Meeting new granddaughter Nina

Sunday 30 June - a successful flight to Picton (after my first try failed due to the big storm in Wellington).  Such a thrill to see our dear new granddaughter who seems so content and is sleeping and feeding very well.

Good views of Wellington this afternoon

Wind farm and Kaikoura ranges with a lot of snow in the distance

We flew into Queen Charlotte Sound from the open sea entrance - great views!

First stop - Aria was at a birthday party at her Playcentre

Back home to meet Nina

At Makahika Outdoor Pursuits Centre with PNBHS

Between June 18-27 I spent six days working at Makahika Outdoor Pursuits Centre (in the hills behind Levin).  Two days were instructing at the base and the other four days we were out tramping.  The boys camped out in the frost in the second week, but I drove back home to enjoy more comfort each evening!

The boys on the highest point in our tramping - Square Knob 836m

Snow was not too far away

Tramping in the frost

Frosty campsite.  The boys are working out their navigation before they set off for the morning.  The boys had to navigate themselves for the last three days.  The teacher and I just followed behind.  Fortunately this was an outstanding group who did very well.

Wellington - after the storm

A ferocious storm of wind and rain hit Wellington about 5pm on Thursday 20 June.  It meant that my flight to see new granddaughter Nina in Picton was cancelled.  The next morning Cecily and I took Jack for a walk around Kilbirnie to look at the local damage.  It was still very windy as you can see from the wind needle.

Debris washed up near Maranui cafe - Lyall Bay

Some broken trees in Te Whiti St

Broken light fitting and broken fence (behind Cecily) - Rongotai Road

Still very windy!

Pigeons gathered in the lee of a building

Street sign for dogs?

Before the school bell

21 June 2013 - A visit to Isla and Brielle's classrooms before school on a Friday morning

Isla standing in front of one of her paintings

Brielle has recently changed classrooms and is now in J7.  The computers are a big attraction before school starts.

Thursday tramp to Waitahinga dam

13 June - Our Thursday tramping group walked in to Waitahinga dam which is past Bushy Park near Whanganui.  It was a five hour round trip including stops along the way.  Nineteen in the group, it was great to have Ann and Randal Morgan join us for the day.  Basil (Bazza) Hooper from the Whanganui tramping club met us too - he was the driving force behind developing this track and he was a wonderful guide for the day.  We had some fun setting up a replica of a photo taken over 100 years earlier.  Our dress code was not so elegant though.

The gathering in this photo is on the site of the Okehu/Waitahinga dam built in 1904 for water supply to Wanganui. The dam was increased in height in 1926.

And over a hundred years later

The track signs were very well done

Ann, Owen, Royce and Randal all in one photo

Lyall Bay School playground

The school playground is a favourite place after school.  These photos were taken on Friday 7 June.

Little comes to the playground too

Brielle with her good friend Toby.  Note the missing front tooth!

Isla working on the bars at the senior playground 

... and the right way up

A day in the snow

30 May - Thursday tramp to Rangiwahia hut

Some of the group at the hut - altogether there were seventeen in the group today. 

Enjoying a "natural ice cream" - someone found a cone wrapper in the snow!

New toilets with bird murals!