Summer

is almost here.  They declare it December 1st down here.  A bit disorientating as I would expect it to arrive with the equinox on December 22nd.  But the day is glorious.  Just beautiful sunny and warm.  This is one of those 'good days' where you cannot find a better place in all the world to be than Wellington.

Inward Bound

Chris is inward bound tomorrow.  Dennis and I spent a good amount of time this evening getting the house in order.  It is now to the point where any self-respecting female would die if they had let the house go to this.  As opposed to two males who are too caught up in playing games and figuring out how to open canned beans for dinner.

We have survived our three weeks without Chris.  I will know if Chris has survived her event at 4:20pm when the ferry unloads.  Or if I get a call earlier saying everything belly-up.  (kiwi's have another term that means the same thing however my american sentiments prevent me from putting it in writing even as it would be appropriate term here for what goes up is something only found on the female anatomy.)

In addition to making the house presentable there are a few other things to get done in the morning.  Than Dennis goes to swimming class and after that we meet Chris.  Oh tomorrow will be a busy busy day.

View from the road

This linked picture from the Wellington Daily Photo, it is a production of my good friend Jeremy.  This is the view I see if I walk up the hill the "long way" from Wellington.

http://blandforddailyphoto.blogspot.com/2009/11/904-kaiwharawhara.html

The word is pronounced Kai-fara-fara.

You know you are in the 21st century when ...

You are upset that you can only have a phone call between New Zealand and Chicago because your personal video conference system (this case google video) is not working!

Beaujolais Nouveaux

Is pretty good this year.  I had a couple of glasses today as Wellington has the first official opening in the world.  We open up the bottles at noon today which co-insides with Beaujolais doing so at midnight.

In France they go to bed after tasting theirs; we drink the stock dry with wild boar sausages (you read that right - wild boar sausages.)  In France they open them in a cold damp cellar because it is better than being out doors in November; we do so outdoors and enjoy the glorious Wellington spring.

This is the second year in a row I have gone to this event.  Both times were great fun.

I was reminded today just how small Wellington is.  Last year I met some new people, this year I put names to familiar faces I had seen on the street.  It was fun to figure out where we had met, one was at the event last year.  The most interesting is someone I met through my father-in law.  This man worked at the 'Black Harp' the Irish bar in town (BTW they have the best Steak and Guinness Pies)  After he told me, I proceeded to tell him the story about taking my father-in-law who lives in Atlanta there and as I was going to say "and it turns out your bar tender had lived in Atlanta" he said "I lived in Atlanta for eight years!"  Yep it is a small town I live in here.  Oh by the way Don, Steve says "Hi."

It is amazing how much has changed in a year.  Last year I didn't even know where Woodward Street was located, that it ran between the two main roads in Wellington (Lampton Quay and The Terrace.)  This year I know my way around the city!  But what was most telling about my transition into a Wellintonian is that I put names to faces that I recognized from walking in the CBD!

Earthquake!

Two of them today.  A 5.3 at 7:05am and a 4.8 at 8:05am.  The first was quite the shaker, it seemed to go on for two minutes.   It hit when I was in bed and I was startled at how gentle the shaking was.  Almost like someone tenderly coming in and shaking you on the shoulder, or should I say the bed, the room, the house, the hill, the city, the island ...

Outward Bound

Chris has written a few letters from outward bound.  I can report that she is having fun.  She is learning how to shovel out chicken coops, make cement, and row kayaks.  She has tramped up mountains and can now find here way through the woods with a compass and a map.  She has been rained upon with some amazing downpours and enjoyed glorious sunny days in one of the most beautiful places in the country

The trip is proving to be more emotionally and mentally stressful than physically, which means it is working as designed.

She craves chocolate and licorice; the care package will be on its way tomorrow.

Lake Ferry

This past weekend (Saturday through Monday) Dennis and I went to Lake Ferry.  For those who do not know New Zealand Geography (and I suppose for those who do) Lake Ferry is about 20 miles from Wellington ... if you were to fly East South East over the bay and over the Rumitucka mountains.

It is a 90 minute drive.

You have to go all the way to Upper Hutt, and then over the mountains, and then all the way down Martinbrough Valley to the water.  There are two bridges over the river that runs down the valley so choose your route, and your bridge wisely.  (BTW Google shows another bridge which doesn't exist, mercifully I spoke with some friends who have family who live down by Lake Ferry.)

We stayed in a tent at the Gateway Holiday Park (www.gatewayholidaypark.co.nz) the park is small even by New Zealand standards however we had a great time.  This is so typical New Zealand.  We arrived an the inn keeper was in Wellington for the soccer game.  He left a sign on the door saying to text him if you needed a room, and if you wanted to camp just have at it and come find him in the morning.  This place is so trusting!


So we choose a well sheltered place from the wind.  And a good thing we did as the winds were upwards of 70mph over the weekend.  I was waken up more than once as the tent attempted to fly away with me in it.  Yes they were very strong winds.  Dennis enjoyed the trampoline and meeting the other guests at the park.  There were no other children which was disappointing but he made up for it by befriending the park dog.


On Sunday Dennis and I went to the Seal Colony and light house.  This is the furthest south on the north island.  Desolate is the word that comes to mind.  The road goes right along the ocean for most of the drive and there is no one there.  One town outside of Lake Ferry and a few Batchs (summer homes) here and there.


The Seals were the hit of the day.  Dennis loved them and wants to go back.  I am quite keen to do so for there are a few other sites down there which I would like to explore.

Life on the Ridge Line

We live on the ridge line on a minor hill here in Wellington area.  Today's weather is rainy and there is some strange, but typical weather patterns.

The rain came in from the East.  That means the valley to the east of the house was raining well before the valley to the west of the house.  Which translates into our Deck and Lounge Windows were drenched with driving rain and the Breakfast nook windows and patio were dry.  Not only were they dry but the cars below us on the road were dry as well.

While Dennis and I were looking to the West we saw the rain start to come over the house.  This was a good five minutes after the downpour on the East side of the house.  I had never berfore seen such a marked contrast as today.

Bill boards kiwi style ...

I've seen this around town a couple of times over the past year.  Thought you may get a kick out of it...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/3042467/Paris-not-laughing-at-vacant-Kiwi-billboards

Passed the test

Chris took her Tae Kwon Do test for a "Green Tip" (orange belt for you folks up north) and did great.  Here she is receiving her certificate!  She has a great smile ...

Joshua is the blackbelt in the picture, the two instructors are David (left) and Mark.

Lazy Thursday Morning

It is a quiet gray morning no sign of blue sky at all; nor is there any wind this morning.  Dennis and I are sitting down on the sofa chatting away this morning.  Chris is out running around Otari Wilton Bush in her last push in preparation for Outward Bound.  (she leaves tomorrow morning about this time.)

Time to make my second cup of coffee and get some grub before I start the work of the day.

Cheers!

Dry Riesling

In a world of great white wines it is rare that one stands out. So I
was quite surprised, and pleased, when I tasted Waimea Dry Riesling
for the first time last week. This wine is made in Nelson, far North
end of the South Island of New Zealand.  Nelson is always in
the top five of the sunniest places in New Zealand so as you can
imagine there are plenty of vineyards in the area. Just google
"vineyards nelson new zealand" and see for yourself!

I had not heard of Waimea before last week when our friends served us
a glass. I found out that they were on sale ($12.99) at the local
supermarket so we ran out and picked up a dozen.

Describing wines is not my forte - so please bear with me. This is a
rich wine with a pleasant fruity bouquet, it has a surprisingly heavy
body for a white wine which only adds to the character. It goes well
with the typical New Zealand cheeses and we enjoyed it with an
Asparagus Quiche for lunch this weekend. A much more technical
description from the wine maker can be found here ... http://www.waimeaestates.co.nz/tastingnotes/pdfdocs/WAIMEA%202005%20DRY%20RIESLING.pdf

If you find it in North America please let me know!