Tongariro Water!

Now that's interesting we had heard this was coming.

Earthquake and Earthquake Swarm!

Photo: Stuff.co.nz

After the rather large 6.5 earthquake off the coast of Wellington on Sunday, we are glad we now live a way north.

We were both upstairs when the earthquake struck and Dot flew down the stairs to stop the hanging lights and pot plants from swaying. We know that is the wrong thing to do but you don’t think logically when something like this happens.. 

Photo: NewstalkZB

It wasn't until a couple of hours later that we noticed that our Cuckoo clock was on a strange angle and had stopped at exactly the same time as the earthquake had struck at 5.09pm. As all children are now told after the last big earthquake in Christchurch is “ Drop, cover and hold”.

At our AGM last week we were all asked if we could survive by ourselves for at least 3 days with water and supplies. Lets hope we never need to put them into practise.

Since then there have been thousands of after shocks that we have been lucky enough not even felt but of course it would be much worse closer to the epicentre. We must be nearly 150 kms north.

Tararua Ranges

The reason our temperatures are down, don’t they look lovely.  The ranges behind our home with the heaviest covering of snow we have seen there.  We have been very lucky and missed the extremes of weather that have been all around us.  We have decided that our choice of location to settle on our return from the UK was the right one.

Today is stay at home day

The last few days we have been helping a friend packing up his home ready for moving.  Today we were both aching so much after using muscles we haven't used for a long time that we had a long lay in.  Bliss.  But by mid morning we were up and about, washing on the line, whoops here comes the rain, back out again to bring  it inside.  Enough of that malarkey so it is now on the clothes rack upstairs drying nicely.

Now for the answer to that question the other day, does this explain it?

A Worm Farm of course.

A local kindergarten had their worm farm stolen, of all things.  This was reported in the local paper so yours truly decided to make a new one at the Menz Shed and present it to the school as a replacement.  The kids were over the moon and looking for the worms when it was delivered to the kindergarten on Friday.  One good deed for the community, now what should I make next?

Snow’s forecast again! Time to go

Central Plateau with good covering of snow on Mt Ngauruhoe.

We keep getting these snow warnings but we seem to avoid the white fluffy stuff. Even 2 recent visits to Tongariro have not made any difference. We arrived and departed either before or after it’s forecasted arrival missing it every time.

Some lucky boys birthday present made by yours truly at the Menz Shed.This one will probably stump you, any ideas?

Back in Levin we are as busy as ever, I with the Menz Shed and helping out on our friends farm. Dot’s time spent reading or catching up with some overdue sewing.