Our place from across the front lawn (doubles up as a rugby field!)
Monday, January 24, 2005
Friday, January 21, 2005
Summer Evenings
Tea over and boys in bed and futon assembled I can continue with my ramblings.
We have been swimming nearly every day we have been here. There is a public "proper" pool in Kaitaia but they charge $1.50 each so we have been in the sea or lake or the river at Digger's valley. Had a good swim there yesterday. We were invited over for a bbq and had a swim first.
Paddy is out of his depth in the deepest bits so I played at lifeguard. Saw a crayfish in one of the holes in the rock. There are eels in the water but I hve not trodden on one yet!
We did do some eel observations after the barbie, attracting them with rotten eggs and then getting them on the bank with a bag of rotten meat attached to a line. Very slimey wriggly things. Ruth and I were trying to work out how they breathe as they do not have large gill openings. Any eel experts out there care to inform?
After that we had a family demo of cow insemination which was most instructive. The boys were very interested. I promise to post photos as I am sure people will find them interesting.
Digressing slightly 3 things that are different in NZ to Uk that we didn't know about.
We have been swimming nearly every day we have been here. There is a public "proper" pool in Kaitaia but they charge $1.50 each so we have been in the sea or lake or the river at Digger's valley. Had a good swim there yesterday. We were invited over for a bbq and had a swim first.
Paddy is out of his depth in the deepest bits so I played at lifeguard. Saw a crayfish in one of the holes in the rock. There are eels in the water but I hve not trodden on one yet!
We did do some eel observations after the barbie, attracting them with rotten eggs and then getting them on the bank with a bag of rotten meat attached to a line. Very slimey wriggly things. Ruth and I were trying to work out how they breathe as they do not have large gill openings. Any eel experts out there care to inform?
After that we had a family demo of cow insemination which was most instructive. The boys were very interested. I promise to post photos as I am sure people will find them interesting.
Digressing slightly 3 things that are different in NZ to Uk that we didn't know about.
- You pay $1.50 for each sack of rubbish you put out for the bin-men. It really concentrates the mind on waste reduction. Recycling stuff is (apparently) free.
- Banks are NOT free. They charge for having an account, for cheque-books and for alsorts of other things that would be free in UK
- When the siren goes off at 6.30 am or 9.23pm or whenever, it is not the 4 minute warning as we thought the first time we heard it! It is a summons to the firemen to get on over to the station - they are not on full-time cover. Phew that was a relief!
Summer days
Been having a busy few days here. Spent a frightening amount on furniture on wednesday including 3Xdesks and swivel chairs for boys. Then had to assemble 6 items. By the last one I managed a respectable time of 21 minutes, passing out shortly after 9pm. We also ordered a futon and a dresser and 5xbedside cabinets. The bank account was smoking, but we have never bought any new furniture before and the second-hand here seems to be as expensive as the new.
Remind me to post up some pics if you are interested. The boys immediately went about arranging their possessions on their desks. Pictures from old schools took pride of place, so it was interesting to see what is on their minds.
We have visited 2 more local schools and have decided to send them all to Pamampuria school which is 10km out of town.
More later but tea is ready now!
Remind me to post up some pics if you are interested. The boys immediately went about arranging their possessions on their desks. Pictures from old schools took pride of place, so it was interesting to see what is on their minds.
We have visited 2 more local schools and have decided to send them all to Pamampuria school which is 10km out of town.
More later but tea is ready now!
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Monday, January 17, 2005
We are back on-line
Sound of trumpets in the background!!!
Chantelle is very good with computers and has managed to get us online again, despite the usual problems with this bit of equipment not being compatible with that bit. What would I do without her?
So now you can expect a speedier response to emails.
Congratulations to Alex for passing her driving test - look out Manchester.
Rang up mum this morning and she said that you were expecting blizzards. We are sheltering inside from the strength of the sun. The sun is fierce here, apparently because of the hole in the ozone layer. The Indian guy who runs the local dairy says that he does not burn in India, but has to be careful here. We are following the local advice to "Slip, slop, slap ..." basically put yer hat on and the sunblock.
Chantelle will be wanting the machine back so I'll just post up some photos. More later. Mike
Chantelle is very good with computers and has managed to get us online again, despite the usual problems with this bit of equipment not being compatible with that bit. What would I do without her?
So now you can expect a speedier response to emails.
Congratulations to Alex for passing her driving test - look out Manchester.
Rang up mum this morning and she said that you were expecting blizzards. We are sheltering inside from the strength of the sun. The sun is fierce here, apparently because of the hole in the ozone layer. The Indian guy who runs the local dairy says that he does not burn in India, but has to be careful here. We are following the local advice to "Slip, slop, slap ..." basically put yer hat on and the sunblock.
Chantelle will be wanting the machine back so I'll just post up some photos. More later. Mike
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
More settling in.
It is now Wednesday. Eric is with me and we are back in the Pharmacy $2 for 20 mins.
Had a sorting out day yesterday. Mostly trying to get boys into a school. Lots of choice and hard decisions to make. Plus all the schools are vshut down at pres so not easy to find out answers to questions.
We went to Lake Ngatu where 4 of us swam in warmish water. Nice firm lake bottom and small crowd there. It would have been very busy in UK.
Tried making bread in evening, Pizza for tea plus 2 loaves. White. Not a total success as the oven is fierce and I didn't let the loaves rise enough. Hopefully the next batch will be better and we can take some to the party we have been invited to on Sat.
Gotta go outta time.
Had a sorting out day yesterday. Mostly trying to get boys into a school. Lots of choice and hard decisions to make. Plus all the schools are vshut down at pres so not easy to find out answers to questions.
We went to Lake Ngatu where 4 of us swam in warmish water. Nice firm lake bottom and small crowd there. It would have been very busy in UK.
Tried making bread in evening, Pizza for tea plus 2 loaves. White. Not a total success as the oven is fierce and I didn't let the loaves rise enough. Hopefully the next batch will be better and we can take some to the party we have been invited to on Sat.
Gotta go outta time.
Monday, January 10, 2005
Sunday in Kaitaia
Patronising Hackers for this post!
Lovely day yesterday. Went to church and I was impressed. Mixed congregation all seemed friendly enough. Priest gave a sermon on our mission to fight for the poor, citing Oscar Romero as a role model. That was a good start!
In the afternoon we went to Diggers Valley to see Ruth and Stephan. Fantastic place, lovely people and duck, activities included swimming in the river, putting your foot in cow manure (optional!), walking through the bush to see the cattle, playing pooh sticks with your sandals (not reccommended by Eric), eating omelette, injecting cattle, and feeeding eels. Got home at 10 and did those boys fall asleep on their feet.
More later, we get the home connection on Friday (fingers crossed)
Mike
Lovely day yesterday. Went to church and I was impressed. Mixed congregation all seemed friendly enough. Priest gave a sermon on our mission to fight for the poor, citing Oscar Romero as a role model. That was a good start!
In the afternoon we went to Diggers Valley to see Ruth and Stephan. Fantastic place, lovely people and duck, activities included swimming in the river, putting your foot in cow manure (optional!), walking through the bush to see the cattle, playing pooh sticks with your sandals (not reccommended by Eric), eating omelette, injecting cattle, and feeeding eels. Got home at 10 and did those boys fall asleep on their feet.
More later, we get the home connection on Friday (fingers crossed)
Mike
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Stop press: we have arrived in Kaitaia
Well we are here. Sat in the Pharmacy on Commerce street writing this. Stuart is pestering me so it will be a short post.
To cut a long story short, we drove up from Whangarei yesterday in heavy rain. Spectacular scenery through the clouds. Arrived at 12 midday, by 6 we had a fridge and washing machine installed, all got beds, phone online and had received lots of help from various people. What an efficient friendly bunch!
House is ace! Massive inside. LOads of room to spread out. Loads of light from all the windows. Bit short on furniture but that will be better when the shipping arrives!
More later....
To cut a long story short, we drove up from Whangarei yesterday in heavy rain. Spectacular scenery through the clouds. Arrived at 12 midday, by 6 we had a fridge and washing machine installed, all got beds, phone online and had received lots of help from various people. What an efficient friendly bunch!
House is ace! Massive inside. LOads of room to spread out. Loads of light from all the windows. Bit short on furniture but that will be better when the shipping arrives!
More later....
Friday, January 07, 2005
Photo of arrival
What a star Colin is!!!
javascript:ol('http://www.airliners.net/postcard/view.main?id=8/2/1/uPTGZL');
This link should take you to a super photo of us arriving into Auckland.
If not try www.airliners.net
Then go to show me photos ,and choose Cathay pacific from the list of airlines.
javascript:ol('http://www.airliners.net/postcard/view.main?id=8/2/1/uPTGZL');
This link should take you to a super photo of us arriving into Auckland.
If not try www.airliners.net
Then go to show me photos ,and choose Cathay pacific from the list of airlines.
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