Blogs from Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 4

OK, so I did it.....again! I packed my routine and settled life into boxes, did some organising, bought some tickets and boarded a plane to somewhere new. Well kinda new, been to Thailand before but never Koh Lanta and not with the intention of staying for a while. So I've finally gotten my a into g and decided that its about time to do some good in the world and give my two cents of help to someone. I'm now newly qualified as a Veterinary nurse, after 2 rather painful years of study, chaos and ironing out some pretty big wrinkles in my life. Gaining experience is high on the list of requirements if I am to break into the employment sector of the Veterinary world and so i decided what better to finally contribute and ... read more

Well! Christmas and New Year have gone. We had a fantastic time. After coming back into Wellington we headed down to beautiful Wanaka in the far south, just for a few days,to help Viv, Di's sister to celebrate her 60th birthday. Magic time and catching up with a few people we haven't seen for a while. Lots of food and drink and great company. Still think this is a neat place and intend to spend more time down there exploring in the not to far future. A quite time with a few people around on the Friday, but all on for the party on Saturday night. Lots of people and a lot of laughs and good times. A bit chilly but with the fires burning and the Pizza oven sending out the heat, spent most of ... read more

I spent 10 days in New Zealand just coming up to Summer Solstice, December 2013; I was surprised how complex it was to leave Melbourne: after passing through security there was an enormous queue to get through Borders Patrol, with a form to complete, and an officer to check me out; I'd have thought they would be glad to see you out, but it seems the obsessive checks continue. (Upon arrival, one must also complete a form stating what if anything one is bringing in, no foodstuffs are allowed, or indeed any animal products, leather, seeds.) I didn't take my drum over, in case they took it from me. And having admitted to living on a farm, they check one's boots, take them off to wash them if any traces remain on the soles. They are ... read more

Ten years on the wish list, it was good time to knock it off by adding to the list of training runs/walks. Porangahau Point to The Wreck. Approximately 16 kilometers of, at low tide a vast beach area broken by the Porangahau River Mouth 4 kilometers from start. One very beautiful morning, 1 hour before low tide we set off with great excitement up the beach. I've got the cuppa, Jessie's always keen, Kaye's along for the jaunt. The intention is to carry the gear across at the shallowest point, probably get wet to the chest. An hour later up and down the river bank, in for little testers. There are no shallower spots, just deep and deeper. I am getting " Plonker got any more bright ideas?" from team members. Thankfully i did not panic ... read more

Why breaking the cherry? The major thing here is putting myself out there. So why bother? A long interest in reading and wishful interest in writing. A burgeoning interest in photography and a wish to get involved in all forms of this type of media With the writing am hoping initially to cover training and participation in The Gobi March, the first, possibly the last, in a four desert campaign and the possibility, in the future, of blogs and other media in charitable fund raising for a local cause. Combining photography with the writing to both get the photographs out of the PC and shown, with the necessity of improving the photography. As the photography improves adding a gallery. The Grand plan is tying all this together and getting it out there especially during the Gobi ... read more