Short hop to Akaroa

The good, the bad and the ugly - sort of.
I was in town and finished with what I had to do way earlier then anticipated - and having had my camera with me I decided to be decadent and treat myself for a stroll through the botanical gardens.  Net-result; a whole heap of pictures of colours and blooms (see the sample picture to the left) as well as other stuff.  All well and good, but duty calls.  Back to the grind stone.  Before I do that - i took some images from pretty much the same spot as a certain mermaid and her darling wee princess earlier in the year - just having a spring feel to it - instead of the autumn we had with the mermaid! hmmmm  must try and remember to go back in summer . . . .
Before you are wondering - no we are not planning a trip to Old Austria with its strudels and music and family.  Nope this was a counter picture to the one posted by three Austrians holding a travel guide to New Zealand.  NOT LONG now Doris / Bernhard  and Wilfred and soon you can test this Bed and breakfast and put its owner through his paces - so to speak! I would advise lots and lots of images and records and stories to keep - so when you are eventually making it back to Vienna you got enough info stored in your memory bank to satisfy a most intense grilling (speak exchange notes and memories) form a mermaid who will no doubt envy you (and be happy for you at the same time).  Meanwhile - the life carries on and sometimes expires altogether.  Mamabear took Friday and Monday of to have a long weekend holiday- only to hear about the recent passing of a long time acquaintance from way back - with the funeral in Akaroa.  So not like we ever need an excuse to get away - but we did and took the old fella, next door from us, with us at the same time.  We got there in good time - partly because I insisted on going early-ish.  It took just under 2 hours driving to get there (90km), but that included a slow crawl OUT of town and the 6km up and 6km down on the other side which us a rather windy road over the hilltop - which slowed you down (not to mention the slow drivers in front and the truck we got stuck behind lumbering up at 10km/hr.)  Lunch was - ok - quick and early and then we split. Yes you read this right.  Funerals I dislike with a passion and attend only if I have virtually no choice.   The other reason being that I always had wanted to go up on the "Garden of Tane" in Akaroa. With Mamabear being unfit and somehow it never seems a high priority, so this time I sort-of used this as an excuse and took of.   After a lightning fast check-in at the local info centre - and a quick check on the map - I trundled off to the track, while the other two paid the respects at the funeral.

The garden of Tane is an area in Akaroa that was planted with literally hundreds of plants from overseas and local specimens!! It is well marked out and eventually leads to no less then 2 - hmmm should be three cemeteries!  The interesting part was - it was the first I have seen on a hill side - so naturally a terraced 'housing' became the way of doing things. I was intrigued however by the local sign - and had to google the 'dissenters' part.
Nothing earth shattering after all - these where the NON-Catholic and NON-Anglicans (which had their own cemetery). So who snubbed who I ask???  For someone who hates funerals - I do, yes amazingly, do enjoy walking around the very old cemeteries in New Zealand.  There are some very neglected but beaut' ones on the West-coast (Denniston springs to mind).  If nothing else - it makes you appreciate the shortness of life and all its fullness it holds and promises to deliver!  I was a bit gutted though,  finding a grave where a little boy lived for 3 hours - yes you read this right - 3 hours back in early 1900's!  From there it was further around and far too soon you exited the walk at the top end. Amazingly the map said 1.5 hours - but I cruised through in less then 60 minutes. Hmmmmmm  Maybe it allowed more time to 'loiter' around the graves???  Still - the peace and quiet along the walk was refreshing and you did hear the Tui / Bell-bird / thrush and occasionally a wood-pidgeon flying (with their distinct whoop whoop sound).  The best part came right at the end - or if you like at the top-beginning. Near the playground area there is this tree (well 3 actually) and it stopped me dead in my tracks - it is a Kauri!!  I didn’t know they could grow successfully down here - thinking they preferred a warmer climate as they are prolific (a long time ago) in the North island. Efforts for  re-growing these giants of the Forrest up north, are being made with and through the 'Kauri 2000' Trust.  So I gingerly walked up to the plague - painfully aware of the possibility of damaging the root system of the Kauri tree and snapped the plaque  - to be read later! As you can see this fine specimen was planted in honour of the then newly crowned Elizabeth - now current Queen of England and other commonwealth countries. That makes this tree 60 years old - 7 years older then myself!!  In typical Kauri fashion - this sample is still (comparatively speaking with his northern brothers) a juvenile pre-adolescent.  While standing about 15-20 meters tall - it is nothing compared with up grows up north.  A real pity then that I won't be around in say 700 or 800 years from now to see this particular tree, fulfilling its total potential!!  Its girth would have been just over 2 or three hand-spans.  Up north - they are so wide you need several people linking arms to get fully around its trunk!! Some trees can go beyond 1000 years life-span meaning they had already began their growth before the first humanoid settlers came to New Zealand, sailing in from Polynesia. From there it was back to the reality and after a quick cuppa of green tea, collecting the other two tribal members and drive back to Christchurch.  Time to catch up on other things before we head to bed - Garden needs watering, plants need - urm - tending too, washing to be folded or ironed, FB to be checked, and - hmmm there was something REALLY important . . . . ..

Can't remember - sooo tudleooo and

Have fun

Austrian Bed and Breakfast owner goes digging

Hullo

I know what you are thinking - not again - but NO - this time I am not going for gold.  A certain mermaid has proven that to get rich it would be easier to marry gold then to go and dig for it yourself.
www.gold-in-arrowtown  or here
http://mamartinablog.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/martina-im-goldrausch-arrowtown/

Not that there are many women out there that would qualify as being good-looking AND having a load of gold stashed away someplace . . . .  AND not that the international gold prices atm are helping.  It would be nice and well ok-ish if there was any gold to be found.  Nope - not gold this time. . .  or silver.. .. or platinum,  or any kind of metal - really!   And we are not in Australia where mining is still going strong.  Here you need a 5 year wait for a intention permit then another 5 years for court hearings to prove that yes you can  and should be doing ANY digging (along with a 3 year wait for the judge to make his/her ruling) and another 5 years for getting resource consent, then there is appeals and other hearings and then - if you are lucky you MAY get a permit to dig over some soil.  (adds 5 fingers and 5 fingers and - keeps counting toes on furry paws  - and hmmmm - I would be too old to do ANY digging let alone finding any Gold)
Anywooooo
Instead this Old bear has been digging on the Internet - hoping to discover a firm bed at reasonable price in another location .   As for mamabear - she was urm as you can see actually turning over soil.
We are expecting visitors and while meat is a staple diet - for some - others choose to eat - urm - non-meaty stuff.
So not to be outdone - out comes the spade and the greenery that was there got - urm - well removed (unceremoniously) and then we added some blood and bone - oops fertilizer and (yes Max was helping too) and gah where was I - oh yeah -  so fertilizer and a fence went up. (NOW I am not saying the old female bear has her own private prison court yard - RATHER - the old Dog (max that is  - not me)  is been kept out - fingers crossed)
So yeah - it was this time of the year again where sweat combines with grunt and the soil got turned - smoothed out and been made ready to receive some of God's WANTED plants.  Into the soil went some Tomato plant / radishes / carrots / lettuce and hmmmm can't remember what else.  All nicely timed for the arrival of certain folks from the old country. (assuming the weather plays its part).  This should ties us over for some nice salads or sandwich bread or - whatever (and for some there is a meaty supplement option). Wait - did I also plant mushroom's??   However I digress - back to digging for bed's!!
Many a night was spent out hunting.  Fingers got tiered holding the (back) arrow on the key board.  Turns out - on the day in question - there is a major tournament in town called "Masters". (  http://www.nzmg.com/)  So this is - as best as I can describe some form of competition for the more 'mature' folks in live.  I used to know a 80 year old former Olympian Javelin thrower - who would regularly attend the master'games.  He was competing in his class alone (eventually - after the other three oldies - urm - had moved on) and so was alone digging for his gold - medal.  he still had to meat standards. Myself - I have never attended - due to a variety of reasons - least of them all - they never included Salmon fishing with bear hands in their program. Cannot understand for the life of me whyevernot!!!  If that ever became an option I would be in paws and all . . .
So these people all congregate for an other round of competition in Dunedin and - yes you guessed it - they all want their creature comforts - and so most of the hotel / motel / caravans / Bed and breakfasts in-houses and outhouses and other assorted accommodation  where starting to be booked up 3-5 months out from the event!!   Eeeeeeeek 

BUT FEAR NOT

I got a place that can sleep 5 (although one as to be in what's called the lounge)  at what I would consider cheap rate.  Everything else was either booked or more dear then I was prepared to pay - (ridiculous to charge $300 for a night)
Phewwww sorted - now back to the garden - what else should we plant??  horse-radish?
Kumara - oh yeah  and some - oh  wait coffee - no thats further north near our future retirement place [whitianga]  :) 

Tudleoooo


Now where was that spade and lets see if I can find that 'preciouccs'  round ring that golumn lost . . . . . 

Austrian Bed and Breakfast owner goes Scouting for new activities to do for the expected guests

Contrary to public opinion - Dunedin does have a decent amount of sunshine! Even Mamabear eventually agreed that I was right   ( a rare and treasured moment - not in being right - but Mamabear admitting as much that I was indeed rrrrrright) in reading the weather map - forecast and as such it dawned nice and clear. If somewhat cold.  I have to keep reminding myself that we are 400 km CLOSER to the south pole and practically the whole South Island does get exposed to the roaring 40's - which can mean - sunny and yet cold temps!! Ah well - better this then 6 degrees and rain!!  Next up - after the bun-fight in - oops for the shower and the usual crumbs in bed and listening to the radio for 10 minutes until the pre-paid internet usage run out - was - a quick if freezing stop over at the local St. Kilda Beach and the obligatory beach sample to take home.  We did miss out on that last time we have been there - so needed to complete this transaction.  Must go later and add to the website along with the photos and short description!!   Beaches we have been too :)   Not to mention the garlic bread blog. (  Old bear's garlic-bread-critique )
Interestingly enough it is for all practical purposes the same beach - along the same bay front - and yet it does have different grain structure from one end to the other.  Curious.   
So having blue skies - it was (yet again) a total NO-brainer and we drove up and eventually headed back inland - making a detour via the (for us) usual route - which Micky calmly remarked on "I can see why he likes it - no traffic and lots of scenery!!"
Eventually came out near the power station and at special request by the old shaken Bond gal we stopped over at Benmore Dam and yes - it was spilling some excess water.  Now this is a 300 plus meter gigantic water slide.  Actually I do hope that they are flat out and using said water for making electricity as well.  It has to be said this spilled water will get used another 3 times for making power before it reaches the Ocean.  This is shall we say a rather TAME demonstration.  If they open all four gates and open wide . . . . . . .  wohoooooooo

Imagine sliding down here.  You would have a short and most exciting thrill of your life - and then be dead. 
When all four gates are half or full open then this slide fills almost to the top of its walls - so you can imagine how this spills at the bottom!!  Thundering!!

At the top of the dam - some still water and in honour of Mr Gray from '50 shades of Gray' - I called this - '50 shades of Green'!! Wonder if this enlarges to a 90 x 90 cm print???

The whole point of this detour was to - yes you guessed it - get to a certain point - Lake Pukaki and
yes

wait for it . .

here it is . . . .

nearly there . . . . . .

B I N G O -- Mt Cook in all his glory.  Yes, it was a stunning Blue Dome Day (as Augie Auer used to say) and the 'cloud-piercer' missed his cloud to pierce! Just fabulous!!  Sooooo Mermaid - you remember - and Empress Sissi - as well as Cousin-soon-to-be-here   T H I S   is what awaits you!!  I made suitable arrangements with  Sir Blue Dome and he promised good weather for January / February

From there it is just a half jump over to the next Lake and it's famous church. Now the glass of bubbly is becoming a tradition and we would have drunk to that at Pukaki - except for still being buffet by the Frigidaire wind.  So it made sense to consume and contemplate in a location which is often a 3 degrees or so warmer - yes Lake Tekapo!  Prost!!  Mermaid / Sissi / Cousin-soon-to-be-here & Wilfried-why-ever-did-you-leave-NZ!!

The inside of the church - yet again I tried to snap a decent image and yet again I realize you need some back-lighting in order to see the interior AND the exterior.  Wonder if or better when I make a sizable donation if they will let me rig a light or two and lock the doors for half an hour . . . . .

Looking across the car-park with the door open and amazingly all tourists short term wandering away from subject - soooo naturally - snap!!
Just a teeny weeny off center for the Cross to see - ah well - next time.

From there it was another uneventful drive home.  After some 900 km I felt a wee bit drowsy and so asked mamabear if she wouldn’t mind and yes she obliged - only to spot no less then 5 police cars (some sneakily in mufti) patrolling the roads south from Tekapo.  She did drily comment it would not do for me to be driving 9ookm and *cough * not slowly and NOT get a ticket and she getting a ticket on the last 150km or so! However you be pleased to know we have a special Guardian Angel who has been protecting us from overzealous traffic-police and also providing us with a car-park wherever we are.  RIP Brother

Time to unpack and crash to bed  - then go to work so we can repeat this in January!!  Can't wait for the cuzzie to arrive

Oh and must skype soon - we may need to re-jig the travel itinerary :) 
Catch you later

Austrian Bed and Breakfast owner goes Scouting for new activities to do

Woke up - with still that satisfactory and somewhat please feeling - yes the rugby!!  History was made and it feels great.  So off course next year - we aim for competition win nr 7. There will probably never be another team like it.  Ever!! Just to lay the ground work we decided to see for ourselves the famous Dunders roofed stadium and the farmers market within.  Well the market proofed to be a disappointment and  not surprised that mamabear's sister did not want to join us for this wee trip!  The Stadium however was great.  Ended up playing photographer  - snapping a strapping almost hulking South African (who looked vaguely familiar . . . ) and also had to take one of Mamabear - who it has to be said  - was extremely proud of the sponsorship.  It must be a national deal - with Mitre 10 mega featuring big-time and and when the cameras show a penalty or try conversion - you cannot miss the big orange sign in the background.  So this Cantabrian did what any self respecting guy should and would do and staked a claim on this turf - OUR piece - OUR ground - OUR win - just like the Canterbury coach did in the Cake-Tin (Wellington Stadium) after the win yesterday!! He actually staked a flag!!  Wonder how long that stayed there!  hehehe
From there it was on towards the new-ish Chinese Garden! Now not 100% sure why or how - but somehow there is a link with China and the good folks over there decided to more or less donate a example of middle class living space.  I have to tell you - not half bad!  We are seriously considering buying some land in Whitianga and building our retirement home up there - so got plenty of ideas - and I do like this example - just need to win lotto 2 x over!!   http://www.dunedinchinesegarden.com/

The roof-tiles - 1000's and 1000's of them.  If you lay then end on end you have enough to get from Dunders to Christchurch - some 400km away.  The bottom ones are called 'drip-tiles'! they are designed to ensure that any water drips away from the house! Clever!! Why do we have leaky homes in NZ??? 'Cause we forgot to apply ancient Chinese wisdom!

On the inside there were walls and inside walls and outside walls and covered walkways with walls and some had clever windows. Kinda liked this as you can walk in the shade - or protected from the rain - and yet still be 'outside', and it gives different views depending where on the property you are.

Same spot - just looking in other direction towards the main entrance and balcony!

The whole thing is designed to invite areas of contemplation! I fear - if I live in something like this I would not get anything done, rather be contemplating all the jobs that NEED doing.  That would put my ying  seriously out of whack from my yang then! :) Must google this and see if I can get a floor plan!  The amount of labour expanded on this was phenomenal.  For example - 3 labourer' job was to HAND-lay the pebbles!!!

  From there it was on to the beach - saw these footprints which reminded me about a certain poem about God walking alongside you and after a while the prints left behind going from two to one - this is where God carries you!! Anyhow - this very recent and clear imprint was to good to miss.  I have to admit - it is NOT my paw-print.  Mine would be to big and furry . . . . and not that it is telling me that God is walking IN FRONT of me neither . . . .

Reason we went to this particular beach (St. Clair) was A - they had some new forshore development (that also recently got damaged in the storm surges) and B -  the former pier left behind these poles and I had seen a drawing in town that was inspired from here!  Pleased I got in the mirror reflections in-between the waves!!

Looking out into the sea. Kinda makes you feel like running along and diving in - EXCEPT it was close to freezing cold! I do know at least one mermaid AND a distant relative of Austrian Empress Sissi (and she does have her name :)  ) who would just dip their legs in here at minimum.  Can't understand the nuts who insist surfing in these waters - yet Josh Kronfeld (of rugby fame down here) insisted it was his best post match therapy! Guess the cold water acted like a giant ice pack on sore body mussels . . .

We needed to warm up - so headed back into town and parked the 70 horses and eventually found a cafe with light meals. Definitely a student cafe! Lots of young students slurping lattes  or eating croissants.  Felt again out of place.  If 50 makes me a old fuddy-duddy - they can keep it.  First up - need a new $1000 cellphone.  Hmmm there is a Ubuntu phone coming soon - may hang out for that - meanwhile - post lunch we met up with Mamabears sister and her partner and went into the Butterfly house - room.  Lots of different colours fluttering about- and never sitting still long enough for a decent portrait.  Someone should train them :)  Yeah right!  Anyhow - it was very warm in there - stark contrast to the chilly southerly out at the beach. Amongst the wildlife was this green little dude hanging on upside down no less.  Now not sure if he was hiding from all the flutters or he was camouflaged hoping for an unsuspecting butterfly offering him/herself for his supper! He certainly blended in perfectly and you would never know he was there!  Was thinking of a certain mermaid and her teeny wee princess and how she would have liked to be there and see the colours! Next time - mermaid - next time, we gonna make it longer!!


The two sisters shared some stories and jokes! No doubt this old fella was the butt of some!  meehh  don't worry me, I'm cool - oops hot in here!
Time to leave and go for dinner - not before Mamabear managed to grab 2 hours of post Bond-girl-party  beauty-snooze-time.  For myself - trying to catch up on all the online things! Seems no one is missing us - so that's great!
Out for Dinner in the Speights house - and no junior, no DB there either - this is after all Otago country!! 

Looking forward to catching some zzzz's and driving home via Tekapo.

 

Austrian Bed and Breakfast owner goes Scouting for new

 yawn
The bed was not as comfy as first thought.  WE have a new Bed and home and a super hard mattress (as my back needs a firm grip - hmm support).
Anywoooo
Breakfast as a strange affair. The place we booked had three beds in it - a double for me and mamabear and a single (in same room) for Junior.  It had three plates / bowls / saucers / cups / knifes-fork-spoons.  One Jug for boiling water and one 2slice toaster.
It did   n o t   however have any kitchen sink or any  other kitchen things you may need.  Clearly they were hoping that we order some fatty bacon something rather from the owners hotel next door.  So  visualize myself balancing a laptop / one hot cuppa tea and three slices of nuttella on my knees in bed.  Not even a chair to sit in!!
Breakfast done and the usual bodily cleanliness done - it was time to head of into blue yonder.  Met Mamabear's sister and dropped off the birthday prezzies - then kidnapped her - ooops offered a ride for her to pick up the important 50th cake and delivered both to the local party venue - the Golf club!! Noticed - but forgot to ask why the flags there flew half-mast?? Surly not in sympathy for the member who turned half a century old?!?!?! Hmmm must ask him about that.
From there we headed into separate directions.  Somewhere in between we had lunch in a local cafe too.
So old foggy here and his lovely female 'shaken' companion headed out to the Albatross colony. (this is were the scouting bit comes into play).
We wanted to see for ourselves these magnificent flying birds AND find out the costs / tours etc for when a certain cousin etc are visiting our shores later in the season! Anyhow - long drive out and just missed on the hourly tour - so had - yes - yet another afternoon meal!  hmm at this rate the anticipated weight-loss is off the plan for now!  4pm came and and so did the tour guide.

This bear - has new digi camera and used sport setting to full advantage - capturing the big bird in full flight!! Thank goodness for that.
60 images and 1 minute later . . . .


Part of the tour also encompasses a trip to an old underground bunker  and there we saw them - urm - doing what mother nature needs or wants them to do (which when we told Micky about he pulled yet another face - poor guy got a bit teased here).  At least these two birds had no idea that they were being watched - from less then 5 meters away!! 

Eventually it was time to head back towards Dunders and we saw in the distant horizon the building of a very dark and forbidding cloud - so wondered what would await us.  Well, mother nature has a habit of tossing up surprises and this was no less spectacular and very bright! So naturally had to stop and snap a picture.

Sadly did not find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, rather a decent shower followed this event!

Back to the Motel and collected the boy (who seemed to have a good time exploring the shops in Dunders and also bought himself a new pool-cue!
Before the party was due to start we needed a bite to eat - so on advise and recommendation from the locals decided to go Italian - Ettrusco.
Arrived and the first question was - "Do you have a booking?"  Urm - no sorry
Luckily for us they had ONE table left - so got seated right next to the Door - to not only enjoy a scrumptious truly authentic Italian meal - but also hear of dozens others been turned away ( 'cause they were full) and see enough young wannabe Bond-maidens trying to be seated.  One group of 4 did get in and they looked around 20-ish - so naturally one certain young bear got suddenly keen.  hihihi - they would have chewed him through, and then spat him out!!  One thing did become clear - we are indeed old fuddyduddies.  One of the possible future Bond girls decided she needed to  'do up'   her hair. However these modern gals - just whip out their $1000 phone and plug in a live video-cam application that reflects their image and lets them comb / powder / groom any facial part to whatever satisfactory state or however long the battery lasts - NO mirror no longer needed!!  I feel old now . . .  very old

Having been educated in the latest Bond toys - it was time to head of to the actual party.  Arrived dressed up up to much laughter and hilarity. Had asked previously if there were any 'free" Bond- girls attending and sadly (or luckily for some)  no - most of them were already spoken for (and also very much older then in their prime filming days).  The closest we got to was a couple or so Cougar-mum's and well - I'm no longer young enough for that line of work ^^ and funnily enough junior was not keen on that scenario either. 
Somehow we ended up back at the motel at a reasonable hour and crashed into the soft bed (having completed one of the undercover missions set by M!!)

n8 n8

Oh yeah - and despite the TV live streaming the event (which if I am watching - we would loose) our rugby Team did win the ITM cup for a record 6th consecutive time!! Way to go Canterbury


 

Austrian Bed and Breakfast owner goes Scouting

Nnaha

I know what you are thinking - Scouting - yes???
For the record - yes - I am involved in the hallowed youth movement - it keeps me on the alert and trim - (and not that this is the only reason for doing the voluntary work!!!)

However this is NOT what I trying to convey - rather - see,  we had a request to attend a certain 50th Birthday party - James Bond themed!! 

So who would pass up the opportunity to see some of the famous - good looking and highly skilled + attractive even sexy Bond girls???   Not me = of course!!  Even Mamabear went along in the spirit and sort of dressed up for the event.  She eventually decided on being a Martini!!  Her logic was that being from Christchurch is - "been shaken - not stirred"!! Micky decided on being an 'boring' EXTRA.  Myself  - one of the villains!! Yet I am getting ahead of myself.  First up - most unusual - we packed AFTER my work finished and also waited for junior to finish his work and so eventually had the ox-cart packed and ready to go at 4.45pm for a decent 4-5 hour trip south to Dunedin - often also called Dunders!!
Dinner was Burger king on the run some place in Timaru!  Yummy dessert!!
Anywoo the road was busy with the holiday traffic - and it took just a tad longer then desired - but magically ( or was it the fact by now it was getting very dark at night :)  :) the road virtually emptied after Oamaru - so only had to worry about the traffic cops pulling night duty (and any speeding Austrians over)  and any stray unsuspecting future road-kill!! Hmmm junior not impressed when I offered some roadkill for dinner - in lieu of Burger-king! Can't think why - the possum or rabbit would have been already tenderized!!  ^^
Anywoo - arrived safely enough in Dunders - found motel and checked in (super small size) and crashed for the night!! 
The scouting bit will come tomorrow . . . .

Austrian Bed and Breakfast owner is thinking of growing coffee-beans

Global warming does have it's benefits. Wait - before you scold me - let me explain how I got to this view. Back in the dark ages - before New Zealand became truly connected to the world - I came to this country. It was somewhat quaint and well - rather isolated place. Stepping of the plane after a dark 24 hour flight and having left Europe in darkness with snow falling - I was indeed tempted to kiss the tarmac sort-of Pope-like. After being cooped up (like sardines) for that length of time in a aluminum coffin - it was indeed very tempting but I ended abstaining from this time honored activity, mainly because the local constabulary may not have appreciated my copycat gesture and may have arrested me. Not a good start to the year of voluntary service in Godzone. In any case - Global warming - well - it was a change from -5 degrees in Europe and arriving at a pleasant +25 Degrees Celsius. Very warm. Very nice.  So I settled in and remembered stories from the Austrian National Ski team here on a "Summer" training camp late August the previous year. They did train near Mount Hutt / Methven - and surprise surprise had to go and 'book' a telephone-call back to Austria via a Telecom Operator. By this stage all of Austria had been for some time on a exchange that did not need a operator.
The other main thing was - I had been exposed to drinking coffee for breakfast and at other times during the exhaustive day which necessitated a warm pick-me-up drink. I quickly learned upon arriving here - that you could get only - well - yes Instant coffee. Eeeeek.

There was one shop in town where you could buy fresh beans - but they had to be ground down and then used in the old-fashioned kettle-boil method. From Filters - no sight. Maybe they were into protecting trees even at that early stage. So after trying to be inventive and using toilet paper and other assorted filters to strain my ground beans a SOS was sent to Salzburg. 2 weeks later - bliss.

Nowadays of course - with international closeness and the whole world being a village you can just-about buy anything from anywhere - and if not directly then via indirect imports. There are coffee's of all sorts - fresh / green / roasted / vacuum packed / frothed / mixed with chocolate - Mint - Cinnamon - Milk - and whatever else you can think of. Even George Clooney is selling the "Brand"!

What does this have to do with Global warming?? I am getting to that.

 Seems

 A; we are moving in a northerly direction (that is half of NZ -the other half is sliding southwards and under.
B; the Ice is melting. Now the Ice melting has nothing to do with us living down there and doing research on how or why the Ice is melting. Rumors' that we are pouring hot water out is simply just not true. Nor has it anything to do with the hot coffee's being served there for the good staff doing research into the various scientific causes. Nor has it anything to do with all the hot air coming from the Beehive (NZ Parliament) or the research boffin's down there agreeing - or not - on various scientific matters such as holes in the air and how to measure them. Rather - so the story goes - the Cars and Cows are the culprits. Hmmmm both are C's. So the two big C's are squelching forth various gases that are just part of their natural life cycle. As a friend of mine so eloquently put it - "If you ain't farting -then your not alive"!  Seems we have a few too many real life farting corpses of varying ages and abilities not to mention the cars and so all this excess additional odor goes where gases usually go - right up in the air. There the various gases  congregate and mix and mingle and perhaps even procreate - who knows??  In places it is so thick that you can no longer see the sun on a good day!   However we now have this thick layer of exhaustive matter above our heads, and - I shall refrain from jokes about - urm - well - dirty matter flying - or hitting the Fan. Meanwhile all these gases trap hot air - rather then letting them escape into the greater Universe. Quite why we would want to pollinate the rest of the universe with our own man/cow/car made odor is beyond me in the first place but there you go - they used to go out leaving the mother earth behind - and now they are not.  End result - it is supposedly getting warmer.

Well this Author has no problems with that. For a start - longer sunnier days on the beach are just the tonic for a stressed soul. Much much more importantly though - with the excess warm air warming up the Northern Island, we are now at a point were we can seriously consider growing a different variety of crop and yes various types of beans - Including the much valuable coffee bean. If successful we would then become a exporter of New Zealand Coffee, and that would be a good thing for the local farmers. Further more the coffee would become dirt cheap, to the point they may even give them away (here is hoping) for free. Naturally the local farmers would have to compete with the guy down the road who would want to grow chocolate (which as you know also comes from a bean and likes the warmer climates) and THAT would please Mamabear no end.  There are endless possibilities - Banana's / pineapples / coconut and papaya to name a few.  In any case with the coffee consumption having risen significantly with one Cousin already having been here and another Cousin due soon-ish here in the tropics - this may prove to be a good investment / past time for this bed and breakfast owner. Wonder how long it takes to grow coffee trees and how long from harvest to sipping the local brew??? And can I keep the local dog from eating the tender shoots?

Will keep you posted.

 On this note - goes into the kitchen and boils some water and adds some brown ground stuff to the mug and checks the fridge for cream.

Have fun

Austrian tour-guide may have be a Kiwi after all

http://sandysviews.com/2013/09/24/an-open-letter-to-emirates-team-new-zealand-from-team-new-zealand/

Oh dear
Houston we do have a problem
urm

See - New Zealand was gunning for winning the Americas Cup and then this (see below - or click on the above link) letter to Emirates Team NZ was read out on the radio - and I am sure some tears were shed - and I know Mamabear did so while driving to work and listening to this on the car radio.
It was red with emotion - but much much more - it reflects the beautify crafted penmanship of its Author.  The feeling of the whole country is summed up in a few short words.
If you don't understand how Kiwis tick and you still do not understand this after reading the open letter - then I guess you will never understand.
Thanks to Sandy for penning and sharing this!!

Which brings me to a teeny weeny problem
This blogger is a native born bloke from Salzburg.  I have lived in New Zealand for much longer than in Austria and I  (so am told)  am now more 'native' then most Kiwis.  Do I let things lay as they are now or do I change the important bit of paper???  What the heck do I do now??

Anyhow - this can all wait.  Meanwhile our boys over there in San Fran and are hurting and they need to come home. To echo Sandys words - We are Team New Zealand and when these boy's hurt - we hurt.   Come on home boys.  Let us support you, hug you.  We will be at the airport when you touch down. We wave the Silver Fern Flag, might even do the Haka!! Time to light a Barbie and have a few Marlborough mussels and reflect and plan forward 
Doesn't matter that the Auld Mug is gathering dust in some rich  opulent American Cupboard. Our Team NZ gave it it's best.  This team of 4 million took on one very large country with enormous resources and technology and we took it right to them - just being foiled at the last minute.
We (red) socked it to them - giving them a huge freight.  Be proud of that fact
This team can achieve anything if we want to. You just wait. We will be back - no doubt about it. We will return the Cup to its home - NZ




 
G’day Deano and the crew.
     This is from us back home. You’ll be having some strategy meeting. Knocking around a few ideas. Hell, you might even be asleep. Us at home? We’re doing that too. You’ll have your eye on the big picture, the San Francisco bay weather, the clouds, the rules, what the Americans (or is it Aussies?) are doing to their boat over night. Probably giving the big outboard motor a polish, if the last few days are anything to go by.
     We don’t know about any of that stuff. We know bugger all about sailing. I don’t mean that lot by the sea up North with their flash boats sitting around the yacht club yelling at the television in some nautical language we don’t speak, they know about sailing. I mean us. The rest of us out in New Zealand.
      We are getting up every morning to watch you and the boys taking on the Billionaire at a sport none of us know about. We want you to win it for us. You’ve got Team New Zealand written on the boat. That’s our boat. We are Team New Zealand.
     We should be going to work or school, some of us are and taking a radio or even a TV along. Most of us though, are at home or by a TV somewhere, anywhere, watching you and the boys racing up and down San Francisco bay after a little yachting cup with someone else’s name on it.. We don’t know what a jibe or a tack is. Well we didn’t but we do now. We don’t know what a lay line is or why some of you keep running back and forth across the boat. We have no idea how it goes so fast into the wind or why it looks like a space ship on water. How it doesn’t even seem to float in the water, but skims on those ‘foils’. We just know it has Team New Zealand written on it and that’s who we are.
     We are out there in places often nowhere near the water watching every race. We aren’t sailors, most of us have never been on a yacht. We run coffee shops in Tirau.. We drive trucks in Te Kuiti. We are sitting on a quad bike on the side of a hill near Hunterville with the commentary on an old transistor radio. We teach kids in Palmerston North, or we would if they weren’t at home watching the America’s Cup. We are talking about the days races (or not) with people we don’t know in the pub after work in Westport. We compare our new expert opinions on yacht racing with strangers on a commuter train from Tawa. Outside New Zealand we are in Edinburgh, Munich, London, LA, and Lima. Doha, Goondiwindi, Cairo and Helsinki, wherever we are, we’ve found a way of watching. We are even on the waterfront in San Francisco. We made a special trip. We are Team New Zealand and our name is on the boat.
     This is what we do you see. We get behind our people in black taking on the world. All of us. We become experts in things we knew nothing about. OK, we need the television to put graphics all over the screen so we know what’s going on. We listen to the commentators telling us things as though we were all sailors. We aren’t though so we don’t know what they are talking about. What we know now is that you have to win the start and you have to win the finish. The stuff in between? No idea mate. But we are Team New Zealand and our name is on the boat. You do the sailing, we’ll be willing you to win, that’s our job, all of us. No other country does this like we do. This is who we are. This is why we win. When you take on Team New Zealand, you take on the whole country. We’re watching Deano, all of us.
     We are Team New Zealand and our name is on the boat. Let’s write it on our cup and stick it on the mantelpiece.
Just one more to win Deano, see you soon mate. Bring the cup home.

Austrian tour-guide becomes peace negotiator - maybe?

It is spring - the time of new growth and getting your hands dirty pulling weeds out of the bedding garden.  A time to reflect and contemplate.
A time to re-connect and appreciate some of the more amazing things - such as - how things beginning from such a tiny wee seed can become such big ugly unwanted plant.  If God did want us to have a holiday - WHY did he create such weeds and bugs.
Speaking of Bugs - it came to me in the middle of the night - if I am going to be serious with this tour guide job thing - I had better get on my skates and do the necessary prep-work.  This will entail two trips west / south of good ol NZ (at least).
Relationships with Colonel Sand-ers are currently hmmm at best frosty. He feels he got the raw deal from the last time we negotiated a mutual peace treaty.    ( secret deal made with colonel Sand-ers )
 Readers will remember that in exchange for clear passage of one of my cousins, he was promised near perfect breading weather patterns in order to increase the regular urm fly supply.  Well I did hold up my end of the bargain and arranged with the man upstairs to provide just enough rain and sun to enable the local Sand-fly population to flourish.  Indeed initial assessments exceeded expectations.  A totally random and un-sientific snapshot sample of Tourists (all from England) visiting Colonel Sand-ers old stomping ground near Milford Sound, seemed to indicate a certain 30% bite-marks per person. So not sure what he is complain-ing about.  Unconfirmed rumors have it - that our good ol' Colonel may have moved Territory (one of those - is the grass really greener on the other side of the mountain moves) and so perhaps missed out on the deal that we struck last April.  Sighs -  Sometimes you just can't win . . ^^  I may have to return and offer him a special peace offering.

The other major thing to arrange, is a visit to Major Grand Fault.  He's however in a semi permanent sleeping holding position and one dares not disturb him.  Akin to a sleeping giant that is best kept sleeping - do I go and disturb him and arrange for safe passage - or do I . . . .
Hmmmm - some of his adjutants have been running round lately and, well, created havoc - (not sure if this is a case of when the cat is away the mice will play???)

 2 of his more agile lieutenants recently visited Christchurch and Seddon.  While the Seddon trip (by the sounds of it) was just plain scary and little damage was caused - the trip to Christchurch did however produce some more significant disruptions. What do I do - what do I do?????
I do not want him disturbed and waking up - but I do want him to promise to me that will be holding off tossing his entire weight around next year. He kinda gets grouchy when he wakes up and shakes everything upside down.  Maybe I just quietly lay a piece pipe on his front door????
This will require more thought.  Thankfully we do have a bit of time up our sleeve ^^

Anyhow - apart from these two above teeny weeny wee problems - everything else just pales.
Time to go back into the garden and contemplate another of Gods growth spurts!
Wonder if he minds me doing some ploughing . . . . .


Have fun

 

Austrian Bed and Breakfast owner is contemplating a change in career

It had to happen sooner or later.

Just as we had settled into our routine of offering - well - hospitality - that included such a varied cuisine (from memory Huhu grubs were mentioned) and certainly a most comfortable bed (although I am told a certain 50 year old FEMALE bear is refusing to make breakfast in bed - sighs), it hit me there is more to be gained by being actually a paid - hmm or unpaid TOUR guide. What a better way then to see the country by carting some folks around and highlight the many nice places we have got to show for?!?!?!?!  I would need to buy a mini van or bus - or should that be a rugged beat-up four-wheel-drive that can at a pinch double as a boat for river crossings??

However - the hard part (and it is a really hard part) - is determining what to see in what time and the less time you have the more you miss out on.  It is conceivable of visiting New Zealand for 4 months - or more, and you barely scratch the surface. And that's just for the South Island.  There are just to many beautiful places to go and see.  Then that’s not taking into account the hands on experience. There is a knife-making place in Barrytown - that takes care of one full day.  Bone / Jade - (or commonly referred to as)  Greenstone carving in Hokitika can set you back another full day.  Adventure sports will all take their time (wait until you hear about gliding in Oamaru).  Go north and end up in Karamea and you will have already done a full days travel just to get there and yet there are numerous walks - including the 5 day Heaphy Track - or Abel Tasman Track- or go South - and do a 5 day Milford Sound Track - or the Routebourne Track or - or - oh yeah and that one too. 
Oh dear - I am already exhausted just thinking about it.

There is of course a "Tourist-highway" with many must see items in a logical manner - but I am not sure that A; folks coming here to stay with us have the time and B; want to do what every other overseas person sees and does. hmmmm

Guess we will have to ask later and find out and go and plan from there.

What would you do?? Where would you go and spend a night or two or three??
Is there any particular sight that is way more important then any other?
My Mum LOVED the Moeraki Boulders and Pancake Rocks - and yet I know someone who barely glanced at them - but then sat in front of a round about (near Kumara - where the train tracks run through the middle of the round-about) for a full 15 minutes and did some mental calculations.. . .
I have no difficulty persuading mamabear to stay a few nights in Tekapo - let alone go to the Coromandel (North Island)

On second thoughts - I better stay as a bed and breakfast owner- ( well, for now :)  )  - at this stage it seems easier - just gotta hang the washing up and do the ironing and fix that pesky little drip in the far end of the house . . .

Have fun