Christmas party at the grocery store and... other surprises

So, it's Thursday again and knitting group is on the agenda.  I love that I have an agenda in a new country and a new city.  Tuesday: water aerobics, Thursday: knitting.. 
ok, so it's not an extensive agenda, but it exists.

Todd and I just went for a drive around town.  Hedwig felt like a jack rabbit today.  Todd will insist it's mostly my fault because I release the clutch too quickly.  I maintain Hedwig is in a bad mood.  I'll give her a new sticker and maybe she'll feel better tomorrow.  Anyways, we stopped by the grocery store, they were handing out balloons, a skinny teenager with a Kiwi accent was dressed up like Santa, pushing a shopping cart full of candy and asked (so like Harry Potter) "would you like anything from the trolley?"  I think I love this country.  They announced on the loudspeaker that it was their Christmas party, so in addition to Santa and balloons, there was a free BBQ outside: sausages, wrapped in bread (not a bun) with onions and tomato sauce.  Obvs I had one.  I'm such a good vegan.  

And now for a WTF moment:
A few days ago, I got some mail from the NZ Police.  I didn't think anything of it, but apparently, they mail you speeding tickets.  On our road trip from Auckland to Dunedin, we were caught speeding, in Timaru, around lunchtime.  Great, that's when I was driving...or so I thought.  I drove into Timaru, Todd drove out.  We checked the time stamp on the receipt from lunch.  Speeding ticket was after lunch so it was Todd with the heavy foot.  

Here's the kicker:
Speeding ticket for doing 55 kph in a 50 kph zone.
That's the equivalent of doing 34 mph in 31mph zone... Seriously, NZ? Seriously?

Karitane

This weekend we went to Karitane, about 30 minutes north of Dunedin right on the ocean.  It's a cute little town and we stayed at the holiday home of one of Laura and Vanessa's fellow university co-workers (I don't know the exact relation... check out my sister's blog in case she explains the relationship...or just in general cuz she's been here in NZ longer than I have and has more cool stories).  It overlooks a protected inlet and is a 5 minute walk to a gorgeous beach where you can sunbathe and climb rocks.

The Holiday Home

One with Nature

The Inlet, and the view from the house

The main house has a couple bedrooms and a large lounge/dining/kitchen area.  The guest house has another 2 bedrooms, a lounge and small kitchen as well.  Between the 2 houses is a good size lawn with plenty of space for 6 people and a dog to spread out and sunbathe, we tested it.  And then there's the garage that has bikes, kayaks, boats and a plethora of other things to play with while holidaying.

We arrived on Friday evening after a BBQ in a Dunedin park with the girls/guys who work at the University Print Shop.  At the BBQ, Todd and I learned how to throw a rugby ball (I get it, but i need to practice so there's actually some oomph) and we played some cricket!!  Vanessa figured it was a good idea to teach a couple Americans how to play before Christmas when there will be 4 of us attempting the sport.  Todd did a good job bowling and batting and then I got to bowl.  So. Much. Fun.  I could bowl forever.  And I probably should to get some oomph on that ball as well.  Apparently I'm also supposed to aim at the wicket behind the batter.  I feel like throwing the ball in the batter's general area is accomplishment enough, but I'm in the minority.  Anyways, the spectators started fielding and after some exciting overs (that's what it's called every time you bowl (throw) the ball), we left and drove the short way to Karitane.

Todd Batting

That's me in the front after I bowled to Todd

Vanessa, Todd, Laura, Kitty and I drove up together and met Kitty's husband, Dan, and her dog, Chian, at the house.  Since it was only about 7:30ish and the sun was still bright and shining, we went for a walk to the beach.  Vanessa found a big tricycle with a basket in the back.  She gave Chian a ride for a while.  Chian is so cute.

Chian

Kitty and Dan walking, Vanessa biking with Chian

We got waylaid on our beach-ward quest by a playground.  Todd and I teeter-tottered, Laura went for a swing and then we all tried to get across the monkey bars.  Those bars hurt your hands!!  And it was much easier to get across when you were 8.  I then joined Laura on the swings and we got in sync with each other.  Despite the fact that 7 years separate us in age and school, we both learned the same sayings on the school playground "get out of my bathroom window!" 

Eventually we reached the beach.  I stuck my toes in the water and it was so warm!  Well, I'm used to Maine ocean which is rather cold all the time.  This felt lovely.  We all walked along the beach and took pictures.

The clouds were amazing

soy yo

the sun was awesome

And climbed rocks.

vanessa, todd, kitty, moi

 And finally, the sun started to set about 9ish so we headed back home.

Saturday was GORGEOUS.  Everyone got up early (crazies) but I slept in to a normal hour (read:10am).  We were planning to go to a market in the next town over, but it wasn't until Sunday so we all went home and read in the sun.  

the kindle sisters

And then we slept in the sun.  Vanessa burned her eyelids.  I think this is actually rather impressive.  To summarize thoughts on sun bathing beneath the hole in the O-zone layer:
Pros: 
1. super fast tanning;

2. visitors (like me!) haven't grown up here so our chances of developing skin cancer as quickly are smaller (in Elenaland anyway)


Cons:
...uh...


Later Saturday afternoon, Dan, Kitty, Todd and I decided to go kayaking.  I've never been kayaking before so Kitty and I were going to go together in one kayak.  Dan and Todd pushed us off, but two people were a little much for our kayak.  Every wave crashed over the top of the kayak, Kitty tried to bail but the buckets weren't actually for bailing... so finally, with all the water we'd taken on, it seemed that the front of the kayak was underwater and with the next wave, so were we.  It was a graceful exit from the kayak, and we were worried that we were so far out in the inlet, but then we put our feet down and stood up.  Crisis averted.  We walked the kayak back to the boat landing and tried again.  This time I went by myself and Kitty swam behind Dan's kayak.


Once across the small inlet, Todd and Chian went to explore.  Chian found a stick and kept hitting Todd with it.  Kitty and I went swimming and Dan continued to kayak around.  Todd and I swapped kayaks on the way back cuz I'm short and could get my legs into the opening that his legs couldn't quite fit in.  I did not like that kayak.  It was very long and sleek, but it didn't like to go straight.  With the wind and the waves and the weird balance of the kayak, I kept spinning around.  It probably would have been easier to paddle backwards, but strangely I like to see where I'm going and what I'm going to run into, so I fought the kayak and eventually won.  

Kitty and I - post Kayaking

Chian, climbing a tree.  He's impressive

We got fish and chips which we ate outside on the grass, at 8pm at night, cuz the sun was still up.  Being so close to the other pole is kind of amazing, 15+ hours of daylight and counting!  Finally (and probably thankfully) a cloud hid the sun and we all saw how pink we really were, so we went inside, found some aloe, and watched the World of Wearable Arts Show.  WOW is a really funky competition they have in Wellington.  It's a fashion show that's artsy, design/concept based, and something that Cirque du Soleil (or Lady Gaga my sister suggested) could go shopping at.  They even have a whole category for bras.  Crazy, but so cool, check out the first video Tourism New Zealand to get an idea.


Sunday was cooler and slightly cloudy so we weren't tempted to burn our already red selves any further.  We went for a walk around the peninsula, which was beautiful.

Then we hit up the market in the next town, Seacliff.  Markets here are a mixture of flea market/garage sale/craft fair/baked goods sale.  They're a little whack-a-doodle, but at least now I know where to go if I need to sell anything I don't want.  After that it was back to Dunedin.  Laura and Todd had a friend's birthday party to attend and Vanessa and I had dinner at another friend's house.  All in all, a fabulous weekend.

The holidaying crew: laura, me, todd, chian, vanessa and dan (kitty's our camerawoman)

Fingers crossed that this week someone decides to give me one of the jobs I've applied for so I can mail Christmas gifts.  So, if you want a present from me, send me your positive energy so I get employed!

I DIDN'T KILL ANYONE!!

Just a quick note to celebrate the utter excitement I'm feeling:

I drove alone in Hedwig and I didn't hit anything or kill anyone!!!   
(picture me doing my happy dance)

Todd and I drove around downtown Dunedin in a large circle, several times, before I felt comfortable enough to let him jump out and get a haircut.  I then continued on in the loop to drop something off at Laura's office and after going around the loop twice, I picked Todd up again and all was well with the world.  

There was a fair amount of jack-rabbiting, a couple tire squeals (but it was wet!), and a few odd looks... but Teo Ma Ruru pulled through and together (with Todd's help and a few gasps) we made it in and out of a treacherous car park, avoided several silly drivers and pedestrians and made it back up the large hill, including a wee hill stop that I unconsciously didn't notice so I didn't freak out about it and no hand brake was required.

Altogether a Red Letter Day and I felt like sharing my fabulous news.  

Regularly scheduled blogposts with pictures and actual stories/adventures will resume tomorrow.  :)

Fraser's Gully & Tunnel Beach!

Sunday morning, Todd got up and made Nicaraguan tortillas!  No, he is not Nicaraguan.  Yes, Laura and I both are.  Yes, Todd is better at making them than both of us.  Point?

After a lazy morning eating tortillas and sunbathing on the deck, Todd, Vanessa and I met Vanessa's friend Susan and Susan's dog, Lucky, and we all went for a walk at Fraser's Gully.  It was a lovely, only slighting uphill, walk next to a very loud and pretty stream, but covered from the sun with lots of trees and ferns!!  I had a lot of fun taking pictures of all the Korus. 

"The koru, which is often used in Māori art as a symbol of creation, is based on the shape of an unfurling fern frond. Its circular shape conveys the idea of perpetual movement, and its inward coil suggests a return to the point of origin. The koru therefore symbolises the way in which life both changes and stays the same."  Where I got this info on Korus

I took several pictures.  The big brown ones are rather scary and furry looking.  Vanessa says you can eat certain kinds...but we weren't sure which ones, so we avoided death and just took pictures, not tastes.

Some scale, courtesy of Todd

The much less ugly/scary Korus

Vanessa pointed out the Fuchsia tree whose bark can, and was, used to write letters on and whose flowers are tiny and lovely.

We reached the top of the gully, stopped for a rest and made Lucky fetch her stick while we rested, and then moseyed on home.  My favorite picture from the gully:

Back at home, there was more sun bathing and my first taste of Vegemite on toast.  Don't hate it, don't love it.  But I'll learn to eat it if it keeps mosquitoes away!!

The main event of the day was our trek to Tunnel Beach.  The 4 of us were joined by Michael, Rose and Francis (more friends of Vanessa) and we drove out to walk down the large hill to this gorgeous beach with awesome rock formations.  The story goes, if I remember correctly, that there was a princess who lived in the castle at the top of the hill (now ruins) and she liked to swim a lot.  So they built her a tunnel down to her own private beach so she could swim as she pleased.  I think that's the whole story?  Ask Francis :)

Just pictures from here on down - soooo beautiful! 

The view from the top

My sister, the sneaky photo ninja

The tunnel down to the beach

Comatose seal - good thing they sleep a lot cuz apparently they're fast and mean.  And smelly.

The view back up to where we were

 

Rockin' Band Photo, eh?

We decided to go to the neighboring beach

Laura went through the kelp and a wave knocked her into a rock

So on the way back, she had a buddy :)

Our shoes stayed safe and dry on our beach hopping adventure

The trek back to the top

Going Kiwi - did I mention that Kiwis walk EVERYWHERE barefoot if they want?  Mom, sorry, but I may never leave!

And to finish our fun and sun filled day, we ordered fish and chips.  They wrap the fish pieces in brown butcher paper with the fries, so when you get home you have to dig for the fish, free-for-all style.  So good.