Winter Rambling

It has been a while since my last post here. Nothing much has change, really. Except I have noticed that longer days are slowly creeping back.

Ah, the sun! I used to hide from the sun. Now I chase it around like a dog does to its tail. And yes, I do the tongue flapping as well with much gusto.

It has been a harsh winter here in Christchurch lately. Not that it snowed. It just rained and rained. Last week was a respite with beautiful bright sunny days, but today the rain came back with a vengeance.

This morning the winds were even strong rendering my puny little umbrella useless. But if the rains were relentless, I was even more adamant. I braved it and rode the bus to work. Luckily I did not multiply, reinforcing the fact that my similarity with a Gremlin comes only to appearances.

And I know what you are thinking, but nope! I have curbed my appetite already. In fact, I am down 10 pounds since I arrived here in New Zealand. My daily walks and weekend treks are all coming to fruition.

I just wish winter would end so I can start running again.

So bye for now. This weekend, Christine, Onie and I will be heading out to Wellington for a windy weekend bivouac (except that we are staying in a four star hotel)! See you there?

One Fine Winter's Day

Kia Ora! Greetings from Aeotoroa! It is 'he rangi mokupua', a fine winter's day here, as the Maoris would say. The sun is up and the sky is as blue as it can get.

The end of long days had come to this land and I thought we should not put this day to waste. So as mid day arrived, we packed our lunch and headed out to the park.

As we reached the forest, we decided to eat on top of a hill with a magnificent view of the snow capped mountains to the west and the vast ocean to the east. Our feast consisted of pesto pasta, roasted chicken, and a side of baked potatoes, kumara, carrots, and parsnips. We also had chocolates for dessert.

After a filling lunch, we decided to walk down to the beach for a stroll. There were lots of people out on such a fine day as well. The temperature was beginning to be a warmer 18 degress Celsius, but we were still wrapped up in layers of clothing. We felt warm, but not warm enough to shed off some of the layers. The funny thing though is that we saw a man in teeny weeny swimming trunks, jogging near the water, muscles rippling in all directions, unmindful of the cold. Onie's eyes were glued, of course, as propriety escaped her for quite a few seconds. Then we burst into subdued laughter while we plotted how to inconspicuously take a picture of him to share here. But by the time I got my mobile phone out, he was already too far away. It would have been quite funny, with us in winter clothes and a guy running in just his underwear. Oh well, you girls have to wait until December when the summer heat hits Christchurch.

We took the long way home today. We wandered through the neighborhood to gawk at the houses... imagining... wishing...

Someday, we will own a house of our own here. But it is still uncertain at this point where in New Zealand we will end up. I have a feeling my boss might want me to relocate to Auckland, but I keep on hoping it will not come to that point.

I love our way of life here in Christchurch. I love the fact that nature is just a doorstep away from the city.

*Images taken from my mobile phone

A lookout atop a hill

This is where we ate our lunch.

Mountain bike path

A horse rider on the beach

A path to the beach

Early Winter Banter

When we arrived here in New Zealand last March, autumn was just beginning to creep in. We would see people wearing their light jackets on the streets but all around us were verdant trees and nary a sign of what just a couple of months will do to them. Of course, Onie and I had our 'winter clothes' on already, having just transplanted from lush tropical Philippines with coconut trees a swayin' and a lone guitar man singing "wilcam tu di hutil kali purnya". 

Zip to the present. We just woke up to a very cold 1 degree celsius morning (outside temperature). I was warm inside my blanket, with a comforter on top, and Onie beside me. My ears and nose were cold though. One look at the temperature gauge beside the the bed, which read 9 deg C inside, and I knew it was going to be very difficult for me to leave my warm bed. It was already 8:30am on the clock and I still have to shower and dress up. It's a good thing I do not need to go the office today.

Just after shower, I saw Onie coming into the house from outside, telling me the grass seem pale this morning and reckoned that there is frost. I donned my sweater, grabbed my camera and made a dash for the grass. Talk about dedication to the craft. And true enough, after less than 3 minutes in the freeze, I had to hastily retreat into the warm confines of the house.

The frost slowly dissipates though as the day grows warmer.

Winter has arrived, albeit early. The once verdant trees have turned into golden colors, and most have already shed its leaves. The kiwis now wear the same kind of clothes that trendsetters Onie and I have been wearing for the past few months. A smug grin on our faces betray that feeling of 'practice makes perfect' attitude as we walk out and unto the streets this morning!