CHristmas 2010 - Adrian Kealey - Picasa Web Albums

CHristmas 2010 - Adrian Kealey - Picasa Web Albums

Hi everyone, last post before festive season. After some really great weather for a month in November it has all turned to mush with wet and warm being the norm. Very unusual for Levin, it is more sub tropical, like Auckland. Everything growing at great pace including lawns unfortunately!
Avril's first day of no work so she is off into town with Lauren to finish Christmas shopping. We have reached the end of the festive season functions with a clear calendar for the rest of the week. We now have a refurbished cinema in Levin with cafe and couch style seating. We have been a couple of times and went to see "Made in Dagenham" the other day http://www.paramountpicturesintl.com/intl/uk/madeindagenham/ Good movie, shows how far we have come in terms of fair pay and how women were discriminated against. We also saw "Skin" recently, about apartheid. Amazing what people do to other people and how laws can be changed at a whim to suit who knows. Worth seeing just to realise how twisted some cultures get. http://www.skinthemovie.net/site/
I haven't sent cards this year so this is our greeting.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May 2011 bring all you wish for.
Adrian and Avril

Another week gone by. Great to catch up with Geoff and Liz even though they unfortunately had to cut their visit short to return home for funeral on Monday. Spent Saturday in Wellington with them, mainly to visit Te Papa, our National Museum including a display of Brian Blake's work. Check link below to check it out http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/WhatsOn/exhibitions/BrianBrake/Pages/default.aspx?redirectedurl=true

Sunday after they left we headed out for a garden party with the wine club, very relaxing.
Hannah booked in for op to take out tonsils and adenoids Monday morning. As Avril was not working yesterday we went to Wellington for day to see how she was. Hard for a 4 year old to have to endure but should be worth it as she constantly had nasal infections and antibiotics. Getting a bit grizzly by the time we left about 5 but due for some more pain killers so hope she had a settled night.
Guy coming today to fix ceiling in spare bedroom. When I gave ceiling a closer inspection during preparation for redecorating found hairline cracks all over plaster. Not happy to just cover with paint as they just come thrrough again so got expert to have a look. He is going to gouge out cracks, fill, put tape over then re plaster whole ceiling-that should fix it!!!
Booked caravan sites at Paekakariki, just north of Wellington for 5 days to New Year, then off over to Masterton in the Wairarapapa (Map of lower North Island) after that with friends who also have van. Hope to take Hannah with us for  some of the time.

Not sure what to countdown first Avril leaving work or Christmas. Both are fast approaching though.

Great weekend at Himatangi Beach with weather brilliant and company, a lot of laughs. No doubt it looks strange for Santa to be arriving in brilliant sunshine in a cart!! The kids love it (grandkids).16 caravans attended the rally and we fed about 50 on the Saturday night with a whole ham, chickens salads etc.

Last week was notable for the fact that after 20 years I finally made contact again with Eva (from Indonesia), who we hosted for a year in 1988/9. Amazingly I found a card she had bought out with her full name on and when I Googled it came up with heaps of stuff including a Facebook reference.Also amazingly she is now living in Melbourne with her husband and family. She is an English Literature lecturer doing her doctorate there. Hopefully we will be able to visit whilst she is living there. Still looks the same, and married the boyfriend she left behind whose photo was up on her bedroom wall during her stay.
Geoff and Liz arriving Thursday afternoon for a few days so will be good to catch up. 
We have just booked tickets for Womad, http://www.womad.co.nz/tickets.htm?gclid=CNb-lPGQ1qUCFSBugwoddz49lQ in New Plymouth next March. Includes camping on racecourse so we are right there for the 3 days of the festival. Will be our treat for year as it is quite expensive.

Another week gone by and Christmas fast approaching. Having a great spell of fine weather with temperatures yesterday in the high 20's. Long may it last. The next problem will probably be a drought, we are already having to water each night, luckily no restrictions yet. Have put in a clock system so it will still do the watering even if we are away, great idea.

Took this pic of the cabbage tree (Cordaline) in our garden yesterday in full bloom
A busy week ahead with a friend out from England for tea tomorrow, Tues. Altrusa Christmas dinner Wed, Wine Club tasting Thursday and Caravan Club rally Friday - Sun. In between Avril has to work and I still have that list of jobs-doesn't seem to shrink!! The wine tasting is around the wines from our very own local winery only 5 minutes south of Levin. This has been a real success story as no one expected it to succeed. Check out the link http://www.ohaugravels.co.nz/

Himatangi Beach Caravan Park

Lauren had a "baby shower" here Saturday afternoon, a get together of friends to celebrate the coming event. She is coping well, looking really good and no doubt waiting impatiently for end of term, as is Avril, although for different reasons!!
The picture shows where we are having the Christmas Rally with the Caravan Club. Not far to drive only about 30kn north of here just off the main highway.

Spreading fertiliser this morning at bottom of garden

Time for another chapter from Levin. I guess the all consuming news here is the Pike River Miners trapped below ground now for nearly 4 days, still not being able to make contact or go in and find out what has happened. Terrible for families just waiting and not knowing.
Life however goes on for us, busy as usual with Avril counting down the days until she finishes work. Just been away for long weekend in van with Caravan Club but not far only 50 km to Paraparaumu half way to Wellington. It coincided with Hannah's ballet end of year concert in Wellington so we went down to watch. For a four year old who has only been doing ballet for a few weeks she did OK out on a stage with 20 or 30 other kids in front of a couple of hundred people. Lauren is in good health although getting larger by the day, 27 weeks now. Last scan confirmed they are both boys and doing well. She also will finish at end of school term, 4 weeks away-she hopes!
Had a very enjoyable few days with Wendy and Dennis (Alan Offer's sister and husband) last week showing them around  our area. They will have got tied up  with the drama of the miners down south this week. Sue and Alan both celebrated heir 80th birthdays recently, a real milestone for them, congratulations. Roger called in on way to Waikane but as Avril was sick in bed we didn't get up very early so missed him. Geof and LIz Kealey are visiting middle of Dec for  few days and will be good to catch up with them. As usual we have a number of Xmas social functions coming up, Avril's work, the wine club, travel club, Altrusa, and caravan club which will keep us out of trouble. Planning to have Christmas day at home with family and then ??? It will involve the caravan I'm sure.

HI all ,sorry got a bit lazy. Went off for two weeks in caravan during Sept school holidays so didn't have access to computer. Had a great trip in new van. Started off heading up towards New Plymouth stopping for a night only an hour up the road at Sanson as it was too windy to tow the van, in other words I got a bit nervous.
 The van is nearly 2 tonnes and at 6.5m long gets pushed around especially when the wind is across the direction of travel.
Next day we carried on in beautiful weather to Wanganui where we stopped for a night at a camping ground, meeting up as arranged with another couple from our caravan club. Moving on the next day to Waverley, an hour up the road,we wanted to try a POP (park over property). These are private places where you can stay for a night or two if you are a member of the Motorhome Association and have a self containment certificate(able to store waste). They generally do not provide any services so you have enough water on board and use battery and gas for cooking, lighting, heating, and of course satellite TV!!! It is free to stay on these properties whose owners are members of the association. Not much to do in Waverley so 1 night was plenty. Still progressing towards New Plymouth we spent a windy night at Ohawe, a small beach just north of Hawera. Facilities not very good but as we have everything on board do not need to use their kitchen, showers etc. Great spot though. The photo above was taken there.
Weather forecast was not good with a storm heading down for the north. We decided to have a go at getting through to New Plymouth, but stopping if it got too rough. We managed the wind OK but drove through some torrential rain. In the end we kept going, as the rain got heavier the wind dropped so driving wasn't as hairy.

Had planned beforehand that we would stay at a camp ground in the city, right on the edge of a cliff overlooking the harbour. Originally the plan was to stay a night and we would move on to somewhere cheaper but in the end the weather was perfect and the location brilliant so we stayed for 5 nights . Caught up with Nic and Sarah and just pottered around New Plymouth and surrounds. http://www.newplymouthnz.com/VisitingNewPlymouth/Attractions/CoastalWalkway.htm. Check out this link to see more about the walkway. This extends from the Port along the water front to the north of the city.
Don and Sandra then headed home and we moved south to meet up with two other vans from the club at a golf club just north of Hawera. This was  POP at $5 per night with water and power supplied and access 24 hours a day to toilets and showers in the club rooms across the road. Spent time up Mount Taranaki at Dawson Falls (Catherine might remember, we dropped her off here and then she did a walk and we picked her up further around the mountain.)
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/wanganui/taranaki-area/dawson-falls-short-walks/. We did a short walk and checked out the falls.
After 4 days of great weather the wind again started to build and we had a rocky night before heading home and Avril back to work.
She has at last given her notice to finish work at the Christmas, so only about 6 more week to go. She is finding it increasingly hard to go back after we have been away in the van, might have something to do with the fact that I am at home!!!
Our big news for those who haven't heard is that Lauren found out at her first scan, whilst we were away, that her baby is in  fact two babies. Both boys. All 3 doing well at last scan. In fact they are currently the same size as a single baby would be so as you can imagine she is getting rather large. Still working, looking really good but getting tired. Hoping to work through to end of term, we will see. Due in Feb I think but unlikely to go full term. She is under a specialist and will have to go up to Palmerston North Hospital for the birth as they are multiples. Mother very excited. Another good reason to give up work.
Vanessa and Logan arrived 3 days ago and have been based here whilst Vanessa  set up a Levin group of Venus, and visited one already established north of Wellington. Good catching up with those guys.
Thats all for now will make effort to get back into weekly routine.

Weekly update

In the driveway

From front garden

Cold, cold cold, but the tulips are in full bloom having survived strong winds and heavy rain over the last few days. The sun is out today but just look at the mountains!! Spectacular. Hope this is the last dump for the year.We have certainly had some violent weather over the last week. A huge low pressure system which just kept on coming. We escaped most of the damaging stuff but flooding, gale force winds, and snow blocked roads were all within a couple of hours drive from us. A busy weekend just gone with dinner for eight on Friday a birthday afternoon tea, which went on to become dinner as well Saturday, and dinner with friends Sunday. Monday out again with Lauren to see a cooking show put on by the schools PTA. Interesting lady with a good story to tell as well as yummy brownie recipe, amongst others. She has a web site, destitutegourmet.com. Tuesday, yes out again, this time to hear our local councillors selling their wares prior to our local body elections.Never been to one before and found it quite interesting, and at times entertaining! Not sure that I am any better prepared to make an informed voting decision! As with most local government bodies the issues are waste disposal, potable water, rates, how to generate more income, the high cost of compliance and environmental stuff. I am amazed that anyone is prepared to get involved with the flak they get. (Lindsay is still involved Andrea)
Counting down to the weekend when we have Hannah's 4th birthday, which although it is Monday, we will celebrate with family on Saturday. Then off in caravan heading to New Plymouth. Oh, and Avril finishes the term and has two weeks holiday. She can't wait!! The guy is coming tomorrow to check the van and give us a self containment certificate which you need here if you want to freedom camp, or stay at some low cost sites.
Bedroom decorating is proceeding slowly, have fine cracks in plaster ceiling in the room I am doing so have to get fibrous plasterer to check out before I paint. I think the ceiling is not securely attached to the roof joists causing movement and may need some work to secure. Nothing is ever easy (as David and Thelma have found out)

Orkney-copy of article done for club newsletter

A bit more about our travels-Adrian and Avril

Orkney-

Know where that is? Right off the top of Scotland, in fact you can see it from John O Groats. You can get a ferry over from there but it doesn't take vehicles so we went along to the port of Scrabster by Thurso to get over to the islands.

Why go there you might ask? Conveniently my little sister moved there about 4 years ago. She likes the quiet life!!

After missing her out last time we were over, felt we just had to make the effort this time-and quite an effort it is.

So what makes Orkney tick?

It consists of over 70 islands of which 17 are inhabited and has a population of around 20,000. There have been people living there for 6,000 years!!! It is mainly fertile agricultural land, farming beef and sheep, few trees and a wide open grassy landscape where you can see for miles. The main island is Main Island, with largest towns being Kirkwall and Stromness, where the ferry docked.

The islands are probably best known for the Neolithic remains, the bird life, and  Scapa Flow, the natural harbour used by the British Navy in WW 1 and 2. We were both fascinated by the history of this area.

Some highlights were the Neolithic village of Scara Brae and the Italian Chapel.

Scara Brae was uncovered in a storm in 1850, they found a well preserved Neolithic village inhabited about 5,000 years ago. It consisted of 6 well constructed houses partially underground with stone slab furniture, including beds, shelving, and small storage containers for live bait.

After Scapa Flow was penetrated by a German sub and the battleship, The Royal Oak, sunk early in WW2, it was decided to build causeways between 4 islands to prevent attack from the North Sea and ensure Scapa Flow remained a safe harbour. Due to the war effort, labour in the area was in short supply, so around 2,000 Italian prisoners of war were sent to Orkney to build the barriers. These became known as the Churchill Barriers. During their stay on Orkney the prisoners used concrete and other scraps to make their camp more homely, building paths, a recreation hut and gardens. 

Italian Chapel

They were given a nissen hut which they converted into a chapel. One of the prisoners was an artist and he painted much of the interior. This is the only building remaining and was restored in the 60’s. They managed to find the guy in Italy who had done the painting and got him back to help with restoring the paintwork.

Maeshowe, another of the Neolithic remains was a burial cairn built into a mount and lined with stone slabs. An interesting feature of this structure was the way it was built to get the sun at certain times of the year shining down a long passage into the central chamber.

Religious needs appeared to have revolved around stone circles of which  the Ring of Brodgar is a good example.

A perfect circle of 103m diameter  consisting of 60– stones originally, with 27 now left standing. Standing between 2 and 4.5m hign the circle is surrounded by a 10 m wide ditch.

A bit more about our travels-Adrian and Avril Orkney- Know where that is? Right off the top of Scotland, in fact you can see it from John O Groats. You can get a ferry over from there but it doesn't take vehicles so we went along to the port of Scrabster by Thurso to get over to the islands. Why go there you might ask? Conveniently my little sister moved there about 4 years ago. She likes the quiet life!! After missing her out last time we were over, felt we just had to make the effort this time-and quite an effort it is. So what makes Orkney tick? It consists of over 70 islands of which 17 are inhabited and has a population of around 20,000. There have been people living there for 6,000 years!!! It is mainly fertile agricultural land, farming beef and sheep, few trees and a wide open grassy landscape where you can see for miles. The main island is Main Island, with largest towns being Kirkwall and Stromness, where the ferry docked. The islands are probably best known for the Neolithic remains, the bird life, and  Scapa Flow, the natural harbour used by the British Navy in WW 1 and 2. We were both fascinated by the history of this area. Some highlights were the Neolithic village of Scara Brae and the Italian Chapel. Scara Brae was uncovered in a storm in 1850, they found a well preserved Neolithic village inhabited about 5,000 years ago. It consisted of 6 well constructed houses partially underground with stone slab furniture, including beds, shelving, and small storage containers for live bait.

Spring is definitely here, the kowhia tree in our garden is in flower and the Tuis are out in force getting drunk on the nectar. However the rain still keeps coming. Christchurch returning to some normality today with most schools open and shops starting to open up again. Some amazing stories about individuals and families and what they have been through.
Check this link for more info.
Busy week ahead with Caravan Club meeting here tomorrow night, partners coming for shared meal, probably pizzas, before meeting. Dinner with Avril's fellow workers Friday night. A thing they do each term at a different staff members house. Contractors coming Tuesday to install mirrored sliding wardrobe doors in two spare bedrooms. Will help to make them look larger we hope. Roughly planned trip for two weeks time. Travelling up to New Plymouth with another couple who have caravan. Going to try out some of the POP (Park over properties) on the way, which are available to members of the NZ Motor Caravan Assoc. (we are now members). Low cost place to park for up to 3 nights. Sometimes have water and power but often you have to be self contained for waste. power, etc. part of the reason we upgraded our van. Will need to go into places with power every other night we think as out batteries will probably only last one night, but will see how it goes.

Venus Clubs

Check out this link to see what Vanessa is up to. Very impressive site. http://venusclubs.co.nz

Weekly update

Hi all, doesn't time fly, Tuesday already. Robin and Dean just headed off for friends in Hawera for a couple of days before calling in at Geof and Liz in Auckland on way home. Out and about a bit over the weekend visiting Palmerston North and the wind farm, Waikanae and Paraparaumu and Wellington yesterday. Pic taken outside Te Papa with a backdrop of some street art. They look as though they have been dropped from a great height, but are mirrors stuck to partially blown up rubber airbags. http:\\tepapa.co.nz check out this link to find out more about Te Papa.

Finished decorating bedroom in time for visitors and it looks good.2 more to go!!Ordered mirror wardrobe doors but they are 3 weeks away. Will help make room seem bigger. Starting to organise trip away in van during school holidays-probably meeting up with couple in New Plymouth and then another couple for the second week somewhere between Wanganui and Hawera. Hope the weather is more settled than recently. 

Scary stuff going on in Christchurch, hard to believe how much damage and how people there are going to manage over next months and possibly years getting back to some sort of normality. Apart from the obvious buildings falling down there has been a huge amount of damage to ordinary homes where the ground has liquefied and big cracks appeared in roads,back yards, lawns, and right through the middle of houses.Many houses will have to be demolished. A lot of people cant go back to work due to damaged workplaces so it is hard to know how they will get paid. Some large businesses have said they will pay them , others will have insurance but a lot of small businesses will just close. I guess we are just relieved it was there and not in our backyard!!

Weekly update-31st Aug

Hi all another week. Had great time with Hannah at weekend. Took caravan down to Paekakariki motor camp on beach just north of Wellington. Antony bought Hannah out Friday evening and stayed with us then on Saturday he left Hannah with us for the day-and night.First time she has been away overnight and had no problems. Unfortunately the weather was rubbish so we just went to shopping mall and had lunch. Friends called around for drinks Sat night. Decorating going according to plan and will be ready for Robin and Dean when they arrive Friday evening. Up early this morning 4.45 am to take friends to airport, they have left for Hawaii for 3 weeks-at least it will be warm. Weather still very up and down but generally wet and cool. Good to hear Andrea, Jeff and girls had a great time in Austria even if it was a bit short. Obviously found some sun!! Great pics. Maura (from Guatemala) will be 40 on 2nd, not long for Andrea either - 12th Sept.

Monday 23rd Aug

HI all, Monday morning-off to do talk to a club,oldies I think as it is called 60 up Club!! They had asked Travel Club if they had anyone who called give a talk. Have put together something on Orkney as it has so much interesting stuff there. Not much else planned for week. Antony and Hannah coming up at weekend. Itching to get away in caravan but that will have to wait for a couple more weeks. Mornings starting to lighten up and evenings drawing out at last. Just need the weather to settle. Started to walk up the "trig" again. Goes from almost 0 to 1000ft up through forest on outskirts of Levin. Takes about 40 min to get up and a real slog. Gets the old ticker going though. David and Thelma will remember it.Amazing who you meet in a little place like Levin. Went out for dinner Saturday night and met a guy who has just retired and moved from Canberra. He was the Australian ambassador to Chile and then worked as an adviser for an international arms proliferation group based in Brussels. Can't remember the name of the group but met with some high powered international politicians. PS didn't stay up for All Blacks game against South Africa at 3 am. But good to get win and Try Nations trophy. Fingers crossed for World Cup in 2011.

Slide show

The slide show to the left of the screen is showing pics from our recent trip-so far covers Cinque Terra in Italy, St Jean de Maurienne in the French Alps, various chateaus in the Loire Valley, brother David's place in St Albans and North Wales with Andrea, Jeff and family. More to come. Will try and get pic titles to show so you can see what they are.
This one was taken at the top of Mount Snowden in Wales by the little train that chugs up the mountain.

New York New York

WOW, how do you describe New York. The Big Apple, A concrete jungle but with a beating heart.Tall buildings, making the Terrace in Wellington look like Lego land. Long wide streets that go on forever, 5th Avenue, Broadway,42nd Street. names we all know-but to be there!!! Central Park, full of life and people on a hot summers day. Horse drawn carriages and bicycle rickshaws plying for trade, families enjoying the funfair, sunbathers and picnickers on Sheep Meadow, buskers everywhere. The smart set at Leob Boarhouse sipping their wines-new world of course. Skaters, joggers,cyclists, walkers crowd the drives which cut through the park. Multi million dollar apartments looking out over the park from high up on 5th Avenue.
Time Square, where it all happens, head splitting light from the neon billboards, people by their thousand-who cares about car bombs!!. Families enjoying the balmy evening watching the crowd from the brightly lit bleachers, checking out M&M's, Hersheys and Toy World.
But there is a sombre side, the 9/11 site. An event that changed the world. To be there is emotional and brings tears to my eyes, how can we do this stuff to each other?
The Empire States building, you feel as though you can see the world, there are queues now and x-rzy checks and it costs to go to the top-it wasn't always like that.
The Staten Island Ferry,a half hour ride out past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It's free-great. A show on Broadway-Jersey Boys, special seeing it close to where Frankie Vali and The Four Seasons lived. Grand Central Station, The Village, Brooklyn, it goes on and on. WOW

Update

HI all, trying it this way rather than email. You can add comments at end of blog. Will also link to a photo album.I guess the biggest event recently has been our purchase of a new caravan, not the one our friends where looking at but a new one we saw locally. Ticked all the boxes for the features we wanted. A bit longer than I originally wanted to tow but OK. Took it up to a local beach camp at Himatangi,for the weekend to sort out how everything worked. We can camp independent of power and water now with both waste and clean water tanks, gas cooking, heating, hot water and refrigeration . Double bed made up all the time and plenty of seating around the front of the van.
We will go away for the two weeks of school holidays at end of Sept when Avril is off calling in to see Nic and Sarah in New Plymouth.
I have started removing wall paper in first of 3 bedrooms needing decorating. The paper I am removing is the original so has been up for 30 years!!
Would be nice if I can get the first room finished for Robin and Dean (cousins from Northland) arriving 3rd Sept.for a long weekend Might be a big ask!!
Avril is finding it harder to focus on work now that I am off and we have the new van. Plan is to stay on until Xmas. Fingers crossed!!
Weather still cold and unsettled will be nice to get some warm sunny days. We did get a taste for a short time today but forecast is not good for rest of week. Daffodils and camelias are out and roses are budding so it must be moving towards spring.