May 24, 2013

Finished woodshed & first ascent of Leith Hill

With help once more from Richard & Karen, we got the basic framework of the new woodshed finished one weekend, and another weekend saw the roof framework in place with the roofing tin on, with a little bit of tidying up of roof flashings the final touch.  Gives us about 6m2 storage on one side and 4m2 on the other side (which we’ll also use for undercover bike storage when we don’t have too much wood).  The new woodshed really complements the style of the house and it was nice to use a fair amount of left over material (the roofing tin, barge bap flashings, etc).

Ruairi & I also made a first ascent of Leith Hill west of the village, on a beautiful autumn day.

Posted by conor

May 5, 2013

Olympia Invitational Rhythmic Gymnastics

Evie's first rhythmic gym competition in 2 years (couple of earthquakes have disrupted things for us a bit), and she had a ball. Placed third out of twenty girls over three routines (free, rope and ribbon), and a little trophy for her endeavours! She was a little nervous last week, but it didn't show over the weekend at all.

Beautiful leotards by Ildica!

Full album here.

Posted by conor

April 28, 2013

Summer here and there

Ruairi's been having a lot of fun at Cubs this summer. Couple of "away" activities included sailing with the Mt Pleasant Sea Scouts and getting foamed at the Bottle Lake Rural Fire Service.

Looking after bunnies for friends David getting some air on the Hogs Back Track Ruairi working on the Dracophyllum Track upgrade
Swimming in Broken River near Cave Stream with the McLarins

Posted by conor

April 1, 2013

Castle Hill Easter Art Weekend

Once again, a great Easter weekend at Castle Hill with the Easter Art Weekend. 40+ exhibitors to the exhibition itself, with Ildica running weaving and beading workshops, Conor helping with a photo trail and sharing prints at the house, and everybody just generally having a great time with a great community.

My exhibition submissions just left of centre with a snowy sunrise canvas John Dunne auctioning off John O'Malley's 'Castle Hill Dawn'
Not sure this Big Bad Wolf can actually see where he's going
The Fancy Dress Bicycle Competition Paul's baby-blue suit gets another airing at the Exhibition Grand Opening Erin capturing the Torlesse Range from Flock Hill

Posted by conor

March 26, 2013

Summer Cub Activities

Ruairi's been having a lot of fun at Cubs this summer. Couple of "away" activities included sailing with the Mt Pleasant Sea Scouts and getting foamed at the Bottle Lake Rural Fire Service.

Posted by conor

March 25, 2013

Ildica Textiles is back!

Ildica's been building up a selection of stock over the last while, and is now offering selected items for sale on the Felt website.

Marilyn, who's been Ildica's "friend" since uni days, was injured in the Feb 2011 earthquake, breaking her shoulder and suffering a fractured skull. Extensive research led us ultimately to send her by air-ambulance to a reconstructive surgeon in Auckland, with his services even extending to giving her make-up a less '80s' look. She looks exceedingly glamorous now, but still manages to unnerve visitors by appearing in corners of the house where least expected.

Posted by conor

January 20, 2013

North Island Tiki Tour

The plan for this year's summer holiday was to trundle round the lower half of the North Island camping here and there, since neither Ildica nor I had been to Taranaki or Napier.  After having a smooth crossing on the Interislander, we spent a couple of nights in Wellington with the Glennie family before heading to the depths of Whanganui River National Park where I was keen to get in to the Bridge To Nowhere.

Sea Shepherd's Brigitte Bardot in Wellington Harbour Cruising on the Interislander Wellington Cable Car
The Britten V1000, the sexiest motorbike ever built; Te Papa Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Kowhai Park, Whanganui Kowhai Park, Whanganui
Ruairi and friend on the Interislander Kowhai Park, Whanganui Whanganui River Bridge To Nowhere, Mangapurua Stream, Whanganui River National Park

The Bridge To Nowhere is pretty much all that remains from a failed attempt at creating a settlement in the Mangapurua Catchment near the Whanganui River. After 20 years of trying, the last settlers walked off the land with almost nothing to show for their endeavours after the government refused to keep repairing landslips. The bridge (built in the earlier 1930s) is in great shape. We had a great day trip which included jetboating up the Whanganui River to the Mangapurua Landing before walking in to the bridge for lunch and then canoeing back down the river at our own pace.

Whanganui River National Park Whanganui River National Park Mangapurua Stream from the Bridge To Nowhere, Whanganui River National Park
Whanganui River Whanganui River Whanganui River
Whanganui River Oakura, New Plymouth In the green room; McKenzie Bowden, Oakura, New Plymouth

While at Raetihi, I'd also hoped to get out along the Tongariro Crossing, but a mix of wild wind and lack of access due to November eruptions at the Te Maari craters put paid to that, so we ended up exploring a little around the lower parts of Tongariro National Park before heading to a beach campground at Oakura near New Plymouth.

Mangapurua Landing, Whanganui River National Park Taranaki Falls, Tongariro National Park Girly backpacking Festival of Lights, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
Blair Haven, Oakura, New Plymouth Taranaki with Ruapehi distant left Completing formalities; Border Control, Republic of Whangamomona

Taranaki has a strong reputation as a great surfing location, and having spent a day relaxing watching the surfers, I ended up getting a lesson myself and giving it a go. We also went to the Festival of Lights at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth.

Oakura, New Plymouth Oakura, New Plymouth Thermal burps Waiteti Stream, Rotorua
Up on the first go (it was an 11' board though!) Welcome to the Republic of Whangamomona, Forgotten World Highway Orakei Korako Thermal Reserve
Hobbit Hole, Forgotten World Highway Damper Falls, Forgotten World Highway I tell you, it was thiiiiiiissssssssss big... 'Stroke!'

Next stop was Rotorua via the Forgotten World Highway. Memorable spots along the way included Damper Falls (second highest in the North Island) and the self-declared Republic of Whangamomona.  Nicky Woolaston had recommended Waiteti Trout Stream Holiday Park in Rotorua and it turned out to be a great spot.  The free kayaks on the stream were a particular hit.  We went luging, zorbing and shweebing, and enjoyed the Agrodome show too. The Hamurana Springs was also another beautifully peaceful place to visit.

Then it was off to Napier via Huka Falls and L'Arte Cafe in Taupo...

Evie and ... friend Waiteti Stream, Rotorua Huka Falls, Taupo
Skyline Luge, Rotorua L'Arte Cafe, Taupo Veronica Sun Bay Memorial, Napier

Ildica really enjoyed checking out the Art Deco architecture in Napier, and we all enjoyed a trip out to Cape Kidnappers with Gannet Beach Adventures.

Among the 'baby' redwoods, Hamurana Springs 4,000,000 l/hr; Hamurana Springs Sleeping Beauty Gannets, Cape Kidnappers
Gannet Beach Adventures, Cape Kidnappers Gannet Beach Adventures, Cape Kidnappers Gannets, Cape Kidnappers
Gannets, Cape Kidnappers Gannets, Cape Kidnappers Gannet Beach Adventures, Cape Kidnappers

All in all, an awesome trip!

Full album here...

Posted by conor

November 18, 2012

Finished the deck

When Mike & Sheila were out visiting at the end of September, Mike spent a weekend cracking the whip during which time we got the substructure for the deck in place. A couple more days here and there getting the decking planks on, and it looks amazing. Really pleased with the way the left-over log has transformed into a rather nice bench too.

We've seeded the “lawn” too now, so it’ll be interesting to see how that goes given the stoniness of the ground.

Spacious, sunny deck, with plenty of that all-important indoor/outdoor flow

Posted by conor

November 15, 2012

Colorado (Rocky Mountains National Park & Eldorado Canyon State Park)

After spending a day and a half at the Trimble offices in Westminster CO, I had another day and a half over the weekend before flying back to NZ.  The weather didn’t play ball for my decision to take a trip up to Rocky Mountains National Park, but I still got to see some elk down for the winter in the lower grassy meadows, and some picturesque little towns (Lyons, Estes Park, etc.) on the way to RMNP.  Sunday morning I got up early to –9°C and an enjoyable little walk at Eldorado Canyon State Park.

Elk at Moraine Park, RMNP You're now entering Mountain Lion territory... Snowy trees, Eldorado Canyon State Park
Entrance-way, Estes Park Eldorado Canyon Trail, Eldorado Canyon State Park Eldorado Canyon Trail, Eldorado Canyon State Park Rattlesnake Gulch Trail, Eldorado Canyon State Park
House in the snow, Estes Park Dove of Peace, Lyons CO Crags Hotel, Eldorado Canyon State Park

Posted by conor

November 9, 2012

Trimble Dimensions 2012, The Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

Well, for a first night to spend ever in the USA, the view from my room at The Mirage in Las Vegas wasn't too shabby.  I was lucky enough to get a last minute opportunity to attend the Trimble Dimensions user conference (with attendees numbering around 3000), so after getting up at 5am on the morning of Monday 5th November to take mountain photographs at Mt Cook National Park, I drove back to Christchurch, had a quick meal with Ildica, Evie & Ruairi, and then jumped straight on a plane to Vegas via Auckland and Los Angeles, managing to arrive at 8pm on the evening of Monday 5th November Vegas-time!  Initial impressions of Vegas were fairly overwhelming; it’s quite an experience, but completely unsustainable, and most people I talked to reckon once in Vegas is enough.  The conference was very interesting, and I also got out to the offsite construction site to see some of the Trimble toys in action.  The closing Gala Dinner also featured a fantastically impressive Cirque due Soleil performance (sadly I didn’t take my camera…) and foot-high ice-sculptures of the Trimble logo as a centrepiece for each table.

Next stop, Colorado…

7-image stitched panorama handheld out my bedroom window
Sunset over the Strip The Treasure Island Sirens & pirates The Bellagio Fountains
The Volcano outside The Mirage The Volcano outside The Mirage Pirate overboard!
Deere HSD (High Speed Dozer) Trimble Survey Controller being used to verify paving surfaces Shiny Volvo grader
Leibherr & Komatsu dozers Pretending... My friend David who was running one of the on-site workshops

Posted by conor