The Harper Valley

The view up the Harper valley. We stayed further up the valley where the Avoca river joins the Harper. Access is by four wheel drive only or a long walk. 

Lake Georgina

Tracy was good enough to let me go away for the weekend while she looks after James.

I spent the weekend with friends at the Avoca valley. It's one of our favourite spots and is just a couple of hours from chch. For a change we went in summer so I got to enjoy the very scenic drive. 

James and Elmo

Elmo was a present from his Aunt Sarah. I am going away for the weekend so I got up early and spent a couple of hours with James.

Party

Sian and Richard had a wedding blessing. James behaved himself all through the service and the party afterwards. 

Yummy

Just like dad, James is good at putting his foot in his mouth. 

Kiwis Vs Lions

New Zealand Vs Great Britain, what a dilemma! After 4 years and with a Kiwi for a son, I finally had to cheer for my adopted country over the motherland. Good thing too as the final score was NZ18 - 14 GB.

Rugby Union is the national religion here, especially in Canterbury so we don't get many rugby league games here. Despite this, the atmosphere was great - better than watching the Crusaders! 

Bungy Jumping

 

Mr Bear Returns

For those who don't know, Mr Bear lives at Joy and Garry's florist shop (Joyflora). A few days ago he was stolen in broad daylight in a crime that has rocked the nation, well a few of us anyway. The good news is that the police took a few hours off from dealing out traffic tickets and found the missing fella!

What's up Partner?

Taken at Dan and Islay's house warming. All the women cooed over James and Garry and I enjoyed a couple of cold speights or three. 

BOO!

 

Be vewwy, vewwy quiet...I'm hunting wabbits!

It's Elmer Fudd!

Dougal bought James a Duck hunters Hat. It's a bit big for him at the moment. I am worried because he says as soon as it fits him he's getting a shotgun to go with it!

Otira Viaduct

A few ks north of Arthurs Pass is the Otira gorge. The road through here used to be quite scary and often got wiped out by land slides. It used to cross the large scree slope on the right and then descend to the valley floor by a series of zig-zags. I first travelled along it by bus and it was like the final scene from the Italian job.

Now there is a nice new viaduct with a gradient (downhill as you look at this picture) of 1:7. The drive is one of the most spectacular in New Zealand. 

A Big Yawn

We drove to Arthur's Pass for lunch. This quiet little village is high up in the southern alps. James slept the whole way. 

James's Room

James has been sleeping in his Mum and Dad's room for two months. This weekend we put him in his own room. He was a bit unsettled for the firts night but now he seems at home. 

James Sleeping in his Pram

 

Me and my Son

 

Cherry Blossom

The cherry tree in our garden looks great in spring.

Ready For Bed.

James loves a bath before bedtime so my mum gave him a well needed scrub before we got him dressed for bed. 

Watch the Skies!

At 3pm a meteor streaked across Canterbury at 60 kms/s creating a sonic boom that rattled the roof of our factory for several seconds. Unfortunately I was inside at the time so I missed the fireball but seismic sensors all over the country detected the boom. The bang was heard over most of the south island. A search is on to find any fragments that reached the ground.

At the dux

After a stroll, we had to pop into the Duxdelux for a cold one, and to change a smelly old nappy. 

Spring!

The daffs are out so it's official. 

A Walk in the Park

What a fantastic day. Spring is in the air, so we went for a stroll through the botanic gardens. My mum watched the fish in the river and fed the ducks. My son slept like a... baby! 

In the Pub Again

A pie and a pint at the Hororata Inn. A famous kiwi pub. 

A Drive in the Country

It was a beautifull winters day, so we took the little guy for a drive to Hororata. The mountains looked great in their winter coat. 

First Trip to the Pub

Took the wee fella for a trip to the Brewers Arms. 

Weigh in

This is Liz, Tracy's wonderful mid-wife. She came round to give the wee man a WOF and weigh him. He looked so cute wrapped up in a towel with his feet dangling out as if a stork had just delivered him.