The Breakfast Club Graduates

And here we are (plus one husband).  The proud holders of a Certificate in Te Ara Reo Māori Level 4.  Who'd a thunk it, certainly none of us.

A small revolution

I spent part of yesterday at work helping people take over the museum.  You might remember that a while ago staff got the chance to write their own labels for items on display (here's mine), well yesterday we opened it up for everyone using special, extra large orange postit notes.  It was great fun and no real suprise to anyone that one of the most popular items was the shark.

 Mind you the Moa and a teeny tiny frog did quite well too.

 
 

National crisis

One of the unexpected side effects of the Christchurch earthquakes is that we are in the grip of Marmageddon (Google it!).  Kiwi Marmite is running out.  For a Marmiter Vegemite just doesn't cut it and we can't just import it, apparently the Kiwi recipe has evolved over time and UK or even Aussie Marmite just doesn't cut it.  It is so serious that Sanitarium have enlisted Sir Graeme Henry, recently retired All Blacks Coach to reassure us.  

Warning, contains cultural references.

Marmite should be back on our shelves in June/July.  Until then we are rationing and hanging tough with our fellow Marmiters.

Taking a detour

I drove to Hakwes Bay this week for a funeral.  It's the first time I've done the trip since the Manawatu Gorge was closed by a massive landslide.  They are still clearing it more than 6 months later so to go from one side of the Nth Island to the other you have to take the Saddle Rd. 

As you can see, the weather wasn't that flash but the signage was fantastic including the dayglow orange detour signs you can see in the background.  And when you get up into the hills you find yourself in the middle of the Manawatu wind farm - all up close and personal and a little bit distracting really.