Monday, December 23, 2013

Santa Claus been spotted chilling out with a glass of bubbly

Monday, December 23, 2013 0
oldbearnews editor 
It gets like that every now and then.  I had planned a surprise luncheon for Mamabear with a picnic in the Rangiora public gardens.  We used to go there with the boys when they where little and meet Mamabear for lunch and afterwards she would go back to work and the kids play on the playground - then fall asleep in the car on the way home.  Anyhow when I got there and set up the picnic (or at least tried to) I kinda got a surprise as I spotted Santa on a rug with a glass of bubbly and  - sunbathing!!  Never been shy - so I sided over and had a wee chat with the bearded fella.  Poor guy - he gets a bit lonely even with the hundreds of Elves helping him.  He was glad for  short conversation real person to person like. I asked him what he was doing here and his reply was along the lines of - every Christmas he does a trial run of various chimneys.  Seems every time a new building goes up - or is renovated he needs to pre-dive the chimneys to make sure he still fits.  Something about his girth and magic powder (not to mention the sack of presents).  Turns out, it is a specific Elf's job to sprinkle that powder the previous day over the chimneys and lately this particular Elf has been getting urm older so finds it harder to get around and - well - lets leave this there!!) With  the rebuild going on in Christchurch after the earthquakes there are many new buildings . . . ^^
So 2 days before the main event Santa whizzes round the world and does the testing.  Poor Rudolph - he's doing nothing for the whole year then gets to drive the sleigh   t w i c e   inside a week.  Anyway - while the red nosed furry - and I have to say semi grumpy looking - beast was resting someplace, Santa decided to stop near the last tested chimney and enjoy a bit of R+R.
Santa assured me that all was well and all chimneys worked. He would say that - wouldn’t he???
Naturally the ensuing R+R would always be in the Southern Hemisphere or somewhere in the Pacific - we do have summer weather.  So he chilled along with a bubbly and the Strawberries and  fruit mince pie.  Imagine the surprise Mamabear got when she managed to escape the office and join me for lunch.  It is not often that you get to sit and join in a conversation with the old bearded fella!!
Kind chap that he is, he offered us a similar glass of bubbly, which we gratefully accepted.  Once we had toasted for his good health and safe journey and  safe delivery of all presents and no crash landing on icy roofs - we said good bye and left him to it.  Last we heard was a jolly laugh and a "on Rudolph - ho ho ho".

After this everything seems boringly normal.  Mamabear went back to work and I drove home and pre-packed my gear for the Jamboree.
Ah well - might spot Santa on the 25th in New Zeraland - and seeing we are on first name basis now, will offer him some refreshments before he continues on his job.
Wohooooo
Have fun

bear print

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Annual Christmas Epistle to all who want to catch up what we've been doing . .

Sunday, December 22, 2013 0
oldbearnews editor

Nnaaha (So Pam says this should read as in – hello folks)
I have been given the task of writing up the bullet points – more to the point – fleshing out the bullet points (apparently because I am good with the fleshy bits). I dunno about this.  Regular readers and recipients will know (if indeed they have read the blog –> oldbearnews.blogspot.com) what we have got up to during the past twelve months.  Pam aka
Mamabear describes this past year as the year of dreams! Nightmares and hopeful dreams as well as the wishful and an occasional day-dream all featured.

    First up – Jonathan who completed his thesis on Kiwisaver.  He needed guinea pigs to answer a set of questions and from there then formulate a theory – which he did with over       10 000 words or so. Reading the Thesis I got lost after the second paragraph -something about statisticssomethingratherprobablity!!  Clever boy!!  He completed this by 31 March 2013 with a B+ grade – finishing a year-long dream (that is – of finally finishing his study and writing the thesis!) Well deserved!! Right now – he is dreaming of translating the study into a paying job – and he is marking time – hoping to get accepted into the Army as a General-in-training!! He continues to sell dreams at the local supermarket, ok – actually it is selling fish of any sort – but it's the customers dreaming of  a gourmet meal with his fish!

    Along comes Michael – who always dreams – and he actually got himself a full-time job at the local Meat factory. Thus in one stroke, no two – hmm make that three, some dreams were realized all at once!
His job is not glamorous or even brain-challenging, at the same time he cannot afford to daydream either. It is however teaching him the skills he needs (teamwork / discipline / accuracy and punctuality etc)  and the benefits of being a reliable worker. He progressed from being a mere drone to being in charge of the 'lid'-ing room (where the chain puts a lid on the box containing whatever programmed meat came down the chain AND he has to make sure it is with the correct label).  He's usually gone by the time us old foggies get out of bed and get ready for work – so that impacts on his social life.  His next dream is picking up next years “NIGHT” shift – 5pm-9.30pm!!
6 April – a cousin of mine – which I met previously once only for about urm – 20 minutes – decided to fulfill her dream and did a tikitour around the world – that included a stop over here in New Zealand. It was great getting to know her (affectionately called 'the meremaid' – for reasons we will not discuss here) and urm – yeah she had a great time here with us and also had a relaxing trip through our South Island.  Martina brought with her Ileana who had her first Birthday while in Thailand and was almost walking!! She also brought with her 50 – yes fifty Mozart-kugeln from Vienna – which I had arranged to give Mamabear a dream present in August!! Amazingly she never got wind of this and the Chocolate delicacy survived the 4 months in captivity here without being sampled by this bear or by any other tribal members living in our house!!  Yes the reason I asked the Mermaid to bring 50 was that the old Gal finally turned 50 herself.  She took it hard for a while! Previous significant '0' parties were relative easy going. This year however it caused a little anxiety (tempered with the chocolate). Actually she was lucky – I was a tad disorganised – otherwise Pam would have received 50 individually wrapped gifts from me . . .  ^^
In any case with the boys now grown up (and still living here -yes we dream of having a 'boy-less' house again) but being very capable independent people, we are now looking into the future and the impending retirement, with whatever that may hold.  Our big dream is (and we may need to win lotto or rob a bank or set up some scheme to get rich quickly) that we sell all we have and buy a decent sized Motorhome / Caravan and use that for 1 year or so and do a extended tour through New Zealand.  We could easily spend a week or 5 in Tekapo and just enjoy the scenery there, and there are heaps of places we have yet to discover in the North island!!  After we get sick of being cooped up in a mobile love-nest, we would like to build a special house in Whitianga and settle down and there grow old together and enjoy sunsets, grandchildren, and the occasional trip down memory lane.
    We are one step closer to this dream having just paid off the bank loan on our House wohooo– so   now the family own every speck of dust and brick and mortar. We also won a tiny amount on Lotto – just enough to go out for a meal – maybe not even that much although it would pay for a Burger at KFC!!!!

    Dreaming ahead – we have my Cousin Doris and her hubby Bernhard, who said they would be coming out here along with Wilfried Mayr.  Wilfried is a longstanding & connected to NZ lad, who lives in his hometown of Vienna.  Wilfried stayed with us for 6 months and had 6 months at Mrs. Peach' house in 1988– and he has since returned here for a short holiday trip.  He wants to go down memory lane – hopefully he won't get lost in his dreams!  Doris and Bernhard are also exploring this lovely Country of ours. So naturally this bed and breakfast owner is busy dreaming along and preparing some – urm – things – such as where to sleep – what to see / do / taste / smell etc.  I know the Mermaid has met with them and gave them tips. Wonder if this included the deal with Colonel Sanders to avoid the sandflies????

     Since you heard from us last, our 'time-out' included short trips.  These included going down to Oamaru and see the little penguins, the stone quarry and back home via McKenzie Country. In fact the image at the front of this missive is from the last trip and it marks a bit of a recently started tradition.  We raised a glass  - or two - there (or at lake Pukaki to be more precise) when we celebrated Pam's Birthday there – and lucky us – we yet again got to see Mt Cook without clouds.  Not many see it in this state!!   Then we stopped over on the Westcoast for 5 days – actually it was a batch from a guy we know in Barrytown – lovely spot!!  Touched down briefly on the Heaphy track near Karamea – saw the Pancake rocks do their things – went for a walk or two and also down to Ross and the Gold digging and walked on the newly created Tree-top walk way near Hokitika, along with the Hokitika Gorge! Phewww – it was meant to be a holiday – and rest assured – it was. Every night we drove down to the beach (1 km away) along with a bottle of white and 2 glasses and spotted the sunsets – well – most nights – there often was just too many clouds for a real decent sunset.  I did manage to get some good pictures though!! (check the Blog!!)   Recently we also drove down to Dunedin and celebrated Jeff’s (Pam' sister's Partner) 50th Birthday. His party was 'James Bond' themed and we were expecting lots and lots of glamorous 25 year old Bond Girls. 
Didn't help when Pam decided to be a Martini Glass instead (being from Christchurch she was 'shaken – not stirred')!! Luckily for her, no-one wanted to have a drink from this particular glass. I don't think she realised the possible complications urm - connotations. .  ^^ Having missed out in seeing a decent bird there we went and saw another bird – urm -a big bird – urm – Albatross! Yes we made it out and, like a Paparazzi or peeping Tom, saw them close up in their natural habitat!!  Mamabear impressed with their 'Courting' skills!! The other highlight of that trip was the Chinese garden in Dunedin – it gave us ideas to dream about when we build THAT house!!

    Pam's Father continues to potter along. He realised his dream of being in Raratonga (yet again) for his 80th Birthday and had a party over there.  Invited guests were most of the folks he got to know during the last 20 years of trips over there.

    Otherwise – it is business as usual here – we dream of a nice garden (and seeing we work on it only in short spurts – it remains a dream mostly) work continues to give us the cash so we can go and enjoy the country, and the house – well – it still stands despite the earthquakes from the last three years or so. Reinhold continues to be involved with scouting, and Pam dreams of a time when that comes to an end!! :)
I am on strict instructions to include lots of pictures (which can be found on the Blog!!) but I am sure you do not wish to read a 6 page letter – sooooo without much further adoooo –
Have a Merry Christmas and happy new year and big hugs to all those who want one. 

Doris / Bernhard / Wilfried – SEE YOU SOON!!

Hmmm I think I have sent you into a dream-like -state already . . . . .

Pam and Reinhold
Aka   Mamabear & Papabear



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Monday, December 16, 2013

Austrian Bed and Breakfast owner discovers a Christmas market in Kiwiland - sort of

Monday, December 16, 2013 0
oldbearnews editor

Remember the show "The vicar from Dibly" and the Character that used to always answer any question with "nonono no no yes" ??  Well in this vain it was "yes yes yes - no"

Let me explain - today while browsing the news paper in Christchurch, New Zealand I came across a little insert -
titled "Outside" Riccarton Christmas market opens tonight - 4pm-7pm.

Mmmmmhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Christmas market - gluewein/ roasted chestnuts / stands with christmas tree decorations / toys / various christmas themed nick-knacks gifts / freshly cut Christmas pine trees Christmas lights all over the stands and houses and so forth. Other popular attractions at the market include the Nativity Scene (a crèche or crib), Zwetschgenmännle (figures made of decorated dried plums), Nussknacker (carved Nutcrackers), Gebrannte Mandeln (candied, toasted almonds), traditional Christmas cookies such as Lebkuchen and Magenbrot (both forms of soft gingerbread), Bratwurst, and for many visitors one of the highlights of the market: Glühwein, hot mulled wine (with or without a shot of brandy), or Eierpunsch (an egg-based warm alcoholic drink).

Both help stave off the cold winter air which sometimes dips below freezing. More regional food specialities include Christstollen (Stollen), a sort of egg bread with candied fruit in Saxony, and hot Apfelwein and Frankfurter Bethmännchen in Hesse. Many other handmade items, toys, books, Christmas tree decorations and ornaments (and in recent years less useful gadgets) can be found at a Christmas Market.

These markets originated in Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, North Italy and Alsace but are now being held in many other countries. The history of Christmas markets goes back to the Late Middle Ages in the German-speaking part of Europe. Dresden's Strietzelmarkt was first held in 1434. The Christmas markets of Bautzen (first held in 1384),  Frankfurt (first mentioned in 1393) and Munich (1310) were even older. The Vienna "December market" was a kind of forerunner of the Christmas market and dates back to 1294!!

In many towns in Germany and Austria, Advent is usually ushered in with the opening of the Christmas market or "Weihnachtsmarkt". In southern Germany and Austria it is sometimes called a "Christkind(e)l(s)markt" (German language, literally meaning "Christ child market"). Generally held in the town square and adjacent pedestrian zones, the market sells food, drink, and seasonal items from open-air stalls, accompanied by traditional singing and dancing. On opening nights (and in some towns more often) onlookers welcome the "Christkind" (originally boy Jesus, but more often depicted as an angel-like girl), acted out by a local child.

If you been to a Christkindlmarkt in Europe you will understand what I mean.

So yes -I  was excited - thinking that it finally made it here as well.

It was quickly agreed that mamabear would finish work just a few minutes before her usual leaving time - pick me up and we head to Riccarton.
Now I know - we are on the other side of the world and there are a few teeny weeny minor glitches - the wrong season for one.

A; it does not get dark here until 9.30pm or so
B; it usually is summer - so temp's in the evening will still be around 20 degrees.

We knew it will not have the same atmosphere as in Europe - you could never ever replicate this here.  Who would want to eat hot roasted chestnuts or drink a hot "Glühwein" here (known as Mulled wine) on a hot summers night?? Well I may have been tempted just for nostalgia’s sake.
To cut a long story short - we went there. Let me tell you - it was a complete waste of time.
The half dozen or so stands there sold various ornaments / hand crafted things from silk or wool a couple of foodie places, plus the usual takeout food (greek and something Asian)
From anything Christmas related - no sign in any shape or form.
In fact the only thing with Christmas in (or with it) would have been the title in the news paper advert.  Hmmm wonder if this could be construed as misleading advertizing????

Still it wasn’t a complete loss - we did get to sit on a park bench and enjoy the ducks and have a nice relaxed chat in the late afternoon sun.
So indeed it was a case of "yes yes yes  yes - no!!"

bear print

Austrian bed and breakfast owner goes frog hunting

oldbearnews editor
meh - those days are over.
However I found this in the news paper today - so hunted the net to see if I could find the link - this was not to be.
So not to be thwarted - I scanned the article and post the image here.
Might take a while to upload - so
goes and takes a shower - meanwhile - pixel by pixel . . . . .


grrrrr upload failed - image file to big




re-sizes image


not going to happen - will upload in drop box

:)
have fun


 bear print

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Austrian Bed and Breakfast owner goes digging - for old photos

Wednesday, December 11, 2013 0

oldbearnews editor 

 

 

From our recent trip - recent being 2008 - we took home some 1000 photos or so.
It is hard to pick any of them out over others.  I shall attempt to do just some,
Here on the left - one happy and contented look.  Guess he may well have been contemplating the riches that await him in New Zealand.  Or was it the coke???  Either way - this grin will soon be replicated in New Zealand!!




 Handsome / young / gorgeous / attractive - and that's just the grey hair. Some of us still have hair - others less so.  Myself - never ended up with Yul Brunner look.  There is a re- union very soon - can't wait . . . . .

 





Don't remember what was said - but it must have been a good story, and (just so you know it) it is the same devastating smile I fell for in the first place. 

So we have this tour-guide  and several images of this happening.  It has been suggested that we replicate this in New Zealand.  Must get an All Blacks umbrella and pretend to organize the folks.   Actually a whistle works well too.  hmmmmm
On second thoughts - a cell phone will work too -and is more discrete.  Mind you some of the places we are going too there will be like 3 people in the course of 3 hours - sooooo no need to be overly organised . . . .
:)   Who's missing??    and look at us - soooooo young!!!!
Stunning scenery up at Untersberg near Salzburg.  Now I cannot promise same look-outs - but - yes its a big butt - I can and will promise much grander bigger greener scenery to show - just not so high up.  On that note - I have already advised Wilfried to practice his snap on the shot while moving in the car technique.  Wonder how this is going????  the other thing to look forward is the night sky at Tekapo - so clear - and stunning!!  Must practice night shots to get the whole milky way in the frame along with the church . . . .

Must remember to ask Meremaid what deal we had going with Colonel Sanders - and his sandfly brigade - in order to avoid them biting the tourists.
Rrrrrrrrrright - so this is on the menu!!
However it contains eggs - so not sure how the vegans will enjoy this.  It is called a Pavlova and if memory serves correct we had to RATION a certain Austrian from getting too much at once.  It is NOT a dinner replacement . . .     even though some of us could do just that . . . . .





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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Austrian Bed and Breakfast owner is invited to a Royal Garden party

Tuesday, December 10, 2013 0
oldbearnews editor
Yes yes - I know.
If one has been knighted ( Staveley News Intentse Edition 2009 if you belief the written word - check out the first printed edition) one has special duties and responsibilities.  Not that I ever brag about the knight hood.  It is not something to be broadcast and is rather embarrassing to think that some of my peers deem me worthy enough to get me kneeling in front of her majesty.  I am  however trusting enough that the sword does not take my already swollen head off but rather it just gently taps me on the shoulder instead to complete the ceremony.
pheeeww
So yes - I seem to have landed a title of sorts. Proper naming rights appear to come with that - not sure - cannot even remember exactly what it is!!  I have friends who call me by less flattering titles - Ladle comes to mind! :) There are other titles (beginning with Idiot and going downhill from there)! I won't mention what the newly minted Lady of this house calls me from time to time!  ^^

As said before - now that I have been urm done - so yeah - one moves in greater loftier circles and recently we have been enjoying more meals at Lizzie's place.  Ol Lizzie is great - hosting from time to time candle lit suppers while working on plans for upcoming visitors to the estate.  She is pretty much down to earth these days.  I am not ashamed to admit that we had her round our humble hovel from time to time as well.  Indeed it seems to work on a turn about structure these days.   Last time we visited though we were advised that the estate had to be let go and a suitable buyer will be awaiting the vacant property soon - so Lizzie who had been thinking about moving away from her (rented) palace anyhow has put on her skates -  and went on this very un-royal but time honoured activity - called 'shopping' for a new home.  Ha - and you were thinking about horses and conquest!!
While her agent has scoured the English - oops NZ Country side far and wide - the range of abodes was actually narrower then that, with eventually a house in Lancewood taking her fancy.  Lancewood -  a New Zealand native plant!!  Hmm wonder if there is a connection here . . .
Anywooo  - why is this news??  Well . . .
Due to the nature of contracts and lawyers and Christmas and some visitors from the outer regions arriving soon - not to mention the planets aligning and the royal corgies needing time to urm = pre-sniff every nook and cranny (and I am sure there was talk about a decor change as well ) it made the invitation to participate in a candle lit supper on the 20 January- well precarious to say the least.

BUT fear not my friends of the realm - there is always plan B or C or Z even.
We have this local estate suitable for all people from all walks of life and it contains a huge sprawling greenery with an Archery lawn / soccer-rugby-netball grounds / golf course / botanical garden / and various other green spaces.
If all else fails we will sit in this most accommodating - locally owned - free to go in and visit ANY time - Park in town and consume our evening meal there instead. 
Come to think of it - it would not be the first time indeed that someone has had a full silver service meal in Hagley park!!
I have only one question - seeing I am multitasking (driver / butler / chiefbottlewasherupper / security guard) WHAT outfit is one supposed to wear to such a function????   And will there be an expectation of participating in the royal sport of Polo???? I think I can provide the liquid refreshments from the estate cellar - a 2002 Riesling would go well with the . . . .
Hmm must ask Ol Lizzie that next time I bump into her . . . . .

Will keep you posted how the meal went - might even get a royal photograph of the event - not to mention an autographed version of the dinner menu - complete with royal crest and so forth.

have fun

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