7th January - 21st- Alistair meets the Chief!
Lucy says..............
We are WWOOFers….For those of you who don’t know, it stands for Willing Workers on Organic Farms!! Oh Yeah? I hear you say, when have we willingly done any work!!
Well we have- We ‘phoned up a few farms from our WWOOF handbook and found one near New Plymouth. WWOOFers do 3-4 hours work each ay in return for board & lodging. We actually slept in our van as it was more convenient for us.
The farm we WWOOFed on grew Macadamia nuts and Avocados. We arrived after lunch and after a n.c.o.t (you might have to be a Goff to work that one out!) were set to work in the fields digging out posts from old Macadamia trees so, it transpired later that Greg could replant them for more trees that needed to be planted. Great job for us, Greg with his wound and me with my prolapsed disc!! However we managed, Alistair was a real star, digging away until sweat poured down his face, Rowena lost interest fairly rapidly.
That evening after dinner, which was cooked, as was all the food, from what they grew on the farm, we met some other WWOOFers from Germany, Jan & Veroni. They kept us sane over the next few days and joined us for a few glasses of “Ribena” in the evenings to help relax the sore muscles.
I got the least physical jobs from then but tedious, sorting cracked Macadamia nuts from there shells, I never want to see another one… Alistair & Rowena spent time cracking walnuts and hazelnuts and then a morning doing a project on volcanoes & Tsunamis.
Greg was put to work in the fields wielding hole borers, hammers, crowbars and tampers(work that one out if you can- answers on a postcard) The weather was not the best, (oh what a surprise) drizzling and overcast., He looked particularly attractive in yellow waterproof jacket & trousers…!
It was an interesting experience, whether we would repeat it remains to be seen. Our hosts were not really very welcoming to us or Jan & Veroni, which seemed strange as they rely heavily on WWOOFers to help them on the farm.
We stayed 4 days then tried to leave, unfortunately the van wouldn’t start, After a jump start we drove to New Plymouth, stopped at the supermarket and had to phone the AA as we couldn’t restart it—needed a new alternator!! We tried 3 garages, none of which could do it for several days.
Found ourselves a campsite on the beach at Fitzroy, a suburb of NP, made sure we were level and stopped the van for the next 3 days.
During that time we found NP public library-open 7 days a week, free internet access for the children and free old childrens books, not a huge selection but we cleared them out!!
The children went on some of the sites that Mrs M. suggested and had fun doing Maths games.
On the Sunday we introduced ourselves to the Fitzroy Surf Club and the children joined in a regatta morning between local clubs, it involved, a game of beach flags, a run and then swimming on the sea to some cans then around a course and back. Rowena was all for this, but was unfortunately out first round with beach flags as the rules were not the same as Bournemouth, came 4th in her heat at running and had to be helped out on the swim, as did lots of others, but she did really well. Alistair didn’t want to do beach flags but joined in the race, came 3rd, but couldn’t get out over the waves to do the swim, he was really upset, most of the other children had wetsuits on ( the sea is cold, give me Fiji any day) because they didn’t complete to sea swim they couldn’t do the body boards.
The next day Greg spent ages with them diving through the waves, and they are both much happier.
We left NP and went to Stratford and Dawson Falls, on Mt Taranaki, we signed in at the visitors centre put our packs on our backs and hiked off up the mountain. As the crow flies, and by the shortest route the hut we were heading for was only 45mins away, but we did a roundabout route and Alistair & I had a dip in a freezing, clear mountain stream.
We have decided, at least for now we will only do overnight walks as the children find carrying their packs with o/n things in OK but much more would be too much.
We arrived at the hut at about 4pm, the children did some Maths that I carted in my pack, after tea and a game of cards we settled down to bed. The hut was different to the last with a large common room, and 2 bedrooms with 4 mattresses at the bottom and another 4 up ladder above. There were only 3 other people there, who had stoked up the fire to dry their clothes which made it so hot we didn’t know what to do with ourselves. Rowena was very unsettled, she has a cold and is complaining of earache. From the hut you can look right up the side of Mt Taranaki. The next morning, after a night of listening to Possums playing on the roof, we couldn’t see 3 foot in front of us as there was so much cloud. Walked back through a lovely forest that looked as if it could have a population of Hobbits in it.
We stopped at a Possum factory (could have got loads for them last night!!) where they made coats, slippers and knitwear from Possum fur.
Travelled to Wanganui for the “match” –Rugby of course. The Chiefs vs Hurricanes, it was a lovely day, very sunny, if rugby was played in this weather then I might be tempted to watch a few matches!!?? Cheifs won, much to Alistair’s delight. Then after the match the Hurricane team came back on to the pitch for people to get their autographs. We met up with Veroni & Jan at the match and they came back to our van after for a few drinks, eventually they left at 1.30am- the latest we have stayed up since we left home, shattered the next day!
Rowena still not well, keeps being sick, and her eye is watering. And she is SNORING!!
Moved off the next day, just down the coast. I saw an article in a magazine about a piano that has been put on the top of some sand dunes so we thought we would try & find it. The beach was amazing, tons & tons of bleached white driftwood on black sand for as far as you could see. Also lots of pumice, we all have nice smooth feet now! Didn’t find the piano..
We are now in Levin, in the rain again!! I took Rowena to a very nice doctor here, she has a very swollen eye and an ear infection, so has some antibiotics. She is fine for ages then suddenly droops suddenly and feels very sorry for herself!!
There is an agricultural show here in town this weekend, so we went today. Alpacas are very popular here, met a couple who take WWOOFers who run an Alpaca farm nearby…tempted. Watched the speed shearing, 10 sheep in 8mins! Met a man who distils his own whiskey!
That’s all for now, Lx
Well we have- We ‘phoned up a few farms from our WWOOF handbook and found one near New Plymouth. WWOOFers do 3-4 hours work each ay in return for board & lodging. We actually slept in our van as it was more convenient for us.
The farm we WWOOFed on grew Macadamia nuts and Avocados. We arrived after lunch and after a n.c.o.t (you might have to be a Goff to work that one out!) were set to work in the fields digging out posts from old Macadamia trees so, it transpired later that Greg could replant them for more trees that needed to be planted. Great job for us, Greg with his wound and me with my prolapsed disc!! However we managed, Alistair was a real star, digging away until sweat poured down his face, Rowena lost interest fairly rapidly.
That evening after dinner, which was cooked, as was all the food, from what they grew on the farm, we met some other WWOOFers from Germany, Jan & Veroni. They kept us sane over the next few days and joined us for a few glasses of “Ribena” in the evenings to help relax the sore muscles.
I got the least physical jobs from then but tedious, sorting cracked Macadamia nuts from there shells, I never want to see another one… Alistair & Rowena spent time cracking walnuts and hazelnuts and then a morning doing a project on volcanoes & Tsunamis.
Greg was put to work in the fields wielding hole borers, hammers, crowbars and tampers(work that one out if you can- answers on a postcard) The weather was not the best, (oh what a surprise) drizzling and overcast., He looked particularly attractive in yellow waterproof jacket & trousers…!
It was an interesting experience, whether we would repeat it remains to be seen. Our hosts were not really very welcoming to us or Jan & Veroni, which seemed strange as they rely heavily on WWOOFers to help them on the farm.
We stayed 4 days then tried to leave, unfortunately the van wouldn’t start, After a jump start we drove to New Plymouth, stopped at the supermarket and had to phone the AA as we couldn’t restart it—needed a new alternator!! We tried 3 garages, none of which could do it for several days.
Found ourselves a campsite on the beach at Fitzroy, a suburb of NP, made sure we were level and stopped the van for the next 3 days.
During that time we found NP public library-open 7 days a week, free internet access for the children and free old childrens books, not a huge selection but we cleared them out!!
The children went on some of the sites that Mrs M. suggested and had fun doing Maths games.
On the Sunday we introduced ourselves to the Fitzroy Surf Club and the children joined in a regatta morning between local clubs, it involved, a game of beach flags, a run and then swimming on the sea to some cans then around a course and back. Rowena was all for this, but was unfortunately out first round with beach flags as the rules were not the same as Bournemouth, came 4th in her heat at running and had to be helped out on the swim, as did lots of others, but she did really well. Alistair didn’t want to do beach flags but joined in the race, came 3rd, but couldn’t get out over the waves to do the swim, he was really upset, most of the other children had wetsuits on ( the sea is cold, give me Fiji any day) because they didn’t complete to sea swim they couldn’t do the body boards.
The next day Greg spent ages with them diving through the waves, and they are both much happier.
We left NP and went to Stratford and Dawson Falls, on Mt Taranaki, we signed in at the visitors centre put our packs on our backs and hiked off up the mountain. As the crow flies, and by the shortest route the hut we were heading for was only 45mins away, but we did a roundabout route and Alistair & I had a dip in a freezing, clear mountain stream.
We have decided, at least for now we will only do overnight walks as the children find carrying their packs with o/n things in OK but much more would be too much.
We arrived at the hut at about 4pm, the children did some Maths that I carted in my pack, after tea and a game of cards we settled down to bed. The hut was different to the last with a large common room, and 2 bedrooms with 4 mattresses at the bottom and another 4 up ladder above. There were only 3 other people there, who had stoked up the fire to dry their clothes which made it so hot we didn’t know what to do with ourselves. Rowena was very unsettled, she has a cold and is complaining of earache. From the hut you can look right up the side of Mt Taranaki. The next morning, after a night of listening to Possums playing on the roof, we couldn’t see 3 foot in front of us as there was so much cloud. Walked back through a lovely forest that looked as if it could have a population of Hobbits in it.
We stopped at a Possum factory (could have got loads for them last night!!) where they made coats, slippers and knitwear from Possum fur.
Travelled to Wanganui for the “match” –Rugby of course. The Chiefs vs Hurricanes, it was a lovely day, very sunny, if rugby was played in this weather then I might be tempted to watch a few matches!!?? Cheifs won, much to Alistair’s delight. Then after the match the Hurricane team came back on to the pitch for people to get their autographs. We met up with Veroni & Jan at the match and they came back to our van after for a few drinks, eventually they left at 1.30am- the latest we have stayed up since we left home, shattered the next day!
Rowena still not well, keeps being sick, and her eye is watering. And she is SNORING!!
Moved off the next day, just down the coast. I saw an article in a magazine about a piano that has been put on the top of some sand dunes so we thought we would try & find it. The beach was amazing, tons & tons of bleached white driftwood on black sand for as far as you could see. Also lots of pumice, we all have nice smooth feet now! Didn’t find the piano..
We are now in Levin, in the rain again!! I took Rowena to a very nice doctor here, she has a very swollen eye and an ear infection, so has some antibiotics. She is fine for ages then suddenly droops suddenly and feels very sorry for herself!!
There is an agricultural show here in town this weekend, so we went today. Alpacas are very popular here, met a couple who take WWOOFers who run an Alpaca farm nearby…tempted. Watched the speed shearing, 10 sheep in 8mins! Met a man who distils his own whiskey!
That’s all for now, Lx
posted by greg and lucy | 12:17 PM
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