12 months on and Abbey hadn't forgotten about building a birdhouse and she had been reminding Poppa about it prior to us coming over for the Rugby World Cup.
Poppa had built a couple of bird houses to attract some of the native birds.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Birds & Bird Houses
Last year when we were in NZ and in the Marlborough Sounds Abbey wanted to make a birdhouse. However we'd run out of time, so Poppa promised to build one when we returned this year.
12 months on and Abbey hadn't forgotten about building a birdhouse and she had been reminding Poppa about it prior to us coming over for the Rugby World Cup.
Poppa had built a couple of bird houses to attract some of the native birds.
The native birds around the Malbourough Sounds are really beautiful. Our favourites are Tui's and Native Pigeons.
With some help from Poppa Abbey build a third birdhouse. Abbey decided the birdhouse needed the following features, water bowl, feed bowl & windows. Of course it also needed a good paint job.
An afternoon of construction and Abbey's birdhouse was complete and mounted to the garden shed. The wait is on for the native birds to find it and start using it.
12 months on and Abbey hadn't forgotten about building a birdhouse and she had been reminding Poppa about it prior to us coming over for the Rugby World Cup.
Poppa had built a couple of bird houses to attract some of the native birds.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Fishing
Aidan and Abbey have been super excited about coming down to Nana & Poppa's bach (that is holiday house for you non-kiwi's) in order to go fishing.
Unfortunately though, the motor on Poppa's boat has given up after many many many years of exceptional service.
All was not lost though as a friendly neighbour took us out scalloping.
After a delayed start (due to engine steering probs on the neighbours boat) we were off to get our quota of fresh super Nelson scallops (50 per person). After 4 drags we had our quota.
Yummy scallops for dinner. Sam marinated them in brandy, vodka and a few herbs and spices and I cooked them on skewers on the bbq. Some battered fish from a previous trip and we had a delicious dinner.
Today the kids tried their hand at fishing off the wharf with Nana and Poppa. They had a lot of fun, but didn't catch anything.
Tomorrow they head out in the boat fishing. Fingers crossed they catch some fish.
Unfortunately though, the motor on Poppa's boat has given up after many many many years of exceptional service.
All was not lost though as a friendly neighbour took us out scalloping.
After a delayed start (due to engine steering probs on the neighbours boat) we were off to get our quota of fresh super Nelson scallops (50 per person). After 4 drags we had our quota.
Yummy scallops for dinner. Sam marinated them in brandy, vodka and a few herbs and spices and I cooked them on skewers on the bbq. Some battered fish from a previous trip and we had a delicious dinner.
Today the kids tried their hand at fishing off the wharf with Nana and Poppa. They had a lot of fun, but didn't catch anything.
Tomorrow they head out in the boat fishing. Fingers crossed they catch some fish.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Marlborough Sounds, French Pass & Vice's
We are currently based in the middle of the outer Marlborough Sounds (Okiwi Bay).
Okiwi Bay is located within "Croisilles Harbour" (Whangarae), and was named after French explorer Dumont D'Urville's uncle the Abbot of Croisilles in 1827.
D'Urville also passed through and named "French Pass" (Te Aumiti) which is approximately an hours drive from Okiwi Bay.
My father grew up at French Pass, and I've spend a lot of time down here over the years. The French Pass village sits opposite D'Urville Island and the turbulent piece of water known as the French Pass Passage. Here the water races through on each tide at up to eight knots creating whirlpools, eddies and currents, a truly awesome passage feared and respected by mariners.
Once navigated by Maori in canoes it proved more difficult for Dumont D'Urville. In 1827 he spent several days investigating the passage before venturing through it. He described the sea as a seething sheet where great precaution needed to be taken. On his journey through he clipped the reef twice before ‘floating majestically into Admiralty Bay.
Today the weather wasn't predictable enough to take the kids out fishing, so we ventured over to Blenheim to visit a couple of passions of Sam and myself. Champagne (obviously Sparkling Wine here) and Beer.
We visited the two premier Sparkling Wine vineyards of Brancott Estate and No1 Family Estate. Both provided tastings (Brancott though not of the sparklings) and resulted in the obligatory purchases. A bonus was the kids wine region themed playground at Brancott that kept the kids amused whilst we imbibed.
I visited Soren at 8 Wired Brewing for a catchup and quick speccy at the brewery while they were busy filtering a beer, bottling another and getting ready for brewday tomorrow. 8 Wired is utilising some excess space from the mother brewery (Renaissance Brewing). With a fresh batch of HopWired onboard it was time for the sweet tooth's onobard to be appeased.
Makana Chocolate to the rescue. A couple of great samples tasted, a viewing of Xmas chocolates in production and more obligatory purchases completed I wanted one more stop; Moa Brewing.
However unlike their website suggested they were closed. A phone call to officially confirm and it was off the list for today. Fortunately we will be back through here again before we leave, hopefully when they promise to be open.
On the route back into the Sounds we stopped at Havelock to visit Eyes on Nature. A really neat representation of fish and birds in their surroundings recreated by a taxidermist using fiberglass. The attention to detail in the models is amazing. Everything from penguins to sharks, eels, crayfish, bats and kiwis.
Tomorrow weather pending we fish.
Okiwi Bay is located within "Croisilles Harbour" (Whangarae), and was named after French explorer Dumont D'Urville's uncle the Abbot of Croisilles in 1827.
D'Urville also passed through and named "French Pass" (Te Aumiti) which is approximately an hours drive from Okiwi Bay.
My father grew up at French Pass, and I've spend a lot of time down here over the years. The French Pass village sits opposite D'Urville Island and the turbulent piece of water known as the French Pass Passage. Here the water races through on each tide at up to eight knots creating whirlpools, eddies and currents, a truly awesome passage feared and respected by mariners.
Once navigated by Maori in canoes it proved more difficult for Dumont D'Urville. In 1827 he spent several days investigating the passage before venturing through it. He described the sea as a seething sheet where great precaution needed to be taken. On his journey through he clipped the reef twice before ‘floating majestically into Admiralty Bay.
Today the weather wasn't predictable enough to take the kids out fishing, so we ventured over to Blenheim to visit a couple of passions of Sam and myself. Champagne (obviously Sparkling Wine here) and Beer.
We visited the two premier Sparkling Wine vineyards of Brancott Estate and No1 Family Estate. Both provided tastings (Brancott though not of the sparklings) and resulted in the obligatory purchases. A bonus was the kids wine region themed playground at Brancott that kept the kids amused whilst we imbibed.
I visited Soren at 8 Wired Brewing for a catchup and quick speccy at the brewery while they were busy filtering a beer, bottling another and getting ready for brewday tomorrow. 8 Wired is utilising some excess space from the mother brewery (Renaissance Brewing). With a fresh batch of HopWired onboard it was time for the sweet tooth's onobard to be appeased.
Makana Chocolate to the rescue. A couple of great samples tasted, a viewing of Xmas chocolates in production and more obligatory purchases completed I wanted one more stop; Moa Brewing.
However unlike their website suggested they were closed. A phone call to officially confirm and it was off the list for today. Fortunately we will be back through here again before we leave, hopefully when they promise to be open.
On the route back into the Sounds we stopped at Havelock to visit Eyes on Nature. A really neat representation of fish and birds in their surroundings recreated by a taxidermist using fiberglass. The attention to detail in the models is amazing. Everything from penguins to sharks, eels, crayfish, bats and kiwis.
Tomorrow weather pending we fish.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Nelson, Wellington & Beer
Nelson is the craft beer capital of New Zealand. The Beer Tourist website clearly shows this.
Have only been here a couple of days and just started to scratch the surface, but have already been to the following or sampled beer from;
Tomorrow we're off to Blenheim and I'll be visiting 8 Wired & Renaissance Brewing, Moa and plan lunch at Ye Olde Malthouse Restaurant.
And of course all this is research. I've already got a couple of ideas on the go for some new Doctor's Orders beers for 2012.
Have only been here a couple of days and just started to scratch the surface, but have already been to the following or sampled beer from;
- Sprig & Fern
- McCashin's
- Totara Brewing Co
- Mussel Inn
- Golden Bear
- Abbey Restaurant Cafe & Garden Bar
- Squires Pub and Cafe
- LBQ (Little Beer Quarter)
- Tap Haus
- Fork & Brewer (opened last week)
- Hashigo Zake
Tomorrow we're off to Blenheim and I'll be visiting 8 Wired & Renaissance Brewing, Moa and plan lunch at Ye Olde Malthouse Restaurant.
And of course all this is research. I've already got a couple of ideas on the go for some new Doctor's Orders beers for 2012.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Sculptures and Transport
Te Mania wines in Richmond, Nelson has built the World's biggest grapevine rugby ball to celebrate the World Cup in New Zealand. The ball measures a whopping 6 metres round and 4 metres tall.
We visited the sculpture exhibition on Thursday.
There were a wide range of sculptures by different artists. Our favourite was the rugby ball and this bird.
Yesterday we also visited the Italia Club. The Italian Rugby Team has been based in Nelson prior to the start of the tournament and will be back here in a week.
A lot of Nelson is supporting Italy as their second team. There are Italian flags everywhere.
The Italian club yesterday had a display of Ferrari's and Italian motorcycles.
The Ferrari's were older classics, but very well kept and maintained.
My favourite however was a 1952 Ducati Cruiser.
I never new such a thing existed, but then I've only been into Ducati motorcycles from the late 80's.
Only 2000 were built between 1952-1954 and the one on display was found on a deceased estate in NZ and lovingly restored. It is believed to be one of only a handful left, and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere.
Styled by Ghia, the Cruiser was Ducati’s first scooter, and the first Italian scooter to be fitted with an automatic transmission. The 54-kilo machine was even fitted with electric start. The Cruiser’s 175cc single-cylinder engine was initially tuned to make 12bhp.
Friday, September 9, 2011
For 24 years we've been trying to get our hands on 'Web Ellis'
Just under 12 hours until kickoff in the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the entire country of NZ is all consumed with the tournament.
Whilst we have only been in the country for a couple of days it is fantastic to see the enthusiasm and support for the tournament and not just for the All Blacks but also the other countries represented in the quest for the cup.
NZ residents have been encouraged to support a secondary team and from what we've seen especially in Nelson this has been successfully taken on-board.
The Italian Rugby Team is based in Nelson for a lot of the tournament and the number of Italian flags and side events is just awesome.
A radio station this morning release a parody Weird Al Yankovic style of Smokie - Living Next Door to Alice; For 24 years we've been trying to get our hands on 'Web Ellis' .
Give it a listen, it sums up NZ's quest for the prized cup nicely.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Logistics & Lift-off
When you're in your mid-twenties you can eat what you want and drink what you want and still fit into your 34" trousers.
You can also with realitive ease drop everything and hit the road for a couple of months.
The last time Sam and I did that we were two individuals in our mid-twenties and the destination was Western Europe.
Move forward 15yrs and the logistics of travelling for a couple of months with two children takes considerably more planning than simply having some funds a ticket to a distination and a packed suitcase.
However the reality is finally upon us. The required planning and logistics have been completed and holiday mode has been engaged.
Touch down in NZ with the first alcoholic beverages already consumed and kickoff for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, a little over 48 hours away.
Cheers, bro. Sweet as.
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