Fishing

Mark gets another half day on a fishing charter (the rest of his birthday present). I'm hoping we'll have snapper for tea.

Chilly!

It was cold in the house this morning! But no worries. It's 14 degrees and sunny now. Happy winter.

Mmmm. Pie!

You can't imagine the disappointment I felt the first time I saw 'Pie' on a menu, and then realized they were meat pies. A classic Kiwi tradition: mince pie, steak 'n cheese pie, and steak 'n kidney pies. Now that I'm not expecting something sweet and served with whipped cream, I can say I kind of enjoy them.

Trampoline

 
Thank goodness for the trampoline. Gives the boys a way to burn off some of their energy

Pedestrians Beware

One does take their life into their hands as a pedestrian, here. Pedestrians do not have the right of way, not at street corners, only at a very few designated crosswalks. Kids are taught quite young the proper way to J-Walk. You need to cross away from the intersections (at the middle of the block) and be quick and alert. Too bad for us Canadian's who are still looking to the left for traffic that is actually coming from the right. And as a driver, do not slow down or stop for that elderly lady with a cane, or the mum with a toddler and a baby carriage. You'll get tooted off the road. Hmm, I think we are going to be a menace when we get back home.

Toilets

There is one thing you've got to say about Kiwi's: they do toilets incredibly well. There are public toilets (aka bathrooms) in every town and city centre, and they are mostly, impeccably clean. Some of them talk to you. No really, as you step into the toilet, a woman's serene voice talks you through the process: "Door locked, stand to flush, etc. etc). They are sealed and self cleaning. So, once a day (I'm guessing) the toilet is sealed off and fully washed with an automatic sprayer. OK, I didn't wait around for that part, but I've been told. Anyway, it's pretty nice not to have to sneak into MacDonalds or use grotty gas station toilets as you travel around town.

The Haka

Steven got to be part of the Haka for his school trip. This is part of a Maori welcome ceremony (Powhiri) that is done when one tribe (iwi) goes to visit another tribe. The host school was standing in rows in the gymnasium, and the visitors are welcomed in with a call/song by a woman (or girl in this case). Once the visitors entered the gym, the hosts begin their haka. It is a war dance that is intended to establish authority, dominance and intimidate any potential threatening visitor. Anyway, the Gis Int students filed in, as the Whakatane students started their haka. Then the Gisborne kids respond with their haka. If you could picture 500 students on the one side and 150 students on the other side facing off and in unison chanting (screaming) and stomping and clapping. It was awe inspiring. And does it ever pump them up to compete!! All of this is followed by speeches, welcome songs, and finally the hongi. This is the equivalent of the Maori hug. But it is a handshake, as you press nose to nose with your host. This is the host saying that "I have shared your air/breath. . . you are part of us and of this place, while you visit here." It was really cool to be a part of.