tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46136660532852183102024-03-13T15:10:14.924+13:00Maaike-World: let's mingle...Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16702044121537554417noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-44855959631224260962010-12-16T20:42:00.006+13:002010-12-16T21:03:13.096+13:00Kayaking...scary new hobby!I've started a diploma in teaching this year. It is fun but a lot of work, especially since I'm also working full time. So this last term I decided NOT to take a third teaching paper, but learn how to kayak instead with the local kayaking club. Great club who put a lot of effort into newbies!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3GD30t9uP6z2u9W23idFwgHxboMrDa17SuJU-tRCQGYPXzgELxsUm4J7Wyyv_FK70nuar45I739oZ_4c9sRqSAiVPXOpp-6tX2ku0DwxelimgSRMGhzXsFEdfz2wKpeQyb4Kl1Xbt__h/s1600/P1010693.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3GD30t9uP6z2u9W23idFwgHxboMrDa17SuJU-tRCQGYPXzgELxsUm4J7Wyyv_FK70nuar45I739oZ_4c9sRqSAiVPXOpp-6tX2ku0DwxelimgSRMGhzXsFEdfz2wKpeQyb4Kl1Xbt__h/s320/P1010693.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551185102243034194" /></a><br /><br />The course was very intense for 2 weeks (3x pool, 1x beach, 2x lake/river and 2x river) and it has been amazing to see how quickly everyone learned. Started off being shit scared even getting into the kayak (you feel 'stuck') from being nervous about being up side down under water, till superduper focussed getting down a grade 2 river. I learned heaps, got very very tired, got adrenaline pumped but generally loved it. Since then I haven't been out because work took over again (finishing my job to start a new one in 2011) but I'm hoping to pick it up again in the new year!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKR4W720ZubQXD6pTISlmAQexSJhxc-B_CAG8zwIfjcsh7UYfxBzfKyMRTFyt_4SnLRqv40d1U5xvFlmTHb23697ha6c7GytsglIwMzer6psC750usQ8eeKLnJ3ZpwX6-rkMtmjmXaHTN/s1600/P1010728.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKR4W720ZubQXD6pTISlmAQexSJhxc-B_CAG8zwIfjcsh7UYfxBzfKyMRTFyt_4SnLRqv40d1U5xvFlmTHb23697ha6c7GytsglIwMzer6psC750usQ8eeKLnJ3ZpwX6-rkMtmjmXaHTN/s320/P1010728.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551185560541029698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PcR7-6ASZaVyOPxHApWW77gSs0l-Yn6Lt4jnhIayBsIS-h6Zw4mi-9f7aXJI6v62-dgOo8WrlzjTkP0sSI_g1xWXAIivh-ecaLv1LD7Y_EC08fb_Q6OOzXvtI1iBnGble_a6u3S37Q-i/s1600/P1010709.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PcR7-6ASZaVyOPxHApWW77gSs0l-Yn6Lt4jnhIayBsIS-h6Zw4mi-9f7aXJI6v62-dgOo8WrlzjTkP0sSI_g1xWXAIivh-ecaLv1LD7Y_EC08fb_Q6OOzXvtI1iBnGble_a6u3S37Q-i/s320/P1010709.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551185559195217538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFdlNT7qbQKhvUbupcWZ6dISA6IjaxScJwZG7qr5AxUnK1cCMJu59-8NclWFTzPPODvhtYeNZSmrJ9EbIS-0VdAtJ5QvAqOywHq2OfvZkyqqpo4MaMJLgM2oSCBtBk6hjYXvFsyeAugnq/s1600/P1010708.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFdlNT7qbQKhvUbupcWZ6dISA6IjaxScJwZG7qr5AxUnK1cCMJu59-8NclWFTzPPODvhtYeNZSmrJ9EbIS-0VdAtJ5QvAqOywHq2OfvZkyqqpo4MaMJLgM2oSCBtBk6hjYXvFsyeAugnq/s320/P1010708.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551185552365278306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dLPLr1zoj2CvwTvf4VEIJ3cN6bB6ZWYLNOTgLQ5jjSrrBJYqC9VWurzIuOiG5DAqW6Q8bBh2nspe7QEu8HTsl6XOU8pL8MH6tpl-Mt7xdLZsaRu1wF4l6tc065ut7EfiHKZPcMjtzJNY/s1600/P1010816.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dLPLr1zoj2CvwTvf4VEIJ3cN6bB6ZWYLNOTgLQ5jjSrrBJYqC9VWurzIuOiG5DAqW6Q8bBh2nspe7QEu8HTsl6XOU8pL8MH6tpl-Mt7xdLZsaRu1wF4l6tc065ut7EfiHKZPcMjtzJNY/s320/P1010816.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551185566551610898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EglB7Cm8mYj4wkyTC7kr0ZgURrA1rrJ8LymjV3emJ2BAnwkIhXOin1Y-Oop88rsfxW2S9lliDuwWvPpwwkkvcgW3GlxFuUnSttZ330ec85Nroa1qDB9Q94FJQw8Dk-mYXC4hsApdzsUA/s1600/P1010808.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EglB7Cm8mYj4wkyTC7kr0ZgURrA1rrJ8LymjV3emJ2BAnwkIhXOin1Y-Oop88rsfxW2S9lliDuwWvPpwwkkvcgW3GlxFuUnSttZ330ec85Nroa1qDB9Q94FJQw8Dk-mYXC4hsApdzsUA/s320/P1010808.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551185566661139058" /></a><br />Pictures are all Susan Cornahs: it is funny to see how I discovered on the last day that my seat wasn't adjusted well enough for my posture...I constantly felt like I had to pull myself up...which shows in the pictures I reckon!<br /><br />P.S. The grade 2 bit has not been 'evidenced' since it was quite hands-on...:)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7qynC0qPIubgjPjQnceN4KNVqtv9vj7sCSoNS_MQ476VFcm9_7Hkjl0cpePXcB_HzHoL-7N4AH9WSwl10zjVjG2SHZicKakKHNypJxHY_qAdeoqAnhryXbLWU0z5f5y9nTF1Ci8tOIIv/s1600/P1010949.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7qynC0qPIubgjPjQnceN4KNVqtv9vj7sCSoNS_MQ476VFcm9_7Hkjl0cpePXcB_HzHoL-7N4AH9WSwl10zjVjG2SHZicKakKHNypJxHY_qAdeoqAnhryXbLWU0z5f5y9nTF1Ci8tOIIv/s320/P1010949.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551186097801466194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zSrprm7RwHbrLnD5plw9mHFuVYiXmvdwfHMNnx_gSoMoqwNhiCX8sHW2vSzs1FzMiE9jA6MEMdc8BSOBf2lNpB3dtJyTrJLejMFp_U2i68F4S_MWlWaY8pmFsArVOiU1RrESWjnjWAlx/s1600/P1010874.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zSrprm7RwHbrLnD5plw9mHFuVYiXmvdwfHMNnx_gSoMoqwNhiCX8sHW2vSzs1FzMiE9jA6MEMdc8BSOBf2lNpB3dtJyTrJLejMFp_U2i68F4S_MWlWaY8pmFsArVOiU1RrESWjnjWAlx/s320/P1010874.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551186092741084562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeCiN19pc9q7kLka-SpFBvbPCqYI_PmlaRvaqaqS6Z-s0jK7Dsh7l4Vk7ksq0pqVv0HGy7BE_y85LRSzQbrkLxhEw7ZfXXVATPwLSz-kwclvn4ZwTgK6NNp4FY3B2C9giHMOnrIGNPkOG/s1600/P1010863.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeCiN19pc9q7kLka-SpFBvbPCqYI_PmlaRvaqaqS6Z-s0jK7Dsh7l4Vk7ksq0pqVv0HGy7BE_y85LRSzQbrkLxhEw7ZfXXVATPwLSz-kwclvn4ZwTgK6NNp4FY3B2C9giHMOnrIGNPkOG/s320/P1010863.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551186091157764882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWZnUvkbHRUlaJjhPdRpQYCE21X7OmoSNX4JmU86xBMLVah5mZ1u7HRD10NfetLxDZcbgcn7ogxS-mz_P_SSyA2mrASsuUcKggNozoj0RqxEdZwnpK4sjD-X7V2VsLbpN-oHxV9oI4nEs/s1600/P1010862.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWZnUvkbHRUlaJjhPdRpQYCE21X7OmoSNX4JmU86xBMLVah5mZ1u7HRD10NfetLxDZcbgcn7ogxS-mz_P_SSyA2mrASsuUcKggNozoj0RqxEdZwnpK4sjD-X7V2VsLbpN-oHxV9oI4nEs/s320/P1010862.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551186084190973922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Jw8tSIfU_N3oBDVIKIBWp2kaaSr-9CPKF5ZDFz5wnmPW6wzJQa7gihhFVKo4TAA6qvzGTqE0dRtHMfSU8IaDex9jWigXMtFD18A8cu8eXwoCAChF1wYY3E93HnOOtcxBYt_0J9_0FtjM/s1600/P1010854.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Jw8tSIfU_N3oBDVIKIBWp2kaaSr-9CPKF5ZDFz5wnmPW6wzJQa7gihhFVKo4TAA6qvzGTqE0dRtHMfSU8IaDex9jWigXMtFD18A8cu8eXwoCAChF1wYY3E93HnOOtcxBYt_0J9_0FtjM/s320/P1010854.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551186082545762018" /></a>Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18314458329506477593noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-37909904187372020512010-11-27T10:40:00.005+13:002010-11-27T12:15:12.038+13:003 boxes on Hyundai Busan...When I decided to move out of my lovely house to go travelling around the world in 2007, I moved all of my stuff from my flat to my parents. Since then friends have bought some of the quality stuff, my brother has taken a lot of furniture, my sister is using the odd bit and when I was in Europe last my parents asked me to go through all my 25 odd boxes of stuff...and get rid of it. It was quite fun actually. Most of my stuff I gave to the neighbours: their daughter was about to go to uni so she could do with some basics! <br /><br />Of course I still had all my papers from uni: first assignment I wrote, first mini- linguistic research I did (following kids in the train and analyse their speech!) and lots of notes. Most notes I had no idea what I was on about (I mean, I could see it was my handwriting, but honestly...No clue whatsoever!), but some notes I would say I master that now. Probably about 5-10%. Quite shocking isn't it?! And about 3 folders of data for my masters. Needless to say I chucked it all out. Autsj. There is no point is keeping it. So by the end of my sneezing time going through the boxes (and the giggles and the moments of 'oh no, yes I remember that') I was left with 3 half full boxes. My European life, 27 years of gathering ... reduced to 3 boxes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksVAZTzJi651Hwc-eqvp1PIB9YJTgUJ098SU3TpNi2Mb7IMb0yHnMRJPxNzd-y4LcelwKMQBPjHjZsjUewVm6auZYmVF0uRMGXhNqiT_aDnGqblQio-hRIFes92YTNjq5DuAtgw95WMG2/s1600/Hyundai+Busan.aspx"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksVAZTzJi651Hwc-eqvp1PIB9YJTgUJ098SU3TpNi2Mb7IMb0yHnMRJPxNzd-y4LcelwKMQBPjHjZsjUewVm6auZYmVF0uRMGXhNqiT_aDnGqblQio-hRIFes92YTNjq5DuAtgw95WMG2/s320/Hyundai+Busan.aspx" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543998010447968866" /></a><br /><br />I arranged for the boxes to be shipped out to NZ by <a href="http://www.sevenseasworldwide.com/homepage/default.aspx">Seven Seas</a>. So far they have been amazingly well organised: they delivered new sturdy boxes for free, their paper work was clear, they arranged the NZ custom papers and warned of common mistakes, they rang to remind you of the pick up etc etc. Brilliant. Exactly what a well organised Dutch girl on the other side of the world wants! So my mother re-packed the boxes, put some liquorice in to fill up the load (YAY!!!) and off they went. It can take up to 3 months. So. Fun. So I logged into my account to see whether the payment went through (I told you I was well organised: daughter of my father!) and I found out on which boat my boxes are. How cool! So I googled the boat and it gets even better: you can see where <a href="http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=235011140">Hyunadai Busan</a> is and what route it has taken. It is near Taiwan at the moment.<br /><br />And the best bit is that I'm not paying for it, work is!Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18314458329506477593noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-47240427739807121602010-11-05T22:03:00.003+13:002010-11-05T22:21:14.476+13:00Oeps...What is that with blogs and me?<br /><br />...<br /><br />No adventures to write about? Eh no.<br />No computer or Internet at home? Ah, well, no.<br />People not reading the blog? Ahah, they were, but maybe not anymore!<br />Am I lazy? Mmm, no, but yes computer lazy.<br />Don't I have stories to tell about NZ, my friends, my whanau, my house or work? No...<br />Don't I take pictures? Yes, No. (very kiwi thing...)<br /><br />Anyway, new action: more blog posts. My friends Amy and Michelle always make lists of things they have to do after they have their birthday. Amy turned 31 a while ago and on her list was re-instating her blog. Good one. Since I'm 31, I thought I should do the same...<br /><br />So here we are. First post is about...Amy, Michelle and I doing Spring Challenge (multisport event). And yes I'm taking the lazy way out because I'm busy kayaking: go <a href="http://nzwormgirl.blogspot.com/">here</a> to see Amy's post!Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18314458329506477593noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-58189738566374299652009-12-28T18:57:00.004+13:002009-12-28T23:50:19.083+13:00Fun...mucho funIt seems to become a tradition; once in a while I will do a big update instead of tiny ones here and there. Life has been eventful, too much fun playing outside and no rest for the wicked. Or at least no time for computers. Obviously...<br /><br />The last 3 weeks I have been spending my evenings on a circus course...which was totally exciting. I have to refer you to Patrick's blog for some fun movies...<br /><br />Christmas has been spend with Patrick's family in Palmerston North. His aunt Mary has taken us in her house and we spend the last 5 days meeting the family, eating nice food, drinking delicious wine, having good chats, playing lots of games and doing some sight seeing. And we laughed a lot: Mary has a great sense of humour (and she doesn't mind some crazy people like us!)<br /><br />It was also about time to put some effort in my lovely lonely blog: some Maaike stories and kiwi pictures! I think there are about 10...'Lekker leesvoer'... And after today I will be on a proper long holiday with my mother: travelling around the North Island, showing her why I love NZ that much!!<br /><br />And finally, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a healthy, happy and an amazing 2010. I hope to see you in April/May (if not before...!)Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18314458329506477593noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-19743095942387668822009-12-27T18:54:00.000+13:002009-12-28T23:46:55.930+13:00Work...Work is challenging and joyful good, but just amazingly busy...I suppose to finish my contract mid 2010. I wonder. I mean, I will have it done, but there might be more… Or not: all fun and games (true kiwi expression!) In the meantime, since I was asked, I wrote an article about embedding literacy and numeracy into Adult Community Education (ACE) programmes. Literacy and numeracy is my thing, I don’t really know much about ACE. If you would like to read it, click <a href="http://www.aceaotearoa.org.nz/users/Image/Adult%20Learners%20Week/Documents/ACENewsletterSpring2009.pdf">here</a>. Good thing is that I already got one teaching contract out of it. Not that I have time, but hey... U vraagt, wij draaien...Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18314458329506477593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-82449283302645568462009-12-10T18:49:00.000+13:002009-12-28T23:45:19.695+13:00MaoriOne new and exciting thing I picked up since my last post, is Maori class. I know I’m a true language nerd, however, doing a class 6-9 on a Thursday evening made me feel a bit hesitant. Being the only non-kiwi made me aware that I would probably have the least prior knowledge to the language. How wrong could I be. On all levels!<br />The classes are in Maori style, so we start off with Karakia (prayers), Waiata (songs) and some meditation. Then the 3 hours are basically full of interactive learning with practising in pairs, doing songs, learning vocabulary while doing ‘haka’ like movements, doing hand/foot coordination and clapping rhythms while learning word combinations. We do games, we push each other, moreover we have fun. Lots of fun, it is totally cool. We are a very supportive team, I think!<br /><br />Our group is interesting and you can sort off divide us in 3 categories. First category are people from Ngai Tahu descent (South Island tribe) who never learned Maori and now they want to learn it. Some youngsters and some wiser older people. Secondly, there is a big bunch of primary school teachers: Maori language and culture is part of the curriculum nowadays, so they feel the need to improve their language skills. And lastly, there is this group of random people who are just keen on learning Maori. I’m one of the random ones... <br /><br />On an educational level it is very interesting to see how Hoani, my teacher, teaches. He is good at what he does. And honestly, the diversity is massive!! Some people have a huge bank of vocabulary and excellent pronunciation (mostly the Maori participants) and then you have me: nil knowledge nor pronunciation skills. You have people without any education and people who are highly educated. You have linguistic freaks like me and you have the rest of the group who are monolingual all their lives (Kiwi’s are basically shocking at learning languages) and barely understand the concept of how languages are constructed. The fact that I don’t know kiwi songs, is an immense shock for some.<br /><br />But we have found our merry ways in it. If we start a song the entire class has their eyes (and ears) on me and starts laughing because I sing whatever I think the tune is...I attack my fellow learners with a zillion questions ‘ what does x mean, what does y mean’ and they are not surprised about even the most simple question: they know I have no basics. Then again, sometimes the English speakers find the pronunciation very hard, I find it easypeasy because I have that thing for languages. If sentence structures are completely not like English, the class struggles, I’m comfortable with it. Since I have always learned languages by the use of grammar and textbooks, Hoani sometimes gives me some grammar to please me. If Hoani doesn’t get the English grammar, I explain how it works. Or like Hoani says: I teach you Maori and you can teach me English. And he says that with the biggest grin on his face: he thinks I’m hilarious...little language nerd...<br /><br />So yes, my Maori classes are really superb. Having exams every 5 weeks is quite full on, but they are very accommodating. You do them in pairs, lots is verbal and you never fail...just not yet achieved...!Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18314458329506477593noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-67474412544799888862009-11-30T16:36:00.000+13:002009-12-28T23:41:58.344+13:00Queen Charlotte track - late November<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWK5HYtOYNVFkBgKHWQWJYplrIbGR2ct3hdBOuDFh3rttjSLD9hVgiUwQzg4fL04cad1Yntkh7Pr7nED-nb49c6NrDiuQ8SBQ0FLd0iUHO_C8zTEaZbg3Vl1UId8TbppCC7itGly5yNGz/s1600-h/PB120448.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWK5HYtOYNVFkBgKHWQWJYplrIbGR2ct3hdBOuDFh3rttjSLD9hVgiUwQzg4fL04cad1Yntkh7Pr7nED-nb49c6NrDiuQ8SBQ0FLd0iUHO_C8zTEaZbg3Vl1UId8TbppCC7itGly5yNGz/s320/PB120448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418270487427383970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So. Last one with pictures. I still owe you my pictures from an amazing cool trip to Marlborough Sounds: biking the Queen Charlotte track with Amy, Michelle (aka Mighty Midgets) and Steve. It is a walking track but you can also bike it; we took a lazy-ish 3 days for it which meant about 3-4 hours of biking per day, then pitch up our tent, and give our legs and bums a well deserved rest. Biking was up and down....and up. Steep cliffs, amazing views and lots of learning. I improved my balancing act: going steep up is going much better now! Downhill was crazy and cool and I only fell off once at a switchback. No biggie. Then, nutters as we are, Amy, Michelle and I decided to bike back the last 25 km to the starting point. As you do.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cmWHaOjRXkxoJMOovvJ3VGVrUpax0YTOBpcvZuxkRf03tjsA0vg-9g-L3CbsW5tbHWTR8Kx7blPKAp-iU4ZM-6id-zfBY-iyV5KIoTcpdQSKqvuavNDeYKxTYG97tr9oPzNfdYbrkHk8/s1600-h/PB120446.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cmWHaOjRXkxoJMOovvJ3VGVrUpax0YTOBpcvZuxkRf03tjsA0vg-9g-L3CbsW5tbHWTR8Kx7blPKAp-iU4ZM-6id-zfBY-iyV5KIoTcpdQSKqvuavNDeYKxTYG97tr9oPzNfdYbrkHk8/s320/PB120446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418270449956160706" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I loved this trip so much more than I expected: the biking was awesome. I sound like a teenager. I know. But it was awesome! More pictures soon if I get them from the others...!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4fXtKxsCPcVlUtUluVqKsl9LWdTulPBVLWaNEvx1nnh0j1Y1QRYKM7ehv71ngNJPnxZmwBspHQemc-SX7S2ClPHCwA1Tux4tc9OR4ZP3nsAw89LTRfbC-sE-C74tXrs5CbwQzopN0CTk/s1600-h/PB140451.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4fXtKxsCPcVlUtUluVqKsl9LWdTulPBVLWaNEvx1nnh0j1Y1QRYKM7ehv71ngNJPnxZmwBspHQemc-SX7S2ClPHCwA1Tux4tc9OR4ZP3nsAw89LTRfbC-sE-C74tXrs5CbwQzopN0CTk/s320/PB140451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418270529572408978" border="0" /></a>Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18314458329506477593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-33722860756455961082009-11-23T16:34:00.001+13:002010-02-05T11:42:57.486+13:00Wellington - Glynn and Jayne - in November<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI63ndqanP4RcJSZ87eyXgZoXEdlNXW6sh5l3e4xtznUEwpHEvdNzDKmvZuyiB5e5xJsLF8MHsYESk5dijcAryFSksZPAjU_ja7DBTbi9Kis_jz4BS6dJv5sst6ki5wpjfb9WDFnAjkkhh/s1600-h/IMG_0595.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418270117870685730" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI63ndqanP4RcJSZ87eyXgZoXEdlNXW6sh5l3e4xtznUEwpHEvdNzDKmvZuyiB5e5xJsLF8MHsYESk5dijcAryFSksZPAjU_ja7DBTbi9Kis_jz4BS6dJv5sst6ki5wpjfb9WDFnAjkkhh/s320/IMG_0595.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Finally I went to see the capital of New Zealand: Wellington. I heard lots about it, but unfortunately work has never taken me there. Auckland is more the hype for that...Anyway, one of Patrick’s best friends, Glynn, lives there with Jayne. So they had a spare bed for us and they showed me around. We visited some great musea (definitely a miss in Christchurch), went for walks and city-coffees!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzmz6s9ebwdPz2iRsP4Y5pNcWNCW0m63fTXtUT4ujal5qXFmbt-DvPKX5g7_e61119mOV2FIaILXsEMCxdnTxcG64D-ph7G5Nx5Cflk-lAI5S4Hww5Yy9iyMVEDZ7wTgIKNeH0_lj3M4_/s1600-h/IMG_0637.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418270303250612722" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzmz6s9ebwdPz2iRsP4Y5pNcWNCW0m63fTXtUT4ujal5qXFmbt-DvPKX5g7_e61119mOV2FIaILXsEMCxdnTxcG64D-ph7G5Nx5Cflk-lAI5S4Hww5Yy9iyMVEDZ7wTgIKNeH0_lj3M4_/s320/IMG_0637.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwLDo_tSnE1xF3SUFE85ZJIUXRQB_JCHmIF8yX44EO7UhQ64GWh5EjqZ6IJlY3U_3qkeOaqy9JQaRmWED8l6RmIW-dKxIJJbPlNWc2Ym1_hU7LYnllb2EQG_Te-monghum8gqVcdOgP19/s1600-h/IMG_0633.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418270262712349666" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwLDo_tSnE1xF3SUFE85ZJIUXRQB_JCHmIF8yX44EO7UhQ64GWh5EjqZ6IJlY3U_3qkeOaqy9JQaRmWED8l6RmIW-dKxIJJbPlNWc2Ym1_hU7LYnllb2EQG_Te-monghum8gqVcdOgP19/s320/IMG_0633.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlOWwuotyyCkK2oG6dI6LSYk1QnoPpfw11ZZ6fO2bksGYsbGdavjBR-I7RQoZEAGQUNjS38ML4M45LjgAubeiUYH_LJ3XNEwtZvNsR2kzNpPfbmsyjVCeF9VGz3UAt6x9lXJHKZPDH5Ae/s1600-h/IMG_0631.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418270218571377042" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlOWwuotyyCkK2oG6dI6LSYk1QnoPpfw11ZZ6fO2bksGYsbGdavjBR-I7RQoZEAGQUNjS38ML4M45LjgAubeiUYH_LJ3XNEwtZvNsR2kzNpPfbmsyjVCeF9VGz3UAt6x9lXJHKZPDH5Ae/s320/IMG_0631.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYFsq1NZV8NgQcnfmeABf74-5TYTT2Fz_CjUpH_bXRyqZvKZKOgiYoQEkeTVkWORIFUsvjh4o3ZiIqRXfWVyagteq303XBvUJIUCKacCPejFAkyCVP5Eo9PQIhvnxO0mP2MacZiN_f9fJ/s1600-h/IMG_0600.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418270167146950434" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYFsq1NZV8NgQcnfmeABf74-5TYTT2Fz_CjUpH_bXRyqZvKZKOgiYoQEkeTVkWORIFUsvjh4o3ZiIqRXfWVyagteq303XBvUJIUCKacCPejFAkyCVP5Eo9PQIhvnxO0mP2MacZiN_f9fJ/s320/IMG_0600.JPG" border="0" /></a>Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18314458329506477593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-81304664636846146352009-10-30T16:38:00.000+13:002009-12-28T23:39:41.590+13:00Lake Chrisssstabel in late October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOuHeqn2v5ERyqXxrwUu5L7V7UT4F_mp2AxZ9_uw6AWRPENS_wHvCeLP6QejBEmv1openo4OSA0b0zN3wRUAA9IG4BhQ6pSFDd_KkG8GYEHtYLKpjFAhExzAQEcwS_XLS-BC8Z1gMf3DX/s1600-h/IMG_0543.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOuHeqn2v5ERyqXxrwUu5L7V7UT4F_mp2AxZ9_uw6AWRPENS_wHvCeLP6QejBEmv1openo4OSA0b0zN3wRUAA9IG4BhQ6pSFDd_KkG8GYEHtYLKpjFAhExzAQEcwS_XLS-BC8Z1gMf3DX/s320/IMG_0543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418271052738025474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A three day weekend was spent around Lake Christabel and Robinson Valley. First big hike of the season... that backpack on your back is a familiar feeling, but still, it slows you down considerably! It was a great trip, lovely camping, nice chats with people and especially the second day over the tops in the snow was amazingly fantastic: really loved it!! Thanks to Patrick for the pictures...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1szGj9WuZBlRqfty0S_xE7D2WVgb386OWi0vRLhweFbu8K-kJuniGTp9OVIq6guBMuVwRM2MFta5MaI6HGIzWFQYNde1e3nKMfvc9d6CgPTFGyWkHS12XXfu4UDlS2ZLng5CAiBuOkNMu/s1600-h/christabel.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1szGj9WuZBlRqfty0S_xE7D2WVgb386OWi0vRLhweFbu8K-kJuniGTp9OVIq6guBMuVwRM2MFta5MaI6HGIzWFQYNde1e3nKMfvc9d6CgPTFGyWkHS12XXfu4UDlS2ZLng5CAiBuOkNMu/s320/christabel.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418270955903216370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgGyLe6I-y0IZzI0QNDDqCEk-wetdr2RdRW6avhPqDf5BbwLgN9J93TyA64jaXJUM09fFW8y1rcK0TmrcUuk8W0rXa8cCrDakK-qH0V9IrqwdwgjN_FdbGLcy3ZkVZcVQwCJfT-Ey759q/s1600-h/snowscape.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgGyLe6I-y0IZzI0QNDDqCEk-wetdr2RdRW6avhPqDf5BbwLgN9J93TyA64jaXJUM09fFW8y1rcK0TmrcUuk8W0rXa8cCrDakK-qH0V9IrqwdwgjN_FdbGLcy3ZkVZcVQwCJfT-Ey759q/s320/snowscape.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418271251918294242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbl3Rvc924Q0EDwUdjUP_E3IKH23VU1Kbl-m-cjkE4FVkhVIrx7q9DIQv4CQbyG9xcstt4uOx3yCZESg0iE6LbRO7hXHl4eowS4qW8hm8klQ6mh1aebOfC_gM9tjDvNpOaw9FhVQVlIbaQ/s1600-h/IMG_0566.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbl3Rvc924Q0EDwUdjUP_E3IKH23VU1Kbl-m-cjkE4FVkhVIrx7q9DIQv4CQbyG9xcstt4uOx3yCZESg0iE6LbRO7hXHl4eowS4qW8hm8klQ6mh1aebOfC_gM9tjDvNpOaw9FhVQVlIbaQ/s320/IMG_0566.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418271089301493442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHD3NPdlvvc52f-fWA5ynC29_3fO0vaJp-N0Z40GoZlxqJQ1KfnSjSqfJbQaA8xZ0cKMbX4nIAE-H-Au-4qawtkBxuhB_9WJEysr2-vHMLzwuZCbeygQfdFRknBaHI1xXO6fPn26ojENoX/s1600-h/group.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHD3NPdlvvc52f-fWA5ynC29_3fO0vaJp-N0Z40GoZlxqJQ1KfnSjSqfJbQaA8xZ0cKMbX4nIAE-H-Au-4qawtkBxuhB_9WJEysr2-vHMLzwuZCbeygQfdFRknBaHI1xXO6fPn26ojENoX/s320/group.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418271003411810834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEwvesjlvRy5g4L5jRTn0eSZ8wk1z7xqrQUnlF8d2IrBLpzi0MimXcXDlrR5lFCvMXDCx_ScGg29POSQIOkgJQVmYj5huV7VwCFKLC1Q7f-9wd75DKeo4qoS1blwAEpxnbQmz0EPzOsyT/s1600-h/snow.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEwvesjlvRy5g4L5jRTn0eSZ8wk1z7xqrQUnlF8d2IrBLpzi0MimXcXDlrR5lFCvMXDCx_ScGg29POSQIOkgJQVmYj5huV7VwCFKLC1Q7f-9wd75DKeo4qoS1blwAEpxnbQmz0EPzOsyT/s320/snow.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418271218006890562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_Ql7OmgFdZbjGDLpiDpQaG3EM9nbbCLSO90eko6OTCiW2fFoEJd9BzQNtz8W7ZHFJm2G0TWaurr5ceIqV-wCzZ0TaKRf9upOtOCpO_YwW9sLCxiRUoU0Xt-PKbxhzIGWQuRwwHV5Q1oE/s1600-h/robinsonHut.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_Ql7OmgFdZbjGDLpiDpQaG3EM9nbbCLSO90eko6OTCiW2fFoEJd9BzQNtz8W7ZHFJm2G0TWaurr5ceIqV-wCzZ0TaKRf9upOtOCpO_YwW9sLCxiRUoU0Xt-PKbxhzIGWQuRwwHV5Q1oE/s320/robinsonHut.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418271170568732194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And, finally, a lovely panorama which Patrick made!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6AWQN4luP19Ypt_Z5EoQS-XhC9ab7zSvUdgeSTxtX5ziiaPd9DFabPOXJjhK3on9G7J8zSd1rthSQCOkJqm5MJsO40XlsjsHsJzAjE35RNMvev_ZbOLXMo7q3Um0ND4O7jyBnNYMmUBM/s1600-h/pano.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 51px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6AWQN4luP19Ypt_Z5EoQS-XhC9ab7zSvUdgeSTxtX5ziiaPd9DFabPOXJjhK3on9G7J8zSd1rthSQCOkJqm5MJsO40XlsjsHsJzAjE35RNMvev_ZbOLXMo7q3Um0ND4O7jyBnNYMmUBM/s320/pano.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418271125777322946" border="0" /></a>Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18314458329506477593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-74294260076255557822009-10-19T16:41:00.000+13:002009-12-28T23:38:47.820+13:00Happy 29!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_3pb4xFAI0L3bNPmTJSQkIPkaa0HYcu8cEa5941WaId5OVDhSgxoz4CGIxd5JPuCjNv-xbY1eQ99tY1lK9XLcJHHoBJkTthmfJs5_Sz9yWk83AZFOm4kq2T76DidKQfwOdR4i8cFNEsu/s1600-h/maaike30th.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_3pb4xFAI0L3bNPmTJSQkIPkaa0HYcu8cEa5941WaId5OVDhSgxoz4CGIxd5JPuCjNv-xbY1eQ99tY1lK9XLcJHHoBJkTthmfJs5_Sz9yWk83AZFOm4kq2T76DidKQfwOdR4i8cFNEsu/s320/maaike30th.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418271936481997650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I don’t celebrate birthdays but since my 29th year turned out to be such a good one, I decide to celebrate it in style...A kiwi pot luck dinner with great friends...Special credits to Rachel who made the lovely truffle 30!<br />Go figure, 30 but still in need to ID myself to buy alcohol...!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSo5-a2FuGTsSy_tyKgbk1QcOF6NbA_kenjL7HXqhjfsL9sEshMEcDnCnpSk8ngNZWAW_ZYddcFIfZ5qgPEI5nTX72Ek53gUmoFjtuBN17IvyNWbu0sl5vI9eQy2FVAIWDwWwG2-Aj01tV/s1600-h/maaikeCake.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSo5-a2FuGTsSy_tyKgbk1QcOF6NbA_kenjL7HXqhjfsL9sEshMEcDnCnpSk8ngNZWAW_ZYddcFIfZ5qgPEI5nTX72Ek53gUmoFjtuBN17IvyNWbu0sl5vI9eQy2FVAIWDwWwG2-Aj01tV/s320/maaikeCake.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418272001019462242" border="0" /></a>Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18314458329506477593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-70447681184716604082009-10-05T16:37:00.001+13:002009-12-28T23:37:37.817+13:00Lake coleridge in early October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCPyhKbn_yfFGMkhq9IA2mt2CFiFGBK3Lmijaxr2K0wV-LjV6mGhhsLSrSY_Hc49d16yQUS9d_n56T6bcWmQN1YifJXLmEWE-o7enXw62RsZa2yy0DerjmnyGQX4vA6_UGbYUEgBubRMn/s1600-h/PA090428.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCPyhKbn_yfFGMkhq9IA2mt2CFiFGBK3Lmijaxr2K0wV-LjV6mGhhsLSrSY_Hc49d16yQUS9d_n56T6bcWmQN1YifJXLmEWE-o7enXw62RsZa2yy0DerjmnyGQX4vA6_UGbYUEgBubRMn/s320/PA090428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418270856010603858" border="0" /></a><br />An easy weekend escape: 1,5 hours away from Christchurch is Lake Coleridge. Some undemanding hiking with stunning views. Fresh snow made the spring hike a bit tricky (I lost count after 5 falls...) but we enjoyed taking pictures...So close to home and it feels like a holiday!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXAPLNwWvOdWJX8vXlupB2921TKneMlFrFh5slNNdCeEzSrOISfrs2nPU0G8zlqn7Shm_PMSQaR0B19HF4SzL82OkJtMDRI7JC9BRj7y2E5xHH7S7ZVxTS5eGNJn-hH9M4PP16nQ7ni_s/s1600-h/PA090405.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXAPLNwWvOdWJX8vXlupB2921TKneMlFrFh5slNNdCeEzSrOISfrs2nPU0G8zlqn7Shm_PMSQaR0B19HF4SzL82OkJtMDRI7JC9BRj7y2E5xHH7S7ZVxTS5eGNJn-hH9M4PP16nQ7ni_s/s320/PA090405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418270754782008466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tSCwXNPwoP72GhVfxoObCVAJftvQFI6Vq8Qenjj5kSCpFCsA6Elvszv608RCtZlLW6hyS3kBXM5UaMiszfmC7zmqhsjBrxe25Bn7trfKYmDN614C9x7O-zfPlS13saA_010drdpUSLvD/s1600-h/IMG_0515.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tSCwXNPwoP72GhVfxoObCVAJftvQFI6Vq8Qenjj5kSCpFCsA6Elvszv608RCtZlLW6hyS3kBXM5UaMiszfmC7zmqhsjBrxe25Bn7trfKYmDN614C9x7O-zfPlS13saA_010drdpUSLvD/s320/IMG_0515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418270714990495778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCt9w1i7fomGhbJpEEg9ja9Z8dvyF3kC9_oYAKkstDaJxzg7f7iXgjPQphu2ntI7OP5UzCLrsOosccuZplfzMBJWFNQMk9s3WpMUTKrhVJf9qM9nVQEDBROIXIJ12Sc9Cj_1TiVLgJVLC/s1600-h/DSC_0049.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCt9w1i7fomGhbJpEEg9ja9Z8dvyF3kC9_oYAKkstDaJxzg7f7iXgjPQphu2ntI7OP5UzCLrsOosccuZplfzMBJWFNQMk9s3WpMUTKrhVJf9qM9nVQEDBROIXIJ12Sc9Cj_1TiVLgJVLC/s320/DSC_0049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418270671545299506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9FEEzJYzy-DLpK_gret78A4ICEFL5t1gEGg_G3Nd2X7d0uaGA7xMs-WdaDe40uvQ_pKeqE8Gnl0XWGLQArGKBYj6U-Yu1TJQ2YpXDh6MBcLD9VqBGALDEV87m5VhwiO92YNMLItPFpEI/s1600-h/DSC_0031.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9FEEzJYzy-DLpK_gret78A4ICEFL5t1gEGg_G3Nd2X7d0uaGA7xMs-WdaDe40uvQ_pKeqE8Gnl0XWGLQArGKBYj6U-Yu1TJQ2YpXDh6MBcLD9VqBGALDEV87m5VhwiO92YNMLItPFpEI/s320/DSC_0031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418270629792041522" border="0" /></a>Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18314458329506477593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-45836327814954866642009-09-10T16:33:00.000+12:002009-12-28T19:13:19.181+13:00Spring Challenge in SeptemberThe great Spring challenge: an all women’s adventure race (rafting, biking and walking/running) for teams of three...It all happened in September!! 'The Mighty Midgets' (aka Michelle, Amy and myself) had done some good Wednesday evening walks and biking and/or walking in the weekends. Steve, Hamish and Patrick kept on saying we weren’t doing enough, which is probably true, but we were going for no glory, but maximum fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPAGRbhfYfepsHcjEcqElFORB2_2iH_RrXYd8pk2PCoAKqQcI_9L5DSD-o9SA6q1NR0WKoCT0-jKRwoDzh7Gl3NR0jsorCu5eSctTQCH1odc4vsEXaZSKuiAPbW2r_ERvfDo5PP1GUjw8/s1600-h/IMG_0425.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPAGRbhfYfepsHcjEcqElFORB2_2iH_RrXYd8pk2PCoAKqQcI_9L5DSD-o9SA6q1NR0WKoCT0-jKRwoDzh7Gl3NR0jsorCu5eSctTQCH1odc4vsEXaZSKuiAPbW2r_ERvfDo5PP1GUjw8/s320/IMG_0425.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418269933057672162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Before we started we discussed that the main thing was that we should enjoy the race, so we classified ourselves as non-competitive. While looking at the map, the route and the day itself I suggested that we should aim for a race time of 8 hours and Michelle and Amy ‘mightly’ agreed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkT7G-3kOEZM3QPrWwEnARC9XxktruUazwm3Z_6G5H88wNpvET-OUXV_PGqDnJ7j3Iytc31a1hLEhdCMSoWlmsh7eOzNKXuWz-tEQI9t8Ig2gpQtxxdnhteLq5lFwlKVOhHc7JgEMe2wl/s1600-h/_IAN2630.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkT7G-3kOEZM3QPrWwEnARC9XxktruUazwm3Z_6G5H88wNpvET-OUXV_PGqDnJ7j3Iytc31a1hLEhdCMSoWlmsh7eOzNKXuWz-tEQI9t8Ig2gpQtxxdnhteLq5lFwlKVOhHc7JgEMe2wl/s320/_IAN2630.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418269847688227122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We started with a hard 3 km tedious raft challenge across a lake: we paddled hard (we actually did...) and we were the 10th boat into the river (out of 40 boats so 80 teams). The river turned out to be an annoying bumpy 11 km run where 9 boats passed us...All that hard effort for nothing. Garumph...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLskOuVX_qAkFMnJqCc_DwxB6pWoQ6NTH33J5HjHlw-I-b3-Fbst3WVNR7mdqZ-Tbi28yRCly3r46dd3FVv-jeaZn82gm6BLPtjuRKsgZBui4sqpTAuC8xbQGIXb8Tpya0DqWn0lUNa0EY/s1600-h/_DSC2876.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLskOuVX_qAkFMnJqCc_DwxB6pWoQ6NTH33J5HjHlw-I-b3-Fbst3WVNR7mdqZ-Tbi28yRCly3r46dd3FVv-jeaZn82gm6BLPtjuRKsgZBui4sqpTAuC8xbQGIXb8Tpya0DqWn0lUNa0EY/s320/_DSC2876.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418269749297751266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgv9nEqXQVQYe0us21i7kJoax2zcPfOv5tI1MlSR89pzGxX0vKZztThNCXITND9wbr6NaklpSowxhW2wF3-fstkI9dJgLUICzMNHjM1LafetcP2mvWPMoDmt0wwqpS8HdsgYg7-wNAJgay/s1600-h/_DSC2851.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgv9nEqXQVQYe0us21i7kJoax2zcPfOv5tI1MlSR89pzGxX0vKZztThNCXITND9wbr6NaklpSowxhW2wF3-fstkI9dJgLUICzMNHjM1LafetcP2mvWPMoDmt0wwqpS8HdsgYg7-wNAJgay/s320/_DSC2851.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418269697251984530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Anyhow, Patrick and Steve were our heroes for the day: they made sure we had a smooth shift from wetsuits to bike gear, from empty bellies to filled muffin stomachs! Muscles were a bit cold, but Amy set the pace for the first 10 km mountainbiking! Next was hiking up the hill; the beautiful day had become a quite hot day and my body decided to go against that. I needed to go one gear lower, which was totally fine with Michelle who lead the way, but it frustrated me for a while....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHul3OvoRI67DdPUP8_5HNs7Qsnvn-TyDMw6fdFLiQHPykyzQ713fx6D4FYmQQ1CsLYjTe0EUOEBcjvZCukFwby8U0Dlhao8sNzWmjzgnGF4G6DTQ6Umz1uMsSkzqWJ66j2NlBcpftK23/s1600-h/checkpointOne.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHul3OvoRI67DdPUP8_5HNs7Qsnvn-TyDMw6fdFLiQHPykyzQ713fx6D4FYmQQ1CsLYjTe0EUOEBcjvZCukFwby8U0Dlhao8sNzWmjzgnGF4G6DTQ6Umz1uMsSkzqWJ66j2NlBcpftK23/s320/checkpointOne.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418269897228163730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After some excellent navigation (definitely our strong side compared to the other teams!) and a quick descent it was biking again. Still a happy trio, making fun along the way and not tempted to go crazy on the bike: some cool downhill bits made us pass several teams. This time I showed off the tricks, smoothly followed by the other 2. After a warm welcome at the transition spot, some more food in our body, it was off to do the last walking and navigation bit. And this is where the Mighty Midgets became more competitive than we thought we were. Steve reckoned we could not do it within an hour and although we promised each other that we would NOT run at all, we noticed that we were being overtaken by a few teams. Knowing we were good at the navigation we decided to run at strategic points. Amy up front, me happy following and Michelle struggling but damn serious! It resulted in taking back our position, keeping the last leg within the hour and we finished within less than 7 hours in total...We came 30th and they classify the first 40 as competitive teams... Great achievement!<br />However the real amazing thing about this event is, that there are competitive teams, but also teams who are in their sixties and who have never done this before. Someone took this picture below: it's a classic!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzagy67IZ_UytxaBIoxLeMq4usncyNMDO6_Uyuoap2Og06nAMpTo1a7PaA3_eP_sb6BMtXRRJpbUhzltd0dwra-zrE8-VyNiMjOg23mWnyN3r1X2apTViNfGxGHNYbaaWTldb5h6HwAa9/s1600-h/_DSC3028.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzagy67IZ_UytxaBIoxLeMq4usncyNMDO6_Uyuoap2Og06nAMpTo1a7PaA3_eP_sb6BMtXRRJpbUhzltd0dwra-zrE8-VyNiMjOg23mWnyN3r1X2apTViNfGxGHNYbaaWTldb5h6HwAa9/s320/_DSC3028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418269801888213506" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Very tired though extremely satisfied we, the Mighty Midgets, realised that we were a well balanced team: every time one of us felt extremely good and that person set the pace for the other 2. The training beforehand was never a boring moment and during the race there was no spark of frustration within the team (Amy didn’t need to use the ‘happy lollies’). We are definitely in for next year, this time as a better trained team with still maximum fun. And the best thing now is that we keep training together...<br /><br />And finally, one of my favourite pictures: mighty Michelle and Amy...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGtgPp9yfZwGflW2DLk8pkA3gvy4PlBmJGhP3gZU5aTSe_tHB4Aec04Ka5vpo_vVtEfxGp2SoDzGV5v6q3Nl92k3ZoGtVXLae8Dvp_l_v-zqzhdrCbP8paZ19uMkDTeLyLxYXXK9smOzj/s1600-h/VW_0322.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGtgPp9yfZwGflW2DLk8pkA3gvy4PlBmJGhP3gZU5aTSe_tHB4Aec04Ka5vpo_vVtEfxGp2SoDzGV5v6q3Nl92k3ZoGtVXLae8Dvp_l_v-zqzhdrCbP8paZ19uMkDTeLyLxYXXK9smOzj/s320/VW_0322.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418269978561538514" border="0" /></a>Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18314458329506477593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-51109651798705887672009-08-15T16:39:00.000+12:002009-12-28T19:12:41.601+13:00Girls weekend in August<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQwIwQcOqZhMj7qkP0C4IPgvf1hhzRmheQ7bd8IVAZnyWbS635IvoDtOmzzc9jdx1rFkkZWx0DJsNa8TT9KfyU4zvxOGsziuj5BVOcNQrIejiB304Hnyem-jD5wJTsOmcRjNLUr_LlKYU/s1600-h/P8210356.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQwIwQcOqZhMj7qkP0C4IPgvf1hhzRmheQ7bd8IVAZnyWbS635IvoDtOmzzc9jdx1rFkkZWx0DJsNa8TT9KfyU4zvxOGsziuj5BVOcNQrIejiB304Hnyem-jD5wJTsOmcRjNLUr_LlKYU/s320/P8210356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418271721411586162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I know this bunch of outdoorsy girls and once in a while one of us gets an itch and organises a girls weekend with some proper challenges! Cheviot was the plan this time round but no outdoors stuff...So it turned out to be a real girls weekend...lots of lazying, zipping wine and eating food. And silly chats and silly moods.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Hco0X5bA0OIsmOyNg-9QtRTlhqFOnm3a2MT1ZnF64E0ByK8JBTzCH6uZ6N7BXe7JWqKfgk_TAFH1JGDkn1Hz4TyZGYn7pgmymdMfBq_w9ywdGs5K3YCCJDhr3mxH-tdhB1i0Xa69CPYr/s1600-h/P8210375.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Hco0X5bA0OIsmOyNg-9QtRTlhqFOnm3a2MT1ZnF64E0ByK8JBTzCH6uZ6N7BXe7JWqKfgk_TAFH1JGDkn1Hz4TyZGYn7pgmymdMfBq_w9ywdGs5K3YCCJDhr3mxH-tdhB1i0Xa69CPYr/s320/P8210375.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418271527589399922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Simone and I sneaked off at one point to a nearby beach and I did my best to copy Simone at taking photographs. I didn't do too bad, but in all fairness, Simone is a professional photographer...Check her blog for random and gorgeous pictures!<br /><br />These pictures are mine though...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlBJCDGroV-vsbkpOUJC32YCjNnKyXinf3Kp7K-dcZS6PPiSdDs3nnmU2N8Mlnl4ZhQI5Cwg3dsQ3UcGmIo-HyAmAl12sd952XIs6qimMu6hS_nEs5kvT2c1f7Ka81LH4W6Uza0XElB8k/s1600-h/P8210373.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlBJCDGroV-vsbkpOUJC32YCjNnKyXinf3Kp7K-dcZS6PPiSdDs3nnmU2N8Mlnl4ZhQI5Cwg3dsQ3UcGmIo-HyAmAl12sd952XIs6qimMu6hS_nEs5kvT2c1f7Ka81LH4W6Uza0XElB8k/s320/P8210373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418271489451323186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggi2FU4OCXd_CYNHczfoadOKINz7sQiPo2jQy-jXvVVQpcULmu14kyXEr7ZBN5viY5eCNxLiBkujnu5XAG1DcZHDjKSzkbtTCXj_yQ25Bt43NCsoMTzgzF2A4yg-Thxacs1wchILH339y_/s1600-h/P8210359.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggi2FU4OCXd_CYNHczfoadOKINz7sQiPo2jQy-jXvVVQpcULmu14kyXEr7ZBN5viY5eCNxLiBkujnu5XAG1DcZHDjKSzkbtTCXj_yQ25Bt43NCsoMTzgzF2A4yg-Thxacs1wchILH339y_/s320/P8210359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418271456706285874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAE-dZ1-QtsTwIiZcWOYkAnvGt8nzwQDYawSf9g2v6Z8xyI-Rk1RPijeBPvErkwfg9L7QFSHPR7zDpD_1pI4kKy6VtAsuGW-blBBhcPrHwXWINavWAqV4Lc55AsTwm-Njsqqw7j3ZCEu5/s1600-h/P8210352.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAE-dZ1-QtsTwIiZcWOYkAnvGt8nzwQDYawSf9g2v6Z8xyI-Rk1RPijeBPvErkwfg9L7QFSHPR7zDpD_1pI4kKy6VtAsuGW-blBBhcPrHwXWINavWAqV4Lc55AsTwm-Njsqqw7j3ZCEu5/s320/P8210352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418271368401227202" border="0" /></a>Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18314458329506477593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-53327451508314422742009-08-05T16:30:00.000+12:002009-12-28T19:11:58.820+13:00Winter: miss daredevil!!Somewhere in August Patrick and I went away on a wee little trip into Mackenzie country: the beautiful area of Twizel. Some people say there is nothing in Twizel. Those 'some people' should definitely stay away so Twizel stays like Twizel!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8RFETAN9koGEsCDFy83tMC1uKx0kBb4Hys6h_MMIUWysE1WqNwGfQRi2wAi1BDpJuOcjgE1JaOFUfLBJKt82jH3RvPJzobZXkxgm_4uxtFGxdeRYYVs-JV3iuMv35SvS4HWlBR5VE0zY/s1600-h/sunset.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8RFETAN9koGEsCDFy83tMC1uKx0kBb4Hys6h_MMIUWysE1WqNwGfQRi2wAi1BDpJuOcjgE1JaOFUfLBJKt82jH3RvPJzobZXkxgm_4uxtFGxdeRYYVs-JV3iuMv35SvS4HWlBR5VE0zY/s320/sunset.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418269516947650162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The mountains are amazing: they look strong, powerful and invincible. There is solitude. Quietness. Real people live here. Patrick and I went there to relax, away from the mad place called work, but in reality we ‘slaved’ away on the snowfield of Ohau and mountainbiked around the lower mountain range. Good food, nice wine and early bed. Enjoy the pictures...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bvfSckb1OZNGF3CJuw335rurBEIRUD0KAquJ27WruQqDKKvxBn3hby46c5DWiJfbh7W2t9qq1fTdLOiHsJryIW3GcInYfXER96zpHXm-Ukq2aOmjQnW0Bpmqga3V_q9eLISPZeP-_E6C/s1600-h/IMG_0273.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bvfSckb1OZNGF3CJuw335rurBEIRUD0KAquJ27WruQqDKKvxBn3hby46c5DWiJfbh7W2t9qq1fTdLOiHsJryIW3GcInYfXER96zpHXm-Ukq2aOmjQnW0Bpmqga3V_q9eLISPZeP-_E6C/s320/IMG_0273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418269418900760578" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some other weekends have been used for the close by snowboarding (meaning daytrips from Christchurch: superb!); this winter I've been enjoying some off piste trips. Conquering some really scary icy parts, but totally worth the fresh snow, the views and the adrenaline of going of the main route. I become miss daredevil as soon as powder snow kicks in. Bless the inventor of the helmet. Especially my helmet...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJlFr7iGis7LnZJEiP2sgA-OcCCD3_0RQlVzXTWne8oNaC5jGOnlW_rJ5X-LTgXm4GAFhX7hVi1AIvdJ-PDBSvv2hZE3XP86MChWULTJKa4mSPXaEHpigsGeXiwr0t-GANPgsrwIzMDTn/s1600-h/IMG_0252.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJlFr7iGis7LnZJEiP2sgA-OcCCD3_0RQlVzXTWne8oNaC5jGOnlW_rJ5X-LTgXm4GAFhX7hVi1AIvdJ-PDBSvv2hZE3XP86MChWULTJKa4mSPXaEHpigsGeXiwr0t-GANPgsrwIzMDTn/s320/IMG_0252.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418269367642711938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeXa6qmI2ukT1ckCfh9Z7IW2d__XZYaK3qHjuXl_zNXPd1rnp_F2o4Ojqy1VVEJ9rDoE3xHZXtTb60NdaBJE0cB-bL156nOnC-vP5MphSEq15CcC9pXUbwZyXix11awiTu8cK4IpgbT-p/s1600-h/IMG_0236.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeXa6qmI2ukT1ckCfh9Z7IW2d__XZYaK3qHjuXl_zNXPd1rnp_F2o4Ojqy1VVEJ9rDoE3xHZXtTb60NdaBJE0cB-bL156nOnC-vP5MphSEq15CcC9pXUbwZyXix11awiTu8cK4IpgbT-p/s320/IMG_0236.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418269323056614658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTigi4vmkKCzXCaofUXwl9kiVFwPgMX8PtcXjNsryAam-0JbaI5q79ghRqjxOJZUXLcXl_shrrikfus6uCxchmvq2JnQPLYtL21AFTmFd6OgRo9MO3Jv0WMq-4KTddILP2u_pGnWwoHbvQ/s1600-h/5Clubs.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTigi4vmkKCzXCaofUXwl9kiVFwPgMX8PtcXjNsryAam-0JbaI5q79ghRqjxOJZUXLcXl_shrrikfus6uCxchmvq2JnQPLYtL21AFTmFd6OgRo9MO3Jv0WMq-4KTddILP2u_pGnWwoHbvQ/s320/5Clubs.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418269268735438722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TyqiEJmatRnqzzuoMHQoRtjyqMEVDQv7rkjKd6q8r6RKKm3vBw2y5UPZWQp8PpBIKW5nlx9bLGXG0THiYQaiwCvanNz9n78Djaf8bg3ve7ZPAl4RvaMBgQd83Y2aLVnGuibuwGLX2o7F/s1600-h/4Clubs.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TyqiEJmatRnqzzuoMHQoRtjyqMEVDQv7rkjKd6q8r6RKKm3vBw2y5UPZWQp8PpBIKW5nlx9bLGXG0THiYQaiwCvanNz9n78Djaf8bg3ve7ZPAl4RvaMBgQd83Y2aLVnGuibuwGLX2o7F/s320/4Clubs.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418269201345775394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrpRtOhzjt4W9AXbIYCcEdC0SurJEGYSOyiB3XtVdL1MO01wANS4qrthBFZjwIblEfvTjS41AR0zShFpJwlvTpOktDp5H4awKACP-2mJjCuMKtQM5bopePuvR-N0eiWW_95EOb_Sd1SPR/s1600-h/IMG_0312.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrpRtOhzjt4W9AXbIYCcEdC0SurJEGYSOyiB3XtVdL1MO01wANS4qrthBFZjwIblEfvTjS41AR0zShFpJwlvTpOktDp5H4awKACP-2mJjCuMKtQM5bopePuvR-N0eiWW_95EOb_Sd1SPR/s320/IMG_0312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418269463011713378" border="0" /></a>Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18314458329506477593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-78771853930052482622009-08-04T22:14:00.006+12:002009-08-04T22:34:49.840+12:00Some catching up to do...<span style="font-weight: bold;">Favourite past time: work</span><br />My work has been very busy. Good busy, but some days were a bit 'mad'. Working at a school means that I have to go along with term breaks. So when teachers teach, I teach as well and when they have holiday (term breaks) I can catch up on developing sessions, project administration and just breath. At the moment we have 4 groups of tutors doing the professional development and jeesz, I’m juggling my time.<br />Work has been good though; my teaching has really kicked in and I love it. It will always be challenging: tutors are known to be the worst students to have. And hey, I know, I am one of them. But, in all honesty: I do love it!<br />We also organised a big conference about adult community education; or better said I helped out. It was all in accordance with Maori culture; so my first <span style="font-style: italic;">powhiri </span>(welcoming ceremony) with one woman from one tribe welcoming (singing/talking) the other tribe and in the meantime checking out whether you are friend or foe. When both tribes sat down, some stories were shared and finally it was time for the <span style="font-style: italic;">hongi </span>(pressing the noses) to personally say hi to everyone. New to it all I had decided to be on the visiting tribe, although my tribe(our school) was hosting it. So when I did the hongi, I was jokingly told off by the Maori tutors I work with...I was of course suppose to be on their tribe...<br />Besides this amazing experience, the conference was a big hit. Lots of it was in Maori, very interesting workshops and my workshop was well visited (probably due to the news that the new government cut all funding for 'hobby' courses if it hasn't got literacy or numeracy in it....yes, literacy is the flavour of the month). I stayed over at the <span style="font-style: italic;">Marae </span>(Maori community centre...sort of) and helped out there too: I have learned so much, I met so many interesting and warm people. Afterwards I really felt (again) that I really need to know more about Maori language and their culture. Don't get me wrong: I have already learned heaps in the last year. I cannot get around not knowing some language but also the philosophy around it, is very essential within education. Anyway, it has resulted in signing up for a certificate in Maori Language...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Another rogaine</span><br />My ankle has revived a bit since the last 24 hour rogaine. My physio has given me some exercises after she told me 1) I was getting older (meaning: you don't revive that quickly after a long event) and 2) I totally walk 'un straight'. So good that I am a 'good girl': I was already doing yoga, I got orthotics for in my shoes and I started my strengthening exercises. Result is that I'm constantly aware of how I walk and now my back is bloody sore...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3yTmtxGXXrGW0qvfKpbMkaqGFMFUoVUDPo0uKGQvtQGoRQoIi7Eh9KG2GOhuwACIhHVEXeU6ju-WXNadIk2l18JQ7-WEZCeQNKLTNtByW5hCFrFlnq90EQJHpKYqI_oMIniQ3Q6yLRA/s1600-h/waterfall.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3yTmtxGXXrGW0qvfKpbMkaqGFMFUoVUDPo0uKGQvtQGoRQoIi7Eh9KG2GOhuwACIhHVEXeU6ju-WXNadIk2l18JQ7-WEZCeQNKLTNtByW5hCFrFlnq90EQJHpKYqI_oMIniQ3Q6yLRA/s200/waterfall.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366053161211158658" /></a><br />Anyhow, another rogaine (6 hours) was still to be done. This time with Patrick, on a freezing cold winter day with the regular cloud/mist, frosty rain and slippery, very slippery slopes. I really enjoyed it, even more so that I could show Patrick that I can indeed navigate. For some reason he always thought I was hitching along with others (even though I told him otherwise)...I showed him right...lovely! (expect comments from him...)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CELD_WfnLfT8wUJazZk5d_HY5slpbYLkHjzrYmUniz9G3ZKvjUANUDctdW-x2XGRT8nq31XaO9QNglPIpV6DeoEnDQyr2EFWmd-noB13EFrBtHYfDbgVwXaT48KWXfsNYdDCyn-ePP8/s1600-h/cloud.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CELD_WfnLfT8wUJazZk5d_HY5slpbYLkHjzrYmUniz9G3ZKvjUANUDctdW-x2XGRT8nq31XaO9QNglPIpV6DeoEnDQyr2EFWmd-noB13EFrBtHYfDbgVwXaT48KWXfsNYdDCyn-ePP8/s200/cloud.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366052597224403826" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Spring challenge</span><br />Amy, Michelle and I have entered the spring challenge which is in 2 months (team event which entails biking, running and rafting). We are going for maximum fun and no glory, but to maximise the fun, we have started some action. Sort of. Action in the sense that we went for one Wednesday eve walk and a long bike ride in the weekend....we are getting there...<br />On the bike front I have shocking news: my finally well equipped commuter bike got stolen....While I was in the supermarket for 5 minutes, even though it was connected to the bike stand. I felt like being home again. Bloody hell. So, I needed to buy a new racer. Which I did: a nice second hand hybrid bike (mountainbike frame and slick tyres) and I must say I have never biked that fast. It’s great, I’m very jealous.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Snowboarding</span><br />The snow is back: and it is great! I had 2 attempts in the last month but the weather wasn't out to play. Weekdays of snowboarding seem to be the way to go though. So when friends ask 'hey...weather is looking good...what do you think...wanna go...boarding?' I am happy to say yes with my arms wide open. Result: I had amazing days!! And due to the previous mentioned amount of work (meaning: overtime) it was easy to plan in without taking days off!!<br /><br />This winter time I decided that I should get my own board and boots. A world of difference: Patrick's old board is 14 cm taller than what I should have. Ok ok, I could still have used his board, but going down a blue field takes some effort and skill and trust me: with my new board taking turns is smooth like butter!! And immediately I noticed that I have learned some bad habits last year due to the too tall board...ah well. Live and learn!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5i3gFH_uMmukelI5Ya54cLn9ez1apV-oguKIPXyK0Y1ZzVO-c6I262yS6fejuuAh7uDwQ4KXOvs2u17S3tU8thCmeBpnVN4cugJbve6-9HKv-INI914ZajPPbUg54BKVFLEJonw8B4_M/s1600-h/IMG_0173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5i3gFH_uMmukelI5Ya54cLn9ez1apV-oguKIPXyK0Y1ZzVO-c6I262yS6fejuuAh7uDwQ4KXOvs2u17S3tU8thCmeBpnVN4cugJbve6-9HKv-INI914ZajPPbUg54BKVFLEJonw8B4_M/s200/IMG_0173.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366052814212933234" /></a><br />And with a little bit of luck and hard work this week, I will be taking a week off next week to enjoy the snow even more. Yay!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Homeless</span><br />Homeless...Not very surprisingly, but bad timing; Susan (my flatmate) has decided to move in with her boyfriend. She was basically living there already for the past 4 months (with every month a week in our house) and they have now decided to stop pretend they don’t live together. So, since this is Susan’s house and it is basically too expensive for individual tenants, she has come to the conclusion to rent it out. Don't get my sarcasm wrong: I totally understand her point of view and I've been asking about her plans for some weeks now, but it is just bad timing: my brains are just overflowing with work already...Anyhow, what are the solutions?! I can move with them to the sea side (bit far for me to bike to work every day), so I think I prefer to stay on this side of town, close to the hills. Thank God this is not the Netherlands: plenty of nice houses and rooms to find. It is just a matter of finding a nice, cosy one at the right place. To be continued...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Auckland</span><br />Last weekend Val, Dom, Patrick and I went to Auckland. The main reason was to see Circus du Soleil, but –maybe, don’t tell Patrick- I enjoyed hanging out with Val, Dom and Patrick more. It was just an amazing weekend; we stayed at Dom’s mother and she is a very warm, smart and cheerful woman with a fantastic smile. Staying with a family, having nice wine (even in the hot tub!) and enjoying good food and engaging chats made me miss my family. In a good way. Happy way. And yes the circus was cool too, but maybe....maybe the best bit at the circus was having Patrick sitting next to me shouting out phrases like ‘no way’, ‘that’s amazing’, ‘wauw, look at that!’...Like a 5 year old. That definitely made me laugh!!<br /><br />So, wee little catch up. I end by saying that I got residence as well, so yay I can stay in the country even if I lose my job (which I am not, but still...)...all good!!Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16702044121537554417noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-90240881440067873642009-06-09T18:35:00.007+12:002009-06-09T19:03:27.182+12:00Kirwans trackLast weekend Berit, Maria, Patrick and I headed up to the West Coast, Reefton, to avoid the shitty weather. Brilliant plan (thanks Berit!) and it turned out to be beautiful. On our way to there we jumped into some hotpools along side the road (to leave the final work stress behind!) and we stayed in this hostel from the early 50's where we played scrabble. Chocolate scrabble...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPF-L2bJLMmd8_rjq_V6cOenNMVXQ2nooznKEW-aKv2B60s_p_IbjJRUoSFh_-2k8BAeLUkzpi_rI02FlzWLMNqcEBMN59ejoZryPQJbJ36HBQjxYQdOBb4CEUSIGGy2Wedt0W9AZl-I/s1600-h/IMG_0094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPF-L2bJLMmd8_rjq_V6cOenNMVXQ2nooznKEW-aKv2B60s_p_IbjJRUoSFh_-2k8BAeLUkzpi_rI02FlzWLMNqcEBMN59ejoZryPQJbJ36HBQjxYQdOBb4CEUSIGGy2Wedt0W9AZl-I/s200/IMG_0094.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345216728852945106" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTscByr0kQHoNhByXjAxawKKIy5j856CG1HSpwzKxdVeYR2-1cZSb7W8K-5a3g4DWiqw-SgtLt2f1ECJml7FgwOdYNbFDxkri6SgxoBjlXiqgh7VJgZbaG3bJKGDkqcLalV8FrjLA3uIM/s1600-h/green.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTscByr0kQHoNhByXjAxawKKIy5j856CG1HSpwzKxdVeYR2-1cZSb7W8K-5a3g4DWiqw-SgtLt2f1ECJml7FgwOdYNbFDxkri6SgxoBjlXiqgh7VJgZbaG3bJKGDkqcLalV8FrjLA3uIM/s200/green.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345216436502268818" /></a><br />The track was lovely: from the start till the hut...slowly...going...up...hill...Needless to say I was knackered at the top. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWcMSoED4X6uoBoEfXZyoIc7Jvs2HJSvkSOLQ_XgOIPUuaX1m5n5Taj0z0Y489narncINwZgDsErxV4sSY-Cz12Z-uYNwxppjVkVg2MUOvsPVLUE1vGItgZ_hqgtiRyOLxUXNy8vDl00/s1600-h/Kirwins_track_012%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWcMSoED4X6uoBoEfXZyoIc7Jvs2HJSvkSOLQ_XgOIPUuaX1m5n5Taj0z0Y489narncINwZgDsErxV4sSY-Cz12Z-uYNwxppjVkVg2MUOvsPVLUE1vGItgZ_hqgtiRyOLxUXNy8vDl00/s200/Kirwins_track_012%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345216742666826274" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GWQFNtrkkb0IpG9dgucaC_Xu_efrzXMK7SUImjxRLntrOEUTPB9vv_P2PdfYDWjPug2_EWbE0FqMa8-O4V8GJUCyPQZKIqf9MLTRHEi1tzBjpDaCsoaJcf2pNdGy7TSOu5mJJhOP6Lk/s1600-h/IMG_1537.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GWQFNtrkkb0IpG9dgucaC_Xu_efrzXMK7SUImjxRLntrOEUTPB9vv_P2PdfYDWjPug2_EWbE0FqMa8-O4V8GJUCyPQZKIqf9MLTRHEi1tzBjpDaCsoaJcf2pNdGy7TSOu5mJJhOP6Lk/s200/IMG_1537.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345216732627095618" /></a><br /><br />It was frosty frosty cold higher up and Mr Winter makes the sunlight lovely. And ice stars on the huts windows!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGiibaWeWjKAI7804CvqKPyWOin84imtkg1pH5ZaQ8jigLQSw3VLrnpRfkT_F1izypR0wPjWahEEuEiainC4fsDT3anMZnwrASudhvpnnvnW3Vx9dRmLsMhli5CaK1eMQhrlwQNgBWww/s1600-h/IMG_1545.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGiibaWeWjKAI7804CvqKPyWOin84imtkg1pH5ZaQ8jigLQSw3VLrnpRfkT_F1izypR0wPjWahEEuEiainC4fsDT3anMZnwrASudhvpnnvnW3Vx9dRmLsMhli5CaK1eMQhrlwQNgBWww/s200/IMG_1545.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345217089892313906" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgAuzx44afV5aTETmDJLLY4fz5RZrQgN92ZFbdUyTzfcY1HDrytE1EYlIAEsqKZuctrGQuLyeBueBHKr9DUqsHkcoZaV1PBUJHWAJjaVFTE4FzDGkfecJIESQgrJuxQHNVadFO87_h-E/s1600-h/orange.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgAuzx44afV5aTETmDJLLY4fz5RZrQgN92ZFbdUyTzfcY1HDrytE1EYlIAEsqKZuctrGQuLyeBueBHKr9DUqsHkcoZaV1PBUJHWAJjaVFTE4FzDGkfecJIESQgrJuxQHNVadFO87_h-E/s200/orange.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345217096985896082" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OTuF2bmtkTCIkbJaJo5VFY1JxoFvzLSeTrFr7oQD4y9NTK326QywxcaveOuzJe7fUzNGTHKGYY2ApGLn_LF-gEgGWzN5ZgOwVPXrGtc4gznwrGl1Kf0EOj09wiRfMGQ6QJ1UkrX4W4I/s1600-h/IMG_1558.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OTuF2bmtkTCIkbJaJo5VFY1JxoFvzLSeTrFr7oQD4y9NTK326QywxcaveOuzJe7fUzNGTHKGYY2ApGLn_LF-gEgGWzN5ZgOwVPXrGtc4gznwrGl1Kf0EOj09wiRfMGQ6QJ1UkrX4W4I/s200/IMG_1558.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345218226603553666" /></a><br /><br />All pictures are taken by above three; and as you can see I was using walking poles and I'm in a lot of pictures: I was an easy slow target. First time with poles. For the snow that wasn't really there. But thank God I had them...The first minute I put my walking shoes on I noticed there was something wrong with my foot. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQL-WHmlfr-vU96MzXkcVoPccioHdbWj-gfjl62zpgAsnIC9BdxvOYKAR7x2b7ybDQEL-pcW8uU3UrMnXyUpj7PsZvYFUwjlnpoqlhMjDvktQQ40xOHMQnvYO-CgiCsgHh3SbWcCEOju0/s1600-h/IMG_1542.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQL-WHmlfr-vU96MzXkcVoPccioHdbWj-gfjl62zpgAsnIC9BdxvOYKAR7x2b7ybDQEL-pcW8uU3UrMnXyUpj7PsZvYFUwjlnpoqlhMjDvktQQ40xOHMQnvYO-CgiCsgHh3SbWcCEOju0/s200/IMG_1542.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345218229638856274" /></a><br /><br />Result: autjs during the entire hike. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiwRlQXkApSaqpPQorkXos4bj2DqdOqvAd87IQ-_tlmMH6veGPw3xenKby09_B9HNPMg-X7P4_IdHYyVu5Qia1vE63yrKjlNUkZxHJpl2V3iIDJe8NTKGCIUJsP0ivCS9Ta9pFXZGt74/s1600-h/Kirwins_track_014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiwRlQXkApSaqpPQorkXos4bj2DqdOqvAd87IQ-_tlmMH6veGPw3xenKby09_B9HNPMg-X7P4_IdHYyVu5Qia1vE63yrKjlNUkZxHJpl2V3iIDJe8NTKGCIUJsP0ivCS9Ta9pFXZGt74/s200/Kirwins_track_014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345216747337792098" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkLEqGHBEuw8W84BXV-2p39jlgTalcOVP1Pk2tq70eHieevtCWaLonOlJ52OVE3-ErJ-EqDF10OYDzdNgbngQfUrm_l1Suzay21-pwJMNWaUiOxTYnB_MV3o5qyawx9uCa_kfdUfjv18/s1600-h/IMG_1536.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkLEqGHBEuw8W84BXV-2p39jlgTalcOVP1Pk2tq70eHieevtCWaLonOlJ52OVE3-ErJ-EqDF10OYDzdNgbngQfUrm_l1Suzay21-pwJMNWaUiOxTYnB_MV3o5qyawx9uCa_kfdUfjv18/s200/IMG_1536.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345218220609702802" /></a><br /><br />Post-hiking result: a physio who tells me I'm getting old (WHAT?), who has given me some exercises to do which really help and who got me into doing <a href="http://www.springchallenge.co.nz/">Spring Challenge</a> in September...<br /><br />Needless to say she reckons I will be fine...!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Hn4ty2-vtteLoGJ6iigLgboe3sjANjoP8a6nrEcMWM-_NsuunnLUG4VHbMXfD8Ro6OIgU6wVdOeFR_WMAzDPiHHbvePgTmwBZ9inD64PjBEBD8u0Axn7iF3KT8lUCCwkl5oSBIgMX28/s1600-h/Kirwins_track_018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Hn4ty2-vtteLoGJ6iigLgboe3sjANjoP8a6nrEcMWM-_NsuunnLUG4VHbMXfD8Ro6OIgU6wVdOeFR_WMAzDPiHHbvePgTmwBZ9inD64PjBEBD8u0Axn7iF3KT8lUCCwkl5oSBIgMX28/s200/Kirwins_track_018.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345217106651871986" /></a>Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16702044121537554417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-60295650256175606692009-05-26T18:09:00.008+12:002009-05-26T18:38:20.682+12:0024 hour Rogaine...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-YgJoF-NcHcawvMCTKtjbnpYIFFbbgM_CWqgd2k8qlEvotuDrJ1qs5xMLiG8ndZINZ-pCNgtyU3twMemD43zkbtwn6q9QSJ9PRB4ynYW_QxZflb2sbnApoJiSp7miYEjOjhnhdDxhG8/s1600-h/P5010316.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-YgJoF-NcHcawvMCTKtjbnpYIFFbbgM_CWqgd2k8qlEvotuDrJ1qs5xMLiG8ndZINZ-pCNgtyU3twMemD43zkbtwn6q9QSJ9PRB4ynYW_QxZflb2sbnApoJiSp7miYEjOjhnhdDxhG8/s200/P5010316.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340015321576534210" /></a><br /><br />About 2 weekends ago, I think, I participated in a 24 hour rogaine. Michelle, Patrick, Steve, Hamish and I already did some 3 hour rogaining on Wednesdays, so when Berit asked me to join her together with Clare and Katrin on a 24 hour one, I was totally in.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8T86pPOEFuG2VL6bomRSjTnirTui8VKUsLOQwbLtP9CfXwkmaruRyJpXjHZNYUQhdeBIkNq2geghy_BtYrt1j35NIjzz_ZSii_vM-at4taAaLhQf5UVrdzSUEDAvcyCpTgkV1dWc1lg/s1600-h/Twalk_(6).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8T86pPOEFuG2VL6bomRSjTnirTui8VKUsLOQwbLtP9CfXwkmaruRyJpXjHZNYUQhdeBIkNq2geghy_BtYrt1j35NIjzz_ZSii_vM-at4taAaLhQf5UVrdzSUEDAvcyCpTgkV1dWc1lg/s200/Twalk_(6).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340015324976703506" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYnN03HqgrWlv3Tbm3F_7mG6gXUA1TIkNzJc2UKkZhynA_mn0mQeCjpEMuHoIOwhwo1W2UXu7qaZoY9Kq60mTbZmB2sN4oRp0zb0K26Gpwe1G50piQQ6dV7fYqXjtae8z6JRnwQQK_JE/s1600-h/P5010314.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYnN03HqgrWlv3Tbm3F_7mG6gXUA1TIkNzJc2UKkZhynA_mn0mQeCjpEMuHoIOwhwo1W2UXu7qaZoY9Kq60mTbZmB2sN4oRp0zb0K26Gpwe1G50piQQ6dV7fYqXjtae8z6JRnwQQK_JE/s200/P5010314.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340015307948309026" /></a><br />Rogaining is like orienteering (you get a map, you get locations to find, you need compass and common sense...). The only differences are that in rogaining you can skip locations if you cannot find them and in general rogaines take longer. In this case much longer!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQV8hWkxANM0kwhAiSoys9iIvrXi1Q48rXj95CVJuLKOc8-9A_HQrRzOL6t3aGh7Uhkua_sQuDqVX9u6zW17ZnnYL-9wfuFMReFUCQ7KnwvAteJVpJl6tCeePqUkCXKte4nqHzFp5EwQc/s1600-h/P5010310.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQV8hWkxANM0kwhAiSoys9iIvrXi1Q48rXj95CVJuLKOc8-9A_HQrRzOL6t3aGh7Uhkua_sQuDqVX9u6zW17ZnnYL-9wfuFMReFUCQ7KnwvAteJVpJl6tCeePqUkCXKte4nqHzFp5EwQc/s200/P5010310.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340015305197094066" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWu9Sn-qhzVuu7PP8HPR7xtFFOca5la3ilNHdAjI9N9mSkU4zOonRUFccxTS3AKZy3Dq5JVBwPyaf-v78rxCP8Go1M7P4wOvebZKyzjgRcHb8qg0p9UXt0hQrXDwXigRY5Ovvsh5SL6qE/s1600-h/P5010315.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWu9Sn-qhzVuu7PP8HPR7xtFFOca5la3ilNHdAjI9N9mSkU4zOonRUFccxTS3AKZy3Dq5JVBwPyaf-v78rxCP8Go1M7P4wOvebZKyzjgRcHb8qg0p9UXt0hQrXDwXigRY5Ovvsh5SL6qE/s200/P5010315.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340015317359351570" /></a><br /><br />The 24 hour rogaine was organised by the University Tramping Club so everybody needed to get dressed up. We weren't that inspirational, however, good Rachel wanted to do some sowing...and it happened to be Swine Flu break out, so we decide to go as Swine Flu carriers. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2IEUy-ZLgJFI8CUaZPOvzsSyD_2MUGn365oalc1QdtyO2bw40-lHn5RF2Rfn6ZsSu5Uu9qMaLC2g2pnB5mqFvqw054TkWyh8uRAkM2ySzCivpMetjnA2UpylblvH5evk45OhSzpzMK8/s1600-h/P5010300.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2IEUy-ZLgJFI8CUaZPOvzsSyD_2MUGn365oalc1QdtyO2bw40-lHn5RF2Rfn6ZsSu5Uu9qMaLC2g2pnB5mqFvqw054TkWyh8uRAkM2ySzCivpMetjnA2UpylblvH5evk45OhSzpzMK8/s200/P5010300.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340012414701541938" /></a><br /><em>Lovely Clare</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSpGoUA-vu-a-EIwjbISBVQ7JVj6Km45UOYt-0-BV9U5zrgzkWjvQXsjsggQDJMHunwltQx3gvaCcQL8bHmei5S6HficQJbo4Sx41grBC5vSzqNF9M6cdQDiiri1LJhVhKqwjBsOZM8w/s1600-h/P5010304.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSpGoUA-vu-a-EIwjbISBVQ7JVj6Km45UOYt-0-BV9U5zrgzkWjvQXsjsggQDJMHunwltQx3gvaCcQL8bHmei5S6HficQJbo4Sx41grBC5vSzqNF9M6cdQDiiri1LJhVhKqwjBsOZM8w/s200/P5010304.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340012419585523234" /></a><br /><em>Amazing Berit</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt5S9EZwEDlbCoU2n0FOh1Vt2aaG7p6h4w45GIVH8GkE45TBGIOdSc0l0NNPWNF7pTc1oVmbZaPR6yOCzvRS9LFumo_hjW1InhcT3nlvZAaTkT641eqLqjbOvijmDhwwELE1X_8LWpmA/s1600-h/P5010306.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt5S9EZwEDlbCoU2n0FOh1Vt2aaG7p6h4w45GIVH8GkE45TBGIOdSc0l0NNPWNF7pTc1oVmbZaPR6yOCzvRS9LFumo_hjW1InhcT3nlvZAaTkT641eqLqjbOvijmDhwwELE1X_8LWpmA/s200/P5010306.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340012423427034050" /></a><br /><em>Crazy Maaike</em><br /><br />Dropped off around Mt Somers we had the most gorgeous weather: blue skies, warm during the first day and absolutely frosty cold at night. We slept near a barn from 12 till 6 (we are not that die-hard) and all the other hours we were hiking up and down the mountains, looking for the specific locations: I had a great time! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuhlkYKmpwawUNUJaWfEltl3bLzQmM4XJ_eq4uep-9nv4J7LPIgsFTMXz0XGxm6Li5B2HUFU9KvO_R6xQK0XC89X1zMK3zMEEix32yHbh5Lrrbb9Xb1CW7onXw2nrfnVqM8xiI9P9A40/s1600-h/Twalk_(1).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuhlkYKmpwawUNUJaWfEltl3bLzQmM4XJ_eq4uep-9nv4J7LPIgsFTMXz0XGxm6Li5B2HUFU9KvO_R6xQK0XC89X1zMK3zMEEix32yHbh5Lrrbb9Xb1CW7onXw2nrfnVqM8xiI9P9A40/s200/Twalk_(1).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340014839706360578" /></a><br />Katrin was the best navigator I think, but we all had our Eureka moments when the others couldn't understand where to go. On the long bits we sang songs, national anthems and lullabies: to get ourselves distracted from the cold and hunger...!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zksuo0r9yUxKD9boMnEfbr7a0rF4gmPmCehLQXDLotrla-QHAcMM2gKoiPr0Ym9aJajzzpnfiqBbY4pd36K6sl1ajOX_yMTz59k-RHLivRmVzfIXpn1McaOuh1b0GFybQaJigcV98dk/s1600-h/Twalk_(8).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zksuo0r9yUxKD9boMnEfbr7a0rF4gmPmCehLQXDLotrla-QHAcMM2gKoiPr0Ym9aJajzzpnfiqBbY4pd36K6sl1ajOX_yMTz59k-RHLivRmVzfIXpn1McaOuh1b0GFybQaJigcV98dk/s200/Twalk_(8).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340014848939631602" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1IyDd9FTEoMfqUfZ-VdS2Rt9SIO614QEPEHD3nI5yOTcr-pRWZnkFCkWL3er5sl2l3Yg4p3DLca7HmIJQjYLQ0AQx7PP1cEiXeRLNceVyfkv0_jLU5-pJYFluVkrYXAn501uZpX3gog/s1600-h/Twalk_(5).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1IyDd9FTEoMfqUfZ-VdS2Rt9SIO614QEPEHD3nI5yOTcr-pRWZnkFCkWL3er5sl2l3Yg4p3DLca7HmIJQjYLQ0AQx7PP1cEiXeRLNceVyfkv0_jLU5-pJYFluVkrYXAn501uZpX3gog/s200/Twalk_(5).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340014843156897746" /></a><br /><br />The last hours in the morning were absolutely beautiful; I was more enjoying the hiking than looking for the locations...I admit!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDBRrd_mYT7JhWOVR3g40UyOy2oJooA_fZZZbX_K26JxKBOWHfcrawDJItdF_F-1jNo-eYeRhXeDG0LzbMSaYJFSZ6rFd_M10YI6-wSYwZWtWo0pdc5xTWJ1ZVvp4i2th3zVOEpRElgU/s1600-h/Twalk_(10).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDBRrd_mYT7JhWOVR3g40UyOy2oJooA_fZZZbX_K26JxKBOWHfcrawDJItdF_F-1jNo-eYeRhXeDG0LzbMSaYJFSZ6rFd_M10YI6-wSYwZWtWo0pdc5xTWJ1ZVvp4i2th3zVOEpRElgU/s200/Twalk_(10).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340015949876672258" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NBrX4nTR9T3jAR3UhXPdhEFf6HJw6svgyRWTpgfm1zmdtba8t8IbAu749OVb933XvliM4xSa09YYOpfcYhqhYmDRqJr_j3SO7gRF7aaMPWkWx42LXq1KWwiKf-WfCkOY_w531VXFfkE/s1600-h/P5020319.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NBrX4nTR9T3jAR3UhXPdhEFf6HJw6svgyRWTpgfm1zmdtba8t8IbAu749OVb933XvliM4xSa09YYOpfcYhqhYmDRqJr_j3SO7gRF7aaMPWkWx42LXq1KWwiKf-WfCkOY_w531VXFfkE/s200/P5020319.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340015947151468050" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jedmQnPldkgJtUD-HaY8_p6h6P3wiEdIW9yS_v0IhxR47uClUr9rVeeZzKMF98V-OTI_e4UjGSEGkVubHFhPAMd4DqY9BhnvxCjiAMe-by6FcrImNryQb3GXUMtLHazTpxyRiBs7SFQ/s1600-h/Twalk_(11).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jedmQnPldkgJtUD-HaY8_p6h6P3wiEdIW9yS_v0IhxR47uClUr9rVeeZzKMF98V-OTI_e4UjGSEGkVubHFhPAMd4DqY9BhnvxCjiAMe-by6FcrImNryQb3GXUMtLHazTpxyRiBs7SFQ/s200/Twalk_(11).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340015955125155778" /></a><br />I got so distracted with my camera that I took these lovely pictures:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtk7aKj2M-mJG4zge2HGs5CNV-LI7v5-IwnNH5GE5J8FMlpQglOUa0Y226QhEFvzKqnXjBLuxwn80c_pt8q9dDFTi2FbbSi2X00CkAk16tajETXhKunT-852L2K5zp4QMpJFLhCjM7Sc/s1600-h/P5020323.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtk7aKj2M-mJG4zge2HGs5CNV-LI7v5-IwnNH5GE5J8FMlpQglOUa0Y226QhEFvzKqnXjBLuxwn80c_pt8q9dDFTi2FbbSi2X00CkAk16tajETXhKunT-852L2K5zp4QMpJFLhCjM7Sc/s200/P5020323.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340016838764186018" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGSYt8HFtlcxRFeJKvcRf948_Os2EhB2S1I4UzzOVAKZow7GP8BhSHWIpfO_v6m3yc2CksyymgMkAx6yUG4djPR85Rkue0MVYEul2_yiIMpCp-hwpryZK6sE115SYuRvvIoOiQyp0ekw/s1600-h/P5020322.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGSYt8HFtlcxRFeJKvcRf948_Os2EhB2S1I4UzzOVAKZow7GP8BhSHWIpfO_v6m3yc2CksyymgMkAx6yUG4djPR85Rkue0MVYEul2_yiIMpCp-hwpryZK6sE115SYuRvvIoOiQyp0ekw/s200/P5020322.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340016824641205458" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJwiCaiDGLfLZ-AetyappPysfAiifnJMYWxV_74i4hp-HzxWJbyR8akE6otEf9fTl4elpXT4x_CvR5MoI7ispR98k0ujsiRIs4rqCnAk3YeVwnjWdyc3BfNcRNWibtXQyJBtfQ3_MH0E/s1600-h/P5020321.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJwiCaiDGLfLZ-AetyappPysfAiifnJMYWxV_74i4hp-HzxWJbyR8akE6otEf9fTl4elpXT4x_CvR5MoI7ispR98k0ujsiRIs4rqCnAk3YeVwnjWdyc3BfNcRNWibtXQyJBtfQ3_MH0E/s200/P5020321.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340016821954291442" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgdVxw5vttf-wNDzwVUhunD9fSwrms2VzyFqjyWNibqwgyM3pXdw9uuZmVoXp4HCfiYnEtZYqXxGZRWswuD3ofCcSqfUbpfeHLgS_zKkN8qxQpEy6DZr3jWDodT6SsWhWR8ZF60Smm8U/s1600-h/P5020320.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgdVxw5vttf-wNDzwVUhunD9fSwrms2VzyFqjyWNibqwgyM3pXdw9uuZmVoXp4HCfiYnEtZYqXxGZRWswuD3ofCcSqfUbpfeHLgS_zKkN8qxQpEy6DZr3jWDodT6SsWhWR8ZF60Smm8U/s200/P5020320.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340016813990119186" /></a><br /><br />All other pictures are taken by either Berit or myself!Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16702044121537554417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-11698487460425454032009-05-26T17:37:00.003+12:002009-05-26T17:49:02.879+12:00Flock Hill WeekendI finally got the girls weekend pictures sorted (thanks to Berit): lots from mountainbiking!! The bike up took us (Rachel, Clare, Berit and myself) less than an hour, but it was pretty tough...We could see where we had to get up to...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8xKcGi7u9HUH37OAZHNDlHbFrf4uObsuxlrdxiV-jACYiD8nsYcyL70n6AZR9NLgkG_3K4aO1N_n9t4YMQg2lHpq1WVvhUkPajDFZNqiA0Bxq9elClwmdCSMG3r0HiGB8d1TmlgKkYY/s1600-h/Flock_Hill_(7).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8xKcGi7u9HUH37OAZHNDlHbFrf4uObsuxlrdxiV-jACYiD8nsYcyL70n6AZR9NLgkG_3K4aO1N_n9t4YMQg2lHpq1WVvhUkPajDFZNqiA0Bxq9elClwmdCSMG3r0HiGB8d1TmlgKkYY/s200/Flock_Hill_(7).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340002805812954354" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJMsQ1ZcoAxxIcnGhx9sxUWXx4iexZ1lx8FaJbi-e30wvmYSaYCDptyUb8TuBXBylFuKmKoGhDQhCvk-0S762xEAysKSC_5b7McYBIpj06bNEFCsunWarLa035nKtAOTP4Q2ewKlT1I4/s1600-h/Flock_Hill_(4).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJMsQ1ZcoAxxIcnGhx9sxUWXx4iexZ1lx8FaJbi-e30wvmYSaYCDptyUb8TuBXBylFuKmKoGhDQhCvk-0S762xEAysKSC_5b7McYBIpj06bNEFCsunWarLa035nKtAOTP4Q2ewKlT1I4/s200/Flock_Hill_(4).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340002798392271746" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAOUfI13nJZXpNgBDEub2I9n_gr3BvxhtRyFzgzaabHv6AX0pvK9IRlo_T-MrcmTJA7vyYiq1KoCb-y-SYlZGOsRoQQQUhDKsMffXuwNimu-b-KQzHIJDX6VjpqfOhURxXCFLkOZs_Mc/s1600-h/Flock_Hill_(8).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAOUfI13nJZXpNgBDEub2I9n_gr3BvxhtRyFzgzaabHv6AX0pvK9IRlo_T-MrcmTJA7vyYiq1KoCb-y-SYlZGOsRoQQQUhDKsMffXuwNimu-b-KQzHIJDX6VjpqfOhURxXCFLkOZs_Mc/s200/Flock_Hill_(8).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340002810956092098" /></a><br />After a deserved break we could also see where we needed to get down to...steep bits, scree (loose sand, little stones...) and huge drops: <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_XJWkDBnz-lmaE0hOgx6fgIFEhsBvswJFpZUsVAkmIEZt7qcVoxrvfxyia_hFa1UUnO7dlwEtvQJmgCS_uzmCpQXhigGgOmdo172b0hxjQ806R-pUp43MAX4-0nbnNJgQIe_p75RyP4/s1600-h/Flock_Hill_(10).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_XJWkDBnz-lmaE0hOgx6fgIFEhsBvswJFpZUsVAkmIEZt7qcVoxrvfxyia_hFa1UUnO7dlwEtvQJmgCS_uzmCpQXhigGgOmdo172b0hxjQ806R-pUp43MAX4-0nbnNJgQIe_p75RyP4/s200/Flock_Hill_(10).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340002812289044546" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rAKNa9xzNufHYdpRTs61YE3xC1qFpNQCFQog2nYZyZmjAh8tDOrIGHFr7cMGkvJJME9Hi9yCxQ0iq_lKpW3tE6yaLBXZjzUgtbWZi5kGp79UDEeTOvOPRUrNltfguyu8MeEePXGooDk/s1600-h/Flock_Hill_(14).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rAKNa9xzNufHYdpRTs61YE3xC1qFpNQCFQog2nYZyZmjAh8tDOrIGHFr7cMGkvJJME9Hi9yCxQ0iq_lKpW3tE6yaLBXZjzUgtbWZi5kGp79UDEeTOvOPRUrNltfguyu8MeEePXGooDk/s200/Flock_Hill_(14).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340003035431412962" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYaEXEbFsDS_4pu0vLs3hGyiDznHyqFt8zlAh70gTW0v7mv_UFZ_rq60PIz2tck_Kcq_MJ48BQtUyuss4bVqOed7dZK7iGNoPWG_caxWJGo8aF4AkRD6p19Uxld8DlAqiADc2bDplQ5I/s1600-h/Flock_Hill_(13).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYaEXEbFsDS_4pu0vLs3hGyiDznHyqFt8zlAh70gTW0v7mv_UFZ_rq60PIz2tck_Kcq_MJ48BQtUyuss4bVqOed7dZK7iGNoPWG_caxWJGo8aF4AkRD6p19Uxld8DlAqiADc2bDplQ5I/s200/Flock_Hill_(13).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340003028440984930" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJK6qhIdpMYznhlqYyUht0fwssZwVlo3BHvGnXLNp_FNlFutuybcmKAmO-nxcqGWXXFAIMAc7Ge5oXSKDbXKqMjrJ8gCC_dBjktCyheId9hJtxaJliuvzYwDerHKDoyLYo-a5oplPhDU/s1600-h/Flock_Hill_(11).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJK6qhIdpMYznhlqYyUht0fwssZwVlo3BHvGnXLNp_FNlFutuybcmKAmO-nxcqGWXXFAIMAc7Ge5oXSKDbXKqMjrJ8gCC_dBjktCyheId9hJtxaJliuvzYwDerHKDoyLYo-a5oplPhDU/s200/Flock_Hill_(11).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340002813499629858" /></a><br />And the second day we did some orienteering; see all the rocks? Really hard for navigation!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDRqzBrXVWBHpo-S9H_iNmu_kgNNkJSVn9bqvvBktyHiwRUY2BQYY_29EfHDyg4O_njofusHnbzY-D9LXUqSOIBpr7ZpUcNOj0YEnSFoUJvkpEt-ix4t4O_gDNBbQFazD_tXMnOU-0VA/s1600-h/Flock_Hill_(18).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDRqzBrXVWBHpo-S9H_iNmu_kgNNkJSVn9bqvvBktyHiwRUY2BQYY_29EfHDyg4O_njofusHnbzY-D9LXUqSOIBpr7ZpUcNOj0YEnSFoUJvkpEt-ix4t4O_gDNBbQFazD_tXMnOU-0VA/s200/Flock_Hill_(18).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340003042996080130" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1ulHawxS81Bxno798LL-r5KKrHNSGzXHtlYrl9qepqSF5pkkzeXnzXOFlDrWXjWQakiAzo582lbk_RHP8fcpTIQfWYHe173_ZRfWEkZ0RvkiU1hfsOBc181zQz4NvnowXKqn_X65-0o/s1600-h/Flock_Hill_(17).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1ulHawxS81Bxno798LL-r5KKrHNSGzXHtlYrl9qepqSF5pkkzeXnzXOFlDrWXjWQakiAzo582lbk_RHP8fcpTIQfWYHe173_ZRfWEkZ0RvkiU1hfsOBc181zQz4NvnowXKqn_X65-0o/s200/Flock_Hill_(17).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340003039438089634" /></a>Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16702044121537554417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-6760867919417872562009-04-20T18:39:00.004+12:002009-04-26T13:52:57.490+12:00Weekends away...no 3!Veronica's 30th....<br /><br />Veronica is one of my friends with whom I go biking and climbing: I don't see her much at all, but she is really good company to be with. So, she turned 30 and instead of organising a party, she organised a weekend away. Excellent!<br /><br />Veronica booked a bach and about 30 people came out to play. Since her boyfriend Charlie is a rediculous good mountainbiker (Veronica is not too bad either!) they took most of us out on some cool tracks. Loved it. Again. Also discovered that the 'oh so modest' Patrick is quite capable of biking too (he is better at it than me!). So he is busted and he will be dragged onto the mountains more often. Before you think he was modest in saying he wasn't good enough...No, he is just lazy and he fooled me by saying he couldn't do it. Oooh, does he probably wish he didn't show his skills...loser. My revenge will be sweet...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j_axy4NHScB7oYKkN6XlP_tPwMlufZtXg5sXAIUUoy5R5MM8C9E8E0Su7kXbnKu3RDfJq7b_MhPVKqtTS2ybWVFLjIhM1LMp3ndul_r8jeDJfzzglI-GbjgigJLMdL5otgQiBewwsYQ/s1600-h/bikers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j_axy4NHScB7oYKkN6XlP_tPwMlufZtXg5sXAIUUoy5R5MM8C9E8E0Su7kXbnKu3RDfJq7b_MhPVKqtTS2ybWVFLjIhM1LMp3ndul_r8jeDJfzzglI-GbjgigJLMdL5otgQiBewwsYQ/s200/bikers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326659744035486578" /></a><br /><br />While driving to the bach I was complaining to Patrick that I love having so many outdoor friends in NZ but that I miss the dancing, clubbing and wicked friends from home sometimes (you can fill in the names yourself!). I only been dancing once here...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcuXLx2tKK8HHM4zmQKjQQ62smRZ2idovY82CZUF9ymrRcSIdWWlPerf1FhsynyMzH76QKC_7cZXrNajyVvGNss_T1g1qKI5RYPkrGPZFpMJEKHpLs__5XeS0Elvnd3r1PxJwSfA27gY/s1600-h/rainbowGroup.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcuXLx2tKK8HHM4zmQKjQQ62smRZ2idovY82CZUF9ymrRcSIdWWlPerf1FhsynyMzH76QKC_7cZXrNajyVvGNss_T1g1qKI5RYPkrGPZFpMJEKHpLs__5XeS0Elvnd3r1PxJwSfA27gY/s200/rainbowGroup.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326659741531549602" /></a><br />And as if everybody heard me say that: we had a superb party in the evening!! Everybody made some food, loads of drinks were drunk, happy chats were held and some excellent dancing was shown. My crazy dancing needs were fulfilled! <br /><br />I love dancing. I can never have enough of it. Nice to see some kiwi's here love it too... ;-)<br /><br />[all pictures taken by Patrick: they show the 'gezelligheid' don't they...Is there an English word for 'gezelligheid'...Don't know]Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16702044121537554417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-23290090286876574052009-04-20T18:01:00.007+12:002009-04-20T20:11:55.763+12:00Weekends away...no 2!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgre1AcvaIg7Eq0NMFw_i7ErleMWB572XBPAZgoGnBxJLBmBRnHzerX8HMy8ZtT5wIMRy7M3Sxrjd_LPOHUOt-kbGDv2CeDyT9nqwzGUljn-Xkanw0tRsmWXSJlNfyGMsKC_SzFhgRAAnk/s1600-h/morning.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgre1AcvaIg7Eq0NMFw_i7ErleMWB572XBPAZgoGnBxJLBmBRnHzerX8HMy8ZtT5wIMRy7M3Sxrjd_LPOHUOt-kbGDv2CeDyT9nqwzGUljn-Xkanw0tRsmWXSJlNfyGMsKC_SzFhgRAAnk/s200/morning.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326653531924797138" /></a><br /><br />Easter weekend was in charge by Steve. Steve and his sister have bought a property of land up on the North Island, 3 hours north from Wellington, and as he calls it, it is <em>'in the wop-wops'</em>. Meaning: in the middle of nothing. We drove over and took the ferry: lovely trip on it self!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuONPqT4JcrTdgb8TwMooeefyVtIu279qR-QVFm3jABsetVqtHvCsX6lXn1ycVZsOMJilsuOsKICLcVOWn1UwZYxIPpVi3n-wf7x8UdJrm_tcHPac7jTXx8s8kbhjqbIdBas1HS_iWvGY/s1600-h/outOfPicton.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuONPqT4JcrTdgb8TwMooeefyVtIu279qR-QVFm3jABsetVqtHvCsX6lXn1ycVZsOMJilsuOsKICLcVOWn1UwZYxIPpVi3n-wf7x8UdJrm_tcHPac7jTXx8s8kbhjqbIdBas1HS_iWvGY/s200/outOfPicton.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326654335569498962" /></a><br /><br />He (and family and Michelle) have built their own little cabin. Absolutely amazing if you think of the fact that they had never done it before. It is really nice and cosy. No electricity, no running water. But an improvised fridge, hot shower (yes!) and toilets with excellent views. ;-) <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2s8wbPEFSWViVLzcRtSHIOOFhB1y2QL-9LrvGiJqQeD2qp2jacZmvzNJ1zihDBHyoVP_I3uUY1tBRzMRuRASEENN6PDjoKm4uuDioc-__8Xcl5_IMhQ2iwPhfsbC3U9Xe0OqgF4pi6Y/s1600-h/fridge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2s8wbPEFSWViVLzcRtSHIOOFhB1y2QL-9LrvGiJqQeD2qp2jacZmvzNJ1zihDBHyoVP_I3uUY1tBRzMRuRASEENN6PDjoKm4uuDioc-__8Xcl5_IMhQ2iwPhfsbC3U9Xe0OqgF4pi6Y/s200/fridge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326653530266701778" /></a><br /><em>This is our natural fridge!</em><br /><br />Anyway, back to the property. Main purpose of the land is to have native trees and enjoy nature. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNckVBTs3Mdwc5k2UVNdpFgeJfLuITSVdCnEQAkF0H59CKYw3w31iTM43ZHGKMxEAK0seF6fwKiy0l1_zpFaiRnOrs-IPxPw2RctcA9Enrve0Q1E0ZaMs2aoWX3Bw5we7OF6yCfBlMEzk/s1600-h/tree.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNckVBTs3Mdwc5k2UVNdpFgeJfLuITSVdCnEQAkF0H59CKYw3w31iTM43ZHGKMxEAK0seF6fwKiy0l1_zpFaiRnOrs-IPxPw2RctcA9Enrve0Q1E0ZaMs2aoWX3Bw5we7OF6yCfBlMEzk/s200/tree.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326654875506359810" /></a><br /><br />The area which is still a paddock at the moment is going to be converted into a forestry patch. Sort of their retirement fund...If the non-native goats won't eat it...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84XxTSxg_fyzqSdMuOSMp5fH-0EIKuH_hPWqOGuwV4AuCDGHgQgQDjpIgWEkNmdD9lvRYXzsFZl1oj1zEfCAlUEO-mocuOMLa15r4FDv6ETIlv9GGu-aU1ErGvhgjnZhUQ52sclKFuq0/s1600-h/view.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84XxTSxg_fyzqSdMuOSMp5fH-0EIKuH_hPWqOGuwV4AuCDGHgQgQDjpIgWEkNmdD9lvRYXzsFZl1oj1zEfCAlUEO-mocuOMLa15r4FDv6ETIlv9GGu-aU1ErGvhgjnZhUQ52sclKFuq0/s200/view.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326654882493142642" /></a><br /><br />Plants will be planted shortly, but before that fencing needed to be done. Or better said: old fencing needed to be removed so new and hopefully better ones will be put in. Our job was to help out with the fencing. Pretty tough job, especially since some of the old posts just refused to come out. Nasty buggers...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jqK-1iEVm4BPzrNbV6RA2SmniHs_fhKnZ2UtUi9pmm1-TFn4jBJGSfVc7jKCEfMMX_n76PYHAPSuFUn7dEcg7k49VklZ7wBX3nyB98V5yZ44bObk5qEN7Fe_D1LMbfo_9zzKijrexwM/s1600-h/fence.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jqK-1iEVm4BPzrNbV6RA2SmniHs_fhKnZ2UtUi9pmm1-TFn4jBJGSfVc7jKCEfMMX_n76PYHAPSuFUn7dEcg7k49VklZ7wBX3nyB98V5yZ44bObk5qEN7Fe_D1LMbfo_9zzKijrexwM/s200/fence.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326653524670228978" /></a><br /><br />We also came over to shoot goats: goats are a pest in NZ (they are non-native: bloody European brought them over...) and eat everything they can get their teeth into. Unfortunately we tried to find some, but we didn't. So we shot some pieces of wood... Night time was used to play games, eat and sleep. Which I did a lot. I had one of those weekends again: sleep as much as I can...lovely! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip32Y_9VizaXBGr9c9vHZvm-sLBrleQ7upZf708HWUW76G-rc7TYomifhHJIaodCAlS0S3L-hilZGUAh7lXeBJUe_6COO39Gjv54kzW2YlSY0Gz-8TUAe2VmVUMYsQvbzIqFJZIXet8HQ/s1600-h/happyFamilies.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip32Y_9VizaXBGr9c9vHZvm-sLBrleQ7upZf708HWUW76G-rc7TYomifhHJIaodCAlS0S3L-hilZGUAh7lXeBJUe_6COO39Gjv54kzW2YlSY0Gz-8TUAe2VmVUMYsQvbzIqFJZIXet8HQ/s200/happyFamilies.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326653527141525346" /></a><em></em><em></em><br /><br />It was lovely to see Steve's place but it did make me realise that having a property like it, is not as romantic as it first seems. It's a lot of work (especially because they live so far away), you have to be quite knowledgeable and it costs a lot of money...Maybe I will stick to my dream of renovating a little country side house...to get a wee little head start!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiROEFG9Fb78jUcPuRRtUJ6mzGBPi7afJpNVoUjlEigzYVfmOnkOR3Rz3g-7xJwqPEoiHq3AG6rDlP_43eiQ62Ohs2A1q4Sxqm3thB_EpcvquxTaozI3QUMxVWqgjdZyXJbY-ZzKUGyg/s1600-h/stickInsect.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiROEFG9Fb78jUcPuRRtUJ6mzGBPi7afJpNVoUjlEigzYVfmOnkOR3Rz3g-7xJwqPEoiHq3AG6rDlP_43eiQ62Ohs2A1q4Sxqm3thB_EpcvquxTaozI3QUMxVWqgjdZyXJbY-ZzKUGyg/s200/stickInsect.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326657810498714114" /></a><br /><br />Speaking of sticking: loads of stick insects (<em>wandelende tak</em>!) live with Steve on the land...Pretty cool<br /><br />[all pictures taken by Patrick, except the 2nd!]Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16702044121537554417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-46943012014163547312009-04-20T17:39:00.004+12:002009-04-20T18:01:47.239+12:00Weekends away...no 1!It is not just NZ that is fantastic, it is also the way of living which is really appealing in NZ! An example. If you would have asked me back home to go on a girls weekend I would have said 'yes, sure' but I would have thought 'ugh, as long as it is not too much girly stuff like shopping and doing nails/make-up and the lot'<br /><br />When somebody asks me here to go on a girls weekend, Im saying 'hell yeah, great!' because here it means biking, hiking, exercise and getting sweaty and dirty. Of course the giggles, nice food, wine and girls talk is part of it too...<br /><br />So 3 weeks ago Berit organised a 'girls only' weekend: we did an amazingly fun mountainbike track up Craigieburn Valley. I heard some nasty stories about it (I even bought a new bike helmet because of it...), but it turned out to be quite alright. The one hour uphill was pretty tough, but going downhill (the part I mostly not enjoy that much: yes Im a chicken!) was nice. Very nice. Im getting better at leaning back (meaning: sitting above your back wheel) and my balance is improving. Sure, I got off at some tricky spots (Im not that mad!), but I truly loved it!<br />The next day we did some orienteering (running a certain route while being guided by your compass). I have done some rogaining (sort of same thing but then you can decide the route and collect as many points as possible), but Clare, Rachel and I decided to team up. We were planning on MaXiMuM fun and no competition: we had fun, I did most of the running, but 3 teachers in one group....not a good idea, we ALL knew better. Ah well, we came 14th. And we had fun. <em>Most</em> of the time...;-)<br /><br />As soon as Berit sorts out the pictures I will put them on!Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16702044121537554417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-79887441484241713322009-04-09T15:46:00.002+12:002009-04-09T15:51:31.174+12:00Baby boom...Friends and babies. Babies’ friends. Friends’ babies. Friendly babies… Very confusing from a distance, I can tell you that!<br /><br />The time that your friends are starting to have babies while you cannot seem to fit anyone else but yourself in your life, is a bit strange. It has been lovely strange, especially if you are very close to your friends when they make this life changing decision. Before I went travelling, my time with Petra and Lex when they had Roos and Toon has been very mindblowing (never learned so much about babies!), very loving and emotional. I saw Petra almost every day; I reckon those 9 months preparation are not just for the parents-to-be but also for people around them. Seeing Petra ‘grow and glow’ made me part of that. It has been very very special.<br /><br />Last year when I was travelling my friends Inge Judith and Fried were pregnant (yes, another one of my theories: you are both pregnant. Last time I checked you need man and woman to get pregnant. So there). When I was home in May I saw Inge Judith’s belly (6 months). Bit new, bit different, but yes, it fitted fine; I got used to it. Now that Sjoerd is born, it is very hard to imagine that Inge Judith and Fried are parents. I have never met Sjoerd, nor have I met Inge Judith and Fried <em>as parents</em>. Pictures and stories are great, fantastic and <em>a must </em>(hint), but they don’t give you the full image.<br /><br />So now I get to the stage that friends are having babies without me seeing any phase of that. I know, I choose to live here, and I love it, but still. It is hard to imagine your (best) friends having those tiny little creatures which are cute…and more importantly… theirs. And it all happened in this last month…I wonder what was going on in Europe, 9 months ago…<br /><br />So congratulations to <em>Emma and Anthony</em>; Irish friends I met in Australia in 2001 and whom I obviously saw much in Drogheda and Cork when I was living in Ireland. No more late nights drinking Guinness/Bulmers and dancing to Anthony’s Ska band…Little <strong>Luke</strong> will make sure they will get sleep deprivation though!<br /><br />Then my friend <em>Miranda</em> and her husband <em>Harro</em>. Little did I know 5 years ago that while Miranda and I loved nice dinners after work and a few glasses of excellent wine, that Miranda’s quitting cigarettes actually meant that she wanted to get married and buy a house. Happy days for their family now they have <strong>Dante</strong>, their 3rd child…<br /><br />Then last, but definitely not least: my <em>best friends Catherine and Floor</em>. Catherine and I went to uni together. We loved dancing, and beer, our bike rides to the beach (that damned tram behind me…), the tattoos (does it hurt….euh yeah), city girl versus country side girl, the festivals (Lowlands: first introduction to…Floor) and off to Australia together. They both took great care of me when I got back from Australia and I absolutely didn’t want to be in the Netherlands. So I know they will be great parents for little <strong>Jip</strong> who is now part of that sublime match. <br /><br />So wauw, babies. It is honestly hard to imagine that while I go biking, climbing, running and snowboarding that my friends are taking care of their children. I wish I could just hop over to see them. Im sure I would 'click'.<br />And sorry (dad): I’m still not convinced that I should go back to Europe nor that I want children. Yes mum, I know you can put children on your back while you go hiking. And yes everybody, I’m sure I would be a great mum, but I had my share over Christmas…I love kids, especially because I can give them back to their parents…<br /><br />And I heard more friends are expecting…<em>joyful news</em>!Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16702044121537554417noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-79176250605151251722009-03-30T18:08:00.007+13:002009-03-30T18:38:56.415+13:00bits and bobs...I so don't like that expression, but nothing else came to mind when writing this post...<br /><br />Last weekend Patrick and I headed up to Marlborough Sound because Glynn and Jayne were getting married. Proper wedding of about 4 days...pfieuw! I think we all had a great time because of the location, the people, the 'getting to know each other' and the happiness of a wedding in general. Of course! I spend most of my time doing hikes, going kayaking <em>with millions of dolphins</em>, chat with new lovely people, play volleyball and admittedly I also got dressed up like a girl. And we danced...lots!<br /><br />Loads of pictures are taken, none of them are mine. Patrick has some nice ones on his blog (and none of those are his...) Have a look and enjoy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj824Qo61BKyMv4TP99HTc7ayVGlMT2NSf8S59YYIi1u0lqHPlKLrc8kdm-jQxaCTjGggQudG-Dyb7epHwjqu3xONmm9fvpYUPa1HlJfI_dzGbX7tFUPf_KlpxGfEEcXZxmEPk5LM7a1wM/s1600-h/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj824Qo61BKyMv4TP99HTc7ayVGlMT2NSf8S59YYIi1u0lqHPlKLrc8kdm-jQxaCTjGggQudG-Dyb7epHwjqu3xONmm9fvpYUPa1HlJfI_dzGbX7tFUPf_KlpxGfEEcXZxmEPk5LM7a1wM/s200/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318848165435610850" /></a><br />Then, finally, this weekend was a lazy one. Yes. A weekend in Christchurch! I made some nice dinners for friends as a thank you for always picking me up by car for all those wednesday walkies. Gin and tonic master was in the house as well...mjummie.<br />We (Steve, Patrick and myself) did some biking the next day and on Sunday Patrick arranged my Christmas present: a picnic. Lovely if I may say so! Nice fresh bread, good champagne and he even scored some Dutch cheese!<br /><br />And on a more geeky note: I could not get around it anymore...communication to Europe is seriously failing so...I bought a laptop. Which meant that Patrick did the proper research online (geek as he is...), we went into several shops (read: he chats with the sales person while I drink my smoothie quietly next to them and try not to look to puzzled) and at the end I was more than happy to get the card and pay. And the next step was very predictable and recognisable too....Patrick wanted to play...Looks familiar, doesn't it Sjoerd??<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhMOwdNFEgRONT6X_K0weNSweN2VLPdEN3qz4Vy9c64PaIXWpHml2r3-uKGMCMe9gmLUJK0lre10Pyp8J6Kzx2NOxQU0kSYny1tbZg24h11ahwLoZi9sunyfHfp29fZ7zkgSGje8lAb4/s1600-h/IMG_0019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhMOwdNFEgRONT6X_K0weNSweN2VLPdEN3qz4Vy9c64PaIXWpHml2r3-uKGMCMe9gmLUJK0lre10Pyp8J6Kzx2NOxQU0kSYny1tbZg24h11ahwLoZi9sunyfHfp29fZ7zkgSGje8lAb4/s200/IMG_0019.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318848166931668306" /></a><br />Don't get me wrong though: I love it that way. Get the stupid thing going the way I would like to and then I will use it. Whoever wants to play...be my guest. Next step Internet at home...what a mission...Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16702044121537554417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-34896289298718562712009-03-23T17:43:00.011+13:002009-03-30T18:07:38.733+13:00Inland pack track<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb5Bn5GhIauN4qW_qg6Y4TSsKWssp3Qaqeekhkaz8zNS9Q-Fqobyfh1ObUu0AWK_w9wEVg3LL0fvsPtC7TxDFFP73GnS9PIXhYtb5xt88152mZcHlMNIwim9vAmz616u1Gi39G9EzazM/s1600-h/IMG_1342.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb5Bn5GhIauN4qW_qg6Y4TSsKWssp3Qaqeekhkaz8zNS9Q-Fqobyfh1ObUu0AWK_w9wEVg3LL0fvsPtC7TxDFFP73GnS9PIXhYtb5xt88152mZcHlMNIwim9vAmz616u1Gi39G9EzazM/s200/IMG_1342.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318838733252797458" /></a><br />Two weeks ago we (a bunch of 8) took off for a nice beautiful (easy) hiking trip on the West Coast. The Inland Pack track. Sort of fairy tale scenery: secret side tracks, little and big caves, good weather, pitoresque camping site next to the river and a lot of hiking through the river itself. Good stuff.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZecyHDMdMJ5cyIg8oYxEpoLUcF9sBI5GbfM3IVZxZ02INwcRAcDYX6RfG6tA0JBJihgVALF8UP6GQywD7uwEpkcD1FVGMxNuh7PsqUbY-RfbBpzijC-de9u1ZLY4_0fQ93SwS91EAu4/s1600-h/IMG_1433.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZecyHDMdMJ5cyIg8oYxEpoLUcF9sBI5GbfM3IVZxZ02INwcRAcDYX6RfG6tA0JBJihgVALF8UP6GQywD7uwEpkcD1FVGMxNuh7PsqUbY-RfbBpzijC-de9u1ZLY4_0fQ93SwS91EAu4/s200/IMG_1433.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318839150972666610" /></a>Water from everywhere...where are the gnomes?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68ZozvY-PVa2hnHRWtSoyNIllA23FVCX7L20uiea67xc4W94PJj4HLfc0IcifROputZTTclaZ9lsPk4zJLL3EeWlaW9bqlHQblcdmNZEAHmLb-aSXOhr0J-7r0Ng1SIltKOp1l9Cf5LA/s1600-h/IMG_1345.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68ZozvY-PVa2hnHRWtSoyNIllA23FVCX7L20uiea67xc4W94PJj4HLfc0IcifROputZTTclaZ9lsPk4zJLL3EeWlaW9bqlHQblcdmNZEAHmLb-aSXOhr0J-7r0Ng1SIltKOp1l9Cf5LA/s200/IMG_1345.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318838738373574002" /></a>Funny water gnome...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa-wtDKk6LyJus_3dF3faLozYhtVuh2ffHrA2jB0oAkFhBVH4LxV5EPEvfPlawUW5cynyrhIr3DF8M-Y58Ygw_mvvOmm1tabZdScyR4gMhdjpRp5nJ4L987VWo6hNCguLnZJ0ngffzlc/s1600-h/IMG_1432.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa-wtDKk6LyJus_3dF3faLozYhtVuh2ffHrA2jB0oAkFhBVH4LxV5EPEvfPlawUW5cynyrhIr3DF8M-Y58Ygw_mvvOmm1tabZdScyR4gMhdjpRp5nJ4L987VWo6hNCguLnZJ0ngffzlc/s200/IMG_1432.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318839051259923762" /></a> Secret track...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLjPA98286jra9WgUGOLSp-986UKzgBVOaKLLV_sTZlXR_e15rPzfemH4PlPk-2VZFrWP61zV9zoQgNqOpWnds_KbE4MgNX-rYpXPGDyg3CTwJ8n6Z3TvH1OS36NkVFFeOmdMJh0nHFs/s1600-h/IMG_1417.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLjPA98286jra9WgUGOLSp-986UKzgBVOaKLLV_sTZlXR_e15rPzfemH4PlPk-2VZFrWP61zV9zoQgNqOpWnds_KbE4MgNX-rYpXPGDyg3CTwJ8n6Z3TvH1OS36NkVFFeOmdMJh0nHFs/s200/IMG_1417.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318839050524862578" /></a>Nice lunch spots...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgCwXySTe7HqNNE6zDV0p4FOKjK0igIJl_MTARi6gJBBqRUyLLgKZFKP_Ycb20yRIuyAJjWJH3Oh6RYokq9_m_QBH6kO8gvL-BdC5lI9epQmgWbJOVZtSELY6ZK0VaY6fmrad2qKcFSk/s1600-h/IMG_1371.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgCwXySTe7HqNNE6zDV0p4FOKjK0igIJl_MTARi6gJBBqRUyLLgKZFKP_Ycb20yRIuyAJjWJH3Oh6RYokq9_m_QBH6kO8gvL-BdC5lI9epQmgWbJOVZtSELY6ZK0VaY6fmrad2qKcFSk/s200/IMG_1371.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318838742162732114" /></a>Great food...<em>and</em> great people<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifU5NwavHxOY8AZeSl62kxiMF1iFP_W_Ohz3GqDtmRqaE2xCONw_T42ZD3ENubu4nVfA_dhpNYO9rJGPx0WQRCGxu0btmvmxG-0Sjszaug0DgliNk9wM6eYIar9c79jH8nlRXNHZkFvU/s1600-h/IMG_1374.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifU5NwavHxOY8AZeSl62kxiMF1iFP_W_Ohz3GqDtmRqaE2xCONw_T42ZD3ENubu4nVfA_dhpNYO9rJGPx0WQRCGxu0btmvmxG-0Sjszaug0DgliNk9wM6eYIar9c79jH8nlRXNHZkFvU/s200/IMG_1374.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318839042990457682" /></a>Bums...and men doing the dishes...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPL2JAlN411Ag-2rixahyphenhypheniAKHwJNarJx9mnlRmq-nhQcKa_t8u85mZUSs2Ti06w1ObzPI5HjzDmLHSZBEq28gozYJGr4yOqlZn-Mqf4JI1xgrG9MX5BYJwzFMaj8r5gSfuXQ37BPYJWDY/s1600-h/IMG_1362.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPL2JAlN411Ag-2rixahyphenhypheniAKHwJNarJx9mnlRmq-nhQcKa_t8u85mZUSs2Ti06w1ObzPI5HjzDmLHSZBEq28gozYJGr4yOqlZn-Mqf4JI1xgrG9MX5BYJwzFMaj8r5gSfuXQ37BPYJWDY/s200/IMG_1362.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318838738139766178" /></a> Fantastic camping!<br /><br />All pictures are taken by Berit: <em>thanks!</em><br /><br />Katrina has send me some excellent pictures of ice climbing from a few weeks ago. So I thought I would put them up to prove that I did it...(not that you can see it is me...but still) In all honesty it looks more scary on the picture than it really is...Let's say Katrina is a good action photographer!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMlDXsb2XwEtBbuS27W_zm1kpneLPA9emCxmFvx9LXPUyXUNDuMyH1o2s-ZjmGXmO7kDgApP0TpbR14Hz4ZyP4VS_DStaXT9jC468j6Lx1RtJrFtI7ogOSTZ215ygmwtPhgEkOYbYWOuc/s1600-h/s623035472_6206866_3430397.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 97px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMlDXsb2XwEtBbuS27W_zm1kpneLPA9emCxmFvx9LXPUyXUNDuMyH1o2s-ZjmGXmO7kDgApP0TpbR14Hz4ZyP4VS_DStaXT9jC468j6Lx1RtJrFtI7ogOSTZ215ygmwtPhgEkOYbYWOuc/s200/s623035472_6206866_3430397.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316239489565014514" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDqFBjdlrq42NfGTzM7if6Nzry8rhrERMJHLyi0kVK0vRHXxkd6r6qVYHV58kkb_vu2onPTtEV-xTX3K0NGjtyb6r7m3zld4k-ki0eQQ4G3C1q8_O8YcHeCvYHKk7tWYYbMVOMa1d3mc/s1600-h/s623035472_6206868_3760986.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 97px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDqFBjdlrq42NfGTzM7if6Nzry8rhrERMJHLyi0kVK0vRHXxkd6r6qVYHV58kkb_vu2onPTtEV-xTX3K0NGjtyb6r7m3zld4k-ki0eQQ4G3C1q8_O8YcHeCvYHKk7tWYYbMVOMa1d3mc/s200/s623035472_6206868_3760986.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316239491993297858" /></a>Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16702044121537554417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613666053285218310.post-91292449476869454252009-03-05T17:44:00.009+13:002009-03-05T18:37:18.357+13:00Ice climbing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4arbLIKTWQpGH2wGYbBEUYWkNACaHubIeDRchSitlzoMPgFb2jfwUHgwS_pIPCsqHpOf95vGkbDpeM9-HJkoi-z5PzN4nLq1yhCBW4moKacuRW5gqJgtl-o7I3USjCkRUm7U8tIDLFc/s1600-h/P2270257.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4arbLIKTWQpGH2wGYbBEUYWkNACaHubIeDRchSitlzoMPgFb2jfwUHgwS_pIPCsqHpOf95vGkbDpeM9-HJkoi-z5PzN4nLq1yhCBW4moKacuRW5gqJgtl-o7I3USjCkRUm7U8tIDLFc/s200/P2270257.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309569244733773474" /></a><br /><br />In July 2008 I went on a hike with some friends and I made some really nice 'icy pictures'. During that freezing, snowy hike I learned that Paul and Bronwyn love ice climbing. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQBWOSsUQk5lOsRP0DoBtmsIYI_Y75vTBwacMFpHafWdx-YlYkvdDCcYLmgS7F-XgWPuM0ZGQ21-8bTbxIYvp8q_F2m7Q-MW4KmRjDUCq-ntOwEkkTEKCoqvc9f33MIl35VfnZi6qubE/s1600-h/P2270258.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQBWOSsUQk5lOsRP0DoBtmsIYI_Y75vTBwacMFpHafWdx-YlYkvdDCcYLmgS7F-XgWPuM0ZGQ21-8bTbxIYvp8q_F2m7Q-MW4KmRjDUCq-ntOwEkkTEKCoqvc9f33MIl35VfnZi6qubE/s200/P2270258.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309569249517991506" /></a><br /><br />'Wauw' did I think back then. Since that time I've been dropping hints on how amazing that must be. I mean, ice climbing on a glacier: I have never been on a glacier before (when travelling around with Eefje last year, I saw it for the first time), let alone climb one...crampons, ice axes and just 'walk up' an ice wall... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRCKL8CkzPmeCbJKFJ0_lgQhnD8M1Qe8h1qojt8Z7IbZidjR4OE_kGZosb5Hit9JtK9SfFakWrhD1va9AKEmYYftwUOENMncR8hyPBUsCuD8tRY9HeiB0ajwYMnPCZ8dAk69eVdWEyYU/s1600-h/P2270263.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRCKL8CkzPmeCbJKFJ0_lgQhnD8M1Qe8h1qojt8Z7IbZidjR4OE_kGZosb5Hit9JtK9SfFakWrhD1va9AKEmYYftwUOENMncR8hyPBUsCuD8tRY9HeiB0ajwYMnPCZ8dAk69eVdWEyYU/s200/P2270263.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309569251779455762" /></a><br /><br />So again, I was planning on having a cruizy weekend, but when Paul asked me whether I wanted to join them, I was totally excited to give it a go! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSoaqs5MNv4SsRBdO2S7K2KrcEz-CNOKbHnVYnc9N4mo8fuCn-X3uym4bvkoKOj-TbqxaSFn0vzzz5PoYmbEvvrVBOBn6T8qJKEaHvQ49Zvri1xr6I58Uuva9rIPXlwfvi1QrfOyuLso/s1600-h/P2270265.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSoaqs5MNv4SsRBdO2S7K2KrcEz-CNOKbHnVYnc9N4mo8fuCn-X3uym4bvkoKOj-TbqxaSFn0vzzz5PoYmbEvvrVBOBn6T8qJKEaHvQ49Zvri1xr6I58Uuva9rIPXlwfvi1QrfOyuLso/s200/P2270265.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309569258819682706" /></a><br /><br />On Friday we took off to Franz Josef glacier, to climb it the next day. An hour walk <em>to</em> the glacier, and then an hour walking <em>on</em> the glacier to find that perfect first ice wall to climb. The walk itself was interesting enough: I love the ice (mind you: it is summer here!) <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLDXyWPu49FXnP9hznmNcvUMOxbFuHylhsP617K6c5RDOpb5K-dQkfnofYuVXP73WDVOf4xo6I0NU1es8_SMeR20vXIIGlc1VWmVw0teDYcziK8PRp3BasRqLdbrcwBCA9w9krvCpLNM/s1600-h/P2270269.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLDXyWPu49FXnP9hznmNcvUMOxbFuHylhsP617K6c5RDOpb5K-dQkfnofYuVXP73WDVOf4xo6I0NU1es8_SMeR20vXIIGlc1VWmVw0teDYcziK8PRp3BasRqLdbrcwBCA9w9krvCpLNM/s200/P2270269.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309569264579161906" /></a><br /><br />First climb was very interesting. Paul and Bronwyn explained to me what to do and off I went. First meter up was fine, and then adrenaline kicked in. Honestly? I haven't been that scared in a long time...I was just hammering those ice axes in, pulling myself up thinking '...must...get...up...there...'. Totally forgot about the technique, my feet, my hands etc: it was just purely using my arm power to get up. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiay328JRCINONUIbnOkUwRSCFahoSVqYckvFjDsN-TEyhr50pjE7-xbG148N5Imaj1GYX31OMMRf5ZyNtZRmvn2XO_wM_X6wth3J9NHgmXYw1T_netyBrnrKJZ84az2caW235OvtmpT3I/s1600-h/P2270271.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiay328JRCINONUIbnOkUwRSCFahoSVqYckvFjDsN-TEyhr50pjE7-xbG148N5Imaj1GYX31OMMRf5ZyNtZRmvn2XO_wM_X6wth3J9NHgmXYw1T_netyBrnrKJZ84az2caW235OvtmpT3I/s200/P2270271.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309569748588483506" /></a><br /><br />Half way through I stopped to catch my breath and I thought about going down and never ever do it again <strong>or</strong> continue and do better next time. One guess what I did...However, not surprisingly that I was completely pumped when I finally reached the top. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9bhW44XnlKgNYSRHUNzPP16lKQKP9Z5eg4B8hyphenhyphen-FmbpQW35li48Og8AgDktI1nyLWSLL0-D_f39ydlV2FnEQ0GhFO9w9RQqjRS9TrFFSDh_6DfPtbHw-susu74WfJM2Swv6f7eV1iT8/s1600-h/P2270274.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9bhW44XnlKgNYSRHUNzPP16lKQKP9Z5eg4B8hyphenhyphen-FmbpQW35li48Og8AgDktI1nyLWSLL0-D_f39ydlV2FnEQ0GhFO9w9RQqjRS9TrFFSDh_6DfPtbHw-susu74WfJM2Swv6f7eV1iT8/s200/P2270274.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309569744543903922" /></a><br /><br />Paul and Bronwyn must have giggled though... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NkcRsGCxk-O0svjgCr54y21iOwpuKqe_DpERY_hvU0UA055AXe3cSd8nM-V9YYhncYMXQE1SDD5DT5vBL1mO08IgF3hjrovpVqUWrmo-TUDEz11rlxfR_QoxoSb4TB5bbdKh7fw9dUw/s1600-h/P2270284.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NkcRsGCxk-O0svjgCr54y21iOwpuKqe_DpERY_hvU0UA055AXe3cSd8nM-V9YYhncYMXQE1SDD5DT5vBL1mO08IgF3hjrovpVqUWrmo-TUDEz11rlxfR_QoxoSb4TB5bbdKh7fw9dUw/s200/P2270284.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309569758823886786" /></a><br /><br />So before the second climb I went through the technique again with Bronwyn and this time I absolutely loved it: it went great, I was thinking clearly and it was absolutely cool. I really liked it. When I got down, Bronwyn was smiling. Probably very satisfied.<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOmo30nJ4sghFk8QN5I2MFgYyyMVL3E4n9cUHJSFSukUSxCd9SdFO5UlQKTfnJuCjxpWUrT5fo6-CVs_XI8FZ7wvkpEKGluMj9Uml8REmYTD77zDSApcXyxRLXQ9g3F4UW6QUgZPfv98/s1600-h/P2270280.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOmo30nJ4sghFk8QN5I2MFgYyyMVL3E4n9cUHJSFSukUSxCd9SdFO5UlQKTfnJuCjxpWUrT5fo6-CVs_XI8FZ7wvkpEKGluMj9Uml8REmYTD77zDSApcXyxRLXQ9g3F4UW6QUgZPfv98/s200/P2270280.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309569752997383074" /></a><br /><br />No pictures of me climbing up the wall (will check with Katrina or Rebecca if they have any...)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lxDiF-hj8bS0Xko_rwYTiNuD0OmiGEFlh4_e3iDDEdojI0BMuWzzRvnibIYCMJzBhYi7LTeVx3Jnr8FshVccfzhmd6MtXPhqoEn_NNWG-eI2T0mf3bFSyyn4lyZvLDXR3k-xkfxdedQ/s1600-h/P2270288.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lxDiF-hj8bS0Xko_rwYTiNuD0OmiGEFlh4_e3iDDEdojI0BMuWzzRvnibIYCMJzBhYi7LTeVx3Jnr8FshVccfzhmd6MtXPhqoEn_NNWG-eI2T0mf3bFSyyn4lyZvLDXR3k-xkfxdedQ/s200/P2270288.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309569766512669170" /></a>Maaike Jongeriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16702044121537554417noreply@blogger.com4