Earthquake number 2

OK - so this is still novel enough for me to blog about it again!

I was sat at home on the sofa watching Lord of the Rings Part 2 - The Two Tower when at 21.27 the sofa started shaking!

It wasn't violent enough for anything to rattle or move, but it was unmistakenly an earthquake.

Kate is currently at work. While she waits to hear the result of a Practise Nurse interview she had last week she is doing some agency nursing for Geneva Health at an Nuring Home just to the West of Wellington. Given the location of the earthquake I am sure that she would have felt it too.

I've checked out the EQC website for the stats, so here they are! It would appear that this was the 2nd Earthquake in 2 days to originate from the same area in the Cook Straight.

So yes - the earth really did move!!


The COP showing the 2 recent events in the Cook Straight


The South Karori Earthquake drum showing the Sunday quake

The details of the Sunday quake

The Martinborough weekend

Last weekend we headed over the Rimutaka Hills into the Wairarapa and on to Martinbororugh – famous for its wine...Martinborough itself is our kind of place – a plethora of eating and drinking establishments surround by vineyards and an incredible mixture of architecture. Given that it is only 45 minutes from Whitby to Martinborough I think that plans now have to include a weekend pad that we can escape to. It is certainly high on the list for a re-visit once the weather turns.

Our hosts were Ritch and Jo – I work with Ritch who is a Senior PM at Eagle. Jo bought the house 5 years ago and they have spent those years turning it into a fantastic hideaway. There was plenty of space for Max & Oakley to roam around in.

Max & Ritch seemed to hit it off immediately – I think Max is at Ritch’s level to be honest!

On Saturday we headed into town for a wander around. That inevitably resulted in the purchase of a couple of local bottles of Pinot Noir ready for the evening meal. Max had a great time playing at the park including the scaling of a huge slide and generally running from one activity to the next.


Martinborough Wine Makers - processing the grapes from the surrounding area


Dog Parking!


The Martinborough Hotel

Woooooshh..


Mission Impossible

Kate & Max just hanging around

Ritch happy with Oakley - or should that be the other way around?

Saturday evening was spent in front of the wood burner eating an amazing 3-course meal that Jo had knocked up including home-made French Onion soup, roast leg of New Zealand lamb and apple and blackberry pie. A few bottles of wine in, with the girls in bed, Ritch and I broke out ‘Guitar Hero’ and fretted the evening away. Despite being a real guitar player, Ritch kinda sucked at the game – to his disgust!

Max chilling in front of Tractor Ted

Fire + tea + Ted + beanbag = sleepy!

Jo has recently become addicted to bike riding, so on Sunday morning, despite the weather looking rather foreboding, we gathered bikes together; Jo on her new road bike, Ritch on his new mountain bike and Max on his likabike and we headed into town. Max & I headed to the skate park so that Max could ride some ‘bumps’ and the others did circuits of the square. The weather did however have the upper hand; the skies darkened and we were caught out in precipitation varying from rain, to sleet, to hail and even snow! I was led to believe that this was quite rare for Martinborough.

All clouds have a silver lining; after dashing home with Oakley and the bikes we headed into a lovely warm cafe for coffee and late breakfast of Spanish Eggs with Chirozo. It was very tasty indeed. The weather calmed enough for us to get home unscathed and after a spot of lunch we went for a ‘walk in the car!’ Ritch and Jo navigated us around the sites that Martinborough has to offer – vineyard after vineyard – marvellous! Ultimately the time arrived to head off and leave Ritch and Jo to the remainder of the bank holiday so we loaded the car and gave our farewells.

The weather warning that was issued on Friday morning was still active with snow expected on the return journey. Despite everything that was said and 2 large snow ploughs at the ready at the summit of the Rimutaka Hills, there were only a few grains of snow on the road – but it was apparently enough to keep most people away as we had an uneventful return to Whitby.

Monday was spent lazing at home until a spontaneous fish & chip supper materialised with some friends just down the road in Paremata. Max managed to last the entire day with no sleep – something which is becoming quite a regular occurrence. It appears that the 2 hour window of afternoon freedom has well and truly shut. Gutted!

All in all a lovely weekend which has provided yet another new location that I am sure we will be returning to in the near future. If you head out to see us I think you can expect a weekend break in Martinborough to sample local food and wine. Any excuse!

We trust you are well and look forward to hearing from you soon! Best wishes from us all.

Knight Rider

Max out and about on his 'Likabike'