The 'Beijing' of New Zealand - something to ponder

Many have asked us how we are finding Christchurch and how we have settled in, especially the kids. We always answer that we are loving it without a doubt, except for one thing and I, Blair was warned. (Martyn Fields you can say you told me so if you ever read this!) The air quality is awful. Especially on the eastern side of town. In fact this year it has been worse than last year or so I thought.

My suspicions were right. When I had a look on the ECAN website http://www.ecan.govt.nz/Our+Environment/Air/ my fears were correct! Woolston, which we are closest to in terms of where the measurements are taken, exceeded the limit of 50 microrams of particulate per cubic meter of air had 3 high readings up until now with the higest to date being 54ug/m3 air.

So far this year we have had 9 and the highest reading has been 155ug/m3 air. See graphs.
Yet the news papers will quote St. Albans where the number of highs for 2007 was 13 (Woolston 15) and claim this is the lowest since 1988. Maybe in St. Albans, but Woolston so far has exceeded last year by a factor of 3 in frequency of highs and more than 100ug/m3 of particulate matter for the single highest reading for 2008.

Uncle Errol's visit

Last weekend my brother came south, the kids were so excited at the thought of this they were wishing the week before his arrival would just disappear! We really enjoyed your visit Errol and look forward to you heading south again, to quote you:








"I will definitely be back down there before too long! Good on ya bro!

We couldn't have Uncle Errol visit and not have the chance to be out swinging the club. Here are some shots from the only sort of golf course that we visit. The two brothers were not very competitive, WERE WE? NO, NOT HALF!!At four holes in one each, one would have never guessed.

The weather was rubbish, whoever said only Dunedin gets cold has not experienced the bitter damp cold of Christchurch. We saved it for your visit and Samuel's soccer match last Saturday!! Errol came to watch Samuel play soccer, this was the match that Samuel was awarded player of the day - good timing Samuel!

McLeans Island

It was another beautiful autumnal Canterbury day and, after Church, I announced that four would go cycling. Not "Five Go Cycling!" Unfortunately Ann had to work. Someone has to bring home the bacon.

I decided that we would explore McLeans Island. This is about 40km from where we live, out beyond the airport and not far from the Orana Wildlife Park. I managed to cram all 3 mountain bikes, Danielle's bike and the TrailGator into the back of the Odyssey - thank goodness for quick release hubs and seats. We must get a bike rack for it!!

After about 3km of cycling I confessed to the kids that in fact the track (marked in red) was 10km and there was no going back as the circuit is one way - a loop track. After a drink and a snack, to satisfy the smallest member of the party, it was a unanimous decision that we push on. Good on ya kids.

They did really well and Danielle particularly as Daddy got pretty quick on the second half of the track. She sang the whole way and announced how she liked the, "speedy bits ... would (I) go faster!!" The trip was helped by the fact that her peddles were not spinning because at about the 2km mark there was a loud bang as the rear baring passed away on her bike's rear axle