Wind and Rays

Only a couple of interesting things since I last wrote. One is we say a sting ray in the harbor and the other is I got a first hand feel of "gale force" winds.

One of our developing family walks we like to walk down to a children's playground just off the harbor. The playground has a giant sized slide off a stylized lighthouse. Amy and I like it because while Gabe plays we can watch this whirling water sculpture build out in to the bay. Amy was sitting near the edge of the dock going out to the sculpture when I saw a large rock detach and glide away from under where she was sitting. Only it wasn't a rock, it was a sting ray. It glide off along a ridge of stones and seaweed. Amy and Gabe missed it. But later Amy spotted it again swimming back and we followed from the pier. A silly thing for folks that live here, but to a Nebraska boy it is pretty cool. We also watch small schools of fish and some sort of swimming bird that was fishing in the harbor.

Today the weather predicted "gale northerlies". I have heard folks talk about "northerlies" but I have often pondered how windy ol' Windy Wellington could get. It wasn't stormy, but it was windy. At 240 pounds the wind stopped me in my tracks twice on the street. The other skinny pedestrians did not fare as well. For once I had to appreciate my low drag roundness. I love the feel of the wind though. There might not be another weatherlogical phenomenon that I like more. The wind pulled up sea mist off choppy waves. Large boats rocked in their moorings like toys in a tub. When all I could do was hold my ground against the rush I could feel a small measure of the Earth's strength. It is rare for a large man to be tossed around in everyday life. In a strange way it made me feel more of the Earth. Not over it or in control of it, merely part of it. Perhaps the world needs more of this.

Weekend Walks

Today is Monday the 21st in New Zealand. We have calculated that the time here is -5 hours from you only it is tomorrow. So 5:00 PM Sunday in Chicago is 12:00 PM Monday in Wellington.

Yesterday we went to the Botanical Gardens here. This park is on top of a large hill and overlooks the entire harbor. It is an awesome view. The gardens themselves are spread out over many trails--all of them have some steep slope. Houses here are build on every hillside. It is hard to find a house *without* some sort of view. You also have to be careful about selecting your rentals because if they don't talk about parking in the advertisement then you probably have to park on the street and take a 40' vertical switch back to your front door.

We're still staying in the "serviced apartment" provided by our relocation. It is nice having a daily maid, but it is a smallish place. There are shops of about every variety within a block of our building. However you do have to get out while they are open because they pretty much close by 6 everyday. Amy says that Wellington is the smallest big city she's ever seen. A "suburb" here may only have 100 houses with 2-3 basic necessity shops. The whole metro area is only about 400,000 folks with only 180,000 in the city itself. Yet it has 5 train lines and scads of bus lines and large downtown center and all the arts/entertainment you'd expect in a much larger city.

There are 2 playgrounds in walking distance, both right on the harbor edge. There are not many "beaches" in the area, but we've managed to get to one. The water is cold enough that only the kids really play in it. The tides here are very slight so the currents are not very strong. Most of the near coast line is mix of rocks and crags.

We may do some shopping today or we may explore the trains. We're not sure yet. Talk to you all again soon!

Harbor walks

I got a battery for my old digital camera. I took a few photos along my walk on the pier. I think this shot is the best one.

I'm walking a ton more now which is good. I wanted to change my lifestyle to more healthy patterns. I have a good mile walk to work now (and back). Plus I like to get out in the evening a walk the harbor. Hopefully I can keep up the pace. My poor old feet are complaining.

Night all! Cya tomorrow.

First Day in New Zealand

Well 25 hours of travel and 14 hours of sleep (post travel) and we're here. The flights over were about what you would expect. I travel pretty well, but I forget that the rest of my family can't just fall asleep in 2 minutes or less like I can. Still they survived and seem to be all good now.

Wellington is (I'm told) at the height of its beauty right now. Mid-summer is all sun shine and cool breezes on the sparkling harbor. Morning mist barely veiled the far shores. I still look at it all like I am only seeing it on TV. I have gone through so many changes to arrive here that I feel almost like I can not take these moments. But I am sure that will pass. This is only the first 30 hours of being here!

Virtually every experience is a little game of "find what is different". Ketchup here is sweeter--like a sweet pickle in tomato sauce. Everyone has an accent except me. Some changes are bigger like it is summer here, they drive on the left and there are mountains and oceans in the same view. Other changes are very slight but still ever present.

All my phones work fabulously to call home. I suspect I'll be calling lots of folks lots and lots.

The apartment they gave us is very modern, but certainly smaller than we are used to. Gabe asked to have some kid playmates in the first 12 hours of arrival. However this downtown location has nearly all conveniences except other kids to play with. We are starting our look for more permanent homes tomorrow.

We have been given a few bags of starter groceries. Apparently Kiwi's are mad for orange juice as we've been gifted about 2 gallons. They also must love a curious little substance called Marmite. I'm not entirely sure what Marmite is... it came in a jar roughly the size of a jar of peanut butter and has roughly the same consistency only it is dark brown and not in the least bit sweet. It might be described as worchester sauce in paste form. I am not sure what you would eat it with. The bread here is better than I've tasted in Kansas. The eggs were so fresh that one still had feather fluff on it. They also had flame orange yolks. I guess I think they were still chicken eggs... They tasted normal.

I am typing to you now on my new work issues T61 laptop. It seems alright--a little quirky.

Amy is whipping up some spagetti in the micro-sized kitchen. The first day seems a complete success. Tomorrow our "relocation consultant" is picking us up at 10 AM for "orientation." I think that is code for city tour and possible house hunting.

See y'all later!

On the Eve of the Move

Tomorrow our packers arrive--4 of them. I'm guessing it will take them all of about 6 hours to box up everything we are taking. On Friday they load our container. Friday night and beyond we'll be living solely out of our 2 suitcases each until we arrive in Wellington on the 10th.

Another upshot of all this is that my cable box will be turned off and turned in tomorrow evening. My computers will be packed up for shipping to NZ. I won't see them again until late Feb if not March. My new job will be giving me a new laptop on the 14th so I won't be completely isolated for long. They also said they would be bringing me a new cell phone when they fetch us from the airport. *grin* I'm liking these guys (and gals).

We have far too much left to do for me to write on about it all night. But I figured I'd take a moment to let you all know we'll be talking to you soon. I will try to make time to post, but I imagine I'll have many other priorities at first.

May wisdom and good fortune bless us all. And now on to the next adventure...