Thanks to the Weather Gods!

Valkyrie Garden area

5 years ago on the 29th December 2006 my Brother Dennis died suddenly and we lost not only a dearly loved member of our Family, but a devoted Husband, Father and Grandfather. As each year passes we collectively enjoy reminiscing about his life with us and the happy memories he left us with. The Auckland Domain is a fantastic "Jewel in the Crown" of the parks and gardens in Auckland and are a must visit for those who appreciate mother natures wonderful offerings

Auckland Domain Scene

As it was the 5th Anniversary this past Thursday, Lyn and I decided to join with Family and visit his seat of Remembrance, which is located near the Valkyrie Fountain in the Auckland Domain, for a picnic morning tea. Dennis and I grew up in Parnell and the Domain was our playground, so his immediate family had the brilliant idea of a memorial plaque in his honour, situated in the Domain environs. It is a really beautiful area and over the past 69 years of my life, I have treasured the memories of our childhood in this location.

Family Gathering

In the days preceding our departure the weather forecast was not very promising and heavy rain warnings had been broadcast for Thursday through to New Years Eve on Sunday. We checked the plants and garden at home, shifted the animals to a new feeding patch and loaded up the car with wet weather gear. We set off early from Waipu and although it was showering lightly, the temperature was quite warm and as we drove down the main highway, the weather actually started to clear. Once we arrived at the Domain, the sky turned grey and the wind rose, but still no rain!

The various families arrived and as it was a work-day, it consisted of mainly Mothers & children. Maureen produced plates of goodies to eat and we enjoyed catching up with family news and enjoyed the sight of children excitedly playing around the grassed area adjacent to the Valkyrie Fountain. The gardens are immaculate as always and there was a very pleasant gardener planting new arrangements as the children ran around him. Unfortunately the fountain area was roped off as there was a split in the concrete and the water had drained away. Apparently in the new "Super City Structure" there were no funds left to repair this iconic Auckland Memorial and I will be adding to the list of Council emails received about this state of affairs. It appears the Council can find immediate funding for Rugby World Cup events, but not to repair a structure that locals and tourists have enjoyed for decades!

Bubble Blowing Extravaganza!

Then it was time for the bubble blowing to commence and I must admit I had forgotten how much fun can be had with a wand and a small container of bubble liquid. Hoots of laughter and 1000s of bubbles later, we decided to take some group photos. STILL NO RAIN!

I had spoken to the gardener earlier when he enquired why we were gathered close to where he was working. He wanted to water the newly planted flowers, but didn't want to intrude on our gathering , but as it turned out the underground system didn't affect us at all. So far this was the only wet area I had seen!

Attack of the Bubble Blowers!

As we arranged everyone for the photo shoot, we realized we needed an adult camera person, so we decided that the only option was to further ruin the gardeners lunchtime and ask him
to supervise the cameras that were thrust into his hand

This very obliging young Asian man did a wonderful job and we are most grateful to him for his assistance (and we told him so)

It was time for us to head off to Kelly and Craig's for lunch and in the time honoured tradition, we said our goodbyes to the Families and wished them well for 2012. By this stage the wind had increased somewhat and this made any video filming noisy, but there was no sign of rain. In fact we didn't strike any rain until we were 1/2 hour from home on the return journey, when it struck with a vengeance as we reached Kaiwaka and the Brynderwyns. 
One day later it is still raining!

I could say it was the "Luck of the Irish" or perhaps the "Weather Gods" were on our side, but we were grateful to be able to hold a Family gathering without raincoats or umbrellas. Thanks!

A personal favourite dedication (slightly altered) to my Brother Dennis O'Brien

 b.21st Sept 1937 d.29th Dec 2006

"All for one and one for all, my BROTHER and my friend. What fun we had, the times we shared ...BROTHERS til' the end."

Christmas on the Farm in Waipu

Christmas has arrived on the Farm and according to the weather experts we should have a nice sunny day 22c - 15c. The Heifers have been moved to their new grazing area (slightly bigger than usual seeing as it is Christmas) and the traditional breakfast of bacon and eggs has been demolished without any trouble whatsoever! Me, not the Heifers! Preparations have been made for our Christmas meal with family and the turkey is in the oven, the Pavlova is waiting to be decorated with fruit and cream and the Christmas tree looks lovely with a smattering of presents on the floor at the base.

As Grandparents we find it difficult to buy appropriate presents for children over the age of 10 as they either already have "one" or it is out of our price range (electronics) so we hand print cards and insert money so the recipient can either spend it wisely or add it to their piggy bank for something desperately needed to keep sanity in the house. I have loved Christmas and I have fond memories as a child not being able to sleep in anticipation of the "Bearded fellow" arriving and secure in the knowledge that I had been extremely good in the preceding weeks (well days actually) We always had stockings hanging at the end of our beds and when we awoke on Christmas morning the stocking was full of goodies such as nuts in the shell and in the bottom of the stocking there was an orange. On the rare occasion there was a bigger present that couldn't fit the stocking and these were found under the Christmas tree. Times were tough and with 3x brothers and a sister our presents were only what could be afforded by the paymaster (Dad) We always had a large roast at lunchtime, usually Lamb with all the trimmings. Dad was a very good cook and if we ever had a roast beef it was always accompanied by roast vegetables and greens from his own garden and a large tray of Yorkshire pudding. Mum had usually spent time baking during the previous week and her Christmas mince pies were a real treat. In the early days we didn't have any refrigeration and most things were kept in a safe and when we finally got a small, non electric freezer chest, we had to buy ice which was placed in the top of the cabinet. Its seems amazing in this day and age that these were treated as marvellous inventions!

Another enjoyable part of Christmas at home is the tradition of playing all the wonderful Christmas carols (sometimes even on an old turntable with a red Christmas vinyl record that has stood the test of time) YouTube is a wonderful repository for all types of music and Josh Groban's singing has become a firm personal favourite. His version of Oh Holy Night is awesome and what would Christmas be without Snoopy's Christmas!

Our youngest visitor today is aged 6.5 months and the Oldest is Margaret aged 82, so I look forward to a fun filled happy day with Family. Phone calls to other family members will happen during the day and hopefully we can meet up with many during the holiday season. I had the thrill of talking to a Grandson in Australia yesterday and the "bucket list" has another urgent addition to visit Australia, albeit briefly to meet family relatives not yet seen.

I wish the Joy of Christmas and the feeling of good will could be extended throughout the year and I know it can be a time of stress for many families, but there is something magical about Christmas that I hope to enjoy for many years to come. HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

Milford Sound the Eighth Wonder of the World!

Lake Te Anau

Brian & Lyn on Tour

Our trip down South also included a "Bucket List" trip to Milford Sound. I have been before but Lyn had never experienced this wondrous NZ scenic spot. We decided to book a combined bus and boat trip, so that I would get to see everything without having to drive our hire car. We were collected from our Te Anau hotel at 8.30am after a nice breakfast and taken to the bus depot in town. Our bus was waiting for a number of young Asian passengers who had slept all the way from the Queenstown where the journey originated from (they had been partying hard the night before) Our bus driver Bruce lived at Arrowtown, so he had a long day ahead of him.



Mirror Lakes



I remembered many of the scenic spots from my previous trip to Milford many years earlier, and over the years these had changed dramatically and in fact the road signs advertising the "Valley of the Disappearing Mountains" had been removed completely as the trees had blocked out this unusual visual optical illusion from the highway.



The "Mirror Lakes" area had been upgraded and although it was overcast, the view from the extensive wooden deck was great and we managed a photo or two.



Mt Christina Fiordland National Park



The weather improved as the journey progressed and the low lying clouds lifted so that our view from the bus was spectacular.

We stopped at a number of scenic lay-bys until we reached the Homer Tunnel portal where we stopped to chat up a Kea that showed interest in the bus party







Kea with a stick



These are the birds famous for wrecking any windscreen wipers they can get at.

On the Highway to Milford Sound



 

The scenery throughout the trip is fantastic and by taking the bus tour you get to see the scenery without worrying about any other traffic.








 

Homer Tunnel Approaches




On a previous visit to Milford Sound by car  my mate Dennis and I narrowly missed a snow landside and avalanche that happened just as we were taking photos outside the portal, but this time the weather was quite pleasant and it wasn't long before we descended the tunnel to reach Milford.





Boarding at Milford Sound





 I didn't recognize the tourist terminal as it has all been upgraded since my previous visit and the terminal was very busy with large numbers of visitors boarding the various boats that cruised the Sounds. Not all tours went as far as the open sea such as ours and the tour lasted just over 2 hours. http://www.mitrepeak.com/attractions

We clambered aboard the boat and off we went for our cruise down the Sound, past the famous Mitre Peak to the open sea. The weather started to clear and the clouds lifted so we had a very good view of the various waterfalls and the skipper stopped often to view seals and unusual rock formations and a myriad of waterfalls including the famous "Bridal Veil". As soon as we reached the open sea and came about to head back to Milford, the wind became very strong and the temperature dropped suddenly. 



Our Mumbai Visitor



We had a group of Indian tourists from Mumbai on board who told me that the temperature in Mumbai had been in the late 40c! One man in particular was wearing a short sleeved red shirt and I swear the goosebumps on his bare arms were like blisters, but he assured me he wasn't cold and he then offered to take some pictures of Lyn and I. We became quite cold and the wind was howling between the narrow entrance to the Sounds, so we zipped up jackets and unfurled the jacket hoods and found a seat on deck that was protected by the ships bridge. The skipper backed the boat up to a waterfall and all those passengers who went on deck and stood at the stern, got nice and wet!




Mitre Peak

 

Bruce was waiting with our bus at the terminal and we headed off back to Te Anau while all the young Asian tourists slept soundly once again. (Much to the drivers disgust) After a very full-on day, we both enjoyed a nice meal at our hotel and slept soundly that night before heading off to Alexandra the next morning. If you haven't visited Milford Sound, I can recommend it as a fantastic destination and I know that even in Winter it is a magical place to visit.

Climbing through the Southern Alps, State Highway 94 is through the Fiordland National Park is one of the highest and most scenic state highways in New Zealand. The highest part of the road is at 940 metres above sea level. Over one million people visit Fiordland every year and Milford Sound is one of their favourite destinations. A part of UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is no wonder that Milford Sound was described by Rudyard Kipling as the 'eighth wonder of the world'.  From May to September there can often be problems with weather orientated delays.

Pasted from <http://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/milfordroad/>

Check out our picture slideshow below.



TUSITALA'S TALES (My Personal Irregular Editorial)

From time to time I want to include on my blog a column, outlining a range of subjects that have either affected my life or have made an impression on my day to day living. Although we publish a regular local Trades & Services print booklet of some 3800 copies, I do not write Editorials and I hope that this  column will give me the opportunity to express my personal thoughts on a wide range of subjects. You may even get the odd recipe that I have tried or a recommendation of a particular item, but there will be variety! In Ireland it is called "The Craic" but I know I talk a lot anyway, so it could be genetic.

I look forward to any comments and you don't have to agree with anything I say, but I am going to say it anyway! Comment is always welcome.

When I was a young boy, I had the nickname "Tusitala" (which is Samoan for Teller of Tales and the name they gave to Robert Louis Stevenson who is buried on Mt Vaea) It may also have been after another Travel Reporter named Kenneth Melville, who I believe was called "Tusitala" but these details are not important. My column will be called "Tusitalas Tales"

THE GOOD,THE BAD & THE DOWNRIGHT UGLY

A number of good things happened this week.

( 1) We dug up 60+kgs of potatoes. Varieties were Ilam Hardy and Jersey Benne and they are in excellent condition and after par boiling 5 potatoes, then rolling them in garlic and butter and finishing them off in the oven, they tasted pretty good too!

(2) My Daughter Heather, Husband Steve and our darling Granddaughter Holly paid a surprise visit and while Granny & Granddad were entertained by this 6 month old bundle of joy, the O'Brien Christmas Tree was erected in it's usual corner. It looks pretty good and Holly would dearly loved to have had a "play" with all the bright baubles hanging from the branches. WE LOVE CHRISTMAS!

(3) My Daughter Kelly emailed a report that our 3 year old Grandson Ronan had given them a "moment to remember" The newest addition to the family, Aidan, was heard making a noise in his bedroom and shortly after, young Ronan was heard getting out of his bed and disappearing into Aidans room and then shutting the door. Craig (aka Dad,) quietly approached the room and then burst into the bedroom to see what was happening. Ronan had climbed into the baby's cot and was busy reading him a story! What a boy!

THE BAD

We read in the newspaper that a 5 year old girl had been sent to school regularly with scabies, open sores, nits and all sorts of other creepy crawlies. The so called "Mother" ( a bad choice of words in my opinion) has been ordered by a judge to take Community work and attend some sort of family training. Her other children have been given to CYPS for care and the daughter is living with the family Grandmother. The Mother is pregnant with her 4th child and her Partner is in goal for recidivist drink driving. Words fail me (and that doesn't happen often)

A couple of pearls of wisdom from her Bookface page: “life is to short, so live it up, drink it down, party hard, smoke a lot, break the rules, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh loudly, have fun, make memories, and never forget or regret anything that once made you smile.

And last but not least " I like to take long romantic walks to the Liquor Store"

Pasted from <http://childabuseinnz.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/neglected-5-year-old-sent-to-school-smelly-hungry-and-riddled-with-head-lice-and-scabies/>

Another appalling piece of News regarding children:

New Zealand’s poor child abuse record has been laid bare in a major international study. It has been named as one of six countries and states where there is no clear evidence of a decrease in child maltreatment over the past two decades.

Pasted from <http://childabuseinnz.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/study-shows-child-abuse-not-decreasing-in-nz/>

When I was a child, New Zealand led the world in child care and was always No1 in the statistics. We had a good welfare system that gave folk a hand up when needed and Plunket was our main carer for children's well-being after the local GP. Their motto was "To Help the Mothers and Save the Babies" and I am sure that the regular visits by a Plunket Nurse, who kept a close eye on the Family, were the key for maintaining our proud record of child care. Something has gone terribly wrong over the past two decades and we should hang our heads in shame that this situation has come to pass. There are no easy answers, but we need to take a stand as a nation and say "NO MORE" Isn't it crazy that we have a "Minister for Racing" but no "Minister for Children". It doesn't  take much to write to your local Govt Minister, but I do believe that now is the time to do it. I have.

THE DOWNRIGHT UGLY

An Invercargill rape victim is living in fear after her attacker moved into a house next door, and police say there is nothing they can do. The convicted rapist, Craig James Crofts, 48, was sentenced to four years jail in 2004 after admitting raping the woman.

She has since moved on with her life, but the ordeal came flooding back about a month ago when she found her attacker had moved into a property next to her flat.

The two residences are so close that when Crofts is in one part of his unit block he can see directly into the front window of the woman's flat, which she shares with her partner.

Pasted from <http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/6106383/Rapist-moves-next-door-to-victim>

I just cannot believe that this situation can be allowed to happen in MY NEW ZEALAND! This nightmare needs to be rectified immediately and we should insist on more protection and assistance to any victim of crime, no matter the circumstances. We have been celebrating the 70th Anniversary of major World War 2 events that gave us many decades of peace and prosperity and the men, women and children who put themselves in harms way to make this happen would be appalled if they knew what had happened to their legacy.

We say "We Shall Remember Them" on Anzac Day, but we don't appear to sincerely mean this, or else why would we let this happen? The ball is in our court.

Here Endeth the Lesson.

A Visit to Stewart Island and the Phone Tree

Foveaux Strait & Titi Islands

On our trip to the South Island earlier this year we managed to tick off another "Bucket List item" with a visit to Stewart Island. Fortunately the weather brightened up after early morning rain and we made our way to the Bluff Harbour terminal. The island is serviced by boat and air and helicopter flights are available. We had made a commitment before leaving home that we would not only cross over Foveaux Strait by boat, even if it was rough (and it can get ROUGH!) but we would also do the bus trip around the island (that only has about 20kms of road)and we would enjoy a lunch of the celebrated blue cod & chips at Oban.

Oban in Half Moon Bay

We boarded the catamaran and once we had cleared the harbour, the weather lifted and the sea became quite calm. The boat was very powerful and because it was off peak, there weren't many passengers. We passed the famous Tititi Islands where they collect the Mutton Birds (Sooty Shearwaters) and we were told by the Skipper that 14 great white sharks also lived in this area. When we arrived at Oban (Celtic for Many Coves) there was a small passenger bus waiting with a very genial driver who gave us a very informative tour of the Island. We visited Mason Bay and viewed Paterson Inlet from a hilly vantage point and also saw Ulva Island which is a famous bird sanctuary.

They call Stewart Island the 'Island of Tranquility" and it definitely lives up to 

Stewart Island Phone Tree

this name. 

You can get out of the bus at different scenic spots and all you can hear is the sound of Tuis and if you are close to the sea the sound of lapping water. It really is a beautiful island and we enjoyed our trip immensely. One of the unusual sights was the public phone tree, where instead of a phone box, the phone and phone book are fixed to a large tree.  There are 280 people living on the Island, 140 are holiday home owners!

                   Lyn at Oban

The view from the end of the sealed road looks out over Paterson Inlet and you can look down on a small harbour named Thule (sounds like Tullay), named after the Alaskan Thule and we were taken to view a house that was imported in the early 1900s from Norway in what our guide said was the first type of kitset house in New Zealand. The only thing missing was the snow and in fact any snow would not last long on the very steep roof.

At long last we returned to Oban and the South Sea hotel where we ordered a cold beer and a meal of Blue Cod & Chips. The lunch was fantastic and we both had plates covered in three large pieces of delectable Cod, ample chips and a nice salad. WOW!

leaving Stewart Island

We strolled around the waterfront and when the catamaran arrived for the trip back to the mainland, we were both very relaxed and ready to enjoy the 1 hour trip back to Bluff. All in all a very pleasant day that we will remember for many years. If you haven't been to Stewart Island yet, I don't know what you are waiting for! 

            (View more photos on my Web album) 

Here are a number of photos taken at Pukeiti Gardens in New Plymouth. Some varieties had not started flowering while others had almost finished and as they had heavy rain in the previous weeks some bushes had lost some flowers. The Gardens are a "must see" during late October and November and you will find plenty of volunteers to provide maps and local knowledge of the area. You can also purchase plants to take home, however we apparently have a major problem with aphids in Northland

More Haymaking Pictures from Waipu

Here are a few more photos from our recent Haymaking episode. Today it has started raining, so hopefully the grass will grow enough if we have a drought! Click photos to enlarge.

Big Boys Toys & 27 tonnes of grass

A very LARGE mower

Wellwe finally got approximately 27 tonnes grass off the paddocks, all cut, giftwrapped and taken away this week. Now we are desperate for rain to get the newgrowth cracking, but the weather is getting warmer and sunnier which is not agood sign. The wind has been atrocious these past few weeks and I despair ofgetting much fruit from the orchard.

There is supposedly a Lite version of

A mowing we will go!

LaNina this Summer, but the ground is very dry and is starting to crack badly.The contractor who cleared the grass arrived on Saturday with a huge tractorand mowing equipment, talk about Big Boys Toys! We even had to cut a couple offences so he could turn around and some tree pruning made it easier to get downthe drive. The other gear that arrived to finish the job, was also huge and itmade my own tractor look like a Tonka toy!

Once we had the bales tied and wrapped we waited a day for the bales to be taken off the farm. Our curious herd of heifers decided they would investigate further and while I was out of site, they managed to chew the plastic wrap to see what was hidden inside. Fortunately I saw them in time and put a temporary fence around the bale until it was collected. Worse than 2 year old children!

Laying Hay Bales

Not for easy lifting

A 27 tonne tight squeeze!

Gift Wrapped goodness