Blueberries!

Like most things in Wellington we know someone who knows someone. In this case a coworker at the Ministry of Health lives near an Organic You Pick Blue Berry farm. As it was close to the end of the year we were given the opportunity to pick at a discount. So we went!


The farm is at the far north end of the Hutt Valley. Hang a left when you are just at the top of the valley and they are on the left about five miles. Turns out the blue berry bushes are right on the Akatarwa river which means we had to meander by the river for about 10 minutes before we got to the field. Poor us. There are no houses down by the river, with the only evidence of humanity being a house up on the bluff.

When we got to the Blueberry fields they were all under a netting. So I really could not see anything until we found the door. And this is what I was saw ...

As to picking the blueberries. Well what could be better? We ate too many picked way to many for our budget and had a great time. And we met another co-worker there, one I particulary like, so it was great time.

The weather was one of those perfect fall days. Not too hot, not too cold. The sun was behind the clounds but no compliaing here. Just a light jacket and all were comforable. Here is a picture for you, makes me want to go buy a blueberry farm! (and figure out how to turn the photo clockwise 90 degrees!)

Wrights Hill Fortress

On Saturday the 25th we went to Wrights Hill Fortress. It is situated just south of Wellington over looking the entrace to Port Nicolson Harbor (that is the formal name of the bay that Wellington is situated on,) and the Cook Straights.
It was a WWII fortress designed to keep the Japenese out of Wellington. http://www.whfrs.org.nz/

The drive up the hill was lovely, we got views of the city, water and moutains that we had not previously seen. The view from the top was amazing! We could see everything.

The trip through the fortress was great. One really connectedwith history wandering through the partially restored facility. There were gun rooms, powder rooms, radio rooms, site rooms, up and down stairs and ladders. It was great to see. Dennis got an opportunity to fire a gun. It was loaded with a blank but the bang was loud! I have a video of him doing so, I will get it posted eventually!

The whole tour was about 90 minutes. The visitors were pretty much left on our own to explore. With volunteers to explain things to us like the radio room.

Played hookie today!

And took Dennis out fishing at Petone Wharf. He asked me yesterday if I would take him fishing and as there was not much on today I did so.

I started our expedition by buying some fishing tackle, what we had ended up on the sea bed at the end of our last trip. I have recently found a fishing store real close to the house so it was a quick stop on the way to Petone where I spent $25 on hooks, sinkers, and bait. Amazing how expensive that was. But it is all in the name of memories!

When we got there it took a while to setup Dennis new fishing pole, but we got him sorted and he was off fishing for spottys (google it if you are interested.) I fished for something larger. He caught three I caught nothing.

We met some great people on the wharf. Another father son combo was out, they must have hauled in a dozen fish. But there was no envy from me for I did not have to clean those fish! And I got some great fishing tips from them. We now know how to hold the rod when we fish for spottys, how much bait to put on the hooks and how to read the line. So it was a good day.

We also ran into another man who was fishing for something more substantial than Spottys and managed to pull up three real big Spottys. He gave them to us to take home, which delighted Dennis and annoyed me as I had more fish to clean. (I hate cleaning fish)

The cleaning went as well as those things do when you are cold, hunched over, and in your back yard with your kid splashing you with the hose. But we did get it done and have five good looking fish waiting to be cooked.

The worse part of the day was that I did not bring the camera!

Two fights one Gold Medal

We went to a Tae Kwon Do tournament on Saturday. It was a very long day arrived at 8:30am and left at 7:30pm. As Dennis' club sponsored the tournament Chris and I helped out; so did Dennis when he was participating or not playing with the other kids.

Dennis was in the jumping front kick and the sparning. The jumping front kick he was eliminated about way in the process. For those who don't know they line up the kids and have them run and kick a pad placed above their heads. All those that succeed get back in the line, those that fail are done. This goes on until only one person can kick the pad. The adults went up to 2.5 meters (8 feet.)

The sparing was more exciting. Due to a change in rings he ended up with his two matches with only a 10 minute break between them. This was 9 minutes of sparing in 30 minutes. Dennis was exausted at the end of them.

He won his first match 17-8, and his second 17-10. In speaking with a couple of black belts who watched him they said that Dennis clearly won them both due to his stamina. The first fight he was leading by 4 points after the second round, the second fight he was leading by two points. In both fights he just pulled ahead during the third round. Literally kicking his opponet around the ring.

Dennis did very well for his first fight in New Zealand!

(Pictures will follow shortly ...)

One year

Well we left the US 52 weeks ago today. Looking back over the year I am very glad that we have done this.

Not that life is very much different; Dennis is sitting at the breakfast table eating some sweet cereal he pumped up with more sugar, the laundry is in the washing machine, I have dry cleaning at a shop in the city, the car tires needed rotating, and Dennis still likes to play 'slamwhich.'

Reflecting back I realize that we have not seen enough of New Zealand, spending most of our time in and around Wellington. Some of that was the business at work, but most was us trying to carve out a life here.

Our visa's are going along well having met all the requirements for the indefinite returning residence visas in a year.

There was plenty of angst this year. Most notably my job at MoH going away, oh about a year ago today, looking back I realize that all the anxiety was of my own making. I am quite enjoying what I am doing right now and have some big plans for the spring (the fall for all you northern hemesphere folks.) Unless they get interrupted by an interesting job opportunity.

Chris just came back from her morning walk with the girls. Bringing junk mail in with her - see there really is nothing different down here.

Hope some or most of you can come visit soon. It really is lovely (he types looking out over the bay from his dining room table.)

Tom (& Dennis)