Girlie Weekend Away to Hanmer Springs

When the girls said they wanted a weekend away to Hanmer you have to arrange suitable transport.


A surprise helicopter was laid on to whisk them away.


They flew up the coast to Kaikoura.



Stopped off at the heliport to ask, 'Which way for the whales?'.


Only two whales were in the bay so they had to make do with a pod of dolphins. Times are hard!


Afterwards, they flew over Hanmer to spend some un-winding time in the hot thermal water.


Throw in a chalet with duck pond views .. and you have a perfect weekend and 4 very happy and content girls.


I got to spend the weekend looking after my dad, the kids and I had the cleaning to do ... poor me!

Mum and Yvonne had a total blast! My sincere thanks go to the people who made this happen.

Quack

I nearly forgot the ducks. We acquired a flock of ducks too.

Grandad bought them a paddling pool that they use for recreational and procreational purposes alike - they are not fussy either way!

A Summer of Acquisitions

We diversified this year and made a few acquisitions. '42' is a 6 month old kune kune boar (he thinks he is a dog!) .


Mrs Weasley (left) is a 8 month old sow and Amber is a 10 month old sow.


'42' and Mrs Weasley will become our breeding stock and Amber ... well, she's going for sausages in a few weeks time!

Vegetable Garden

We have spent a lot of time this year with the veggie garden and it has paid dividends.


We havent had to buy any veg for quite a few quite a few weeks. We have enjoyed potatoes, tomatoes, cucumber, beans, peas, onions, courgettes, pumpkins, beans, leeks, sweet corn, beet root, lettuce, egg plants, cabbage, cauliflower, raddish and a few others that I cannot remember.


The deep freeze is stuffed full of vegetables that will keep us going well into winter.

TSS Earnslaw

Launched in 1912, the TSS Earnslaw is the largest and grandest vessel ever to ply Lake Wakatipu. Today, the TSS Earnslaw is believed to be the only coal-fired passenger-carrying vessel still operating in the southern hemisphere.


She is a stunning vessel and enjoyed by the many thousands of tourists that come to Queenstown.

Lupin Fields, Open Plains and the Homer Tunnel

Driving between Te Anau and Milford |Sound there are some lovely lupin fields.


And some lovely open plains.


Some spectacular waterfalls.


And lets not forget the Homer tunnel leading down to Milford Sound.

Beaver Liquor

I just had to stop the truck and take a photo! Spotted in Queenstown.

Welcome to 'Shield' Country

Over New Year I took my parents for a road trip down to Fiordland. Just through Queenstown we saw this sign, ' Welcome to Shield country'.


Needless to say, we felt very much at home!

And very tasty it was too!

Christmas dinner was great!