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:/
Sunday, 29 August 2010
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
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