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.

When you do get blue sky

Formation flying is a good option.

We had the Red Checkers flying on Wednesday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Royal NZ Air Force and these guys on Thursday.  A nice lift after last week's grumps.

Adventures of the local kind

Last week was big and not necessarily in a good way.  On Tuesday we had more wild weather, closing the airport and all the schools.  Ok except for the fact that we were trying to get 8 authors in to town for our Children's Book Festival. On Wednesday I ticked 'bus replacing flight' off my bucket list - I got to Wellington ok but the fog descended late afternoon closing the airport.  Luckily you can drive to New Plymouth so the passengers of the 7.05pm flight got to know each other on the bus ride home.  Thursday we had a lovely evening with the Festival authors and a lot less weather.  On Saturday we had the Festival Finale with over 300 kids and their parents, nanas, big and little brothers and sister spread all through the museum doing drawing workshops, storytelling sessions and dress up performances.  Fabulous but exhausting.  The weather packed it in totally in the evening.

Sunday - not going anywhere, not doing anything - weather, perfect.

It can only mean one thing...

Fried Hungarian bread, beer and Gurrumul.  African goat curry, beer and Oud players from Palestine.  Mongolian BBQ beef, mango lassi and Aussie roots/blues.  Yup, WOMAD is back in town.  The standout so far has been the Yoots doing traditional Maori waiata/songs to a big band/calypso/ska beat.  They had the whole place jumping, literally.

The weather has played nice as well which means that this - the water refill queue has been a very popular place.

And on Monday

Post weather bomb (which actually did serious damage in Sth Taranaki)

Weather Bomb

Really.  Seriously.  This is what the Met Service was officially warning us would hit today.  A Weather Bomb.  On the news last night they were advising everyone to make sure they checked their moorings, tied down their garden furniture and kept their pets inside.  Properly speaking it is a massive, fast moving low weather system that came charging through here in the wee small hours of the morning.  I don't own a boat or outside furniture and the cat is always inside at night but I did almost get knocked sideways when I went out to get the paper.  If I'd got up at 4am I'm sure the black arm on my barometer would have been a lot lower.  The silver arm is the pressure reading from yesterday morning.