Our first few weeks in Wellington

Our first week in Wellington - sunny, warm and great to be back.  We've got lots of boxes to unpack but we're doing that slowly as we've decided to paint rooms before moving in to them.  A good idea in theory but it means we aren't quite settled yet and we keep thinking we having 'something' but just don't know where it is - like the hooks for the book shelves to sit on and the lids to the pots.  We spent some time with Mike and Rebecca and her parents before saying goodbye early one morning at the airport (4.00 am), watched a game of rugby with Sharon and Aaron and spent time with other family and friends.  It has been great.  The cherry tree is out in the garden and so is the kowhai - dinner place for the family of tuis - Harry has been out each morning taking photos.

And the NZ navy has come to visit Wellington (well almost 11 out of the 12 ships).  We've been down for a look as they are moored at the wharves and Harry went onto the "Wellington" but not the others as the queues were rather long (it was one of those days where the fan zone was full of lazy people, and the navy crew men were enjoying a picnic on their decks).  We also went to see the boats sail out of the harbour on one of those days when the southerly has hit town, the clouds were low and the sea spray is all around (another way of saying not much to see).

We also wandered along the 'black boot' outdoor exhibition and read some snippets and photos about some great rugby players over the decades (along with lots of French speaking people that day)...

• In 1984, 22 all Black captains had a photo taken.  The oldest was 92 - Beethoven Algar (his mother loved Beethoven's music).  In WWI he was the bodyguard for Lawrence of Arabia.

• Pat Vincent is the only captain ever to have stood on his head in a yoga position before a game (that's what they did back in the 1950's!!).
• Back in the 50's the teams had no subs, managers, specialist coaches, doctors, physios or water boys. Injuries - just meant keep on playing with fewer in the team.  
• Alex Wyllie back in 1975 told his team that there were only two excuses to miss training - death and docking lambs.
• Jazz Muller trimmed his hedge with a motor mower.
• 40 or so years ago touring teams were issued 2 jerseys for the season.  By the end of the season the team was known as the All Greys. 

The weather has turned a bit colder this week and we've wrapped up well.  We've had some people in to give us advice on ventilation and heating systems and decided on some extra heaters and a ventilation system.  So, we should be sorted just as summer begins!! We've also painted the bedroom (pink - a joint decision believe it or not - Barbie would like it), and the study where we vetoed the pink look and went for a neutral vanilla.  New curtains are a must in the bedroom - and perhaps the study now that I have washed them and they've shrunk a bit (not saying how much).  On Friday we went to the Maori art exhibition at Porirua.  Very impressive.  I think I was half expecting an artsy crafty thing but we found a display from a very talented group of artists - ceramics, weaving, glass ware, painting, jewellery, wood carvings.  We were really impressed with Roi Toia.  We didn't take photos but I grabbed one from the web which is similar except the carvings we saw were of the full bird about to take flight.  Rex Morton - owner of Boulcott Street Bistro and food creator for premier seats on Air New Zealand we were told by an American couple - did a cooking display where we learnt how to cook a hangi without cooking a hangi, and how to smoke fish on a barbeque (the latter we just might try - sawdust, tea are key ingredients - oh you need some fish!!). We then did our touristy thing and had a thermos of tea on a park bench at the harbour watching the seagulls and discussing our shopping list.