New Zealand - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

[Lifer]

On 3/3/2023 at 8:04 PM, hayleyearth said:

I can't believe I took my daughter to fit school clothes!! 😥

She's so skinny, the smallest size is a bag on her.

On another note, how insane is the cost of a new school uniform? We are just next door to you at CPS with their tailored button up shirts 🤦‍♂️ going for as much as my best work shirts. Highly recommend going the second hand route or starting up a disruptor business. The sports shirts are also way overpriced vs what I pay for a quality dry fit 🤑. Good school I believe, she will love it.

[hayleyearth]

1 hour ago, Lifer said:

On another note, how insane is the cost of a new school uniform? We are just next door to you at CPS with their tailored button up shirts 🤦‍♂️ going for as much as my best work shirts. Highly recommend going the second hand route or starting up a disruptor business. The sports shirts are also way overpriced vs what I pay for a quality dry fit 🤑. Good school I believe, she will love it.

CPS?

 

I have heard about the expensive clothes so when I purchased my daughters I was quite surprised it wasn't too bad - thank goodness I guess for golf shirts and simple fleece jackets.

Edited March 14, 2023 by hayleyearth

[Lifer]

2 hours ago, hayleyearth said:

CPS?

 

I have heard about the expensive clothes so when I purchased my daughters I was quite surprised it wasn't too bad - thank goodness I guess for golf shirts and simple fleece jackets.

Churchill Park -yeah we were pretty envious of the golf shirts at Glendowie.

[Lifer]

Anyone still getting on their bikes? I managed to rupture my Achilles in October  just after my bike arrived in country so its been idle. To get some recovery motivation I've entered Whaka 100 (Oct) and Highlander 45 (May) but probably need to actually get onto some trails before then (been commuting and Zwifting). Given our location in Eastern Bays I'm struggling to find time to get out though and only managed a solitary Totara Park ride but would be keen to explore Woodhill/ Riverhead/ Hunua or any other if anyone is keen for company.

[hayleyearth]

19 minutes ago, Lifer said:

Churchill Park -yeah we were pretty envious of the golf shirts at Glendowie.

Why didn't you put them in Glendowie?

[Lifer]

25 minutes ago, hayleyearth said:

Why didn't you put them in Glendowie?

Zoning, not that we are unhappy at Churchill Park.

[canfan]

On 3/15/2023 at 1:16 PM, Lifer said:

Anyone still getting on their bikes? I managed to rupture my Achilles in October  just after my bike arrived in country so its been idle. To get some recovery motivation I've entered Whaka 100 (Oct) and Highlander 45 (May) but probably need to actually get onto some trails before then (been commuting and Zwifting). Given our location in Eastern Bays I'm struggling to find time to get out though and only managed a solitary Totara Park ride but would be keen to explore Woodhill/ Riverhead/ Hunua or any other if anyone is keen for company.

Are you doing the 100km version of the Whaka or one of the shorter distances? The 100km is pretty brutal. I am doing the 50km again this year on the Saturday and then the 25km with my son on the Sunday. Happy to meet up for a ride if you keen. I am close to Woodhill and Riverhead but also happy to travel to Hanua/Totara. I have only been to Hanua and Totara once each.

[Lifer]

On 3/16/2023 at 2:22 PM, canfan said:

Are you doing the 100km version of the Whaka or one of the shorter distances? The 100km is pretty brutal. I am doing the 50km again this year on the Saturday and then the 25km with my son on the Sunday. Happy to meet up for a ride if you keen. I am close to Woodhill and Riverhead but also happy to travel to Hanua/Totara. I have only been to Hanua and Totara once each.

Hi, sorry busy weekend. I signed up to the 100km to force some fear induced Achilles recovery and thinking I could downgrade to 50km if necessary but looks like that will be sold out. So plan currently is to attempt to slug it out. Your option looks a good one, my girls are still a bit too young for the 25km but may look at the shorter options. Yeah, I'd be keen to join you at any of the above! I'm away this weekend but should be good thereafter.

[patches]

It's been a while since I posted some "Good" from the beautiful scenery that makes up New Zealand, so here's a photo dump from a South Island road trip I took my Mom on, a couple of weeks back.

We did Christchurch to Queenstown, with various stops along the way.

Rakaia Gorge

 Lake Pukaki (looking towards Mt Cook)

 

Mt Cook Station (A Cattle Farm we stayed at for a night)

 

Clay Cliffs (near Omarama)

 

Shotover Gorge (view from our Queenstown accommodation front porch)

 

Lake Hayes (Arrowtown)

 

The infamous Wanaka Tree

 

Wanaka Lavender Farm

 

View from the Arrowtown end of the Crown Range

 

After this trip, I think I'm 70% of the way to convincing my wife into moving South.

[Wayne Potgieter]

On 4/11/2023 at 9:30 AM, patches said:

It's been a while since I posted some "Good" from the beautiful scenery that makes up New Zealand, so here's a photo dump from a South Island road trip I took my Mom on, a couple of weeks back.

We did Christchurch to Queenstown, with various stops along the way.

Rakaia Gorge

 Lake Pukaki (looking towards Mt Cook)

 

Mt Cook Station (A Cattle Farm we stayed at for a night)

 

Clay Cliffs (near Omarama)

 

Shotover Gorge (view from our Queenstown accommodation front porch)

 

Lake Hayes (Arrowtown)

 

The infamous Wanaka Tree

 

Wanaka Lavender Farm

 

View from the Arrowtown end of the Crown Range

 

After this trip, I think I'm 70% of the way to convincing my wife into moving South.

Yep, we are really lucky. 

I spent the last 10 days in Japan and as much as I loved our trip and had the time of my life, I am really glad to LIVE in NZ.

 

[Slowbee]

Sheesh. Gotta love this place. Had out first little 4.5 shake rattle and roll down south.

[Slowbee]

On 4/11/2023 at 9:30 AM, patches said:

It's been a while since I posted some "Good" from the beautiful scenery that makes up New Zealand, so here's a photo dump from a South Island road trip I took my Mom on, a couple of weeks back.

We did Christchurch to Queenstown, with various stops along the way.

Rakaia Gorge

 Lake Pukaki (looking towards Mt Cook)

 

Mt Cook Station (A Cattle Farm we stayed at for a night)

 

Clay Cliffs (near Omarama)

 

Shotover Gorge (view from our Queenstown accommodation front porch)

 

Lake Hayes (Arrowtown)

 

The infamous Wanaka Tree

 

Wanaka Lavender Farm

 

View from the Arrowtown end of the Crown Range

 

After this trip, I think I'm 70% of the way to convincing my wife into moving South.

It is a move you will not regret. Just bring lots of patience. It is real Island life down south. If you need a 'chino in a rush, place the order yesterday.

[patches]

13 hours ago, Slowbee said:

Sheesh. Gotta love this place. Had out first little 4.5 shake rattle and roll down south.

I remember my first one when I lived in Christchurch. Felt like airplane turbulence.

Then there was the Kaikoura quake. That one was slower, longer and more of a swaying motion. Kinda surreal.

12 hours ago, Slowbee said:

It is a move you will not regret. Just bring lots of patience. It is real Island life down south. If you need a 'chino in a rush, place the order yesterday.

😂 Hopefully the past 6yrs in Auckland haven't Jaffa-rised me too much and I can life the peaceful South Island life like I once did.

That said, the Ch-ch has come along way in the past 6yrs. Loads of construction and development. The city is looking rather good these days!

Edited April 24, 2023 by patches

[davetapson]

On 1/19/2023 at 12:46 AM, hayleyearth said:

We are still in SA currently, it's week 5 for us and we are on a big road trip currently. Started at my folks place in Bushmans river mouth (close to Port Alfred) up the less dangerous route through Elliot, Underberg, Howick, Centre Drakensberg, now in the Northern Drakensberg and then Clarens before making the journey back to my folks. (So basically circling Lesotho.)

 

Here's my view:

All small towns have become dumps. 

 

 

 

Yeah, agree with all.  We were in PA over Christmas.  All those three story mansions that should be full of vaalies causing grief with their big 4x4s, sk boats, quad-bikes and jets ski's..?  Empty.  Nada. Like a ghost town.

[davetapson]

On 3/3/2023 at 8:41 PM, IceCreamMan said:

I have a 372 in an RC390 which is the same as the pilen range. It’s lumpy at low revs and it’s essential to be in the right gear or else it chugs. But it’s smooth higher up in the rev range and it’s a barrel of fun. Best handling bike I have ever owned too. Suspension fitted to it is over kill I reckon but it sure is sexy. 

Following on from this - had the suspension set, first by Dave Moss, then by Adrian at Restorace (Dave suggested I go to Adrian for a new rear spring, Adrian said the stock one is fine for my purposes.)

Also made a huge diffs. Between the torquier motor and suspension, it's night and day compared to stock.

Trying to decide if I should replace the header (which has catalytic converter) for a straight through.  Very tempted.

Edited May 8, 2023 by davetapson

[davetapson]

On 3/15/2023 at 9:30 AM, Lifer said:

On another note, how insane is the cost of a new school uniform? We are just next door to you at CPS with their tailored button up shirts 🤦‍♂️ going for as much as my best work shirts. Highly recommend going the second hand route or starting up a disruptor business. The sports shirts are also way overpriced vs what I pay for a quality dry fit 🤑. Good school I believe, she will love it.

I'm quite impressed by NZ school uniforms - the 'golf' shirt style.   They last better than you'd have any reason to expect, and the kids love their school fleeces - they'd wear them before any of their civvie fleeces - long and warm.  Those get washed just about every week and after a year and half of that treatment are beginning to sun-fade on the backs, but otherwise still in good nick.

School shoes (sneakers), now that's another story.

Best plan is to make friends with a kid leaving the school and take over that kit, or else the second hand shop.

Also school socks - they evaporate.  What's up with that?