The Dangers of Suburban Australian Life

There is always things they don't tell you isn't there? Sure there is more scare factor in spiders, crocodiles and sharks. Nobody told us about the magpies. Well apparently it's hatching season over here and so for the next 6 weeks we are magpie enemy number one. The picture below pretty much shows how Tina found out about this and by asking a few questions and typing swooping magpies into Google, we found out we were not alone.



If its not magpies its gum trees. Yes killer gum tree branches is the other occupational hazard in Whitby St. They have not got us yet but when we returned from New Zealand we found a 2m long, 4cm thick log in our main playing area in the front yard(aka garden). Needless to say we are watching the skies carefully at the moment.

Feeling The Winter Heat!

Maybe it's the post New Zealand downer or the cool winter days or the fact that half our friends are in the early weeks of the bigger summer hols or teaching in Australia is just a bit crap. Whatever the reason this weekend could not come soon enough.
Having been rained off last weekend we made a second attempt to attend "winterheat". The fact that nobody we spoke to had ever heard of it and the proliferation of empty B&Q white plastic chairs when we arrived left us a tad concerned.


But the view from the top of the "hill" and the proliferation of B&Q mosquito candle buckets restored our faith in the event. It was actually a good evening out with live music (Canadian band from Chad...use your atlas)curry tents, coffee tents and beer tents. They even sold mulled wine to give it that authentic winter feel but had the temperatue been 20 degrees colder it would have felt more authentic.

The grand finale (well as much as the children could put up with) is when the "fire dragon" sent the wishes that the children had written high into the sky. We suggested that Alex should wish for the end of the Israel/Lebanon crisis but he decided to go for the "I want the Pokemon Emerald game" option; shallow little toe rag!

Never Smile at a Crocodile.

The Reptile Park.


This incredible Giant Tortoise was great to watch....the speed, yes the speed in which it devoured a carrot .....



The chap doing all the special talks and demonstrations was brilliant! He was funny, sarcastic, informative and rude (which Alex loved!) He generally kissed all his creatures and even licked a Cane Toad, then suddenly remembered it had just been to toilet on his hand...so it tasted gross!
It is worth knowing the difference between an alligator and a crocodile.....basically you've had it if you meet a croc.....so it's true...never smile at one because they are much more aggressive and they will chase you and eat you! Even the baby ones are born snappy!!



Alligators on the other hand are much more laid back....and will only eat you if you are easy!!



A Tazmanian Devil's bottom is the best shot I could get of this strange, unsociable creature. You shouls have heard the noises it made...it really did sound like the cartoon character, Taz. He kissed this too, even though she was really grumpy!



The dilemma was whether to try a Meal-worm or not...lots of the audience tried one and said it tasted like....guess what?...chicken! It freaked Jessica out just holding it...so Daddy ate it for special effect...but he didn't chew it so now he is worried about it growing in his tummy!

Arty!

While exploring and looking at the local restaurants for somewhere to take our kind hosts on our final night, Pete took us to the Craft centre....looking for Balancing Kiwis, because they are apparently made somewhere in Christchurch. We met a very interesting and friendly bone carver who offered to make something of my own design, while I watched.
It was truely fascinating watching the process and hearing his life story while he worked.



He uses cow and whale bone.....but obviously he has a huge supply of cow bone from the butcher...so I didn't feel guilty that the cow was being hurt just for my carving! I actually think it is very resourceful to use the bone too, especially for something so creative!


My fish bone design also has traditonal Maori



We got our Balancing Kiwis. But not in Christchurch. Chantel was very pleased with her design

Hanmer Springs.

Thermal Pools. A great idea after a day on the slopes. Another 90 minute drive through the windy roads of the South Island but worth the trek. Tina and I spent every moment we could with shoulders submerged when it was only about ten degrees. Jessica at least was more hardy.



The water was lovely (between 36 and 41 degrees which is a summers day in Britain these days thanks to global warming ) but the snowy mountains behind reminded us to stay submerged.





Jessica and Alex staked out this spot which we thought made great photo material. In order to get here they had to hover close by until a canoodling couple drifted away annoyed by the close proximity of two small children.




The car hire had been returned but we got to Hanmer courtesy of Pete and Chantel's "honky mobile". we've not heard the word honky since "Love Thy Neighbour" stopped being on the telly but Pete is on a one man crusade to make the word socially acceptable again. Honky was still a bit mucky after the dirt roads of Porter Heights.



More scenery and Bungy jump locations on the way home.



And so it was the final evening and we thought our ever patient hosts deserved a meal out. we ended up at "Dux de lux" where everyone was well catered for despite the lack of dead animals on their menu (well ones with legs anyway). Can't be too sure about why we chose this location for our final shot. I think it was because of the lovely fish tank but as we all stood in front of it, it kind of loses its impact. Well us and the menu look good. Never mind that we could just as easily be by the specials board by the Bold Forester in Marchwood.



So it was goodbye to New Zealand. Like everywhere we go, we never did it justice and the North Island will just have to wait a decade or two but we saw enough and did enough to make it a holiday to remember. They need to invent central heating and semi skimmed milk and perhaps be a little less obsessed with one lane bridges but if you can put up with such "hardships" it's a country well worth a visit.

The ups and down of Skiing

A key sign of getting old is when you live to see what your children are getting up to and so it was the case at Porter heights today. Our day at Cardrona a few days before had been a very pleasant, if expensive, experience. The plan was for two days near Christchurch too but Mt Hutt lived up to its nickname of Mt Shut, with both days cancelled by high winds. Pete very kindly took us to this smaller but closer ski field but we unfortunately joined the rest of the frustrated Mt Hutt Skiers for a packed and congested afternoon on the slopes.
Yet whilst Chris and I floundered Jess and Alex flourished. Pete meanwhile, just happily got a wet backside on his snowboard.

A calm scene but the clouds were rolling in whilst Alex masters the platter lift.


Jessica practises her snowplough and Chris practises his falling over and "I can't believe you took a picture of me" expression. Enlarge that picture it's a wonderfully grumpy face.



Top of the nursery slope and Alex is ready to go off again whilst Jessica was a bit more tentative. A great day but we need to get back to Whistler.



After Pete bravely negotiated the thirty minute drive down the mountain we stopped here for warm drinks. No Hot Chocolate but Chris told me that black Thermos coffee never tasted so good.

The Antarctic Centre and Christchurch Centre.

The Antartic Centre told the story of the animals and the mad people who work there.....doing lots of important research in nightmare conditions.
The children met lots of different penguins...stuffed and cuddly ones! (although, apparently they are due to get some live ones shortly!)
J & A in the 'kids only' penguin room!



The children particularly enjoyed playing in the 'Antartic Storm' room...(you can't see the 12 kids that Pete beat off to get on to the Skidoo.) Every 30 minutes the storm went off....to show you how influential the wind is in causing temperatures to plummet to -25 degrees! Jessica hid in the igloo but the rest of us braved the storm!
Chris got a wet bottom on the ice slide!



So, after a jolly morning in one centre, we arrived in the centre of Christchurch for a tour of the sights. The Cathedral was an obvious must see.....(but we confess....we didn't go up it!)



Tram photo......but ....we didn't go on it!



Cool Art Gallery...but we didn't go in it!!