Christmas news.

We had a lovely day with Eddie's sister's for Christmas. Her step daughter, and family were there too. Along with her daughters and family there was 16 for Christmas dinner. We thought it was going to be wet, but it was a nice day in the end..

On Boxing day we went and visited friends and ended up with another Christmas lunch, as 2 of their children were there. It was good to catch up with them after quite a few years. Their son  has a job in Tonga surveying the sea bed. It hasn't ever been done. On Wednesday he went to France to help sail his boss's new super yacht home to Tonga. Such a hard life!

Decorating is going along very well. In spite of vertigo on the first day. Eddie  had the day off yesterday and Saturday and is feeling ok again today. At least he was until he started masking up and now he is a bit wobbly again, but he is carrying on like a trooper. The last of the living area is going to be done today and then it is just the bathroom and the bedroom to do. Not much when you say it quick. We took down the range hood and I have given it a good cleaning. It's amazing where the goo gets too. I used 2 buckets of water.

I had taken photos of the decorating progress and somehow managed to delete them, so it will just be the finished product. I'll try and be more careful with the before and after of the bedroom.

Yesterday was a bit exciting as our grandson, who lives in Melbourne, came to see us. They are here for a week or so. He goes home on the 1st. His girlfriend, is with them.  It was nice to meet her too.

decorating progress

On Saturday we went across to Cambridge to the Mitre 10 Mega store. It's very new and a nice place to shop. We went and looked at their roller blinds and came home with enough for our living area, except for the big window at the back as the sizes weren't right for it. We also forgot the kitchen window, so we will have to go back again one day. They are black out blinds, so the light can't get in and the heat can't get out. We are going to look at a price for the roman blinds on the big window at the back. Eddie has put 2 of the blinds up. He will get the rest up over the holidays. It's quite amazing how much light they keep out.

I went for a walk on Sunday on the Wairongomai track near Mt Te Aroha. It used to be a mining area in the early 1900's and 2000 people lived there. All that is left is a chimney. Lots of mining bits lying in the bush. It's a bit like a museum out in the open. Pretty bush too. There are some photos below.

Some sparrows were making a nest in the bumper at the back, so Eddie pulled all the nesting material out and they moved to the apartment that the starlings abandoned in the goose neck. That has been well wrapped up in rubbish bags now. You have to give them an A for determination don't you? Last night, Eddie was outside and realized that the air con water wasn't running off the roof as per normal, so he got up to have a look and found that he had made a damn, when he blocked the black birds from getting in there. It's all go around here!

This is a view from the track where the village used to be.

Butlers Incline where the ore was sent down. It is hard to see how steep it really  is from the photo.

Some photos of views from the track

Jobs done and a sunny weekend

We had a busy weekend., but we have had sunshine all weekend. Such a nice change.

We found out why the carpet was looking so grubby. The oil heater that was sitting on it has been leaking. We found the little puddle of oil when we moved it one morning. Just as well we have a new heating system coming along.

We got the quote for the roman blinds, which was a bit more than we thought it might be, so we are going to have to think about it again.

I had the beginnings of a migraine on Friday. The vision in my left eye went fuzzy and it was hard to focus, so I left work early. I had it once before, about 2 years ago. I went to bed and slept for 2 1/2

hours. I have felt really tired all week, but I don't know if that had anything to do with it. I was feeling more like myself on Saturday morning.

Eddie had 3 jobs to do over the weekend. Put the roof racks on to the dodge; put in the diesel heater and connect the califont. All the jobs waiting for a sunny weekend. Well the roof racks weren't quite right, so he had to muck about with them for quite a while. The califont leaked and it came back from the repair place with out one of it's connections. The diesel heater kept blowing the fuse. The heater will have to wait for the auto electrician as it was beyond Eddie's expertise, but we do have continuous hot water and roof racks on the dodge. 2 out of 3 aint bad.

The starlings are still trying to nest in the goose neck. A couple of weeks ago, I found 2 dead chicks under the goose neck and at the weekend Eddie pulled the nest out and found some eggs, which broke and they were well past their use by date. We have also had blackbirds in the vent for the air con. I think we have been standing still for too long. We think we took the starlings for a ride when we did the COF ha ha.

Another quiet weekend. Will the rain stop?

We had another quiet weekend. The weather wasn't the best. Again. It is becoming a bit tedious. I was going to do a tramp, but the track is quite steep and slippery, so it was postponed. I just did a small walk 20 minutes out from home and 20 back again. I didn't feel like doing a big one this weekend.

Eddie watched a programme about how the caravan is made and realized the vinyl had been laid before the carpet. So he took up the bit of carpet that had got quite grubby and we couldn't get it clean, and there was the vinyl looking quite pristine. I have to get a piece of carpet edging to finish it off by our chairs. He also took all the pelmets down. They were covered with a horrible brown fabric. It is amazing how much more light is in the van now. We are waiting for a quote for some roman blinds.

The thunder is rumbling around again. We have just had a really heavy shower. I guess it will stop eventually and then we will be wanting rain. We are never happy.

A quiet weekend

We had a very quiet weekend. The weather wasn't the best. I managed to get a big walk in yesterday. I went around Centennial Drive and on to Tom Grant Drive. The whole walk was about 9.5 ks and took me an hour and a half. I got home about 10 minutes before heavy rain. Such good planning. (It is really raining now, complete with thunderstorm. I just got home from work in time. It wouldn't have been much fun on the bike!).

Views of Centennial Drive

Views of Centennial Drive

On Saturday we went to a 30^th birthday lunch for the tramping club. It was finger food, so although it looked like afternoon tea, we had to eat quite a bit to fill up. Eddie ate too many sausages rolls and I ate too much white bread, so we both felt quite blobby and windy for the afternoon. Apart from that, it was a nice event. There were quite a few funny tramping stories told.

Of walking a river trail and other notes

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On Saturday we went up to Auckland and picked up a water barrel we had bought. It is quite cool as it has a handle and pulls behind you really well. It came complete with the pump to put the water into the tank on the caravan.

On Sunday, I went for a tramp along a section of the Waikato River Trail. Lovely day and not too hot. There was a zig zag path down to the river side. I had envisioned it to be flat when we got to the bottom, but no. More up and down. The climb back up wasn't as bad as I had thought as it was quite a gentle slope, just a lot of it. My calves were a bit sore first thing this morning, but all ok now.

The starlings have managed to make a nest in the goose neck of the caravan. We must have taken the chicks for a ride when we got the COF. I have found 2 dead ones pushed out of the nest. I suspect they are trying again.

 Some views of my walk on Sunday

lovely fern

Water fall on the way .
Wasn't expecting that.

A view of the river from the track

Certificate of Fitness

We have had a nice week and now we need some rain. Who would have thought that 2 or 3 months ago.

 We got the certificate of fitness, registration and road user charges all up to date on Friday, so now we can go on weekend trips all legal and everything. When we got there we discovered they had brought in a new law and we had to get an engineer to do measurements on the hitch. The law came out on the 1^st November, but it hasn't really been advertised. We went to Eddie's work and got an engineer to do it for us. Bit more of a performance than we had planned. We think the new law is a reaction to the bit of a hoo ha a few months ago where some engineers hadn't done proper checks on the hitches for trucks. 

Eddie has begun to put the diesel heater in to the van. He did quite a bit yesterday. He had his head in a hole swearing at the space he had to work in. But nobody died so all is good.

Ngamuwahine walk

The weather is still very unreliable. We have a strong wind blowing, which makes the air quite cool. Quite a push on my bike this morning to work too. I am very glad I have assistance from my motor.

The caravan passed it's electrical certificate last week, so that's that for another 3 years. The containment is the same. Eddie is taking it to the testing station for it's Certificate of Fitness on Friday, so fingers are crossed that we pass.

I went for a walk up in the Kaimai Ranges on Sunday. It was steeper than I remembered, but a nice walk. Very windy and the trees were banging against each other, which was a little disconcerting. Part of the track has pine trees along side it and a pine cone fell between 2 of the walkers. Oops that was close! We did a loop, so we had to cross a stream twice, but it was easier enough. We just waded through and didn't try to rock hop, so we had squelchy socks for  the day. It was good coming back as it washed all the mud off our boots.

Photos of my Sunday walk.

Brake certificate

,Another week has gone by. The festive season will soon be upon us. Goodness gracious me, where does the time go.

We have another tick in our list of things to do. The dodge got it's brakes certificate at the weekend, so it can now legally tow the caravan. We are very pleased. Now we have to get the certificate of fitness and we can do a bit of weekend traveling.

We had a couple of starlings making a nest in the goose-neck (where the truck hooks on), so it is wrapped up in rubbish bags to keep them out. Going traveling may have been tricky with baby birds on board.

Eddie got rained off today with a thunder storm. A great clap of thunder went off just above him. He nearly had an accident in his pants. We have had more thunder and hail since. Weather wise, spring is such a weird season. My little vege garden has survived though, so it is all good.

We went to Tauranga yesterday and picked up a canoe that Eddie bought. He will either keep it or give it a bit of a spruce up and sell it.

Dodge is home again

Good news! The dodge came home on Thursday. The computer arrived on Wednesday, but the auto-electrician  (he works from home) was busy on Wednesday night, so we had to wait until Thursday. 

His wife and I were inside watching the news, when the truck came to life with a satisfying roar. Heather and I looked at each other and said “it's alive!” It had got quite dirty up at Charlie's, so Eddie gave it a good clean when he got home from work on Friday night. 

There is much contentment at home this weekend. We took a trip to Tauranga to visit Eddie's sister on Saturday night. The truck went well, so we are pleased and relieved that that little episode is over.

We have enjoyed the long weekend and the weather has been lovely too.

At Last

The computer for the dodge is on the way at last. Eddie found another broker to deal with customs as the one we were using was just asking questions via email (apparently no phones) and not doing much else. The new chap wrote them an email and asked where was it at and if you are still having trouble, I'll do it. ( or words to that effect). Strangely enough it was released that afternoon. We paid the duty on Friday afternoon and it should be on the courier this morning.

With any luck it will be back on the road by the weekend. Hooray!

Jones's Landing, Waikato River

Weather has been quite nice over the past few days. It's getting warmer which we are enjoying.

We have bought a diesel heater to replace the gas furnace. It will be quieter and not as big. It's the size of a large brick. It has a thermostat, so we can select a heat and it will turn on and off to suit. The gas thermostat leaves a lot to be desired. It goes off when it hasn't reached temperature or goes on until we are cooking. Eddie took out the gas yesterday, ready to install the diesel at some point.

I went on a tramp/ walk with the tramping club yesterday. We walked from Arapuni dam to Jones's landing on the Waikato River. It's a nice walk.There were lots of roosters there. I guess people don't dump a hens. The roosters all looked well. I think they are well fed by picnickers and campers.

Then we walked to the cafe at Arapuni village for lunch and back to the cars afterwards. 

A look out view of Jones's Landing on the left of the river

Huskies at Arapuni peeping out at passers by

Canoes on Arapuni Lake

A view of the river from the track

The track

Reflections on the river

We are still waiting for the computer for the dodge to arrive. Eddie tried to ring them the other day, but they don't have a phone number and it is all done by email. Instead of asking lots of questions in one email they send one question at a time. All very frustrating.

My Garden in October

Well you would think we would have the computer for the dodge by now wouldn't you? Seeing as it has been in the country since the 11th September. We got the number and we were very optimistic we would have it by now, but no. On Tuesday Eddie got an email from customs to ask for a copy of the invoice, which they already have. He replied that they already had it and then when he got home, he resent it. And still we wait.

My little garden is coming along quite nicely with new plants in it. I have planted lettuces, silver beet, celery, leeks, spring onions, broccoli and cabbages. The broccoli and cabbage along with a cauliflower were planted in autumn, but the garden doesn't get a lot of sunshine in the winter, so they have been very slow going. The cauli had too much rain and I had to toss it, which was a shame. The broccoli, however is doing well. We have had several feeds off it.

October garden

A number at last

We had a lovely, quiet weekend. Eddie worked on Saturday morning on some road works and that was about that.

We finally have our importers number, so the dodge computer can be released from customs - at last. Now we have to find out what duty they are going to charge, which may cause some wailing and gnashing of teeth. As we couldn't get one in NZ we don't see why we should have to pay any duty, so we will see.

Eddie broke his glasses on Thursday. The optician gave him a loan pair which were for distance, so on Friday night we went and got him a pair of $10 reading ones from the Warehouse. It was driving him nuts with two pairs of glasses. He was talking to Jim about it and he said I've got a spare pair of bifocals, which Eddie tried and found them to be a perfect fit. Hopefully his will be ready today.

Caravan show

We had a fine weekend which was nice.

Yesterday, we went to the caravan show in Hamilton's Mystery Creek. It's a great venue and a lot different than when I went to a Field Days event many years ago.

We went to check out diesel heaters which are quieter than our gas one. We also wanted to look at side walls for our awning, but there wasn't anyone there from an awning company. We thought that was a bit odd. we liked the heaters, but they are quite expensive, so we will ponder on them for a while longer.

We didn't buy anything but we enjoyed looking at the new caravans about the place. Some were really nice and others not so much. The new Rockwood fifth wheelers are really beautiful. I'm afraid we dribbled on the upholstery a bit. Perhaps if we win lotto......

I don't think I have mentioned the problem with the dodge.
It began by the battery going flat. The auto electrician did a bit of work on the alternator, but it kept going flat. He checked the computer and realized that was where the problem was. He sent it away to a computer repair place and when it came back it was charging ok but running on 5 cylinders. So back it went and when it came back it was only running on 4 cylinders!  Eddie found one in America that is a re conditioned one. It arrived in the country on the 11th September and we have been waiting for customs to send it on ever since. Because of its value, Eddie has had to apply for an importer's licence number. We sent the application form  away on Friday night and now we wait again. Hopefully we will have it by the end of the week.

Spring in Centennial Drive

Eddie was away last week. He took a load of steel and some machinery to Christchurch and Oamaru. Then he went on to Roxburgh and brought home an old digger that is going to be done up and put into the museum that the company has. He had a good week away, but was glad to be home. He has found some nice places for us to check out when we go down there. Hopefully that will be about this time next year.

Spring has sprung again and the flowers in Centennial Drive are looking lovely.

Apparently it is only 15 Fridays to Christmas. Just to cheer you up ha ha

Mt Maunganui

We had a nice weekend with lots of sunshine and it is still sunny today! That makes 4 days in a row!!

On Sunday, I went for a walk up, down and around Mt Maunganui with the tramping club. We also went out on to Leisure Island and up Mt Drury. It was a cold wind, with lots of white caps on the waters of Pilot Bay.

lambs on Mt Maunganui

Kowhai trees in bloom, full of tuis.

Matakana Island

Matakana Island

Overlooking Mt Maunganui township

a view from near the top

Mt Maunganui from Mt Drury.

Pilot Bay from Mt Drury.

10 km Walk at Kinloch

Saturday was a lovely sunny day in Taupo, where my sister in law, Janice, and I did a 10 ks in the Taupo event series. It was Janice's first event and she did really well. She got quite competitive towards the end catching up with people and going past them. We might do another one in November in Mount Maunganui. The walk was around trails at Kinloch on the shore of Lake Taupo. Quite pretty and a lovely stream too.

The new computer for the dodge is on its way, so hopefully it will be here by the weekend. We might have it back by next week. We hope.

Sunday was wet and so is today. I wish we could share it with the Australian farmers.

Janice walking the trails

Janice and Kay about to start.

One of the views of Whangamata Bay

Waikato River Walk

We had another fine weekend and it is fine again today. We are feeling very pleased about it.

I went for a walk with the tramping club along the Waikato River in Hamilton. We started in the gardens and then walked through Memorial park and on to the path. It is all concrete and easy walking. We walked about 4 ks on the east side of the river and then crossed over and  had lunch. Then we wandered back to the cars on the west side. 

At one point, we saw a boy of about 9 wanting to ride his scooter down a short, but steep hill. His mother said no but he did it anyway. Of course it got too fast and his face was a picture as it went from laughter to Oh My God!. He dropped the scooter and ran down. One of our lady's went to catch 

Lots of history boards along the path with Maori and early European stories. It was quite interesting and something I hadn't done before. They have the remains of the Rangiriri, which was the boat that took people and goods up and down the river. There isn't much of it left, but it has been put under shelter to protect it from the elements.

Hellebore at the Hamilton Gardens

Magnolia in the Hamilton Gardens

War Horse

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War Memorial with the wrong coloured poppies

These 3 photos were taken in Memorial park that we passed through on our river walk.

Spring

I think spring is on it's way. I have had a container with bulbs in it since we set off on the road. I had no flowers last spring, but this year I have one small white daffodil ( I think that's what it is).

cute flower

Blue Springs

Well we had a lovely weekend with lots of sunshine and getting to 18 degrees at our caravan. Today won't be so good, but we have to live with it.

Yesterday I went for a walk with the tramping club. I thought we were going to a walk along the Waikato River Trail, but it was closed because of tree felling, so we headed off to the Blue Springs near Putaruru. An oldy but a goody. 70% of New Zealand's bottled water comes from there.

looking down stream from the spring

looking up stream from the spring

A small water fall in fall flow beside the track

I have fully recovered from the half marathon. I had no aching muscles at all, so I was very pleased with myself.

Taupo Half Marathon

Just a little skite today.
Yesterday I walked the Taupo Half Marathon in 3 and 1/2 hours. I was quite pleased with the time as I didn't think I was walking as fast as I used too and I thought it might take me a bit longer than it did.
The weather was cool and cloudy for the most part. It started to rain for the last 5 ks, but it was only light rain and didn't cause any stress. I had my raincoat with me.
I was the 171st; the 130th woman and 13th in my age group. I have no idea how many in my group, but I'll take it.
I got a nice medal too.

My number

The medal

A walk at the Waitakaruru Arboretum

On Sunday I went for a walk with the local tramping club to the Waitakaruru Arboretum, which is near Hamilton. It used to be free and open 7 days, but now it is by appointment and costs $15 to get in. The owners are crowd sourcing for money so that they can be open all the time for free in the not to distant future.
Waitakaruru Arboretum was a quarry. There is 17.5 hectares that has been transformed by the planting of about 20,000 trees. Quite an achievement. They started in 1991. There are 2 ponds. One near the car park and the other at the bottom of the quarry. They are both pretty with water lilies and lovely plantings on the edges.
The walk is 2 km long with sculptures to admire as you go. 

a sculpture in the park 

A thoughtful lady in the bottom pond

Steps down to the bottom pond

A girl looking at the lady bird on her arm.

pond near the car park