We are also surrounded by one of the biggest industries in New Zealand, forestry.  This means the trees that flank the hillsides are destined for the chop and ultimately into the wood market.  And when this happens it’s not a pretty sight.

None the less there are some amazing views, hills to climb and things to spy on our walks.  Today the bassets and I hiked up to the airfield where the local gliding club is based.

This is not a walk for the faint-hearted.  As you might expect, it’s uphill all the way!

This was pioneer territory for the bassets.  They were thrilled I can tell you.  New sights, sounds and most importantly new stuff to smell.

The first things we came upon were strange.  Cultivated flowers in the hedgerow.

And this….

Forgive my ignorance but when did lillies grow in hedgerows? Never mind, let’s move onto forestry.  There are bigger things than flowers to grab you here.  What about being grabbed by one of these?

This is what they use to grab the trees and logs when they’ve been chain sawed down. It’s a big beast.

Here it is in action. Well, not this exact one but others in the foresters armoury.

There is plenty to grab around here.  And then the logs are stamped and piled ready for transport.

Those trees and bits of trees don’t make the grade end up here.

Local people can come along and take what they want from these piles.  If you have a chain saw, a trailer and the where withall to make that happen.  Currently we don’t so we buy our logs from one of our neighbours who does all the hard graft instead.  Maybe one day we’ll join the annual log grab.

It’s a shame when you see the trees like this.

But it’s sheer economics.  People need wood so New Zealanders grow trees to cut down and supply the wood.  Simple really.  Just like any other farming venture.  Working in forestry looks dangerous and hard work.  Even if they do use lots of machinery to do the really hard stuff.

I wasn’t getting too close but was fascinated by these guys in action.

But we couldn’t hang around all day watching forestry in action.  We had places to see.

This is our local airfield where the gliding club is based.  It’s a primative affair but is in regular use most weekends.  Watching those gliders fly over our house is quite something. This is where they keep the gliders and little plane that takes them up.  If you don’t make the runway first time you’re in trouble!

The bassets were delighted at this point as it was all down hill from here.  We swung around the top of the hill track and were able to continue to watch the forestry under way.

I am still in awe of the mountainous backdrop.  Even if it is just a large field of trees growing tall and waiting to be cut down.

These knitted toys were such wonderful quality but it was the vibrancy of the colours that really grabbed my attention.  Perfect for small people.

I loved these humpty people too.  The colours are perfectly co-ordinated.

The colours were even brighter on this stall of fairy dresses. I know of some little girls whose mums read this blog that would have had trouble dragging them away without buying them one of these colourful costumes.

Just check out the colours on these jar covers. A modern twist on a traditional craft.

Ruth, did her self proud I think.  Here’s some more colours.

But it wasn’t all soft knits and fabrics that were colourful – here’s some tea cups which were so eye-catching

As a stationery fiend I could hardly help myself with these notebooks.  So colourful.  Too good to write in.

And the colours of these made them almost too good to eat.  I said, almost!

These peg bags are both stylish and practical.  Homemade too.

I’m not sure how practical these are.  They caught my eye because they say Wellington but my experience is that Wellingtonians are not that colourful.  It’s usually a sea of black and navy as the Capital City does it’s business.  Evenings, weekends and special events are when Wellington goes wild!

Talking about going wild – here are some iconic kiwi undies – so colourful.  You’ve simply got to get your own Thunderpants.

Even less colourful colours can be colourful in an uncolourful way.

The colours of these books and the dappled light under the trees brought a moment of calm in what was otherwise a wild and colourful affair.

There was cool and calm to with these organic cotton baby clothes.  Neutral colours can be colourful too in their natural sort of way.

These antique advertising signs brought history to life – they were old but still really colourful.

I loved the earthy tone of this emu sign.

But it was the colour of the people that leaves a lasting impression.

And the indian headdress, which has to be the most colourful headgear of the day.

Apart from my own new hat!

On one hand it feels like I’ve never been away from this environment but on the other it feels like a whole different world.  I’ve only been out of it for just over a year but already it feels like a place I never was.  I can’t tell yet whether it’s just that the working world has moved on or whether I have.

This picture taken at Kaitoke Regional Park is where they filmed the Lord of the Rings movies.  There are always lots of tours of the key sights.  I thought it was representative of another world.  Also, it’s a thoroughly nice place to go and we took the dogs there tonight whilst I cleared my head from the chit chat, chit chat of the day!

There are lots of excellent photographic opportunities there but forgive me for shortchanging my blog for today.  But work is work so no luxury of blogging in depth today.  Sorry about that.  I’ll be back tomorrow and then the day after.  Watch out for the hobbits in the meantime!

We don’t like to think of our family and friends at home suffering in the snow so we organise an icy southerly blast to come up from the pole.  We’ve had some rain, mist and a cold wind to bring me closer to those I love up in the northern hemisphere.

It’s never much fun when this happens and I feel cheated when it happens during the summer.  After all it should be all about the sun.

With my executive work picking up it’s been a strain to not be outside pottering on.  The basset walks have been trimmed to a brisk hour rather than a leisurely stroll and I’ve hardly picked up the camera in the last few days.  Such is the life of business as usual, back to normal routine.  But tomorrow is a holiday giving us a long weekend so I shall be back in the holiday spirit right away!

The beauty of photographs is that you can bring out your memories and remind yourself of the moment.  The feelings and thoughts that gave you the complete experience.

Here’s Mason – he’s sitting at the top of the steps surveying his estate.

Here he is again but looking a little cuter this time.  He often sits and just looks up at you.  He’s such an attention seeker.  More often than not if the sitting and looking doesn’t work he’ll paw your leg (whether you’re wearing long trousers or not!).  And if he’s really not getting any response he’ll leap up at you but we’re working on him not doing that by clashing saucepan lids together.  I can tell you little basset doesn’t like the clash of saucepan lids any more than I do.  It’s a slow game but you can see him thinking twice now.  Well, as long as he’s not focused on getting his chicken necks for breakfast!

Now big basset he’s a whole different hound.  For one thing he is too big and heavy to be leaping around too much.  He tries and is apt at jumping up when there is food to be had.  But generally you’ll find Fortnum an altogether much more laid back, patience and self sufficient basset.  Talk about chalk and cheese!  Big basset’s idea of attention seeking is to run around like a maniac on our walks, barking to get attention from anyone who’ll listen.  Most especially to bark and bark at Mason to run and play with him too.  Big basset is happy then – someone to race with, someone to wrestle with, someone to be his friend.

We’ve had some real fun this summer although Fortnum really hates the heat.  He struggles with hot weather and loves to lie around on the cool tiled floor taking it easy.

So here’s a view of what it’s going to be like tomorrow.  Gone will be the cold mist and we’ll be welcoming back the sun for our long holiday weekend.

I want this good weather to last.  Although the trees needed the rain this week life seems altogether much better when the sun shines.  Or when it snows!  Hope you’re making the most of the extended winter holiday in the UK.

I sometimes feel challenged by my daily blogging habit.  Other days it’s sheer delight to be able to share my fun and adventures here in New Zealand.  I was starting to think it was time to broaden my scope of reporting when lo and behold some new neighbours moved in.

And here they are.  Some beautiful, bright eyed and decidedly four legged neighbours.

Our four legged neighbours come and go but I was delighted to see these new arrivals.  They have bright eyes and an inquisitive nature that even flattered the bassets. Yes, I liked these new neighbours in an instance.

Even if they don’t stand still to have their picture taken!

These visitors came running down to the fence to see what was what.  Here’s looking at you eh!

I’ll have some of that nice grass from your side….

How can you not love something that has ears like this?

Or maybe you’d like some horns like these!

Hmm, your grass tastes good.

This is Doug’s pet goat who is slim enough to shimmy between the gate we have in our fence.  It wasn’t long before he saw some juicy tree leaves.  Yum, yum.  Yeah Right.  Be off with you little black goat, cute you may be but you’re not that cute.

Yes, off with you to your own grass, trees and other miscellaneous munchies.  I’m not that much of a sucker for four legged neighbours.    If you could choose your neighbours who would you choose?

]]> http://www.domestic-executive.com/domestic-executive-snapshots/if-you-could-choose-neighbours-who-would-it-be/feed/ 3 http://www.domestic-executive.com/pure-kiwi/pure-kiwi/ http://www.domestic-executive.com/pure-kiwi/pure-kiwi/#comments Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:54:35 +0000 Domestic Executive http://www.domestic-executive.com/?p=1530

It’s been suggested by an avid reader of my blog that my posts are a little inward looking.  A bit focused on basset hounds and directed towards life here at Domestic Executive HQ.  I’m always keen to get feedback given succinctly, specifically and generously (the mantra for giving feedback as a coach).

Darling you’re blog’s getting a bit dull all about the dogs and the house.  Why didn’t you blog about X, or Y, and there was A, B, C you missed.  Says nearest and dearest.

Such feedback is not to be dismissed lightly.  So I gave some thought to how I should respond.

Why don’t I give your own guest blogging spot.  Or even better.  Why don’t you get your own blog!  Says Domestic Executive to nearest and dearest.

Phew, now I’ve got that off my chest, let’s get back to business.

Whooooooosh.  Where did the last week go.  Perchance it disappeared with the gales we’ve been having.  I can’t believe it’s the weekend again.  I’m not complaining mind you. I loooove weekends.  I can ease off, kick back and not feel pressurised to fill my day with work or domestics.  It is instead a good time to reflect what’s happened in the week.

So here’s the top 5 things that happened in New Zealand this week that caught my attention.

1. Winston Peter, Leader of New Zealand First and our Foreign Minister, was censured by Parliament for taking donations and not declaring them on the Parliamentary register.  This is a saga that’s been running for months. It’s involved Parliamentary Committee Enquiries, Serious Fraud Office Enquiries and would you believe police enquiries.  It was clear from the start that this MP was being economical with the truth and despite his belligerent position he’s been found out and punished for it.  But this guy is like a rubber ball and has bounced back in politics before. With the forthcoming election it will be interesting to see whether people actually vote him back into office.
2. Roadside advertising is popping up everywhere as part of the general election that has been called for 8 November.  I’ll try and get some photos and post them next week (I know you’re dying to see them) as they are lets say, not discrete!
3. Commuters have been suffering this week with Wellington City Bus Drivers on strike.  According to MT it caused chaos to those foot commuters who have a rhythm and pace to their journey to work.  With all the extra people walking to work this played havoc with their ability to achieve top speeds along the water front and Lambton Quay.  Apparently there were foot traffic jams in the Victoria Tunnel which has a single lane path.  It’s not the sort of place you want to get stuck though as you’re right next to the cars chucking out their fumes.  MT walked it once and reckons it has taken 3 years off his life.
4. WOW (World of Wearable Art) hit town this week. This is the fabulous art, fashion, dance extravaganza that I was lucky enough attend last year.  Looking at the newspaper coverage it was as flamboyant and the entries as dazzling as ever.  You can checkout the winners here.
5. Like the rest of the world, New Zealand has been pondering the effects of the collapse in financial markets.  Although I think generally we get caught on the tail winds here on the edge of the world it was declared this week that New Zealand is officially in recession.  House prices are tumbling as are share prices, finance companies and if that wasn’t enough bad news New Zealand’s biggest exporter of dairy products Fontera has become embroiled in contamination of milk products in China that have killed some babies and left thousands of others sick.

So there.  I can blog about things other than the world of the Domestic Executive.  It’s not nearly as much fun as writing about the exploits of the bassets but it is important that I do keep an eye on life outside the gate.

Oh, in case you’re wondering about the koru picture.  I snapped this last week as I was out walking the dogs. Another feature of Spring arriving here in New Zealand.

It seems that New Zealand has not missed out on the global trend for truckies create a convoy and blockage cities.  Today was a protest against new Government Road User Charges that truckies say are putting their businesses in jeaopardy and they don’t believe they are fair to the industry.

Protesting in Wellington is a fairly common thing and when I used to work behind the Parliament buildings it was a regular thing to be looking out to see who was getting airiated that day.  I think this was much more spectacular and had quite an impact on all the major cities around New Zealand – Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Parmerston North, Invercargill, Dunedin, Rotarua to name a few.

Fortunately I didn’t have to see it for myself but have watched the reports on the web which show the convoys in action.  Here’s a snapshot for you to see direct action by the truckies New Zealand style.

CONVOY INTO WELLINGTON ALONG THE MAIN STATE HIGHWAY

SIMILAR AFFECT IN TOWARDS AUCKLAND CBD

ACTION IN AUCKLAND CBD

HEY MATE, WHICH WAY IS THE CONVOY?

New Zealanders are to be urged to wash dishes by hand and turn off some of their household lights as the country teeters on the brink of a power crisis caused by drought.

After two years of dry weather the low level of water in lakes that drive New Zealand’s hydroelectric power plants is causing concern. The energy minister, David Parker, yesterday denied claims that the country was facing rolling power cuts, but said that unless there was significant rainfall soon households would be asked to cut electricity consumption by up to 15% during the peak early evening time.

Hydroelectric stations usually produce about 75% of New Zealand’s electricity but lack of rainfall has reduced that output in recent weeks to only 50%. Coal, diesel and gas-fired power plants are trying to make up the shortfall, but more strain is expected to be put on the national grid with the arrival of winter in the southern hemisphere.

Backed by the government, the electricity industry is to launch a power-saving campaign on television.

“I think the advice will be that, while it’s not an emergency, it is time for people to be turning off lights in rooms they are not using, certainly not leaving the computer on all night or the heated towel rail on for 24 hours a day,” Helen Clark, New Zealand’s prime minister, said in a radio interview.

The irony is that we should not be wasting energy full stop. For one thing it’s horrendously expensive and it’s not good for the planet. This is another example of the all pure, clean and green NZers not walking the talk.

You’ll be pleased to know our towel rails are on timers and I am becoming increasingly obessed about leaving lights on unnecessarily. I guess our real luxury is having the computer downloading (but not all night I hasten to add) but this is just the alternative to us watching hours of TV. Although we’re not squeaky clean when it comes to power saving I can sleep easy that we’re doing out bit!

Back here at home the news is riddled with conspiracy and intrigue with three investigations being launched into the immigration service here. The head of the service resigned last week after allegations of corruption in the pacific division – also that she didn’t have a PhD from LSE after all. I hope our residency application isn’t sitting in her in-tray.

Electioneering is also winding up ahead of the budget this Thursday. Much speculation about whether there will be some tax cuts to sweeten the bitter pill being taken by kiwis with inflationary pressures hitting home. The price of everything seems to be going up – especially food, fuel and energy bills.

Let’s just hope that the Black Caps can start winning and cheers us all up!

Not quite the barmy army!