5 months has gone so fast.

It was so sad saying farewell to Rhian in Auckland, it is very hard to think we will not see her for a year now except on Skype. I am just glad Callum is still here for a couple of weeks - although the hole in my heart will be twice as big when he goes back to start his new life as a student in Wales.

Rhian starts her first proper job today as a Year 4 Primary Teacher in Caerleon, so all the best to her today.
Missing her.....

Callum Malcolm and I had a very energetic weekend, Malcolm and Cal played golf on Friday, then we went mountain biking up in the Redwoods near Rotorua, which was exciting (and scary at times!) We also saw a helicopter rescue while we were there where some chap was airlifted to hospital after buckling his bike.

Sunday saw Malcolm and I racing sailing as crewe on a Chico 30, in force 6-7 gusting 8's! another rather scary and very exciting few hours (if a bit wet and cold)! These pictures are of the previous time when there was so little wind we couldn't finish the race - the chap in the hat is the skipper - a very friendly crew.

Here are some other photo's Rhian took of local birdlife - Black Oysercatchers, a Tui and a Parakeet.

 



 

Back in Tauranga - Rhian's last week

After their VERY busy trip to the South Island both Rhian and Callum wanted a bit of peace and quiet to catch up on sleep, and stay in one place for a wee while. We (Malcolm and Shona) had a quiet time while they were away, although we did go sailing and to see a film that was made in nearby Te Puke called the Z Nail Gang!

On Friday 22nd Aug, Rhian, Callum and I went to see NZ history in the making, a historic apology from the crown for the stealing of the Maori land 150 years ago. It was very interesting (including returning a historic british flag??) but VERY long and all in Maori! So 5 hours of speeches, Haka's and dances later we shared a meal with 3500 people (catered by the NZ army), history after all does take time!

The highlight of last week was undoubtedly visiting White Island, NZ's most active volcano. The 1.5 hour boat journey ended in us leaping onto boulders from a small rubber dingy to get ashore - rather nerve wracking!. Then walking in the crater looking into Sulphuric acid lakes and sulphur fumerols was like being on the moon - and we did need to use the gas masks for the fumes.

 

 

 

Rhian and Callum - South Island adventures

Rhian and Callum started in Christchurch for their whistle stop tour of the South Island for 10 days with Kiwi experience.

They did an amazing range of trips/jumps and sights the highlights being:

• Whale watching in Kaikora - see Sperm Whales & Albatroses below
• Couldn't see the Abel Tasman area because of rain but want to go back
• Franz Joseph Glacier
• Beautiful lakes and mountains
• Queenstown Skiing, Canyon swing(including the Chair of Death and Elvis Cutaway) , luge sledging, skydiving and Ferg burgers ( A Kiwi legend it seems!!)
• More beautiful lakes and mountains

Some photos below

Visitng the Spirits and surfing down sand dunes

We have just got back from a great 10 days in the very far north of New Zealand. We worked our way up the east side through Whangarei to Russell in the Bay of Islands over to the east side to Aipara and up to Cape Rianga on the very tip of the north island.

We stayed in some amazing backpackers hostels and met some really great folk including Ron the ex farmer now award winning hostel owner and Ffyon who worked for brewery in Cardiff (she now works for a micro brewery in Nelson so we shall be popping in when we are down south!)

First main stop was Little Earth Hostel near Abbey Caves, where we ventures in waist deep in cloudy cave water to see the stalactites and glow worms, it was spectacular especially when I (Shona)looked down ad saw a 3 foot long cave eel right by my foot - I moved fast!! apparently they are endangered and very rare! We also visited a kiwi conservation project and saw a live kiwi which was also very special

Then we arrived in the Bay of Islands a beautiful spot for sailing and fishing in season, it all seemed a little winterised when we were there! We did see a HUGE skate in the harbour - you can just see its shadow in the photo below - it must have been 3 feet across! then the next is the view from the  bedroom at Ron's hostel - so peaceful.

The last place we stayed was a superb 2 story villa made of native Kauri wood - gorgeous, called the 'Endless Summer lodge' where we went to cape Rianga, where in Maori tradition the spirits of the departed leave NZ to go to their homeland or paradise. They climb down the roots of the single tree on the rocky outcrop to start their journey

Another first was sand dune surfing - great fun but boy does sand get everywhere!

Rhian and Callum are now in the South Island doing a 10 day whistle stop tour and we are back to reality! Great holiday.