What are the chances?

Today we decided to go to Sutton Salt Lake out on the Strath Taieri about 7km before Middlemarch. Being Labour Weekend Sunday the roads were extremely quiet. When we got to the car park, a paddock, we were the only ones around.

After a picnic lunch, sheltered from a blustery south westerly, we headed off with Oscar in tow. Sorry to Doc (Dept of Conservation) but he was on a leash and we weren't leaving him in the car!

We has a great time clambering over schist rock, thinking what it would be like to be in the Jackson films and being chased by Orcs! It was that sort of setting.

The lake is more impressive than we expected. While there we knocked off three more geocaches which was fun.

Then on our way back along the loop track there in the distance, and coming towards us, was a family we knew! None other than the Campbell family, very good friends of ours.

They went on to finish the track while we went on to Middlemarch. Afterwards we joined up for a coffee and then on our way home called in to another friends for an impromptu F&C tea.

A great day out!!

Power!

Old Waitaki Dam

Gone Fishing

Wellington Holiday July 2012

Catching up with my family.
Rock climbing.
High ropes courses at adrenaline forest Porirua - awesome.
Pizza with Ann's brother David and his family on Oriental Parade
Visit to Wellington Zoo which has and is being developed further every time we visit.

Waianakarua Summer 2012

This scrapbook customized with Smilebox Think of this as a digital scrapbook. Each page has photos that you can select to enlarge and view more closely. If some photos on a page appear not to load, select them anyway as we have found this causes the photo to appear. Ann and the kids did this, they spent all evening on it, and have done a superb job - far better than anything blogger let's one create. We hope you enjoy it. abasd, p + o

The Rail Trail from Alana

This photo collage generated with Smilebox

Never a dull moment in Dudders

Got back from Rail Trail to hear that Ann had been stung. Last time in CHCH when this happened Ann reacted. This time more so - huge reaction in her left arm. The swelling just kept on coming but then we wondered about cellulitis after about 36 hours or so. Off to after hours for an assesment. Yip, they too were worried so IM antibiotics - oh yay. Anyone who's had IM penicillin will sympathise. More antihistamines too, not that they were doing anything. Then today, initially we thought better but as the day wore on no so, back to GP who said, "ED's the place ya wanna be" and off she went. Hours later, and after a batch of muffins (thanks Alana), baths, school lunches, a BBQ, wine, cheese and crackers, oh yes and we feed that dog too, Ann returns this time with an IV in her arm , more antibiotics + antibiotic enhancers (that was a new one to us, we learnt something) more antihistamines (third lot now) and some pain relief (if not for the arm then for the sore bum from the jab and hand from the IV).

If all else fails, you could open your own pharmacy on TradeMe I piped!

Here's hoping this works and we don't need to invest in an EpiPen for the next time! Though we won't know until the event but if we don't have one then we may seriously wish we did. Thankfully we happen to know the cheapest source in the country so it might be a wise investment for $135.00 + pp!

Coldest Day Since 1918 and the biggest snow fall since the early 90's

Snow fall in Opawa Christchurch

We had hoped to visit friends, take the kids to clip'n climb etc. We settled for walks, snow fights, building a snow man, reading, enjoying my iPod music when docked to a very nice stereo and drinking far too much coffee. Our friends whose house we stayed in said their outside weather station recorded -10 deg C!!

Here are some more pictures:

Paige on swing

Snow depth

Front garden Opawa CHCH

Opawa streets

Snow on roof

Snow overhanging upstairs gutters

Paige enjoys the snow in Opawa Christchurch, Monday 25 July 2011

Snow Swing

Alana Celebrates her 12 Birthday in style

Prep for the big jump

I am seriously behind in blogging and I appreciate those of you who have said they miss the updates. I hope over the next wee while to get a few more pictures and videos up loaded, with an emphasis on the images and not too much writing.

Cromwell

In the school holidays we spent part of the first week in Cromwell and Wanaka. Sam went on to spend the second week in Wanaka with friends. Here are some shots: a really good shot of us all with Lake Wanaka in the background, a beautiful one of Paige, of the kids in Cromwell, the Clyde dam and a small video of the spill way in action. All taken on the new iPod!!

Naseby

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This weekend Ann and me along with Paige went to Naseby for a break. This was only made possible because a colleague swapped with me and did my weekend of on-call for me. More importantly wonderful friends, Craig, Hilary and their kids had our three over for the night! Then on Sunday Sal took Alana and Samuel while Danielle visited a friend. THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU GUYS WE ARE SO GRATEFUL!!

We had a great time. For the first time ever we saw the national Bonspiel: where curlers from all over the country gather to play ‘bowls on ice’. We also checked out the ice Luge and I was very spoilt by being able to have a go – for a solid hour. Gunter, who is Latvian, runs the Luge with his Latvian partner. It was great although I, along with a couple of Italians, did not impress him with our crashes and we got told that this was no joke! We were not taking it lightly but I think he has visions of the rescue helicopter turning up as he said to us, “guys, I don’t need any broken bones!” Neither did we as we did our best to take the corners wide and not to be afraid as we were sternly instructed!!

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Paige enjoyed meeting Peter and Pippa the two Alpacas that were resident at the Naseby Trail Lodge where we stayed – which we would recommend to any one – it’s a great place.

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GO CHRIS!

My Aunt Chris has been over from London for the past few weeks and before she headed home we wanted to take her through to Cromwell which is a favourite spot for us as it offers so many walks and cycle opportunities. We even got Chris out on the Rail Trail cycling between Clyde and Alexandra - a 16km round trip.  Considering Chris just celebrated her 70th in January and hasn't been on a bike in over 20yrs, she did amazingly.  We were so proud of her.  (We won't mention the slight skid in the gravel, crash & burn and cut to her hand) 

Three Go Adventuring on Stewart Island!

This last week Margaret's (Ann's Mother) sister Chris (UK) joined Bob and Margaret on a trip to Stewart Island to celebrate Bob's three score and ten!

Bob sent the following pictures through of their trip. I was amazed at the size of the swell in Foveaux Strait (I'll be flying if we ever go there - I don't do swells!) Apparently the twin hull boat handled it just fine.

I did not realise Bob was so keen on catching fish - but have a look at the grin on his face and it says it all!!

Moeraki

This amazing shot of Moeraki, that is just up the road from us, was taken by Bob and is the location of a famous Sea Food Restaurant, Fleur’s. An amazing spot!

Riding is "Fablious!"

For ages now we have been trying to encourage Danielle to learn to ride her bike. I am not a fan of trainer wheels as they don't teach kids to balance properly. When we have been out riding I have often used the trailgator to tow Danielle so she can be with us. This last week while away in Cromwell I was determined that by the end of the week she would be riding her bike. With a little practice and the use of the local school tennis courts she managed to do well enough to actually get motivated to do more. Here is the result of her perseverance!

"There's gold in them there hills."

Well there was once but not any more, although the kids liked to think that the odd gold rock might have been a lucky find.

A few weeks ago now; circa pp ('pre Paige') as this is how we tend to define time at the moment, we had a fantastic long weekend away in Cromwell. For the first time we explored Bannockburn; enjoying a long walk amongst the old gold mining tailings, caves, dams and water races. We had no idea how much wild thyme grew in the area and it was amazing to walk amongst the thyme and to have the scent of it so strong in the air. We also came across an amazing ruin of an old cottage where we stopped for lunch. The fruit trees dating from the 1800's still fruit. The brothers who owned the cottage and lived in the area were smart and ahead of their time. They did not chase wealth through gold, they secured the water supply and then sold the water from their reservoir to the miners. Smart boys!!









No trip to Cromwell would be complete without the chance to get back on the rail trail. Taking the bikes away now (all 5 of them) is just part of the standard packing routine. Here we are with the Campbells ready to depart from Thurlow to head off to Lauder and them to Omakau and eventually for Alana and me to Chatto Creek 28km from where we set off. A great ride!

A week in Christchurch

Over the first week of the holidays we headed back to Christchurch as Blair was part of the organising comittee for an Educators Conference being held there. We did a house swap with friends which was fantastic, as this gave us the chance to catch up with friends while Blair slaved away at conference. On this visit the children and I managed to catch up with Karen, Nev & Blake. Traci, Will & Bella. Erica, Lucy & Max. Susan, Kate & Tom. Kerry, Stuart & Tommy. Paula, Theo & Polly. Debbie & Lucy. So as you can see it was a very social time. Samuel & Danielle enjoyed the bonus of a sleep over with friends Theo & Polly, so we took Alana out for a special treat of a session at Clip n Climb - one of her favourite activities. We also managed to fit in a family day on the Saturday where we explored the market, pedal boated on the Avon and then enjoyed our first experience of a 3D movie. Here are some photo's.

WGTN Donkins visit the DUD Donkins

My parents are in town from Wellington. So far the weather has been very good with warm afternoons and dry as well. Yesterday we took them to see the Chinese Gardens.



Today we went out through Port Chalmers to Aramoana and the 'Spit' to show them the sights. Samuel had been keen on fishing but with the size of the swell it was just as well we did not try.