New Years Eve, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Absolutely fantastic summers day in Napier today for New Years Eve.

Visited a few touristy things like the new Museum (called the MTG) opened recently. Got there just in time for a tour of the 1931 Earthquake exhibition so that took most of our time up. Some very interesting facts we were told were something like:

- All the land behind the Bay View spur was a vast lagoon right up to the hills all around. It was only a few meters deep and good for fishing. When it rose (2.7 meters to be exactish) in the earthquake it emptied and left a big stink which the locals feared from disease. This is now where the airport is.

- A ship that sank off the coast in 1874 (I recall) floated to the surface and bobbed around the sea for several minutes before sinking again. This scarred the bajesus out of the sailors as they were superstitious fellows.

- There were several fires set ablaze due to chemist gas burners. Initially the fires were tended but after a few minutes the main pressure on the water was lost due to breaks. They attempted to divert a swimming pool water but it was too far away from the fires for the hoses. Finally they used sea water but there was so much debris in the water from thr quake these hoses blocked. This is why they had to stand and watch the town burn away, which caused most of the damage.

We also walked along the front. Had seen the Pania of the Reef Statue (1954) on many photos of Napier but had forgotten where it was so went and had a look at that. It represents a Maori legend that tells how the Pania Reef was formed. Pania (a goddess I think) left the sea people to marry a mortal chief Karitoki. When he went off to fight a war with another tribe, she was tempted back into the sea by the Lord of the Sea and she got dragged down and transformed into a rocky reef. The moral is that you have got to watch those rip tides you know.

Pania of the Reef Statue

Pizza, Christmas Jokes, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

We had Halley and Vic up from Welly for the night long drive but apparently went well with the spice girls sing along.

Did a make your own pizza evening which Halley had to be given the win for her Grape, 3 Cheese, Salad Selection Pizza. Make your own mind up (Steve very much thought fruit or salad was wrong on anything).

Then scummed to the Christmas Cracker jokes. Best one, wait for it, and we did as Steve could not read it without laughing of course:

"Santa went to the Doctors with a problem.

Doctor: What seems to be the problem?

Santa: I seem to have a mince pie stuck up my bottom!

Doctor: Well your in luck because I've got just the cream for that!"

Anyway, carrying on the music theme we went through the 70s, 80s and 90s back catalogue of music, singing was involved right through till the early hours (9.50pm).

Halley's winning Pizza

Christmas Day, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Quiet day spent outside on Christmas day.

Linda did all the lawns to try out her new Rover Rancher (19.5 HP, 46" cutting deck, 8.4 km/hr, beer can holder) ride on mower, which we are very happy with.

Linda mowing on Rover Rancher

Mike with garden ornament

Christmas Eve, Day Out, Taradale, Napier, New Zealand

Had enough of working from home for the morning so popped out for lunch. First off called at Moana Park Vineyard to stock up for Christmas. Next went to Church .... Restaurant and Bar.

Weta Great Eagle Sculptures, Wellington Airport, New Zealand

To support the release of the second Hobbit film The Desolation of Smaug, Weta Workshops put up several oversized character sculptures in Wellington Airport.

The Hobbit's Great Eagles

 

Great Eagle overhead

Gandalf

Friends Weekend, Napier, New Zealand

Boys and Girls from Wellington and Auckland motored to Napier for the weekend. Good solid entertaining weekend. Boys went out and bought us a ride on mower (with trailer), girls bought hand bags.