The back of the house at the end of last weekend
The extension part is starting to take shape
As is the new en suite
The old living room without ceiling
Not much left of the kitchen
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The work continues
The back of the house at the end of last weekend
The extension part is starting to take shape
As is the new en suite
The old living room without ceiling
Not much left of the kitchen
Saturday, May 22, 2010
More demolition and some construction
The deck after cleaning out underneath
What is left of the deck and new piles
Helen having a go at the jackhammer
After several hours of work
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Demolition continues...
We have spent most nights for the last few weeks continuing the demolition.... No furniture or carpets are left in the house and we have dismantled the modular kitchen - which we will reuse but in a slightly different configuration.
Kitchen before
Kitchen after - only the cupboards with water or gas pipes left!
Gib on the inside walls is down - you can see from one end of the house to the other... Still more to go, but the builder starts today!!!
Kitchen before
Kitchen after - only the cupboards with water or gas pipes left!
Gib on the inside walls is down - you can see from one end of the house to the other... Still more to go, but the builder starts today!!!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Noho Marae Papawai, Greytown
Through work we are encouraged to go visit a Maori marae (meeting place) for a few days to learn more about the culture and language and maori issues. It is also a chance for our organisation to explain to maori iwi (tribal groups) what we do, and how the maori research group can help to solve some of their environmental issues.
So after three years of being in New Zealand I finally got to one of these Noho Marae sessions over near Greytown at a marae called Papawai (headwaters). This marae is very old and historical as is used to be the site of the Maori parliament.
The marae is very traditional with lots of beautiful maori carvings around the entrance and marae.
Papawai Marae
Some of the beautiful carving
Inside they have lots of very old pictures and photographs of all the deceased members of the iwi on the wall, arranged in their hapu (families). It was a little bit weird sleeping in the marae surrounded by all these pictures looking down on you.
Sleeping inside the marae with all the deceased members surrounding us!
Behind the marae is a stream that has a lot of eels living in it. They used to eat these - but now they are just pets and they feed them with left overs from the marae and surrounding houses. So there are lots of eels and a few of them are very large! Not sure I would want to swim in the stream!
Feeding the eels
During our stay we learn about the maori history of the area, we went on a guided hikoi (visit) with some of the maori elders to some of the significant sites around the area. We saw a few middens, pa sites (old fortresses) and some burial grounds. We also learn some maori and lots of waiata's (songs), and we learn about all the traditional formal greetings (powhiri).
The motely group with several of the Maori elders who explained the history and took us on a hikoi (visit) around the local area.
I learnt a lot. It was really interesting to learn about the history and the maori environmental issues. They were very well informed and organised with a lot of ideas of what they wanted to see done and changed.
It was also a nice change from work for a few days.... looking at the more practical side of environmental science rather than my esoteric long term climate stuff!
So after three years of being in New Zealand I finally got to one of these Noho Marae sessions over near Greytown at a marae called Papawai (headwaters). This marae is very old and historical as is used to be the site of the Maori parliament.
The marae is very traditional with lots of beautiful maori carvings around the entrance and marae.
Papawai Marae
Some of the beautiful carving
Inside they have lots of very old pictures and photographs of all the deceased members of the iwi on the wall, arranged in their hapu (families). It was a little bit weird sleeping in the marae surrounded by all these pictures looking down on you.
Sleeping inside the marae with all the deceased members surrounding us!
Behind the marae is a stream that has a lot of eels living in it. They used to eat these - but now they are just pets and they feed them with left overs from the marae and surrounding houses. So there are lots of eels and a few of them are very large! Not sure I would want to swim in the stream!
Feeding the eels
During our stay we learn about the maori history of the area, we went on a guided hikoi (visit) with some of the maori elders to some of the significant sites around the area. We saw a few middens, pa sites (old fortresses) and some burial grounds. We also learn some maori and lots of waiata's (songs), and we learn about all the traditional formal greetings (powhiri).
The motely group with several of the Maori elders who explained the history and took us on a hikoi (visit) around the local area.
I learnt a lot. It was really interesting to learn about the history and the maori environmental issues. They were very well informed and organised with a lot of ideas of what they wanted to see done and changed.
It was also a nice change from work for a few days.... looking at the more practical side of environmental science rather than my esoteric long term climate stuff!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
House demolition begins
For those of you who don't know we have been planning to renovate our house for the last year. Finally after a number of iterations of ideas and architect drawings we are ready to start, and have a builder lined up to start in mid-May (all things going to plan).
However before the builder can start we have to remove all the furniture, carpets, demolish some walls, remove the deck, dismantle the kitchen and dig out some dirt from the back yard, so that we can put in a new retaining wall. Just a small amount of work! Apologies if we are a little antisocial and not very communicative for the next few months - we will be rather busy.
The cats are really not sure what to make of it all at the moment. Mifi is very keen to help and makes sure she keeps a close eye on everything and checks out every cupboard and box as it is emptied and filled, or just sits on whatever you want to move. Safi is just bemused and a little unhappy when yet another one of his hiding spots is removed. Fortunately our lovely next door neighbour is renting us her house during the scheduled 3 months of building (we hope it is only 3 months), so we can keep a close eye on everything and the cats just have to shift next door and can maintain their territory (very important for Safi!).
Mifi helping roll up the carpet from the hall
Back of the house looking north - before
And after a day of work with the pick-axe
We will post a few pictures of progress.
However before the builder can start we have to remove all the furniture, carpets, demolish some walls, remove the deck, dismantle the kitchen and dig out some dirt from the back yard, so that we can put in a new retaining wall. Just a small amount of work! Apologies if we are a little antisocial and not very communicative for the next few months - we will be rather busy.
The cats are really not sure what to make of it all at the moment. Mifi is very keen to help and makes sure she keeps a close eye on everything and checks out every cupboard and box as it is emptied and filled, or just sits on whatever you want to move. Safi is just bemused and a little unhappy when yet another one of his hiding spots is removed. Fortunately our lovely next door neighbour is renting us her house during the scheduled 3 months of building (we hope it is only 3 months), so we can keep a close eye on everything and the cats just have to shift next door and can maintain their territory (very important for Safi!).
Mifi helping roll up the carpet from the hall
Back of the house looking north - before
And after a day of work with the pick-axe
We will post a few pictures of progress.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
LaMarche Epic 2010
The start
Heading up the road
Grinding up the hill
Wellington harbour from Mt Kaukau
Dave, Joshu, Geoffroy, Me, Tim and Phil
Friday, April 16, 2010
Chucky and Meredith's Wedding
Chucky and Meredith provided us with a good excuse to visit Canberra and catch up with some friends over a long weekend. The most striking thing about the city was how green the whole place was. The best thing about going somewhere you know and with lots of friends is that you can stay with people and borrow stuff! Aaron and I made the most of this and Macca let us stay and borrow Lisa's car (she was in Nepal) while Sarah and Dan loaned us their mountain bikes. Unfortunately Aaron's grand plan of going biking with Dan was somewhat foiled as Dan broke his collar bone the weekend before during a 24 hour race. So Aaron had to go biking with me!
The wedding was on Saturday and fortunately the 20% chance of rain did not eventuate. The ceremony was outside at Chucky's parents place in the bush just out of Canberra. The ceremony was very personal - and quite funny at times. Aaron and Macca added to the comedy with their nearly matching tartan outfits.
Aaron and Macca
The reception was out at a winery at Lake George. The wine and the food was great and it was really fun to catch up with several friends who were also at the wedding.
Helen, Sarah and Louisa
Aaron and Chucky
Dr and Mrs Smith's first dance
The rest of the weekend was spent catching up with a few of our other friends and we dropped in to our old departments at ANU. It was a fun weekend and sorry we didn't get around to seeing everyone. Thanks to Macca and Cally (the labrador) for putting up with us!
The wedding was on Saturday and fortunately the 20% chance of rain did not eventuate. The ceremony was outside at Chucky's parents place in the bush just out of Canberra. The ceremony was very personal - and quite funny at times. Aaron and Macca added to the comedy with their nearly matching tartan outfits.
Aaron and Macca
The reception was out at a winery at Lake George. The wine and the food was great and it was really fun to catch up with several friends who were also at the wedding.
Helen, Sarah and Louisa
Aaron and Chucky
Dr and Mrs Smith's first dance
The rest of the weekend was spent catching up with a few of our other friends and we dropped in to our old departments at ANU. It was a fun weekend and sorry we didn't get around to seeing everyone. Thanks to Macca and Cally (the labrador) for putting up with us!
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