Month: January 2010

Team Quirke

Today is a holiday in Wellington. No lying in bed for us, it was up at 5-45 to take part in on of the Scorching Bay Triathlon series. We did the short form, with Joe doing the duathlon form-no swim but extra run.

 

 

Our experience and equipment was of a lesser standard than some of he competitors but we all finished and I think, all did very well. I beat EQ of course, despite my appalling swim. I made up for it on the bike but did have a bike much better suited to riding on the road than she had. It was my old racer that I have refurbished. The same bike I used for my only previous Triathlon experience in 1997 at Crystal Palace. Joe did very well, and came home before EQ. We all enjoyed the event, and it inspired Shaz also. So, we are looking forward to further events later in the summer (when it arrives of course). Plan is to step up to the medium distance but will have to do some serious swim practice. It was choppy today, and plenty of sea water went in the mouth. This could all be very expensive. Not just the entry fees, but also I can see demands for new bikes coming.

This is part of the current Quirke detox programme. We are feeling healthy and virtuous currently. Will keep you posted on our continuing levels of healthy behaviour. Maybe the equivalent to a London to Paris cycle will eventuate, though upgrade in equipment may be required. I do not think there is any kryptonite in any of our bikes, or muscles for that matter.

 

Off to the flicks again

For the purpose of fulfilling wife-husband bonding time, there was another trip to the movies at the weekend. We have been sitting on some free tickets for months that were given out at work as a “thank you” for all the hard work at the time of the “swine-flu” response.

So off we went to the Hutt to see Sherlock Holmes, as recommended by the knowledgeable Mrs. Q.

I thought it was a good film, and as Sara says, directed with blokes in mind. The action and comic angles worked well, and thought the slow-mo sections were cleverly used. I liked the fact Watson was not portrayed as an idiot, and Holmes was not a lovable character.

So thumbs up to Madge’s ex.

Film season

It must be that time of year when everyone is off to the cinema. It was male bonding time with Isaac.
He certainly enjoyed the film, though one did not need a degree from Cambridge to see the plot was a little thin.

I am yet undecided if I prefer the “Squeakwel” or the original.

Summer apparently

13C in Wellington this afternoon and……..

ISSUED BY MetService AT 20:12 pm 15-Jan-2010

MEDIA
PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN FOR THE HILLS AND RANGES OF WAIRARAPA AND THE
EASTERN HILLS OF WELLINGTON OVERNIGHT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MORNING

A strong to gale moist southeast flow affects eastern and southern parts of the
North Island. Rain is expected to become widespread and heavy about the hills
and ranges of Wairarapa and the eastern hills of Wellington this evening (Friday),
easing about the middle of Saturday. 70 to 80mm of rain is likely during this
time, with the heaviest falls after 3am Saturday.

People in these areas, especially trampers, should watch out for rapidly rising
rivers and streams.

NCEA Results and rewards

Today is results day for NCEA the NZ equivalent of GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels (although seems much more complicated than when I did my ‘O’ levels!). There are 3 levels depending on what year you are in (11, 12, 13) with Level 1 being taken by year 11 students like Eleanor. Students can pass at three grades; achieved; achieved with merit and achieved with excellence. Our clever daughter passed with excellence and we are very proud. She has been hankering after a pair of Dr Martin boots for a year and was promised a pair as an incentive to work hard and pass well – here is Eleanor in her new boots. Well deserved!

Milford and Doubtful



One of the main purposes of the trip was to seek out an area of NZ that we had not been to before: Fiordland. It is an area rated by all who go there, and is a World Heritage site, so it must be good.

We stayed in a house in Te Anau that was full of intrigue. It was not haunted, but we were trying to work out who owned it. We found the details on promotional details of a company who were different from the people we were dealing with, they claimed to be the original and current owners, and yet there was a sold sign in the garage and the local estate agent had the house displayed as a recent sale. In the end, even super sleuth Sara could not get to the bottom of the mystery.

Te Anau was lovely to be in. The lake was cold but that did not deter the boys. The bikes were used as were the running shoes. We went to Mass on Christmas Eve evening, and it was like a United Nations meeting, with the locals heavily outnumbered.

The day trip to Milford Sound involved an early start and a two hour drive. The drive was special in itself, so no great chore. It was a dry sunny day, not a common experience. The midges though were common. The trip on the water was good, though it would have been pointless to have taken the longer trip. The trip to Doubtful Sound was an all day affair, initially across Lake Manapouri. The trip involved a tour of the famous hydro-power station. Maybe one for the nerds. I liked it.
The rain arrived, and so we saw the sites in a more typical way. There were plenty of people on the trip who were disappointed with the rain! Did they not know that Fiordland is one of the wettest places on earth. As the boat master said on more than one occasion, it rains 8 out of 10 days there. The moaners were foreigners: English and American.
We stayed for six days, and as we were leaving, the rest of the world poured in. It was a good time to leave and move onto the quieter Catlins.

The Catlins





Some of you have been there and so are familiar with the views. The image of the windswept trees is a well known one. I think I have seen this set in a photography book, or at least a similar one. The wind blown, rugged look is typical, and some other photographers have done bette than me to produce a high contrast “dark” and haunting image.

Anyway, we were there before new year as the sand message indicates. We are not the authors of this I must add-plagiarism by my family. We had a good time there, the weather not surprisingly was cold, wet and windy on occasions, though we id not expect anything different so it was fine.

As you see we went to Slope Point, the most southern tip of mainland NZ. So now we have been to the most westerly point in Australia, the most southerly point of England, and Slope Point. I am unsure there is more in life that needs doing.

During our time we stayed in a cabin on a sheep farm, and a backpackers in Owaka. Possibly the best we had over the whole trip.

Maybe tomorrow a mention of Fiordland, and then I will move on from out 3,300Km round trip, and instead moan about the current lack of summer weather.

PS. After comments from SQ I would like to say that the image of the trees is mine and not obtained from elsewhere.