Monday 6th was Stuees 1st day at (Queenstown Resort College) QRC.
Joy and I had a roast dinner at the NZ/Brazilian food outlet at the shopping mall. Met Stuee, who had a good start in his new role.
In the evening we attended the QRC Induction Cocktail party for parents and students.
Tuesday 6th, was a very wet and cold day, so we spent a lot of time indoors. Walked by the lakefront & gardens, and then had an nice Indian meal at The Bombay Palace.
Wednesday 7th, Joy went to the Clinic, and I had a Mc Donald's Angus Burger, and then test rode a Trek Fuel EX 8 for 4 hours on 'Gold Diggers' Trail & then 'Grin & Holler'. It was freezing cold, windy, with light showers from time to time, However the trails were fantastic. Had a nice hot bath to warm up, and had an enjoyable dinner at the "Fireside Restaurant" in the hotel.
Thursday 8th, we spent the morning in the hotel on the internet and at 2:30 pm walked up to the lodge. The mountains were 'snow-capped' overnight and the air was still cold.
Monday, January 6, 2014
New Zealand -Week 1
Joy, Stuee and I arrived in Auckland on Sunday the 29th. We took the shuttle bus NZ$17 each to our hotel and checked into the 18th (top) floor of the Waldorf Apartments (St. Martins), which afforded us an excellent view of the 'Sky Tower' and down towards the CBD.
Monday 30th we explored the CBD of Auckland, and the Quay area. Many places were shut for about 10 days as all the students are on Christmas vacation.
Tuesday 31st we walked through the cemetery and then over 'Grafton Bridge' to the Auckland Domain Park. As it was late we didn't enter the War Museum, but the building is magnificent, as is the park.
Had a coffee in the park and watched the tame 'wildlife' forage for tidbits.
We watched the fireworks at the Sky Tower from our apartment balcony and celebrated the New Year with the customary bottle of bubbly.
Wednesday 1st January 2014, we strolled to the Art Gallery, and then to Albert Park where there are are many magnificent old trees.
We drifted down to the waterfront, and had dinner and a few drinks at O'Hagans. Although many polices were shut, the water front eateries were all open and very busy.
Thursday 2nd, we had a late start. PM we walked towards the key and had an burger enroute.
We bought tickets for the ferry across to Davenport and watched the very large cruise ship docked at quayside, before the 15 minute crossing and climbed up to the look-out point for some spectacular views around the area ann across to Auckland CBD.
Friday 3rd we packed and had a NZ$35 taxi ride to the airport. The flight to Queenstown on an Airbus A320 was most pleasant and the views as we flew into Queenstown were spectacular.
We took a shuttle bus ride into Queenstown for NZ$36 ($12 each).
Our first 2 nights were spent at the Lakeside Motel on the Esplanade in Queenstown, very basic, but functional with good views across the lake, and a 5 minute walk into town. Had a 'fish and chip supper' at JJs.
On Saturday 4th, we walked up to York Street and had a look at our property from the outside.
We had lunch at the Post Office Cafe and set up a bank account for Stuee at ANZ. We spent some time in town and had a chat with Benjamin in Rand R Sports looking at a possible mountain bike purchase. We had wine and snacks in the evening and at 10pm (still not dark) Stuee and I walked up to the lodge, and then back into town, where we had a couple of beers in "The Pub" & listened to some good Irish 'rebel' music. Stuee had a take-away butter chicken curry which was very tasty.
On Sunday 5th Joy and I checked into the Rydges Hotel & we took a taxi up to the QWRC lodge, and got Stuee settled into his new accommodation.
Joy and I had lunch at the Thai restaurant in town and then checked into the "Rydges' at 2:30pm. In the evening we had a wonderful dinner at Peoples Pub overlooking the lake by the "Earnslaw' dock.
Monday 30th we explored the CBD of Auckland, and the Quay area. Many places were shut for about 10 days as all the students are on Christmas vacation.
Tuesday 31st we walked through the cemetery and then over 'Grafton Bridge' to the Auckland Domain Park. As it was late we didn't enter the War Museum, but the building is magnificent, as is the park.
Had a coffee in the park and watched the tame 'wildlife' forage for tidbits.
We watched the fireworks at the Sky Tower from our apartment balcony and celebrated the New Year with the customary bottle of bubbly.
Wednesday 1st January 2014, we strolled to the Art Gallery, and then to Albert Park where there are are many magnificent old trees.
We drifted down to the waterfront, and had dinner and a few drinks at O'Hagans. Although many polices were shut, the water front eateries were all open and very busy.
Thursday 2nd, we had a late start. PM we walked towards the key and had an burger enroute.
We bought tickets for the ferry across to Davenport and watched the very large cruise ship docked at quayside, before the 15 minute crossing and climbed up to the look-out point for some spectacular views around the area ann across to Auckland CBD.
Friday 3rd we packed and had a NZ$35 taxi ride to the airport. The flight to Queenstown on an Airbus A320 was most pleasant and the views as we flew into Queenstown were spectacular.
We took a shuttle bus ride into Queenstown for NZ$36 ($12 each).
Our first 2 nights were spent at the Lakeside Motel on the Esplanade in Queenstown, very basic, but functional with good views across the lake, and a 5 minute walk into town. Had a 'fish and chip supper' at JJs.
On Saturday 4th, we walked up to York Street and had a look at our property from the outside.
We had lunch at the Post Office Cafe and set up a bank account for Stuee at ANZ. We spent some time in town and had a chat with Benjamin in Rand R Sports looking at a possible mountain bike purchase. We had wine and snacks in the evening and at 10pm (still not dark) Stuee and I walked up to the lodge, and then back into town, where we had a couple of beers in "The Pub" & listened to some good Irish 'rebel' music. Stuee had a take-away butter chicken curry which was very tasty.
On Sunday 5th Joy and I checked into the Rydges Hotel & we took a taxi up to the QWRC lodge, and got Stuee settled into his new accommodation.
Joy and I had lunch at the Thai restaurant in town and then checked into the "Rydges' at 2:30pm. In the evening we had a wonderful dinner at Peoples Pub overlooking the lake by the "Earnslaw' dock.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Life Changing Day
Rory, our eldest son, left the family home to go to London to begin his degree course in Acting and Contemporary Theatre at East 15 in Loughton, Essex.
http://www.east15.ac.uk
Below are a a few photos of us having a 'farewell drink' at Finnegan's Mid Valley, Mega Mall the evening before his departure.
http://www.east15.ac.uk
Below are a a few photos of us having a 'farewell drink' at Finnegan's Mid Valley, Mega Mall the evening before his departure.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Fifi - our 'special needs' kitten
I took Fifi our 9 months old 'kitten' to the vets to be neutered today. This photo was taken when she was about 7 weeks old. She was a stray in our car park, thin and weak. After a day or two we noticed that she was regurgitating her food, so we took her to the vet, who instantly suggested she may have a condition known as 'mega-oesophagus', but would require a barium X-ray to confirm this. The diagnosis was confirmed.
Mega esophagus is a condition where there is reduced or absent peristalsis (movement, muscular contractions) in the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that carries food and water from the throat to the stomach. With this condition the kitten/cat has difficulty passing food all the way down to the stomach. The result is that food may be regurgitated back up into the throat. This reduced motility usually results in dilation of the esophagus. It is not uncommon for affected kittens to get throat infections and succumb!
Being a 'special needs' kitten we had to spend more time with her, and initially fed her by holding her upright. We used a syringe containing mashed up wet food. Later we found that she fitted comfortably into a tennis ball tube, and when she got too big for that we used a sock with a hole cut in the side for her head!
The vet initially suggest that she was unlikely to survive, and my wife said we should have her put her down to avoid her suffering!
I proposed that we give her a chance and she has not only survived but she has thrived & grown into the most delightful of young cats and now weighs 2.5 kg.
The vet also recommended we give her only wet food, however she stopped eating wet food and we tried her with some science plan health development kitten pellets which she loves. We place her saucer in a slightly elevated position, and she eats normally this way.
She still regurgitates on occasions but much less frequently that initially. Her muscle tone is normal & she is very playful, clean, healthy kitten/cat.
Naturally we are delighted with her progress.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
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