TRYING THE NEW YEAR ON FOR SIZE -
Video chatting with my family as they saw in their start of 2017 with a sequinned fail of party poppers. One thing that always brings child-like joy to us Montigues is SPARKLERS.. that is unless you are Jamie and wuss out over the remote possibility of burning your fingers! It meant the world to be part of that.
In a bid to rid myself of some of the Christmas pounds that have taken up residence on my physique, I took a long walk to Cornwall park. And what a delightful way it was to spend my first afternoon of January! Cos you know I so like to explore and experience our wide world's sweeping expanse.
The fuzzy, cutie sheep were just darling grazing in green pastures and within the olive groves. I aawwwed or should that be BAAAAA-ed over the loveliness of these livestock. On through the park to One Tree Hill ** which erupted some 20,000 years back and was named more recently after the single, solitary tree 'pon the summit. That tree has since been dug out by the Council who deemed it unsafe.
**Not to be confused with the teen US show of the same name
I GET LOST IN THE BEAUTY OF EVERYTHING I SEE -
45 hectares were inhabited by a a Maori fortification which was the largest and most populous of Maori settlements on Auckland's volcanic cones. Some snippets of interest I learnt from the signposts *Auckland's volcanoes are the domain of the deity Mataaho * Great tohunga (a Maori Priest) Tiriwa is said to have carried Rangitoto (a volcanic island) from the west coast near Piha to Waitemata harbour.
The story of 2 Maori lovers Hinemairangi and Tamaireiea who fell in love in the Waitakere Ranges and eloped shows how fiercely protective fathers were even back. Her papa led a war party in the dark of night to bring her back. Spells were cast causing volcanic eruptions and Hunua responded with fiery lava magic - creating the volcanic landscape of Auckland as it is today. Allegedly Hinemairangi didn't want to poke the dragon any further and so retreated home - later he transformed into a rock.
This earth is intensely pretty and I have to pinch myself on a daily basis that this is currently the reality I get to reside in.
MACHINES, I MEAN I DON'T HATE THEM -
What the heck was I thinking trekking 6 kms in the rain? I was sodden; why didn't the grey skies dry up for me? My general lack of enthusiasm for transport shouldn't come as a shock but I had a coupon and museums are a rainy day activity. It was not normal for me to have been so happy to have ridden the free tram at MOTAT to the second half: Memorial Aviation Collection. I can't say I'm inordinately interested in planes but the collection within the blister hanger is remarkable.
I'm so a fan of trams and wish they were in greater use so it was cool that they have some from the late 1800's. In the Idea Collective, the guests are encouraged to be interactive with the displays where a series of innovators are creating an evolving collaborative project - complete with kitschy wall murals and a light up bridge. I felt compelled to leave my message of inspiration on a pink post it note to a wall of other graffiti.
The fun destroyers won't grant access to the funky-looking, glow-in-the-dark, lazer maze to anyone over the age of 14!! I couldn't deal with how quaint the historic village was; in particular the church and school house (fascinated). As a modern woman who has taught, the strictest rules enforced upon shackled, female teachers back in that era are not ones I would want to be revisited. These are some of the antiquated things that were outlawed (all of which I could never abide by): you may not keep company with men, you may not loiter downtown in ice cream stores and you may not dress in bright colours.
I accrued much knowledge of transportation.
I WANT TO BE A FRIEND TO ALL ANIMALS -
And so I went with my friend Hinsan to visit Auckland Zoo and see lotsa lizards and monkeys. The green geckos and skinks housed in NZ's largest reptile collection were awesome, the American alligators were too close to me for my liking and the dear, teeny Pygmy marmosets totally enamoured mi corazon. A baboon bit the bare, beetroot bottom of another - Kid ya not!!
How delighted I was to spot an active, AWAKE red panda as I'd only encountered hidden, sleepy ones before. My ears were entranced by the pretty sounds trilling from the beaks of the tui birds and their numerous other feathered friends within the aviary. I was set on viewing the national symbol of New Zealand but kiwi birds are notoriously nocturnal and their enclosure was light deficient. I got a 5 second peek in the simulated nighttime environment before it snuck back into its little house - razzlefrat! I'd have been less than pleased had we come away without a sighting.
SANTA FORGOT TO STUFF ONE OF THESE CUTIES IN MY STOCKING -
We were spectators to the elephants, Barma and Anjalee feeding time. The worker's commentary told us that the ellies are walked around the zoo each day, are tusk-less and how the females of he species ditch their blokes in their herds - I like that! Aww shucksy doodle, the largest of all land mammals share my appetite for popsicles and smashed their massive, fruity ice blocks against a log. The zoo won't be winning any zoological awards but I also liked the meerkats, lions, tigers and little penguins .
Giraffes were separated with their ostrich pal appearing to peck at the gate dividing the Mister from his Missus, so they could be reunited. I read in the newspaper the next day that the mother had just days before given birth to twin calves and devastatingly the boy had to be euthanised. The reason being he was considered too weak to survive as he had some serious condition; splitting them up must have been on account of this tragedy.
WE'RE SAUCEPAN SISTERS NOW -
I still find the fair seaside village of Devonport pleasing, particularly with the company of Kaitlin, Ericca and Candice. They trusted the incompetent cook to take charge of frying up the onion and bacon on the fired up gas cooker and I took my role super seriously. Kaitlin was laughed at (as is the norm!) as she fretted about contamination of the garlic and kept saying she'd purchase fish and chips if we took any longer.
A fettucine carbonara was concocted; mine was kept apart from the pot to spare me of cheese. Which was maybe just as well since Kaitlin bunged all that was grated into the pan making their portions extra EXTRA cheesy.We must have looked pretty fancy at Narrow Neck beach wrapped up in our blankets to beat the wind and then eating out of cups or passing around the pan as bowls and sufficient cutlery for 4 was forgotten.
THESE ARE THE SIMPLE PLEASURES THAT MAKE LIFE WONDERFUL -
Hearing the rolling waves break against the shore, a COOKED meal, followed by hot chocolate and having the beach nearly all to ourselves (not counting the whopper seagulls and fluffy doggie who was keen for some of our grub). We weren't able to see the sunset as we weren't on a beach facing the right direction but still beheld the sky streak with pink before it went to bed.
Up the hill, down the hill card game was wildly entertaining! I came a respectful 3rd place (pah out of 4!) and Kaitlin wanted to play all night long so she wouldn't remain in last position and could attempt to dethrone Ericca but it was already dark after several rounds.
My muffins of new mates brought me some smiles and I'm so thankful for that. It's BRILLIANT getting to know these girls better and I hope that's something that will continue for life.
This earth is intensely pretty and I have to pinch myself on a daily basis that this is currently the reality I get to reside in.
What the heck was I thinking trekking 6 kms in the rain? I was sodden; why didn't the grey skies dry up for me? My general lack of enthusiasm for transport shouldn't come as a shock but I had a coupon and museums are a rainy day activity. It was not normal for me to have been so happy to have ridden the free tram at MOTAT to the second half: Memorial Aviation Collection. I can't say I'm inordinately interested in planes but the collection within the blister hanger is remarkable.
I'm so a fan of trams and wish they were in greater use so it was cool that they have some from the late 1800's. In the Idea Collective, the guests are encouraged to be interactive with the displays where a series of innovators are creating an evolving collaborative project - complete with kitschy wall murals and a light up bridge. I felt compelled to leave my message of inspiration on a pink post it note to a wall of other graffiti.
The fun destroyers won't grant access to the funky-looking, glow-in-the-dark, lazer maze to anyone over the age of 14!! I couldn't deal with how quaint the historic village was; in particular the church and school house (fascinated). As a modern woman who has taught, the strictest rules enforced upon shackled, female teachers back in that era are not ones I would want to be revisited. These are some of the antiquated things that were outlawed (all of which I could never abide by): you may not keep company with men, you may not loiter downtown in ice cream stores and you may not dress in bright colours.
I accrued much knowledge of transportation.
And so I went with my friend Hinsan to visit Auckland Zoo and see lotsa lizards and monkeys. The green geckos and skinks housed in NZ's largest reptile collection were awesome, the American alligators were too close to me for my liking and the dear, teeny Pygmy marmosets totally enamoured mi corazon. A baboon bit the bare, beetroot bottom of another - Kid ya not!!
How delighted I was to spot an active, AWAKE red panda as I'd only encountered hidden, sleepy ones before. My ears were entranced by the pretty sounds trilling from the beaks of the tui birds and their numerous other feathered friends within the aviary. I was set on viewing the national symbol of New Zealand but kiwi birds are notoriously nocturnal and their enclosure was light deficient. I got a 5 second peek in the simulated nighttime environment before it snuck back into its little house - razzlefrat! I'd have been less than pleased had we come away without a sighting.
We were spectators to the elephants, Barma and Anjalee feeding time. The worker's commentary told us that the ellies are walked around the zoo each day, are tusk-less and how the females of he species ditch their blokes in their herds - I like that! Aww shucksy doodle, the largest of all land mammals share my appetite for popsicles and smashed their massive, fruity ice blocks against a log. The zoo won't be winning any zoological awards but I also liked the meerkats, lions, tigers and little penguins .
Giraffes were separated with their ostrich pal appearing to peck at the gate dividing the Mister from his Missus, so they could be reunited. I read in the newspaper the next day that the mother had just days before given birth to twin calves and devastatingly the boy had to be euthanised. The reason being he was considered too weak to survive as he had some serious condition; splitting them up must have been on account of this tragedy.
I still find the fair seaside village of Devonport pleasing, particularly with the company of Kaitlin, Ericca and Candice. They trusted the incompetent cook to take charge of frying up the onion and bacon on the fired up gas cooker and I took my role super seriously. Kaitlin was laughed at (as is the norm!) as she fretted about contamination of the garlic and kept saying she'd purchase fish and chips if we took any longer.
A fettucine carbonara was concocted; mine was kept apart from the pot to spare me of cheese. Which was maybe just as well since Kaitlin bunged all that was grated into the pan making their portions extra EXTRA cheesy.We must have looked pretty fancy at Narrow Neck beach wrapped up in our blankets to beat the wind and then eating out of cups or passing around the pan as bowls and sufficient cutlery for 4 was forgotten.
Hearing the rolling waves break against the shore, a COOKED meal, followed by hot chocolate and having the beach nearly all to ourselves (not counting the whopper seagulls and fluffy doggie who was keen for some of our grub). We weren't able to see the sunset as we weren't on a beach facing the right direction but still beheld the sky streak with pink before it went to bed.
Up the hill, down the hill card game was wildly entertaining! I came a respectful 3rd place (pah out of 4!) and Kaitlin wanted to play all night long so she wouldn't remain in last position and could attempt to dethrone Ericca but it was already dark after several rounds.
My muffins of new mates brought me some smiles and I'm so thankful for that. It's BRILLIANT getting to know these girls better and I hope that's something that will continue for life.
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