Austrian Bed and Breakfast in Kiwiland - new guest arriving

Houston - urm - a progress report . . .
We had greatly enjoyed the stay of my cousin Martina and her princess daughter Ileana.  Sadly they had to move on and explore other hmm more 'exciting'  places,  places that have things like snakes and crocs.  Actually come to think of it - is there such a thing as MORE exciting place then staying in NZ????  Earthquakes / Volcanoes / Storms / Twisters / Flashfloods / Draught / Heatwaves / wild untamed bush for 100's of kilometers / Towering Fjords / Glaciers / Beaches 50-100km long with 5 people on it walking ----   and Bungy Jumping) all happen in a small space and that's not to mention the local wildlife (politicians) you may come face to face!!!   There is a reason why NZ is called God'z-own!!

Anyhow - back to the routine. The host made up for the drinks consumed and peddaled for 2 hours on the bike (re-aquaint myself for the daily punishing routines) oh and mamabear was just posing for the picture - she's tasked with earning serious money and - so the story goes - is excercise enough; then it was time to re-configure the bedrooms.  Linen needed to be washed and hung dry, towles to be ironed and fluffed up and one boy shifted from the garage and re-claimed his bedroom.  Glad to say - he left some things out in the garage - so it still looks like a bedroom - not a general dump.

JUST when you thought you can catch a breather - we have an email confirming another arrival. This one gives us a tad of time - not due in to Christchurch until January 2014.
Right - so we need that duvet again, a fluffy towel (with teddybear motive) and urm - from memory LOTS and LOTS of chocolate. Also seeing we have been joining the modern technology century - we no longer need to buy 1000's of rolls of films.  Hmmm I did see a cheap 62gb Pendrive - that may just cover his data usage on pictures.  Seem to recall a stop here and here and here and here and oh yeah here - no wait there . . . . . .  or was that over there? ? ?   :D

One bedroom 5 star luxory outdoor crib

We just love to host you Wilfried and hopefully can provide you with the mindblowing experience you have come to expect.  In fact - we have a spare room in some excotic place that is totally clean and warm and as close to nature as you can get and yet only a few minutes walk away from our place !! :)    Martina liked it - and so yeah - if you game - we can host you!!  :)  You may have the local wild life keep you company, even feed you - no wait - was that you s'posed to feed the wildlife? hmmm - I think - .. . . . . . .         (hang a sec - I am conferring with the previous guest and let you know . . .  :)  ) 

I have to warn you though - some of your haunts   Old-haunts-in-kiwiland.html
may NOT be left to see.  Fairhaven is due for demolition and re-developing and Wesley in town - drove past there the other day and noticed parts had gone - must go back and take a good look and see if they are knocking down for good or just "fixing" things.  Please be prepared for some intresting discoveries!!

Papabear - over and out

 

Martina and Ileana travel to New Zealand and find some good looking men

Some NZ rugged man

 They say travel broadens your horizon. It teaches you about other cultures / people and life.  Seems one little Austrian princess was rather, shall we say, smitten by these typical rugged / heroic and very cultured NZ blokes. 

Interestingly enough she went straight for the bald men (Bull Allen) which says something for the Muller 'glatze' that runs in our family.  Admittedly - bald man are sexy in their own right - and I fancy having an all bare top myself - but I think the gene pool will not let me get there -rather may end up with a Kapuziner Monk hair cut eventually. 

In any case - there was a daily engagement with these men and I am not sure how  they felt like being played with - or against each other.  There was a definite 'testing' each character against future 'playtime'.  To their credit they took it in their stride and never complained.  I can see it now - a new reality Televison show - winning a date with an ex NZ All Black rugby player.  Not sure what that says about relationships though.

I do know that the princess has now moved to Australia - so the rugby men over there better watch out.  I rest in peace knowing that most long distance relationships often do not work out and are very hard to maintain.  There is a lack of cuddle time that skype fails to make up for.  Hmmmmmm

On the other hand - if there is a cry of loneliness coming form across the Tasman we just might have to send one across.

So Princess - feel free to play the field so so speak . . . . .

Final farewell for our two Austrian hitch-hikers

So sad.

I dropped Martina off at the Airport and handed her a piece of Green-stone better known as NZ jade (mine) and made her make a promise which should be easy to keep.
Then it was time to say a final goodbye!!  So sad!!!
I waved as long as took for both of them to disappear behind the glass door in the international Departure lounge.

Or was it??

We live close to the airport. This has some benefits as well as some draw-backs.
I did managed to get home in time, and crack open a bottle of white and pour a glass and then wait some 5-10 minutes and saw the Big Bird (version Emirates) zip past our place riding of into the sunset so to speak, while enjoying the warmish mid-afternoon norwest weather/sunshine.

So, while the two ladies were on the fast lane to the fancy land of OZ -  and zipping past here with ever increasing speed and height - I was able to so a final salute farewell and reflect on all the good times we shared!!

AND - am not afraid to admit of shedding a tear or two!

Farewell Cousin

PB

Austrian Bed and Breakfast - the last supper

 It was so sad - meant to add this in on a recent blog and never uploaded the image from the camera - so (out of sight out of mind??) it is a tad late - but when I recently  saw this - I was wondering. . .
We all had our respective bottles in a special farewell.  I got given the Chianti for Christmas as a pressy by my son with the words - "For a special occasion".  Have been saving it ever since and then when it was the last night for the mermaid to be in our house - well - it was a special occasion so we all cracked open a bottle. The princess had her milk and we had the - urm - red'er stuff - or should that be stronger??!!  In fact remember we had a schnapps as well.  Angelo (minus his head scarf) had a sipp too -but it was to strong for him - had to put him to bed early along with the princess!

Only question is --  has there been (or will there be - hmmmm she ought to be back in O'l Red-White-Red by now ) a similar experiment - oops experience for the mermaid in her own home?
As I type this - the news are coming in of snow falling in Christchurch!! So maybe it is just as well that the meremaid is now safely ensconsed in Austria - or she may have transmorphed into a snow  mouse???  :) 

Tudleoo

Papabear from a snowing Christchurch

 

Austrian Bed and Breakfast in Kiwiland - Martina and Ileana's last full day in New Zealand

Having done a wee tiki-tour to Kaikoura and Hanmer, the Ladies decided it would be a great idea to take things easy in the morning.  So breakfast was kinda late and then the sun came in through the window and it was warm and cosy.  What other reason can I  dream up - urm - let me think. 
We sat outside on the terrace for a bit and had fun playing with Max - and then decided  to get lunch going - which consisted of left-overs as well as bacon and egg pie.  From there it was of into the Botanical Gardens and see how many of the maple leafed trees had turned on the colors.  Talk about Trooping the colors.  Some did - some did not - so we may have to get  back there later.  Those that did have nice leaves were often in the most difficult place to be!!  Anyhow - after shooting away and getting different results - I selected this one to represent all the other Canadian leaves. 

The gardens are vast and what better way then to exercise the little legs - Ileana's included.  This idea however did not last long as soon it was more interesting to play in the gravel and that was one step to far (down) for Mamabear.
I have to say though - this image confirms it - horizontal stripes ARE slimming.  I shall get myself a one-zies with appropriate stripes and wear that.

 Occasional you get a smaller tree and it soon became a question of hmmmm how would I frame that???  Frame as in frame the image- urm - on the camera -  not as in shifting blame. I have the suspicion that this prime example is a Disney plastic look alike - just to test your skills and I shall confirm that in next spring time!!

Meanwhile Mamabear was tasked with keeping the local ducks happy and so she fed them some of our first class bread - or tried too.  These feathered birds seemed to be on a diet as well, choosing NOT to eat the supposedly healthy bread.  Ah well the fish will surely eat any left overs.

From there we went into virgin territory - we decided to visit (for the first and last time) Sumner Beach, which meant dodging potholes and driving past container walls.  The area got badly munted in the Shakes and is still in need of repairs.  Still the stroll on the beach was nice and both mamabear and the mermaid got their TOES semi wet!  This was followed by an ice cream and a discussion about nuts!  I  wisely refrained from participating! (on both counts - icecream and nuts)
Home for dinner and a ceremonial drink and then technical issues delayed Skype with Austria!!

Meanwhile the mermaid is contemplating a more permanent move to New Zealand and for that to happen there are certain requirements to be passed of - such as in-depth knowledge of Rugby rules / can distinguish with eyes closed the difference between Marmite and Veggiemite / negotiating skills with a certain Colonel Sand-fly (rumored  last seen near a KFC store in Kaikoura) and finally - weekly a bottle of medicinal drink to be shared with any of mermaid's relative living here  -- ^^   oh hey - wait - THATS me!! Ah well - all good things come here eventually . . . . . . .

It has been a pleasure and hopefully we left my one and only visiting cousin (so far) with good impressions of New Zealand.  Last job will be to hand out a questionnaire/paper/form/survey/thing for her to complete, in order to get feedback and we can improve on our service provided.

:)   take care Martina - and remember - there are snakes / spiders / crocs / extra large sand fly's / and half a dozen other pleasurable friendly Aussies living in Australia - which - I have to admit is OUR beloved WESTERN Island after all!!



 

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

 

 

 

 

So - I am going out with three woman - every man's dream - right???
Better be careful what you wish for - sometimes  it does not turn out so great after all.
We (wife/cousin and cousins daughter) stomped around Akaroa.  Already have been mistaken as the husband once and congratulated on MY beautiful daughter.  The Local shop assistant tried very hard to convince me that I should PAY for the GIFT for my "Wife".  Yeah right!!
The two ladies then had a Ice cream each- and the little princess had her own cone - and the conversation soon went on shaky ground - or should that be thin ICE.
These two were discussing who had the bigger balls (ice) on their cone's to munch on.  Needless to say once it dawned on them where this was headed there were a few red faced laughs.

Meanwhile THIS bloke could just wonder what he let himself in for. Hang a sec - - -

Meanwhile the evening concludes with a glass of medicinal drink and take out pizza.  "Wife nr 2" is convinced that we need some healthy whateveringredientmeantobehealthyisinsidetheredwine is good right now!!  PROST

The next day - after the medicinal drink did its stuff - just editing

Here the mermaid wanted a picture of herself  'touched up' and seeing that photoshop was not working as well as we wanted it to  --  we had to resort to a manual job.  The request was for a face-lift and a 10 year younger look - on the coffee!!!!  I think the local art guru in residence achieved that - mind you - he is a SLOW worker.  Guess it took time to get the color choices just right

Looking down from the Hill-top to the harbor in Akaroa and AMAZINGLY a very calm day- soon to be changed by the intrepid travelers arriving.  On the bottom towards the left is a cheese factory  where you can get wines / spreads and the odd cheese story being told.  The shop assistant mistook me for the grand pa - i so must go and re-colour my hair.  hmmmm maybe even ADD some

The sheds on the pier in Akaroa - staging post for the Canterbury Cat - and swim with the Dolphins.  I could not convince Martina to dive in and chase the mammals.  However they also had a pearl shop on the pier and surprise surprise a lot of time was spent in there.
We eventually had to 'rescue' her before she spent any more of urm - well 'my' money (according tot he shop assistant)

The other pier - often used for swimming - or other nocturnal activities.

The Original Light house - out on the harbor head - being replaced with a fully computer controlled automated one.  It was saved - taken apart and shipped to its new location and - attracts lots of amateur camera sleuths. 

Mamabears - show rack??? Could be - but no - while she has about the same amount of footwear - this belongs to the dolphins - kinda.  After the swim they need drying out - ready for the next willing paying customer.  Hmmm wonder if I should copy the design and add to our wardrobe???

While the Austrian girl was captured by a VERY willing sales person we watched the locals being hand-fed.  The acrobatics involved were good to watch and hard to capture on camera.  In the end the sports mode came in handy. No - the guy still got all of his 10 digits intact!

Looking back from the light house to wards - yes the blue shacks.  Loved the contrast of blue sky / sea and buildings AND the yellow flowers.

The last remnants of the rata flower - in flower. A close cousin of the Pohutukawa tree, and very photogenic

You know how it goes - after a swim the MOTHERS of this world INSIST that you dry of, so this fella had no hope in the world.  I just wished we would have gotten a full frontal - no wait that did not sound right - urm - well - you know what I mean

A very common sight in our shores - but apparently not so in Europe - so guess who had to patiently wait for the mermaid (who was spotted lounging on the floor)
and tried various angles for the same picture of the same shell.  I may go back there and scoop some up and snail mail - no wait dolphin-mail it to her - as soon as I can extract the residential address from the mermaid . . .   ^^ 

This is what we call as - 'Lying on the job'  :D  I think that the pink adds color to the beach - don't you???

















After the earthquakes a lot of cones appeared all over town controlling traffic - some even made it to some really weird places and often you end up wondering HOW they got there.  This one is easy - others appears on tree tops (some 30 meters up) or spires of churches . . . . . .

After a exhausting days work we had to work on the fluid intake. I had the healthy stuff!!  The Princess joined in the fun to before we all crashed out















Have fun

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

It was time to show our guest some more of our wonderful scenery - so we headed north along the coast.  First stop - Waipara - which has grown into a fairly decent wine growing region and also Olive oils.
Naturally - we had to stop and sample some local products - which passed muster.  Mamabear enjoying a very fruity slightly lemon taste Riesling.  From there we drove up towards Cheviot - a small rural community where a scrumptious lunch was had. 

We then had to work of the extra pounds / kilos and explored the School jungle gym.  The old bear himself swinging from the fort - and taking lots of pictures.
Sadly - I must go and check out the (either) operator or the gear -  with the 300mm lens still not focusing as it should.  There are other red leaved trees that were just a blur.  On the upside - hmmmm  wait there was an upside???  - oh yeah - if it is the lens I may get a new one . . . .

 Eventually made it to Kaikoura and did part oft he Peninsular walk way were we also found some sea lions basking in the  little sun we had.  The lazy sods did not move much - except for one wannabe movie star who posed. He thinks his left profile is the better side - but shhhh - we won't tell.

 Checked into the Motel and went in search of famous Kaikoura Kai = Food (usually SEAfood).  Found one place that ended up selling raw fresh fish only, but friendly chap he was pointed us to another shop that did superb fish and chops - which ended up being right across the Motel we stayed in.

The Kai was consumed along with a suitable helping of local crushed grapes (which rated a 5 star meal).  Martina making sure that no drop was wasted. 

 We had Blue Cod / Crabsticks / Some Mussles / Elephant fish / Tarakihi, with Mamabear making a mess out of a kiwiburger who had everything a burger should have . . . . . .

Next day we went for the obligatory stroll on the Beach and the newly fledged mermaid was showing the older experienced mermaid how to dip toes in the cold water.  I am told it was refreshing - and will take there word for it.  Needless to say - one wave was bigger then the rest and got their - urm - scales wet!!





New Zealand has its own traffic jam's.  Yes folks, they do happen.  In this case thou a rare sight -with the live stock being moo-ved on the road.  Often it is the flocked variety holding up traffic.  Guess who will wash the car later!!









We tried to encourage our mermaid to take flight and engage in a quintessential Kiwi past time - Bungy-jumping. We even had a bungy cord in the car!!  This little spot near Hanmer would have been perfect - especially as a dip down into the river was part of the deal.  For reasons Best left unsaid - this opp was never taken up - but we are working on it.








On the way home we had to stop at Frog Rock - one of the many natural wonders and tourist stops.  Even the train stops there so that folks can take the pictures.  This particular Frog is still waiting for his Prince Charming - or is it princess??  Our princess was not in a kissing mood and so we left the poor chap to contemplate his future in peace and quiet!!





 

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

I have the privilege and honor (I suppose) to belong to a group of madcap adults who understand that life should be full of fun.
This group naturally is top secret, has its own code and surprise surprise no shortage on willing victims - oops volunteers wanting to join in (on the fun side at least). This of course has NOTHING at all to do with any previous Scouting life or . . . . .   shhhhhh - I can't tell you more.  Memorable occasions of investing new-comers and teaching them the inner workings of the secret code involved many a nights of methodical planning  (not to mention the odd glass of medicinal drink for fortitude).  These new recruits will in due course be put to the TEST -  with a laugh-o-meter being one challenge they have to meet.

Anyhow - the list of suitable applicants was getting short and I had decided it was time to possibly recruit a new victim - oops member!! (Note to myself - must keep calling them MEMBER)

I can be seen here teaching the little princess the secret handshake or was that a Salute??  In any case - it looks sloppy so will need to work on the style and delivery!  The ONLY hick-up I can see is that the little princess will skip the country in a few days - so we would need to work fast on that one.  Then again I am told that there MIGHT be an outside chance of coming back  (Lotto was mentioned) - so there is hope.

Anyhow - Ileana - you will fit in well


Post script.  

As is with all people, there are times when we are reflecting on our actions and so was this recruit.  It comes under the category of
"Oh my God - what have I let myself in for????"

Trust us - you are in good company










 

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