Haughty not Naughty

Bennie the Labrador x Mastiff or Mastiff x Labrador (Dad was a Lab) or, as Brynn advises me, he is a real “Mommy’s Boy”

Here is his annual report card for 2014. He is a tad over 18 and should be approaching adulthood now, one might expect. That’s in dog years – a huge puppy at 2 years and 6 months on our calendar.

Physically, he is a fine specimen; almost a fully-grown adult, with strong muscular limbs, sharp eyes and ears and a deep bark. Development Grading : “A”

He responds to his special whistle call without delay or hesitation. Obedience Grading: “A”

If over-exited in play with the children, he is inclined to piddle accidental little spots. Bladder Control Grading: “C”

His integration and abilities to interact with humans, strangers and children of all ages . Socialisation Grading: “A”

He is quite comfortable when dealing with cats. Well, with one cat, at least. One small problem is that he insists of smelling the cat’s you-know-what as it walks past. Animal integration Grading: “B” (unfortunately, he loses one grade for disgustingness)

Overall opinion of others: Perhaps a bit haughty, but certainly not naughty. Except if you count the odd occasion when he chews up an abandoned sandal.

Perhaps Haughty, but….

Certainly not naughty!

Two Seasons One Day

Monday December 29th. Look up at the clock on the wall – 6:00pm. I have just made it indoors semi-drenched, after parking the lawn mower in the shed and clearing some tools. The thunder is typically Witwatersrand, Johannesburg on the African highland, not the Tararua Mountains of North Island, NZ. I speak under correction, but I would guess that this is only the third time in a year that I’ve heard thunder.

I’ve been preparing the lawn for the New Year’s event, which we hope will become a family institution here. As a start for the dozen and a half guests, we are offering backyard cricket and a petanque court. Both sports are fairly popular in New Zealand. Tyler has done the hard work of carting the cuttings down to the composting patch under the pines.

(Above) The Cricket wicket still needs another cut, but the strip has been defined with some depressions earmarked for possible filling with soil.

(Above): Petanque is played near Waikanae on a fine grit court. We don’t quite have that sort of finances available, but have a close-cut firm grass surface.

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Turn back the clock a bit. Two hours. Four Ten pm. I guess the temperature felt like 25 degrees, and I was cooling off my warm Kapiti Island knees after a spell of mowing in the veggie patch. Yes, there’s grass to be mowed, no veggies to tend as yet. Except the pea, bean and tomato seedlings. I’m cooling off on the outdoor lounger, newly bought last November for this very sort of occasion. The dogs are strolling around me, with a few friendly licks. I reflect on the tranquillity of the scene and the variety of birdsong, most of which I cannot positively identify as yet.

(Above): Sophie, with her black heat-absorbent coat, doesn’t seem uncomfortable in the direct heat. We have a large flash of roses on the garden border immediately behind the deck.

(Above): Lying on my back on the lounger, I can see six distinct trees etched against the inviting blue sky.

(Above): Looking down the “runway” towards the new petanque court, even more different trees line the lawn bathed in bright sunshine.

(Above): Looking directly upwards, I am covered by the “possum tree” in full bloom. The wind chime plays a pleasant tune which is difficult to hum…

If it wasn’t for the ageing process, the decline in strengths and abilities, retirement could be a fantastic phase of life, one might imagine?

Kapiti Island

Surely the best Christmas 2014 present which Jeanette and I received was from Bianca and Clayton – tickets for a daylong round-trip to Kapiti Island nature reserve. We were booked as a complete seven-member family group for Saturday 27th, including Brynn, Tyler and his friend Emily.

Most of us were up and scrubbed, dressed appropriately and checking our rucksacks, tog bags, hats, sunscreen and water bottles by seven-fifteen. Clayton and Bianca had spent time the previous evening preparing and packing ham and mustard and chicken rolls, fresh strawberries and apples.

With the dogs fed and watered, a final check of the cargo load revealed we were officially ready for blast-off to the beach town of Paraparaumu, about 10K away, where we would board the tour boat to take us across the waters on what I imagine is about a quarter of an hour trip.

The boating club precinct is also the headquarters of the tour companies, so that they can use (excuse the unintended pun) the pooled parking and launching facilities.

(Above): Gran and Brynn about to check out the fishing rules, which clearly state that it is illegal to sell or “exchange” your catch with others – phone 0800-POACHERS to report any suspect activities. I understand that people do.

(Above): A number of tour groups were assembling outside when we arrived. The boats depart at about 15 minute intervals, our boat to carry 30 passengers. The vessel with the twin outboards (on the tow dolly) would be carrying us over the sea “to Skye.”

(Above): Brynn and Dad pose in front of our tractor. With a powerful motor and huge welded double back wheels, it has been modified to a chain-driven Daddy Longlegs version to enter the water pulling the boats without the engine being completely drowned. On the other side, one can see the steps the driver uses to reach his seat.

(Above): As we were being towed out into the calm water, another (smaller) tour boat had just been released from its (smaller) tow dolly and tractor. At that point the boat engines can reverse the vessel into deeper water and the tractor can return to the flat sandy beach. In the background, part of the mountains on Kapiti Island (running parallel to the Paraparaumu coastline) can be seen. Part of the mountain which we would be ascending shortly…

(Above): No room to swing a cat. Very good, because a cat is the last thing they would want on Kapiti Island – mainly a protected bird sanctuary held in trust by an extended Maori family group. Four rows of passengers make up the 30 passenger list with 3 crew.  Clayton and Tyler on the left and Emily on the right.

(Above): After “docking” on the pebble beach, with the Paraparaumu mountains in the distant background, we disembark. We are further accompanied by the two guides (fellow at the bottom of the gang-plank and the young lady) while the “captain” returns for his next load of tourists. A few of the passengers may have been slightly apprehensive about the safety and size of the boat at the start of the trip, but I’m sure they had been completely reassured by now. The water was superbly calm by boating standards.

(Above): Approaching the “visitor centre” after a five-minute walk from the beach. The tour and nature experience has purposely been designed as non-commercial. There is a gathering point / information room (as pictured here) a three flush-toilet/ wash basin ablution facility about five minutes from here, and a “long-drop” toilet at the far end of the hiking trails on the other side of the island. Other than that, there are three or four trails, a couple of resting points with wooden benches and the pebble beach. Oh, on the left is a tap with fresh water, and somewhere else is a helicopter pad in case someone has a really serious medical emergency.

(Above): Before we leave on our guided tours or go off on our individual hiking ways, we are given an informative talk about which birds might be encountered, what they look like and where we are likely to see them. By now, all the predators have been eradicated from the island, and, in keeping with NZ biohazard policy, our feet and luggage was checked before we boarded the boats. If memory serves, I think she said that a total of 220,000 possums were eradicated and something like 50,000 rats. They use vinegar to kill grass on footpaths. Huh?

(Above): The tracks are the Trig track (for more experienced and serious hikers and climbers), the cross-mountain Wilkinson Track (which we decided on) and a circular Rangatira Loop (lower reach) coastal track in red. Hikers have the choice of returning to the coast after the Hihi feeding point, or continuing to the upper point. As I know that the old fogeys are not expected to over-exert themselves, I decided not to be silly and end up all stiff and crampy because of exertion, I decided to go down again, accompanied Gran and Brynn back to the coast and we continued with the Rangatira Loop, while Clayton Bianca and the two Big Kidz when on. In the inset below, the Hihi feeding point is marked with a red “O”

(Above): Brynn poses with the so-called “old Japanese tourist” (with the funny old-fashioned long socks and funny old-fashioned knee-bones) on a bench outside the historic house near the Rangatira Loop.

Without further comment, here are a few shots of some of the many, many steep and winding footpaths along the Wilkinson Track. Birds can be observed all over, if you’re prepared to stop and wait and look for them in the foliage, quite dense in some parts…

(Above): A shot of the famous Tui. I couldn’t really get any decent photos of birds, so I rather concentrated on the views of nature.

(Above): A view across the waters towards Paraparaumu Beach from high up through the vegetation.

(Above): Girls still in high spirits. But wait, the going gets tougher, I’m sure….

(Above): A pair of Tree-is Huggeris, a rare shot of real forest tree-huggers in their natural habitat.

(Above): Part of the beach seen from the Rangatira Loop. The Paraparaumu beach looks a lot closer from here.. A lone black-backed gull sits sunning itself.

(Above): Brynn discovers a jelly-fish on the pebble beach.

(Above): Inside the visitor centre, pictures of some of the inhabitants of Kapiti Island mostly with Maori names only: the Ruru, the Kohekohe, the Korimako, the Tui, the Kawakawa and the Toutouwai. In column 2: the Kereru, the Karaka, The Hihi, the Tieke and the Weka. In column 3: the Kanuka, the Kakariki, the Miromiro, the Whauwhaupaku, the Tauhou and the Takahe. Finally, the Popokatea, the Piwakawaka, the Mahoe and the famous nocturnal Kiwi.

(Above): The Wekas are quite tame, a bit like the Cape Francolin.

(Above): About three in the afternoon, we lounge on the pebble beach with feet up, Brynn having a cool-off.

A great day in the outdoors in a pretty unique nature reserve/ bird sanctuary. With thanks to Bianca and Clayton for a great experience. The old bones and muscles are a bit stiff now, two days later, but nothing unpleasant, proving my point that old fogeys should never try to be over-adventurous …

Sunday Show

Sunday 14 December saw us attending the Kapiti Equestrian Family show, where Brynn takes riding lessons each week. As an end-of-year function, they organise a special exhibition event in which their pupils get a chance to show off to their parents and friends what they’ve learned during the last year, as well as to prepare and give them a taste of possible future gymkhanas, show jumping, dressage and other horsey things in front of “the crowds”.

(Above): Equally important to the act of riding are the procedures for preparing the horses and then cleaning and polishing them up afterwards and parking them in their respective paddocks. Here, Brynn is busy applying the special water-based glitter hoof varnish.

(Above): The first discipline involved a specified routine for various speeds and directions of travel in the indoor arena. Here Brynn brings here ride to a complete stop as required at one of the specified points.

(Above): Brynn cantering down the back straight for a dozen jumps in the outdoor arena.

(Above):  Brynn sums up the directions and distance of the next jumps as she guides her steed into a turn.

(Above): Congratulations by Dad, and asking advice about strategy for the next event, the cross-country.

(Above) : Sharing a joke with Granny in a holding paddock before the final part of the show.

(Above): Horsewoman in a pensive position atop her trusty steed Flash.

Dig this!

We may soon be able to start digging in the new veggie garden. That threat that the garden fence would not be completed before Christmas came to fruition and we sit here a few days after the festival day with an incomplete perimeter.

(Above): The “A” Team apply the first coat to a set of six palings in the jig before fitting them to the railings with 65mm nail-gun nails. The jig took some time to develop and then quite a bit more time to refine and perfect. The jig guarantees that the 120mm palings are spaced with 50mm gaps and that each paling is fitted at a height of 250mm above the top of the upper rail.

The planting of all the posts is complete – though we knew that near the start of December. The bolting-on of the railings is complete for all sections, with the exception of the two 1.6 metre lengths on either side of the main entrance pergola. The nail-fixing of all the palings has been completed, with the exception of the two 1.6 metre sections. The two 1 metre service gates have been pieced together and fit snugly in their positions – we’re almost becoming experts in this wood-working venture! The gate catches still need to be fitted.

(Above): Clayton at work, nailing the last batch of palings to the bottom rail.

(Above): Closer quality inspection to double-check the “horizontality” and top-edge line of the paling is one of the most important checks before finally loosening the palings from the jig. Appearance from a distance and close-up checks with spirit-level and spacers on a taught line are done each time.

Lastly, we have excavated and cast the four concrete foundation footings with the galvanised post fittings for the entrance pergola. We will leave the concrete to set and cure for perhaps another week to ten days, before preparing the four 2.4 metre posts and the superstructure which will form the pergola. There will also be some railing work for creeper roses on each side.

Next, as soon as these tasks have been completed, probably just after New Year, we can review the fence construction and the tilling of the soil and construction of raised veggie beds.

My thanks to those readers expressing comments. Emails to chartwell.nz@gmail.com

Ideas Drought

I was sitting here watching “Fry’s Planet Word” on BBC Knowledge channel, when I suddenly realised that I need to start writing again before it’s too late – we’re on 28 December already, and I have a mere 8 blog-posts for the whole month. I can only blame it on Christmas!

I remember popping into the public library – oops, I’m becoming a regular New Zealander with all this “popping” – where a particular book caught my eye : Web Word Wizardry, it is called by a person named Rachel McAlpine, subtitled “A Guide to Writing for the Web and Intranet”. I’ve read quite a few sections in the book, but it seem in appropriate for my purposes, and doesn’t help me with “magic” titles for blog-posts… unfortunately.

What can I say in my defence? M’lud, not very much, I’m afraid. I find that most people like to have a photo or two posted with each blog-post by way of explanation, so a good place to start will be my photo albums for December.

Hmm.. It appears that the problem may originate on this front. There are none in my Picasa folders… Oh, yes. There are a couple on the camera, which need down-loading.

Sat 6 December … garden fencing work in progress

Sun 14 December … Brynn’s horse-riding exhibition day at W.E.

Wed 24 December … prep for Christmas day

Thu 25 December …. presents and dinner

Sat 27 December … Kapiti Island trip

Raffle Winner

It is Sunday 21 December. Looking at the rain gauge, I see that we’ve had almost 40mm of rain overnight (again), so our weather controller quite obviously didn’t get the memo about the 2014 seasons. The summer solstice (sun standing still) is upon us with the longest day and shortest night of the year. It is also the 4th day before Christmas and 361 days since we arrived in Wellington. Where on earth have the days gone?

The Waikanae croquet club may seem like an old fogey’s organisation, but there are quite a number of younger members, especially some of the top “championship” players. Naturally, the younger folk are at work during the week, so, when the club Xmas party was held on 12 December, it may well have appeared to be an old fogey’s “do”.

The party followed the usual format, kicking off with informal opening chats (and jokes) from the club captain and other officials.

And guess what? After the fare, they held a open draw for the prizes for the Xmas raffle. First prize was the large Xmas cake, which was won by Colin. The prize for the Xmas hamper with cheese, chocolates, crackers, biscuits and wine was won by… me!

I speak under correction, but this could be one of the very first prizes I’ve won… ever. That’s probably due to the fact that I never bother to enter any competitions. In fact, I didn’t buy a ticket in this raffle, either. Jeanette actually bought two, and allocated one of the numbers to my mine. So, I suppose that, more correctly, she was the winner of the hamper.

Oh yes, aptly the venue for the meal was the RSA Club in Waikanae.(Returned Services Association).

There is also an upside to old fogeys (some of them are only a couple of years older than me, and some in their eighties are a lot fitter and active than me): they have such a rich wealth of experience in all aspects of life and the world, and many of them eagerly will share their memories and experiences with you.

Cheers

Despite the country road through Reikorangi (Ngatiawa Road) being winding and narrow and a lot wider than the English hedge-lined country lanes with an upper speed limit of 100 (I rarely exceed 80 on the rare straight), I find the driving experience in New Zealand extremely orderly and relatively safe.

I have previously rambled on about the lack of visible policemen on the streets, I understand that a police car is regularly parked on State Highway One just as you leave Waikanae town to catch anyone exceeding the 50 limit (the limit changes to 80 about 200 metres farther on). I have been accustomed to the town limit of 50 and Highway 80 or the occasional 100 in the rural areas. One is so much more aware of your speed when enforcement is done without any real argument.

I am not a heavy drinker. Come to think of it, most people would not consider me a light drinker, either. Perhaps a beer or two once in a while on a hot day. Which is quite useful, considering that the strict drink-driving limit specifications have been slashed by 50% for the silly season. The change was naturally the subject of huge public debate, with some extreme factions calling for a total zero tolerance policy. Whilst the average New Zealander cannot be considered anything near a teetotaller, it appears that most drivers are extremely observant when it comes to taking a chance after having a drink or two.

From Monday 1 December 2014, the alcohol limit for drivers aged 20 years and over will be lowered. This change means that drivers aged 20 years and over must not drive if:

- the amount of alcohol in their breath is more than 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.
- the amount of alcohol in their blood is more than 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood

For drivers under the age of 20 years, the limit remains at zero.

This caused my mind to drift back to memory mode of the mid 1960’s in my single days whilst living at the Paarde Vlei Club in Somerset West. Not may of us owned cars in those days (at a monthly gross income of less than One Hundred Rand and cars costing in the region of Thousands), we unashamedly made use of the more senior residents (mid twenties) as non-paying pals.

Weekends were reserved exclusively sports (playing hockey, snooker and billiards) and socialising (mostly drinking, where a bit of the old pay-packet was left over.) As the hockey games were played on Saturday afternoons, there was always the morning until about 2:00 pm to kill. There’s not a lot of thinking required to imagine how those morning were spent. The watering hole was at the Grand Hotel (Coral lounge) in central Cape Town. During those years drinking and driving did not receive much attention (perhaps we didn’t pay much attention to radio or newspapers then), but I shudder to think of the sort of conditions we were creating by the habits we had. Thankfully, the world has changed for the better…

Bisque

I have frequently been in a situation where I have been unable to participate in a discussion or argument because of  being unfamiliar with a particular term and being, I guess, too embarrassed to admit that I’m unsure of what is being spoken about. I frequently have had the impression that other people have also been in such a position.

Naturally, if I do not understand what sort of “pragmatic” solutions are being sought, I can put pride in my pocket and simply ask the speaker what he means by the term. And then ask why he hadn’t used the word “practical” or “sensible” instead…

With the advent of the Internet and development of institutions such as efficient search engines and resources like Wikipedia, there is really no excuse for us to remain in the dark about anything anymore. There are those among us, of course, will tell you that everything you read on the Internet is a pack of lies in any case…

Bisque. A French word related to the concept of “two” (I think). A biscuit is a cookie which had been baked twice. A bisque is a crab or shellfish soup  in which the fish is effectively “cooked” twice. But, a bisque is also an extra turn in golf croquet.

We have entered our names for a club plate competition to take place early in February for club novices, of which there appears to be a fair number. I have never played a round in the singles one-ball format, only singles two-ball. I can see that the tactics can be quite a bit different, so I guess I should get some pointers from players of experience…

We are automatically allocated an “11” handicap where there is no previous performance history. The bisques which we may have, should we encounter lower handicaps in later rounds, is probably less than anything to write home about, but one extra turn at a critical moment, could mean the difference between winning and moving up to the next round or losing and going home.

Our club fields in Waikanae have been selected as one of the three venues for the 2014 Golf Croquet Nationals to be held at the end of the month. My opportunities of getting some pointers about best tactics and hints for good play is therefore rather reduced.

The Moon Or Bust

Some weeks ago Brynn went to the Wellington planetarium as part of a school day-trip outing. The kids enjoyed the hands-on approach where they are able to experiment with stuff, like Brynn in the photo below.

Physics and engineering, nay the whole field of science and technology has progressed so much since I was a wee lad. In the mid-fifties there was talk about a few of the world powers sending men to the moon and other places…

I recall my late father saying something like, “A man on the moon? Ha! That’s a load of tommyrot, pie in the sky. Not in our lifetime.” Or words to that effect.

Presumably he was speaking for himself, as he was no longer alive a few years later when the Russians had Laika in a low earth orbit before 1960!

(Above): Laika, a stray picked up off the street and trained for his Sputnik low earth orbit. A statue memorial to Laika was eventually erected 50 years later in 2008 at the facility in Moscow where Laika was trained.

It was difficult for the generation before me to visualise a craft going into outer space. Today in 2014, we are aware that soon ordinary people (with some money at their disposal)  will soon be able to go into the blue yonder.

Perhaps someone like Brynn will be seeing this view of the moon before long… Who knows?