Of messages in the sand... and milestones and such

Two nights ago I went to visit my old flatmate on the hill and her lovely cats, but had to abbreviate my visit due to a crazy onset of hay fever. Runny nose, puffy, watery eyes, itchy... All in under 2 hours. In fact, the episode continued long enough that I ended up taking half of yesterday off work. Strange, man. I wonder what in that house hit me that way- and also how I managed to live there for 8 months. I hope it wasn't the cats- but I've visited other cats in other houses, without the strange reaction. Anyway, there is no question that my breathing is much better in my nice, double glazed, new apartment. I am thankful for that!

It's now been 2 years since I first departed Nelson to live over the hill in Blenheim. I don't miss it and am so thankful to be back here.

Because of my yucky feeling yesterday poast my old flat visit, I didn't go for my usual run this am as I wasn't sure how well I was yet feeling. Instead I went tonight. As I approached the lovely Tahuna beach I looked down and saw a message written in the sand. "Fight the cancer dad. I love you. xxx." That message really touched me. I love Tahuna- and really can't begin to say how much. It is what motivated me to even begin running when I was in Nelson the first time around- with a visit there being my reward for the effort of the run. In those visits I've seen a variety of messages in the sand including "Will you marry me?". But for some reason, this one touched my heart tonight. We all stand in sand, in a way. Our days are finite and we don't know how many we will have. When the tide comes up that message in the sand will wash away, but their love will never wash away.

Doesn't time fly

It's funny - I read other friends blogs and I'm so amazed about how they come up with so many exciting topics to talk about. Good on them. I must be boring- or suffering from a horrible writers block. :)

I've now been in the new apartment about 5 or 6 weeks- meaning I've now gone on MWF morning runs before work since then. I think it might be getting slightly easier, but only slightly. I don't seem to be settling in like I did when I first started jogging before I did the Buller Half Marathon 2 years ago. I hope its still coming- because it gets harder and harder to get up early every morning with the days getting slightly shorter. I'll get a bit of a reprieve when the time changes.

On tonights evening news - Prime Minister John Key and National currently have massive approval ratings- in fact the highest for any party since MMP was instituted. Of course, they only just got elected. Mr Key breaking his arm and auctioning his cast for charity has probably been the biggest political news story in the couple of months. If memory serves it sold for either $8500 or $18500.

The new TV shows are just starting up over here (eg Greys, Lost, etc). Why do they put the new shows on over summer when people are out and about and the old reruns over winter when ever one stays inside trying to stay warm, I wonder??

I've started reading Oliver Twist. I've given Dickens a few goes before and have not really enjoyed the reads- but this is surprisingly good.

Now that I've been in the new apartment for a while, I've also started getting my first bills. The connection of my telephone and internet lines cost something to the tune of $150. The monthly fee is in the neighbourhood of $80. I've also received my first Contact Energy power bill. I was registered on the normal user plan which charges me something in excess of $1 per day just to be connected- plus a rate per kwh. I've rung back to go on the low user plan and pay only 33 cents per day, plus a higher rate per kwh. My first bill was about $95. I did the calcs and would have been substantially lower on the other pricing plan which I've now switched to. (Coming from the land of the Crown Corporation power co- the whole competition in the market place- and the various pricing plan idea are all a little new to me!)

Golden Bay and other bits...

Finally... I've been in NZ 2 1/2 years and finally came the time to explore Golden Bay- which is just down the road from Nelson. It was a long weekend last weekend. We headed out towards Takaka Friday morning. It didn't take long to stop for a very unique looking hitchiker. He was an older gentleman, carrying a "Takaka" sign which he carefully painted with enamel- since it apparently asts longer. He didn't have a bag but was carrying his various bits and pieces loose. He had sort of wisply hair and was wearing a tie. And boy, did he have stories. He'd travelled, lived and seen a lot. What a character. I can't explain him- it was one of those you'd have to be there to understand moments. Interesting! He could very well have been in a movie- staring as himself. We dropped him near Takaka and wandered the Takaka shops. I managed to find myself a very cute stuffed Pukeko (I love those birds!) Then onwards to Collingwood where we pitched up at the Collingwood motor camp in the shade.

Collingwood was interesting. Reading up on it later, apparently it has a population of about 260. There wasn't much there... But there was a handy convenience/grocery shop which was perfect for those afternoon ice creams. The weather was hot. It was great to finally try out my tent for the first time after purchasing it on trade me about a year and a half ago. It took slightly longer to set up than my tent in Canada. Hopefully it will go quicker next time! The holiday park had a few permanent residents living in camper trailers- they would have been so hot!

We took a drive to Patons Rock and watched the MOST amazing kite surfer I've ever seen. He was simply amazing. He was quick, he could manoever in the crazy wind. Up into the air he went, down he landed. He was GREAT!!

Saturday we headed out for a drive along a gravel road towards the west coast. After a few photos we headed back and up towards Wharakiri (sp?). What an amazing spot!! I couldn't get over all the massive sand dunes. Amazing. Then we walked up to the lighthouse overlooking Farewell spit. Also - very cool... We arrived back at the campsite to discover we had neighbours with the same tent as me- and the same camp chairs and table. :)

Sunday morning we packed up our tent and started making our way back Nelson way. Stops included a lookout near Pohara, and the caves on the Takaka Hill. The caves were really, really neat. The air inside was a cool 11 degrees, whereas it was something like 27 outside. Once back at the surface walking back to the starting point there was evidence of a number of sinkholes in the area- watch you step!

It was a great weekend to explore a bit of the Nelson region- and great weather too.

Farewell Spit

Where there is smoke...

There is fire. This explains the gray plume we spotted outside the window at work this afternoon. The Nelson Mail reports it is largely under control- but they have used water bombers, and there apparently have been evacuations. Read about it here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4836871a11.html

Bits and pieces

An example of poetic justice:

Last Tuesday I ended up tied up in a meeting on the night I was cooking dinner for a friend. When I got out I quickly raced back to my office, grabbed my stuff, and locked the building. Only the next day did I discover I locked Margaret inside without her key. Friday night I was working late doing month end sales loads. When I went to leave, I discovered I had been locked in by the cleaners. Funny that I locked someone in and got locked in myself, all in the same week.

Yesterday I did something I'd never done before: A tramp carrying my backpack. Ok, sure, it was a super, super, short tramp- but it was still an experience. :) I think it taught me to pack lighter before attempting anything longer... Heather the pro had all the important stuff- cookstove, tent, even a proper sleeping mat (unlike the pilates mat I was using), and she still packed lighter than I did. I met her at Anikawa (the start of the Queen Charolotte Track) and we walked to the first stop- Davies Bay. Here you can camp for $6. Hopefully I put our fees in the right spot. It sort of looked like an ash tray, but hopefully... At Davies Bay the amenities include a water tap and a port a loo. We were the only campers, so it was a quiet camping spot- although there were lots of ducks to keep us company. There were also sandflies!! We cooked up a tasty meal of pasta with veggies and chop chop chicken (yum, canned chicken. It's been a fairly recent, but great discovery). It was a beautiful evening Saturday night- the sky was clear with lots of stars (which I could, of course, barely see without my glasses). There was also the subtle sound of lapping of waves as the tide came up as we drifted off to sleep. Lovely. :) Heather energetically went for a 25km run Sunday morning while I relaxed and read my library book. It was a good wee trip and I'd be keen to try something slightly longer once I'd packed better. Thanks to Heather for being brave enough to take me the rookie "tramping." :) This photo is Davies Bay.