This week I have been mainly eating venison

I can't believe how quickly the week has vanished before me, time definately flies when you're having fun. I've just fed the pigs, as we're in charge of them and the 'chook' this week. Toni's Mum confused the chook (and the rest of us) last week by placing a duck egg under her, as it has been clucky since Bill took an off her weeks ago. Julie insisted that the chuck would know what was going on, as she had written 'duck egg' on it. Rum has a lot to answer for. The cats are just as crazy as the chicken - Tigger loves playing with the paintbrush while I'm trying to do my watercolours, so I've developed a new technique of using his tail as a hake for the first wash of the sky. His tail is now a blend of yellow ochre and ultramarine.

I went fishing last week (uhuh?) just before sundown as I'd heard this was the best time to get a good snapper. I didn't, but the sunset was amazing, and to top it off, in the distance I saw a tall ship drifting through the haze opposite the spot where Captain Cook first spotted New Zealand on the Endeavour. If I had not heard the next day that it had been forced to dock in the port that day due to severe gales, I would have sworn it was a ghost ship. We went to see it in port on Saturday, and it was magnificent.

Nelson sunset

On Sunday I had the opportunity to try my hand at horse riding at the local Riding for the Disabled Club with people from Bill's work, as it was part of their Christmas party. I really enjoyed it, the horse wouldn't do any of the tricks I wanted it to, like go forward, stop or follow the other horses and not stop to graze, but it was fun all the same.

Later on that day Toni and I met up with some of her relatives at Carols in the park, which was new for me, as the sun was shining, and the kids started the show in true Kiwi style by doing the Haka (for those who don't follow the All Blacks, the Haka is a dance, an invitation to war and fascinating to watch). At the end of the night we followed the rest of the community in a procession of cars to have a look at a cul-de-sac whose residents definately had problems keeping up with the Jones's - imagine your next door neighbour's house either side looking like a Christmas version of Blackpool illuminations - very funny!

We're off to Tauranga again on the weekend to catch up with Lisa and Angus, who have both arrived in the country recently. Jake is also home from Cardiff this week, so I'm looking forward to catching up with him at some point as well. It's going to be a very merry Christmas over here!

I had lots of mail this week, which was really exciting, so thanks to my family, Matt, Lauren and the girls at work for the cards and pressies (won't open them until the 25th I promise!)

Tara for now,

Owen

A week less ordinary

Hi all, hope life is good wherever you are! The weather has picked up again, it's gonna be a scorcher tomorrow, so I'm going to try and get myself a tan. I have a six pack now - it's in the fridge, tried Gisborne Gold last week, not too impressed - sorry Gissy!!.

Moving swiftly on, Toni, her sister Donna and Stacey, Toni's baby niece and I(?) went to Tauranga over the weekend. That's about three and a half hours drive from here, with some breathtaking scenery! We saw all sorts of wildlife along the way - wild turkeys, hawks, falcons, N.Z. kingfishers and cyclists to name but a few.

Pohutakawa

Also saw Pohutukawa trees in bloom. This tree is the symbol of summer, the 'New Zealand Christmas Tree'!. The tree in full bloom is crimson red. A story from Maori folklore explains how pohutukawa flowers received their colour. A warrior named Tawhaki wanted to borrow the dog bands of Tama-i-waho, to help him avenge his father's death. He visited the heavens and found the dog bands, but Tama, unhappy about his dog bands being borrowed, caused Tawhaki to fall and perish. When the people of the world awoke the next morning, they saw that the blossoms of Pohutukawa (and also of rata) had been stained by the blood of Tawhaki to a bright scarlet red.

They grow along the coast of the Northern half of the North Island, and are very hardy, often growing on the most inhospitable of places:

'From crest and crevice, tortuously flung,
Those monstrous iron-hearted myrtles hung,
Stiff, snaky, writhing trunks, and roots that clave
And crawled to any ramparts gave'
(From 'Ranoulf and Amohia', by Alfred Domett, 1872.)

Kiwi humour

Anyway, back to my story.. Toni and I went out on the town on Friday, and managed a mini pub crawl - well, they all had different beers to taste! We eventually found a nice bar with a live band, who sang all sorts, from The Beatles to The Proclaimers and other local bands. The main reason for the long trip was for us to attend a the wedding of Mandy and Gareth, friends of Toni's. They came all the way over from Wales with an enterage of 40 people, for it to rain solid all day! We still had a great time - the kiwi bride came down the river in a boat instead of an aisle while the Welsh groom and his mates sang the Welsh National Anthem. Different! Free food and beer kept the festivities going nicely! I love this place! Met up with Lisa, who introduced me to Toni in the Welsh Club all that time ago - good to see a familiar face and catch up!

As I have already mentioned, I live in a farmhouse surrounded by orchards and vineyards, and yesterday a helicopter came by and sprayed them. It was literally only metres away from the house, swooping low over the fields, I felt like a big kid getting excited about it, as Toni's family just said 'they're spraying again then'!

Off to dream of a white Christmas, just like the one I used to know!!

Owen

Shortland Street

I've cut back on the updates, so I'll be writing one a week from now on!

Wow, I was in a bookshop yesterday, talking to the lady who owns it (for some reason I bought a National Geographic from the month and year of my birth, I'm sure there's an answer somewhere). She asked me where I was from, and when I said Crewe in Cheshire, she told me that her husband played for Crewe Alex in the fifties, and that he was from Sandbach down the road - small World!

An art dealer in town told me he will sell some of my paintings for me once I have a few more in my portfolio, which will be handy for Christmas!

I have to confess that I am now a loyal servant to the one and only Shortland Street - I know, it's terrible, but the plot is really thickening (to those in Britain you'll have to watch it for a whole week in about six months time!!)

Corrie is on in the background, and that whining sound of the theme tune still makes my stomach churn!!

We're going to a wedding on the Weekend in Tauranga, which will be great as I haven't really been out at night since the karaoke fest last month.. is there a link there I wonder... Toni??!!

Toni's just about to finish her stint of night shifts, which means I don't have to tip-toe around the house anymore hehe!!

Ka kite ano

Owen