Catchy title? I thought it was anyway. So last week was definitely one of the hardest I’ve had in a really long while. I was pretty stressed with being back at work. See, last year I did get a reasonable amount of decent work done, but I took things pretty handily. For this year I asked my boss to give me more work.. (harder and more varied) and he has willingly obliged!. Anyway, I was a little worried ‘cos some of the work I’ve done is being opened up to wider systems to use – so it’s all getting a little more useful to business processes – with attendant performance and quality assur..
what is this? A Frickin’ work blog. Nope.. Anyway suffice to say had a wee chat and that’s all sorted. I was also feeling quite a long way from family and friends.. but now that I’m back hiking and climbing – phisio has given me exercises and the back I put out playing squash is feeling heaps better.. in fact generally alls pretty damn good.
Also got away at the weekend hiking up in Lewis Pass… the weather wasn’t really all that kind to us – but it was just great to be out walking again. I’m ridiculously unfit after 6 months of travel.. but will enjoy getting back to the level I was at – and then pushing it out a bit.
Oh, also during the week I learned about The End Of The House (Queue mourneful music). Sadness.. ok so the place is totally run down and a little bit of a firetrap.. but still.
Now, Mr. Bennett (our landlord) is one of the .. oddest and tightfisted people you are likely to meet. That said (hello if you’re reading this Mr. Bennett ;) hehe). He has spent roughly $0.15 on the house in the last 50 million years. Now.. a while ago our neatly hidden decrepit house was exposed to the posh neighborhood we live in when the house infront was taken away. A few weeks later the council were round to see about fire safety (I reckon the neighbours want the place torn down). The result was that last week a guy came around and we’re having an integrated fire system put in – so if anwhere in this massive house has a fire – we’ll all hear about it.
The plot thickens somewhat by the fact that the system will only be good for 3 years apparently – after which time I am informed by the builders (not the landlord!) that the house will be torn down and subdivided. Which, to anyone who has been here – will be a shame.
In the words of my new flatmate – Mark – it’s one of the few places he has lived where, when he has been down the country, he actually looks forward to being back in the house – it’s that kind of place. Sure it’s run down – but the house just has a happy – feel good factor etched into the peeling paint and rusting corrugated iron roof ;)
So – off tramping with 3 ppl I’d not met before, James (oz), Duncan (Kiwi) and Natasha (UK).
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Duncan was great – he’s a real kiwi – tough and completely ingenious. He basically made his tent, uses a small drinking tube to suck water from small streams (less Guardia there apparently!), makes guy rope clasps from old toothbrushes and even seals his Petrol MSR canister with Duct Tape (but it’s ok.. apparently it’s not a safety issue! ehehehe, though he made damn sure it was pointing away from him :) hehehe…
Yeah, heaps of fun.. up onto a ridge and looked down into a lake. Steve Pawson & Esther, Ben and Mike all from the Tramping club all arrived later on in the afternoon.. so ’twas a good old party. Camped overnight through howling winds and rain (NorWester coming through).. and then back to ChCh via Hanmer Springs.
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I must admit, I’ve been a Maruia Springs snob when it comes to hot springs – and I still reckon it’s a far nicer setting – but after the rains etc Maruia would be cold.. and Hanmer was nicely toasty.
So yes, there was nothing particularly hard or special about the hike – but again, it’s all about the people – and it was really good to clear the head, and again remind me what I love about this country.
Oh, did make a small slide show (really for the other ppl on the tramp the pics are ok – but nuffink partic special) here
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