Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Long Time No See!

Sunday 16th February.   Just over five months had passed since we left the UK.

In that time Harry had been bounced from pillar to post, foster parents to shippers, from flight to flight, and finally quarantine back to us.

But it was great to see him again, and I think it took him a few seconds to realise it actually was us but there was definitely lots of tail wagging!

A run out to the beach, and now a week later and he's starting to settle.  Albeit with an unfortunate dog attack at Lyall Bay which really hit his confidence last week.

He's especially happy to see Esme.  As is she of him.  They are never far apart and whenever that girl is asleep you can guarantee Harry will be curled up at the end of the bed.

Masterton Motorplex

Long before we applied for our Visas here we scoped out the drag racing scene in NZ.  Very quickly we learnt a new track was being built at a place called Masterton.  Further investigation showed it was slowly raising funds, but once construction was complete it would be our closest race track.  Its creation is one large reason we decided to bring El Nino.

Things slowly progressed with the track, and shortly after we arrived in NZ they announced plans for the top surface to go down on the strip and an opening date of Feb 15th was given.  And of course there was no way we were going to miss it!

We had an awesome day out.  I rode the Ducati out to it, and we were greeted by a venue that reminds me of how I imagine yank tracks back in the 50s when drag racing took off after the war.

It had a great atmosphere, and the quality of cars was very impressive.   I was especially pleased to see the Famosa Speed Shop slingshot now on Kiwi soil.  After a shop feature on Speedhunters this car had been my laptop wallpaper for many months last year.  And it was sooo much more beautiful in the metal!

Now if anyone can donate me several thousand dollars for an engine so we can go racing again I'd be hugely grateful!

Friday, February 14, 2014

We Do Like To Be Beside The Sea

I've always felt much more at home when by the sea, and it was something we had to do when we looked to emigrate.  And we're really trying to make the most of it out here,  even if its just to get our ankles wet late in the afternoon.

Alfie now has a bodyboard and wetsuit, and he started swimming lessons last week.  We've wanted him to do them for ages but they became even more of a priority when he decided he was actually a pro surfer.

We don't get as much time in the sea as we'd like.  I still have an unused wetsuit and snorkel.  But there's so much going on in Wellington something always has to give.

I stole a sunset ride out on the Ducati the other week, but I'm still waiting to get the cranks turning on my pushbikes.

A lot happens down the waterfront though so we always get a seafront backdrop.  The waterfront is awesome actually.  I imagine so many places would be littered with signs not to jump in the water but not Wellington.  Quite the opposite,  there are actually man made structures for you to throw yourself off of into the drink!

Evans Bay is the stretch of water we look out over, and it came alive last week when a school of about 25-30 dolphins spend the afternoon playing together.  It was amazing, and really was an experience I'll never forget.  I was so pleased when Tash got home from work and got to see them too.  Need to spot one of our local penguins and then a whale next!