Category Archives: Day hikes NZ

Sheep rule

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Here's a classic New Zealand scene if there ever was one. In a country built on grazing sheep it's not uncommon to encounter a farmer pushing his herd down the public road with the help of a truck and a couple stringy sheep dogs.

Here’s a classic New Zealand scene if there ever was one. In a country built on grazing sheep it’s not uncommon to encounter a farmer pushing his herd down the public road with the help of a truck and a couple stringy sheep dogs.  Cars give way.  I don’t know why, but sheep have a funny way of spiraling when pushed–counterclockwise, in this case, but I haven’t watched enough herds to know whether that’s always the case.

Mussel Man

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We've picked mussels at Okane bay on the Banks Peninsula before, but it had been nearly a year. The weather was predicted to be unseasonably fine and low tide was conveniently at noon, so we braved the car-sickening twisting roads to the remote bay and made a day of it. The green lipped mussels (romantic, eh?) are at the far end of an old wharf road that is now falling into the ocean. This is my kind of fishing--no luck or chance involved--the mussels are just waiting there on the rocks to be picked when the tide is low enough and the sea is calm enough.

We’ve picked mussels at Okane bay on the Banks Peninsula before, but it had been nearly a year. The weather was predicted to be unseasonably fine and low tide was conveniently at noon, so we braved the car-sickening twisting roads to the remote bay and made a day of it. The green lipped mussels (romantic, eh?) are at the far end of an old wharf road that is now falling into the ocean. This is my kind of hunting–no luck or chance involved–the mussels are just waiting there on the rocks to be picked when the tide is low enough and the sea is calm enough.

I say picking mussels is my kind of hunting, but this day I actually just sat on the warm sunny rocks with Milo and watched Jeremiah get wet. Someone has to care for the kiddo.....

I say picking mussels is my kind of hunting, but this day I actually just sat on the warm sunny rocks with Milo and watched Jeremiah get wet. Someone has to care for the kiddo…..

I introduced Milo to the love of sea snails. These things fascinate me. I love the little rock pools they inhabit with the sun-warmed water. I love picking them up to watch their door snap closed. I love laying them upside down and watching their foot and feelers ooze slowly out to grip the rock and spin their shell back above their body. Milo didn't have a lot of patience to wait for their re-emergence, but he did enjoy finding them and throwing them back into the deeper water, or relocating them to different pools.

I introduced Milo to the love of sea snails. These things fascinate me. I love the little rock pools they inhabit with the sun-warmed water. I love picking them up to watch their door snap closed. I love laying them upside down and watching their foot and feelers ooze slowly out to grip the rock and spin their shell back above their body. Milo didn’t have a lot of patience to wait for their re-emergence, but he did enjoy finding them and throwing them back into the deeper water, or relocating them to different pools.  He asked about eating them, but I told him they were too small….maybe not strictly true, but I like snails and don’t feel the need to eat them.

These rocks were actually sharp and unforgiving, full of barnacles. Milo was an amazingly good sport about me keeping a constant hand on him.

These rocks were actually sharp and unforgiving, full of barnacles. Milo was an amazingly good sport about me keeping a constant hand on him.

Back at the beach Milo was in little boy heaven. Sea worms make little sunken holes in the sand and though he never managed to catch one (neither did Mommy), he didn't tire of trying.

Back at the beach Milo was in little boy heaven. Sea worms make little sunken holes in the sand and though he never managed to catch one (neither did Mommy), he didn’t tire of trying.

His footprints always stop at the shells, which he picked up and tossed into our bucket. He's still pigeon toed, and I'm duck-footed. "Match; birds" as Milo would say.

His footprints always stop at the shells, which he picked up and tossed into our bucket. He’s still pigeon toed, and I’m duck-footed. “Match; birds” as Milo would say.

Splashing in tidal pools was the other major hit of the day. "Leave no puddle un-splashed" was Milo's motto. I remember the joy of kicking in shallow pools during family vacations at Cape Cod, and I'm glad Milo can experience something similar, even if he's missing the warmth and the crab bites and the cousins.

Splashing in tidal pools was the other major hit of the day. “Leave no puddle un-splashed” was Milo’s motto. I remember the joy of kicking in shallow pools during family vacations at Cape Cod, and I’m glad Milo can experience something similar, even if he’s missing the warmth and the crab bites and the cousins.

Milo was worried that my feet, disappearing down into the sand, were getting stuck. He grabbed a leg and started tugging upwards. Helpful little bugger!

Milo was worried that my feet, disappearing down into the sand, were getting stuck. He grabbed a leg and started tugging upwards. Helpful little bugger!

He didn't want to let his own feet ooze down too far beneath the surface, but he enjoyed hiding just his toes.

He didn’t want to let his own feet ooze down too far beneath the surface, but he enjoyed hiding just his toes.

Jeremiah was reticent to pick Milo up the conventional way because he was so soggy, and his pants got so wet that they wouldn't stay up....but we eventually made it back to the dry clothes awaiting us at the car.

Jeremiah was reticent to pick Milo up the conventional way because he was so soggy, and his pants got so wet that they wouldn’t stay up….but we eventually made it back to the dry clothes awaiting us at the car.

Here's a small portion of our day's take. The limit is 50 mussels per person, so we got 150 of them and Jeremiah was kept busy cleaning and steaming them for the rest of the evening. And no, we didn't eat them all at once. We're giving some to friends and we'll try freezing some for later use.

Here’s a small portion of our day’s take. The limit is 50 mussels per person so we got 150 of them, and Jeremiah was kept busy cleaning and steaming for the rest of the evening.  You should have seen the state of the kitchen when he was done….  And no, we didn’t eat them all at once. We’re giving some to friends and we’ll try freezing some for later use.

Learning language

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"Oopsy daisy," Milo exclaims as his sticker falls to the floor. "Cookie Monster no eat it! No eat it me!" Translation: Whoops, my sticker just fell on the floor. I had better pick it up for else Cookie Monster will eat it, he'll eat my sticker!

“Oopsy daisy,” Milo exclaims as his sticker falls to the floor. “Cookie Monster no eat it! No eat it me!”
Translation: Whoops, my sticker just fell on the floor. I had better pick it up for else Cookie Monster will eat it.  He’ll eat MY sticker! 

Listening to Milo’s grammar development is absolutely fascinating.  I’m not sure why “me” is chosen to stand in for “I, my, me, and mine,” but that’s how he uses it.  And the order of the sentence seems to be closer to Spanish, where adding “no” before the verb is the simple way of negating the meaning, and it’s perfectly fine to put the adjective after the subject.  I’m not sure where the little scamp got the idea that Cookie Monster will eat whatever he leaves on the floor–I certainly didn’t tell him that–but the belief does seem to be a good incentive for him to pick the beads and marker caps.

 

 

A guy’s weekend in mountain goat country

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I took a weekend trip to a mountain range I have yet go to with a group of guys from work. with an agenda of looking for some Tahr (a Himalayan mountain goat)

Last weekend I took a trip to a mountain range 3-4 hours south of Christchurch, exploring new territory with a group of 4 other guys from work.  Our agenda: shoot bull Tahr (a Himalayan mountain goat) in all their winter long-haired glory, and get some exercise to boot.

one of the few huts that is 4wd accessible if you arrange ahead to get the key to a gate from the station owner that the track crosses over.

We stayed at one of the few huts that is 4wd accessible…. if you arrange ahead to get the key to a gate from the station owner that the track crosses over.  The bikes belong to some guys that didn’t get the owner’s key.

most of the huts in NZ were originally either muster's huts or deer cullers huts. this one was originally a private hut when the area was grazed and aquired by DOC when the private lease ran out and the land returned to the Crown.

Most of the huts in NZ were originally either sheep musters’ huts or deer cullers’ huts.  This one was originally a private hut when the area was grazed, and acquired by DOC when the private lease ran out and the land returned to the Crown.

very tight for 5 guys, almost no headroom on the top bunk

Very tight for 5 guys, “bugger all” headroom on the top bunk.  Actually, one guy slept in the truck and another on the floor rather than bonk a forehead on a beam in the middle of the night.

We spent the entire day walking up in the mountains, glassing and looking for some Tahr.

We spent the entire day walking up in the mountains, glassing and looking for some tahr.

having a look ontop for some Tahr

Two happy guys in their element, having a look on top of the peaks for some tahr.

A few tahr, out on a bluff, feeling very safe

Squint.  There are a few tahr in the center of the photo, out on a bluff, feeling very safe from us two-legged hunters.

Zoomed in.. I did not shoot any, just with the camera. Retrieving them would have meant; ropes, harnessess and rock/ice climbing, something for another weekend.

Zoomed in… I did not shoot any (except with the camera) though they were within range. Retrieving them would have entailed ropes, harnesses and rock/ice climbing prowess, something for another weekend.  Tahr truly are an amazing animal.  They make it look so easy jumping around on those cliffs.

A mountain tarn

A mountain tarn with my Aussie mate Mark walking around on it.

a fine dinner of meat and a side of meat

A fine dinner of meat and a side of meat, washed down with a little beer.  Hang the veggies. 

mmmmm, roasting socks. After a day of 5 guys walking around in the mountains, socks can be stinky over the woodstove.

Mmmmm, roasting socks.  After a day of 5 guys walking around in the mountains, socks can be pretty ripe drying over the wood stove.

I didn't come back with a prize trophy (much to Molly's relief), but it almost didn't matter. Those mountains are wonderful. Not a cloud in the sky, meteors streaming at night, wild, untamed country, unhampered by societal rules. I could live up there with the tahr.

I didn’t come back with a prize trophy (much to Molly’s relief), but it almost didn’t matter. Those mountains are wonderful. Not a cloud in the sky, meteors streaming at night, wild, untamed country, unhampered by societal rules. I could live up there with the tahr.

 

One year in New Zealand

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It is the one year mark–we arrived just in time for a rainy, chilly August a year ago this week.  In honor of the anniversary we thought we’d compile a random list of Pros and Cons of Kiwi life, through the eyes of pansy pampered Americans.  It’s good to end on a positive note, so we’ll air our gripes first.

Cons:

  1. Everything costs at least 2-3 times what it does in America.  This was the number one annoyance for months when we arrived, particularly as we didn’t ship absolutely everything a household would need and had to do some shopping.  Parting with $9 for six little cheap plastic stick-on hooks to hang stuff on the rental-house walls felt like a personal insult.  Paying more than double what we paid per month to own our lovely house (including taxes) in Owego just to rent a chinsy little house with a puny yard felt like a punch in the gut, not to mention the reduced status of being renters rather than home owners.  In addition, “cheap” takes on a whole new meaning in New Zealand.  If you buy cheap left-over containers, the tops might not fit even from day one.  Cheap new dryers randomly slip their belts and have malfunctioning timers.  Cheap here is below Walmart quality, while still being double the price.
  2. Lousy home construction.  While we’re talking about housing, it’s bewildering to think that south island Kiwis live in a climate where you want your home to be warmer than the outside air for 6 months of the year, yet you can still see light through the cracks around the front door.  Weather stripping, insulation, and quality windows are luxury items, and a central heating system is almost unknown.  Kiwis act like it’s still a frontier town and settlers should rough it. “Put on another jersey,” as they say.
  3. Technology is not as advanced, on average.  Americans take for granted that if something new and nifty is invented, it’s available to us.  Internet and internet shopping is centered around us.  At home we can buy just about anything on line and have it shipped to our door.  Internet shopping is still in its infancy here, we can’t even “google shop” to price compare.  High speed (fiber) internet service just came past our suburban house this week.
  4. Bad drivers.  Seriously, for a culture that is relatively laid-back and easy going, these drivers are crazy.  They pass on impossible turns, drive like there’s no speed limit, and take off from stop lights as if they were in a Nascar race.  In addition, drunk driving laws are weak, and there aren’t really any serious penalties for a driver hitting a pedestrian or a biker.  The one up side to NZ driving is that they use traffic circles extensively, which make traffic flow much smoother than the banks of traffic lights and turn lanes that plague suburban shopping areas in America.
  5. Stuff we miss: Good tea.  Someone told me that in NZ you could get a good cup of tea day or night….but I guess “good” is in the palate of the taster.  The grocery store selections are just various flavors of English-style black tea and a smattering of herbally stuff, and I have yet to find a really good tea store with selections from India and China.  But at least if you order tea at a cafe, it comes piping hot in a tea pot.  We also miss graham crackers, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and Stewart’s hard ice cream.  I guess we have a sweet tooth!  Oh, and ice scrapers.  It frosts here, but no one has heard of scraping ice from the car windshield with a tool specially fashioned for that purpose.  Apparently no one thinks that credit cards are inadequate ice scrapers….
  6. No one understands my name.  How can this be?  Molly is a common English/Irish name, right?  I realized that my whole life I’ve been pronouncing my name “Mahley,” whereas Kiwis would say “Mohley.”  But when I say my name, they think I’m saying “Marley,” because of course they just “HHHH” their R’s here instead of pronouncing them in a “growl” like we do.  I have to mispronounce my name for it to be understood.

Pros:

  1. 12-month-long hunting season (guess who added that one to the top of the list):  In New Zealand, all mammals besides a tiny bat are not native, and are therefore considered invasive pests.  DOC (the equivalent of our DEC) would like them all to be gone….so there’s no restriction on hunting them, no rules about carrying out the meat and not just the antlers, no requirement to even report what you take.  Molly wasn’t sure whether the 12 month hunting season should go in the “pro” or the “con” list….but I have to admit that our freezer is full of delicious healthy meat.
  2. Access to the outdoors:  30% of New Zealand is public land, and there is an amazing system of DOC huts in place, many of them from the days of the deer cullers.  We haven’t had to carry a tent since we got here, a big bonus with an ever-growing Milo load.  Plus the huts usually have a wood stove, bunks with mattresses, and are just a convenient place to perch with a small child.  We’re also never far from the ocean, and there are miles and miles of open un-built stretches where, if we had the gear, we could collect crayfish (lobster), paua, and mussels for free.  The summers in the outdoors are actually pretty brown in the rain-shadow of the southern alps, but winters are wonderfully green, and there’s always something blooming.
  3. People are polite:  It’s hard to remember how much this annoyed me when we first got here, because in stores all I seemed to get was an extremely polite nice person pronouncing “cool” as “kewel” and telling me that they’d never heard of the item I wanted.  But now I appreciate that even if we haven’t found Christchurch residents to be super warm, they are definitely polite.
  4. Personal lawsuits are almost unknown:  Before we moved here I didn’t realize how much the fear of ligation shapes the American society.  Private property is posted because the owner could be sued if someone tripped on their land.  Here, a national fund covers all health costs having to do with accidents, no one sues for emotional damages, and it’s common for walking tracks to cross private land.  In America, OBGYN doctors recommend tests and procedures at least in part because if they don’t, they might be sued.  Here, a midwife (who administers all prenatal care for most women) informs you of the available tests, and you decide which ones to use.  Sure, the traffic control around obstructions is almost laughably casual at times, but on the whole I prefer that to the American finger-pointing and blame-shifting.
  5. Food:  On the whole food is not a highlight in NZ, but Jeremiah wanted to applaud the fish and chips (which we’ve indulged in all of 4 times), as well as the craft beer and availability of home-brew paraphernalia.  I think the beer is good, but expensive–wine is definitely a better deal.
  6. Kid-friendly:  People just seem to like kids, and to be happy to accommodate them.  Coffee shops have high chairs available.  Shopping malls have “family bathrooms,” that are clean and well cared for, sometimes with a miniature toilet and always with a changing table.  No one blinks an eye if you nurse your baby in public.  We’ve never gotten a negative comment bringing Milo to multiple huts and hostels, and we’ve hear nothing but encouragement when we run with him in the jogger in events.  Maybe it’s also this family-orientation that is to credit for the 4-week standard holiday that all Kiwis enjoy, even those employed in minimum-wage labor.  To be a pessimist, I’m sure this contributes to the high cost of goods and labor, but it is still nice to be on the receiving end of the paid holiday time.
  7. Random little perks:  Tipping is unheard of.  You don’t have to figure that cost in to the price of a meal, or wonder what the going rate is for an airport shuttle bus driver.  Similarly, sales tax, though high (15%), is added to the listed price of an item, rather than being added in at the register.  No surprises.
I like the light switches better here. How petty is that? But when we first came I was grasping for anything that I could say was better, and light-switches made the list. The little square that tips one way or the other is just nicer to use (and quieter) than our lever switches.

I like the light switches better here. How petty is that? But when we first came I was grasping for anything that I could say was better, and light-switches made the list. The little square that tips one way or the other is just nicer to use (and quieter) than our lever switches.

The toilets are also different, and now that I've gotten used to them I can maybe say they're better. Those of you who remember your high school physics might ask which way the water swirls, being in the southern hemisphere, but the water just gushes and splashes in a raucous cascade and exits the generous whole in the bowl without any serene swirling. The up side? I've never ever seen a plunger in any bathroom, nor had the need to use one.

The toilets are also different, and now that I’ve gotten used to them I can maybe say they’re better. Those of you who remember your high school physics might ask which way the water swirls, being in the southern hemisphere, but the water just gushes and splashes in a raucous cascade and exits the generous whole in the bowl without any serene swirling. The up side? I’ve never ever seen a plunger in any bathroom, nor had the need to use one.

Note that the post title is not “One year as Kiwis.”  I’m still constantly aware that we’re Americans….and I’m still happy to be one.  Actually, I’ve never appreciated being American more than I do now.  But I’m pleased to say that for the time being, I’m also happy living in New Zealand.

Bassinet struggles

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Chatting to some Playcenter moms (or Playcentre Mums, as they say here), someone asked about accommodations for the new baby. I had been thinking along the lines of a blanket-lined clothes basket to start out, but that must have seemed a bit roughish to them because one of the other moms generously offered the loan of their bassinet. I graciously accepted, having in my mind's eye the plain woven basket my parents had as a bassinet for us. The clinking and clanking inside the hefty bag was the first hint that this bassinet was not to be such a simple affair. I pulled it out one evening to have a look and two college-educated adults spent the next 1.5 hours puzzling over its assembly, with Milo's enthusiastic "help." Not that there are lots of pieces either..... After 3 or 4 restarts we finally got it looking like a photo we found on the internet.

Chatting to some Playcenter moms (or Playcentre Mums, as they say here), someone asked about accommodations for the new baby. I had been thinking along the lines of a blanket-lined clothes basket to start out, but that must have seemed a bit roughish to them because one of the other moms generously offered the loan of their bassinet. I graciously accepted, having in my mind’s eye the plain woven basket my parents had as a bassinet for us. The clinking and clanking inside the hefty bag was the first hint that this bassinet was not to be such a simple affair. I pulled it out one evening to have a look and two college-educated adults spent the next 1.5 hours puzzling over its assembly, with Milo’s enthusiastic “help.” Not that there are lots of pieces either….. After 3 or 4 restarts we finally got it looking like a photo we found on the internet.

Milo was so anxious to try it out that we let him curl up in the top part just once. It's really the silliest bit of frilly white laciness imaginable, but I'm ridiculously pleased with it.

Milo was so anxious to try it out that we let him curl up in the top part just once. It’s really the silliest bit of frilly white laciness imaginable, but I’m ridiculously pleased with it.

Little Crack-up

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Milo's underwear and pants tend to be too big around the waist, making him prone to a plumber's crack. I reached out and hiked up his undies as he walked past me this afternoon, and he spun around, finger raised in warning, head tilted to one side in consternation. "Mommy Naughty. Time out!" He was in total seriousness, but I burst out laughing, then tried to explain that Mommies are allowed to pull up their kiddies' underwear, it's part of the job description. I guess it gives a little window into the 2-year-old psyche. He must figure that what I don't like him doing is "naughty," and merits punishment, so the same must apply to what he doesn't like ME doing. I follow the logic.....

Milo’s underwear and pants tend to be too big around the waist, making him prone to a plumber’s crack. I reached out and hiked up his undies as he walked past me this afternoon, and he spun around, finger raised in warning, head tilted to one side in consternation. “Mommy Naughty. Time Out!” He was in total seriousness, but I burst out laughing, then tried to explain that Mommies are allowed to pull up their kiddies’ underwear, it’s part of the job description. I guess it gives a little window into the 2-year-old psyche. He must figure that what I don’t like him doing is “naughty,” and merits punishment, so the same must apply to what he doesn’t like ME doing. I follow the logic…..

Morbid hood ornament

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Returning from our annual vacations to Cape Cod, my Uncle Stewart and Aunt Cheryl used to adorn the hood of their minivan with seaside paraphernalia....generally stuff that was too bulky to fit inside the vehicle itself. This bighorn sheep's head, replete with sunken eyes and grisly wool, is quite a new dimension of hood ornaments. I guess it kinda makes sense....the SUV is an Isuzu Bighorn, that's a bighorn sheep that someone shot (they're wild in parts of NZ).....but meeting it in the grocery store parking lot was still one of those "you're not in Kansas anymore" moments.

Returning from our annual vacations to Cape Cod, my Uncle Stewart and Aunt Cheryl used to adorn the hood of their minivan with seaside paraphernalia….generally stuff that was too bulky to fit inside the vehicle itself like driftwood, lobster traps, buoys, etc.  This bighorn sheep’s head, replete with sunken eyes and grisly wool, is quite a new dimension of hood ornaments. I guess it kinda makes sense….the SUV is an Isuzu Bighorn, that’s a bighorn sheep that someone shot (they’re wild in parts of NZ)…..but meeting it in the grocery store parking lot was still one of those “you’re not in Kansas anymore” moments.

Retreat to Mt Doom

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Working in a large company comes with perks such as a weekend “team building” trip to the North Island.  Socializing with work colleagues is huge in NZ, so I went along for the trip.  We had a weekend of hiking, mountain biking, team building activities, and then I stayed an extra day to go skiing at Mt Ruapehu (Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings).

a great view of the south island mountains from the air

A great view of the south island mountains from the air. Imagine being one of the first pioneers trying to cross this terrain without a map or an airplane….you wouldn’t see that the mountains are almost endless until you struggled to the top of one peak after another, only to see still more in the distance.

Feilding, a small town we stopped at on the drive. The Feilding Saleyards have daily auctions for sheep, cattle and deer.

Feilding, a small town where we stopped on the drive, boasts the Feilding Saleyards.  Daily auctions for sheep, cattle and deer made this one of the biggest livestock exchanges in the southern hemisphere.

while we were waiting for people to arrive from 4 different spots around NZ, a few of us took a walk to a waterfall.

A few of us took a walk to a waterfall while we were waiting for people to arrive from four different cities around NZ.

The Old Coach Road is a 15km historic road that linked two railhead prior to a train track being built. it is now a biking/running track that doc maintains.

We sat through about 90 minutes of business talk in the morning, then we were free to build our team by riding trails on mountain bikes.  The Old Coach Road is a 15km historic road that linked two railroads prior to a junction track being built.  It is now a biking/running track that DOC (Department of Conservation) maintains.

The track is very overgrown now, a coach would not be able to pass.

The track is overgrown now, but once upon a time a coach was able to pass.

The original train bridge

The original bridge, which is now part of the cycle trail.

The new train bridge

The new train bridge now does the job.

an engineers retreat can not be complete without some type of nerdy competition. we were given a pound of spagetti and a package of sticky tack and had to construct a tower to hold an egg. this one was our teams attempt, it was leaning a bit...

An engineers’ retreat can not be complete without some type of nerdy competition.  We were given a pound of spaghetti and a package of sticky tack (remember that blue tack stuff we had in grade school?  It’s still strangely popular here), and we had to construct a tower to hold an egg.  This one was our team’s attempt, it was leaning a bit…

Mt Ruapehu is one of the mountains featured as Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings. There are several ski fields on the volcano. Thee Volcano is active and frequently erupts.

Mt Ruapehu where we skied on Sunday is one of the mountains featured as Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings. There are several ski fields on the volcano.  The volcano is active and still erupts from time to time….the last major eruption was in the 1990s, but it blew off a bit of steam as recently as 2007.

I stayed for an extra day to take advantage of the ski mountain, the weather was spectacular. skiing above the clods all day.

I stayed for an extra day with 7 other Christchurch colleages to take advantage of the ski mountain.  The weather was spectacular, skiing above the clouds all day, and no volcanic eruptions!

The ski lift ends quite short of the peek of the volcano. I really wanted to peak over the edge and see into the volcano...

The ski lift ends quite short of the peak of the volcano.  I really wanted to peek over the edge and see into the volcano…

I saw a few people walking up, so why not me?

I saw a few people walking up, so why not me?

I put my skis on my back and rocketed up the slope.

I put my skis on my back and “rocketed” up the slope.

ahh, definitely worth the walk up. a geothermal lake in the center and powder to ski in on the way down.

Ahh, definitely worth the walk up.  A geothermal lake in the center and nice powdery snow to ski on the way down.  No volcanic rumbles or grumbles while I was there!

Lights in the park

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Christmas seems the traditional time for outdoor light shows, but since Christmas here is mid-summer and it's not really dark until after 10 pm, Christchurch City Council puts on a mid-winter light show during a school break instead. Milo and I went yesterday. He expressed his deep appreciation for modern art as he attempted to fill in the pond one pebble at a time.

Christmas seems the traditional time for outdoor light shows, but since Christmas here is mid-summer and it’s not really dark until after 10 pm, Christchurch City Council puts on a mid-winter light show during a school break instead.  That’s right, even though the calendar says it’s July, it’s like a northern hemisphere January right now.  Milo expressed his deep appreciation for modern art (“Red! Purple! Blue! Green!” according to the light change) as he attempted to fill in the pond one pebble at a time.

Part of the even was a kids' lantern parade. Lots of kids had made paper lanterns lit with a candle inside. Now envision a few hundred kids waving burning lanterns overhead, attached with hooks to the ends of sticks, shuffling down a dark path for half a kilometer....it's amazing that no one's hair caught fire! The glowing moon was one of a few professional mascots that joined the parade.

Part of the even was a kids’ lantern parade. Lots of kids had made paper lanterns lit with a candle inside. Now, envision a few hundred kids waving burning lanterns overhead, attached with hooks to the ends of sticks, shuffling down a dark path for half a kilometer….it’s amazing that no one’s hair caught fire! The glowing moon was one of a few professional mascots that joined the parade.

To my great relief the parade finally ended, and we got a break from walking on other people's heals to watch a fire-juggling show. It was pretty impressive. I must be getting old when I wonder if the moms of fire-jugglers are proud of their lithe muscly sons tossing fire above their heads, or if they wish they'd gone into a tamer profession.

To my great relief the parade finally ended, and we got a break from walking on people’s heals to watch a fire-juggling show. It was pretty impressive. I must be getting old when I wonder if the moms of fire-jugglers are proud of their lithe muscly sons tossing fire above their heads, or if they wish they’d gone into a tamer profession.