The dyslexia exhibit

We were walkng round Christchurch and came across this intresting and unusual thing; an open air sculptural garden to promote understanding of dyslexia. The sculpture in the photograph says "The boy who could do better" which is more or less what all my school reports said. There are some seats; and when you sit on them an audio system is triggered and you get information about dyslexia.

The figure is reading a book, and the words flow out of the book and around the garden. The words themselves are crammed together and almost overlap. You can read it but its a bit confusing at the same time. It's outside the New Zealand institute for Dyslexia.

Christchurch and Sumner Bay

Where we are staying is a quiet little place on the southern edge of Christchurch called Sumner Bay. It's quiet, sunny, there are a few restaurants, and a bar called "The Thirsty Mariner" of which I've already written. They bay is full of surfers and the water glistens in the sunlight silver and blue and green. The Surfers look like seals as they paddle out into the waves, sometimes lost completely from view in the dip between thew waves, then suddenly appearing from the waves as if they are sea nymphs. Very cool.

Yesterday we met someone I used to teech called Emily. She has moved out here, and coincidentally lives in Sumner Bay, we arranged to meet in town and sat on the street tables of a cafe. She is about to be 24, she tells us, and she describes how she's working with video and photography and doing a lot of surfing. I try to imagine what it would be like to be 24, taking pictures, surfing, living in a house overlooking the ocean. I can't do it. When I was 24 the world looked very different to me. Good for Emily!

This morning we walked along the Esplanade in Sumner, watching the surfers, and eating ice creams. Now I've come into town on my own to sort out a car rental, organise the weekend, and mooch about. Mum is back in Sumner Bay, making a parcel of bits and pieces to send back to UK to try and cut down on luggage. I think she's happy and OK, but today as I left for the bus I had sudden doubt that she might not be.

So I'm here in the Cathedral Square of Christchurch, it's busy in a gentle sunny way, people are puzzling over their next move in public chess games, there are people eating hot dogs and pastries, and drinking cappucinos. Seagulls and sparrows edge cautiously closer hoping for crumbs, a busker sings a range of well known songs ("Wish you were here", "Dirty Old Town" "Father and Son") as well as some of his own. There's a street entertainer (a Glaswegian) being tied up in a straight jacket and over head I hear the raw of a jet taking off; where in the world are they going in that thin cigar tube?

Soon we will be doing just that, and I realise that we are already nearing the end of the journey. It's in our minds - that's why Mum is making a parcel, and why I am aware of the jet.

The sun warms the slabs beneath my feet, and the world keeps turning.

To Christchurch

We caught the train down to Christchurch, the one that goes along the coast. The landscape changed again as we went inland; reminiscent of a European agricultural landscape. Another spectacular ride.

Christchurch itself had a wide airy feel, as we drove through th streets in the early evening towards our hotel for the night.

The Windsor Hotel is an interesting rather Victorian looking building, with very substantial woodwork and rather grand banisters. The was an extrmely friendly and bustling man called Donald who bustled us up to our room, after a very swift briefing on the downstairs facilities.

We shard the room, and had were issued with white bath robes and slippers to skuttle along the corridor to the facilities in. We went out for an Indian meal, and as I sat there I had a portent of misgiving about the choice of cuisine.

Anyway back to the Hotel and I went out looking for a bar. I found a place specialising in Belgian beer. But I didn't get to drink much of it. My gut got me and I was back to the hotel for total immersion.

Not good.

Next morning we went round the Christchurch Arts Centre which is an interesting new building with curving glass walls and sculptures. We saw some work ny the famous NZ artist Rita Angus see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Angus which I enjoyed a lot - particularly her later water colours.

The next day we moved down to the Sumner Bay Motel where we arrived tired and sleepy. I cooked in our rather small apartment. Later I went out and in an irish bar I was beckoned over by a group of oldish and rather drunk people who took my appearance as being quite Irish enough for me to join them in their St Patrick Day's celebration. There was a couple with quite a lot of tension going on between them and when thy left I found myself talking to a man who used to be a vet, a drummer, and had a degree in theology. A good bloke.

I have written some emails to people who are related to the family and still live in the area Margan grew up in. They have asked me to phone them - so I will and that will lead us to another chapeter.

With love

Me
Mum
& The World.

What a ride

We had planned to go whale watching by boat yesterday but the trip was cancelled due to bad weather. BUT . .

This morning . . . well as you can see . . . we had the fantastic and magical experience of a helicopter (helix [hele] wing [copter]) ride over the Pacific ocean to see Whales and Dolphins. I was doubly transported. It was like being on a magic carpet. I have been in helicopters before but never sitting right next to the pilot and always before to do with filming. To just sit there and watch was fantastic. That man has the best job in the world. And he knew it. I have (I;m sorry about this being a bit nerdy) read about helicopter flying and I was intrigued to see what the pilot was doing as much as the whales.

The sea floor drops dramatically down only about 1 km off Kaikoura to a depth of around 1Km, so the Whales can consequently come very close to shore, allowing us humans to get to see them relatively quickly. The ones we saw were sperm whales. He told us that these toothed whales can actually swallow a small shark whole! Can you believe this? They send out a very loud "click" and this wave of sound (as well as providing echo location) is so powerful that it can temorarily stun the victim and give the whale time to to accelerate into the kill.

The feeling of hanging in the air in this most improbable of machines watching the most incredible of creatures was just brilliant. I felt so calm and happy. Happy at the beauty of nature and the creative inventiveness of humans.

I just had to tell you that before I go to bed. Now I must go and get the washing.

Me
Mum
&
The World.

Train to Kaikoura (plus corrections - more time on computer)

The train from Picton to Kaikoura was not what I had expected. I suppose I had the idea that a pioneering country - so rugged and new, would have some massive trains with big powerful engines and oversized wheels. But no - it was quite a narrow gauge, and the train was much smaller in proportion to a human being than a British train. In fact I would go as har as to say cramped. I was also surprised at the number of announcements and safety cards. Perhaps they wished they were operating an airoplane.

There was an observation car at the rear of the train, which had no sides and which was exhilratingly windy and wild. I managed to get few snaps of people on the beach walking on the edge of the Pacific, and even some people surfing. (Not easy at that speed, and in that wind)

In between times we sat quite companiobly together. Sharing headphobnes at one point to listen to some Finnish music I had on my mp3, and looking at each others photos.

It was a lovely ride.

I noticed this bloke with a wide variety of lenses, and camera alternatives snapping away, and discovered that he was from Helsinki, so we had some conversation. He had come via South America. When he left Helsinki it was - 30!

"And now . . .look at this - " he pointed to the world around him, bathed in warm misty blue air.

The Panorama Hotel is on the southern edge of the bay quite a walk away from the town (about the distance from Weavers to Dursely- have I already told you that?), but near the seal colony. So the next morning we walked up to the point, and there sleeping in the grass, or on the rocks loads of seals. It was amazing to be so close to real live seals - sometimes less than 10 meters away.

Mum walked with her stick and took lots of photos as well. It was a very happy and relaxed morning, which left us tired but happy by the time we got back to the Motel.

After a little sleep, we went a similar distance the other way into town and did some shopping, and Mum went back to the motel.

ONE WAY TICKET

You can only

Make your own journey

Once

What is yours

Is only and inevitably

Yours

The texture and

Touch the colour is

All.

This ticket this

Life is not transferable

Breathe

Until we meet again. . .

Me, Mum & The World

Picton 2

Picton lies at the end of the Queen Charlotte sound, an amazing twisting and turning route picked out by the ferry at the nothern tip of South Island.

Picton itself was originally a whaling station - little more, and it's still pretty small. Infact it's probably not much bigger than Dursely, yet it is a nodal point in NZ. The railway starts here and heads south, rolling stock coming off the ferry as well as people and cars.

We were there for two nights and it was a welcome relief to stop and do nothing for a while after all that relentless driving. A chance to catch up on the laundry and diaries and stuff.

To be honest we didn't do some of the things we could. like going on cruises and swimming with dolphins (not quite sure about that myself) but it was great jut to walk around looking at the place.

The next evening I went to an Irish bar, and there was proper irish music going on (a fiddle and a mandolin) and (not very irish but fun anyway) some morris dancing. I enjoyed that a ot, and I got talking to a group of young travellers. An Australian, an American and a Italian who were going south to Blenhiem to work on a vinyard. It was really nice to talk to complete strangers for a short while.

But soon it was time to move on

Me Mum & The World

Picton Ferry

The task of getting up dropping off the car and getting to the ferry terminal seemed a daunting one especially at that hour of the day (0600) but we got there OK and after a brief sprint to the loo we were checked in and ready to go.

I looked at the water in the shallows over the fence. It was really clear.You could see muscles under the water attached to the rocks. Then the water started to hypnotise me. it was so gleaming and clear and abstract. I got quite mesmerised by it.

The ferry - The Interislander line was lovely. I do like ferries. the route between Wellington and picton is quite interesting.

http://www.tripwiser.com/trip_thing_to_do-InterIslander_Ferry_Wellington_Picton_Wellington_New_Zealand?itiNodeId=8a8c80fe165ecfa101166258ed003355&eType=activity

Picton itself is a little place at the end of Queen Charlotte sound. Ferries come and go, and there is the train south that we will get tomorrow.

last night I left Mum and went out to see if there was an interestying bar. There's a place called The Flying Haggis. But it was not really my cup of tea.

The place we are staying was full up so we were offered "the house next door" which turns out to be massive. We have a surfiet of bedrooms, and the rooms are large enough to hold a reception.

It's rather overcast and cold today and we have heard there is snow further south. It's good to have a day to stop and do nothing.