It's been a hectic few months in reality with lots going on in and out of work so here are a few highlights from the past 2 months with a selection of recent photos, in no particular order...
Kate drives in to the garage - literally!
I was fast asleep and Kate was doing a late night at the elderly care home she has been doing some agency work for. I was dragged from my dreams by Kate shouting from the top of the stairs - something about driving into the garage. That was OK I thought - there's plenty of space, but then I realised that she meant that she had driven into the garage and the door - the very large double, electric powered garage door was still closed! The drive is rather steep and that night it was cold enough to have a covering of frost which the car had slipped on. It stopped a couple of feet into the garage door. Nice. I was too tired to be thinking clearly so failed to take a photo before reversing the car out of the door and popping the dents out of the garage door. The result as you can see below doesn't look too bad! At least the door still works...
The house owners are however looking to have them replaced - but no-one has the correct colour, so rather than replacing the damaged panels it looks as if the entire door will be replaced. We are waiting to hear on the insurance saga that will no doubt develop in the coming months so watch this space!
Crash!
Bang!
Wallop!
We have found Zealandia
On Kate's travels around the capital she bumped into a sign pointing to Zealandia - the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. This is a predator free haven right in the middle of Wellington. The have erected a predator proof fence and then eliminated all predators from inside the fence creating a safe zone for native New Zealand animals. We had a fantastic few hours walking through the centre and saw amongst other things Tui, Bell Bird and the Kaka parrot. It is well worth a nighttime visit as they also have Kiwi so that is now high on the list!
On the electric boat across the lake
The Silver Fern
Max's Kaka?
The Kaka Parrot
Now you see me...
Now you don't!
Eating nuts
Walking across the lake dam
Shadows
The rabbit, cat, rat, stoat (add any other non-native nasty predator) proof fence
Trip to Auckland to visit Bob & Di
The rabbit, cat, rat, stoat (add any other non-native nasty predator) proof fence
Trip to Auckland to visit Bob & Di
We finally made it to Auckland to visit Bob & Di on their lifestyle plot in Onewhero, just south of the Waikato River.
It also happened to be Kate's 40th Birthday so we managed to combine that celebration with our long weekend trip. Is was great to catch up with friends and we had a brilliant weekend.
Max had the time of his life! He got to travel on an airplane - possibly the best thing that he could ever do - he even got his own seat and took great pleasure in sitting in it for the duration of the flight, including take-off and landing. B & D have some animals on their plot; Daisy Moo the calf, several sheep, Nibbles the rabbit, Tina and Jako the horses and not forgetting Dylan the dog. We have been back home for several months now, but he still talks about all of the animals and can't wait to see them again. Luckily we have lots of photos so he spends time talking to them! Max also had a trip around the farm on the neighbours Quad Bike - what a lucky chap...and lucky Daddy as I got to drive!
We managed to head in to Auckland city for a good wander around the marina area with some lunch and also a trip to Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium which has the original perspex shark tunnel as the main attraction.
One evening, baby sitter located on the sofa we all headed out to the local theatre's production of The Full Monty. It was really well done and great to feel part of the local rural community.
Other Onewhero highlights included Max's visit to the Fire Station. Both Bob & Di volunteer for the local brigade so we had exclusive access to the equipment and the vehicles - Max was in boy heaven!
Nee naw, nee naw
Happy as Larry...
Fireman Max
Max riding Tina
Tina subjected to a very happy Max
Giddy Up
Max will climb on anything!
Family Quad bike
Having a great time touring the farm
Max & Di
Digging on the beach with Dylan
Kate & Max waiting at the train station...(those are railway tracks by the way!)
Fantastic views walking along the beach
Max enjoying Ginger Beer with his lunch
Riding on Kelly Tarlton's turtle
Di, Nibbles and Max
Daisy 'Moo'
In the Play House
Bob & Di's plot; Onewhero
It's been back to work for a good number of weeks since this all happened - feels like a long time ago!
We are now heading rapidly towards summer - in general the weather is warming up and there are more nice days than nasty so hopefully this trend will continue, especially as my Mum & Dad arrived on Tuesday for their 5 weeks stay. With a trip to Abel Tasman National Park on South Island, a crossing to Kapiti Island and Christmas over the next 4 weeks you can finally expect more regular blog updates than every 3 months!
Thanks for reading and we look forward to hearing your news back!
Best wishes from us all.
1 comment:
Hi Neil, love the blog! Sounds like you're all having fun down there!
Noticed that you're off to the Abel Tasman National Park. You have to try to go to Kaiteriteri. We really loved it, really beautiful part of the world, full of good memories!
have fun
Zoe, Iain & Isobel x
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