Mountains

I spent Thursday and Friday in Taupo for the North Island Library Managers Meeting. It was great meeting librarians from all over and getting to know about some of the stuff that is happening. It was equally great being in a new part of the country.

Taupo sits at the top of a lake in the middle of the Nth Island and Mt Ruapehu sits at the bottom. As I mentioned before we are having a bit of a cold snap so there was lots of snow around and the wind coming off the lake went right through you, but it looked fantastic. The mountain is flatish because it has blown it's top (literally) several times, most recently in 1995.

Then yesterday I popped up the street to take of photo of our mountain looking nice a sparkly with a fresh coat of snow.

Proper weather

Last week it was cold, this week we have a heavy swell warning.

I don't know if you can read it but it says we are in for swells of 4.5 meters. Seeing as work is just over the road from crashing surf, it could be worth watching for a few photo ops. Safely, of course.

I told you it was cold

From the local paper today - http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/2405682/Ski-field-opens-early

ten

That's how many degrees it was yesterday, probably 5 with the wind chill. If it wasn't coming off the mountain it was coming off the water.

I don't think I've seen the sky darker than the ocean before.

We didn't have it really bad though, they were skiing on 10cm of hail on the beach at Tauranga.

Wasting water

On Saturday I had a bath (under instruction from my massage lady) and on Sunday I washed the car (because salt can eat your duco). I felt so guilty that it made me realise I've live with drought and/or water restrictions for most of the last 15 years. It's quite amazing how ingrained saving water becomes. In my defence I still have a 4 min shower, don't water the garden and only used 1/2 a bucket to wash the car.

Also today it rained and more is promised for the rest of the week.

And for those who have been waiting...here is the car, nice and clean.

Clouds

One of the great things about living a little bit high up and looking out over the ocean is the sky.

Health and fitness

Well, it had to happen eventually. I have registered with a doctor and joined a gym, all in the same lunch hour. I'm not planning on needing a doctor any time soon but you have to register or you might not get an appointment when you really need one and it costs more. Apparently you also need some kind of government number which, after a little confusion they are sorting out for me. The phone call went something like this...

Drs: "We are just entering your paperwork and we don't seem to have your ???? number"
Me: "I don't know about a ???? number"
Drs: "You are a NZ citizen?"
Me: "Yes"
Drs: "Have you changed your name?"
Me: "No"
Drs: "Are you sure?"
Me: "Yes"
Drs: "Well we can't find you in the system, are the details you gave us correct?"
Me: "Yes, but I left the country in 1969 and have only just come back so if they introduced the ???? number after 1969 then that's why I'm not in the system"
Drs: "Ohhhhh. So you don't have a ???? number?"
Me: "No"
Drs: "All the details we have for you are correct?"
Me: "Yes"
Drs: "Right, we'll register you then and get you a ???? number"

Lovely ladies!

The gym was much easier; walk in, look round, sign up. It's over the road from work so, in theory no excuse for not getting there. Will let you know how I go on that one.