Secret location revealed

We left Chch on Sat morning and headed north. We managed to stop at Reefton for lunch - saw the patron who said "you look familiar . . ." Lunch consisted of a chicken / mushroom pie. Yummmm.
Then a quick stop at the local info center and back on the road. Discovered from Reefton it was still 3-4 hours driving to Nelson. No sweat - roads where empty and dry - so this little Nikki Lauda wannabe made good time.
Got overtaken by a greyhaired elderly gent driving a big grunty Merc.



I had to laugh - he got pulled over near Richmond just short of Nelson by a traffic cop and said elderly greyhaired gent did NOT look happy!!
Anyhow the weather was overcast and cloudy in bits - really moody in parts - and absolutely stunning! NZ is indeed a beautiful place to live and we are extremely lucky to be here.






We snapped this little icicle just short of Reefton. The picture ain't doing it justice -the formation was over 2 meters in height! Inside the Reefton info center was lots of displays for outdoor stuff - national Parks etc etc. Found some sample of NZ timber and life cycles of native fauna and flora.







Also found this Bushmans quote about our Beeches - if you are colour blind you got major problems!!!

CONFUSED????





















Yes we did leave Chch in stunning sunshine - pity it did not last.









See how the mood changed??
















If you have a good look here you will find our own NZ version of the "Desperate Housewives" all three of them in fact!!! Can't imagine for one minute why they would be bored at home.


Found the motel in Nelson soon enough and went out for a meal and bunked down for the night, after watching the All Blacks fumbling their way past Italy.

Sunday 28 June
Out of bed early-ish and eventually got breakfast sorted. Quick wash and we were of to Motueka to see the local market. Well the 9!!! stalls did provide some form of entertainment - but of course we keep comparing this with our own Riccarton market!! Anyhow not much to see and most shops closed so headed back towards Nelson when we saw the sign for Seifreids Winery - and seeing Pam likes their Gewurztraminer decided to stop and taste their samples. Some HICKS later . . .
Hmmm - NICE stuff. Bought 4 bottles which no doubt will be soon gone! However they do mail order for some specific wines = not available in Chch, so that might come in handy at a later stage.
From there we headed into Nelson proper and found the local tourist info center - asked a couple of questions - loo-stop and we were of again. Wanted to see the the "Center of New Zealand". We found the park soon enough - oddly enough - it was near the park where the first ever Rugby match in NZ has been played way back in the 1870's!! Walked across the hallowed park!!! Very muddy now from Soccer play.
To get to the center of NZ you have to walk up a steep hill - on zig - zag walkway - all of 147 meters. Mamabear was huffing and puffing her way up slowly. Guess my daily regular 12 km walks came through in terms of fitness!
On top got grand view across Nelson City and harbor - amongst the clouds and a very strong and cold wind. After reading the signs and obligatory photos we headed back down - much easier.
Center point is probably 55 km further NW of Nelson - but it IS the spot where the first official survey point of the South Island was laid.
Anyhow from there Lunch - yeah McD. - they have the Kiwiburger's back for short time - so it was quick and easy.
After this we headed back out to Motueka way - and stopped at Hoglunds - a glass blowing factory. They had nice stuff there - but I could not bring myself to pay $7000 - for a piece of molten Sand.
HOWEVER - they do a hands on glass beads making session - and will and can take our scouts - provided we "supervise" them and are prepared to pay the asking price.
Hmmmm this might be a camp in Feb - we could camp at a local camping ground etc etc. By that stage we had enough of the wind - so headed back to motel - for a bit of rest b4 dinner.
Ended up pizza take-out - which was very nice - the guy runs a wood fired oven and we had good convo with him - re closed similar business in Chch while waiting for pizza to cook. Seems you need a special Italian oven . . . . ^^ - anyhow - one pizza and one bottle of lovely slosh later - fell into bed while realizing that we will need to check the weather forecast on Monday and see if we come back via Kaikoura!

Monday 29 June
Usual routine - up with wakeup call from PC - then breakfast and shower etc - then packing up.
Went to pay our bill and Lady at counter said she wondered if she was going to make it to work - she lives in Malbourough Sounds - a long way to come to work. She also said she heard that snow was falling in mountains so Mamabear was dead keen on getting back home via long and safe way - Blenheim and Kaikoura. Stopped on the way in Nelson and found the chocolate patisserie that sold all sorts of nice stuff - sent in Mamabear while I waited in car - not wanting to be party of big calorie rich stuff! Then headed of - to be met immediately with strong winds and heaps of rain. Road empty again - for most part a few lorries on the road and had to make my FIRST overtaking maneuver for the weekend!!!!
Eventually made it across the hills into Blenheim country and from there to Kaikoura - where we stopped for lunch! Wet and windy all the way!! See the weather map - we knew from TV news that parts of the North Island got a soaking - about 100 - 150 ml!


Anyhow - all safe back now - and need to face up to the next few days at work / scouting / home life etc .

Have fun

PS . - I did 1200 something kilometers this weekend - and well lets just say we travelled - urm - fast-ish but not as fast as we could have in europe!!

Teddy Bear blogs from secret location

Ok so I got asked where from exactly do I blog away - well - of course this teddy bear cannot reveal the precise location - but as u can see I am close to nature - outdoors - just as it should be.

I forgot my teddy bear on scout camp

Yep its confession time. I was so pre occupied with getting camp ready and all the other million jobs one had to do - I clean forgot to take my teddy bear on the scout (Kea) camp.
At least thats better then forgetting my pillow - or sleeping bag - all happened b4!
Mind you I had priorities - camera - lap-top - vacuum cleaner (for my sleep apnea) - doesn't leave much room for a teddy bear let alone other clothes. Anyhow I arrived and made my bed and realized what I had done - so gutted. Luckily one of the Mum's had to come out and bring out some other stuff so a phone call later one of my teddy bears was on his way to join me on my scout camp. Still the agony - who to take . . . . .
I have three teddy bears - all honorary scouts and fully scarfed!
There is the original Brodie - who has a lot of sentimental attachments - except he is a wet weather camper (he even has his own Gum boots).
James - well he is special - comes from North Island - came as a gift!
Then there is Hami - well - he is well special too
So you can imagine my dilemma - cloud outside - rain forecast and who to bring - oops get delivered.
In the end I chose James - he is sooooo cute

Alls well that ends well and James and his papabear were re-united!!

Camping with a cheeky bird - part three

OK so I got some more pic's delivered (thanks Andy)- so here is a promise - this is the last of the pic's from our Kea camp!!!

How many cheeky Kea's does it take to pull three leaders - urm - well - you know - we had to let them "win" - a n d we didn't cheat. Honest, would I pull one over you?
;)





LOL - we might never make it into the Guinees book of records but I am sure we counted 11 bodies "inside" this box.
pheew - I so hope they have had a shower before hand - or it could be a bit of a - urm - odorised experience??





Hmmm the best we can say here is that I was pretty sure my "show and tell" days from school where long over - apparently NOT SO.

Papabear is seen here talking about campfire blankets and campfire eticette.
More to the point why we have the campfires and how to keep safe.





Even though we had 2 weeks of rain soaked wood - I did manage to get a fire going - WITHOUT - the use of paper or spirits. HA Venturers eat your heart out - I still got it. (hint = use dry gorse and some dry pine cones and - urm - shhhhh thats a secret!) We did have a good sing song and the fire was warm and welcome.

I just hope we don't have future pyromanicas in training here - one set of Vent is usually enough

Stunning sunrise

I happen to look outside while feeding the fish and grabbed the camera and wildly snapped this this morning; it was such a stunning display of red hues.
Such a fiery display of red / purplish blue and light.

Just breath breathtakingly stunning

Now I gotta walk to work in minus 3 degree frost - sigh

Camping with a cheeky bird - part two

Ooooops Houston we have a problem.

Really what is the nature of the problem?

Well - would you believe . . . . . . .














You know the story -

"Please SIR, may I have some more?"

bonus point if you can tell me which play this line is from. Anyhow we had a fantastic spread and plenty to eat!





Yes Mum - our Kea's did indeed wash and dry their dishes - so from now on there is no more excuse for not helping in the kitchen - well apart from I got homework . . . . and the - urm - isn't that why we have a dishwasher in the kitchen mom?


Isn't digi proof great - no escaping here.



Of course what better way to finish a good meal and hard work drying your own dishes then with a well deserved desert of ice cream! Yummm - and such a shame I am on diet . .. . . .







well - if I HAD known that rope jumping was part of the evenings program - I could have had that cone!!!
Here one of our Kea's can be seen learning to jump with a bit of help.

Funnily enough that exercise did not make them tired at all - more like woke them up - so we had a job settling them into bed.
Then I forgot - Kea's like to be up with the crack of dawn - so by 5.30 am two girls were merrily starting to sing away - dang there goes the sleep in on camp!!!!

Camping with a cheeky bird

Ok so a Kea is a cheeky NZ Bird that feeds on livestock and urm -well rubber from cars. So I was helping out my two leaders on their Camp = ooops sleepover. We had a blast.

I am very tired - but here is a snap shot of some activities

The term program was based on boxes and so we asked the Keas to bring a box to sleep in - here our Chief Kea is seen reading a bed time story to some of our Keas.







The theme for camp was - urm - ok - "reaching for the stars"
and so they made a semi solar system and of course water rockets. Here I was lucky enough to catch one just taking of.












Houston we have three shuttles on the launch pad and ready for action - copy that!!!!???









How many eggs does it take to bake some star biscuits?








Fill one balloon with rice - knot and attach a tail and take Keas outside to see the "rockets" fly!!!
Sadly some got stuck in the trees and had to be - urm - rescued!

There are heaps more pics - but i'm to knackered to play with this - maybe next week

Westcoast trip - the legend continues part four

hmmm I loaded a heap of pictures on my facebook site
Check this out

www.facebook.com/papabears westcoast trip albulm


this will be the last Westcoast trip news item - enjoy

Papabear

Drunk teenager

Well it had to happen eventually.
Son of mine got invited to a Birthday party - no big drama there.
Turns out they were drinking Jack Daniels urm - with minimum of coke so the story goes
So by the time Mamabear picked him up he was a bit blotto.

One spew bucket sleepless night later . . . . .

Teenager had to get up this morning and deliver his circulars and after that he's still got to do his cleaning jobs at home - the sun is shining and bugger him - he ain't got a hangover. So no laud AC/DC song - it wouldnt work!
Life sometimes is most unfair.

Maybe I should have cooked him a black pudding and rich slimy fried eggs for breakie?

Saftey on the road for an old bear

I had a birthday and I know that I'm s'posed to be another year older and wiser.
I got some special gloves to keep the dream of owning a Harley alive and some other thoughtful presents. Eva Cassidy - so cool son!!

I do know I feel old when MY OWN son buys me a book on "how to keep safe on the road"!!!!!
It is not like I don't appreciate the book - I do really - it just feels wrong - I mean normally it is the parent that gives that kind of present to their offspring. right???

Another year wiser - urm maybe??

wohooooo

seeing it's my birthday - I got treated to a Brunch out - went to Drexles in Riccarton
they do breakfast's and lunch - 6 am - 2 pm only!!

http://www.drexels/

Their advertising blurb said they use 200 dz eggs per week!! per WEEK!!!
Anyhow - the new diet motto - seems international recognized -
is to eat like a King for breakfast, have Lunch like a peasant and eat Dinner like a pauper.
Well I can report I had a meal fit for a king!

Fresh fruit for dinner I think. Bummer - and I made a rather rich and very tasty Tiramisu for todays evening . . . . .
Sir G.H. - you would have loved their "Farmers" brekkie!!!!!

www.wikipedia - Tiramisu

www.kochecke - Tiramisu

www.my-italian-cooking -Tiramisu

www.cookingforengineers -Tiramisu


Ah well - u r only once a year older and wiser - I think?!
I can always starve tomorrow :)

another Gluehwein (Mulled!)

wohooooo
went out for a meal - bd for Jonno and myself - so went to a Italian restaurant.
Got home and its jolly cold so we made ourself a mug of traditional Gluehwein.
Yummmm

That sure warms your cockles!! Now we just need some Roasted chestnuts and a decent helping of Dark Tirolean Speck.
mhmmmmmm

spoon's hideout revealed

here it is - as promised


SAY no more



:)

Mistaken identity - Spoon

Ok so here is me minding my own business and some clown is pretending to be me and signing of as spoon on various parts of the web.

I AM NOT SPOON - lets get this clear!!
Clearly a case of mistaken identity or more like a impostor and it seems Spoon here is working to wind me (or indeed good old giggles) up.

See ----> spoon-on-giggles blog

So I decided to do some research and found out some very interesting stuff. I hired a very experienced undercover spook - yes spook - who's sole job was to find out details. And i have to say he did a great job . . . . .

W E L L --
For a start our illustrious spoon owns a cafe - pic of THAT to follow.
Then he seems to follow the family trade - our friend spoon is from very good parental stock . . . see . . .

I kid you not - this photo was delivered to me in a manila envelope under the cover of darkness on a stormy rainy night - urm - well - sorta kinda slipped under the door. Seems Knife and Fork are the parental stock of our friend Spoon - and they have set him loose here in good ol NZ. So much for these New Yorkers good will.


Hmmm wonder if I should go and visit "The Family" and see what kind of people - oops meals they do . . . .

Will keep you posted

Going bananas

While there will always be an image of giggles giggeling her way through a banana
I shall endeavor to keep a straight face when eating this:

Butterscotch Bananas

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup rum or brandy
1/4 cup butter
2-4 large ripe bananas

1) Mix sugar brandy and butter in a shallow casserole dish.
2) Heat on high (Microwave) for 3 to 4 minutes stirring twice during cooking.
3) Add bananas and coat with sugar mixture. Cook on high for 2 to 4 minutes.
4) Serve hot with ice-cream.

uuhhhhhh yummm cant wait

Westcoast trip - the legend continues - part three

Ok so we had a lot of fun on the trip!
By the time I got home unpacked showered and generally caught up with the family it was late at night - and I checked my emails - had heaps of spam and a dozen or so genuine emails.
One stood out - and it was really nice to get this one - I copy and paste it here

Thanks L.

Hi, Reinhold, Rojer and Phil

Thankyou so much for letting me come on camp.

I really enjoyed it, the part I liked the most was when we went to the

Gold mine I liked the explosion and the black bubbles of Gold.

It was really well prepared and really, really, FUN!!!

Thanks. L.L.

says it all - really

hmmm there is another email - but THAT will have to wait till extreme giggles is on camp on Saturday.

Westcoast trip - the legend continues - part two

If pictures say a thousand words - :D what do these tell you?????


Typical teenagers room??









getting hitched???










Who would want to????













Ok You had to be there . . . . .












Could be either an old abandoned Gold mine shaft entry -

OR

it is Papabear's secret hide out from scouts ? ? ? ? ? ?






a $30 000 tyre - and lasts on avrg 5 months











Cooking the last meal - Al fresco style

Westcoast trip - the legend continues

wohooo -just got home -and I am so tired!!
Anyhow below some photos , lets just say we had a blast.

Giggles will have to be upgraded to "extreme giggles" and I will NEVER ever again be able to eat a banana with a straight face.

More on camp later . . . .

Sir G.H. and Trowel - I am soooo sad you missed a wonderful camp . . . REALLY I am sad - however I will fill you in on details later - suffice to say we may have a new recruit for the secret - sshhhh you-know-what society . . . .

Two old miners (they do exist - really) having a close shave!!














The Bush walk through NZ native forest and old Gold mine workings / shafts and tunnels - taking a rest and contemplating nature . . . .







The promised Bread and breakfast - urm breakfast in bed !! turned out to be a well cooked meal - albeit on the kitchen table. Mind you after playing the Dean Martin Song "how do you like your eggs in the morning" at nighttime . .
well lets just say we where lucky to get s o m e thing to eat! Part one of the bribe completed!





We were lucky that we arrived just in time to see a blasting in the mine. getting the soil ready for a easy dig-up and transport.

NO - absolutely NOT - Ventures - u MAY NOT duplicate this process at home or in the Den or well anywhere

Idric - under no circumstances - don't even think about it . . . . .











YEAH - my "man-shirt" got its promised wash - ahh you had to be there - the faces once they SMELLED the shirt - absolutely priceless. Anyhow giggles did a good job given the circumstances.
Still once back home I through it into the washing with the rest of my camp clothing - full well knowing that on Saturday it will get low and dirty again. Hmmm, wonder if giggles WANTS to come on next years Westcoast Camp.
Possibilities - it got - this one. Much to think I have, about this . . .







Contrary to the image -- we did feed them well - trust me!!!!!!!!
Scouts honor, cross my heart











On the way home we just had to stop for a few minutes and engage in a mock battle of Vans. All I can say - we won - hands down. This is back on the east side of the divide, but on the west side - we had 2 stunning days of sunshine and starry nights that need to be seen to be believed!!!



anyhow - I'm knackered so will listen to some notes on my pillow - hopefully all night long

Enjoy