Saturday, December 10, 2016

Some photos from Kaikoura Earthquake

Some photos from Kaikoura's devastating earthquake  7.8
This is what some of the major main highway between Blenheim - Kaikoura looks like now, although they are hurrying to repair it as fast as possible.
Amazingly only 2 people died in this massive quake.







Railway is also destroyed.


Houses met the same fate


These cows were stranded as the hillside fell away, but they were soon rescued unharmed.

The Army came to the rescue of people stranded in the small town of Kaikoura, mainly tourists, they were helicoptered out after the Army and the local Maori Meari fed them


The sea bed was lifted by the power of the earthquake  straight up  about 6 - 8 feet high along with all the fish and shellfish. kelp and other marine life



and there were many huge slips of rock and mud that came down from the mountains one of which trapped a frieght train just as it came out of a tunnel, it is still there and will be for a long time..


Thursday, September 08, 2016

Koh Samui Elephant Trek

While we were in Koh Samui we chose to go on an all day tour, we spoke with the tour director and I said I wanted to go Elephant trekking and Erle wanted to watch the Tigers and the monkeys show. She said it was all good for combining them all plus a few extra bonus things as well. Was quite expensive because it included a nice lunch.
We were picked up in a lovely new air conditioned luxury van then picked up a German family with a couple of small children and taken  to the Elephant trek place.
There was a Mother and baby elephant there to pat and 2 other half grown elephants that we could buy food for too. Most people did just that specially for the mother elephant.
We were taken over to meet the elephant we were to ride, Erle immediately decided not to ride the elephant at all so I was taken by myself on a nice quiet elephant with a mahout. 
We wandered along a nice jungle path past many other elephants with

passengers. I was really enjoying the quiet plod along listening to the birds and other wee things scuffling in the undergrowth. As soon as we were well away from the other tourist my mahout started asking if I wanted my photo taken, he would hop off and take the pic for only 300 bart ( thai money) he said, I told him no as Erle would take plenty of photos. Then he dragged out some necklaces that I might like to buy, but I didnt want to, then he started telling how he had a wife and several children and the elephant and he needed lots of money for all of this and surely I would like to give him money. Err no thanks, then it was but give me a tip. So I got a 20 bart note out and gave it to him and he laughed out loud and I thought he might throw it away even. I reminded him that I had paid for the trek and he would be paid from that and he laughed again. I actually started to get vaguely disturbed by him cause I was on my own with him and the elephant, but he seemed to think better of it and just walked me back to the stand that I had got on to the elephant and said good bye.


 Fortunately Erle did take some photos  while I was on my on my trek.
Now to walk to waterfall.



Was quite glad to be off and back on the ground, Erle and I then went for a lovely walk up to a waterfall I had spotted while on my trek There were many tourists swimming in the pool at base of waterfall, it was nice a cool there, we had intended to swim too but there were lots of big sharp rocks in the water and we didn't want to risk being hurt so just watched the others for a time .






Then we  werewalking back to where all the brightly coloured stalls were and did some shopping.

 While I did enjoy being o the elephant the behavior of the mahout annoyed me. But there was still lots of other things to come in our tour.






Saturday, August 27, 2016

Beautiful Fir tree.......Destroyed!

Beautiful Fir Tree.
I go away for 3 days and someone came and sawed down the majestic Fir tree. I feel for the poor tree it had been there about 100 years or more and was huge and loved by the birds. Because it was the tallest tree around birds all wanted to sit at the top and sing their songs. It took so long to grow and was destroyed so quickly this is all that was left..... the truck and masses of messy branches lying everywhere

This is the same lovely tree that I found decorated with pretty flowers the day my neighbour died. She would of been so pleased, and I felt she was honored by the gesture.
Will miss this nice old tree, I used to sit under it in peace and quiet frequently, just listening to the birds.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

My Fitbit Charge HR

My daughter Nyle is an athlete and has had a Fitbit Charge HR for sometime to monitor her steps and her sleep and heart beat  then my Pastor got herself one and I heard all about how great they were so I went and bought myself one! Had to keep up with the Daughter, the Pastor and the Jones etc, even though I am an oldish couch potato.
 They are not cheap but are a lot of fun and very interesting to have. You wear them all the time and it records your heart beat day and night. Ofcause it counts all my steps and active times, and it tells me how much sleep I actually get, this has been a Revelation, I seem to get get way more sleep than I had ever dreamed of which is good.
hand below.

I like the pretty purple colour on my wrist too, but I am wearing it way too high on my wrist, my Daughter showed me to  move it further up my arm for a correct reading, that is her much younger hand below. 

Already the Fitbit is working I have been encouraged to walk far more than usual just so I get a good reading, I never pass a flight of stairs now days without racing up the stairs as it raises my heart rate and it counts as a flight of stairs in my counter.
I am never going to be an athlete but I am going to be a little more active which is healthy, if I can lose some weight at same time it will be nice but unlikely.
I could use some more friends that have one of these wrist bands to give me more encouragement should you have one send me a friend request we can help each other..
To get the readings from your days activities you need to download ww,Fitbit.com on to your iphone. I find I am constantly checking how I am going during the day and can hardly wait to see how many hours I have slept during the night.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Half Marathon walk

Today is the last big event for the Merry Missionary Month of May, a sponsored walk done by Judy and Kate both from our Church.
Most members of ca our Church came out and joined in at some stage to encourage and support them. I also did twice along the way.



Sadly the weather didnt totally co-operate with us. It was a dull overcast day with bouts of heavy rain and strong winds at times it was quite pleasant for short bursts.



 I joined in at this point for a couple of km round the hilly scenic part, fortunately it was a fairly dry time.
 John made several signs ti encourage them and walked a coupe of km.
 a quick drink along the way.
 At the three quarters mark I rejoined the walkers in the pouring rain along with several others.


 Finishing line is the arches at our Church. Both ladies made it.


Wayne was waiting to welcome everyone with a great sausage sizzle, with some yummy onion plus some ginger crunch cake made by yet another .
A very successful day all around, masses of money made for our Missionaries in several countries.

W

Sunday, May 15, 2016

My Unexpected Water Baptism!

Our Church held its Merry Missionaries Month of May swim this afternoon straight after church.



 We all drove around to Shelly Beach where lined up in readiness for the sponoured swim along thr sea wall. Eight of us ended up in the ocean swimming for sponsor money. I was one of them. and was the only woman until later an unexpected Lady rushed in!
 It was cold but not unbearable. So we all frolicked in the water swimming for a while







 When I got out Pastor Judy and Pastor Julian said why didn't I get water baptized since I was already soaked I said Pastor Judy was not dressed for the water so it could wait til another time.




 Before I knew what was happening Pastor Judy had dived into the sea and awaiting me to do the same, how could I refuse. . So I was Full Immerson Water Baptised today! Not something I had planned. Praise the Lord.



When we came out of the water several people prayed for me in my soaking wet condition.
I am glad I have finally done this after nearly 30 years of being a Christian.

There was even a video taken after we got out of the sea. But I cant seem to upload it at the moment, I shall try later.
Sorry about the green flashes I lent my phone camera to a lady who was very unfamiliar with them.

Sunday, May 08, 2016

Beautiful Porsche

Our beautiful Silver Blue Burmese Cat Porsche, she has been in a very playful mood all evening. Weather is so mild at the moment, although it is Winter time we still have Summer weather and it seems she thinks it is Spring.

Same cat just different light.