Yay, normal service has been returned to the Kaitoke Forest.  It was music to my ears to learn from our neighbours that the path through the forest has been cleared after the storm.  Regular readers might recall that one of our favourite walking routes had been blocked by fallen trees.

We hot footed it up there today to give the bassets a proper walking out.  With the strong winds it was also a great way to blow the human cobwebs away too. Read more

The track behind our land links Tunnel Gully with the Rimutaka Rail Trail.  It’s a popular route for walkers and cyclists.  It is of course one of our regular dog walking tracks with a great route that loops over a stream and back giving the sense of a circular walk when in fact it’s not.

We found out today how much storm damage has been inflicted here.  At first it looked fine, a bit of debris and small trees blown down.  As we reached the loop point it was clear that all was not well.  In fact, it’s far from OK.  Read more

After a day indoors yesterday it was time to venture forth with the bassets.  We figured a stroll along the Kaitoke Hill and Pylon loop just across the way would be a perfect way to get our daily exercise fix.

It turned out to be a walk on the wild side.  One of our favourite walks has been ruined by masses of trees being felled in the recent storms.  I can tell you Fortnum and Mason were not impressed at having their normal clear run for hooning along interrupted by big trees. Read more

Today was quite a big day – our residency approval in principle came through. All we need now is a new stamp in our passports and pay our migrant levy and we are home and dry.

We’re celebrating with fush n chups and champagne. Hmm.. what a combination!

I took this picture from one of the walks with the dogs this week. It’s Kaitoke looking towards the Rimutakas. Not a bad view and probably sums up for me what coming to New Zealand is all about. Being able to walk my bassets in the middle of the day in the middle of nowhere.

It’s not everyone’s cuppa but you need a compelling reason to live 12,000 miles away from family and friends and this is it for me.

Loyal blogger readers will remember that our house building dreams haven’t entirely run a smooth course. For new readers, here’s the crux of our story.

Anyway, we were out yesterday with the bassets walking the Rimutaka Incline Trail which is a recreational path that follows the line of the old Rimutaka Train Line. Lo and behold as we doodled along and opening in the hedge gave us full sight of the land we were going to buy but never did.

Little did we know at the time that there was a perfect viewing point straight onto the land (and possibly our bathroom) had we proceeded with our intended plans. It was interesting to see how the land has developed.

Funny how life turns out – although this is still a beautiful spot I reckon we did get some luck with the land we now have and the home we’ve built.

They say you can’t beat Wellington on a good day! Today I was reminded of that.

It was a bit dark, dank and dreary up in Kaitoke so I set off in the rain for appointments in town. As I travelled down the Hutt Valley and into town it was like someone had opened the curtains to see the view.

It was sunny, bright and although a little bit breezy it was almost perfect weather for Autumn. Having left home a bit wet and grumpy I was immediately cheered up and by the time I arrived in the 13 floor offices of my clients my disposition matched the weather!

As you emerge along the motorway through lower hutt Wellington is revealed in all it’s glory. It’s a fantastic sight and something I don’t think I’ll ever tire of. Today was a day when it gave me goosebumps. To see things crystal clear – the water, the city and the surrounding hills. Why on earth would you want to live anywhere else?

When we were building the house we’d often scoot up to site have a snout around and then head off for a walk on one of the trails close by. Since we’ve actually moved here we haven’t been out walking so decided yesterday that today was the day that we were getting back into the habit.

For a change we decided to cross the state highway and take one of the Kaitoke Regional Park trails on the other side of the road. There was a choice of two – the Pylon Loop Track and Kaitoke Hill Track. We decided that the Pylon Loop sounded intriguing so set off up hill into the forestry.

After an indyllic start through the forestry we finally found the pylons across the valley that make the track name so appropriate. We headed off towards the water treatment plant in hope of spying the water resevoirs but instead found ourselves back on the Kaitoke Hill Track that was a painful reminder of the fact that what goes up must come down!

It wasn’t what I’d call the most attractive of walks but it was a good way to stretch the legs and work up a sweat. Not sure that the Bassets will relish it as a walk when they’re old enough to go out even though they have four paw drive to make it easier for them.

MT’s been photoblogging this weekend at the Kaitoke Regional Park. This is just a five minute ride in the car from where we will. It’s an amazing place of natural beauty with plenty of walks and swimming holes in the river for those who want to cool off.

It’s hard to capture the sense of place in photos sometimes but this will at least give you a glimpse of what you can enjoy there.

Cruise ships are a regular sight in Wellington, usually so big to make the cake tin stadium look like a muffin case. The latest cruising attraction to arrive this weekend was the brand new $676 million, 90,000 tonne ship – the Queen Victoria – stopping off as part of its maiden voyage, a 15-week world tour.

It called into Auckland, Napier and Wellington before departing for Melbourne last but it was Wellington that showed them a kiwi welcome with coastguard boats, the port’s three tugboats and a flotilla of fishing boats, yachts and runabouts making lots of razzamataz to welcome them to the Capital City. We sure know how to throw a party!

Whilst Jonny was into winning ways in the Six Nations, Wellington has been invaded this weekend by the annual International Rugby Sevens Competition. Held at the caketin there are 34,500 people all cheering their favourite team (not)!

In reality, the caketin becomes the biggest party venue in NZ with everyone using it as an excuse to dress up and behave disgracefully, all in the name of rugby. It’s all good humoured stuff (well mostly) and brings lots of colour to the capital (see the pics below).

Tickets are hard to come by so we missed out in this year’s celebration. Or rather, MT didn’t want to be seen dressed up looking like Borat so we passed up on this annual ritual.

Last year Naomi was to be found dancing on the terraces and falling off the flip seats. Although black and blue she recovered quickly but this year I fear things have turned much more serious.
Having survived the Caketin experience she danced rather enthusiastically an irish jig at Molly Malone’s and then spent hours at the hospital getting her rupted Achilles Tendon fixed. Not to mention me spending further time back at the hospital this morning get her cast fitted and ferrying her around town to get her shopping in. It’s a real shame for her as she’s bang in the middle of her house rennovations and was just about to return to road running after a rest from her hip and knee problems. Estimated recovery time 9 weeks in plaster and another 9 weeks physio.

Although terrible worried about her and doing my nurse bit one can’t help think that whilst the seven’s might be the best thing for Wellington tourism at this time of year, you need special insurance and cotton wool to protect yourselves from excessive partying.

Hope you enjoy the spectacle photos though.

Even Borat was getting in on the act

Just to prove there was some rugby played, the All Black’s against the Keynians

Even men of a certain age don’t miss out on the festivities

Maori fans complete with Ta Moko