Han in Oz, and Family and Friends in NZ!

More from NZ 2007

Brent, Kerey and Jonathan go downhill from Signal Hill

Megan and the view of Dunedin from Signal Hill

We go and visit Ghung Ghung as often as we can in Leslie Grove Hospital.

And Por Por fed us till we were hungry no more!

We celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary again, this time at Megan and Nick's place.

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.

Routeburn Trekking

We had always wanted to 'do' the Routeburn track. Trekking, tramping, hiking, walking, whatever you call it - it was a 3 to 4 hour amble through lush virgin forest.

So we headed off to Glenorchy, a 40 minute drive from Queenstown, and got energised with lunch and the spectacular 'Middle Earth' scenery.



After a pit stop and a 45 minute interlude trying to break back into Megan's car (the result of a helpful nephew locking the doors so it would be robber-proof.


Unfortunately it was also Aunty Megan proof as the keys were left inside the car), we head to the start of the Routeburn Track to attempt the first leg of the arduous trek.


Aside: A helpful tip at this point - it's best not to wear in your new sneakers on a 3 hour hike. It could lead to a debilatating foot condition known as blisters.

Swing bridges across flowing creeks and rivlets marked the progress of our journey. I don't think words can describe this part of the world, nor do it justice, so I'll let you admire the photography.

As the day drew towards coming to an end - the children got a sense of 'hometime' and Grandma's baking in the car, and ran most of the way back. I guess being in the lead and Grandma's fudge cake is a pretty good incentive to race to the car.

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.