Aerogers' Guestbook

Pacific Northwest
Hi Amy and Jeremy: Colorado and Wyoming WILL be cold and unpleasantly so. That's what makes the difference from those places and the PNW. Seattle gets a bit of snow, but very seldom -10 Celsius or lower. Lots of rain ... it's damp, but I think you'd find the climate a LOT like NZ where you've been on the South Island. Portland is a bit drier and a bit cooler, but still MUCH warmer than inland points. The major difference from NZ is that in the PNW, wherever you go, the houses will be properly heated, no matter how old they are. More to follow in a few days. We are moving out the valley in a couple of days to a place called Chilliwack, BC., so will catch you up again in a week or so. Stay safe on the slopes in the meantime. hugs, Joe

Whiteout, you say??
Whiteout, phooey! :>) Them Kiwis are big sissies!! When you can't see the closest cars from where you are standing when you took the photo - that's more like white-out conditions that northern mid-westerners and Canadian prairie folks consider a white-out. Or likewise for folks in the coastal mountains. Still, I'd agree that you wouldn't want to lose your bearings out there in those conditions, most especially if you didn't know the terrain. Joe

Amy, you guys should move o Jackson Hole, Wyoming.... You are gonna love it there!!!! I think it will remind you of Queenstown:>

Love it!
You guys looked so cute in your dance outfits!! Love the hitchhiking stories...reminds me of my time in S. America...we hitchhike there too! You definitely get used to it, but it's a bit of a culture shock.

Winter driving.
What about winter tires, Amy? Do you not have them or are they just not available? What is common?

Sweating your socks off
Yes, that is what is happening to us for the last three weeks. Temperatures in the mid 90's with a heat index of well over 100. That is Farenheit for you Kiwis. I wish I was snowboarding!

Cute cottage! Stay warm. It was 97 degrees here the other day in the ministry. Yeah, lots of beads of sweat!

CCCCCCooold house!!
Amy (and Jeremy): Well, I sort of laughed. I've railroaded at minus 42 degrees celcius out in the railyard and at minus 35 degrees celcius in snow up to my armpits at a derailment site. So, you ain't seen anything so far. Having said that, it is bloody miserable when it's cold in a home. There is no escaping that fact and it isn't funny to live with. Just be careful your water pipes don't freeze up on you. If that happens, then you WILL find out what what trouble can be!! You might try leaving a candle lit at night, someplace where it is safe and guaranteed not to fall over and set things alight. You'd be surprised how much a slow burning candle can help sometimes. I don't know what it is about the English (be they NZ, OZ or Limey), but the concept of proper insulation and central heating seems to have escaped them. One trick to keeping warm at all times is to learn to dress in layers. A good undershirt, a good shirt and a good sweater are the traditional English answer to cold habitats and because this is an effective way of keeping warm, perhaps that's why they never figured out how to keep places warm. Warm socks don't hurt either. Even here in Vancouver, when the weather is cold, I routinely wear socks to bed. The other trick is to learn the ancient routine of rural Americans and Canadians in winter country ... about 3.30-4 a.m., you get up and stoke the fire. I grew up with a wood burning furnace in our old farm house. Every night when it was cold, dad was out of bed and downstairs around 4 a.m. You'll probably have to learn to do likewise. It's really not good for the house to get minus 10 below inside. I can see that husband of yours is going to have to be trained some more!!! :>) Still ... what an education and adventure you kids are having. Your photos, as usual, are wonderful. Can't wait to see how your winter progresses. So far it's as tame (in terms of weather severity) as it is picturesque. Just be careful with those snow boards. Busted bones are no joke. What a beautiful little home. Can nothing be done about that hot water supply??? cheers and hugs from Vancouver Joe