Sad weekend for Wellington and the Wairarapa :(
This is a hard blog to write. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to blog about this at all.
On Saturday morning, there was a ballooning accident in Carterton and 11 people died.
Hot Air Ballooning over the Wairarapa is one of the many things I hope to do someday. We have done it from Christchurch when we came here on our Honeymoon – and have beautiful memories of it. And watching the balloons from our house, or on the way to the train station in the morning is a stunning sight.
Hy heart goes out to the people left heartbroken by this.
I am not linking to any news stories about this as I have found them to be quite revolting in their need to be as sensationalist as possible. The reporting has literally turned my stomach.
Scary quake in Wellington last night.
There we were – quietly watching TV and we got the first rumble of an Earthquake. Then it got worse with a loud bang and some pretty severe shaking. It was enough to get us up off the sofa and heading for the table to dive under it.
It turned out to be a 5.7 Magnitude quake our in the Cook Straight between Wellington and Picton – a lot nearer Picton.
Now we are quite used to quakes here in Wellington, but that’s the worst one we have felt in the 7 years we have been here- and it caused one helluv an adrenaline rush. Because it takes about 10 minutes for the information about a quake to show up on Geonet or the online Quake Drums, we had no idea where it originated. So I was straight on the phone to the family in the Waiararapa to make sure it hadn’t been worse out there. FaceBook went into instant overload – everyone wondering where the quake was, and hoping it wasn’t Christchurch (given the jolt we had – it would have been another devastating one if it had hit the city).
We experienced no damage – which is as far as I am aware a sign of a well designed building. Its supposed to shake. Essentially the building is built in such as way that it moves with the quake -rather than trying to withstand it. Not a single glass fell of the shelf.
Others were not so lucky with damage and falling objects being reported in the comments on the Dom Post, and the swanky new Meridian Offices on the waterfront having the Louvres on the outside of the building damaged.
Obviously – people seem to be a lot more wary and worried these days because of the situation in Christchurch. We have seen close up just what a bad quake can do – and I certainly found myself wondering last night if this was our “big one” – in the few seconds it took to decide to head for the table. I think the situation is actually being made worse by the sheer number of quake related stories we are reading. Not the stories about Christchurch – I mean articles about just how many building in Wellington are unsafe – not up to current building codes. How many need millions of dollars of earthquake strengthening work, and how little help is available to owners to get it done.
Just this week, it was reported that the Justice Department had closed several courthouses (including Masterton) because they had engineering reports that said they were not safe in the event of a quake. There are plenty of building in this city that are still occupied – and yet prone to significant damage if a big one hits. It’s hard not be a bit jumpy in the city – wondering if the cafe you are sitting in is going to stay standing up. Odd that the only building damage mentioned from last night was not in fact the old unstrengthened buildings, but the new modern green Meridian office.
20 Years of Toast Martinborough
The 20th Anniversary took place on Sunday – which luckily was 1 day’s grace before gale force winds have literally rocked the lower north Island. We have now been every year – except last year when we were in Sydney and couldn’t make it – it’s a family “tradition”.
Now normally, I tend to be the one pointing out that things in New Zealand may not be as rosy as you are led to believe, and that you need to keep a sense of reality about you when planning to immigrate here. However (just to be contrary it seems) I am on the other side of the argument when it comes to the Toast Martinborough Festival. Apparently, it is reported that this year was “marred by drunken brawls”.
That was absolutely not our experience of the event. In fact the only sour notes of the entire day had nothing to do with the party goers – drunk or not. There was one really stroppy bus driver, and James Murdoch Winery had a stupid and utterly nuts rule about “one in one out” when buying wine. As we have a system where often hubby takes the glasses and gets the wine while I get the food – while someone else holds our place at a table – it meant he had to bring back two empty glasses, go back and get one filled, then go back and get another one filled. Along with everyone else.
It was the only winery with queues, and we didn’t bother, and headed to the next one – which was much more reasonable about the whole thing.
That aside, we had nothing but good humour, friendliness and fun off an awful lot of less-than-sober people (of all ages). By the time we got to Palliser Winery for the traditional end of Toast Dancing to The Beat Girls we were pretty shattered, definitely not sober, but still able to dance for a few hours with a whole mix of people (some of whom took quite a shine to my mum!) There was still no aggression or unpleasantness – just a bunch of people having a good time and getting louder as the day wore on.
Best Bands of the day:
The Dufraines - Brilliant Rock!
That 80′s Band – seriously good for dancing to.
The Jedi Nights – cos you just have to right?
The Beat Girls - Thier sets travel through the decades so theres something for everyone.
DJ Maxx - he was on while the Beat Girls took a break, and had the fantastic taste to play music in keeping with thier style, so we could just keep on dancing.
On the the other hand – Rimutaka Road ahead of schedule.
The Manawatu Gorge may be stuffed, but the work on the Rimutaka hill is storming ahead – and is due to finish months early – in March next year. I cant wait. It’s impressive as it is – but right now its little better than driving on a 4wd track. Which in a low 2 seater sports car is – um – fun.
Not a road you can drive right now with the hood down!
Im still really grateful to all the crews working up there – especially over the winter.
A small issue of a blocked road.
This is the current state of the Manawatu Gorge - the main road between the Wairarapa and Palmerston North.
Its been like this for months now, after a storm caused an initial slip back in August. Its been open for 3 days since then. The issue is causing massive problems – there is another route from the Wairarapa, but its a slower road and longer – so will make a big difference for haulage companies and other businesses. The Gorge runs from Woodville to Ashurst, now you need to turn off at Pahiatua and head through the Pahiatua Track. Its a nice drive – especially if you have to time to take in the scenery.
The Gorge is stunning actually – the problem is that you don’t have anywhere to stop and admire it -its a narrow road with no stopping spaces.
But with the size of the slip now – I can see it being a very long time before I drive through there again.
A great service day :)
Two shout-outs todays for brilliant and helpful service.
John at South Wairarapa Autos (our favourite Wairarapa garage anyway) for coming to our rescue at the local tip because the car wouldn’t start. Actually a second shout out here goes to TAD Builders for trying to help us get our car started first. But as that didn’t work – SWA had to come and pick us up – and drop us off at Wild Oats cafe where the rest of the family was waiting for us with coffee.
And thus comes the second excellent service award of the day – to the owner of Wild Oats cafe who came running out to us in the car clutching the $5 I had dropped.
It’s a lovely day here in the Wairarapa – but those people just made it better.
Thank you!
Proper devonshire cream tea at Clear River Estate
Actually we had this last weekend for fathers day – I have just been too lazy to blog about it till now. We came across this new winery the weekend before at a “Made In The Wairarapa” expo. Clear View winery used to be the Solstone Estate which closed down three years ago. We do not have good memories of it – the one time we went there to use the cafe it smelled overpoweringly of cow dung. We didn’t stay for a coffee.
However it has now been taken over, the vines have been tamed and restored, wine is being produced and the cafe is now open on Sundays. And doing Devonshire teas. So bad experience with the previous owners notwithstanding – we decided to give it a go.
First of all – no cow dung!
Then we come to order the cream tea. Now for those not familiar with this – a cream tea should consist of scones (plain or sultana but in no way should this be a “kiwi” style scone shaped like a rock cake and savory) served with clotted cream and jam (sometimes butter).
Now the charge is $10, but there was an option of $8 for whipped cream. So we asked what the $10 version came with and were told “Clotted Cream”.
O.M.G.
Oddly enough we went with that version. 
Because I’m curious, and because I figured people would want to know -I asked where they were getting it from – I figured we could all do with knowing just how and where you could get the stuff. Turns out they got the recipe off the Internet. Now I don’t know if it was this website that they visited – but if it was – you are very welcome! They also have a recipe from a local cheese producer – hopefully they will at some point be providing the recipe for people.
So on with the yummy bits. We each got two scones – you can choose your flavour including cheese. (Cheese??? With Clotted cream and jam???). They were good size scones – definitely no skimping here but still rock cake shape rather than English style, and they tasted absolutely delicious. The clotted cream was heavenly – just the perfect taste and consistency – and just like mine comes out. And we got different jams – I had blackcurrant – the others had raspberry.
I think its also worth noting that the tea and coffee was really good too.
In fact the only niggle I really have is that there wasn’t enough of the cream and jam for 2 scones that size. We managed because my brother and dad actually didn’t want theirs.
That aside – it was delicious and a lovely treat. I really wish the new owners well with the business – they are providing something that is very rare in New Zealand – a cream tea with clotted cream instead of whipped cream. Even the nearby copthorne hotel which serves High Teas serve them with tiny scones and whipped cream. I hope they keep making their own clotted cream and keep selling cream teas – because if the amount of NZ visitors to this blog searching for it is any indication – it’s much sought after.
Don’t you dare get used to being warm!
Filed under: Cost of living, Life in New Zealand, Only in New Zealand
Last week (just as we got back into New Zealand from Fiji), is snowed.
Now it was very pretty for most people – though living in a central city apartment we really didn’t get to see all the nice bits. We just saw it snowing, but due to traffic volumes it didn’t stick. However – the excitement from the Kiwis at this highly unusual event was electric. Very little work got done on the Terrace if the number of people coming out of the high rises to gawp at white flakes was anything to go by.
me – I stayed indoors and made a cup of coffee.
I’m used to snow. And while I love the soft crunch of walking through untouched snow, and the slight;y muffled sound of a blanketed world – I preferred to admire the snowstorm from the comfort of floor to ceiling windows. And a blanket.
But many Kiwis have never seen the stuff.
And the snow did in fact cause a great deal of trouble. Many roads throughout New Zealand were closed. We could not have got back to the Wairarapa as the Rimutaka hill was closed for days. That’s the main trunk road from Wellington to the east side of North Island. So its a big deal. Many of the suburbs surrounding the central city – because they are on steep hills, were difficult to get to – and for Kiwis who are actually not used to driving in snow – impossible to navigate. Plus – why would you when you get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stay home and build a snowman???
But wait – don’t you dare have too much fun in the snow! Don’t you know how huge your electricity bill is going to be because you “guzzle”too much electricity cos its cold?
Don’t Panic. The Dom Post is there to rain on your fun and gie you a heads up that you are going to broke next month cos you made an extra cup of coffee, cranked up the radiators and had the electric blanket on all night.
Domestic Electricity Users Network spokeswoman Molly Melhuish said the next power bill would be a shock for many.
To save money and cope with blackouts, she advised people to use an alternate form of heating, such as a woodburner or gas heater.
“Turn your heatpump off, get your fire going nice and warm and you will keep warm and save the whole country from having to build new power stations and new power lines, just to meet demand on the coldest days.”
Apparently, Molly thinks gas and wood are free. Idiot. And why is it that we shouldn’t expect New Zealand already to have the capacity to deal with cold weather? Cold isn’t unheard of here. It has honestly been no colder in our apartment this last week than on any day when a southerly is blowing. And yet, even in the capital city – there were rolling brown and blackouts for a few days. On the Terrace we lost power for an hour and it really did make a difference. I Missed our rural way of life and logburner at that point I can tell you!
The prize for the most stupid comment though goes for this one:
Heatpumps were efficient but deceptive because people got used to the warmth, Mrs Melhuish said.
Gosh. You don’t say. People actually want to be warm in winter. How dare we!
Stuff being cold – I quite like having a heatpump in the Wairarapa. It actually makes a cold house (even insulated) warm. Its not hot – it’s just pleasant – and livable. Interestingly, when we installed our heatpump – it did nothing to the size of our power bill. It remained the same if not slightly cheaper. The difference was that the heat was more evenly distributed and we didn’t have one room warm with 3 radiators and the rest of the house an icebox.
The comments are well worth a look in the article. One of the early ones from an ExPat pom had me in stitches:
“Heatpumps were efficient but deceptive because people got used to the warmth, Mrs Melhuish said.”
Oh yes – people must not get used to warmth in the 21st century. Disgraceful idea…!
As a Pom who had never even known houses without central heating and insulation even existed in the modern world until he time travelled back to the 50′s a couple of years ago when moving to NZ, this sort of comment is bizarre.
The Romans had central heating in AD40. Why should modern NZ be any different? We need more cheaper power and the answer to that is that, as Ian #2 says, we will be needing nuclear soon.
“Were there blackouts? No.” Actually, Clint # 1 yes. We here in the Wairarapa, a whole 80km from the nation’s capital, had no power in our part for 19 hours.
I burst out laughing when the woman at Meridian told me that 6 inches of slushy melting snow constituted “extreme conditions” and suggested she get the line company to take lessons from Canada or Sweden.
Snow??? Whadaya mean snow???
Ok, it’s snowing. It’s unbelievably cold. Colder than a southerly blowing through. Freezing. Thermals and 5 jumpers cold.
When I said my quarters were cold, I did not mean, ‘Oh, I think it’s a little chilly in here, perhaps I’ll throw a blanket on the bed.’ No, I said it was cold, as in ‘Oh, my left arm has snapped off like an icicle and shattered on the floor!’
Londo Mollari, Illusion of Truth
Babylon5
And because this is New Zealand, and we are highly charming, this means that the motorways are closed. In fact, we drove back to Wellington last night from the Wairarapa through a fairly heavy snow shower. It was quite spooky really given that at 8pm on a Sunday night, the rimutakas are virtually empty.
Apparently it was a good job we came back to the city last night – as the road is closed today. So if you want to go north through the Wairarapa from our Capital City – you have to go via the Kapiti Coast and across at Palmerston North.
You can see some photos at the Dom Post.
One of the reasons that this is such big news is that we are living in a relatively warm country. The Wairarapa is actually very mediterranean, which is why the are is known for its olive oil and wines. In fact our house is actually in line with somewhere 2 hours south of Madrid, and New Zealand as a whole is on a par with Portugal. So while we frequently get blasts of cold wind from the Antarctic in the lower North Island, snow is very rare.
We did have a blast of snow not long after I started this blog – and a friend of mine took some stunning photos.
Domestic Executive has now uploaded a blog with her usual wonderful photos.
Visiting the Pointon Museum.
Just outside Masterton on the road to Riversdale is a small car museum: The Pointon Collection. It also happens to house a fully working MTA registered garage, and a collection of vintage clothes.
So that happily covers the interests of all the family, some of which – like me – couldn’t give two hoots about the cars.
Most of the collection is housed in a large hangar style garage. The vintage costumes only take up a small corner, but the dispaly changes every few months. And while the cars and associated bits and pieces take up the bulk of the room, manequins in other costumes are placed around or in the cars.
In keeping with this being New Zealand, you get personally escorted around the collection. I guess that might be annoying for some if you are not used to it, but we have found that it happens a fair bit here. I have to say I quite like it – it’s nice to chat to people and certainly Gaye was lovely to speak with. I felt it added to the experience. If I had just been looking at the clothes, it would have been nice – but to hear about how she came to own them, and who they belonged to, as well as how things have changed in the local area, makes it much more than a museum.
You will often find this personal attention in the smaller museums. Probably becuase these are basically personal collections that happen to be shown in thier own homes.
It’s $6 to go round. The garage is signposted off the main road to Riversdale and is easy to find.
If you fancy a coffee afterwards, I recommend heading back into Masterton and going to Strada Cafe on the main shopping street near the cinema for a warm up!
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