| LAST WEEK | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | NEXT WEEK |

Monday, January 7, 2002

Kay and Teddy, all packed up, went off in the car for Kay to have a hair cut and do some last-minute shopping. I managed to get some work done on the motel web site before lunch. We had a reasonably early lunch, then K & T drove off for Auckland; they return their rental car and transfer to the airport for their flight back to the UK, leaving at 10 pm. We'll be seeing them in May next when we go over.

After lunch, Rebeccah (who is baby-sitting across the road on Monday and Tuesday mornings) came over with her gear -- she has been away at a friend's place having a 2-day sleepover. I suggested we get out for a quick photo shoot; we had been unable to get in touch with Gemma, so we loaded two cameras and drove off to the Government Gardens. We spent a couple of hours wandering around, taking building shots, flowers, architectural detail -- that sort of thing. I'm just getting her used to the feel of the camera, and helping with suggested subjects and composition.

We dropped the films in for processing, and drove back home, I got a little bit more work done, then Joan, Rebeccah and I went back into town to collect the photos. Joan also stocked up on a little more food from the supermarket. We're eating up all the scraps, as we'll be away on Wednesday morning.

The photos worked out well; Rebeccah had some good ones, some so-so ones, and some crappy ones. I told her that pros usually were pleased to get one useable frame out of a roll. By the time she gets to my Summer School, she'll be fine. Sorry I haven't time to scan some prints and post them, but I'm peddling hard tonight and tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 8, 2002

I was on the job at 9 am this morning, working hard on the website for Don. I stopped at 10.45 am to drive Joan over to the hairdressing salon for a haircut. Then into town to leave her for shopping -- she came back by bus. Back home, I continued on the website, pausing for lunch, and finished my contribution at 2 pm. All Don needs to do now, is to fiddle with what I've done, add more pix, and generally titivate it up.

I had an interlude at this point to help a neighbour in distress: her computer (running Win98) had been chomping away on MS Defrag for six hours. It hadn't finished, just kept resetting and starting again. I reassured her that it was just another MS bug; did a quick web search for a solution that didn't involve manual Registry hacks, and came up with a useful freeware program called PowerDefrag. This is not an actual defragger, but uses the Registry Run feature to run Defrag before Windows starts stuffing things up. It's a no-brainer to install, and all you need is a couple of reboots to carry out Scandisk and Defrag. Recommmended for helping out bunnies in trouble, i.e. people who don't know any better than to use the supplied Win98 system tools <g>. Personally, I use SystemSuite4 from Ontrack for all this sort of thing.

Helped Joan with the packing of clothes, sorted out toilet gear, and remembered to find the ferry tickets... It now being 4.30 pm, I backed the car out of the garage and fired up the water blaster for its twice-yearly wash and clean. I just managed to finish before getting the tea summons. I've been busy tonight transferring website files and Family Tree Maker files over to Ace the Acer laptop, ready to take away. Updates should be happening nightly, via my GSM phone.

Wednesday, January 9, 2002

Up bright and early to breakfast, pack the car, then spend the next hour or so dealing with the things that had been forgotten. Anyway, we were off on our way south by 9.45 am, into light drizzle which got steadily worse as we went. After an hour, the drizzle had turned to steady rain. The traffic was heavy (both ways) so we were well reduced in speed. Our usual stop for coffee and a hamburger at Turangi (after two hours drive) was welcome. More drizzle and heavy traffic across the Volcanic Plateau and down through Taihape to Bulls, where I pulled over into a rest area. We exhumed the picnic set, and had a welcome cup of hot tea before setting off again.

By four o'clock, we were driving through Porirua and out to Titahi Bay, where our friend Debbie (who is a doll artisan) has a converted boathouse. She uses it as a studio, well away from interruptions and distractions. I was thinking back to the days when I was a small boy, probably about 9 years old, about 1943. My Dad had been given some extra petrol ration because of his job as a Bank Manager at Upper Hutt, and he occasionally had enough surplus to permit a Sunday at the beach for the family. We had an English car, a Vauxhall 14 big enough to hold Mother and Dad and three children (although my siblings were in their late teens).

Down the Hutt Valley; over the Haywards Hill on rutted dirt road with the ferns overhanging the road; across the little wooden bridge at the end of the Pauatahanui Inlet; round the deserted bays (now filled with housing); through a tiny Porirua and round to Titahi Bay. In those days, there was a sparse sprinkle of holiday houses (known in this area of NZ as 'baches'), a shop selling groceries and ice creams, and little else.

The beach is mostly sheltered, a small bite out of the Wellington coast, but adjoining one of the nastiest stretches of water in the world -- Cook Strait. Strong currents from both sides of the islands meet and clash here twice a day, and often funnel a swell straight into Titahi Bay -- ideal for surfers. During the war, there would be few people on the beach; but it was a favourite destination for Wellingtonians wanting a day out, and having the transport to get there (no trains and few buses). Incidentally, we'll be on the ferry tomorrow morning crossing that very same stretch of water...

We arrived at Sue's apartment at 6 pm and unpacked the car. Jeremy was already home, and we chatted until Sue arrived at 6.30 pm. We've had a nice pork casserole that Joan brought down, and won't be too long out of bed, as it will be a 6 am start -- the ferry leaves at 8 am. The terminal is only about 15 minutes from here, so we should have time enough.

Thursday, January 10, 2002

The 6 am start was a bit of a shock to the system :-[

We left Sue's apartment by 6.45 am and were on the ferry (this is a catamaran car ferry called The Lynx). The trip across Cook Straight only took 2 hours 15 mins (the ordinary ferry takes 4 hours) and was uneventful; there was only a light swell and the boat didn't pitch very much going through the notorious tidal rip.

We stopped in Blenheim for an early lunch,and to buy a book of town maps of the South Island. My previous one was years old and out of date. The weather was fine and dry at this point, but as we drove further south, the drizzle set in and gradually got worse. This stayed with us on and off until we reached Christchurch. The driving was most unpleasant, as there were large trucks on the road throwing up sheets of spray all the time.

We found our hotel in Christchurch without trouble, and had just taken the first load of luggage to our room when Bill and Pauline arrived. We joined them for dinner at 6.30 pm, having a drink first in the garden bar. There was an elderly man playing the piano; the notice in the foyer said "Doug Cauldwell" -- who I recognised immediately as one of the best jazz pianists that NZ has produced. I used to hear the Doug Cauldwell Trio broadcasting from 2YA in the 50s and 60s. Nice to make his acquaintance.

We had a pleasant meal, and went off to our rooms. I settled down to get the laptop fired up, but had great difficulty connecting through the GSM phone. It took about half an hour to re-do all the settings and get a connection. I hope I can reconnect to upload these Kronikles.

Friday, January 11, 2002

We decided to go into the city by bus, rather than take the car in and try and find parking in a strange city. We were actually deposited right outside where we wanted to go. The wedding couple, Mark & Helen, had deposited a wedding gift list at Arthur Barnett; this is one of the classic department stores which still remain -- although in something of a reduced mode. There were no clothes departments, and not as much floor area as I remember. However, we looked at the 'wish list', and selected a nice set of mixing bowls and a Russell Hobbs stainless steel electric mixer/beater as going together appropriately.

We then wandered around the streets looking for a menswear shop that had been recommended to me as being a stockist of large sizes. Somehow, we went the wrong way up the long street; but noticing it was lunch time, we ducked into a cafe for something to eat. I had an excellent soup, and Joan a small quiche. We eventually found the shop, but they didn't have whatr I wanted: a light black jacket for taking overseas, to replace the old friend I've been wearing for 10 years or so.

We caught the bus back to the hotel by 2 pm with our purchases, and I had a short rest before going to Pauline and Bill's room -- where nephew Bruce and his wife Pauline (all these rellies make things confusing) were talking to the others. We decided to take Bill and Pauline on a drive south to where the wedding will be held tomorrow -- it's out in the country, and not easy to find. We then drove most of the way to Sumner, where another of Bruce's son's is renting a house with wife Fiona and baby Charlotte. We met Fiona's parents; her father is a retired TV director and video editor who is setting up a video editing department at the local university. We had a brisk and animated conversation as we found all sorts of common ground -- I suspect we'll be continuing this conversation at the wedding <grin>.

Back at the hotel again, we met up with Bill and Pauline's daughter Carole and husband Bernie who are staying here until Sunday, and we all had a relaxed dinner together. And then to bed.

Saturday, January 12, 2002

We had a light breakfast in our room, then drove down the road to the Merivale Mall. There is a large photo shop there, which kept me occupied while Joan wandered around the shops. I found an elastic-edge reflector which folds up into a pouch, much cheaper than Lastolite, with white on one side and a gold wavy design on the other which is enough to warm up reflected light on a dull day.

Back at the hotel we had a little lunch and then got ready to go over to the wedding. We took Bill and Pauline too, as their children all seemed to have full cars -- and the Honda had a lot more room anyway. The run over to Lincoln was straightforward, because of our prudent pathfinding yesterday. The weather was bad: drizzle turning to quite heavy showers, and the temperature was chilly, about 15 degC. We arrived in good time, and the guests assembled around the old house which was the venue. A string quartet played music while we waited.

The groomsmen looked worried; the weather had sort of cleared, but was threatening -- so they couldn't decide whether to go inside, or have the ceremony outside as planned. It hadn't rained for 20 minutes or so, and they went for the outside, transferring a small table which would later be used for the signing of the register and certificates. We grouped ourselves in a semi-circle, the bride suddenly appeared on her father's arm, and the ceremony carried on to its conclusion without any rain -- and even a brief time of sun at the moment when rings were exchanged. Then it was all over, and the rain started again.

We went back into the large lounge room, sipped champagne and chatted while the wedding party had their formal photos taken. For the record (with assistance from Joan): the bride wore a cream silk dress with a scoop neck, shoestring straps, and buttons down the back; the bridesmaids wore pistachio green dull silk (?); one strapless, and one with a halter neck. They all carried gerberas as small bouquets, in deep orange.

The guests were then shepherded over to a large marquee and sat down at tables to await the bridal party. The usual toasts, while we nibbled on a plate of antipasto. Then they served a beautiful dinner of sword-roasted beef, roast apricot chicken, assorted vegetables and boiled potatoes. A dessert of citrus cheesecake with strawberries and blueberries. Then the DJ wound up the music, and the bride and groom started the dancing. As usual, the music got louder and louder, so we took Bill and Pauline back to the hotel by 10 pm. I guess the party will rave on until midnight.

Sunday, January 13, 2002

WE arose and breakfasted leisurely, and read for a while before setting out in the car to go over to the same side of Christchurch we were at on Friday. There was a barbeque arranged at a house in Redcliffs, a seaside suburb; but the rain was falling steadily so it was all inside. The people there were the closer family members from both sides; we had an opportunity to chat and look at the wedding gifts.

The lads set the barbeque up on the front house porch under a short verandah roof; and produced the essential meats in due course. After lunch, we drove to Stephen and Fiona's place (my great-nephew) where I helped Fiona with genealogy files, transferring my Family Tree Maker stuff over to her computer. I also gave her a quick tutorial on processing scanned photos.

We were back at the hotel by 5 pm, and went back out to Valentine's, a chain buffet restaurant for dinner. We figured the food had to be at least as good as the rather indifferent hotel restaurant,and half the price; and we could choose what we wanted. Back at the hotel by 8 pm, and I tackled the job of booking motels in Nelson and Picton for the reaminder of the week. We're going to drive to Nelson through the top centre of the South Island, over the Lewis Pass -- so we'll probably be in cloud if this drizzle persists.