More Seals

Ok - I couldn't resist showing you just a few more photos of these amazing wild seals. After the images I took in the last blogpost, we climbed back in the car and we stopped at another place a bit further down the road where there was a viewing platform. Here we could see yong seals as well, and not just the big male ones.



This one is quite a bit smaller than the others so it's either an older pup, or a female. Note that the sea was really choppy, but the seas along the coast are often big.



They were everywhere - lying in the sun on the rocks, on the beach, and even in the grass.



Back in the car we went further along the road, through Kaikoura and about 2 or 3 kilometres south of the town, so Carol can show us the gorgeous vistas just south of Kaikoura. She pulled into a carpark but we couldn't park the car due to this..



Of course I jumped out of the landrover sans crutches to take more photos. This one was amazing - didn't even complain if I got too close, so I got closer...



I changed to my Macro lens and got closer..



And Closer...



Carol, Nikki and Alexandra were in the car waiting for the seal to rear up and fwap me one, injurying me further. Nikki even got out to take a photo of me taking a photo of the seal to show how close I was...



But after that photo I got even closer...



and closer still...



I was so close I could have stroked him/her and I was simply amazed tha he/she let me get so close to him/her. However, I knew it was a wild animal, and that he/she had teeth and could inflict a nasty bite - so I resisted the urge to reach out and stroke that lovely fur. I was very very happy with the photographic opportunity and I must say he/she was a most obliging model. Better than some humans even!!!

Blenheim - Day 3 - Kaikoura Road Trip with the Girls - Part 2 - The Seals

The Seals were quite something. Again - despite being on crutches I was climbing onto Rocks to get closer to them - the closer the better.


If I got too close - they would bark at me to warn me off. Or they would simply slide into the sea. Some didn't care either way!!


I guess the sun was too warm, and they were too full of fish to care. I googled this information to learn about them - but thought it would be good to put in here too. The photos in between are all mine!

The New Zealand Fur Seal is only found on the coasts of New Zealand and it’s sub-Antarctic islands with a few colonies on the south coast of Australia. Unlike true seals they have visible ears and do not have a blubber layer so they have fur for warmth. The fur is in two layers. The outer layer of stiffer hairs is silvery brown when dry with the inner layer of soft water proof fur being reddish brown.


Male Fur Seals grow up to about 2 metres in length and weigh up to about 200kg. They have very thick necks and appear to have a mane. Because of this they are sometimes mistakenly called “sealions”. Females are of slimmer build and only weigh up to about 100kg.

During the breeding season, November to December, they are territorial and become very aggressive if approached to closely. Extreme care should be exercised if there are pups about or when you are between the sea and the seals. If a seal decides to make a run for the water it is not about to stop for you and a 100+kg of seal on top of you is no joke! They also have very large and dirty teeth. which can and do inflict serious injuries which WILL infect.

They have only bred in the Kaikoura area since about 1985, the population here being a transient one of approximately 2,000 with the greatest numbers occurring in winter. There are four main haul out areas along the Kaikoura coast.

Today seals are again finding themselves at the center of interest to commercial operators but this time it is in a passive way that the seals themselves seem to find very entertaining. Once in the water the seals are extremely agile and nosy creatures that love to show off their skills to the clumsy invaders of their realm. Seal Swimming with an experienced guide is highly recommended and a truly amazing event. To mingle with wild animals in their own environment is something few people will ever forget

We did get very close to one seal which started heaving and heaving, and then regurgitated up some orange sputum or fish. Luckily I was not too close - one more step and I would have probably worn it!

Going back to the car, I found some 'fur' on the beach and picked it up. Incredibly soft with a beautiful texture. I really enjoyed this part of hte trip. Be thankful I only uploaded this many pics of them - becuase I took 10x as many as on here!

Blenheim - Day 3 - Kaikoura Road Trip with the Girls - Part 1

This was such a great day - but it would take forever to write it up with all the photographs, so I'm going to split it into three parts. Part 1 - the trip down. Part 2 - the Seals of Kaikoura, and Part 3 Kaikoura itself.

The morning was crisp and clear - blue blue sky - but it had snowed overnight on the ranges so it was very cold too. But South Island weather is fantastic - cold crisp weather but fantastic blue skies and sunshine. It's what I really like about down South, compared to Auckland where often humidity is part and parcel of the blue skies, especially over summer.

We loaded up the landrover with Carol (our driver, Alexandra and Nikki in the back seat, Me the wounded walking in the front with Carol, and Jimmi-zac in the boot. Well - not really - he was in a little seat in the back part.

The scenery going down was fascinating. I wanted to stop and take photos every five minutes but realy held myself in check - partly because my leg was so sore, and partly becuase I know how annoying it can be if others aren't photographically inclined. So my first photo was way after the Awatere Valley, past Seddon, and when we hit the coast. Over the hill and Wham - look at this view...


I hopped out of the car and went down the bank a bit (and hurt my leg in doing so), but I wanted the shot so didn't care about my leg. The train tracks go all the way down the coast to Kaikoura and in summer they have an open carriage so people can get the fresh sea air, take photos and generally drink in the view. The colour of the water was amazing. My friends were a bit concerned I got so close to the train tracks so Nikki got out of the car and looked the other way in case a train came suddenly around the corner and I didn't hear it. To see what she means - I did take a shot of the view behind...


It's nice to know your friends don't want you to be killed by an oncoming train. Not just yet anyway!!! Here's that view again on a slightly different angle. I could have just sat here all day - the sun was warm, the breeze was gorgeous, and those mountains in the distance shone!


I finally managed to pull myself away and climb back into the Landrover. As we drove down the coast my eyes were just glued to the views - it was simply stunning. We stopped for coffee not far from here at the Kekerengi Store. A beautiful cafe set in gorgeous gardens right on the beach...


Here we are getting our caffeine fix - From left to right is Nikki, then Alexandra, then Carol. I likened our road trip to the movie Thelma and Louise and confessed that I would love to blow up a petrol tanker like on the movie. Carol expressed that she wished she had known about that desire BEFORE we set off because she would have left me at home!! No sense of adventure! Sigh!


Despite being on crutches - I climbed down those stairs to look up at the Cafe and to look around on the beach. The pain was worth it!!! What a magical place - so peaceful. The coffee was fabulous too. Well worth the stop there.


This is what the Cafe looked like from the gardens - apparently they hold weddings there. I'm not surprised at all as it's a perfect setting.


This is the view from the carpark as we left the store. There's nothing quite so majestic as a mountain peak covered in snow. A bit further down the road I made Carol stop again for another few pics...


How could I resist? However, parked behind us was a truck full of sheep/lambs about to go off to the meatworks. I went over to take a closer look, and took one last photo of them. Quite sad really - they looked at me in the eyes and begged me to let them go - I was sorely tempted!


But then again - my favourite meal is Roast Lamb with Roast Spuds and Gravy.. Yum!

We carried on down the coast until we were approximately ten minutes from Kaikoura when Carol started pointing out the seals on the rocks. I couldn't see any - all looked like rocks to me - so she then pulled over into a rest area. Wild NZ Fur Seals!!!!! A photographers dream. At this point I would have been quite happy to stay there on my own, with the rest of the crew going on to Kaikoura, to pick me up on the way home!!!

Blenheim - Day 2 - Tuesday

I literally crawled out of bed this morning. My leg had totally seized up overnight and I could put no weight on it, nor could I move it by itself - I had to pull my leg forward with my hands to move it.

As I have no balance, I found it very difficult to say upright, and seemed in danger of falling over again so we decided it might be best to visit Blenheim hospital, check out their medical services, good looking doctors etc.. and perhaps get some crutches.

Carol got me as far as she could to the door of A&E, and Nikki helped me in to make sure I didn't fall over. After a terribly long wait of just 5 minutes - yep - you read that right FIVE MINUTES, I was called in to see a nurse. I had filled out the ACC report to read like this..

'Taking Photographs, turned around and unbeknown to me dog was behind like a good sheep dog, stepped on dog, twisted and fell, hurting my leg and my pride. Dog got out of way very very fast'.

The nurse cracked up laughing when she read the report, no only because of he accident, but also because the person she had just seen before me had done the same thing. Seems that tripping over dogs is a dangerous but common pastime in Blenheim.

I was then taken to an A&E bed to be examined by a very good looking young doctor. Carol and Nikki came in as well to make sure I was treated well. Carol fell in love with the doctor immediately because he asked how the dog was. He was so nice, we think we may invite him on our next trip to Blenheim to have a doctor on hand at all times.

On examining me - it was very painful, and after scraping me off the ceiling he decided that perhaps we should get an x-ray to make sure my pelvis wasn't fractured. So I was wheeled around to X-ray noticing they have an audiology department!! Pelvis was fine - so crutches were duly given - however with my balance, and because I could put no weight on my leg, I was a bit drunk looking, so they sent me down to the physio department to make sure crutches were the right thing. I told them a mobility scooter would be the best thing to give me, but I still came away with crutches.

So back into the landrover and over to Raupo Restaurant for lunch. It was very pleasant, overlooking a beautiful river, park and fountains. We then decided that we would spend the aftenroon going to vineyards and winetasting. Perfect pain killer for me so I was happy :)

We went to three - I cannot remember the first one we went to - but I did buy a dessert wine there. We then went to Cloudy Bay. Stunning wine - I bought a Reisling to take to my cousins later in the week. Onto Grove Mill winery. Grove Mill is a wine I have bought in the past and really liked it, but it got too expensive at nearly $30 a bottle, so I stopped buying it. However, their Reisling was on special for $10 a bottle so decided to buy a crate. Had it shipped to Auckland for free (12 bottles plus is free shipping). I'll put it away for a rainy day!

By the time we got home that night I was feeling no pain at all. About 6.30pm Alexandra joined us from Nelson with her son Jimmi-zac for our road trip we were doing the next day. We stayed up fairly late talking and catching up - the last time I had seen Alexandra was when I stayed with her last year in Nelson - that was when I broke my finger. I think the South Island might be dangerous for me.

I only took 3 photos today. That was in the morning on the way to the Hospital. I got Carol to stop at the side of the road near the Satellite or Spy station. I didn't even get out of the car as my leg was too sore - so took these shots from out the window.


Carol was most concerned that we would be arrested for taking photographs of sensitive material.


I assured Carol that it was pretty obvious that it was a Satellite - you can see it for miles, it's not exactly concealed!!!



Looks like a giant Puffball to me :)

Blenheim - Day 1

You may have noticed my absence, but I did take off out of Auckland last week to spend a week down in Blenheim with my friend Carol. She very kindly paid for my airfare down as she needed a drinking buddy, or an excuse to go round all the vineyards. I'm not one to turn down such an opportunity!!!

She also booked us into two garden tours - the famous Garden Marlborough - one evening christmas tour, and the Rapaura Garden Tour. I'll explain more about those later.

When we were doing all the bookings, I happened to have my friend Nikki with me, and she turned green with envy, so we booked Nikki for the week too. So she got a well earned break from her two sons, and I from my two pesky cats! (not quite the same I don't think!!)

Blenheim is in the upper east side of our South Island. Last time I had been there was when I was 15 (just a couple of years ago!!) I have relatives down there so I was able to catch up with them while I was down. However, I was shocked at the changes. Back when I was down (about 1976), Blenheim was main crop farms and sheep. I remember spuds, and corn mainly. Now? It's all grapevine. As far as the eye can see.

So - grab a cuppa and join me on my First day in Blenheim!!! You won't be disappointed - it WAS quite an adventure!!!

I should start with the plane. I don't know anything about planes - but I'm sure Henry will enlighten me on the name of this one. All I knew was that it was Small. Notice I spelt that with a capital S. Small. As in Tiny. Miniscule.


See? I told you it was small. One seat down each side of the plane. What concerned me was that as we landed and started going down - I was able to look straight out the pilot's window and gulp!!


I was very good though - I did not shut my eyes. Instead I got my camera out and took a few photos as we were coming into land. Firstly - flying over the sounds - that was amazing - looking at all the islands, and the colour of the water was incredible...


I only wish that the windows of the plane was nice clean glass - or better still - no glass at all - just open windows!!! I'd get better pictures!!

This is the Wairau River sweeping down the valley. On the left is the Richmond Ranges, and to the right is the St Arnaud Ranges. Beautiful isn't it?


And this is the valley all divided up into fields of grapevines! As far as the eye can see... I felt like I had been transported to France instead of Blenheim.

Here's one - just before we landed. By now the plane was caught in a cross wind coming up the valley which made for a rather hair-raising landing. I felt like the wind was going to flip the plane at any minute and that we would land upside down. I felt like applauding the pilot on landing.

Carol was there to pick us up with the Landrover to take us out to the Farm. We called into the supermarket on the way to pick up some bubbles. Then out to the Farm. Carol and Gerald moved down to Blenheim about 9 months ago and love it. They are currently renting on a farm block which is huge. They set up their luxury camper trailer for Nikki and I off the deck at the back door. Very luxurious accommodation and very comfortable. Gerald even built a ramp for me to make sure I didn't 'fall' into the trailer with my dicey balance - very very thoughtful of him.

Anyway we had lunch with nice bubbly then Tess the dog decided we should allllll go for a walk. So Carol, Nikki, Myself, Amelia and Logan set off wtih Tess for a walk over the farm. It started well.


Meet Tess 'I want my walk'. aka The dog. Border Collie. Loves the big outdoors. His sole career aspiration is to chase rabbits. And injure me. But we'll get to that later... Meanwhile - we started the walk...


Over the paddock then up this 'road'.


30 was our speed limit. Wasn't sure if that was 30mph, kph or steps per hour.


We had some friends join us briefly. Handsome creatures too.


Looking over to the Richmond ranges - what a view. And yes - that's snow up on the ranges - in November!! Meant we had very cold nights. I could so live there.


See up on the hill where all those trees are? Although I didn't know it at the time - that was where we were heading for.


So we started climbing. That's Nikki and Tess waiting for us - 'Hurry Up'. All my fault - I was busy taking photos. This is the part where in the last winter storm about 20 huge trees came down and blocked all access. I was in America at the time enjoying nice summer temperatures with no storms on the horizon at all.


It's obviously quite dangerous up here at certain times of the year. If you look at the top you can see the start of the grape vines. I guess they shoot birds, rabbits, pigs, trespassers, and anyone that doesn't vote for National!


The vines. This lot almost looks like a war cemetary with all the white boards up. But I think that it's white because it's been newly planted.


Tess waits for no one


This is looking through the vines over to the satellite. The area is known as Spy Valley. It was recently in the news because some idiots decided they didn't like such secrecy, so they cut through the one of the big white plastic domes, caused huge amounts of damage and many wasted dollars. So instead of two big round domes, we now only have one. There's a vineyard named Spy Valley Wines - very good wine too, and its just a bit further down the road. Free winetasting!!


Looking in the other direction - more vines. More mountains. More huge vistas.


Not far now Tess - Just up the top where the trees are. For some reason Tess stayed with me. I think she likes her photo taken.


There's Amelia walking through the vines. I'm not far behind with Tess. Don't know where the others are - they must have got bored with the photography!!


Ahh there they are. We're still climbing. Tess has abandoned me now - she got sick of being the model. No stickability.


Finally, we're at the top. And this is the house on top of the hill. Not sure if it's made from Timbracryl!! However, it's empty, and available to rent for $350NZ per week. (Which is about $170USD per week. It has about 8 bedrooms, I think I counted 4 bathrooms, a lovely swimming pool and a view to die for...


Imagine looking at that view all day? Superb. The second lot of pine trees before the spy sattelite is where we started from. The farmland will most likely be turned into grape eventually. The downside of the house? Well, although it's huge, and has a lot of land around it, and great views - it has a shingle roof that leaks in winter. And it's very cold up there in winter!! But as a summer escape - it would be ideal.

As the place was empty, we helped ourselves to lemons, limes and flowers..


Here are the theives. I recorded the evidence in my camera. Note that rascal behind the Lime tree? That's Logan!! He's very cute - has the most winning smile in the whole world. He'll go far. He's just like his Dad, but much better looking!!! Logan that is.


And this gorgeous young lady is Amelia. She's 11 going on 31. Has the sweetest temperament and smile. She's the spitting image of her mother. I'm not going to say who is better looking here, as I want to visit them again soon and need a place to stay.

Unfortunately, that was the last photo I took that day because... Just after taking that photo, while I was taking it, Tess decided to 'get in behind' without me knowing it. She was right up against my leg, but not touching me, and was lying down having a rest from all our walking. After taking the photo, I turned around, stepped on Tess, and did this kind of twist, falling forwards, hurting myself and my camera a bit. I lay on the ground for about 5 minutes too much in pain to get up. Eventually I was pulled up, but found it very painful to walk. Amelia and Logan went down the shortcut (straight down the hillside), and got Gerald to come and pick me up in the Truck (ambulance).

Tess is fine, she moved so quick. Very unthoughtful of her - as if I had fallen on Tess, I would be uninjured. Tess would probably have the broken hip!!

After getting back to the farm, the pain hit and the leg seized up - I couldn't put any weight on it. First day of a holiday Gah!! Oh well - it's not going to stop me from doing anything!!!!

Will write up Day two in a few days!!

Another Implant Update...

Well - we've finally found the problem to why my impalnt has been going backwards, not forwards. About two weeks ago I asked the Implant Team for an x-ray to see if the electrodes were still in the same place. I remember reading some time ago of someone having this problem, and so wondered if I had this as well. My specialist sent me the form and I had the x-ray two weeks ago.

On Friday I was back at the implant centre and a further 5 electrodes were switched off, due to them being uncomfortable, painful and not enough volume. I have 8 electrodes functioning, 6 very well, 2 still a bit iffy.

On getting home, I emailed my doctor that information and asked him if he had any feedback from the x-ray. He emailed back and said that the electrodes had indeed come out of the cochlear by a couple of millimeters, and this is why I'm having so many problems. I am now awaiting an appointment to see what will happen next, but I would say that I will no dubt have some revision surgery to replace the electrodes back into the cochlear.

I feel so much happier now that I know what is happening, although not so happy that further surgery is required, but I would rather get the electrodes working and be hearing better, than to keep struggling with what I have.

I'm off to Blenheim - the Upper north of our South Island for a week, to the Marlborough Garden Festival, to take lots of photos - I'll be back in a week and hopefully have an appointment with my surgeon the week I get back.

Watch this space...