I've never been too keen on all the Christmas rush ( Read more... )

Remember how I said you couldn't get into the driver's side of the Mazda with the key? Well the panelbeater fished a piece of a broken key out, and then I could open it if I caught the key just right on the last remaining tooth of the door lock (someone must have used a screwdriver to break into it at some point, because the lock was very loose ( Read more... )

I just took a shower and as I was drying myself, a cockroach fell out of my towel and landed on my foot. It was bigger than the one in the picture yesterday. Sadly there is no picture of me SCREAMING, dropping my towel, sliding across the floor, and slamming into the bathroom door ( Read more... )

Me looking pathetic with my defective $3 thrift store umbrella at Fantail Falls LOL

( Read more... )

On February 19th, I reluctantly left Mount Cook and headed back to the coast to Oamaru, which I had been at a few days before. My route traced several more stunning lakes. I also decided stop in at Lake Benmore on a whim, which was just gorgeous. I also took a detour to some striking sandstone cliffs, and at the town of Duntroon, I chose to take ( Read more... )

On February 7th, I went for my first tramp (hike) in New Zealand. I chose the nearby Glentui Park (just past the Ashley Gorge that I mentioned in the previous post), and was very pleased with my two hour jaunt. The light was beautiful and the landscape very similar to forests in Canada, but without the threat of a bear or mountain lion around the ( Read more... )

On the evening of February 5th, I went out to the Ashley Gorge near the town of Oxford. It was beautiful with a wide, shallow river running through the forested valley, but the light left the sky sooner than I thought, and I didn't get any shots that are worth sharing -- except for the following from the drive out...

I guess this goat is here to ( Read more... )

So. After being tested for explosives twice (in both Adelaide and Melbourne), patted down once, being incorrectly told I needed to buy a return ticket from New Zealand before being allowed to board the plane, having my flight delayed due to computer failure, having my bags fully torn apart and searched in the Christchurch airport, discovering that ( Read more... )

I just cried laughing at the reviews of this toy, especially after my recent airport security adventures:
http://www.amazon.com/Playmobil-3172-Security-Check-Point/dp/B0002CYTL2/

Look at the other Playmobil toys if you want more laughs, too. :D

Before I move on in updates, I wanted to post a picture of Danny because Desi got all the limelight in the last post. Plus, Maggie was making fun of me for thinking Danny was a ploddy old horse when he's actually quite nimble. But tell me, dear friends...

...Does this look like a speed demon horse to YOU ( Read more... )