The South Pacific. Another holiday?!!

Hi Everyone,

December already! Oh, oh, oh! No 'Ho, ho, ho' just yet please. I know that many of you are having to put up with snow already so hope that this photo makes you feel warmer (and just a tiny bit jealous?) The photo is of our beach, we only had the road to cross from the garden to get there. Chickens are a problem - especially the roosters. They do not seem to realise that they only have to crow as it gets light not every hour on the hour plus countless times between. I kept on mentioning Christmas dinner but to no avail.

Don't worry. We did have to suffer there in Rarotonga (Cook Islands)!!! The mozzies were out in force - I have never had so many bites although I was lucky in that they did not itch. It did rain, but it was warm and the sea was warmer than Christchurch is at the moment (not difficult) plus the lagoon made it extra safe for the children. You just had to avoid stepping on the sea cucumbers! We went for a trip in a glass-bottomed boat where we snorkeled and glimpsed all the colourful fish in the lagoon followed by a barbecue of fresh tuna, plus entertainment - part of which was Matt and Roy. I believe Ash has the video!

We ate fresh coconut - they fell off the palm, then Malc dehusked them and we ate the creamy flesh. A neighbour brought round pawpaws from her sister's tree for us to enjoy. It is a lovely place to go. Food is expensive as it all has to be imported from NZ but, hey, it is an island in the South Pacific! I really liked the idea of 'Island time' and would like to go back. The night flight home was a trial and we were all so, so tired yesterday but, hopefully, will be restored to our usual energetic selves (!!!!!!!) soon.

Only two weeks of school left then it is Christmas, New Year and the long summer holiday. Lots to do before then. I am not sure about the Xmas card situation this year as I think I have missed the last posting date for overseas so I will wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year and hope that your card catches up with you sometime in 2011. All my love Carol xx

Hooray to be home!

Hi Everyone,

I am so glad to be home - with the new visa that gives me 6 months here before I need to go offshore for at least a day then repeat - twice. Hopefully by that time someone will have got around to my residency application.

Koala at Taronga Zoo

Couldn't live in Sydney - too many people, cars, hills!!! I mostly enjoyed the stay, apart from the 5 days of pain with my back. Luckily it all settled down in time for Sarah's visit last weekend and I had already changed my flight so that I could come home early. We really got a lot out of the 4 days she was with me. We walked around the harbour, botanic gardens, art gallery and back to the harbour for dinner while watching it get dark and the Opera House all lit up. And that was only the first afternoon.

Coal miner's hut in the Blue Mountains

We took the train to the Blue Mountains - they really are blue due to the oils from the gum trees and the sunshine (I think). Another day of a lot of walking and the next day - the Zoo where we got 'up close and personal' with the koalas. They are lovely but we were not allowed to touch. The other Aussie animals that made our visit were the Tasmanian Devils and the Platypus.

Residents of the Blue Mountains

Unfortunately the weather worsened and we could not go whale watching on the last day. Rain and the traffic conspired so that I nearly missed my flight but home again and happy now! I was in time for Olive's third birthday too and it is her party on Sunday.

The aftershocks are continuing - one last week that I missed was just off the coast and made the houses shake. Enough already! And that goes for this blog too. I hope that you are all keeping well and that the winter is kinder to you this year. Not long until Christmas folks!! But we have a holiday before that so keep your eyes open for the next instalment.

With love Carol xxx

Australia 2

Hi Everyone,

Greetings from a warm and sunny Sydney. RESULT!!!! I have got the new visa. It took a time for all the paperwork to arrive here. Thanks Sarah for your help! No thanks to DHL who took 3 days to find me. I was hanging around the house for most of that time so that there was someone to sign for the package. Immigration did it on the spot, ~I couldn't believe it having braced myself for at least 10 working days wait. It is such a relief and now I can enjoy the rest of my stay.

In celebration I took a cruise of the Harbour and met a couple from Manchester on their honeymoon. They took the photo of me and I took one of them - to be their thank you letters! Aahhh!

I expect there will be another episode in the very near so i will finsih by sending all my love and thanks for all the messages.

Carol xxx

Australia 1

Hi Everyone to this my first Aussie blog.

I have left the shaking in Christchurch, and the cold behind and am sunning myself in Sydney. I was so stressed at having to leave, headaches galore, but having visited Immigration here I am feeling much better. With luck, when I get all the pieces of paper together it will not take too long to get the visa Lots of hoops for Sarah and Annie to jump through but my fingers are still crossed - it does make typing hard!!

I am doing a fair bit of walking trying to find my bearings in the city. I have seen the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, visited the Chinese Garden of Friendship - so peaceful - and walked around Paddy's Markets - definitely not peaceful. Took a ride on the Monorail because I could but mostly walk or take the free shuttle so far. I have plans for whale watching, going to the Zoo and taking a day trip into the Blue Mountains, so plenty to keep you all updated on. So, that's it for the first instalment.

All my love Carol xxx

Post earthquake!

Oban, the town in Stewart Island. View of the bay.

Well Folks, greetings from a post-earthquake Christchurch - still suffering aftershocks (more than 1000 so far) some of which are a definite jolt to the system! The roads are getting back to normal - the repairers are doing a great job.

I was intending to tell you about my trip to Stewart Island (great) and about the gallant ferry battling the giant waves and heading into the teeth of a gale - all true - and how we missed all the snow down south that caused the stadium roof in Invercargill to collapse but you will have to imagine it and content yourself with one photo.

More to the forefront in my mind is my upcoming trip to Australia. I have been given my marching orders from Immigration and have to leave the country by the 11th October when my 3 year visitor's visa expires. I asked the minister 3 months ago to allow me to stay until the application for residency is considered (2 years! and my papers were lodged in Feb this year). He said "no!" No reason - that's it. My MP had supported my case but to no avail. The letter arrived last week and you can imagine the dismay and panic.

To cut a long and 'heart-wrenching' story short, I am going to Sydney to apply for another visa - it can only be applied for offshore. Hopefully it will be granted and I can come back in time for the family holiday in late November. I can't contemplate what happens if it isn't given to me. Back to the UK I suspect. The reason for Australia is

it is closer than the UK (less travelling)

they will be able to do it faster (fewer applicants)

it is spring

cheaper to get to.

So think of me as I explore Sydney, guide book in hand. I intend to have a good look round. I have booked to be away for a month but could be back sooner. Keep writing as I will have the computer with me and will miss NZ.

Yours, with love and all the fingers and toes crossed, Carol xx

Earthquake 2010

Hi Everyone and thank you to all who have contacted us in the last few days. Just a short note this time and no photos .... yet! Well, we have survived quite a big one - in the best James Bond tradition .... wait for it ......... "shaken but not stirred". Boom boom! IT was, however, very frightening to experience, especially as it was the middle of the night. Without any light pollution from the city the stars were amazing and I met up with all the neighbours just before 5am!!!

The damage in the city is extensive - there are lots of photos on the NZ Herald website. The power of the earth is 'awesome'. Literally. Sarah and family are staying with me at present as the main beams in the their house have been damaged and they feel it would be best to wait for an assessment. That could take awhile because of the sheer weight of numbers of people waiting. Well over 50 aftershocks have been measured so far and the experts say that we could have another quite big one in the near future. No school for a couple of days, so far and many not at work. We are boiling water in case of contamination, conserving water and not flushing too often. The army are guarding the cordon around the Central Business District where there is a lot of damage.

A lovely day today and the forecast high winds moderated but we have a cold front with lots of rain coming at the end of today. Oh joy!! Still, could be worse. The stiff upper lip is operating even if a bit wobbly at times. Love to you all. Carol xx

Easter 2010

Hi Everyone,

Not long since the last offering but as I have been on another trip I thought I would put fingers to keyboard. I trust that the weather is warming up a little now, that you are keeping well and that the ash from the volcano is not causing problems.

I decided to abandon the family at Easter, having first made sure that the Easter Bunny had enough supplies, of course. This trip was to Nelson - an area of the South Island that I had not yet visited. Another coach tour (filled with people rather older than me but very friendly and they made me feel quite sprightly!!) To my amazement I knew the brother of one of the other passengers in Boxford - Fred Corner for those in the area. Talk about a small world!

Tahunanui Beach where we stayed.

The coach broke down an hour out from our destination - an additive in the diesel destroyed the fuel line - so we were not at the hotel until 8pm; a 12 hour trip from Christchurch!!! No matter as the next day more than made up for it. We had a wonderful 4 hour boat trip up the coast calling in at many of the beautiful bays that edge the Abel Tasman National Park. I would definitely like to visit again and walk some (or all) of the A. T. track. The weather was gorgeous and the scenery so beautiful.

Kaiteriteri - start of Abel Tasman National Park

Nelson Market on the Saturday was full of very talented people and well worth a wander round. We also visited some 'stately homes!' As these homes tend to be less than 150 years old to someone coming from England they are not terribly impressive but I mustn't carp. NZ is after all a very young country by European standards, and anything over a hundred years old is considered 'heritage'.

Many many vineyards in this region but the only wine I tasted was purchased over the bar in the hotel. Honest! Mostly coach travel on the Sunday - no chance for a paddle but I did try the hotel pool - FREEZING! We had a good trip back down the coast, no delays this time, and home in time for tea.

On the way home!

All are well here. School is back this week. Sarah had her birthday this month - her 'surprise' party not quite a surprise we planned. See her blog for details. I have started back at the gym and the motivation is that I have paid for a 3 month membership! Hope that you enjoy the scenery!

Do take care, all my love until next time. Carol xx

Great Barrier Island

Hi Everyone, and welcome to the latest blog.

Whangaparapara Harbour.

And only a few weeks have passed since the last one! Well, I have been on another of my little trips - this time for 2 nights on Gt Barrier Island, 90 kms to the northeast of Auckland. It is the fourth largest land mass in NZ - after South Island, North Island and Stewart Island and I had never heard of it until the info about the trip came through. Mind you, a couple of Kiwis I mentioned it to thought it was off the Australian coast so I didn't feel too bad. (A bit far for a three day trip!) Getting there involved a really early start as I was picked up at 6am for a flight to Auckland and then a transfer to a 'small' plane for the half hour flight to the island. (10 passengers!)

Tryphena Harbour

No mains electricity or water so the inhabitants rely on bore holes, generators and solar panels. Very beautiful as you can see from the photos and lots of tramping trails which I didn't have enough time to take advantage of - although I did walk along some of the beaches and paddle in the sea (a little warmer than Christchurch, I have to say.)

Medlands Beach

All in all a lovely trip, and guess what? I have another booked for Easter, this time to Nelson at the top of the South Island. Then it will be time for another blog. So, still in 'gadding about' mode I will finish - hoping that it is getting warmer for you by now.

Take care, lots of love Carol xxx

Autumn 2010

Hi Everyone,

Autumn is here already but, unlike those of you suffering with the winter cold in the Northern hemisphere we have been languishing under sunny skies ever since the children went back to school (beginning Feb!) So little rain that there is a fire warning out. The tsunami warning last weekend, after the Chilean earthquake was a bit worrying - during the night especially. We were saved by the low tide!!!! However, there were still some idiots who persisted in swimming, surfing, walking on the beach or just driving to the beach to see the wave come in. Annie, Malc and Olive took to the hills and Sarah's family took me to Kate's for a barbeque.

The girls and I went to Auckland last month to visit Margaret who was in turn visiting her daughter Sarah and new grandson, Jack. We had a lovely weekend - although the weather was rather humid and that made it difficult to sleep. We have celebrated a few family birthdays since I last wrote; mine, Roy's and Ash's. Thank you for your cards and good wishes. We all went out to lunch. If you have been reading the Simmerson's blog you will know that Joe broke his arm 2 months ago. He no longer has a cast but is meant to be avoiding trampolining, biking etc. Yeah, right!

I am helping at school again this year; in the same class as before. Unlike Joe I have been kept back a year!!! The only trouble I have is with learning their names - it has never been my strong point. I went to the theatre last night to see 'The Diary of Ann Frank'. It was very moving. There were lots of young people in the audience, presumably studying it at school and they were engrossed throughout. They reacted with applause and whistles when Ann and Peter kissed! There is another visit to the theatre at the end of the month and I am going on a trip next week so there should be another blog soon. The photos this time were taken at the Chinese Lantern Festival last weekend - most enjoyable.
Do take care and keep warm. Not too long before you change your clocks - we change ours back the first weekend in April so making us 11 hours in front of the UK. All my love Carol xxx

Happy New Year 2010

Hi Everyone,

Hardly believable that another year has passed. Matt's birthday today so 'Many Happy Returns' to him. Now I know that many of you have had to cope with loads of snow so I hope that you have not been inconvenienced too much. The pictures of the whole of the UK covered in white were fantastic - it can't happen very often.

If you read Sarah's blog you will see that life was pretty hectic during December. One week I drove to Kate's 4 times, both to see them and to attend Ash and India's functions at school. I got really good petrol consumption that month! The one hope was that Joe would not have something on the same day and it all worked out OK. I really enjoyed helping in Joe's class last year and have volunteered for this year too. I will continue to help the same teacher, even though Joe has moved up the school, as we get along well. It is only one morning a week and the children call me Nana Carol. It is rather disconcerting when I am out to hear "Hello Nana Carol" shouted by one of the children - reminds me of when I was 'Brown Owl' and going to the Hadleigh Show and hearing "Hello, Brown Owl" screamed out over the showground! Happy days..

Before Xmas I went to see "Anything Goes" at the theatre with U3A (most enjoyable; hadn't realised how many of the songs I knew). I had lunch with the WI, U3A and my walking group. The latter lunch was at the Casino. I decided to have a flutter. Now the last time I played the slots was in Las Vegas in 1979 where I spent $5. There were handles to pull then! Does going again this time constitute a habit? Anyway, I bet $4 (buttons to push this time) and won $40, so quit while I was ahead. It paid for the lunch and then some!

Christmas was great. The family gathered here for lunch and the sun shone enough to eat outside. We all went to the beach afterwards for some boogie boarding - the first time in the sea this summer for most of us. The weather has been reasonably good for us so far - the sun has shone but (due to El Nino) a lot of the wind has come from the SW (Antarctica). This has brought plenty of rain on the west coast - they have an average of 10 metres a year, folks!!!! We haven't had too much rain on this side of the country - time for the farmers to mention the word 'drought'.

As usual I will try to get some photos on the blog so fingers are crossed. My very best wishes to all for the New Year. Take care and keep warm.

With love Carol xx

PS Managed to get some photos on the blog - yours truly, self portrait and Xmas dinner. Only had to phone Sarah once, so 'result'.