Austrian Bed and Breakfast in Kiwiland - Martina and Ileana visit New Zealand and go on a Tikitour during our

Last leg of the wee tour and there is a party going on.  Our secret reporter on the scene reports that both Ladies are celebrating with a bottle each!

Martina-on-the-sauce

Martina - had and is enjoying the fishy side of things - so much so - that if not careful there will be a meta-morph/change/transform-something rather out of the body experience - and she emerges as a mermaid.  This I am told, is most appropriate as the weather forecast is finally catching up with the interior and they may have to swim out!!  In which case being a mermaid would be an advantage.
Hard to imagine for many European's - but in NZ it can indeed rain dogs and cats as they say - or by the bucket load.  Houses here used to be built on poles buried deep in the earth and the floor itself would be a good 400mm of the ground - reason - at any given moment there can be as much as 100mm of rain falling in a 24 hour period - so flash flooding is a regularly happening.

Usually this is more common on the Westcoast - and more often then not - anywhere from Milford north up to Westport. Indeed Hokitika one year recorded 18 meters yes meters of rain!!  Also the far north is exposed but up there it is more via tropical storms causing the deluge.
In typical coaster fashion - they take the weather in the stride - even created a poem - which accurately describes the wet stuff rather appropriately.

It rained and rained and rained 

The average fall was well maintained 

And when the tracks were simple bogs 

It started raining cats and dogs. 

After a drought of half an hour 

We had a most refreshing shower 

And then most curious thing of all 

 

A gentle rain began to fall. 

Next day but one was fairly dry 

Save for one deluge from the sky 

Which wetted the party to the skin 

And then at last -- the Rain set in! 

(Anon)

One old-timer west-coaster once said that it is NOT raining UNTIL you cannot see your own hand stretched out in front of you.

All in all - the two mermaids are due in Christchurch tomorrow.  I better go and check out the rubber dingy and outboard motor (no use sailing - the wind never blows in the right direction), make sure we have two spare water life jackets and 2 paddles and emergency rations - hmmmm  fishing rod may well be the answer, seeing someone likes fish and chips.  Not sure how we are going to cook the fish on the water - but one thing at a time.

Have fun