Han in Oz, and Family and Friends in NZ!

Compelled to blog

Well I feel it's my duty to write something after such a long absence of blogging. Actually I'm compelled to do it because my dear friend Jenny Pocknall is such a blogger that she's tagged me. I wouldn't even know how to tag someone - but she's pretty darn clever.


Let's see. Our lives since the U2 concert in November - in pictures...


January


Megan and Nick get married Jan 2007! They were admirably calm throughout a house renovation and wedding plans the weeks leading up to the big day.







We go camping after the wedding and are joined by our great friends Ross and Fiona and the Wilson clan.




It's heaps of fun, and there's marshmallow madness!


While we're at Glendhu we celebrate Ma and Pa Wishart's 50th wedding anniversary. In true Glendhu Bay style - even with meringues and whipped cream.

Summer camping in the snow

January 2006 was a year where we experienced summer snow fall on the mountains around Wanaka.

It made for freezing camping conditions - like winter camping. But NZ typifies the 'Crowded House' song lyric - "4 seasons in one day". This time it was one season - winter only! The snow capped mountains were beautiful to behold, but the only problem was that it was too cold to venture out and behold them.

But it's all about the company (as well as the scenery). It was a large gathering of the nations under one tent-site.

A mob of 'happy campers' from New Zealand - who fared the best because they're used to the arctic conditions; from Italy - although they're used to less arctic camping conditions; and from Australia - who are used to warmer conditions but are fully realistic about what the weather can be like.

In true camping style, Brent's family - always optimistic - make the most of every situation. This is probably the motto of many hardened New Zealanders who love the outdoors. If you waited for perfect weather you'd never go outside!

And we were very resourceful. We found that you don't need to have a fire to make toasted marshmallows. Even a gas burner will suffice when desperate.

But the sun did eventually shine one morning and we threw on our 'summer clothes' and went outside for breakfast before the sun decided to hide behind the next blanket of cloud.

That was camping this year at Glendhu Bay - beside beautiful Lake Wanaka. If you ever go camping in summer in NZ - take your thermal underwear - just in case it snows.