2am - the sequel

Yesterday I was down at Ngamotu beach for a BBQ. This is right near the port and there, in all it's glory sits the accommodation pod patiently waiting for it's ship to come in. It's a bit easier, being further away to see exactly how big it is.

2am roughly

One accommodation pod, one massive trailer, 3 trucks - two in front and one behind, 12kms from start to finish, rain, wind, axle problem, 5000 spectators. Geek factor - very high. Worth getting up at 1.30am for? Absolutely.
Yes, it seriously turned a right angle corner, two in fact. I have video but it's a bit like watching paint dry only slightly faster. I could overtake it at normal walking speed. The entire trip took over 10 hours. I was back in bed at 3.15.

Noho Marae

We had our marae stay for Maori class on the weekend, this time with two class levels and extra teachers meaning much more fun. As with last year a group of Yr1 ladies did the hangi on Saturday.

The Supervisors, the fuel and the crew:

Getting creating - weaving the mat to put on the hangi between the hot rocks and the food basket and my putiputi (old and new)

and lastly my taonga puoro a traditional flute. Yup, we made our own musical instruments, how cool is that and yes, it works!

And another one!

This time from the Wellington waterfront (during a break from a conference)

About to be cake

Not much has been happening apart from work but I have had leave approved at Christmas which means I can go home to Aus for a few days which means I can also make the Christmas cakes. My self imposed deadline for this activity is Melbourne Cup Day - the first Tuesday in November. This gives the cakes plenty of time to mature and have at least two dowses of brandy. As we have a long weekend here for labour day the timing is perfect, the fruit has been soaking and the happy hen eggs are all lined up and ready to go.

Trophy count - 3

Sometimes the wierdest things happen. I was in Auckland for work last Thursday. On the flight home I was in 9B, in 10B was the 2011 Melbourne Cup on it's way to the Hawera Races. I lived in Melbourne for 6 years and never got to the races, let alone anywhere near the actual cup.
So...William Webb Ellis (Rugby World Cup) Trophy - Tick. Ranfurly Shield - Tick. Melbourne Cup - Tick.

I'm sensing a small obsession

You know how you notice something quirky and then just seem to keep seeing other examples? I flew to Blenheim, at the top of the South Island yesterday. This mean going through Wellington and guess what - they have 'done up' their loo signs for the rugby!

The sign that you can half see says Welcome to our Turf. And then in Blenheim...

even the poor guy in the wheelchair looks desperate!