Welcome to the Coromandel.
It’s November and summer’s arrived so we head-off for a weekend’s camping on the Coromandel Peninsular which is about 100 mile from Auckland. It’s our first visit to the Coromandel. Continue reading
The view from Circular Quay. A place I had only know from song lyrics previously. “And as our ship pulled into Circular Quay I looked at the place where my legs used to be And thank Christ there was nobody waiting for me To grieve and to mourn and to pity.” Waltzing Matilda by Eric Bogle (covered by the Pogues May, 1984)
I flew to Sydney this morning morning on the 08.50 from Auckland which arrived neatly at 08.50 ins Sydney (3hrs time difference between Auckland and Sydney). This is my first time in Sydney and I don’t know what I was expecting but I discovered that Sydney is a proper city sharing the good features of Auckland (i.e. a harbour and good climate) with the madness of London. Continue reading
Watch your head as you approach the aircraft.
Friday came around quickly this week and with a half-day booked-off from work and schools being far more reasonable about taking children out of school during term time we knock-off at lunch time and head for Rotorua where we plan to meet up with Gillian and Hywel who are travelling up from Gisborne. Continue reading
Gillian and Hywel @ 33a The Parade. St Heliers
Gillian and Hywel Jeffreys, Ruth’s parents, are retired primary school heads. They enjoy their travel and when we made our decision to shift out to New Zealand, they were the first to book their visit with us.
They made their way to us via Dubhai, Bankock and Sydney and are not knocked sideways by jet-lag when they arrive. Having now been away for six months it’s great to see them. Continue reading
New outfits bought in Apia market.
We head back from Savai’i to Opolu and Aggie Greys. After the 3 hour journey we have a dip in the pool before visiting the two markets in Apia. It is very warm despite the shade of the canopy over the market stalls. The girls choose Samoan dresses from the market which will be worn at the Samoan cultural dinner that we are attending that evening.
Korean Universities Rugby team tour to New Zealand.
So this evening I popped along to College Rifles after work for rugby training with the College Rifles Bullets (an under 85Kg grade team). On arrival I discover that training was cancelled as the Korean Universities team which is touring NZ is playing against a College Rifles select under 85Kg side. The Korean side is an unrestricted weight team.
To my further surprise, I’m told to get changed as I’ve been selected as a reserve for combine team. Happy with that given the three under 85kg squads college rifles runs. Continue reading
ABs v Australia at Eden Park courtesy of Telecom NZ.
I recall getting up at the crack of dawn to watch the 1983 British Lions play the All Blacks at Eden Park on television. Captained by Ciaran Fitzgerald the Lions lost the series 4- nil. What sticks in my mind though is the footage from Eden Park Continue reading
It’s raining plastic beer bottles. The crowd enjoying themselves on the embankment at Waikato Stadium.
This week we travelled down to Hamilton to meet-up with Sian Beetham whom Ruth had been in school with in Brecon and her sons Evan and Rhys (Evan had been in Ellie’s class in Ysgol-y-Bannau).
Our visit coincides (and was planned to coincide) with the All Black’s test match Continue reading
Shipping containers at Auckland container port.
I pass Auckland container port every day on the way to and from work. There is something re-assuring about having a working port right onto the fringe of downtown Auckland and with 70% of New Zealand’s import and export goods passing through this relatively small space its fascinating to watch the 24 x 7 operation. Continue reading
It is the Queen’s birthday weekend this weekend (Hooray for the Queen !) so I have Monday off and have also taken Tuesday off as a holiday. A trip to Northland is not he cards.
The first stop on Saturday is Whangarei Heads to meet up with and old Cardiff Uni friend Clive Lang and his family. I had not seen Clive for 15 years (when he emigrated to New Zealand) – he has changed very little and is a project engineer with Fonterra at the local Dairy Production plant. It is a ‘lifestyle’ job for Clive – not too taxing allowing him plenty of time to surf and go fishing o his boat. Continue reading
NewZealandly 