Scout skills learned come in handy

Yes - my scouts always say - " Do we HAVE to learn these knots??? Whats the use - when will we use them??" W E L L recently I was up in Auckland and actually this is a bit weird and funny - I found via Google a light weight granite aquarium background sold at a local Auckland store - and at virtually half the cost then anything I could find in my local town (Christchurch). I did consider asking them if they would snail mail that to me and projected costs - but then remembered that I was going to be up there soon anyhow for a short visit (see previous two blog entries) and that I could do a pick up on the way through. So I rung them and asked them to put two aside for me - I shall collect in 7 days time - which we did. Only then did I realize that the two pieces where a tad larger then my suitcase - problem here folks - how to bring that back with us. I ended up getting some plain brown wrapping paper (yes folks here is me sitting in the middle of Warkworth town - after lunch - some 50 km or so north of Auckland) and started wrapping both pieces up for the plane trip home. And here is where the scout skills learned came in handy - I ended up doing a self locking knot (ok actually two half hitches) and I always like to go once round like a square lashing. For extra strength I used a double string eg twice as much as needed but folded back once on itself.

This website shows it how its done --->   animatedknots.com - parcel knot

and ---->   animated knots - two half hitches

Excellent - the parcel survived the trip home unscathed and the knots are still done!! perfic


Thus a skill learned isn't learned until you use it often - I keep telling my scouts that almost weekly. . . . . . .

Pohutukawa near Auckland

As you can see we had two motels to bunk down with / in and their kitchen's - well - could not be much more different.  In the first motel we stayed the floorspace was HUGE while in the second one one was afraid to breath in - or should that be breath o u t  ^^.   The first kitchen had 10 cub-boards and it is miles from the fridge to the stove (well ok - just short of 10 meters) and in the other - hmmmm the fridge is under the sink.  It amused Mamabear that if you wanted to USE the Microwave oven you had to physically lift it of its resting place and put on top of the counter between Oven and sink!  They did have 2(!!! ONLY) of everything though - plates knife etc. and best of all - a wireless internet connection - which was great as it was the first time I could catch up and deal with outstanding emails!!
Oh and seeing that we had some sort of Italian meal out in a nice place in Orewa - which was not licensed,  we - or that should be me - the old bear - had a glass or two of some very nice flavoured red medicinal drink!





The Sand dunes at the Woodhill Forest!  A pity that the still photo does not capture the glint!! It was like having zillions of tiny diamonds scattered in the sand! Very nice and mesmerizing to look at!






The entrance to the beach - mentioned at yesterdays blog entry!!

After a quick and easy roast chicken lunch (courtesy of NW in Helensville) we continued to drive around eventually got lost just north of Orewa. Next morning we stopped at the Kauri museum just south of Warkworth. With Mamabear working in the Timber industry she was keen on guessing the log on display and she got most of it right - impressive!!  The Museum itself is along the same lines as our famous shantytown on the westcoast (south island) but on a much simpler case.  There is only one house and it has many static displays - including a "fashion" display that features urm - many garments I almost wish mamabear could see herself in ^^
There is a interesting walkway through the bush with many stations explaining the growth of the various trees (all I could see is timber for wood working and a fire place) and pride and honour are the two main Kauri trees - reported to be 600 and 800 years old.





The last thing that was cool to see were plenty of silverferns.  You have to turn the leaves over to see the "Silver" part of the fern and of course it comes in handy if you are lost in the bush as the 'silver' fern can be seen for miles in the dark and the rescue chopper people really like this to guide them and help find the lost people in the bush!





Meant to say before - there is this certain SBS advertisment in TV - and we kinda guessed the location and yup - a very quick drive across to Thames on the Sat morning found the location of the TV shoot. 

The add features Sandy's supperette and a nice boy/girl interchange at the end.




My pic taken from almost the same spot - I knew I had seen this location before -from a previous trip through Thames - Coromandel.  we had lunch there but did not see Sandy's Supperette - I think that was just a temp fake store for the Tv's!! 

Anyhow - Moo-ving along

Ever seen the Film - "the Birds" from Alfred Hitchock??  We certainly had that feeling while eating our lunch at Warkworth - which was very nice - except for being watched. As soon as we stood up and had moved ONE pace away from the table it was all on and any leftovers where gone in a flash!!
Scarry stuff




These locals where a pleasant surprise.  Came across the street to take a bath in the local gutter.  Funny thing was, that afterwards the little ones looked dirtier then before.  Something about a bird in the gutter . . . . .  ^^  Reminded me of someone - can't think of who at the mo.





Last stop over we had before hoofing it back to Auckland (and give Mamabear the severe road rage - urm - make that road fright (due to the 4-lane-ing on the Auckland motorway and the sometime chaotic evening rush hour traffic))  was at the aptly named RED beach!!  No red-necked anyone there - it is so named for the local shells who have a very distinct red shell and of course over time mother nature pounds them up into tiny pieces who eventually become sand - whence its name. I must go and look up the name for the shells - eventually - but yeah - it made for a last and interesting stroll round the beach! 

That's all folks - another road trip in to Pohutukawa country completed!  Must say - we are looking forward to the time when we can retire and live up there more permanently - eventually!  Must go and save some pennies for the next trip!  Tudeloo - PB








 

Pohutukawa near Orewa, Auckland, New Zealand

We have this friend who now lives in Waiuku and I have known Dale since Feb 1984. Our children have grown up together - etc etc. Suffice to say when the news came through that she was candidating for ministry - I had it in my mind to make a special stole for her. it just needed the "right" images on it!!

After some playing round with some ideas i have settled on a plain white material with the cross and initials and on the right hand side a image of a NZ Pohutukawa flower in Cross stitch.


Now for the important theos – yes – they are not just pretty pictures
My images these days have multiple layers of meaning – so there is more then one imagery to consider . . . . .
DP - can stand of course for Dale Peach, but could also remind you of David Peach.  It is also derived from the Latin – “Domini Patris” which very loosely translates into “our heavenly father” or more commonly “God the Father”
The empty cross - well you should know all about that by now
The bears – well you know I like them and so they are a reminder of your friends that have walked with you in the last 20 or so years.  Further – Bears are God like creatures – in a sense they give you comfort / you can tell them anything – confidentially, they will always agree with you etc.  What else can you think of ??
The colours – are seasonal church colours – so suitable for all year round wear.
The pohutakawa – it is of course known as the NZ Christmas tree – so hopefully it reminds you of the birth of Christ and the promise to mankind that festival brings– eventually pointing towards Easter. 
The tree itself is regarded by many an invasive weed – it grows best in very poor soil and will find water anywhere. Christian faith is a little like that – it will find a way to grow and nourish itself even in the poorest environment and bring forth some beautiful flowers. 
Of course your FIRST appointment as a minister is in a region that is known for its Christmas trees.
There is more – but I am sure you will work this out in the near – or far future. 

Here - after a 2 hour long service the newly ordained Reverends are marching out.  gotta love the smile to the gallery where the support crew was sitting and filming  . . . . . .

The Five newly installed Ministers.

After we celebrated with our friend and spend some time together we decided to add on a couple of days for r+r, and in theory at least enjoy some warmer weather.  The fact that it was totally unseasonal cold (we left our warm jackets at home and felt that) did not stop us from enjoying ourselves.  First stop was Woodhill Forest  - better known as the location for the Film of Yogi-bear - which we both enjoyed.  No sign of a pick-a-nick(ing) bear present, in fact no signs of any filming activity. We then went on to the local beach - totally deserted for miles and miles.  Mamabear can be seen here to checking the water  temperature.  We also brought home with us the obligatory sand sample - as many of the North Island beaches on the west coast side of things are black - due to the iron and granite from the historic volcanic activities in the islands.






Here is a close up. I am told that the sea was rather "fresh"

 

As you can see - miles and miles of lonesome black sand and sea.  Lovely!!

Looking in the other direction - still lonesome.  No sign of any human activity let alone of a picnic basket stealing yogi-bear . . . . . .

We had an interesting trip north, getting lost and having lunch in and around near Helensville and Waitoki just simply driving around and exploring.  One of the many places we ended up was called Shelly beach and the trees - well just jaw dropping.  As you can see the tree(s) are loaded with white buds and give another 3-5 weeks and it will be a sea of red. Such a shame that we will miss that. I ended up taking some 20 odd pics of a close up on the sports setting with a 300mm zoom lens on the near new Canon 550D - as the wind kept knocking the buds out of focus and the camera could not keep up with re-focusing.  I ended up with this pic as the best of them - and surprise surprise a honeybee being busy spreading the pollens of the pohutukawa buds.  Anyhow - this gives a good idea of what the red flower looks like before fully blossoming and giving the trees the "white" pre christmas look.

 Some flowers were out already!!