ANZAC Day

Anzac Day is a tradition for us. This year we hit the Dawn service then later the Pt Chev Parade with our Dodge Truck

Same Week, Different Seasons

Within a few days of skiing, we were enjoying some hot weather in the Bay of Islands. Hard to believe the change.

Christchurch and Hamner

Kes and I went to the Promise Keepers Event in Christchurch. The Event went really well. A highlight was men Vs tank as teams pitted their muscle against 16 tonnes of Armoured Personnel carrier! watch the video here>> After that, we got a car and headed to Hamner Springs. That is a great little alpine village and just feels peaceful. The thermal pools are a big attraction. Thanks for a great break, South Island!

Last look at summer

Dolphins riding the boat wake
Open day at the quarry


Manly cooking

Well, it's May and i just love the fine, settled weather, even if it's getting colder. Here's a look back over the last few months.

Hot Summer

We eventually arrived at the Bay Of Islands with all the gear, the chooks, the rodents and the Dodge. It is getting harder to get the kids outside but they have a great time when they do. Here's what it looks like so far.

Israel@60

Last night the Oras went to the NZ launch of the 60th celebrations for Israels 60th birthday.
On 29 November 1947 the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 181 which set out the partition of the British Palestine Mandate area into a Jewish State and an Arab State in economic union, with Jerusalem under international control. The Israeli portion was smaller than the currrent nation but that was still unacceptably big for the Arabs.
The voting was 33 countries in favour, 13 countries against and 10 countries abstaining. This result was more than the necessary two thirds majority needed to pass the resolution.
New Zealand voted "YES"
Later the Arabs attacked trying to destroy the new country gambling that they could wipe it out. They failed with consequences lasting all these 60 years. The Arabs are rotten gamblers.

Hatikva is the national anthem of the State of Israel.

The text comes from a poem by Naftali Hertz Imber called Tikvatenu, first published in Jerusalem in 1886. It soon became popular throughout the Jewish world and in 1933 was adapted as the anthem of the Zionist Movement by the 18th Zionist Congress. Upon establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Hatikva became the national anthem.

HATIKVA

Kol od balevav penima
Nefesh Yehudi homiya,
Ulfa'atei mizrach kadima
Ayin l'Tziyon tzofiya.

Od lo avda tikvatenu,
Hatikva bat sh'not alpayim,
Lihyot am chofshi be'artzenu
Eretz Tziyon virushalayim.

THE HOPE

As long as deep within the heart
A Jewish soul stirs,
And forward, to the ends of the East
An eye looks out, towards Zion.

Our hope is not yet lost,
The hope of two thousand years,
To be a free people in our land
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.

Life in the (Techno) Slow Lane

Yesterday I came face to face with the fact that I am in the slow lane. My laptop had smoked up the motherboard. (The hardrive blew 3 days from new. Go HP!) Searches for another board were fruitless. Talking about the problem with a friend, he said he would ask his son if I could have his laptop as it is the same model. Negotiations were successful with the boy upgrading. So here I am with my hard drive and RAM in the donated laptop blogging. My tech guy has removed the sticker "It's cool to walk to school" as it was more appropiate to the last owner. Did I mention the kid is 5 years old?

Ski Field Closed due to Volcanic Eruption

The Dome hut was't buried by mud the day before.
The Lahar path goes through the Far West T Bar area.
Conveniently, the ash fall out did not affect the snow inside the ski area. Last time it ruined skiing.
Snowmen are always popular. Ruby, Isaac and Jonathan
Betsy
Family Tradition - Nachos by the river at Whakapapa

This ski season we had some passing excitement when the field was closed for a day due to a volcanic eruption. It happened at night in cloudy weather so no one actually saw it. Three men were in the dome hut when a rock came thru it, crushing one man's leg.
That was Tuesday, 25th Sept 07. Closed Wednesday. Nice weather Thursday, lets ski!
We went down Friday and had a great couple of days. There can't be too many ski fields around the world where eruptions are just part of the deal.