very well. More about them on day two. There were actually three of them but the third one had to 'stay with the police car' half way down the mountain just in case 'anything happened to it'. Needless to say we woke him up when we drove down off the ski field.
We stayed at Glentanner and this is the view we woke to:
Day two saw more of Chris and Pup and the silent third partner and lessons on how to cross rivers and carry out the wounded along with stories of sewing up your own injuries. After lunch we headed off up the valley to Mount Cook Village, the Hermitage and Hooker Valley. Jenn nearly crashed the car as the view was just breathtaking. The boys (Barney, Bradley, Bailey and Alex) did a sterling job taking it in turns to be co pilot/DJ over the camp. It makes Jenn smile to think that in years to come there will be four boys who will always be transported to a specific time in their lives whenever they hear: Nena's 99 Red Balloons, Men at Work Down Under, David Essex Hold Me Close, Blue Oyster Cult's The Reaper and ELO's Mr Blue. Personally by the end of day four Jenn was just about ready to scream if any of the aforementioned were ever played again. The hooker valley visitor center was very sobering. Did you know there are five or so books in there and each page is dedicated to a person that has lost their lives on Mount Cook. Jenn has yet to find out what glissading means, but it seems to be popular method of death on a mountain. Can you imagine cause of death: Blown off the mountain?
The third day saw the cloud move in and a talk from the Helicopter pilots at Glentanner, a trip to the Hermitage and The Sir Edmund Hillary Centre for some fabulous 3D movies. The helicopters were a big hit with the boys and everyone got to sit in it. Later a trip to Twizel for Black Stilts breeding recovery programme. Why? These are just about the stupidest birds imaginable. And finally a trip to a salmon farm. Where up the patron of this establishment gave a talk. As he flustered about anchoring some newspaper to a table, proceeded to harangue his wife for a hammer, gathered us all around a fish pond to ooh and aah as we firstly fed the fish and then cheered as the assistant caught a fish thinking that they would show it around perhaps let some eager fingers touch the fish and then put it back. But no. About 20 odd kids and several adults (90% of whom are farmers I will add) stood in shocked silences as the fish was slapped on the table and the hammer came down. The patron then gave a very interesting lesson in dissection and fish biology. That fishes heart kept beating for the entire time in its poor little disembodied state. Fascinating all the same. Especially when one of the feistier girls asked at the end ' is there a better way of killing them other than beating them to death?' Oh how we laughed.
That evening was the last evening so it was the traditional camp concert. Much hilarity and hysterical activity (by this stage sleep deprivation and o'd'ing on the aforementioned sugar and carbohydrate was peaking). Star turn went to Alex who might be a bit 'outside the box' but he has a set of lungs on him that can turn out a glorious tune.
The last day saw us all packing in a fog of exhaustion and a light drizzle, off home with a stop half way for some RnR at Tekapo's hot pools (sadly not proper volcanic ones). The parents didn't go in they sat around in a stupor drinking huge fish bowls of coffee.
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Happy Birthday to Jenn
Here it is, inevitable, and yet always a surprise, its Jenns birthday. She's been knocking around now for 42 years. The cracks are starting to show!
The boys started her day with a slab of delicious sponge cake sandwiched with whipped cream and boysenberry jam. Only a few symbolic candles on this one, not had the full count since she turned 30 odd when the number of candles created so much heat that it threatened to turn into a charcoal topped firestorm and the candles all melted in the intense heat. Best present ever, the entire complete box set of Northern Exposure, all six seasons, in one box. Can a girl ask for anything more? Well yes as it turns out. But in case you aren't up to speed with it its a classic series from back in the 90's. The Davidsons next door bought her a fab metal gecko to go on the wall of the house that she is going to build. It will look splendid.
And thanks also to the Romsey contingent, she is going to spend it on spinning lessons (the kind with wool, not the mental gym lesson kind).
She followed up by dying her hair, the grey was now too evident. Did she get her mojo back?
In the evening The Monahans and the Davidsons next door went out to Sunday dinner at Lake Hood restaurant. It was a bit posh, not what was expected, but hey ho nobody shook when the credit cards were handed over. Tasty (eye candy waiter, Jenn asked for one for her birthday next year but Sean said no) and the puds all went down well. Huge slabs of chocolate brownies all round. The menu promised lashings of chocolate sauce, but what arrived was more of a drizzle. Boo hoo.
Sad to have the empty chair, but Dad had something better to do. And the other empty chair will sadly always be empty (Jenns Mum was greatly missed, she would have taken great pleasure at seeing us all together).
Jenn missed her friends from home enormously and raises a glass to you all absent friends XXX
The boys started her day with a slab of delicious sponge cake sandwiched with whipped cream and boysenberry jam. Only a few symbolic candles on this one, not had the full count since she turned 30 odd when the number of candles created so much heat that it threatened to turn into a charcoal topped firestorm and the candles all melted in the intense heat. Best present ever, the entire complete box set of Northern Exposure, all six seasons, in one box. Can a girl ask for anything more? Well yes as it turns out. But in case you aren't up to speed with it its a classic series from back in the 90's. The Davidsons next door bought her a fab metal gecko to go on the wall of the house that she is going to build. It will look splendid.
And thanks also to the Romsey contingent, she is going to spend it on spinning lessons (the kind with wool, not the mental gym lesson kind).
She followed up by dying her hair, the grey was now too evident. Did she get her mojo back?
In the evening The Monahans and the Davidsons next door went out to Sunday dinner at Lake Hood restaurant. It was a bit posh, not what was expected, but hey ho nobody shook when the credit cards were handed over. Tasty (eye candy waiter, Jenn asked for one for her birthday next year but Sean said no) and the puds all went down well. Huge slabs of chocolate brownies all round. The menu promised lashings of chocolate sauce, but what arrived was more of a drizzle. Boo hoo.
Sad to have the empty chair, but Dad had something better to do. And the other empty chair will sadly always be empty (Jenns Mum was greatly missed, she would have taken great pleasure at seeing us all together).
Jenn missed her friends from home enormously and raises a glass to you all absent friends XXX
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Sport sport everywhere
Sport. Sport seems to be a fundamental element of New Zealand life. Sport, in particular, for young people. Any sport. And the great thing is it doesn't matter how crap you are so long as you give it a go.
This has been great for Jack and Barney. Kids in the UK, and Jack and Barney were no different, are expected to stay indoors, not be a nuisance, and be a passive consumer of such delightful things as computer games, gaming consoles, TV and DVD's. When they were out and about outside they went to the cinema or shopping or cafes. This is the urban kids, the majority of kids. Parks were where the Pikeys hung out making life miserable for everyone else particularly their peers. Jack and Barney never missed an opportunity to avoid undertaking any exercise whatsoever.
Now. OMG! Barney is playing football! And Frisbee. He's in the team. Wow.
And Jack. Jack has joined the local cycling club and has started racing in the time trial on a sunday afternoon. This Sunday Sean came home, chest swelling with fatherly pride. 'He came first in class. I think he has got potential'. We are so proud of him. Tour de France 2016? watch this space.
Both of them have never looked so healthy.
P.S. Barney has also had a growth spurt and Jenn is now officially the shortest in the family. She's not happy but will have to get over it.
This has been great for Jack and Barney. Kids in the UK, and Jack and Barney were no different, are expected to stay indoors, not be a nuisance, and be a passive consumer of such delightful things as computer games, gaming consoles, TV and DVD's. When they were out and about outside they went to the cinema or shopping or cafes. This is the urban kids, the majority of kids. Parks were where the Pikeys hung out making life miserable for everyone else particularly their peers. Jack and Barney never missed an opportunity to avoid undertaking any exercise whatsoever.
Now. OMG! Barney is playing football! And Frisbee. He's in the team. Wow.
And Jack. Jack has joined the local cycling club and has started racing in the time trial on a sunday afternoon. This Sunday Sean came home, chest swelling with fatherly pride. 'He came first in class. I think he has got potential'. We are so proud of him. Tour de France 2016? watch this space.
Both of them have never looked so healthy.
P.S. Barney has also had a growth spurt and Jenn is now officially the shortest in the family. She's not happy but will have to get over it.
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
happy 20th wedding anniversary
Its Sean and Jenns 20th Wedding Anniversary! OMG.
That went way too fast and it is now an undeniable truth that they are middle aged. Ouch. We don't know what the secret of a happy marriage is. We don't think there is one. We just grabbed each other as children and have clung on together for dear life over the past 2 decades as life has ebbed and flowed around us. Its been a blast. And it seems to have worked for us. We reckon its that we still keep laughing both at and with each other. That and we have never been afraid of pressing the big red GO button and find something more interesting to do when life gets too dull, its that or divorce we reckon. Although Jenn is wondering if we haven't pushed our luck too much with the latest revolution.
They are planning a bit of a shindig tomorrow night at the Blue Pub in Methven where they will be eating some delicious food and watch Hot Club Sandwich perform their repertoire of original songs about life in New Zealand. Can't wait. Another excuse to raise a glass and toast life, the universe and the futility of absolutely everything. Hoorah!
That went way too fast and it is now an undeniable truth that they are middle aged. Ouch. We don't know what the secret of a happy marriage is. We don't think there is one. We just grabbed each other as children and have clung on together for dear life over the past 2 decades as life has ebbed and flowed around us. Its been a blast. And it seems to have worked for us. We reckon its that we still keep laughing both at and with each other. That and we have never been afraid of pressing the big red GO button and find something more interesting to do when life gets too dull, its that or divorce we reckon. Although Jenn is wondering if we haven't pushed our luck too much with the latest revolution.
They are planning a bit of a shindig tomorrow night at the Blue Pub in Methven where they will be eating some delicious food and watch Hot Club Sandwich perform their repertoire of original songs about life in New Zealand. Can't wait. Another excuse to raise a glass and toast life, the universe and the futility of absolutely everything. Hoorah!
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
injuries and holidays
Sean slipped up on a slippery stone and something went crack in his ankle and he went down and floundered around under a bush swearing for a few moments! Fortunately we were on our way back down from a walk on Mount Summer and were only a few meters from the car park. It was very painful and swelled up like a balloon. He was laid up all day monday taking loads of drugs and watching loads of crappy TV and playing loads of computer games. But by Tuesday all was well and he was off out to Winslow with Steve the Brother in law. Just goes to show. You need to be careful out there, the isolation can cause you major problems if you make a mistake.
The boys are on school break for two weeks. Have no idea how to entertain them as the cash is running out and neither Jenn nor Sean are working yet. Yikes its starting to get a bit scary.
The boys are on school break for two weeks. Have no idea how to entertain them as the cash is running out and neither Jenn nor Sean are working yet. Yikes its starting to get a bit scary.
Monday, 28 June 2010
Bill Bailey
Finally, after many years of trying and failing, including standing ten bodies deep outside a huge marquee thronging with people at a festival in the rain, we got to see Bill Bailey perform live. Is that a bit extreme? Sean, Jenn and Louise got tickets at the last minute to his sell out gig in Christchurch. The car didn't break down, we found somewhere to park, were not mugged on the way to the gig in the big city and despite getting a wee bit lost finding our way to the gig and turning up a wee bit late we arrived and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Bill was great, despite being obviously a bit confused by the time difference and the ' it looks like home, it smells like home but they ain't like I am' culture shock thing. Particularly in the opening warm up with 'whats the phrase that kiwis use that defines them as kiwis' and some bright spark shouted out ' get in behind'. Ho hum chuckle chuckle much mirth ensued. And then he pulled out his oud - beautiful.
HE also did an old standby, sing a song thats slow and melancholic but in german and in a techno style. Cohens Hallelujah this time. as funny as it is not sure if its not time to move on to something a bit different now.
It felt quite comforting to hear a voice from home wot talks like we do and talked of places that we knew. Jenn was sorely tempted to jump up and scream 'big up from the Swindon massive' but the surreality of it might have sent him over the edge.
Not sure that the kiwis in the audience got many of the jokes and references, we did, laughing like drains. He kept them in with lots of Orc and Hobbit references. He did a good powerpoint presentation reinterpreting the work of the Great Masters telling of the Doubting Thomas scene. Great use of the powerpoint. On the way home we wondered if he did the work himself bored one evening when nothing was on the telly, or whether some minion slaved away in a cold mean garret...
HE also did an old standby, sing a song thats slow and melancholic but in german and in a techno style. Cohens Hallelujah this time. as funny as it is not sure if its not time to move on to something a bit different now.
It felt quite comforting to hear a voice from home wot talks like we do and talked of places that we knew. Jenn was sorely tempted to jump up and scream 'big up from the Swindon massive' but the surreality of it might have sent him over the edge.
Not sure that the kiwis in the audience got many of the jokes and references, we did, laughing like drains. He kept them in with lots of Orc and Hobbit references. He did a good powerpoint presentation reinterpreting the work of the Great Masters telling of the Doubting Thomas scene. Great use of the powerpoint. On the way home we wondered if he did the work himself bored one evening when nothing was on the telly, or whether some minion slaved away in a cold mean garret...
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