Some things never change, like me celebrating my birthday for almost a week. I feel pretty spoiled. Today heaps of Happy Birthday messages came in, reminding me that today was my true birthday because that's the time zone I was born in.
Mom wrote me yesterday, saying that she's been reading my notes here and that I write like Harlan Coben. I've never read him before. I googled him and there was actually a video clip of his upcoming book: http://www.harlancoben.com/
Jacquelyn, my only American colleague, arrived to work with the best lemon bars ever. They're pretty much my favorite dessert, although I think I say that about several desserts. I might have strongly hinted to her that they were my fav. The sorority I was in for all of 11 weeks sometimes served them and I would sneak as many as possible.
E-mails have been going back and forth between my friends and me, figuring out the details for lawn bowling. Summer is here! We're going to do the Island Bay lawn bowls again. Pretty excited for handles of beers in the sun! Hoping the weather is as good this year as least year.
Tomorrow night we're off to the bird sanctuary again to see Sirocco the head-mating kakapo. It's a rare bird that bonded with humans too much while being treated for a respiratory infection, and is now helpful in fund raising. And it mates with human's heads.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Bird Sanctuary (Zealandia)
Today we visited the bird sanctuary in Karori. We were here for the first time when we first moved here, in August 2009. We really enjoyed our visit today. There's a new cafe and visitor's centre now which are pretty nice.
We saw a bunch of cute geckos hanging out together in a terrarium. Not sure if they're native.
They have these amazing birds there, called the takahe. There's only a little over 100 left in New Zealand. They were once thought to be extinct, but around the 1940's this guy, sure that the takahe were still around because of sporadic reports of sightings, would spend this weekends and holidays tramping around the fjordland in the South Island looking for the bird. I can just imagine how excited he was to find the bird, they are really cool. This one is pretty old (18 or so, they're expected to live until around age 21).
They just walk around part of the park like pheasants. They look quite a bit like my other favourite NZ blue bird, the pukeko.
I can almost imagine how that "discoverer" of the Takahe felt. There is a bird called the "fan tail" that I thought was extinct, but I was confusing it with another bird, the huia, which is extinct. I was in a bathroom at a campground almost two years ago with my friend Erin when a fantail flew in. I got so excited, thinking, "I must tell everyone! They're alive!" But happily the the flitty pretty birds are alive and well all over, although still not too terribly common to see.
Our whole goal today was to hike from the bottom of the park, in Karori, to the wind turbine, in Brooklyn. Goal met!
The trail back to the entrance of the park was along a high, wire bird sanctuary fence. (The fence is built to keep rodents and possums out) It was over grown and difficult to avoid the sticker bushes. Apparently it is unusual to see people on the trail we were on, because people on the trail on the other side of the fence, in Brooklyn, kept giving us funny looks. Finally an older woman stopped us and asked if we were lost. :-)
On the way back to the carpark we got a sighting of a kaka.
We even got to see a tuatara.
And a baby tuatara. (It's hypothesized that tuataras were around at the same time as the dinosaurs, and stayed with New Zealand when it broke away from Australia).
We saw a bunch of cute geckos hanging out together in a terrarium. Not sure if they're native.
They have these amazing birds there, called the takahe. There's only a little over 100 left in New Zealand. They were once thought to be extinct, but around the 1940's this guy, sure that the takahe were still around because of sporadic reports of sightings, would spend this weekends and holidays tramping around the fjordland in the South Island looking for the bird. I can just imagine how excited he was to find the bird, they are really cool. This one is pretty old (18 or so, they're expected to live until around age 21).
They just walk around part of the park like pheasants. They look quite a bit like my other favourite NZ blue bird, the pukeko.
I can almost imagine how that "discoverer" of the Takahe felt. There is a bird called the "fan tail" that I thought was extinct, but I was confusing it with another bird, the huia, which is extinct. I was in a bathroom at a campground almost two years ago with my friend Erin when a fantail flew in. I got so excited, thinking, "I must tell everyone! They're alive!" But happily the the flitty pretty birds are alive and well all over, although still not too terribly common to see.
Our whole goal today was to hike from the bottom of the park, in Karori, to the wind turbine, in Brooklyn. Goal met!
The trail back to the entrance of the park was along a high, wire bird sanctuary fence. (The fence is built to keep rodents and possums out) It was over grown and difficult to avoid the sticker bushes. Apparently it is unusual to see people on the trail we were on, because people on the trail on the other side of the fence, in Brooklyn, kept giving us funny looks. Finally an older woman stopped us and asked if we were lost. :-)
On the way back to the carpark we got a sighting of a kaka.
We even got to see a tuatara.
And a baby tuatara. (It's hypothesized that tuataras were around at the same time as the dinosaurs, and stayed with New Zealand when it broke away from Australia).
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Tinsel- advanced vocabulary education
Learning some advanced vocabulary, working on my PhD in Kiwi.
My friend Anna and I are organizing the "Christmas-do" for our office (the holiday party, which is completely and totally okay to call a "Christmas" party, even though we work for a government agency for a country of heaps of atheists and agnostics.) But I digress.
Anna was discussing decorating the function room of the Indian restaurant we'll be having the party in, and saying she "might put some tinsel on the back of everyone's chair." At this point I felt the familiar-- hey, that doesn't add up. hmm. Might "tinsel" be used differently here? I had to make my Julie Confused face, say, "um, i don't know if that's the best idea, maybe we think tinsel is something different?" "why?" "Oh, you know, my idea of tinsel--- that would sorta stick to people's backs." "Huh. Well tinsel is silvery and kinda thready." "Huh, that's my 'tinsel' too. Okay, maybe we do think it is the same thing. ha ha never mind."
Anna sent me an e-mail later with a picture labelled "tinsel" which helped really clarify everything:
Ohhhhh.
I showed her a picture of "American" tinsel (which was surprisingly difficult to google image btw)-- she said she had never really used that before.
My friend Anna and I are organizing the "Christmas-do" for our office (the holiday party, which is completely and totally okay to call a "Christmas" party, even though we work for a government agency for a country of heaps of atheists and agnostics.) But I digress.
Anna was discussing decorating the function room of the Indian restaurant we'll be having the party in, and saying she "might put some tinsel on the back of everyone's chair." At this point I felt the familiar-- hey, that doesn't add up. hmm. Might "tinsel" be used differently here? I had to make my Julie Confused face, say, "um, i don't know if that's the best idea, maybe we think tinsel is something different?" "why?" "Oh, you know, my idea of tinsel--- that would sorta stick to people's backs." "Huh. Well tinsel is silvery and kinda thready." "Huh, that's my 'tinsel' too. Okay, maybe we do think it is the same thing. ha ha never mind."
Anna sent me an e-mail later with a picture labelled "tinsel" which helped really clarify everything:
Ohhhhh.
I showed her a picture of "American" tinsel (which was surprisingly difficult to google image btw)-- she said she had never really used that before.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Pumpkin Pie
Today I made pumpkin pie, with no crust. Bryce was aghast.
It turned out great, I always thought crust was a waste of calories anyway. Real whip cream helps too. (I will trade crust calories for whipped cream calories any day).
Freeeeeezing and raining today! Just last week we were having drinks in the sun. What happened, agh!
It turned out great, I always thought crust was a waste of calories anyway. Real whip cream helps too. (I will trade crust calories for whipped cream calories any day).
Freeeeeezing and raining today! Just last week we were having drinks in the sun. What happened, agh!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Blogs are tricky
I would love to update this blog more often, but I feel funny about putting people's names or pictures on here. I'm getting long past the point on my New Zealand adventure where this feels like a little vacation, like I should after over 2 years. I do feel like this is home and the things that occupy my mind are slightly deeper than the cool blue pukeko I saw on the way home. Not like I didn't have deep thoughts before of course, but I don't have much to share in regards to what has charmed me lately.
I'm proud of putting blog entries in as much as I have though--I have a journal too though that's been sorely neglected for months. Such a pain to hand write things out. Dear Prudence advises against private journals because someone will read it after you're gone-- so where's the release?? Maybe time to ignore Ms. Prudie.
Well here's my assessment of NZ-related situation, suitable for reading by wider internet viewing audience.
I am grateful for opportunity to move here, and get residency. I had no idea I'd meet so many wonderful people. I had hoped I would grow into a better person as a result of this experience and I know for sure that I'm more thoughtful. I hope to live here later, but for now I find the idea of living in the States a little exotic. As opposed to a post I made this time last year, now I'm ready to settle down in a permanent place. With a garden, dog, and puppies. Bonus points for a lemon tree. Who knows what kind of crazy ideas I'll have this time next year.
I will take this time to document that at approximately 2:30 PM 2/10/11, Bryce promised me that one day we can have a home with a lemon tree that will be so full that lemons will be on the ground. (We passed a lemon tree on someone's front yard, on the way to a party at Josien's, that made me jealous. Who could take a lemon tree for granted so much that they would just let the lemons rot on the ground???)
I'm proud of putting blog entries in as much as I have though--I have a journal too though that's been sorely neglected for months. Such a pain to hand write things out. Dear Prudence advises against private journals because someone will read it after you're gone-- so where's the release?? Maybe time to ignore Ms. Prudie.
Well here's my assessment of NZ-related situation, suitable for reading by wider internet viewing audience.
I am grateful for opportunity to move here, and get residency. I had no idea I'd meet so many wonderful people. I had hoped I would grow into a better person as a result of this experience and I know for sure that I'm more thoughtful. I hope to live here later, but for now I find the idea of living in the States a little exotic. As opposed to a post I made this time last year, now I'm ready to settle down in a permanent place. With a garden, dog, and puppies. Bonus points for a lemon tree. Who knows what kind of crazy ideas I'll have this time next year.
I will take this time to document that at approximately 2:30 PM 2/10/11, Bryce promised me that one day we can have a home with a lemon tree that will be so full that lemons will be on the ground. (We passed a lemon tree on someone's front yard, on the way to a party at Josien's, that made me jealous. Who could take a lemon tree for granted so much that they would just let the lemons rot on the ground???)
Monday, October 3, 2011
Baking
Today I made Highlander Biscuits, nom nom nom nom
From my kiwi cookbook that Josien and Marc gave me for my birthday last year---
On a completely separate note, orcas were found in the harbour again today! And again we weren't there to see it, agh! So close!
From my kiwi cookbook that Josien and Marc gave me for my birthday last year---
On a completely separate note, orcas were found in the harbour again today! And again we weren't there to see it, agh! So close!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Mountain Biking
We went mountain biking early this morning, finally. Bryce has been itching to go for awhile. I went despite the fact that I had only ridden a bike once in the last 10 years, and 10 years ago when I did go mountain biking on Crystal Mt I got a sweet cut on my knee that I still have a scar for.
Now I can see why mountain biking could be fun. I could see that even through the rather intense fear I had on the twisty, dippy, narrow single track with a steep drop off. Some parts were wider and flatter and I could see how this could be fun exercise. But mostly during the one hour (rated 1/2 hour) ride, all I was trying to do was to get through it. The route was circular and you can't reverse directions so once you're on it you just have to keep going. Walking my bike was definitely an option I took up but it was so freakin slow and having the dad with the little girl on the attached hitch-like bike rattle past me was a little embarrassing. That little girl is going to be the biggest adrenaline junky. She was about 4 years old and went down the trail on the bike behind her dad going, whoa whoa hoa wo wo wo! Sigh! Big smile.
Here's a picture of a nice tame section of trail. The scary parts of the trail were too scary to think about stopping to take pictures. (That is I was scared I would fall off my bike if I unfurled my fingers from the handlebars).
Got some bruises and a sore butt but actually I can imagine going back mountain biking, maybe on the nice, wide, rail trail up north in Upper Hutt.
Now I can see why mountain biking could be fun. I could see that even through the rather intense fear I had on the twisty, dippy, narrow single track with a steep drop off. Some parts were wider and flatter and I could see how this could be fun exercise. But mostly during the one hour (rated 1/2 hour) ride, all I was trying to do was to get through it. The route was circular and you can't reverse directions so once you're on it you just have to keep going. Walking my bike was definitely an option I took up but it was so freakin slow and having the dad with the little girl on the attached hitch-like bike rattle past me was a little embarrassing. That little girl is going to be the biggest adrenaline junky. She was about 4 years old and went down the trail on the bike behind her dad going, whoa whoa hoa wo wo wo! Sigh! Big smile.
Here's a picture of a nice tame section of trail. The scary parts of the trail were too scary to think about stopping to take pictures. (That is I was scared I would fall off my bike if I unfurled my fingers from the handlebars).
Got some bruises and a sore butt but actually I can imagine going back mountain biking, maybe on the nice, wide, rail trail up north in Upper Hutt.
Friday, September 30, 2011
New Fav Song: Gotye
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday mornings
Sunday mornings I usually go with Bryce or Anna on a short walk to the market by Te Papa. Buying flowers for my foyer is one of the highlights of my week. (The other one being pouring myself a glass of wine in the staffroom Friday at 4:30 after tearing myself away from the computer).
Flowers are usually so expensive at the supermarket and florists, but I got these purple flowers for $10 NZD at the market.
Usually Bryce and I buy crepes from the real and true French dude at the Crepes a Go Go stand at the indoor Market-- This morning we decided to forgo the frenchies for some home made ones.
While we're in NZ we're making an effort to buy all the foods that taste best here: honey, beef, kiwifruit, scallops-- so naturally we try and have kiwifruit filled crepes at home. Kiwifruit costs about 10 cents each; can't beat that.
The rest of the day I usually spend trying to get Bryce to go to a museum while he tries to get me to walk to the snowboarding store with him. In the end we get so lazy with skyping and internet-ing that the least lazy one will go a few doors down for take-away Vietnamese (go #37!) for dinner. (That is usually Bryce.)
And that's our Sunday.
Flowers are usually so expensive at the supermarket and florists, but I got these purple flowers for $10 NZD at the market.
Usually Bryce and I buy crepes from the real and true French dude at the Crepes a Go Go stand at the indoor Market-- This morning we decided to forgo the frenchies for some home made ones.
While we're in NZ we're making an effort to buy all the foods that taste best here: honey, beef, kiwifruit, scallops-- so naturally we try and have kiwifruit filled crepes at home. Kiwifruit costs about 10 cents each; can't beat that.The rest of the day I usually spend trying to get Bryce to go to a museum while he tries to get me to walk to the snowboarding store with him. In the end we get so lazy with skyping and internet-ing that the least lazy one will go a few doors down for take-away Vietnamese (go #37!) for dinner. (That is usually Bryce.)
And that's our Sunday.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
On Passwords and Keeping Current & Warm
Creating usernames and passwords for everything is so annoying isn't it? I counted; I have 20 different accounts. Ug. I wish there was a work around. The worst is when I have to put in a password to read research articles-- jeez seriously please let ANYONE read research articles; don't we want a more educated, well-read world?
https://www.hanen.org/special-pages/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fMyHanen%2fHome.aspx
In other news, I'm actually reading research articles! Go keeping current! What motivates me is the older ladies in my office who recommend "chewing" as a way to improve speech.**
**(Please note, chewing in no way helps you talk better).
A friend of mine and I took a walk to a waterfront bar, the FoxGlove, last week, for a "working lunch." We sat outside, ordered the yummiest nibbles, and even read and discussed research articles. It was sunny and amazing. Winters in Wellington are great for these type of days, and make me forget the Antarctic winds. The weather was so cold one night last weekend that there was a power cut due to overload at the power station.
https://www.hanen.org/special-pages/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fMyHanen%2fHome.aspx
In other news, I'm actually reading research articles! Go keeping current! What motivates me is the older ladies in my office who recommend "chewing" as a way to improve speech.**
**(Please note, chewing in no way helps you talk better).
A friend of mine and I took a walk to a waterfront bar, the FoxGlove, last week, for a "working lunch." We sat outside, ordered the yummiest nibbles, and even read and discussed research articles. It was sunny and amazing. Winters in Wellington are great for these type of days, and make me forget the Antarctic winds. The weather was so cold one night last weekend that there was a power cut due to overload at the power station.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
The Tree of Life Sucks!!!!
Saw "The Tree of Life" at the Wellington Film Festival tonight. There wasn't much to like about it except for the female lead's gorgeous vintage "day" dresses. Other than that, it was pure crap.
- TOO LONG
- Hardly any story line.
- There were DINOSAURS in it. Dinosaurs that stepped on each other's heads and then decided not to eat each other.
- Little flames of God that talked, throughout the movie. Does that sound like a movie you want to see?
- When the mother prayed to God about why her son died (btw we have no idea the circumstances of his death), there is about 20 minutes of pictures of space, "evolution" like dinosaurs with fins crawling onto a beach, and volcanoes.
- the movie has no ending. It just ends.
- Sean Penn is in the movie and it's not quite clear why.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Penthouse Cinema Ginger Loaf
My friend Tash introduced me to the wonders of the ginger loaf at the Penthouse Cinema in Brooklyn. Pairing it with lemonade is divine! We are lucky enough to get their recipe from last week's newspaper; we're baking it tomorrow.
Penthouse Cinema Ginger Loaf
(makes 3 loaves)
Grease and line loaf tins. Preheat oven to 160C.
4 cups flour
2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
4 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp mixed spice (Do you know what this is??)
1 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground cinnamon
850g golden syrup
250g butter, roughly diced
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups milk
Bake 60 mins and cool in tins overnight.
Penthouse Cinema Ginger Loaf
(makes 3 loaves)
Grease and line loaf tins. Preheat oven to 160C.
4 cups flour
2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
4 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp mixed spice (Do you know what this is??)
1 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground cinnamon
850g golden syrup
250g butter, roughly diced
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups milk
Bake 60 mins and cool in tins overnight.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Electric blankets
When Bryce and I moved here we learned about the wonders of what we called "bed warmers." Put both sides of the bed on maximum #3 about 45 minutes before bed --- heaven! Especially in that first month we lived in the poorly insulated little house in Christchurch-- 33 degrees F many days. It was over a year before we learned that these pads-- placed under mattress pads, were called "electric blankets," not "bed warmers." We've had them in our Normandale house, our Makara house, and most hotels we've stayed at-- but never in hostels.
We made a mistake on Sunday. Huge sale on electric blankets-- $14 instead of the usual $99. We forgot to pick it up. AAGH! Cold sheets! Night after night!
We made a mistake on Sunday. Huge sale on electric blankets-- $14 instead of the usual $99. We forgot to pick it up. AAGH! Cold sheets! Night after night!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Vintage Ski Poster
While in Pahia over the summer in January, I found a great postcard of a vintage poster about skiing the Tongariro. I gave it to Bryce when I saw him in the States; and he found out that we could get the picture printed to poster size if we buy rights through the National Library. We did that for $20, and today Bryce got an "A1" sized poster printed. Can't wait to frame and hang this one.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Living in town!
ahhh, a big sigh of relief from Bryce and I as we finally relax in a mostly clean and mostly okay-smelling home after 8 days of cleaning. We're feeling at home now in this great flat (in an old Engineers' office building that it around 100 yrs old). It's got high ceilings and an old-fashioned lift-- you know, the kind that you have to open two sliding doors to get in to. The kitchen is huge and we're really enjoying eating from a dining room table for the first time in almost three years.
Last night was our anniversary; the walk to the restaurant we went to took literally three minutes. Our place is in a great location; near the fun and the water, and several good friends who will keep me busy while Bryce is away snowboarding on the weekends.
Today we had a quick visit w/ J and M and their growing baby, and then on the way home I skyped mom on Bryce's iphone-- I talked with her while pointing the camera towards the views so she could take in our drive home. We talked for about an hour as we drove South along the Tasman Sea and into the city of Wellington. I told her we'd have to go so we could shop Brisco's for a duvet cover, but she asked to come along. I didn't realize she was serious at first, but she was, so to Bryce's mild embarrassment and amusement I took her along, after making her promise to be quiet (she was on speaker). She ended up helping us pick out a great duvet cover, which felt so great and comfy to have my designer mum along for the trip! Unfortunately we were a bit distracted with talking to her and shopping that we got the wrong size insert. Bummmmmmmer, especially since the sale is over today. Brisco's ALWAYS has a sale; in fact everyone pretty much knows not to go there until there is a sale. We got a duvet cover that goes for $70, for $15 with the discounts.
We are so pleased to look around and see our boxes unpacked, and the ugly red suede sofa covered, and the scented candles going (we rented a furnished flat). We're only in this apt for 6 months but we plan to make the most of it. We are not looking forward to finding a place around xmas but I'm trying not to think about it. A cocktail party is in the very near future!
Last night was our anniversary; the walk to the restaurant we went to took literally three minutes. Our place is in a great location; near the fun and the water, and several good friends who will keep me busy while Bryce is away snowboarding on the weekends.
Today we had a quick visit w/ J and M and their growing baby, and then on the way home I skyped mom on Bryce's iphone-- I talked with her while pointing the camera towards the views so she could take in our drive home. We talked for about an hour as we drove South along the Tasman Sea and into the city of Wellington. I told her we'd have to go so we could shop Brisco's for a duvet cover, but she asked to come along. I didn't realize she was serious at first, but she was, so to Bryce's mild embarrassment and amusement I took her along, after making her promise to be quiet (she was on speaker). She ended up helping us pick out a great duvet cover, which felt so great and comfy to have my designer mum along for the trip! Unfortunately we were a bit distracted with talking to her and shopping that we got the wrong size insert. Bummmmmmmer, especially since the sale is over today. Brisco's ALWAYS has a sale; in fact everyone pretty much knows not to go there until there is a sale. We got a duvet cover that goes for $70, for $15 with the discounts.
We are so pleased to look around and see our boxes unpacked, and the ugly red suede sofa covered, and the scented candles going (we rented a furnished flat). We're only in this apt for 6 months but we plan to make the most of it. We are not looking forward to finding a place around xmas but I'm trying not to think about it. A cocktail party is in the very near future!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
3rd Anniversary
Hard to get around the fact that we had to finish moving and cleaning, on our anniversary.
It was sad to look out at the beautiful view from the bedroom window for the last time.
It was a gorgeous, sunny day. Outside, in just a thin sweater, it was warm in the sun. It's the equivalent of December 25, Christmas, in the States--
Napped through most of the warm day; I had been up late the night before, and up early cleaning our new place. Woke up, prettied up, and there was Bryce with a dirty martini for me and a manhattan for him. A 2-minute walk to dinner at Capitol, where we ran into a couple of friends also having a romantic night out. Two more years until June 2013 beachy vacation!! Bryce and I are trying to brainstorm locations.
It was sad to look out at the beautiful view from the bedroom window for the last time.
It was a gorgeous, sunny day. Outside, in just a thin sweater, it was warm in the sun. It's the equivalent of December 25, Christmas, in the States--
Napped through most of the warm day; I had been up late the night before, and up early cleaning our new place. Woke up, prettied up, and there was Bryce with a dirty martini for me and a manhattan for him. A 2-minute walk to dinner at Capitol, where we ran into a couple of friends also having a romantic night out. Two more years until June 2013 beachy vacation!! Bryce and I are trying to brainstorm locations.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Last Makara Sunset
Last weekend in our wonderful Makara house. We are regretting this move. We're happy to be moving into a place close to our friends, work, and fun spots in town, and to have a place with internet. But life in a beautiful little house on the beach has been idyllic; same with the commute to work through rolling green hills and toi toi, past roosters, white geese, horses, hairy cows, and blue pukekos.
I spent all day in view of the view. Here is our last sunset. (We usually get home from work after dark now as the days are so short).
I spent all day in view of the view. Here is our last sunset. (We usually get home from work after dark now as the days are so short).
Monday, January 24, 2011
Keep on truckin
Figuring out my itinerary for when I go to the States. It's now been a month since Bryce has left, only 2 more months to go! It makes me feel good to know that I'm already a 1/3 of the way into this. I know 2 weeks of it was when Tara was here, but I'm pretty hopeful that the next two months will be fun and will go quickly. Talked with Bryce, Laura, and Geoff forever today, it was good to just hang out.
Had a great Mexican dinner of enchilladas made with refried beans with chipotle, imported from Mexico. mmm.
I was pretty happy to wake up in my own bed this morning, and I've been pretty ecstatic all day just to be home. I would have an eventful sail across the Cook Strait in front of me tomorrow, if I was still on the sail boat.
Update as of 1/7/11: I can now say that this was the day that Laura and Geoff told me they were expecting!! Due in September :-)
Had a great Mexican dinner of enchilladas made with refried beans with chipotle, imported from Mexico. mmm.
I was pretty happy to wake up in my own bed this morning, and I've been pretty ecstatic all day just to be home. I would have an eventful sail across the Cook Strait in front of me tomorrow, if I was still on the sail boat.
Update as of 1/7/11: I can now say that this was the day that Laura and Geoff told me they were expecting!! Due in September :-)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sailing Race to Nelson
I can't tell you how happy I am to be snug in my house right now. woooooeeee! What a weekend.
I couldn't have done everything without the help of people around me. Jacquelyn took me in after work so I could change, and drove me to the marina. Murray and Roger loaned me gear. Roger let me onto his boat for a race even though I'm pretty inexperienced on keel boats still. And I managed to hitch a ride by boat and then by car all the way from The Middle of Nowhere, NZ, direct to the Nelson airport.
On Friday evening I reported to the boat for our overnight race to Nelson. I had already stowed my gear the night before. I tried on a coat that a crewmate had lent to me, but it was a large and went down to my knees. Off I went to the Marine Supply to buy a coat. Altogether my storm gear cost $500. Unfortunately they're sized for men, so although I got xsm, I still swim a bit.
Anywhoo, we set off on the race but immediately were delayed by mild winds.
Check out this picture of the entrance to Wellington Harbour, which usually has very choppy seas. The mirror glass is an indicator of zero wind-- incredibly weird for any part of Wellington, much less this turbulent section.
Night fell and we were far behind the rest of the boats. It was very choppy in the notorious Karori Reef; it was so fun! I Whoo hoo'd but was told by the captain that that scares some of the crew, so I had to shut my trap. Being on that race in the Cook Strait was one of the coolest things I've ever done.
I was the first group allowed to take a 3-hour nap, until midnight. Around midnight, very strong winds came up. In my berth, I passively reflected that I could die. I say passively because I figured there was nothing I could do about it so I just, literally, held tight and enjoyed the ride. The captain came down to the hold and told his partner that he was pulling out of the race, after discussing it with the rest of the crew. The strong winds were too much for everyone, and we were going to hole up in a cove, wait out the winds for a couple of days, and then sail out to Wellington. I had a flight from Nelson to Wellington Sunday evening, but there was nothing to be done about that.
I had taken two dramamine, because the rest of the crew made it sound like everyone would be seasick, and I didn't want to be the novice wuss puking over the side. Well I forgot dramamine make people drowsy, so while sitting near the cockpit I fell asleep (hand firmly clenching a handle), for about three hours, waking up every once in awhile when a particularly hard wave hit. It was one way to get away from the reality of my cold, wet, feet and hands though. At one stage I was woken up by the captain yelling, "Dolphins! Wake up, dolphins!" I finally woke up and everywhere around me were cresting black dolphins coming out of the moonlit water in a big white spray of water. They followed the boat for several minutes. Some of the dolphins were very small. I stayed awake for a few minutes after that. In front of me was the almost full moon in the sky over a pointy island, with the moonlight coming towards the boat along the water. I was too tired to take a picture, but was aware of how lucky I was to see such a thing. The stars were out and I could see Orion's Belt and the Southern Cross quite clearly. We were in the Sounds of the South Island by that point.
Finally, at 5:30am, we found a buoy at a cove and we all went to sleep. I couldn't believe that 6 of us fit so nicely in the boat, but I was actually quite comfortable. I've never been so grateful for how short I am. In the morning, this is what I awoke to: The Marlborough Sounds.
We decided to spend the day going to a restaurant, and then Sunday trying to sail towards Wellington. The winds were not in our favor to head up to Nelson so that I could catch my plane. As soon as we started out, we spied a pod of porpoises; they look so much like small orcas.
I also saw two penguins around the same time.
We heard by radio that there was bad weather at the restaurant, so we sought shelter from the strong gusty winds in a cove that had a few bach's rimmed around the shore. We found a buoy quite close to the largest bach that looked like it was a compound of three or four houses. We broke out the Captain Morgan and had a great time talking. The captain made tuna spaghetti which was surprisingly much better than it sounds!
I woke up the next morning to cold gusty winds, even stronger than the day before. Our boat had circled and rocked quite strongly during the night. The captain said that because of the winds we'd be sailing nowhere today, and that we might get into Wellington Tuesday night.
I noticed that the bach next to us seemed to be loading their motor boat; I decided that I wanted to get on that boat. My crewmates joked with me and told me how unlikely it was that this boat would be going to Nelson, about 70 miles away (where I wanted to go to catch my flight). Nonetheless, I got dressed and packed up my bags, just in case. I didn't eat breakfast so that I could watch for when the boat came closer. Finally it left its mooring and I waved at it, luckily it came over. Roger explained to the two men on the boat that I had a plane to catch in Nelson; and guess what? One of the men on the boat had a flight to catch in Nelson at around the same time as me, and they were happy to take me to the airport. Whooo hoo!!
I jumped on their boat and we were off to French Pass, and then hopped in a car for Nelson. The road was narrow and steep, I was happy to look at the gorgeous views of the sounds below us. The guys were really nice, lawyers with kids my age. I even got to grab a shower at their parents' beautiful home in Nelson, and then caught a ride to the airport. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world to be making my plane.
Home in Wellington, I grabbed the bus and then a taxi home. I can't tell you how relieved I was to be at home. The sail had been wonderful, but it was hard to not know when the weather would let up-- that's the problem with New Zealand, is that the forecast always changes. In the end I had an amazing experience. My fb post today:
I couldn't have done everything without the help of people around me. Jacquelyn took me in after work so I could change, and drove me to the marina. Murray and Roger loaned me gear. Roger let me onto his boat for a race even though I'm pretty inexperienced on keel boats still. And I managed to hitch a ride by boat and then by car all the way from The Middle of Nowhere, NZ, direct to the Nelson airport.
On Friday evening I reported to the boat for our overnight race to Nelson. I had already stowed my gear the night before. I tried on a coat that a crewmate had lent to me, but it was a large and went down to my knees. Off I went to the Marine Supply to buy a coat. Altogether my storm gear cost $500. Unfortunately they're sized for men, so although I got xsm, I still swim a bit.
Anywhoo, we set off on the race but immediately were delayed by mild winds.
Check out this picture of the entrance to Wellington Harbour, which usually has very choppy seas. The mirror glass is an indicator of zero wind-- incredibly weird for any part of Wellington, much less this turbulent section.
Night fell and we were far behind the rest of the boats. It was very choppy in the notorious Karori Reef; it was so fun! I Whoo hoo'd but was told by the captain that that scares some of the crew, so I had to shut my trap. Being on that race in the Cook Strait was one of the coolest things I've ever done.I was the first group allowed to take a 3-hour nap, until midnight. Around midnight, very strong winds came up. In my berth, I passively reflected that I could die. I say passively because I figured there was nothing I could do about it so I just, literally, held tight and enjoyed the ride. The captain came down to the hold and told his partner that he was pulling out of the race, after discussing it with the rest of the crew. The strong winds were too much for everyone, and we were going to hole up in a cove, wait out the winds for a couple of days, and then sail out to Wellington. I had a flight from Nelson to Wellington Sunday evening, but there was nothing to be done about that.
I had taken two dramamine, because the rest of the crew made it sound like everyone would be seasick, and I didn't want to be the novice wuss puking over the side. Well I forgot dramamine make people drowsy, so while sitting near the cockpit I fell asleep (hand firmly clenching a handle), for about three hours, waking up every once in awhile when a particularly hard wave hit. It was one way to get away from the reality of my cold, wet, feet and hands though. At one stage I was woken up by the captain yelling, "Dolphins! Wake up, dolphins!" I finally woke up and everywhere around me were cresting black dolphins coming out of the moonlit water in a big white spray of water. They followed the boat for several minutes. Some of the dolphins were very small. I stayed awake for a few minutes after that. In front of me was the almost full moon in the sky over a pointy island, with the moonlight coming towards the boat along the water. I was too tired to take a picture, but was aware of how lucky I was to see such a thing. The stars were out and I could see Orion's Belt and the Southern Cross quite clearly. We were in the Sounds of the South Island by that point.
Finally, at 5:30am, we found a buoy at a cove and we all went to sleep. I couldn't believe that 6 of us fit so nicely in the boat, but I was actually quite comfortable. I've never been so grateful for how short I am. In the morning, this is what I awoke to: The Marlborough Sounds.
We decided to spend the day going to a restaurant, and then Sunday trying to sail towards Wellington. The winds were not in our favor to head up to Nelson so that I could catch my plane. As soon as we started out, we spied a pod of porpoises; they look so much like small orcas.
I also saw two penguins around the same time.We heard by radio that there was bad weather at the restaurant, so we sought shelter from the strong gusty winds in a cove that had a few bach's rimmed around the shore. We found a buoy quite close to the largest bach that looked like it was a compound of three or four houses. We broke out the Captain Morgan and had a great time talking. The captain made tuna spaghetti which was surprisingly much better than it sounds!
I woke up the next morning to cold gusty winds, even stronger than the day before. Our boat had circled and rocked quite strongly during the night. The captain said that because of the winds we'd be sailing nowhere today, and that we might get into Wellington Tuesday night.
I noticed that the bach next to us seemed to be loading their motor boat; I decided that I wanted to get on that boat. My crewmates joked with me and told me how unlikely it was that this boat would be going to Nelson, about 70 miles away (where I wanted to go to catch my flight). Nonetheless, I got dressed and packed up my bags, just in case. I didn't eat breakfast so that I could watch for when the boat came closer. Finally it left its mooring and I waved at it, luckily it came over. Roger explained to the two men on the boat that I had a plane to catch in Nelson; and guess what? One of the men on the boat had a flight to catch in Nelson at around the same time as me, and they were happy to take me to the airport. Whooo hoo!!I jumped on their boat and we were off to French Pass, and then hopped in a car for Nelson. The road was narrow and steep, I was happy to look at the gorgeous views of the sounds below us. The guys were really nice, lawyers with kids my age. I even got to grab a shower at their parents' beautiful home in Nelson, and then caught a ride to the airport. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world to be making my plane.
Home in Wellington, I grabbed the bus and then a taxi home. I can't tell you how relieved I was to be at home. The sail had been wonderful, but it was hard to not know when the weather would let up-- that's the problem with New Zealand, is that the forecast always changes. In the end I had an amazing experience. My fb post today:
Thursday, January 20, 2011
tired and busy, things are always changing
Pretty exhausted today after staying late all night prepping for the sailing race to Nelson tomorrow.
I've been writing back and forth to my landlord trying to figure out my last day in the house. Goodbye comfy, cute, warm house! You've been so good to us on the tui-filled hill high above the harbour. It's still a few months away, and it's always been hard to stay here since it's far from work and the city, but it's still sad to take steps towards leaving it.
I've been writing back and forth to my landlord trying to figure out my last day in the house. Goodbye comfy, cute, warm house! You've been so good to us on the tui-filled hill high above the harbour. It's still a few months away, and it's always been hard to stay here since it's far from work and the city, but it's still sad to take steps towards leaving it.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Not exactly off to a running start.
A wee bit tired this morning from being up until 3am last night. I was pretty useless for awhile which wasn't fun as I was starving but too lazy to get anything for myself to eat. Finally I got motivated and got a nice house-clean in. Made Dutch Ginger Cake too. It's quite ginger-y. This chick is ready for bed. Tara arrives tomorrow morning!!
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