we are back!!

This is a picture of a Hectors dolphin swimming under the bow of our boat on a dolphin spotting trip when we were in Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula. These are beautiful little dolphins and are seriously endangered by fishing nets and recreational boating so we were very pleased to see several pods. This was a wonderful trip taking us out of Akaroa Harbour and along the coast where we also saw fur seals with their pups and spotted shags.

Here is a another wonderful photo by Fogg of a fur seal. They were resting up on the rocks and the pups had a small rock pool in which to learn to swim.

Whilst in CHCH we also visited Phileas' mother's cousin Judith and her husband Alan. They live on a farm just north of Rangiora in a very beautiful valley. They made us very welcome and we stayed with them overnight. We took a wonderful walk up into the hills above the farm which gave us a 360 degree view of the countryside over to the coast and to CHCH. After a great evening meal with the family we drove back up into the hills to watch the stars. Of course in this part of NZ there is virtually no light pollution and so we were able to see millions of stars and most specially the Milky Way.

One of the highlights of our visit to the farm was feeding the calves. They have milk straight from the cow but delivered by a wonderful gadget which is basically a giant semi circular bucket with a row of teats attached!!

We moved South on Monday to stay with an old colleague of Fogg's. She and her husband live just outside the small town of Oamaru. It is a very interesting town for lots of reasons but particularly because it is full of relatives of Phileas' whose parents came to NZ in the 1920s to find a better life. It has been a very interesting journey to meet them and to hear about their lives out here.

Before I sign out and pass over to Fogg I must just record that we have seen our first 'in the wild' penguins. The nature of their life is that at this time of year they can only be seen at night when they return from a day's fishing to feed their chicks. So at 10.30pm last night we sat on a cliff top and watched 3 of the world's smallest penguins, the Little Blue, return to their chicks with tummies full of fish, probably whitebait to regurgitate - I am so glad I am not a penguin!!!

This is just a thumbnail from me, best wishes to all

Phileas

Hi. Fogg here.

I had the most wonderful time at the Fleming farm at Rangiora. Apart from their great hospitality it was also wonderful to be encouraged to get involved in the workings of the farm. Feeding the calves was great and I was able to help by loading the great buckets of 'fresh from the cow' milk on to the four wheel drive truck and drive it to the many fields around the farm where the calves were. No photographic evidence yet but we have been invited back to stay for some days so I am hoping to get more involved then. Our walk on the farm was awesome. We got to the perimeter. It is well over a thousand acres in size so it was quite a walk up the steep hills. In fact I am still feeling the effects!!. That, coupled with my sand dune exploits that some of you may have read about have both been very physically challenging for me.

It has been very interesting for me too, to meet Phileas' rellies. They have been so generous in their hospitality and very welcoming. We are meeting some more tonight for high tea in a house in Oamaru. This is where we have been staying with my old colleague Andrina from Sixth Form College days. She runs a Victorian/Edwardian costume hire organisation here and is responsible for collection of and making the clothes as well as all their maintenance. It is particularly relevant here as Oamaru has a very interesting history of Victorian times and there are many Victorian buildings here, built of white Oamaru limestone, which are being restored and put to good use. The townsfolk also celebrate their Victorian heritage with fairs and events where they all dress up in period costume. Andrina I guess is particularly busy then!

As well as visiting the Penguins last night we also saw the Moeraki Boulders.

Another amazing photograph by Fogg as you can see (left). They are Septarian Concretions. I will leave you to look that up for yourself. Answers to our email please. (Jules, Please note!)

So, our journey continues to go very well. We are off tomorrow to Lake Manapouri in Fiord Land. We have rented a Bach and have already booked an overnight trip on the Fiordland Navigator to Doubtful Sound. Very excited!!!!!!!!

A Bach by the way is a small house usually used as holiday accomodation. They were originally used by batchelors as a hideaway, hence the name. In South Island they are called Cribs.

So,this is Fogg signing off and sending you all my very best wishes.

Fogg xxx