Motoring

Motoring in New Zealand is, generally speaking, a real joy. There are a few motorways round Auckland and Wellington and there can be real congestion getting in and out of the latter. But everything is relative. I have no idea of the statistics but I suspect more people drive on the M25 each day than get into cars in the whole of this Country.

There are two sorts of motorists in New Zealand: drivers and hoons. The hoons are the amateur Clarksons of this Country causing a nuisance, doing donuts in the road and generally being a pain. On the other hand the majority of the drivers around Napier at least are far more considerate than drivers in the UK. Speed limits are, on the whole, adhered to much more than they are in the UK. That's not to suggest that there isn't speeding it's just that it's much less obvious. Drive into Napier on one of the main roads and anyone who exceeds 50 (kph) is very much out of step. Mind you the Police make a fortune out of motorists who don't stop at Stop signs.

Rather oddly I've noticed that when I'm here I don't try and translate anything into miles or gallons. When I drive in France I translate all the time. How many mph is 50kph? How many mpg is 10kpl? Here there are, generally, three speed limits 50, 70 and 100. The latter is the fastest speed one is permitted to travel on any road in the Country.

We drive on the left and many of the rules of the road are the same as in the UK. However there are some very significant differences and the one which catches visitors from the UK all the time is the one which states that when a vehicle is turning left at an intersection it must give way to all vehicles coming towards it and turning right.

TV and Being Comfortable

One of the comfortable things about New Zealand is the TV adverts (which appear on all channels). Some are very much like they are in the UK and some are definitely not. But what is so comfortable is that many of the adverts which were on when I left here last March are still running.

It's not just the adverts either. TV3 Weather's 6pm principal presenter, Toni, is still there. None of your staid UK presentation. Glamorous (not that UK TV lacks glamour in its presenters) and very competent (ok so no difference there then either) but above all completely part of the nation to which she belongs. For example if you get a really brilliant day coming up in a period of less pleasant weather she may describe it as "just the day for you to throw a sickie". Other descriptions of the weather include 'informalities' which just wouldn't be seen on UK TV. Shame really.

Apart from the adverts TV seems to be 'reality' shows, soaps, lots of US/UK crime programmes but very few films. Although SKY has a UK TV channel with lots of old (and possibly not so old) UK programmes. In other words TV is even less varied and interesting than it is in the UK.

So far apart from Boston Legal (a programme I happen very much to enjoy) I've been reduced to watching old Judge Deed and House episodes on UK TV (most of which I saw last time I was here but on a NZ channel). As you will have guessed, therefore, I watch very little TV. I do watch the News and occasional DVD though. Ah well.

A Job Done

The Marewa Croquet Club has six of the best lawns in New Zealand looked after completely by its own Members under the watchful eyes of Frank Wharton and Noel Charteris. Until now I, like most of the Members I suspect, have taken for granted the quality of the lawns and the fact that they are always there and in tournament condition even for our Club games. Having joined the group of volunteers charged with the responsibility for mowing them (the band of Moas) I suddenly have a new perspective on that which I have so far been accepting as the norm.

Today was my first mow. Now I am not of a nervous disposition but as I started up the mower which certainly qualifies as a big boy's toy capable of wreaking terrible havoc in the wrong hands, a sudden fear came over me. What if.....?

As you sit at the wheel and look down the massive expanse of lawn the enormity of the task strikes.

Having managed after the first run to forget to lift the blades before I stopped the mower (which can have serious consequences for the lawn) I began to wonder if this was really more than I was cut (sorry) out for. But after about five lengths of the area I started to feel more confident.

By the end of the afternoon I was beginning to enjoy it.

Postscript: This morning when I looked at the results it became obvious where I had missed a few wee strips where I'd not quite overlapped. Oh dear.

Millennium Arch - Ecliptic

Almost all my cycle rides include at least part of the cycle/footpath built by the Rotary Club of Napier along Marine Parade. There are so many beautiful manmade things which I see every day in addition to the fantastic works of nature that I thought I would start sharing them with you.

At midnight on 31st December 1999 a crowd estimated to be 30,000 and the biggest crowd ever to assemble on the Marine Parade watched $25,000 (about £10,000) of fireworks herald in the New Millennium.

The Millennium Arch (Ecliptic - by David Trubridge) situated on Marine Parade situated just to the North of the Dolphin Pool was erected to commemorate the first sunrise of the New Millennium. To find the point where the sun rose that morning follow a line from the rock in front of it through the centre of the arch to the horizon.

The cliffs in the far distance are at Cape Kidnappers.

Moving House

The phrase 'moving house' in New Zealand can mean something rather different to the phrase when used in the UK.

A friend recently sold her house and at 0300 hours one morning the owners took it away. Many houses are built to withstand earthquakes and that often means a wooden frame and no bricks. So the building is often a selfcontained unit resting on (and bolted to) the ground. Buildings like this can usually just be jacked up off the ground and a lorry can be backed in underneath. The jacks are lowered and the lorry drives off with the building. 0300 is a popular time to move house because there is less traffic around then.

Croquet Tournament

For the last two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) I've been playing in the Marewa Open Golf Croquet Tournament. Yesterday my partner (Jayne) and I came equal second on wins but third on points.

Today was the singles. There were two divisions. I won my division. I cannot pretend that it's not a really good feeling.

Now to go home and have a libation and a rest. I have to be fresh for guess what in the morning.

Monday

Sometimes there just aren't witty or interesting headings one can use. Today is one of those days.

CJ pointed out in his comment of "What's in a Name" that my Laptop too has a name. I called it Palin because it spends it's time roaming and telling people about far away places. Henry (my PC in Lewis) on the other hand is, as the name implies, a reliable stay at home type.

On the assumption that the cable isn't laid and the phone connected today (might fly pigs - rearrange into a well known phrase or saying) I shall probably not be blogging for a few days because I have a two-day Croquet tournament tomorrow and Wednesday. The start is 0830 and apart from being tired by the end of play everywhere will probably be closed.

So normal service will be resumed shortly.

The Landscaping Begins

When I think of the years and years it took me and a barrow and rake to move tens (how many tens I have no idea) of earth to landscape the garden at Tigh na Mara it makes one wonder why one did it that way and only used a small digger to move stuff towards the end of the project. A few days ago a Big Boys Toy came and moved many tens of tons of clay and topsoil and landscaped the area round the Cottage. It took a day.

Yesterday and today Wendy and Martin have been raking, sewing seeds, planting plants, putting in irrigation, putting back the paddock fence and working so hard to finish the area off. The change compared with the area as it was four days ago is almost unbelievable.

Hopefully by the end of the summer it will be unrecognisable.

What's in a Name?

The Cottage has a name. It was named before I arrived here but the plate has just been varnished and I put it up last evening.

So why HeeBeeGeeBeE's? Well apart from the very obvious GBE and the terrible pun the H B is for Hawkes Bay hence Hawkes Bay GBE's.

So the car has been named The Handbag, the Cottage has been named HeeBeeGeeBeE's. What next?

Saturday: A Very Good Day

I played my first Singles Croquet Tournament (The Dorothea Sweetapple Tournament) match of the season at the Club this morning. I won the match 7:2, 7:4. It felt better because my opponent played well. Getting into the second round is a pleasing feeling.

I played a further four games (one double and three singles) and won them all.

For someone who has never had a competitive spirit so far as games was concerned (even in my fencing days) I have discovered a real desire to win at Croquet. My problem is that I don't like other people losing! How contradictory is that?

By this time it was 1300 hrs and I popped into Town to send my emails. There is something very comforing about walking in and everyone being so pleasant and just asking if you want 'your usual?'

Back to Croquet where there was an Open Day for people interested in learning or playing. Two families turned up and Jayne and I took them for a few games. It will be interesting to see if any of them come back.

I then had some tuition in Association Croquet. By which time it was welll after 1600 and I had been in the open since 0845. Despite being slathered with sun cream and the hazy sun my legs and forearms burned. Reminder to me: put more cream on at lunchtime! I'm fairly sure that it's the first time I've ever been burned out here. Hopefully it will be the last.

I arrived home to find everyone working industriously in the garden planting etc.

All in all a very Good Day.