Travelling

Back for one week and getting bored with white

and cold. I'd fogotten just how cold minus temperatures can be. 

That's all

Home, cold home! (2'C)

Now that I am home, I can use my computer to post to the blog, rather than individual posts - the iPad has its limitations! 

All that travelling! 29 hours flying, jet lag etc etc, but I finally feel like I'm home, (thank you Mum and Dad) the kittens are back, (Thank you Linda) the house is warming up (Thank you John) and I am being fed by my dear neighbours (Thank you Trudie and Jane) 

There is my Open Workshop to look forward to later today and who knows what other excitement in store.

For now, I am trying to keep warm, sort out 2000+ photos and unpack. I quite possibly will never wear that blue top ever again - but if I do, the memories of all the amazing places I have visited over the last two months whilst wearing it will flood back! It wasn't the only top I took, I had another (and I did wash them often!)

I have been finishing the journal too, adding printouts of photos and more bits so that now it will not close, but bursts at the seams with stories and memories.

A bit like me at the moment!

and Prudence - the only cat I could photograph despite lying on the floor for 10 minutes making cat nioses - Rita unimpressed, Norma sulking. Its official, I am the Mad Cat Woman of Langley!

So ....onwards and upwards someone once said. I'll have a go at that then.

Back in th UK now, at my parents house, driving home later today.
Reality check.

And so, of course, this glorious trip must come to an end. But not before I make one final trip. Way back in Nelson I met a lovely woman who used to be a volunteer on a bird reserve island north of Auckland. Tiritiri Matangi is one of the islands that have been cleared of all predators (introduced rats and stoats being the main bird killing culprits) and replanted with native trees and bushes. The birds are doing really well there - I will list them for John's benefit! Stitchbird, bellbird, saddleback, New Zealand robin, kokako, takehe, tui, rifleman, little spotted kiwi, fantail, kakapo, New Zealand kingfisher, pigeon, silvereye and welcome swallow. Oh and a little penguin who comes from the sea at night and sleeps on land. I saw quite a lot of these birds and heard many more. A whole day on this beautiful island was the absolute best way to spend my last day here in New Zealand.
Now the next part of the adventure begins, returning to my home, my family, my friends and launching into my creative year with renewed refreshed passion! Yay! Hooray for me!

The view from the top!

35 years ago, teacher and potter Barry Brickell got fed up with teaching in Auckland and moved to the town of Coramandel at the top of the peninsular of the same name.
He bought a densely wooded bit of mountainside because it had some nice clay and he opened a pottery.
But the clay was hard to transport down the steep sided hill. So he decided to build a narrow gauge railway, only to transport the clay and wood to fire the kilns.
As the years went by, he built a bit more track and then a bit more. Then he would run out of money and stop.
But then he would sell enough pots and plan a new bit of railway.
Today, the track goes 2.6km over rickety viaducts, through three tunnels but my favourite bit is the zig zags. Barry read about railways in Peru and built his based on these old designs. There are only seven zig zag railways in the world.
The tiny train goes along for a bit. Then the driver gets out, nips round to the back of the train, which then becomes the front, changes the points and does the next bit of track. Five times this happens!
Then you arrive at the Eyefull Tower.
And you get an eye full of the Pacific Ocean and marvel at the ingenuity and tenacity of such a visionary man.

This is the best railway I have ever been on!

Not sure what the health and safety department would have to say about this!

The Driving Creek Railway - one of the little bridges

I'm staying in a nice place in Rotorua now. I can cook my supper in the outdoor thermal oven while I soak in the naturally hot tub next to the beach, where I could dig my own hot pool if I wanted! (No togs remember)