Shakedown Cruise!

Last weekend we took our new baby out on its first outing in our ownership.  Surprisingly enough the layout is the same as our earlier motorhome but 1.4metres shorter.  Believe me that makes a big difference with storage.  But we will adapt, wont we?

Our first view by email!

We had had ‘Gypsy Rover’ for sale for sometime as now we aren't living in her we planned to go smaller.  We received an email from a Blenheim couple as to whether we would be interested in a swap with their motorhome for ours and a cash difference.  Well it was worth looking at we thought, after many emails and phone calls back and forth, we finally agreed to meet in Wellington and view each others vehicles.  They made the trip on the Inter Island Ferry to meet up with us and were so confident they had booked a return trip with ‘our’ van a couple of days later.

Now I know I shouldn't be on the table …….but I do like it here.

But we were the harder to convince, many hours were spent over and under their vehicle until we proceeded with the deal.  I must admit Derek put them through the hoops and large amounts of cash (on their side) were paid to correct several problems.

Peek- a- boo I can see you!

The lounge area the same as before.

‘Watford’ the teddy lives here. (we found him in Derek’s hometown lost on the road while in the UK).

Beautiful upholstery and a lovely picture on the flat panel TV.

The kitchen area is a lot smaller, although the van can sleep 6.

Looking towards the cab.

We even managed to erect the attached awning.

Our first trip away was only 20 kms north to Foxton Boys Brigade Camp with the Heretaunga Caravan Club .  There were many extras supplied with the motorhome, new side walls on the awning, new carpet and a brand new stove.  All in all, not too bad, there are a few things we need to do but in the meantime it has not interrupted our busy travelling schedule too much.

Gypsy Rover is sold!

Don’t think you have seen the last of us though, more exciting times ahead.This is the replacement. More to come.

Wellington150 years “New Zealand’s Capital City”

Wellington celebrates 150 years as the nation's capital.  On July 26, 1865 parliament sat for the first time in Wellington.   Parliament first sat in Russell in 1840, before moving to Auckland a year later and then moving south to its more central position in 1865.

The Beehive, centre of Parliament Wellington, New Zealand.

The Cable Car looking out over the harbour.

Wellington celebrated the birthday by a sound and light show projected onto some buildings and a concert by Dave Dobbyn and the Orpheus Choir for 3 days only.

Beautiful lighting display to mark 150 years.

“Thanks to Stuff”

I must admit despite now living 93kms north of Wellington I always love going back to this wonderful city.

Autotrail Rally at Classic Car Museum.

Looking rather impressive from the roof.

Recently we joined members of the New Zealand Autotrail Club for a rally at the Classic Car Museum in Hamilton.  The weather was very kind to us when we left home on Thursday afternoon heading for Taupo.  Arriving just before 7pm in torrential rain in Taupo we stopped in the centre of town to get some fish and chips before settling for the night overlooking the lake and Marina.

Up early next morning we topped up with water before heading to Hamilton in lovely sunny weather.  We had a stop to make in Cambridge to pick up some spare covers for our Duvalays.

Spot Gypsy Rover?Classic Car Museum, Hamilton.Classic cars galore.1900 school bus.

I don't know how it happened but somehow Derek and I were selected to organise the next National Rally for Labour weekend. We have managed to secure a great site at the Levin AP& I Showground's so guess where we will be at Labour weekend?  We have offers of help so hopefully we will get the numbers that were at Hamilton.  Of the 200 New Zealand members nearly half are from Auckland or north of.  We will have to wait and see. Time will tell, fingers crossed.

Foster and Allen.

Last night we headed for Palmerston North for dinner and a show. This is not something we do too often but we couldn't resist this one

The meal at Chinatown with friends Jenny and Robin was a real surprise with a gold card discount for the buffet meals.   Not something we get a lot of use of. We’ll have to go back and try the other side of the buffet next time. There was so much variety but we were unable to sample them all.

Then onto the show, with several buses from Levin, Wanganui and Dannevirke the show was very popular amongst our age group. Singing some of their popular songs such as “Maggie” and the audience joined in with “The Fly.” Unfortunately their version of “Gypsy Rover” was not on the nights programme but never the less a lovely evening was had by all.

Gallipoli the Scale of our War.

Showing at Te Papa Tongarewa (National Museum of New Zealand) One hundred years since the landings on Gallipoli in World War 1 .

The Scale of War.

Marking the centenary Te Papa together with Weta Workshops (of Lord of the Kings Fame) taking you back to Gallipoli.

Te Papa National Museum Wellington.The Horrors of war

New Zealand troops were involved in their first  objective of the First World War during the Allied invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula in April 1915. Hoping to seize control of the  Dardanelles Strait so that the allies had easy access to attack Constantinople (Istanbul), in Turkey. The Turks had sided with Germany in the war.

The Australia and New Zealand Army Corps landed at a small bay (now known as Anzac Cove) on the Gallipoli peninsula on 25 April 1915.

So lifelike the characters showing wartime.Bad news of the death of a brother.

Sir Peter Jackson’s Great War Exhibition.

Pukeahu (Mount Cook), the National War Memorial Park was officially opened on 18th April 2015. Being away up north at the time we took the first opportunity after returning home after our Anzac Weekend club rally, to visit this site.

Pukeahu Park War Memorial Park

Sir Peter Jackson helped to create this $10 million exhibition to mark the centenary of the Gallipoli landings. It is inside the former Dominion Museum building behind the National War Memorial Carillon in Wellington.  It tells the story of World War 1 from 1914  to 1919  honouring the role many Kiwis played.

The Australia memorial commemorates the long and close relationship between the people of Australia and New Zealand.

The wreaths from Anzac Day inside the War Memorial.

Great War Exhibition, old Dominion Museum Building, Wellington.

As you walk into the museum you are in a  "peaceful" Belgium street setting in 1914. As you walk through the exhibition you are shown the experiences of conscription and heading out for war, before viewing the recreations of battle scenes, including life-sized tanks and weapons. (Extremely realistic)

Our tour guide in a replica Belgium Street.Soldiers on the battlefield.

These soldiers were all hand painted by model enthusiasts.

The 51 metre high Carillion in Wellington.

This model of a New Zealander Richard Henderson and his donkey is a memorial to all medics and stretcher bearers and commemorates the 75th anniversary of the landings on Gallipoli.

Much of the exhibits  in the exhibition are from Peter Jackson's private collection and based loosely on the story of his grandad Will, while other pieces were donated from war museums in France and Belgium.

Sir Peter Jackson used the  creative talents of his teams at Wingnut Films and Weta Workshop to create the experience .