Climbing Mt Iron

The next day we climbed Mt Iron.  We started as early as we could because the forecast was for a very hot day.  It was meant to be an hour up and an hour down but it didn't take that long for the older kids.  There were great views from the top.

After lunch it was just toooo hot for anything so we went over to Lake Hawea and had a swim.  We had it pretty much to ourselves. 

Sightseeing in Wanaka

On our third day, Wednesday, we took the family to Puzzling World. 

It was excellent and the kids enjoyed themselves.  We had a look around the Illusions Gallery first.

Eva rolling uphill

Then we did the maze.  Petra, Eva and I did the Classic Challenge - to find all the towers in no particular order, while David and the rest did the harder one, of finding the towers in a particular order.

We finished at about the same time then tried out some of the puzzles.
I went back in the afternoon with Andrew and Eva while David was shopping because they wanted to have another look.  It was a great day out.

Summer Holidays in Wanaka

This year we went away for 5 days or so to Wanaka.  The original plan was to see the sights in Invercargill, but when we tried to book accommodation (at the last minute) we discovered the place was full of bikers for the Burt Munro Challenge so we changed our plans.  David and I hadn't been to Wanaka for 20 years - since our honeymoon - and the kids have never been, so it seemed like a good idea.

On the way up we stopped at Lawrence and Cromwell but it was a surprisingly easy trip - I suppose everyone has just grown up that much now that we don't need to be stopping every half hour.

We stayed at the Albert Town camping ground, where we stayed 20 years ago - still infested with rabbits, but not too noisy.  Every evening there would be cars parked, some with wee tents beside them, some not, and every morning by about 10am the place would empty out again until 6 pm or so when the next wave would arrive.  There are a startling number of brand new houses in Albert Town and Wanaka, and I'm not sure that the town is keeping up with so many new people - the supermarket was crowded every time we went and it was difficult to get a park anywhere.  It must be incredibly crowded in the actual school holidays, and over New Year.

We arrived in plenty of time to set up our 3 tents.  It got down to 7C or 8C overnight but this year we actually brought enough bedding and didn't freeze.  (Usually after our first night we spend the day doing the op shops for duvets and eiderdowns)
We did make a trip to the legendary Wanaka Wastebusters (the tip shop) to get a container for doing the dishes in, as we forgot that - and to the supermarket for tea and coffee.

That afternoon we went for a walk to the Lake Outlet.  We walked from the camping ground, and found it was half an hour's walk to the start of the track - by this point Eva had already fallen over 3 times, skinning her knees and elbows, so I went back to the camp with her and Petra while David took the older kids on the main walk.  It was a nice quiet walk along the Clutha River and we soon learnt to keep alert for cyclists sharing the track.

Bathroom renovation

About 6 months ago David got fed up with looking at the lino on the walls of our bathroom and decided to do something about it.

Once the lino was gone, we discovered ugly plaster tiles underneath so they had to go too. Also there was a rotten hole in the floor which had to be mended.

 Next there was a bulge in the wall to straighten out, insulation to be installed and signed off on by the council, gib board to go up...

We put up plastic so we could keep using the shower.

This last week or so has been concentrated on the bathroom, with Dad (thanks for the help!) and David working all day on it. Hardboard down on the floor, Seratone on the walls, sealant and glue all over the place, then on Saturday the lino went down. 

Now it looks great, we just have small things to finish off (shower in, door on, mouldings and mirror up etc)
Nearly done!

Craigieburn

This afternoon we headed off to Leith Valley for a walk in the Bush.  In December the Scouts had an end-of-year car rally which required us to drive on some streets we hadn't been up before, and when Bryony saw a sign for a bush walk, she stored it away in her memory until today.
Craigieburn was a farm way back in the colonial days of Dunedin, but seems to have been largely reclaimed by the bush as there were remains of buildings and paving at various places along the track.  Petra and Eva particularly enjoyed a swing someone had hung from a huge macrocarpa tree.

Tiny embroidery

Bryony has discovered covered buttons and has been busy all week doing tiny embroidery to fit onto buttons

Aren't they beautiful?

Bargain of the week (a few weeks ago now)

I saw some plants at Bunnings the other day for $1 each, in reasonably big pots. I didn't recognise the leaves and they had no flowers but when the shop lady told me that they were Gauras I bought all four.
I was pleased when they turned out to be white, and they look lovely in the garden. I have 2 gauras already but they tend to sprawl. These ones are more upright which suits me better