The last post!

Well, I've been back a week, and am still sitting amidst a pile of washing, ironing amd 2 months-worth of mail, but I've had a bit of time to absorb what's been happening. So time to sum up, and perhaps add some of those photos we didn't get to see.
We've seen magnificent scenery, particularly in the South Island: This is Mount Cook.



and these are the Fitzroy falls, in Australia

 We've seen the sun rise (Hong Kong)

And set - this is Hazel's farm at Gunnedah

we've seen iconic places

and done iconic things - this is the Dart River Jet

We've seen birds and plants we've never seen before (but no Kiwis) - this is a Pukeko

We've climbed the Harbour Bridge (see previous post)

and learnt to ride the quad bike (move over, Steve McQueen)

We've met dogs - Archie (Trevor and Alison's)

Bonnie (Hazel's)

and Penny (Stuart's)

But most of all, we've met people. A friend whom I hadn't seen for 18 months. Cousins whom I haven't seen for ages, some of them for over 50 years. And all their offspring, and their offspring's offspring. in fact, all the relations I've got, on Mum's side. John's the one with all the group photos; I just take snaps. Youve seen the New Zealand ones, here's some of the Aussie lot.

Errol, Marge and Joy at Fitzroy Falls

Christmas morning

Angus, aged 2

And so many more memories of people, of the different generations, all getting on together, enjoying each other's company, particularly on Christmas and New Year's Day
It was a wonderful trip, with wonderful memories. It's been a privilege to be able to travel and see all these things, and tremendous to meet up with the family. Thanks for travelling with us





Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

Now I'm back, I can get access to the official photos, so here are some:

On the way up:

Nearly there:

and right at the top, between the two arches  (trying to look nonchallant)

 Good, or what!

Still waiting

Well, we've got as far as the airport in Bangkok.
Billed as a three hour journey, it took us twoo and a half, and was pretty scary. We had a good driver, but it was the rest! Driving on the left is the only resemblance to British driving. we were on a three-lane motorway, with no lane discipline and few sticking to the speed limit. Threr were cars, lorries and buses all over the place.
Anyway, here we are, waiting in the business lounge, drinking champaigne to while away the remaining hour and a half before our flight is called.
I think I'd just like to be home now!

Waiting

We're hanging about the lobby of the hotel, waiting for our transport to the airport.
We've been checked out for 2 hours, have had a meal and wandered round the town, and now we're just waiting.
Just over 24hrs and we'll be home.
I'll do another blog then.

Paradise

Yes, it's paradise here!

The hotel has everything we could want, without ever leaving. We found yet another pool this morning, with waterfall, jacuzzi, bar etc. Temp is about 30C, with a cooling breeze. Just outside the hotel is the start of a series of streets with bars, restaurants. etc. Last night we ate in a Thai restaurant, and as we were sitting there, an elephant walked past. I thought I might have had too much to drink! Tonight we found an italian resataurant where, because I spoke Italian to them, we got free liqueurs at the end of the meal.

This is the view of the sea from the pool. We can get to eat through a gate, and swim; it's as warm as bath-water! The sand is white, and really fine, and there are coconuts in the palms just waiting to fall (which is why I don't sit under them!). Three more days of idyllic living, and then back to reality.

I might get back on line before we leave for home, but I doubt it.

Thinking of Marjory on Sunday with prayers and best wishes.

We are Siamese, if you please!

Well, here we are in Thailand. It's certainly different from Australia (drier, for a start). I'm sorry there were no photos while we were in Australia; I was using my cousin's computer, and it wasn't up-to-date enough to manage.
Here's a photo of a koala to prove I've been there.

Cute, isn't he!
we were lucky to avoid the floods; John and Susan went up to Brisbane and then to Lismore before joining us at Hazel's farm. The main road they came along was closed a couple of days later, and we've been watching the floods in Brisbane since we got here.

Arrived in Thailand on Tuesday, just before midnight and then had a 3 hour journey by mini-bus to Hua Hin (which added to a 4 hour time change mant it was 7.00am Australian time by the time we got to bed.

Nothing to do here but relax, and it's a very luxurious situation to do just that; this is me relaxing in the foyer.
Susan has decided we need to lose weight before Suzy's wedding in 2 weeks time, so today we did step aerobics and tomorrow it's water aerobics. Mind you, all this exercise makes you hungry, so it defeats the object!
with two pools, five restaurants and all this exercise on offer, there's no need to leave the complex, but just outside the door is a wealth of  restaurants, bars, massage parlours and tailors, so we do venture out from time to time.
However, I'm happy by the pool.
Might get another post in before we come home. I can hardly believe it's nearly over.

On the farm

I'm just back from three days on cousin Hazel's farm. She is in Gunedah in Northern New South Wales, and lives alone in a 100-year-old farm owned by a relative of her late husband, raising cattle. What a wonderful experience! It's quite isolated, and the farm house is built of wood and corrugated iron, with a veranda all the way round, sulphur-crested cockatoos, galahs and fairy wrens in the trees all around, and starry, starry skies. We went out into the paddocks (huge fields) in which the grass and weeds have grown as high as an elephant's eye after all the recent rain, with my cousins Hazel and Marj in an ancient utility truck and me on the quad bike to see the cattle and the swollen river and the new windmill pumping water up for the cattle. There are usually loads of kangaroos there, (and probably were, hidden in the long grass) but we only saw one, on the second day.
John and Susan came down from Hamilton Island via another cousin in Brisbane and some friends in Lismore, narrowly missing the latest lot of floods. We all went to a wildlife park near Gunedah, and saw koalas, kangaroos, emus and the back of a sleeping wombat, as well as numerous birds, many of them beautifully coloured.
Life there is quite hard, and there is a need to be self-sufficient, drinking rainwater, and washing in water pumped up from a bore-hole; burning wood gathered from the fields. There is electricity, but only bottled gas, and no modern air-con but a cooling system using the water from the bore-hole and the leaving open of doors with fly-screens to try to prevent flies, mozzies etc from coming in. The nearest neighbours, Ruth and Malcolm, are over a mile away, but lovely, generous people who will lend a hand whenever needed.

Only 2 more days in Australia now; we leave on 11th Jan for a week in Thailand, and then we're home in freezing England. I can't believe it's nearly over.

Seeing Sydney

having had some good views of Sydney from the bridge, I've been having a look round at ground level over the last couple of days. Although the centre of town has many sky-scrapers, like any other modern city, there are still remnnant of the old Sydney, with areas of low-level buildings from the late eighteenth, early ninteenth centuries, victorian style municipal buildings etc. We spent a bit of time in the original prison for the transported convicts, looking at the rather grim conditions they lived in and then we walked through the botanical gardens to the art gallery where there's an exhibition on the Terracotta Warriors. Today, Marj and I did a guided tour of the Opera House, and saw inside those fantastic shells. There were rehearsals going on and we were allowed to sit in on them for a little while. It's an extraordinary building; we also got to see a video of how the plans were chosen and how the dream was converted to reality.
We go up to cousin Hazel's farm in a couple of days; we're going to do the scenic route through the blue mountains, and probably go to a wild life reserve while we're there. I'm not sure if I can get internet access while I'm there, so it may be a few days before I get back on-line.
Oh, and the Cricket's in Sydney!

We did it!!!

Yesterday afternoon, John, Susan and I climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was a glorious sunny day, with only a light breeze, and views for miles out to sea and inland to the Blue Mountains. We went up in a party of 14 with John leading the way (our guide was sometimes at the front and sometimes further back, either taking photos of us or encouraging folk.) Susan and I were pretty scared, but not the only ones. The bridge itself (the coathanger bit) is easy, as it has wide steps and you can't see down. The scary bit is walking along a gangway between the pylons,and, even worse, climbing four vertical ladders to take you from under the roadway to the bottom of the coathanger. however, we did it, and it's pretty exhilerating at the top. I have a certificate to prove it, and a photo (we weren't allowed to take our own cameras in case we dropped them - a pretty lethal weapon) This has done nothing for my fear of heights, but is a significant acheivement.
Yesterday was a pretty good day to be a pom in Oz, winning the ashes. I'll be in Sydney for the last match.
John and Susan fly to Hamilton Island on New Year's Day. I'll stay here with Marj and Errol, and go with them to my cousin Hazel up country, where I'll meet up with J & S again. I hope to be in touch before then.
Happy New Year, everyone.

G'day, sports!

Well, here we are in Australia. I'm staying with cousin Marj and her husband Errol, and John and Susan are with her sister Joy. We were on the beach in the sun on Christmas Eve, plodging in the Pacific in the sun.
We had a wonderful Christmas. I went to church with Marj and Errol at 8.00am, and realised that as I was singing carols here, West Harton would be out singing Christmas Eve Carols. We all went to Marj and Errol's son Trevor, and his wife Alison for Christmas lunch, and the house was full for Santa coming! Even after several had left to go to other relatives for lunch, there were still 20 of us round the table. It was 30 degrees outside, so we ate inside! On the way home we stopped at their daughter Leeanne's house, and were in the swimming pool at 9.00pm, with cockatoos, lorrikeets and other exotic birds in the trees around us.
Pictures soon!!!

North Island

Haven't had access to the internet for the last few days: busy in Wellington, and with relatives until today.
We stayed in the centre of Wellington, and as soon as we were settled in, were whisked off to dinner by an ex-colleague of mine who now works at Weelington Hospital, Shelly Soo. She took us round the bay to a lovely place called Day's Bay, to a lovely restaurant with views over the beach where kids were swimming, and as it got darker, we could see the lights of Wellington over the water.
Next day we spent lots of money in shops and pottered round town, and then Shelly met us in the Botanic Garden and took us to her house in the tree-tops for a delicious meal (her house is high on a hill-side, so it really feels as if you are up in the trees, with the birds. It was lovely to see Shelly again: she's been there just over a year, and is beginning to feel more at home. She made us really welcome.

The next day we set off for Waipukurau, which is where Mum's sister Margaret lived since the war; her son, Jim, has built a house next door to the old place, and we stayed there a couple of nights. I had forgotten that cousin Peggy, who died about thirty years ago, had married a Maori, and that her daughter, had also married  Maori, so I met all my Maori relations the next day, along with their Maori wives.

And here's  5-year-old Maika doing the Haka!

this all took place at a barbecue put on for us at the eldest son's house; as well as the usual barbie stuff, we had some special Maori food prepared in a hangi, a pit dug in the ground, special heated stones put in, then the food, wrapped up, then the pit filled in and left for 4 or 5 hours. It was delicious! We were shown some feather cloaks made by his wife in the traditional style.

The next day, we went to my third cousin, Judy, in Gisborne. She too married a Maori, so there were more to meet. He had died some years back, but she took us to the village of his ancestors, where he is buried. This is the village meeting house, the whare tipuna

Today, we are in Rotorua, enveloped in a miasma of sulphurous fumes (I'm sure it's good for you)

in case I don't get another chance before we leave NZ, here is a picture of aNew Zealand Christmas tree.

Ti harinui to you all!



All at sea!

this comes to you from the Interislander ferry. We left the South Island this morning on the three hour trip across to Wellington.
We never did get to see a whale; the sea was too rough both days we were in Kaikoura and the ships ddin't go out. We managed to get transfered to a plane (a little 4 seater) but still didn't see a whale, although we saw a pod of dolphins. It was a nice little trip though, and better than just going home and getting our money back. We also managed to fit in an eleven kilometre walk round the headland.with splendid views up and down the coast from the top of the cliffs
Two days in Wellington now; going to meet up with Shelly Soo, an ex-colleague.
Catch up with you all there.

moving around

Here are the pancake rocks at Punakaiki.
the strata in the rocks have worn away, making them look like a pile of pancakes. There are stacks and arches, and it looks a bit like Marsden Rock only more so, and a lot warmer

This is the blow hole just round the corner. It only works at high tide, and then only when there's a big wave, but it's pretty impressive. 

I promised you a picture from Abel Tasman National Park: this is the estuary we walked round. You can see the tree ferns in the fore-ground.

After we left Nelson, we moved on to Blenheim, which is the centre for the Marlborough wine-making area. We went on a wine tasting tour, visiting 4 wineries. Here is one of them

(no, the gentleman on the left is not at prayer). It was quite difficult to remember to sip, and not to drink the lot each time. We tasted over 20 wines in total, so that would hav been rather a lot
We've moved on to Kaikoura now, where we hope to do some whale-watching tomorrow, weather permitting. This area is reknowned for its crayfish, and this is dinner:-

Sorry it's a bit blurred, but it was very Yummy

I went to a carol service in the local church this evening. We sang all the usual ones, but also a couple of Kiwi carols:
   Carol our Christmas,
   An upside-down Christmas
   Snow is not falling
   And trees are not bare
   Carol the summer
   And welcome the Christchild
   Warm in our sunshine and sweetness of air

Now I know it's nearly Christmas

Abel Tasman National Park

A different sort of day. We've had loads of guided tours, many telling us the same thing. Today, we were taken in a boat part way up the coast and dropped off on a beach in the park. The New Zealand Department of Conservation is excellent and has worked hard in its efforts to conserve and even in places regenerate the original NZ flora and fauna. In this park, they have created tracks along the coastline from top to bottom, and we followed a section of it, with splendid views, lush, sweet-smelling vegetation and interesting bird-life. Our previous guides had educated us enough for us to recognise things as we went round. When we got back to the beach, we had time to sit in the glorious sunshine, plodge in the sea, and have a picnic, until the boat came to pick us back up.
Some time to do some supermarket stuff for todays lunch, then back to the hotel and pout for a pizza (you can get ordinary toppings, but mine was a "wooly wooly" with lamb and mint yogurt!

heading north

We never did get up in the helicopter; the clouds stayed low and the helicopters were grounded.
We moved on at coffee time, and by lunchtime were sitting in the sun having our lunch!
Our next stop was Panakaiki, right on the beach, with waves rolling in off the Tasman sea. Some rugged rocks on the headland next to us, called Pancake Rocks, which were spectacular, particularly when seen at high tide. I can't add photos on this Hotel computer, but will try with John's later.
we're now in Nelson, at the North end of the South Island. The journey yesterday started in sunshine, with a magnificent coastal drive, and a long winding river gorge, Buller Gorge, taking us into the mountains. However, there we met the rain and cloud which stayed with us into the night
We've stayed at some fantastic hotels: Franz Joseph was a set of studio rooms with varandas which backed straight onto the rain forest. Punakaiki was a type of log cabin just up from the beach.Now we're at Nelson, in a complex which is a mock-up of an English village - brick, half timbering the lot!
A sad day yesterday: Susan had a phone call from her daughter to say that her mother-in-law, mother of her first husband, had died, so it has been a sad day.
Today we've been at Abel Tasman National Park; I'll tell you about that tomorrow

And while we're on...

This is Hong Kong at sunset

And this is a Weka and its young

pictures

At last, a picture for you. This is Doubtful Sound, first thing in the morning.

Wanaka

,I thought I'd seen enough stunning mountains to last me a lifetime, but Wanaka had more. We stayed three nights at a fantastic hotel just outside Wanaka itself, and had 1st floor rooms with balconies looking out onto the hoteel gardens and beyond to a fantastic mountain range which changed colour as the sun went down. Friday was our first day with absolutely nothing scheduled so after getting some laundry done, we lazed by the hotel pool all day and unwound. on Saturday morning we had a trip on a jet boat on the lake, out to an island where our guide took us on a walk through all the native New Zealand vegetation up to a lake at the top. We met flightless birds (not Kiwis but something called a Weka) and heard bellbirds singing, and it was so different from the Fiords that it was a wonderful day. We even had time to do a bit of shopping before spending another hour or two by the pool, as the weather was still spectacularly warm and  sunny.
Yesterday the weather changed and we drove to the west coast in rain and cloud, reaching Franz Josef late afternoon. We were supposed to be going on a helicopter flight this morning to the glacier, but there were no flights today because of the low cloud. We're going to try again in the morning before we leave.
We can't grumble about the weather as it has been fantastic so far (sorry about your snow)
Oh, and my niece Suzy and Douglas have got engaged while they were in the Maldives, so we've been on the bubbly tonight!

Doubtful Sound

what  a fantastic trip; I run ourt of superlatives trying to describe it.
We arrived at lake Manapouri at lunchtime, and sailed across the lake to West Arm. then we got on a bus and dove up a steep pass. As we drove, the clouds lifted and we got views from above of Doubtful Sound before driving done to Deep Cove at the head of the Sound
We boarded the Navigator, which takes 70 people, and found our cabins on the first deck, with views out onto the water.
We sailed a little, then went into an arm of the Sound and did our "activities". John went kayaking and Susan and I went on one of the tenders with a nature specialist and learnt about the ancient native rain forest. Then we all went for a swim in the fiord; it was onnly afterwards the we realised it was over 400 metres deep!!!
the last event of the day was a trip up to tthe mouth of the fiord tosee a seal colony and some rare penguins. Then a hearty dinner and a night's sleep after anchoring in anther arm of the sound.
We woke at 6.30 and after a huge breakfast continued into the last arm of the sound , to experience "the sound of silence" - the engines and the generator were turned off and wee were asked to keep silence. No sounds but the Bellbird and the Wiki (not  Kiwi) and a waterfall. I've run out of worlds to describe the magnificence of the scenery, the aching beauty of the whole experience. The first verse of "How great thou art" kept coming to mind
Not an experience I am likely to forget.
We're at a lake -side resort with temps of 29degrees, but that can wait till tomorrow.
Good luck to BCS for the concert

Milford Sound

What a fantastic day!
i thought our luck had run out; it was so murky this morning and the clouds were low. We even had some rain on the journey
Had to drive like mad to get to Milford in time for the boat, and as we went over the final pass, the sun came out, the clouds lifted and the views were absolutley stupendous. The folk who did the trip in the morning couldn't see much for the fog; we had some cloud on the tops, but otherwise superb weather.
I can't begin to describe the scenery, so majestic, such ancient vegetation; ferns, lichens and magnificent waterfalls everywhere.
We're at Te Anau tonight, then of to Manipouri to get the ferry and bus which take us onto Doubtful Sound for the overnight cruise. I doubt there'll be internet there, so get back to you all when we return

oh, I forgot to mention that all around this area, there are lupins and dog-roses growing wild, the lupins all multicouloured; appparently they were introduced by the settlers.

One day I'll have time (and be sober enough) to work out how to add photos, then I'll scatter them through the whole blog.