Rodney has risen (almost). One of the battery connectors had got a bit rusty, and all the shaking and banging around involved in driving down the bumpy lane to Paul's house had broken it. I bought a new one in town yesterday and replaced the broken one (with Pauls help)... and we have ignition - ish. The battery is a bit flat so it isn't starting, but it's making the right trying-to-start noise and I've put the battery on to charge, so fingers crossed!
Yesterday I went into town with Paul in the morning because of dead Rodney, and spent the day mooching around town and cleaning the studio whilst Paul did his practice (I'm just going to put my leg behind my ear... la-di-dah... now I'm going to stand on my hands for a few minutes... and so on). In the evening Paul had a pregnancy class. Linda and I attended, along with Paul's usual group of keen-beans (one of whom was a man) and 2 pregnant women. The practice was made all the more exciting by the fact that one of the pregnant women (possibly the most pregnant I have ever seen) had started having contractions that morning and had turned up to the class anyway! She worked her way through her poses determinedly, with the odd groan that sent Paul running over to check that she wasn't giving birth on the yoga mat.
Today I'm going to weed the lower orchard, do more fruit picking and pray that, once charged, Rodney will start (else I'm cycling to the yoga class)!
Later: Well, that was an interesting evening. Firstly - Rodney works! Yes, that is correct, we have ignition and forward motion - yipee.
It was blowing a gale when I left - the rain dementedly hurling itself to the ground in bucketfulls. Made it to the studio, all good, made it through the hard class without any injuries (how is it possible to sweat so much without moving?). Paul zoomed off for another class, so it's just us girls tonight.
I drove back with Linda following, and halfway down the lane to Paul's house I have to stop - the road is only blocked by a tree! Bugger. We get out of our cars to survey the situation and within seconds are soaked to the skin (yes, unfortunately it's still pissing it down). I look at the tree - it's pretty huge. I give it an experimental shove - it moves not a millimetre. I suddenly remember the chainsaw Paul used for cutting up trees, the one he leaves in the clearing just up the way. Linda runs and gets it and we spend the next 10 minutes shivering, cursing like sailors and trying to get the bloody thing started. No luck; no petrol. Linda yells "the axes!" I look at her, then the tree, then I run off and get the axes. It was a strange situation, let me tell you: it's dark, it's peeing with rain and Linda and I are on a muddy road, either side of a tree, taking it in turns to swing away at this stupid gum tree and yelling like loonies - that tree didn't stand a chance (thank goodness we had a bit of practice at chopping wood!). We cut a section off, heaved it aside, cut another section off, heaved that aside, cut away a few branches, then jumped in our cars and drove to the house, praying no more trees had fallen (we brought the axes just in case). Luckily they hadn't and thankfully I had already prepared a huge bowl of dhal soup and baked some bread earlier, so we were able to laugh about it over a warming meal. Boy, this place really has a monopoly on interesting experiences.
Showing posts with label Rotorua. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rotorua. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Day 204 - Rotorua
Another busy weekend here in Rotorua. On friday Paul 'went bush' for the weekend leaving me and Linda to our own devices. We went shopping and stopped off for an Indian takeaway on the way home. The evening was a bit of a lazy one; we skipped our yoga practice to eat the takeaway then scoff icecream and watch a peculiar old Audrey Hepburn flick called Charade. So nice to relax and see a movie!
On saturday we had a grand spring clean. The place was a tad messy, so it took a while. I was on hoover duty had a great time chasing the cockroaches around the kitchen, mostly yelling things like "die cockroackes diiiieee" - dear me, not very oommm. Next we went to the recycling centre: sounds tedious but was actually pretty amazing (must be said that the UK's attempts at recycling seemed somewhat lame in comparison). For a start there were 5 bins for different plastic bottles alone, a plastic bag recycling bin and a rather cheerful young man employed as a glass bottle sorter. What can I say - I was impressed. In the afternoon we fired up the weed wacker and mower and did some 'cross country mowing' on the near-vertical fruit tree hill (my poor aching arms & legs). Then Paul turned up at about 6 and dumped a dead deer on the sideboard (guess I shouldn't feel guilty about my cockroach killing spree).
Yesterday was a bit more relaxing, I did a bit of gardening and went on a baking spree. I've discovered a new passion for cooking whilst I've been here. My biggest challenge is that if getting rid of the millions of beans that Paul has growing in his garden. My task is made harder by the fact that Paul doesn't actually like beans and has been known to fish them out of the nice soup/fried veg you've just prepared. Why he grows so much beans when he actively dislikes them is past me. There are also lots of courgettes, but I have a great courgette bread recipe, courtesy of Karissa, so they are slowly being used up.
So - this is now my last week. More of the same as last week and the week before I am sure. It'll be sad to leave, Linda has become a great friend and Paul is always good for laughs and random gems of wisdom. We're going to finish off my stay with a trip to the cave. Yes - the cave. We're going to go on friday and stay for a few days. Linda is coming too, so it should be fun - a good way to finish!
Zuccini Bread (that's American for courgette bread)
On saturday we had a grand spring clean. The place was a tad messy, so it took a while. I was on hoover duty had a great time chasing the cockroaches around the kitchen, mostly yelling things like "die cockroackes diiiieee" - dear me, not very oommm. Next we went to the recycling centre: sounds tedious but was actually pretty amazing (must be said that the UK's attempts at recycling seemed somewhat lame in comparison). For a start there were 5 bins for different plastic bottles alone, a plastic bag recycling bin and a rather cheerful young man employed as a glass bottle sorter. What can I say - I was impressed. In the afternoon we fired up the weed wacker and mower and did some 'cross country mowing' on the near-vertical fruit tree hill (my poor aching arms & legs). Then Paul turned up at about 6 and dumped a dead deer on the sideboard (guess I shouldn't feel guilty about my cockroach killing spree).
Yesterday was a bit more relaxing, I did a bit of gardening and went on a baking spree. I've discovered a new passion for cooking whilst I've been here. My biggest challenge is that if getting rid of the millions of beans that Paul has growing in his garden. My task is made harder by the fact that Paul doesn't actually like beans and has been known to fish them out of the nice soup/fried veg you've just prepared. Why he grows so much beans when he actively dislikes them is past me. There are also lots of courgettes, but I have a great courgette bread recipe, courtesy of Karissa, so they are slowly being used up.
So - this is now my last week. More of the same as last week and the week before I am sure. It'll be sad to leave, Linda has become a great friend and Paul is always good for laughs and random gems of wisdom. We're going to finish off my stay with a trip to the cave. Yes - the cave. We're going to go on friday and stay for a few days. Linda is coming too, so it should be fun - a good way to finish!
Zuccini Bread (that's American for courgette bread)
- 350 ml flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 100 ml sugar (don't need v. much)
- large handful of raisins (optional)
- large handful of nuts (optional)
- 350 ml zuccini (about 1 large courgette)
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 1 tsp vinegar
- a bit of water (if the mix looks too dry)
- 75ml oil
- 1 egg or (and I prefer it this way->) 1 ripe banana (blended)
Preheat oven 350/180. Mix together the dry ingrediants. Add egg/banana, sweetner, oil vinegar and vanilla and mix. Add zuccini (raisins and nuts too if you are using them) and mix well. If the mix is too dry, add a bit of water. Tip into a loaf tin (use cake tin if you don't have a loaf one) and cook for 40-50 min (until done
Later: Rodney is dead... long live Rodney
I get ready to go to class. I go to the van and sit in it. I turn the key. Kschuk...kschuck... I say some impolite words. I stomp into the garage and borrow Paul's spare battery and jump leads. I attach aforementioned leads and battery to Rodney's battery. I turn the key. Kschuk...kschuck... I scream with rage. I check the oil (fine), I unscrew the radiator lid (very gunky - but is that bad, and if so what the hell can I do about it?) I kick the car (poor Rodney). It doesn't work; the car is still dead, my hands are covered in gunk and rust and now my foot hurts.
Bugger... hope this doesn't cost a fortune to fix!!
Friday, March 09, 2007
Day 201 - Rotorua
Well - despite being somewhat inundated by asian tourists, the polynesian spa was great. After a few hours soaking in various ones of different temperature (the 42 degree one was the best) my feet went white and the top few layers of our skin had flaked off (niice). Afterward we went to the beauty boutique and slathered ourselves in the samples of cream. All in all an affordable day of pampering (and we didn't even smell that bad afterward!).
The next day we got up early and I drove the girls into town for a coffee before heading off to class. They were hitching up to Mahamudra, of all places, so I dropped them off north of town and left them hopefully thumbing cars as I went back to town.
Filled with positive energy after a good class (the hot water must have loosened my muscles), I decided to stop putting off the inevitable and visit the 'wheel dealer' on the way home. Rodders' front tyres looked a bit bald and he was in desperate need of a new lock. Half an hour later and it's official, NZ car mechanics are the best. The wheel dealer guy took a look at my tyres and said "Nah mate, those are ok, you'll pass your WOF no problem with those" (WOF is the NZ version of MOT). I showed him the missing lock and he suggested I go visit the car wreckers up the road. I did and met a charming guy called Chris who, after expressing his disgust at car thieves ("Ah mate, that's terrible") sent me further up the road to a bigger car wreckers (Chris' place didn't deal with vans) to visit his mate Clive, - he even phoned up the place to warn Clive that I was coming! Clive had a look out the back and handed me the lock - I gave him a blank look - he explained that I had to go to get it keyed (get a key made that fitted to the lock), then fit the lock into the door myself. Soo - I drove back, took off the door panel and fitted the lock in the door. I don't have a key for it yet - I'll get that sorted when I find a locksmith, but Rodney is now secure again (I just have to clamber in the passenger door every time I want to drive).
Today I've been hauling the mower round the near-vertical fruit tree hill and mowing down the waist high weeds that grow everywhere. Very satisfying, but my back is hurting again - guess I'll have to take it easy this afternoon and chop up some fruit for the dehydrator.
Paul is away at the cave this weekend, but Linda and I will do something fun like rent some films or go horseriding (btw: for those of you who are confused about all the people here: Linda is here permenantly, she rents a room from Paul).
The girls e-mailed me yesterday, they successfully made it to Thames. They took lots of amusing pictures of us cutting wood/climbing trees/gardening on their last day, so when they upload them I'll link them into my page and you can have a good laugh. They tried to get a picture of Paul too, but he ran away - hilarious.
Anyway - I have to get on and arrange my next stop now. I'm planning to be here until the end of next week (ish), and then I'll head south to Wellington and then over the South Island. Chris and Karissa are heading south too - so maybe we'll be able to meet up and go on a bit of a road trip... who knows.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Day 199 - Rotorua
So exciting.... yesterday me and the girls were limping around like cripples (too much grunt work and hard yoga) so today we've rebelled and are skipping class to go to the polynesian spa. Rotorua is a very thermal place - the eggy smell of sulpher permenently hangs around and as you drive into the centre, the rising smoke makes it look like tens of fires are burning. With all this bubbling mud comes... natural hot springs. We are going to stink like rotten eggs for a week afterward - but my muscles need the heat, so it's going to be worth it.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Day 197 - Rotorua
Well, I've been here over a week now. It's going well, my body is slowly getting used to the fact that it only gets to sit itself down during mealtimes and meditation (the latter of which is not exactly relaxing) and has just about recovered from getting into scorpion pose in my practice on sunday (see picture on the right - can you feel my pain?)I'm getting on really well with Paul, Linda and the girls also, so it will be very sad when Chris and Karissa go on thursday. We have got a lot of jobs to do in the garden today, so we'll be busy, but we will try to get some amusing pictures.
Oh, and during our intense double yoga class in town last night someone popped the lock on the drivers door and made off with the CD player, an Abba CD and my make-up. Scary visions of a cross-dressing thug dancing to Gimme Gimme Gimme...
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Day 194 - Rotorua
After shaky beginnings, I've settled in and having such a great time...
On Wednesday the wwoofers arrived; Chris and Caresa from the USA. They both met at the Kapala (spelling?) yoga centre in the US when they were both volunteering there. They are great fun, chilled and down to earth, and we all get along really well. They both have been in the yoga world for much longer than me, and really know their stuff, so we've all been having some fascinating long discussions about life, the universe and everything. The yoga practice itself is actually getting a bit easier - I think my muscles are beginning to get used to the fact that a yoga lesson is no longer a time to relax and stretch but instead work bloody hard each one of them. The girls are more disciplined than me and have their own practice - so I've been joining in - nothing hard core, just a little pranayama and chilled out yoga in the morning (meanwhile Paul is perched calmly in handstand, or sitting with a foot behind his head).
Paul really is a bit of a character; childish old man mixed with yoga hippy. He's always hopping around with lots of energy and going bouncing off to chop wood or shoot possums. Every now and then he hikes off into the bush to his cave where he stays and goes all spiritual for a few days ("man, and one time I was lying there all blissed out when this rat crawled up me and bit my ear, a I was like okaaay"). He's been encouraging us to go stay in the cave for a few days to meditate "you have a stream and you make a fire - I left one danish woman there for 9 days and she started hearing things and thinking the trees were out to get her - I mean... far out maan". He's also got a huge library of amazing books that we are picking our way through, and an awesome 70's music collection we groove along to when we are slicing the fruit we picked for the dehydrator.
So, all is good, yoga is good, muscles hurt less, mind is expanding and I'm learning how to chop wood and drive a trailer around. It's awesome maan. Who knows - a week in a rat infested cave next? Hmm, maybe not.
On Wednesday the wwoofers arrived; Chris and Caresa from the USA. They both met at the Kapala (spelling?) yoga centre in the US when they were both volunteering there. They are great fun, chilled and down to earth, and we all get along really well. They both have been in the yoga world for much longer than me, and really know their stuff, so we've all been having some fascinating long discussions about life, the universe and everything. The yoga practice itself is actually getting a bit easier - I think my muscles are beginning to get used to the fact that a yoga lesson is no longer a time to relax and stretch but instead work bloody hard each one of them. The girls are more disciplined than me and have their own practice - so I've been joining in - nothing hard core, just a little pranayama and chilled out yoga in the morning (meanwhile Paul is perched calmly in handstand, or sitting with a foot behind his head).
Paul really is a bit of a character; childish old man mixed with yoga hippy. He's always hopping around with lots of energy and going bouncing off to chop wood or shoot possums. Every now and then he hikes off into the bush to his cave where he stays and goes all spiritual for a few days ("man, and one time I was lying there all blissed out when this rat crawled up me and bit my ear, a I was like okaaay"). He's been encouraging us to go stay in the cave for a few days to meditate "you have a stream and you make a fire - I left one danish woman there for 9 days and she started hearing things and thinking the trees were out to get her - I mean... far out maan". He's also got a huge library of amazing books that we are picking our way through, and an awesome 70's music collection we groove along to when we are slicing the fruit we picked for the dehydrator.
So, all is good, yoga is good, muscles hurt less, mind is expanding and I'm learning how to chop wood and drive a trailer around. It's awesome maan. Who knows - a week in a rat infested cave next? Hmm, maybe not.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Day 191 - Rotorua
I've settled in here already. At first it was a bit like 'oo-er, not sure that I can last a few days let alone a few weeks', but now I think I'll stick it out. Paul, Linda and I have already set into a groove - despite being 60, Paul has a very kiddish sense of humor, so we all joke along merrily.
This is my day: I get up about 7ish and have breakfast, then I take the kitchen scraps to the chickens and, whilst they are fighting over the leftovers I sneak in the henhouse and grab their eggs. Then I do about 4-5 hours of gardening/maintenance stuff - not always gentle, this morning I spent 4 hours in the bush hauling logs about. Then I eat and relax. Then drive Rodders into town, praying that this time I won't go shooting off of the bumpy track to land in a tree somewhere. In town I pootle around a bit & go on the internet before Paul's class at 5.30. Class finishes at 7, or 9 if it is a double, and afterward I drive back in the dark, still praying that I won't go shooting off of the bumpy track. Then we eat a huuge meal, then meditate, then I go to my bed and sleep.
It's all busy - maybe all this hauling butt will burn off my spare tyre ;-). The new wwoofers are meant to be coming tonight - it's v. exciting. Now I'm going to go - time for the buuurrnn, plus I have nothing else to write (you're all going to get very bored reading this the next 10 days or so)...
This is my day: I get up about 7ish and have breakfast, then I take the kitchen scraps to the chickens and, whilst they are fighting over the leftovers I sneak in the henhouse and grab their eggs. Then I do about 4-5 hours of gardening/maintenance stuff - not always gentle, this morning I spent 4 hours in the bush hauling logs about. Then I eat and relax. Then drive Rodders into town, praying that this time I won't go shooting off of the bumpy track to land in a tree somewhere. In town I pootle around a bit & go on the internet before Paul's class at 5.30. Class finishes at 7, or 9 if it is a double, and afterward I drive back in the dark, still praying that I won't go shooting off of the bumpy track. Then we eat a huuge meal, then meditate, then I go to my bed and sleep.
It's all busy - maybe all this hauling butt will burn off my spare tyre ;-). The new wwoofers are meant to be coming tonight - it's v. exciting. Now I'm going to go - time for the buuurrnn, plus I have nothing else to write (you're all going to get very bored reading this the next 10 days or so)...
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Day 190 - Rotorua
I started my yoga wwoof yesterday. The setup basically revolves around a guy, called Paul, who runs a studio in town and has a big organic garden back at his house outside of town. The plan is that you do gardening in return for accomodation, and pay a bit if you want to attend the yoga lessons in town (I've attended so far - justifying the cost by the fact the food is included and the cost for a weeks lessons is what I'd normally spend on a weeks food).
I went to a lesson yesterday. Charming old man turned into yoga dictator. "Lift your front thigh muscle, calf goes to the left, tense left stomach right stomach front stomach back stomach, TENSE YOUR ARMS KATIE" aaargh. I've never had a more hard core yoga lesson in my life - or one in which I had to think so hard! Who knew there were so many muscles all having apparently to tense in opposite directions for even the most simple moves (e.g. standing upright). After theknackering lesson I followed Linda, another person staying, to Paul's house. The house is only 15min drive from Rotorua, but is out in the bush so to get to it you have to drive down the longest, bumpiest road ever imaginable. Just when I thought I'd been lead on a wild goose chase, we turned a bend and were there.
The house is built by Paul, and made of wood (they like their self builds here). I have a big room all to myself as I am the only wwoofer at the mo (more coming tomorrow). The house has a big garden, a cat about 15 chickens. The cat is a sweetheart, but got off on the wrong foot when it decided to leave rabbit guts on the floor of my room (niice). The chickens are stupid, but they eat all the weeds I pull up when I'm gardening - and produce nice eggsin exchange.
Looking forward to meeting other wwoofers tomorrow. Not really looking forward to 3 hours of muscle-flexing, sweat-inducing yoga later *sigh*. Still, I'm sure I'll feel very virtuous afterward, and after a while of letting Rodders do all the hard work, I probably need the exercise!
I went to a lesson yesterday. Charming old man turned into yoga dictator. "Lift your front thigh muscle, calf goes to the left, tense left stomach right stomach front stomach back stomach, TENSE YOUR ARMS KATIE" aaargh. I've never had a more hard core yoga lesson in my life - or one in which I had to think so hard! Who knew there were so many muscles all having apparently to tense in opposite directions for even the most simple moves (e.g. standing upright). After theknackering lesson I followed Linda, another person staying, to Paul's house. The house is only 15min drive from Rotorua, but is out in the bush so to get to it you have to drive down the longest, bumpiest road ever imaginable. Just when I thought I'd been lead on a wild goose chase, we turned a bend and were there.
The house is built by Paul, and made of wood (they like their self builds here). I have a big room all to myself as I am the only wwoofer at the mo (more coming tomorrow). The house has a big garden, a cat about 15 chickens. The cat is a sweetheart, but got off on the wrong foot when it decided to leave rabbit guts on the floor of my room (niice). The chickens are stupid, but they eat all the weeds I pull up when I'm gardening - and produce nice eggsin exchange.
Looking forward to meeting other wwoofers tomorrow. Not really looking forward to 3 hours of muscle-flexing, sweat-inducing yoga later *sigh*. Still, I'm sure I'll feel very virtuous afterward, and after a while of letting Rodders do all the hard work, I probably need the exercise!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Day 188 - Rotorua
Aah, I'm in a holiday camping site right near lake Rotorua, it's v. posh!
This morning I look the hint and finally gave Rodders a good clean. Not having running hot water is a bit of a pain - I had to walk to the stream and back about 3 times to get fresh water, and then fire up the stove to heat it up. Anyway, I'm glad I did - you wouldn't believe how much filth came out of the foam ceiling - eeew.
After I cleaned up the van (it took a good 2 hours) I set off to Rotorua. As I had already taken the road down the coast, so decided to take a different route, cross-country along the other side of the Coromandel mountain range. I started with a Lemon & Peroa stop at Peroa, home of the famous Kiwi drink. Then I headed south, stopping off at the pretty town of Te Aroha, also Matamata a.k.a. hobbitton and another town who's name escapes my memory, but who's chief tourist attraction is a huge corregated iron sheep!
Te Aroha museum (I think), and behind Mt Te Aroha
After being obscenely hot all day it suddenly started to rain lightly as I neared Rotorua, and as I rounded the bend and the lake came into view there was a lovely rainbow over the lake. With there being nothing better to do, I followed the rainbow and ended up here,Waiteti Trout Stream Holiday Park (phew, bit of a mouthful). The owners are charming, the place is cheap, and there is a TV room and free kayaks available for paddling on the lake. No pot of gold though.
Below is my updated travel map thingy - lots of question marks because I have no idea where I'm going next!
This morning I look the hint and finally gave Rodders a good clean. Not having running hot water is a bit of a pain - I had to walk to the stream and back about 3 times to get fresh water, and then fire up the stove to heat it up. Anyway, I'm glad I did - you wouldn't believe how much filth came out of the foam ceiling - eeew.
After I cleaned up the van (it took a good 2 hours) I set off to Rotorua. As I had already taken the road down the coast, so decided to take a different route, cross-country along the other side of the Coromandel mountain range. I started with a Lemon & Peroa stop at Peroa, home of the famous Kiwi drink. Then I headed south, stopping off at the pretty town of Te Aroha, also Matamata a.k.a. hobbitton and another town who's name escapes my memory, but who's chief tourist attraction is a huge corregated iron sheep!
Te Aroha museum (I think), and behind Mt Te Aroha
Road trip... the back road to Matamata alonside the Coromandle mountain range
"Nasty hobbitses" - Matamaka a.k.a. Hobbiton
Giant corregated metal sheep... random
On the way down I also stopped off at Wairere Falls and hiked for about 45 minutes up a rather steep mountain to reach the lookout. Still, the view was amazing so it was all worth it.
After being obscenely hot all day it suddenly started to rain lightly as I neared Rotorua, and as I rounded the bend and the lake came into view there was a lovely rainbow over the lake. With there being nothing better to do, I followed the rainbow and ended up here,Waiteti Trout Stream Holiday Park (phew, bit of a mouthful). The owners are charming, the place is cheap, and there is a TV room and free kayaks available for paddling on the lake. No pot of gold though.
Below is my updated travel map thingy - lots of question marks because I have no idea where I'm going next!
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