Sam in Wellington

After us going up to Auckland last weekend, Sam has been home for a few days. We have had a good time doing family things, mainly eating and drinking. Last night we won the pub quiz we go to about once a month. Today being a fine warm day we decided to visit the Karori Sanctuary (now rebranded as Zealandia). Sam hasn’t been there for about ten years so noticed a few changes. Here are a few photos from the visit.

Noreen and Sam watching kaka feeding.
One of the kaka.

Sam and Mutti in the middle of the upper dam.

Sam doing monkey impression on the newly-opened swing bridge.

He really is silly! This is the upper dam from the lookout platform

and me above the forest canopy.

There were two or three tuatara sunning themselves near their burrows

and a great gaggle of shags (I think kawaupaka) on a log in the lower lake.

Weekend in Auckland

This past weekend we have been in Auckland, visiting the boy. He lives in a very nice house in Birkenhead Point with several people and a friendly mog (here being pampered by Noreen).
The house has views over bush,

Auckland Harbour

and the Chelsea Sugar Factory.

Here's the mog (called Animal) again.

Sam demonstrated his hand standing technique

and we had a family photo on the deck.

Birkenhead is on the North Shore and nearby is a good view of the city with the Harbour Bridge and Sky Tower.

After lunch we headed to Maungakiekie, formerly known as One Tree Hill. It was an old pa site subsequently appropriated by the colonialists as the resting place and memorial of Logan Campbell. A Maori activist was not impressed and chopped the tree down a few years ago. Like many hills in Auckland, Maungakiekie is a (hopefully) dormant volcano. This is the crater

and view back towards the airport. As you can see it was a murky old day.

Early Spring

This year spring seems to have come a bit early. I know it could all change tomorrow but we had an early onset of winter so we can but hope. Anyway, things have been growing in the garden and some flowers are blooming.

This is a camellia which is past its best but looks nice on a sunny morning.

Yesterday we went for a quick walk up the back of Normandale and saw these weird looking animals. We thought they might be aliens trying to disguise themselves as sheep and failing.

At Dave and Jane's house the kitchen is taking shape. David has constructed the kitchen bench out of solid walnut - about 4 metres of tree truck, split in two giving a 100mm thick surface.