tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955533975186539242024-03-05T17:40:16.352+13:00A Hebridean in New ZealandNotes on my life when in New ZealandGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.comBlogger1594125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-65671361076534191062018-02-11T01:04:00.001+13:002018-02-11T01:04:48.280+13:00The End<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have been remiss. I apologise.</div>
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My previous post said that I would be blogging again on this blog when I visited New Zealand in February 2016. I didn't but instead posted on my Scottish <a href="https://galenote.blogspot.com/">Eagleton Notes</a> blog. Somehow being a visitor in New Zealand for 6 weeks just wasn't the same as living there even though the second I was back in Napier I felt completely at home.</div>
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So this is to let anyone who wonders what happened to me know that I'm still alive and kicking and available to view at Eagleton Notes. </div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-91817794005900731012015-12-15T11:58:00.001+13:002015-12-15T11:58:42.009+13:00I'm Coming Back<div style="text-align: justify;">
A few weeks ago after a chat to Wendy I decided that I'd been away too long. I'm not anticipating any change in my cancer treatment in the near future and my right knee is due for replacement but it's been agreed that the operation will be put off for a couple of months.</div>
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So on Monday 1st February I intend to be on a plane from Glasgow Airport arriving in Napier on Wednesday evening.</div>
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And this blog will live once more for at least another six weeks.</div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-69983532290380583382014-10-16T07:39:00.000+13:002014-10-16T11:40:17.448+13:00Thankful Thursday: Every Cloud<div style="text-align: justify;">
has a silver lining.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIVHgDGbWxjzUMJPSrh4kqtv7lEL0ArEvDWQy9rM7_JE5IIZffLmoVe7oBlwdKnQmKeK6Y5jrGcirf5UWmL7_b0wPNaTVxWYC2lxSESCONhgValFVQduG3p-1njaFB2hFO3yhwp_L5lMo/s1600/IMG_2068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIVHgDGbWxjzUMJPSrh4kqtv7lEL0ArEvDWQy9rM7_JE5IIZffLmoVe7oBlwdKnQmKeK6Y5jrGcirf5UWmL7_b0wPNaTVxWYC2lxSESCONhgValFVQduG3p-1njaFB2hFO3yhwp_L5lMo/s1600/IMG_2068.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's over five months since I wrote the last post on this blog and today is the first time since I wrote it that I have re-read it in full. I don't think that I appreciated at the time just how much I would miss New Zealand and my life there. In fact from the moment I arrived back in Scotland the idea of not going back was banished from my mind. I think that I must have been having a severe dose of reality when I wrote the post and that my optimistic me was on hold for a short while. In fact I think that until last week I was actually sub-consciously more concerned about my cancer than I've been since 2010 and, perhaps, since I was diagnosed in 1998.</div>
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Today's reality is that I shall not be returning at the end of this month as I usually do and, indeed, it may well be that I shall not return this summer (New Zealand's summer that is). But then again I may. For many reasons it seems unlikely that I shall be able to resume my Godwit existence but I'm more optimistic now about a return to my other spiritual home.</div>
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My cancer treatment has been under close review since I returned and a couple of weeks ago I had a complete set of scans which confirmed that no prostatic cancer tumours have developed in my abdomen or chest. So the situation is that my blood count is increasing rapidly but is still low enough for hormone treatment to be delayed for a while in order to achieve maximum benefit. Apparently that is because I am quite fit and the treatment has not had an adverse effect on me in the past. So it looks like taking any decisions about returning to NZ for the time being are still on hold.</div>
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However who knows what will happen in a few months and I am now back in an optimistic enough frame of mind to believe that I shall be seeing The Family again in their own setting and that I shall again play croquet on the hallowed Marewa lawns: perhaps not this summer but certainly the following one.</div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-31060907282727623602014-04-28T08:57:00.001+12:002014-04-28T08:57:11.544+12:00The Last Time<div style="text-align: left;">
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'The time has come,' this blogger said, </div>
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'To think of journeyings: </div>
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Of shoes — and clothes — and luggage-bags — </div>
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Of cameras — and things — </div>
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And how the sea is to be crossed — </div>
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And whether planes have wings.' </div>
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</div>
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(With many apologies to Lewis Carroll)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbdGQKJ1Ryvs54Sq8q0XF4qNgPayPguXutgdbfkAqgHjU3n49bZ8aLyhlm0HjPIF2TiHqgGuTRM5sJxMW60dh35Yko2VMs9WpJwtmB-VW5T0rxlyLG6e8P3YjWXCRLfMea5504JVScYfP/s1600/DSC01970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbdGQKJ1Ryvs54Sq8q0XF4qNgPayPguXutgdbfkAqgHjU3n49bZ8aLyhlm0HjPIF2TiHqgGuTRM5sJxMW60dh35Yko2VMs9WpJwtmB-VW5T0rxlyLG6e8P3YjWXCRLfMea5504JVScYfP/s1600/DSC01970.jpg" height="332" width="400" /></a></div>
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Like the Royal Standard this coaster, a gift from Friend Who Knows Too
Much when I first came to The Cottage, comes out as soon as I arrive and
is put away when I leave. Today I put it away in my luggage and not in <a href="http://rotowhenua2.blogspot.co.nz/2008/04/cupboard.html">The Cupboard</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Tomorrow I set sail
(metaphorically) for Scotland and my 'other' home and my 'other' life. The sad news is that
I shall be leaving The Family and The Cottage and my New Zealand life
for the last time as a place that I call home. My Godwit days are over.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Unfortunately the blood counts of the cells that are my cancer indicator have trebled in each of the last three three-monthly blood tests. A doubling in six months is apparently regarded as a Bad Thing. The oncologist will want to keep an eye on me so that he can decide which is the optimum time to re-start the treatment. It can't cure but can delay but is only efficacious for a limited period so timing is all important. </div>
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<br />
I shall miss:<br />
<br />
The Family: Wendy and Martin and Jamie, David, Fraser and Catriona. They will always be my Family now but, like so many blood families, we will be apart and next time I come it will be for a visit and not to live. I have been fortunate to see Catriona (who was 4 when I made the promise to her to return for her 5th birthday) grow into a young lady and attend all her school prize-givings. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiXZL9Ofz5dHu9szRUF21h1S3GlvQicbVOBn6DWYvPxZu1NiHAQX4k4ekMDSGNa_HihjMGCumuN3pIIH-hcJW1vjZp9gcNP051I5MAWQyYZH-ZD0hLT1h7UqpoJ6L4BGlA9mq3pK9iBSG/s1600/IMG_0450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiXZL9Ofz5dHu9szRUF21h1S3GlvQicbVOBn6DWYvPxZu1NiHAQX4k4ekMDSGNa_HihjMGCumuN3pIIH-hcJW1vjZp9gcNP051I5MAWQyYZH-ZD0hLT1h7UqpoJ6L4BGlA9mq3pK9iBSG/s1600/IMG_0450.jpg" /></a></div>
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My New Zealand friends who have grown in number over the years. Many have been as a result of croquet my love of which came from a chance bout of curiosity when I poked my nose over a hedge at the Marewa Croquet Club and Jayne called me in, put a mallet in my hand, told me to hit a ball and hours later was praying that I would go home. Many of those friendships will endure the separation and some will just fade into the graveyard of time. This is Colleen and Jayne (whose face is hidden by her brolly) playing a serious game of croquet in the rain.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDp-q0tlbgE51awVC8ZVagfKN9Uz_C15JZxsG5wNsKwwTu19jYEkhqj54e1pGKyciATkn2mRrnDsDybVol8uBZm7VSpYNAP79cruZGbz5uLiPrPbed-ruhW62uxOMXGhGMi4HOPpUPYPEq/s1600/PC091241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDp-q0tlbgE51awVC8ZVagfKN9Uz_C15JZxsG5wNsKwwTu19jYEkhqj54e1pGKyciATkn2mRrnDsDybVol8uBZm7VSpYNAP79cruZGbz5uLiPrPbed-ruhW62uxOMXGhGMi4HOPpUPYPEq/s1600/PC091241.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
The Cottage. It has been a haven and a heaven. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xJsssWw_Ll45pAulS3YmTvGpbUicLcvb8C2cXCZgdGYZkkYFr9bjlQ__SnCphJobUkbOx7iAP0_KBQsBUOzT3j2NSiSVMO-uhaWYXARTSDYkxBl2ExjaVMdrL5ZzWtTVtcfJs3E6VfF5/s1600/DSC00460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xJsssWw_Ll45pAulS3YmTvGpbUicLcvb8C2cXCZgdGYZkkYFr9bjlQ__SnCphJobUkbOx7iAP0_KBQsBUOzT3j2NSiSVMO-uhaWYXARTSDYkxBl2ExjaVMdrL5ZzWtTVtcfJs3E6VfF5/s1600/DSC00460.JPG" /></a></div>
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Constant summers. I haven't seen a winter since 2005/6 in Scotland. I really do not like the cold. So next October when I would be planning my usual journey to the warmth of New Zealand I shall be putting on my winter woollies and cranking up the central heating.</div>
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<a href="http://rotowhenua2.blogspot.co.nz/2007/10/getting-around.html">The Handbag</a>. I bought the Mazda MX5 in 2006 for 6 months of open topped fun in the sun. Eight years and many thousands of kilometres later it has today been handed over to a dealer to sell for me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZNh7BNaOrvy4cgC8AyrMxeoVCJZhiyqG-30DpUPNVP0Eg1wn7kHrfqL1J3EpvcwMpqDxmx4WdvTAP1TVwCgGLNxJ6plzkkbvDt7dCfDScchA8RG4-DAIHSnr4BlNfHWVztqJ2J9ahuFr/s1600/DSC00070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZNh7BNaOrvy4cgC8AyrMxeoVCJZhiyqG-30DpUPNVP0Eg1wn7kHrfqL1J3EpvcwMpqDxmx4WdvTAP1TVwCgGLNxJ6plzkkbvDt7dCfDScchA8RG4-DAIHSnr4BlNfHWVztqJ2J9ahuFr/s1600/DSC00070.jpg" /></a></div>
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Croquet. From that day in 2006 when I first held a croquet mallet until today I have had the most wonderful and rewarding time. I've had moments at tournaments when I could have seen the game far enough but they have been rare and ceased after a 'good talking to' one day by one of the Croquet Ladies. They are a bunch of friends with whom I have travelled all over the country to compete. I shall miss the camaraderie and the fun. I shall miss the trips to to the Veterans Tournament at Dannevirke and the week of AC at the Palmerston North Clubs each year.</div>
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The hills of Hawkes Bay. There is something about the shape and light of these hills that will for ever be etched on my soul (for want of a better saying).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5m7jrK5BLMeY4XhClGlIWSV1vdCnH-3RuYyLZUr3E2XBksEAbi6atOLFNXkmUkhjBbnKXQPGyZNEFcK1DfIzAv3lZ3xOoU9l_HyRk5mFBhdgmlMOwv5WTXrbIqr9020pBzEDzidgVEvE/s1600/DSC01309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5m7jrK5BLMeY4XhClGlIWSV1vdCnH-3RuYyLZUr3E2XBksEAbi6atOLFNXkmUkhjBbnKXQPGyZNEFcK1DfIzAv3lZ3xOoU9l_HyRk5mFBhdgmlMOwv5WTXrbIqr9020pBzEDzidgVEvE/s1600/DSC01309.jpg" /></a></div>
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Of course nothing in life can be allowed to be completely negative and playing the Glad Game:</div>
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I shall see more of my blood family and my friends in the UK and the mainland of Europe (including Braigha): </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oxXEUCVibqsbjcrEmxsbVAIslN0wBp_5euHEhZtmrYJvzPuMx-DLBEc14X5eTpfpWRzX8eRegfrw-2GcCbkR6XchzAiDI-Ce3YSfHp-x3nRQ2ptDnhCbHTHJ77yih2Z-FKCeP_uiYqnW/s1600/IMAG0103_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oxXEUCVibqsbjcrEmxsbVAIslN0wBp_5euHEhZtmrYJvzPuMx-DLBEc14X5eTpfpWRzX8eRegfrw-2GcCbkR6XchzAiDI-Ce3YSfHp-x3nRQ2ptDnhCbHTHJ77yih2Z-FKCeP_uiYqnW/s1600/IMAG0103_2.jpg" /></a></div>
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And Gaz is getting married and building a house on the Island: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLh0HpBbyghhUZpAeA45ANdZo6F5i0p24LUeiC0PXGTw8fHNYPI1VeYifE7GWDigRVM35rr3l6cGl6P9qJdCeMDqml459MSVMacqLXyNbBxXy7Y9zGQCGb1ddO0yg_Q7Keh5euOiqLdcH/s1600/_MG_9807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLh0HpBbyghhUZpAeA45ANdZo6F5i0p24LUeiC0PXGTw8fHNYPI1VeYifE7GWDigRVM35rr3l6cGl6P9qJdCeMDqml459MSVMacqLXyNbBxXy7Y9zGQCGb1ddO0yg_Q7Keh5euOiqLdcH/s1600/_MG_9807.jpg" /></a></div>
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I shall see daffodils again.</div>
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A friend and I hope to spend more time going to the theatre and concerts in Glasgow. </div>
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There will hopefully be opportunities to see snow. I never thought I would miss it but I do. I long to replicate some of the fabulous photos I have taken many years ago of places like the Lake District and Scotland in the sun and the snow. It's an idyllic view which has little in common with the reality of trying to get around and the problems that snow creates.</div>
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Living in six-monthly periods in two countries has given me a wonderful life with opportunities that few could dream about. They have been amongst the happiest of my life. However there is a certain strain in living this way and in particular the last month in each country seems to be geared around the next departure. Okay I appreciate that it's a strain many would be happy to have to achieve the life-style but doing without it will be good. </div>
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I started writing this weeks ago in the hope that it would be honed and complete by today. In reality when I rose just after 6am this morning there was just a few notes and the rhyme. So I will doubtless think of many things that I could have said and added to what will hopefully not be the very last post on this blog but perhaps would have been a more fitting tribute to its demise. I hope that I shall eventually do a post to summarise my life in a country I was very happy to call my home.</div>
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In the meantime I hope that those of you who have become such a part of my life over the last years will continue to join me at <a href="http://galenote.blogspot.co.nz/">Eagleton Notes</a>.</div>
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GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-39898486483760257292014-04-26T23:06:00.002+12:002014-04-26T23:06:50.834+12:00Stop The Possums!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last month Bill from <a href="http://billsponderings-wilbo43.blogspot.co.nz/2014/03/power.html#comment-form">Bill's Ponderings</a> who lives in Brisbane posted on yet another case of fried possum and an electricity outage as a result. Apparently the possums climb up the power poles onto the lines and short them. They will do that with monotonous regularity if they are not prevented. In New Zealand when I first came I couldn't understand why every - and I mean <i>every</i> - pole had an aluminium or alloy sleeve. It is to make it impossible for possums to climb them. It's such a simple thing but 100% effective.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzdqF_QLTeDSNbg6soWx0SDd3SVVNcr0aqRyy_i80SJ09KZ6NAHZV4OOrmEJyNkTpFsOeGyXeRRi2mIOcZ1kc-JHn6omyotQKQTlxJVJQ53Zjif6HOZQPe12IazbwzCcLAJZeo2aitfKz/s1600/IMG_2612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzdqF_QLTeDSNbg6soWx0SDd3SVVNcr0aqRyy_i80SJ09KZ6NAHZV4OOrmEJyNkTpFsOeGyXeRRi2mIOcZ1kc-JHn6omyotQKQTlxJVJQ53Zjif6HOZQPe12IazbwzCcLAJZeo2aitfKz/s1600/IMG_2612.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A band of possum preventers. A band. Gedit?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopeHNv-swOcOpZ_CB8Fok3lV6seTNJVzsliLlSVTswWG1E7aVMywUqpU87PiNbpwhMSQlPcqTOqa45yTrqMqHFAmE1pChoBcdAkc-pHXXJ4OJ4EWWldgPJuN_TG_gghchYdJQXpgLRkBZ/s1600/IMG_2613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopeHNv-swOcOpZ_CB8Fok3lV6seTNJVzsliLlSVTswWG1E7aVMywUqpU87PiNbpwhMSQlPcqTOqa45yTrqMqHFAmE1pChoBcdAkc-pHXXJ4OJ4EWWldgPJuN_TG_gghchYdJQXpgLRkBZ/s1600/IMG_2613.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple but effective</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-30341242388775374762014-04-24T20:23:00.002+12:002014-04-24T20:23:31.739+12:00Thankful Thursday<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've been a bit tardy recently in the Thankful Thursday posts. I've got all sorts of excuses. I've not had anything to be thankful for (completely untrue). I've been away (true). I've been doing lots of other things (true). I've forgotten on the day or been travelling (true). One or two things have happened to friends around me which temporarily made it a bit difficult to be thankful all the time (true). I'm sorry Jaz. I should have more faith and perseverance.<br />
<br />
Anyway I've decided
that it's about time I pulled my socks up and got on with it. Why is
it, by the way, that when people one knows are having a Bad Time it
makes one feel a little guilty for being thankful?<br />
<br />
Warning! <br />
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It's a while since I mentioned croquet. I think at some time I
probably said that I would give it a rest before I became even more
boring than I am already. Well, for reasons you will appreciate before I
leave for Scotland next Tuesday, I'm going to do a review of my croquet
year for which I am exceptionally thankful. <br />
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Enough! You don't really need to read the rest of this: it's here for the 'diary' aspect of my blog.</div>
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I didn't win the Golf Croquet Club Championship this year. My GC partner, Judy, (we won the GC Doubles together) did. Today. I was far more nervous for her than I was when she and I played in the semi-final and she beat me making it, I think, the first time I've not been in the final for, I think, six years just after I started playing croquet. I played well and she played better and beat me fair and square. Today she beat the Club's pretender for the Championship. No, she annihilated him in the second game (best of 3): 7:6, 7:2. We (Judy and her granddaughter, Zoe, whom I used to coach) went out for lunch to celebrate.<br />
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So this year I've not won any of the three GC club championships. However I have won the Association Croquet (the 'original' and 'thinking' croquet) A Grade and the Intermediate Grade Champs. However I let my partner down and we were only runners up in the AC Doubles.<br />
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In the greater scheme of things amongst the goings on in this world of ours all this is very shallow. However today I am very thankful for my successes this year. It may never happen again and I shall return to Scotland with the rather shallow thought that my name is etched in gold on the hallowed A Grade championship board at the Marewa Croquet Club.</div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-46089380245968906442014-04-23T18:30:00.000+12:002014-04-23T18:30:03.495+12:00More Welcome Swallows<div style="text-align: justify;">
Although the birds of New Zealand do not generally compare in brilliance of hue as those of, say, Australia there are some very beautiful and exceptionally interesting ones. For me one of the loveliest is the Welcome Swallow. I have blogged a number of times on this joyful bird: see this list at <a href="http://www.postvorta.co.uk/search/495553397518653924/?q=welcome+AND+swallow&x=22&y=9&t=true&b=true&l=true&c=true&mode=full&from=02%2F09%2F2007&to=23%2F04%2F2014&lb=or&labels=&cb=or&commentators=">Postvorta</a>.</div>
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They are exceptionally fast and not in the least bit afraid of coming within a few feet of a person to catch some tasty insect morsels attracted by the carbon dioxide emitted in our breath or perhaps the blood on which they like to feed! I've only managed to capture them <a href="http://rotowhenua2.blogspot.co.nz/2011/02/miranda-birds.html">in flight on one trip to Miranda</a>.</div>
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When I was at Pauline's there were some youngsters nearby and I managed to get one sitting on a post not far away (but through a window). They may not be my best Welcome Swallow photos but they are close runners in the cuteness stakes. </div>
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<br />GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-3849244994644489212014-04-23T10:07:00.001+12:002014-04-23T10:29:07.009+12:00Picture Size: Update and iPad Comment Tip<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nephew-in-Law and computer programming whiz, Mark, has worked his magic.</div>
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Anyone with any equipment, platform and browser (which, for the most part amongst my readers who had problems seems to be iPad users) should now see my photos fitted into the available space for the blog.</div>
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If you return to the post <a href="http://rotowhenua2.blogspot.co.nz/2014/04/picture-size-test.html">Picture Size: A Test</a> the top picture should appear on your post the same size as the second one.</div>
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Thank you Mark!</div>
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Most, perhaps all, iPad users, and that includes me some of the time, have problems when making comments on blogs if they make a mistake. Carol in Cairns explained to me why and how to solve the problem. I can't remember why and I can't find Carol's email with the instructions but here is the how:</div>
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When you make a mistake and the program will not let you make any alterations to a draft comment simply touch the 'keyboard remove' key in the bottom right of the on-screen keyboard. Then touch the comment box to re-instate the keyboard. It should then work.</div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-3599143370944440502014-04-23T09:22:00.000+12:002014-04-23T09:22:14.558+12:00Toilet Art at Kawakawa<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some people have flowers and bushes and even trees in their garden. Some people have lawns. Some have garden gnomes. Some have whimsically amusing toilets. 'Though not, I suspect, very many. So these may have rarity value. May have...... </div>
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<br />GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-18978463335469841092014-04-21T21:04:00.002+12:002014-04-22T00:00:23.598+12:00Picture Size: A Test<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was looking at my blog on the iPad last night and I realised that I couldn't see the whole of any of my pictures. </div>
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For many years now I have set all my images to a maximum dimension of 800px which is what the template width allows. I do this partly because it saves people clicking on an image to enlarge. How many people do? And partly because when I have the blog printed the pictures come out at the correct size.</div>
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So I thought that I would ask how many of you can see the following test card images in full. It would be useful if you can't if you could tell me whether you are reading it on a tablet, iPad, laptop or whatever and the browser you are using. I have used two test card sizes. The top one is the size of my usual pics and the one below is a smaller one. The chaffinch is just there for the ride. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeFQOQpyhtqdBhxeeCDHnakRO2xXeAhIbxDO9qYthmzTmDDge5DTyiS661Nxo7_FotEpKOI0WpI_VfAb7gpW0OdDkHSJOThwvMRJxbMPX6QEfsUcKhp5XYGZ5wS2FaOEjoZDWTYb38SC2/s1600/RTVE_Testcard+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeFQOQpyhtqdBhxeeCDHnakRO2xXeAhIbxDO9qYthmzTmDDge5DTyiS661Nxo7_FotEpKOI0WpI_VfAb7gpW0OdDkHSJOThwvMRJxbMPX6QEfsUcKhp5XYGZ5wS2FaOEjoZDWTYb38SC2/s1600/RTVE_Testcard+(1).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">800 x 600 px</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">640 x 480 px</td></tr>
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<br />GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-10375163592617898662014-04-20T17:56:00.001+12:002014-04-20T17:56:58.528+12:00A Northland Miscellany<div style="text-align: justify;">
Pauline's and my Northland safari seems an age ago but I still have a few pics I would like to share with you before I set off for my other life in the Northern Hemisphere.</div>
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I think this might have been a major 'oops' moment.</div>
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The beautiful Whangaroa Harbour at Totara North</div>
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I just love old sheds (okay this is a bit bigger than your average shed)</div>
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Sailing out of Whangaroa Harbour</div>
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Old boatshed at Whangaroa Harbour</div>
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Continuing the 'shed' theme: old boathouse in the mangroves of the Whangaroa Harbour</div>
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This 'old shed' is, if I remember Pauline correctly, an old smithy and is now a conference facility down at the Kerikeri Harbour</div>
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The Kerikeri River, at the Wharepuke Falls tumbles over basalt lava fields, which flowed into the river
valley following volcanic eruptions some 200 million years ago. The pool is a popular diving and swimming place.</div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-25512359731748906302014-04-19T17:25:00.000+12:002014-04-23T09:28:13.244+12:00A Moment of Bliss<div style="text-align: justify;">
I lay in bed writing this post in my head and now I can't even remember the three brilliantly witty titles I thought up never mind the one of them that I decided to use. I said in a text to a friend yesterday that I was reaching muddle age. I meant to write 'middle' age but I left it because muddle age seemed so much more appropriate.<br />
<br />
Anyway the subject of my thoughts was ribs. Not in the sense of BBQ ribs but of cracked or broken ones in general and more specifically those belonging to the body that I inhabit. It's over 6 weeks since the incident when they were injured. Everyone said it would take at least six weeks for them to heal sufficiently not to cause discomfort. At around 5.30am this morning I sort of woke and turned over and suddenly realised that I had not let out a yelp which has been the case until then. At last perhaps I could lie on my 'proper' side? I could! It's a small thing in the scheme of things but a very pleasant one.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYVkCAk_ivI4hfEbq1_qtTL0tPxfb6gAaybsiecPLQsm8tI63YO6axRI9F6csI1hYDZCcthqS27a-B0v0Pcwyk1AWX83TIIk_iECicdC2wcQn8ZsorRZ6qcziHmH0ks_kcDu45h4J2DiZ/s1600/DSC04253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYVkCAk_ivI4hfEbq1_qtTL0tPxfb6gAaybsiecPLQsm8tI63YO6axRI9F6csI1hYDZCcthqS27a-B0v0Pcwyk1AWX83TIIk_iECicdC2wcQn8ZsorRZ6qcziHmH0ks_kcDu45h4J2DiZ/s1600/DSC04253.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from The Cottage deck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KzNmGPNNAbNauA93eq1AMLV4FZ-UPiBdrDTmSBFBchG3fVQNiuPMSEv_Mqi86FLVuZxJemsJI3m2AoUSgFWgmt0KzcZ2rzMp6n3JOP809nf2B5o6scq0peSYkVOFxVrQUIZkFHfXzhx7/s1600/IMG_2467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KzNmGPNNAbNauA93eq1AMLV4FZ-UPiBdrDTmSBFBchG3fVQNiuPMSEv_Mqi86FLVuZxJemsJI3m2AoUSgFWgmt0KzcZ2rzMp6n3JOP809nf2B5o6scq0peSYkVOFxVrQUIZkFHfXzhx7/s1600/IMG_2467.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit closer. Is that a car there? Never seen that before.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJ1iRgoEHoQvfGdafr7HWTWkYM-nFQs0Oeq9eHfQVeO0f8iOoKKvQNKO4Pxb_IrU5RL6X0TfX7qxftoax4-cLT94vrdu1ruEqQEB05K89hFpH5Ki-UeeIdYo1WJ0Mfkb2SWTDt_7cfWiT/s1600/IMG_2466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJ1iRgoEHoQvfGdafr7HWTWkYM-nFQs0Oeq9eHfQVeO0f8iOoKKvQNKO4Pxb_IrU5RL6X0TfX7qxftoax4-cLT94vrdu1ruEqQEB05K89hFpH5Ki-UeeIdYo1WJ0Mfkb2SWTDt_7cfWiT/s1600/IMG_2466.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not only is it a car in a strange place but they are pointing at The Cottage. I wonder why.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-7253364457548411052014-04-18T20:40:00.001+12:002014-04-18T20:40:29.061+12:00The Joys of Travel (or Not Being Able To).<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's Friday evening. The Family has left The Cottage having been fed and watered. The decks have been cleared. The dishwasher is on. The place is tidy. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Martin and
David are on their way to Wellington accompanied by Wendy who will share the driving and drive the car back tomorrow. Martin and David are supposed to be setting foot
in Scotland sometime on Friday UK time. As it is they will be leaving Wellington around 0700 tomorrow for a 7 hour stopover in Sydney airport. They will all get about 4 hours sleep tonight.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Over the last few days I've started half
a dozen posts. Then something has happened that has altered
everything. Of course if you haven't got internet then you can't
publish the post immediately and other things can come along and make
that which you said irrelevant or completely out of date. This week has
been very much like that. I had no internet (other than a weak signal on my iPhone insufficient to be of use for tethering the laptop) from Wednesday afternoon until this afternoon.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yesterday the storm raged: the continuation of Tropical Cyclone Ida which wreaked havoc up the north coast of New South Wales before wandering out to sea again and making a nuisance of itself over here. We got away lightly with no damage although the wind and rain was the worst I've experienced here. Some have had severe damage and the West Coast of the South Island has had lots of damage and Christchurch has had more flooding to add to its woes. However Martin and David’s flight to Auckland was cancelled last night because of the weather.
The knock on effect was that they were still at home when they should have been on the flight from Auckland to Scotland. There
isn’t another with the same airline until Wednesday. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However after a full evening and a full day today negotiating with the airlines and the insurance company and with the help of their travel agent, they have booked seats on another airline in the morning. The downside is a 5 hour drive this evening in the dark down to Wellington and a return journey for Wendy tomorrow.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It made all my irritations look unimportant just as the disaster in Korea put their travel disruptions into perspective.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the plus side yesterday I managed to get a replacement small plastic lever for the recliner chair and fit it. </div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-90474714658766275442014-04-14T16:44:00.000+12:002014-04-14T16:57:47.331+12:00The Rain it Raineth on the Just<div style="text-align: justify;">
And on the unjust fella</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But mainly on the just because</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The unjust has the just's umbrella.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
CJ and I were brought up with this witty ditty which is attributed to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bowen,_Baron_Bowen">Lord Bowen</a> . I was going to say that I had absolutely no idea who he was but when I read the Wikipedia article I realised that I did. I knew him simply from the quote in one of the legal textbooks I read more years ago than I able to remember. The quote, however, like many from those books stuck with me because they were usually far more interesting that the subject I was supposed to be learning. The quote was "When I hear of an 'equity' in a case like this, I am reminded of a blind
man in a dark room - looking for a black hat - which isn't there". Ironically I am not sure that I can recall what an 'equity' is although I think it had something to do with the courts being able to interpret or modify common law. Didn't you just want to know all that? Actually it's just me showing that I haven't forgotten everything I learned. Although what good any of that ever did me or the world escapes me. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway it's been raining here for over a week with the exception of Saturday morning and afternoon when the sun shone and we had the croquet club BBQ.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoVq6U1ju_bKCtcqMpwLgUZFcVp2zR7tnQJ-kYXKLr-NesNmbVrNu9zlR-8zGSIhZu3HkKCNgppZGytaeoq-WhzSOT3kedrJW0Azp2BRW3xNLJV7WAKheTqYDaNw5tqRSzrK6JPiWLRTs/s1600/DSC01951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoVq6U1ju_bKCtcqMpwLgUZFcVp2zR7tnQJ-kYXKLr-NesNmbVrNu9zlR-8zGSIhZu3HkKCNgppZGytaeoq-WhzSOT3kedrJW0Azp2BRW3xNLJV7WAKheTqYDaNw5tqRSzrK6JPiWLRTs/s1600/DSC01951.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A prediction of things to come: and they did with even more drops</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXz2fTXka4J6NgY_IF4h9nncM8eHhz15xmhxTFYv1FORDt1y4a83jgYu9zlgIlLPaYF_Q2J0DXH-snNFOt-9ZkMhXqo-sht_zx9bpaA50eT3ZFTUlKrJgQkqm01MmvV7y7Y_LrT4yTofD/s1600/DSC01959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXz2fTXka4J6NgY_IF4h9nncM8eHhz15xmhxTFYv1FORDt1y4a83jgYu9zlgIlLPaYF_Q2J0DXH-snNFOt-9ZkMhXqo-sht_zx9bpaA50eT3ZFTUlKrJgQkqm01MmvV7y7Y_LrT4yTofD/s1600/DSC01959.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The apples were ready for harvest a week ago I believe. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When they will be harvested is anyone's guess. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAES7-I84LVLYqBaVrn4oucngBKusNfbxnKEQYD2qav0h2Z2W8zea8ip03e1TdkOLkXMlrRpDfsTOCZjtxlFiUaK6tr8dVaF3Hu85vCxpyUXqTeCdmFAmIEd4ruULSTDvS1vetuyl1WNs/s1600/DSC01971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAES7-I84LVLYqBaVrn4oucngBKusNfbxnKEQYD2qav0h2Z2W8zea8ip03e1TdkOLkXMlrRpDfsTOCZjtxlFiUaK6tr8dVaF3Hu85vCxpyUXqTeCdmFAmIEd4ruULSTDvS1vetuyl1WNs/s1600/DSC01971.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Saturday late afternoon and we had a splendid double rainbow most of which I would have to have climbed several fences and moved several large trees to get in frame.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM6JmfeczDWEwytB5ck4rbpTOllRTtiBg8Gjk9Ejf8tPmTAi-GyPZ1AEYnKzi_TpSskUHAyUiLN7Brs-y9NVCOVceNoxu6AcSt34cE1HN5Z60DrHM4CGpuZecO-k6RsXzppquQ7lRyksp/s1600/DSC01986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM6JmfeczDWEwytB5ck4rbpTOllRTtiBg8Gjk9Ejf8tPmTAi-GyPZ1AEYnKzi_TpSskUHAyUiLN7Brs-y9NVCOVceNoxu6AcSt34cE1HN5Z60DrHM4CGpuZecO-k6RsXzppquQ7lRyksp/s1600/DSC01986.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The pot of gold should be beneath this tree</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVTRJKivvYGpTKKJMUj8f3wlTQb8CfNN6xzQbap80lr1uSHG_wkd71GKgyIZdT3C1T7Z0RmzJqL6N-clHr53jTyXS8D_XoPiY0lzBhw0sRPDKm0yL7X3wVRq4s07GycPhGGky6OYqxi_8/s1600/IMG_2481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVTRJKivvYGpTKKJMUj8f3wlTQb8CfNN6xzQbap80lr1uSHG_wkd71GKgyIZdT3C1T7Z0RmzJqL6N-clHr53jTyXS8D_XoPiY0lzBhw0sRPDKm0yL7X3wVRq4s07GycPhGGky6OYqxi_8/s1600/IMG_2481.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There are two young olive trees at The Cottage. They are full of fruit (I was going to say 'olives' but that would have be stating the obvious). If I had realised they were going to be so prolific I suppose I could have learned what to do with them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSuh6MByAUXYu_w8JROcltaH-nfkdqnQY45IMSiysdxcCwuDy9WSHe9GUriqICXclFjlMiXPfJOKiV-eEk-6v7yNgC1a5FQvJW7dEaHOVkr_UgM53ufkcHEEojfWYnz5eTddCaqWGEV5p/s1600/IMG_2493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSuh6MByAUXYu_w8JROcltaH-nfkdqnQY45IMSiysdxcCwuDy9WSHe9GUriqICXclFjlMiXPfJOKiV-eEk-6v7yNgC1a5FQvJW7dEaHOVkr_UgM53ufkcHEEojfWYnz5eTddCaqWGEV5p/s1600/IMG_2493.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just to the right of the base of the tree at the foot of the rainbow is a paddock with two alpaca. They were screaming fit to bust when I was photographing the rainbow.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdjI5UaG_wDx8kw_lRgl27t702ogyZ8TNmZ_tVW04B9Bq_BTGr-7TklH_9RWXsa7qrCrRqPo4EjXue9PqZq1iEIcap8WDEMt-JnRrUPxtUOKaypzA4Gv7UAomhbUXPV3JKOClyTg50P26/s1600/IMG_2499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdjI5UaG_wDx8kw_lRgl27t702ogyZ8TNmZ_tVW04B9Bq_BTGr-7TklH_9RWXsa7qrCrRqPo4EjXue9PqZq1iEIcap8WDEMt-JnRrUPxtUOKaypzA4Gv7UAomhbUXPV3JKOClyTg50P26/s1600/IMG_2499.jpg" /></a></div>
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I must try this more frequently</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmKzXBTq_FpP0A3L0MKpeQfd0PjKAp4A5_SouiQT_920FBNsNkDcvUd0NmYeD4_23hfL-vzb3lS7r7sNOr6NBA7qq642vS-choZsKkGuRakwnFIn2Ms3BWoViivsydOi9E4t3l9ar3qPs/s1600/IMG_2500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmKzXBTq_FpP0A3L0MKpeQfd0PjKAp4A5_SouiQT_920FBNsNkDcvUd0NmYeD4_23hfL-vzb3lS7r7sNOr6NBA7qq642vS-choZsKkGuRakwnFIn2Ms3BWoViivsydOi9E4t3l9ar3qPs/s1600/IMG_2500.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That's the cable from the micro-wave dish carrying my internet signal to the Cottage.</div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-82536811304931686912014-04-13T21:56:00.000+12:002014-04-13T21:56:13.022+12:00Northland: Boats and Things<div style="text-align: justify;">
New Zealand has one of the highest boat owning per capita ratios in the world. I know that because I read it <a href="http://paulinespaddock.blogspot.co.nz/2014/04/boat-bottoms.html">on Pauline's boat-bottoms post</a> a couple of days ago and even my memory stretches that far back. When we were doing our latest Northland safari Pauline decide that we would go and explore a bay on the other side of the hill from Russell about 5 minutes away by car. It turned out to be fi=ull of surprises... and boats:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJKFXP5iHMlfineh5fTxg9qGZu6_hx3No8PLlWaNRtCRmhWq522FEm5SeFEqVQ6LNtiM5v5GwxK1gBIMkGRGBh6U0JQtfR_8P9mVgyG5Vd6QI8XEI1W4GbgI6BbFEwbPqvbYZH5QkS-te/s1600/IMG_2337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJKFXP5iHMlfineh5fTxg9qGZu6_hx3No8PLlWaNRtCRmhWq522FEm5SeFEqVQ6LNtiM5v5GwxK1gBIMkGRGBh6U0JQtfR_8P9mVgyG5Vd6QI8XEI1W4GbgI6BbFEwbPqvbYZH5QkS-te/s1600/IMG_2337.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The traditional gaff-rigged schooner <a href="http://tucker.co.nz/ship_profile/"><i>R Tucker Thompson</i></a> operated by a trust of the same name which has as its mission: Learning for Life through the Sea</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ErqADPcMWXOO-hj936dnucXjwAsIl8idUOiWpq3tifYiYkDc5-KL98rEQB4RJOebgvyqJPHc6J3rBvuNx57dfZPm9s4g7AwR5bUx1QJ64j7BTp71TLLbhIlski1fqFdZSsbLkc-DUXnW/s1600/IMG_2356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ErqADPcMWXOO-hj936dnucXjwAsIl8idUOiWpq3tifYiYkDc5-KL98rEQB4RJOebgvyqJPHc6J3rBvuNx57dfZPm9s4g7AwR5bUx1QJ64j7BTp71TLLbhIlski1fqFdZSsbLkc-DUXnW/s1600/IMG_2356.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had photographed this vessel in Paihia back in 2010 and it was only when I got the photos home that I realised that it was following a pod of dolphins.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCrWn3QTVxhr1y6SA9lQKWRP9Fdb6EB01g2nnMDnPXA-EUPeC_STqxyogYq8g-JyO1ANuMPggiEI_dWtFj7qXRkniUnyDMPishRAgI0Mjf5RjFoukksJYUFbTK9HUdyQpMu3ejx1547AB/s1600/IMG_2360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCrWn3QTVxhr1y6SA9lQKWRP9Fdb6EB01g2nnMDnPXA-EUPeC_STqxyogYq8g-JyO1ANuMPggiEI_dWtFj7qXRkniUnyDMPishRAgI0Mjf5RjFoukksJYUFbTK9HUdyQpMu3ejx1547AB/s1600/IMG_2360.jpg" /></a></div>
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Not everyone is in it for the speed</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6mvXpJ0ahd8WUvpUlS106fWY2Y6JwciIW8ghZJDj7RuJqpRcDwPWRAxv7X1hBM0MQ5BaJ5nG70VygOeV9ifMyDgM3bRGbiIB-LiJomneOUxdYfKWsbdShamKIEblWk4KZNqbpZAEcvaJ/s1600/IMG_2358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6mvXpJ0ahd8WUvpUlS106fWY2Y6JwciIW8ghZJDj7RuJqpRcDwPWRAxv7X1hBM0MQ5BaJ5nG70VygOeV9ifMyDgM3bRGbiIB-LiJomneOUxdYfKWsbdShamKIEblWk4KZNqbpZAEcvaJ/s1600/IMG_2358.jpg" /></a></div>
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Although I do wonder how people manage this and travel very long distances in rough seas doing it.</div>
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This took me completely by surprise<br />
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and when I used the long focus lens have to say that it didn't appeal to me at all.<br />
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This little craft on the other hand spends its life up and down the Northland coast checking moorings.<br />
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Whilst this one is out for the sheer exhilleration of the speed (I'm sure that on the News tonight it said that some of these jet boats can travel in calm water up to 80kph!)</div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-66737163187001844342014-04-11T10:05:00.001+12:002014-04-11T10:05:31.431+12:00TWOO and a Big Mistake<div style="text-align: justify;">
Apparently there are 55 million Twoo users worldwide. How could it be, therefore, that until last night I'd never even heard of it. When I got up just after 0530 this morning I wished very fervently that I was still in a state of blissful ignorance. </div>
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As it was I spent the first 3 hours of this dreich morning in a damage limitation exercise.</div>
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I had assumed that the contact list in my computer had been compromised but in fact I've now discovered that Twoo actually had access to the contacts in one of my Google accounts: the one from which the email was sent and only one, ironically, that had any contacts in it because I had previously deleted and ceased to store contacts in the other Google accounts.</div>
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How did it all arise? I received an invitation from someone I know to join them and, being curious at that moment, instead of just declining as I usually do for social networking sites (except Facebook), I decided to see what it was. To quote the line from one of my favourite scenes in any movie "Big mistake. Big. Huge."</div>
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Well I won't make that one again.</div>
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Doubtless, though, I'll find some other mistakes to make. Life's like that.</div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-14662758894268891412014-04-09T22:47:00.001+12:002014-04-09T22:47:31.837+12:00Northland: Russell<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwR_QUSeZLcFsHf0uyLIdG5ojBHQWY5knewlVpuZomBA99EwSzDyrxUPAUMdeYWvhdAxqriYw2Sv3x6hBhbGDgSQV69_2KzZcTxomDWsTyMyMVNt-KmXjUrW72fG3ZG8AbLZk_V62cSf0h/s1600/Screenshot+2014-04-09+21.53.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwR_QUSeZLcFsHf0uyLIdG5ojBHQWY5knewlVpuZomBA99EwSzDyrxUPAUMdeYWvhdAxqriYw2Sv3x6hBhbGDgSQV69_2KzZcTxomDWsTyMyMVNt-KmXjUrW72fG3ZG8AbLZk_V62cSf0h/s1600/Screenshot+2014-04-09+21.53.18.jpg" /></a>The first permanent European settlement and sea port in New Zealand was in the Bay of Islands. I last went <a href="http://rotowhenua2.blogspot.co.nz/2010/02/great-adventure-day-four-russell-rest.html">there</a> by passenger <a href="http://rotowhenua2.blogspot.com/2010/02/fast-ferry.html">ferry from Paihia</a> in February 2010 on a very cold and damp day. (I cannot believe that it was so long ago!). The place was originally known as Kororāreka and developed as a result of the trade between visiting European and American ships in the early 1800s and the indigenous Māori. It soon earned a very
bad reputation as a community without laws and full of prostitution and
became known as the "Hell Hole of the Pacific"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell,_New_Zealand#cite_note-3"><span></span></a></sup> despite the translation of its name being "How sweet is the penguin", (<i>korora</i> meaning blue penguin and <i>reka</i> meaning sweet).</div>
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After the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 the Governor of New Zealand, General William Hobson decided that the capital of the new colony would be inappropriate at such a lawless place and decided it would be at Okiato 7 kilometres away from Kororāreka and that it would be called Russell after Lord John Russell the British Prime Minister known for his liberal views. In the event the colonial powers in Australia (from whence New Zealand was in effect governed in those days) decided that the new capital would be in Auckland. So Kororāreka became called Russell instead.</div>
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Looking at it now it seems impossible to believe that it was once (only 150 years ago) such a hell hole and den of iniquity. It seems now to be the very epitome of middle class middle New Zealand full of middle class tourists. Perhaps appearances are deceptive.</div>
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I posted more pictures and information about Russell back in October 2010 than I think I've posted about any place that size (population 810). It's interesting to compare t<a href="http://rotowhenua2.blogspot.co.nz/2010/02/great-adventure-day-four-russell-rest.html">hese taken then on a bleak, cold rainy day</a> with these:</div>
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GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-84059757474980964912014-04-08T14:51:00.000+12:002014-04-08T14:53:20.169+12:00Northland: Steam Train at Kawakawa<div style="text-align: justify;">
At Kawakawa there is a railway station. It is the home of the <a href="http://www.bayofislandsvintagerailway.org.nz/">Bay of Islands Vintage Railway</a> (there is a video on their website) about which I blogged around this time last year in the post <a href="http://rotowhenua2.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/the-first-stop-kawakawa.html">First Stop Kawakawa</a> where you can find more informtion about the railways and the steam engine <i>Gabriel</i>. This year we arrived at a convenient time and on a day when the train was running. So we went for a ride. And we had a very enjoyable hour or so doing it before Pauline drove me down to Whangarei for my afternoon flight home to Napier.</div>
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Awaiting restoration<br />
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Gabriel</div>
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Ready to roll</div>
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Kawakawa's Star Hotel opened in 1879.<br />
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A bit of detail for Mark</div>
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The end of the line and the change over<u></u></div>
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The Long Bridge - the longest wooden curved bridge in the Southern Hemisphere apparently.</div>
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The restoration work is under way in conjunction with the cycling organisations who will share it.</div>
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A long shot to the final curve on the far side from where the train journey ends at the moment</div>
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Slightly spooky looking right at the engine (which is, of course, going backwards at this stage).<u></u></div>
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I think the driver should be looking where he's going!</div>
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The train shares the High Street with the traffic</div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-42011955265366357002014-04-07T21:25:00.003+12:002014-04-07T21:33:09.315+12:00Northland: The Beaches of Doubtless Bay<div style="text-align: justify;">
My annual visit to Pauline and Northland seems a long time past. In fact it started two weeks ago tomorrow and ended the following Saturday. It's just over a week ago but it seems like a decade. Pauline has already posted on many of our visits one her blog <a href="http://paulinespaddock.blogspot.co.nz/">The Paddock</a>. Some of my photos will be of the same areas because I'm not only posting for my readers (many of whom read Pauline's blog too) but also for my blog in it's role as my diary. </div>
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Pampas Grass (imported) or Toetoe (indigenous) at the time I didn't know how to distinguish the two. It is supposed to grow to a maximum of 3m high. I would say that's at least 6m even allowing for the fact that Pauline's well below its base.<br />
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A beautiful area at the northern end of Waikato Bay<br />
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and again but taken from half way down the bay</div>
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Out in a 'tinnie' doing what Kiwi's do</div>
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Waikato Bay beach looking in a southerly direction</div>
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Tokerau Beach looking in a southerly direction across Doubtless Bay to Cable Bay and down to Mangonui probably about 16 k away as a theoretical crow would fly across the bay.</div>
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and looking back to Whatuwhiwhi (pron Fatufifi) where we had just spent the night</div>
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Tiny Parakerake Bay within Doubtless Bay at Whatuwhiwhi</div>
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Parakerake Bay at Whatuwhiwhi looking down over Doubtless Bay to Monganui</div>
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Taipa Bay looking north over Doubtless Bay to Whatuwhiwhi<br />
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Taipa Bay looking north over Doubtless Bay to Whatuwhiwhi<br />
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Taipa Bay Beach<br />
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Going for a walk</div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-63053476950312760592014-04-06T23:11:00.001+12:002014-04-06T23:11:54.471+12:00Sunday<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's been a rather strange day. Our clocks went back last night. [Spring forward and fall back]. It's fall here in the southern hemisphere. It's spring with the rest of you. So in relation to the UK I’ve gone from being 13 hours in front a few weeks ago to being 12 hours in front when the UK's clocks went forward to 11 hours in front today now that ours have gone back. To confuse me even more in a few weeks I’ll be 11 hours <i>behind</i> the ‘other half’ of my life and friends instead of ahead.</div>
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<br />I was up at 6am and my priority for this morning was emails and a blog post. </div>
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<br />Out forecast this morning was drizzle all morning and solid rain for the rest of the day (and week). That was a nuisance as I had a match to play this afternoon. At noon it was pouring at The Cottage but my opponent lies about 5 ks away as the crow flies (actually crows don't fly in a straight line but I'll ignore that) and it wasn't raining where he lives. The match was at 1pm. We both turned up at the lawns and the sun shone. It kept shining and the temperature soared for the next four hours whilst we played. [I wasn't going to mention it but, seeing as you asked, I won.]</div>
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By the time I'd got home, watched the news, made dinner, sorted out the week's diaries with Wendy and Martin and had long chats to Anna and Gaz in Scotland and Holland respectively it was nearly 11pm.</div>
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I did the emails this morning but I still haven't done a blog post and it doesn't look as if I'll get one done either. How can one be so very busy and achieve so very little?</div>
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Oh well. There's always tomorrow. Leastways I hope there will be a tomorrow. I'll be mightily pissed off if there isn't. </div>
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Just walkin'</div>
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GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-42184029043163545782014-04-02T17:00:00.000+13:002014-04-03T22:09:23.688+13:00Australia: Last but not Least - The Birds<div style="text-align: justify;">
Within hours of arriving in Australia I had seen birds that I had never seen before and over the holiday I saw many that I had never photographed before. So far as I am aware only a few of the birds (The Darter, the Little Pied Cormorant and the Crimson Rosella) appear in New Zealand. </div>
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Red Wattle Bird</div>
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Pied Currawong</div>
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Darter</div>
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Yellow Crested Cockatoo</div>
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Ibis</div>
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Little Pied Cormorant, Little Shag or Kawaupaka </div>
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Noisy Miner</div>
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Currawong</div>
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Kookuburra</div>
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Magpie Lark (Peewit or Peewee)</div>
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Australian Pale-Yellow Robin</div>
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Crimson Rosella</div>
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Australian King Parrot</div>
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Lyre Bird</div>
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Black Cockatoo</div>
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Australian Rainbow Lorikeet</div>
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Australian Honeyeater</div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-28688366274380425242014-04-01T21:58:00.001+13:002014-04-01T21:58:09.737+13:00Being a Tourist in Sydney: The Last Day<div style="text-align: justify;">
The last full day that I spent in Sydney was a Sunday. We didn't venture very far from Fiona's pad in Coogee in that we just motored and walked from the apartment along Coogee, Clovelley, Bronte, Tamarama and Bondi Beaches and the intervening coastal paths. It was a lovely, leisurely and very warm day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning (as seen from the apartment balcony at breakfast) lifeguard training</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNFFbqM3nDTSSTJu1RQp2QIghtMV3naAdlzlBCfgIey8DW9AHlWo1qWbnaefaeCRSw8tmvqsTR3BCBNSQEonKaZU6Z5h92oLbfkIi5lBAyTRollsq14e5tRphsPDolUMdCIZ72AV3JtsP/s1600/IMG_2081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNFFbqM3nDTSSTJu1RQp2QIghtMV3naAdlzlBCfgIey8DW9AHlWo1qWbnaefaeCRSw8tmvqsTR3BCBNSQEonKaZU6Z5h92oLbfkIi5lBAyTRollsq14e5tRphsPDolUMdCIZ72AV3JtsP/s1600/IMG_2081.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By late morning every child in the area seems to be joining in one of the training programmes for water safety and awareness and first aid and swimming. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvpkdnVTeJ5JTwlnE0oDmdWrSCPaur5-zS-qY4E59873MqEg95d9cB1zcxEXF0T2WDP9eeDBAtf5Z5GEmz0Ry2Z292JNZPhzLOy4lh4ujntfT5Bg2U50Q-zl-2_itjFES5DClhHoidQNg/s1600/IMG_2098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvpkdnVTeJ5JTwlnE0oDmdWrSCPaur5-zS-qY4E59873MqEg95d9cB1zcxEXF0T2WDP9eeDBAtf5Z5GEmz0Ry2Z292JNZPhzLOy4lh4ujntfT5Bg2U50Q-zl-2_itjFES5DClhHoidQNg/s1600/IMG_2098.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was an incredible family feel about the whole thing with parents watching and helping and competitions too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldLRa0hEOmOPeGljkAs6tcUVYIiYPimoKPkwFUJilKirvt6P5QsQDN4NUw520MKBfJyRIoUO_smUcSH4AyoOKOz-O-CuBP2R0lbl2_AaKv9l924k8_CCZQUMrKDf_3-NZF-xyhFaZ-mv3/s1600/IMG_2124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldLRa0hEOmOPeGljkAs6tcUVYIiYPimoKPkwFUJilKirvt6P5QsQDN4NUw520MKBfJyRIoUO_smUcSH4AyoOKOz-O-CuBP2R0lbl2_AaKv9l924k8_CCZQUMrKDf_3-NZF-xyhFaZ-mv3/s1600/IMG_2124.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tamarama Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdJgdJEx-5kMvxQ6K3g8rApljp0lNbloIWqQKhDDfQF-74EWVzeMvofpg3tg7kDj_Fg0MdyJM6YEJW4nA_tVOYP95pwWse2Cnw92VYbUNFKGFB_E3O-OuXPORwcXpakgolJpDZOJcc1hR/s1600/IMG_2130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdJgdJEx-5kMvxQ6K3g8rApljp0lNbloIWqQKhDDfQF-74EWVzeMvofpg3tg7kDj_Fg0MdyJM6YEJW4nA_tVOYP95pwWse2Cnw92VYbUNFKGFB_E3O-OuXPORwcXpakgolJpDZOJcc1hR/s1600/IMG_2130.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tamarama Beach: sitting on the café deck watching volleyball and the world pass by</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEwJS3B9rpcrlkUGOAXawrqzL1gY2pLn_kFYMzWJkERSKR4MUfU5ZWGAaoNhCVpwIoZrO1Aetqh-vSgZEyHEtFfD2nzK2I5WfDXG9LqLFqScDJP3rARAldgepdGYLo14L4LVzkvLVcsSJ/s1600/IMG_2131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEwJS3B9rpcrlkUGOAXawrqzL1gY2pLn_kFYMzWJkERSKR4MUfU5ZWGAaoNhCVpwIoZrO1Aetqh-vSgZEyHEtFfD2nzK2I5WfDXG9LqLFqScDJP3rARAldgepdGYLo14L4LVzkvLVcsSJ/s1600/IMG_2131.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with a couple of pugs which everyone stopped to play with</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIBrq_XqDaYVRI3tOv7LHsU2GJy1KKiJ50Kzn8JzSidmBLAlxtfgDOvjgbUf4g7zbHl5TPlkMxRKJTEtXRAHXB6ibKlVjRZvfQqCIJmWVASG39Qhoaxwob8huGIW6Dga52tapEE8OmZSR/s1600/IMG_2153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIBrq_XqDaYVRI3tOv7LHsU2GJy1KKiJ50Kzn8JzSidmBLAlxtfgDOvjgbUf4g7zbHl5TPlkMxRKJTEtXRAHXB6ibKlVjRZvfQqCIJmWVASG39Qhoaxwob8huGIW6Dga52tapEE8OmZSR/s1600/IMG_2153.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and a last look at Bondi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nPKFiojxdmhLxzwrWCtVarPoGULFdnjCnNAyEXIJGvhtMbh4hSBhNmDRWwTMnobxSrCUGp1ESrFmNE9BsKtyWQgjrPxKiS0KCMGidkxkVMcnlcEbW_p61uSW0VS1Hg8EngjQIDIGwCYn/s1600/IMG_2154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nPKFiojxdmhLxzwrWCtVarPoGULFdnjCnNAyEXIJGvhtMbh4hSBhNmDRWwTMnobxSrCUGp1ESrFmNE9BsKtyWQgjrPxKiS0KCMGidkxkVMcnlcEbW_p61uSW0VS1Hg8EngjQIDIGwCYn/s1600/IMG_2154.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with some rock fishing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcqfwXwhbhfpk3nSQMcv9Bx9o1uqhtVKL00dVcLQ93CKJpAhioefB6BhnLPGXhX_NU2zeU7htZOau3WxXPfDNOlIqwOZ7Rj46fLIvfnvRUwmRuVez6IOyyLTFDomf-NjvyRSoaeee_vU3/s1600/IMG_2157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcqfwXwhbhfpk3nSQMcv9Bx9o1uqhtVKL00dVcLQ93CKJpAhioefB6BhnLPGXhX_NU2zeU7htZOau3WxXPfDNOlIqwOZ7Rj46fLIvfnvRUwmRuVez6IOyyLTFDomf-NjvyRSoaeee_vU3/s1600/IMG_2157.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and a sight I confess I have never seen when people fish from the rocks below my house in Eagleton on Lewis (after all can you imagine pink Crocs on Lewis?)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And that, folks, is probably my last Sydney and Australian post bar one. The last one will have no beaches but will, I hope, be well worth waiting for.</div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-77479827697932869102014-03-31T18:30:00.000+13:002014-04-01T10:04:08.002+13:00Being a Tourist in Sydney: Centennial Park<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Park,_New_South_Wales">Centennial Park</a> is a large public, urban park that occupies 220 hectares in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The Park forms part of the larger <a href="http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/" title="Centennial Parklands">Centennial Parklands</a> which comprises about 360 ha. Two of the most interesting things for me were the lakes and the variety of water fowl and birds and the immense colony of grey-headed flying fox bats. These are endemic to the south-eastern forested areas of Australia. It is the largest bat in Australia with adults having an
average wingspan up to 1 m (3.3 ft) and weighing up to 1 kg (2.2 lb).
The head and body length averages 253 mm (10.0 in).<br />
<br />
One of the things about blogging is the reading that one does when looking up things bout which one is writing. In this case I became fascinated by the bats because in the evening the sky over parts of Sydney is absolutely filled with these huge creatures as they migrate from their roosts to their eating places - they eat fruit and flowers. The bats of Sydney even have their<a href="http://www.sydneybats.org.au/"> own website</a> (perhaps I should say a website devoted to them to be correct).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwtpKwGPYu8zbnx7EAHbIZD6PiLfBXv_V0xzGTvPWVM-b-qoORblkA-gA_DnhJzU97fyDLQNM0lR_oyRgl1ZoiylU48UyoG-v9Vj-QKfHJI5XY2PDASY4zavL08dP_UtZaIE1aowlyTnY/s1600/IMG_2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwtpKwGPYu8zbnx7EAHbIZD6PiLfBXv_V0xzGTvPWVM-b-qoORblkA-gA_DnhJzU97fyDLQNM0lR_oyRgl1ZoiylU48UyoG-v9Vj-QKfHJI5XY2PDASY4zavL08dP_UtZaIE1aowlyTnY/s1600/IMG_2020.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immature Moorhen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQBgHBsoOrkFM4X2igZUdutj8E98Gfh2JaMM_nV0ZAx_VgvyqNXKjO_qfajaN6tMR0CdIv0nwT15wsqvVXgJKCjO89Dc2Gravs3vSRe6nJIYfs4qRI6WEY0Obe21PRn3HeYsBvBJ_LkRV/s1600/IMG_2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQBgHBsoOrkFM4X2igZUdutj8E98Gfh2JaMM_nV0ZAx_VgvyqNXKjO_qfajaN6tMR0CdIv0nwT15wsqvVXgJKCjO89Dc2Gravs3vSRe6nJIYfs4qRI6WEY0Obe21PRn3HeYsBvBJ_LkRV/s1600/IMG_2021.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Hardhead Duck (back) and Wood Duck (front), </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbB_lo8_QwUd6RvSkcLrnf7vYBJy8qyiCHFQVUmmRqfC0uKz9ydt60aqt3_kN_EK3n_TSCxYcHH4vCO6Jkqs3MrTJ1aJBSSi_gZia8d1J7Q5uGjz90h3wUMi0XJQDKdL1hmHtfN2c0sNzI/s1600/IMG_2027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbB_lo8_QwUd6RvSkcLrnf7vYBJy8qyiCHFQVUmmRqfC0uKz9ydt60aqt3_kN_EK3n_TSCxYcHH4vCO6Jkqs3MrTJ1aJBSSi_gZia8d1J7Q5uGjz90h3wUMi0XJQDKdL1hmHtfN2c0sNzI/s1600/IMG_2027.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Wood Duck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg225Z4dc776z8P8MzenOnIKss9zTKL_VKJOPu_qDe9KbFPweiKJg76jxGagjxF-nXa9PVeBtcBqnS5bnPv5datm7bPL2CmjaKTA3TLdinjVo7vRqvWtX1OMEwrLQbhyphenhyphenWaLP1C11PdzP_l8/s1600/IMG_2028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg225Z4dc776z8P8MzenOnIKss9zTKL_VKJOPu_qDe9KbFPweiKJg76jxGagjxF-nXa9PVeBtcBqnS5bnPv5datm7bPL2CmjaKTA3TLdinjVo7vRqvWtX1OMEwrLQbhyphenhyphenWaLP1C11PdzP_l8/s1600/IMG_2028.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Swans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFIf23QP2pAo-Z2CLaIDgSEHcngyRQ3UoBtbZG4SJ-OGpHxqejk2tGlNzpHWDI1hFlgz8e0fShgo8DxrdcXsjJENUMOakegckrlmPF6Bijbbjh1nkBQrERjYJVqoxJHR3MNj7ApTQvi5L/s1600/IMG_2029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFIf23QP2pAo-Z2CLaIDgSEHcngyRQ3UoBtbZG4SJ-OGpHxqejk2tGlNzpHWDI1hFlgz8e0fShgo8DxrdcXsjJENUMOakegckrlmPF6Bijbbjh1nkBQrERjYJVqoxJHR3MNj7ApTQvi5L/s1600/IMG_2029.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moorhen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlyUyHNBTJUV-2f-6JjT9N2sCjQUiHT2Y_ZLku8WBKcjwAxhhyR3VPkWzYDaFXUzEl5aincIKdSbXMGdpCzh5QNcp1idCGC8jENrOxNB_qp0bGUPlM8Yl1HO8m7QnKm61hLNoBhR_4wqX/s1600/IMG_2030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlyUyHNBTJUV-2f-6JjT9N2sCjQUiHT2Y_ZLku8WBKcjwAxhhyR3VPkWzYDaFXUzEl5aincIKdSbXMGdpCzh5QNcp1idCGC8jENrOxNB_qp0bGUPlM8Yl1HO8m7QnKm61hLNoBhR_4wqX/s1600/IMG_2030.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard Head Duck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweS5PUBaB_9dK91a3oaKAd4MPdHxQFDhRC1aN-6ov9xSdPW4Spz42jf6VHI-UCpC2rzd1CJO99U7W-GFOWYKwSinHZ_C4NFJq0zMNH3yjTg7AojwI5DF2xG6mxlSONHAQMkA4ofyTjqK1/s1600/IMG_2036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweS5PUBaB_9dK91a3oaKAd4MPdHxQFDhRC1aN-6ov9xSdPW4Spz42jf6VHI-UCpC2rzd1CJO99U7W-GFOWYKwSinHZ_C4NFJq0zMNH3yjTg7AojwI5DF2xG6mxlSONHAQMkA4ofyTjqK1/s1600/IMG_2036.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Swan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcY6VLdgzoEBhN84QBELwb9NtzS93V0_lv14LElVoaIBQqIPrHr0s1-vDS3iJnQ7lIcyj4jLIDHxHKw4VKpZiSOkF_so_HcXSuOfUhKaxyXXVEBS7BSvh4fTcpRoHPiyHhGRxu4Mdvysp/s1600/IMG_2038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcY6VLdgzoEBhN84QBELwb9NtzS93V0_lv14LElVoaIBQqIPrHr0s1-vDS3iJnQ7lIcyj4jLIDHxHKw4VKpZiSOkF_so_HcXSuOfUhKaxyXXVEBS7BSvh4fTcpRoHPiyHhGRxu4Mdvysp/s1600/IMG_2038.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cormorants</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS3FVZR93vrevQVx_siJuUs-N77GaLLhX8REmPyHYbwaOETo0T8sawVo7h5OifoWf-aOgV1it9KQ8n9903CqVbgafZ7EJT5hdZLUwCf9miKTNFyCNZnS0hZGda1RKFb-3OtL86CJyJYVg/s1600/IMG_2042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS3FVZR93vrevQVx_siJuUs-N77GaLLhX8REmPyHYbwaOETo0T8sawVo7h5OifoWf-aOgV1it9KQ8n9903CqVbgafZ7EJT5hdZLUwCf9miKTNFyCNZnS0hZGda1RKFb-3OtL86CJyJYVg/s1600/IMG_2042.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaiVqFIUGilCFKDmAx-3RGuNuTYAzk2nXQvOgIjKWnO5cgeRtIPIeKvxi-VyRoiTyD-rIP4CRrk7vZkb1st8cckeIFYYYTTCPU4thMgut7NucCVS50XvH0ttq-pOoR9MBVNgwjWCdqHtQ/s1600/IMG_2044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaiVqFIUGilCFKDmAx-3RGuNuTYAzk2nXQvOgIjKWnO5cgeRtIPIeKvxi-VyRoiTyD-rIP4CRrk7vZkb1st8cckeIFYYYTTCPU4thMgut7NucCVS50XvH0ttq-pOoR9MBVNgwjWCdqHtQ/s1600/IMG_2044.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Cormorant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnjqGoxljGwJVvu9nFZrjRTdG3E2s4l2stE5ZoLBGsYmtdDGBLRGw-o9WMvitzjErNf42XmQsLPhVS6afP2AASgSrNEUEv4mZUQLyYHZFHxncgBRz1uE64jYrGrHhJ1wipFs5zdoNiem4/s1600/IMG_2046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnjqGoxljGwJVvu9nFZrjRTdG3E2s4l2stE5ZoLBGsYmtdDGBLRGw-o9WMvitzjErNf42XmQsLPhVS6afP2AASgSrNEUEv4mZUQLyYHZFHxncgBRz1uE64jYrGrHhJ1wipFs5zdoNiem4/s1600/IMG_2046.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darter and Pied Cormorant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqNaJsV8m6RXGy-9dtw2ut7_qnkzPteRtM1RoVpgoaMEA33HTO_AL9piLbcdsArA-nfLdwlmPueeiLjGd3OWT08tNVGhPMgeXGbjK93xCD8DsQWSreT0cK3vJDU4RsdX8YQbuXpuDZLTl/s1600/IMG_2049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqNaJsV8m6RXGy-9dtw2ut7_qnkzPteRtM1RoVpgoaMEA33HTO_AL9piLbcdsArA-nfLdwlmPueeiLjGd3OWT08tNVGhPMgeXGbjK93xCD8DsQWSreT0cK3vJDU4RsdX8YQbuXpuDZLTl/s1600/IMG_2049.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ibis</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwTFRdEpKN1HdzJYWa3zYIzc_IJHUAomifnhWG7Y6-6rcnMHtfz-aCxVHwyHWmlZT5pu9wE0unsDGRQkMLY_SVpTY-AWY52OltOgPvLp9xoN1i_4UqNDkPoR5_ImGxY_FvpToA7Tvkqpu/s1600/IMG_2052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwTFRdEpKN1HdzJYWa3zYIzc_IJHUAomifnhWG7Y6-6rcnMHtfz-aCxVHwyHWmlZT5pu9wE0unsDGRQkMLY_SVpTY-AWY52OltOgPvLp9xoN1i_4UqNDkPoR5_ImGxY_FvpToA7Tvkqpu/s1600/IMG_2052.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Cormorant nesting colony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJW7HbVemW1COCmAwo6g5PLd_4B12Q-hqcPStqwJNhwqtHA8zuqshmezIcovHNaAzcw0D79PB8HiCjG3uH503bvXU3KUCwf7E0_3Cf5te99mdSuIuifeEQwxtYw0nWTEIwu73DB93e9Dhy/s1600/IMG_2057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJW7HbVemW1COCmAwo6g5PLd_4B12Q-hqcPStqwJNhwqtHA8zuqshmezIcovHNaAzcw0D79PB8HiCjG3uH503bvXU3KUCwf7E0_3Cf5te99mdSuIuifeEQwxtYw0nWTEIwu73DB93e9Dhy/s1600/IMG_2057.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Headed Fox Bat (Fruit Bat)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDfluU8fXQCmhHGN0Ma9xqG7sMvKTxITSM6wODM_FH618s-E4AL1aWhbkPxUpZrpNdw9y8tjEho5uJLG7SHe6k997fQnpvVuHZh6vjby3SfdeKWLzFqe85ZiFG1l5rjniDBh2NlpXrPEG/s1600/IMG_2059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDfluU8fXQCmhHGN0Ma9xqG7sMvKTxITSM6wODM_FH618s-E4AL1aWhbkPxUpZrpNdw9y8tjEho5uJLG7SHe6k997fQnpvVuHZh6vjby3SfdeKWLzFqe85ZiFG1l5rjniDBh2NlpXrPEG/s1600/IMG_2059.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Headed Fox Bat </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNttslF-FiwcXH5W98jzstIrffIOUwgJ5UIJp7xH4tka_x1ryq9vMB_03gsyJTh_7OYlcGEdjB8r9ZDBbm5HhRU3IcN_gzDxDk_mNB5HJuz6OL1y90vm8_uHAQn3ESuTcxSRWh2oxpsJhK/s1600/IMG_2072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNttslF-FiwcXH5W98jzstIrffIOUwgJ5UIJp7xH4tka_x1ryq9vMB_03gsyJTh_7OYlcGEdjB8r9ZDBbm5HhRU3IcN_gzDxDk_mNB5HJuz6OL1y90vm8_uHAQn3ESuTcxSRWh2oxpsJhK/s1600/IMG_2072.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Headed Fox Bat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-89792554942448066862014-03-30T17:47:00.000+13:002014-03-30T17:47:11.217+13:00Being a Tourist in Sydney: The Rocks<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the things you just have to make time for on a visit to Sydney is a visit to <a href="http://www.therocks.com/">The Rocks</a> and the Rocks Market which is partly under the Harbour Bridge. Mo and I spent a morning there before Fiona eventually caught up with us and took us off to our afternoon adventure.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaRR5oZZn8HcYf0r02y0OuNiqeDVE0XT13XKRi8tqYyrExTgzN_zFgvdIJLZ6OuwTYCkwOJib5oklY98HRioJriNBR4WN2qguhmxdrvWGfPPk6TKa_RiXFmiUJGaZqBzdwyRLJilv0YaJ/s1600/IMG_1989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaRR5oZZn8HcYf0r02y0OuNiqeDVE0XT13XKRi8tqYyrExTgzN_zFgvdIJLZ6OuwTYCkwOJib5oklY98HRioJriNBR4WN2qguhmxdrvWGfPPk6TKa_RiXFmiUJGaZqBzdwyRLJilv0YaJ/s1600/IMG_1989.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By the time we were ready for coffee it was packed - and there was a huge garden at the back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88AVxAi_l3R7ctZ1H1gf9KKK0tdnsOOuZghwNDMj3x1xJ1q-bbqEiTuudAtYOm0XjSiE5nvTMUxX7c_2rqd8NRavIs0VNkbSB1BaB1zTYEeGWuqfeVZb844ymNs5fut9BAV1ITGQzCk8x/s1600/IMG_1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88AVxAi_l3R7ctZ1H1gf9KKK0tdnsOOuZghwNDMj3x1xJ1q-bbqEiTuudAtYOm0XjSiE5nvTMUxX7c_2rqd8NRavIs0VNkbSB1BaB1zTYEeGWuqfeVZb844ymNs5fut9BAV1ITGQzCk8x/s1600/IMG_1990.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of the old properties have been renovated and turned into shops of all sorts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnU53RhPJtZxpBt3bU1eaVAXg_esLVK5-lT5LSiVljskrWnSZXVUA7VM8H6iiRdkDQd3L_YTx9apIBvRXmoEOxuEEpKYpWCu6b63uYQHJXzr8qnF8BOOrVF4P5Qpcg0Wj1OBJL9wZEqXZ/s1600/IMG_1995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnU53RhPJtZxpBt3bU1eaVAXg_esLVK5-lT5LSiVljskrWnSZXVUA7VM8H6iiRdkDQd3L_YTx9apIBvRXmoEOxuEEpKYpWCu6b63uYQHJXzr8qnF8BOOrVF4P5Qpcg0Wj1OBJL9wZEqXZ/s1600/IMG_1995.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How's that for a body?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivci0ZtLO46JCphTXA7p79aXUzF5WE4SUqJBYWZvQAEhIVL5md6VmfBfMUanAPHDo4YHxn7QnL4A3Txw-StnDO0VrqJQUwNyKt0psNUJWGDNwpPLyCUnKuTnZu-Wfv4PWBM5nOnq2YcyZm/s1600/IMG_1998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivci0ZtLO46JCphTXA7p79aXUzF5WE4SUqJBYWZvQAEhIVL5md6VmfBfMUanAPHDo4YHxn7QnL4A3Txw-StnDO0VrqJQUwNyKt0psNUJWGDNwpPLyCUnKuTnZu-Wfv4PWBM5nOnq2YcyZm/s1600/IMG_1998.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were many stalls selling arts and crafts of every description and a lot of food stalls too</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehx1NL_W7fgCepsbXIcfJCeOZnPcnKpJGsG2JKgsX7A1Mfoz28pDpf2wPwX5_DVRJ-f4qeu9CQYKjTZQQPE-44Nkjk-uO1p3gtny17nwPDHwLuCz9g8QhYn4sfei_JKx2JU_gACjUt2Pz/s1600/IMG_1999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehx1NL_W7fgCepsbXIcfJCeOZnPcnKpJGsG2JKgsX7A1Mfoz28pDpf2wPwX5_DVRJ-f4qeu9CQYKjTZQQPE-44Nkjk-uO1p3gtny17nwPDHwLuCz9g8QhYn4sfei_JKx2JU_gACjUt2Pz/s1600/IMG_1999.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rocks Market is to the left of this picture under the bridge. This part of the port area is The Rocks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUGv8FJcC7V_Z8wr_Znnds71rgb6X0bhODQWewfYrldzt3ZtEPUQFwJuHgGbIepstr34dnp8cjnTKmnkWNFRa764Ti2tqynz7BEpf6aOee-8pOmERdvgvTFcMWzIVrNoh02vgsItUkVSv/s1600/IMG_2000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUGv8FJcC7V_Z8wr_Znnds71rgb6X0bhODQWewfYrldzt3ZtEPUQFwJuHgGbIepstr34dnp8cjnTKmnkWNFRa764Ti2tqynz7BEpf6aOee-8pOmERdvgvTFcMWzIVrNoh02vgsItUkVSv/s1600/IMG_2000.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top of the Harbour Bridge (One to jog Kate's memory)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-jW7m5uOcGLp57SZ1aNLOqlyVg5rIQgXRMeENHT6E3P70rG1fV1JH_F1RQ0exwuA2McW456NM88TINzzHkTRx46-20x5Gu31slUBfv3gGEZsxmN9zujTHvCI138zMor184lS6_X4WhSW/s1600/IMG_2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-jW7m5uOcGLp57SZ1aNLOqlyVg5rIQgXRMeENHT6E3P70rG1fV1JH_F1RQ0exwuA2McW456NM88TINzzHkTRx46-20x5Gu31slUBfv3gGEZsxmN9zujTHvCI138zMor184lS6_X4WhSW/s1600/IMG_2008.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sydney's oldest pub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495553397518653924.post-55563305975891813142014-03-30T07:58:00.002+13:002014-03-30T07:58:28.900+13:00Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.<div style="text-align: justify;">
Where, I wondered to myself (there was no one else here to wonder to), did that quote come from. Then I gradually remembered a bit more and a bit more and then it all came back to me. It's a nursery rhyme: <i>To Market, To Market</i>.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Pauline's and my annual Northland Adventure ended only too quickly yesterday with my flight from Whangarei to Auckland and then from Auckland to Napier. As the plane few over the Auckland CBD (Central Business District = City Centre = Downtown dependent upon one's country of residence) I realised how huge Auckland seems from the air. The area it covers stretches right across the country albeit at a very narrow point. It has a population of only 1.4 m people but covers an area of <span class="_Hl"> </span><span class="_cx kno-fv">1,086 km². Hong Kong by comparison </span>has a population of over 7m but covers almost the same area (1,104 km<sup><small>2 </small></sup>).</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZa4lrvsY6duuvwvLhc-xQ2d3i2_Ea86dS8Z1ZaangSeP1n5L_mpTflertYePCzZEofPB5y5ugFsc45G_HqUizDHK_R9OZB3IedYiJHZ2d1cqLnmkvtLxweFoffo8cqiHvju19uArR5jm8/s1600/IMG_2464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZa4lrvsY6duuvwvLhc-xQ2d3i2_Ea86dS8Z1ZaangSeP1n5L_mpTflertYePCzZEofPB5y5ugFsc45G_HqUizDHK_R9OZB3IedYiJHZ2d1cqLnmkvtLxweFoffo8cqiHvju19uArR5jm8/s1600/IMG_2464.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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The photo covers slightly more than the CBD. It emphasised to me however just how things have changed with the advent of Google Earth. Now one can not only see almost any city in much greater detail from the air but one can zoom in on any address and have a really good look.</div>
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I arrived home early evening and then after dinner with The Family and a few phone calls I downloaded my photos and my ribs and I went to bed (although it turned out that the recliner is still the only comfortable way to sleep). Today (Sunday) is the last day on which the Croquet Club's championship matches can be played so guess what I shall be doing today: not blogging unfortunately unless I get some time this evening.</div>
GBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com14