The Giblings in New Zealand 2012 - 2013

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		The Air Museum is excellent.  We were also very fortunate to have an orchestra to play for us (practice for a concert) and a personal tour behind the scenes.  Here we are with Don, our very knowledgeable guide, and a Spitfire.
The South Island Donkey & Mule Society Show at Kaiapoi, Christchurch.  Click here for their web site Below; Seals near Kaikora
Back in the north, the upper part of the fabulous Huka Falls and Rotorua Museum (once an exclusive, but odd, medical centre)
My old school chum , Prima (Jane)  travelled with us from Christchurch (South Island) to Warkworth (North Island). Pictures from the Karangahaki Gorge and the Parry Kauri Park (below).   The old gold machinery dates from about 1850 The kauri tree is about 800 years old.
Te Haupa Island in Otarawoo Bay from Mahurangi West, which is a delightful Auckland Regional Park. Below; Pictures from Ambury Park, a working (educational) Farm Park with a good camping ground.  Lots of pukekos too.	This pic of John and Jane is taken from the one to the right and hopefully gives an idea of the size of this tree. Some of these amazing trees are 2000 years old and almost twice this size.
Lots of school groups visit to see sheep shearing, milking cows, chickens, goats, pigs and piglets (most of these new babes were in their sty, we could see 7)  We love the pukeko info.
The sign on the left is often seen at roadworks.  Most rural, and some urban properties, do not have mains water supply here. Following a very dry summer many tanks have run dry.  There's even a waiting list for water delivery by tanker. On the right, James and Jeremy enjoying their lunch break.  Jeremy couldn't think of anything caustic to say about New Zealand.  Quite right too.  See below
Laconic Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has left New Zealand with much more to savour than tyre marks on Ninety Mile Beach. "I'm in New Zealand right now and it really is absolutely stunning; bite-the-back-of-your-hand-to-stop-yourself-from-crying-out lovely." In today's column (17 March 2013) for the UK Sunday Times, Clarkson writes: "If you were God and you were all-powerful, you wouldn't select Bethlehem as a suitable birthplace for your only child because it's a horrible place. And you certainly wouldn't let him grow up anywhere in the Holy Land. What you'd actually do is choose New Zealand. New Zealand causes anyone to question the wisdom of God. Because if he really were all-knowing, children at Christmas time today would be singing 'Oh little town of Wellington' and people would not cease from mental fight until Jerusalem had been built in Auckland's green and pleasant land." I would have to add that space is getting a bit tight in Auckland and that the Chinese are grabbing every bit as fast as they can. House prices have gone up like fire crackers. You might be needing a campervan Jezza ??
Dan (in the black cap) with his athletics group.  Coach Steve should have a medal for his enthusiasm and the energy that is impossible to convey here.  What an amazing bloke.  See both the links below. North Harbour Bays Athletics Club Bays Cougars
A fabulous yukka type plant in flower at Debbie and Matt's house	This year's travel, about 6600 kilometres.  Ranging from Whangarei in the north to Christchurch in the south. We had the best summer ever.  Most of New Zealand is brown at the moment, very little is green and pretty.  We are also very brown and not very pretty either. When it does rain, I so hope it will do so gently or there will be the most dreadful flooding.  The ground is so parched it won't be able to absorb moisture quickly. Good Luck New Zealand	Fish and chips at Kaiaua - again. This time we got 5 pieces of hoki (we'd asked for 2) and lots of chips.  The bill was $10.20 (fish $5 and the chips, $5.20).  That's about £5.50 for all of it.  Nice little boat just off Rangitoto Island.  Erm, the tender looked to be at least 20ft long and looked like a dinghy alongside.  Nice one!