Dog trials and horse show

Finally off work for a few days and catching up on bills, housework, yoga.  Last week was rough---the 12 hour shifts are good because there are more days off, but I'm beat at the end of a run---the first day off isn't too productive.  Next roster (schedule) I'm going to try some 8 hour days/evenings instead and see how it pans out.  I may also go to a slightly lighter employment status---right now I'm full time, 40 hrs/week.  Only one other midwife is at that level, most are at 0.8 or 0.7 time.  Which could be nice---0.9 is 36hrs/week, 0.8 is 32 hrs/week.  If I work more nights and weekends the $ will be similar to what I'm making now.  Vacation won't be as much, but if I work holidays it'll all come out in the wash.
Okay, on to the dog trials.  Got up Saturday and headed over to V's place---she's a nurse at the hospital, her husband manages a huge farm/station about 15 mins away. 3400 acres huge.  The trials are held on the land of the station, and they use sheep from this same place.  We had a cup of tea and V whipped up pancake crepes that we ate with homemade apricot jam, then off to the trials.  We were just about the only onlookers who weren't competing (and who weren't farm folk).  There were 4 trial areas, each with it's own challenge.  We went to 3.  When I say trial area, I mean a marked off part of a grassy hill, with maybe a couple of barrels standing up on it.  Only one of the areas had a pen to corral the sheep into, which I thought would be the hardest part.  Well, it was a hard part, but many competitors got knocked out way before they got near the pen.  Looks simple at first---they let 3 sheep out at a time and the dog has to keep them herded and take them either uphill or downhill, staying within the boundaries, which often include a zigzag path of sorts.  The downhill one, once they got down they then had to be brought across a green, though one gate, across another green, then into a pen which is opened by the dog's master.  The master has to stay in particular areas and can only whistle or call instructions to the dog to do all this.

We saw 2 breeds: the huntaways, who look and sound like hunting hounds---and deal with the sheep by pretty much barking at them non-stop, and the 'eye-dogs'---who literally control the sheep by staring them down.  First shot is a huntaway, the rest are my favorite eye dog.

huntaway barking its way uphill

eye dog and mistress herding sheep toward the pen

2 out of 3 eye contact

3 for 3

into the pen!

It's not rugby, but we had fun.

Halfway through the day we took a break to check out a nearby horse show.  We arrived just in time for the final competition---how many kids can you fit on the back of a horse before everyone falls off? I kid you not.

people here take their horses seriously, and start riding real young.  

   

Fog, figs

A few photos from the wild rain we had for 36 hours---not too descriptive as I had to wait for the wind and rain to die down before venturing outside.  Still, I love the mist and fog on the hills.

Difficult to show in a photo how haunting it is.

Less haunting, but no less exciting, is fig season.  

Next weekend, the 50th annual local dog trials.  For those familiar with the movie 'Babe', yes, that's what I'm talking about.  But in the real trials the owners can only whistle to their dogs to get them to herd and drive the sheep down a hill.  

Life in New Zealand.  Could be a lot worse.

Inside the shepherd's cottage

Entering from the back porch,

you come into the kitchen---to the right is stove, window, cupboards

looking to the left, sink, table, doorway to living room

at the doorway looking in, left and right

walk through doorway to living area (brand new french doors and small veranda in construction)

in living area looking to left at doorway of bedroom

bedroom

bathroom window--don't know if you can see but these are the original windows and window fixtures--

and that's it.  Tidy, as they say here.  In NYC real estate--cozy.  In other words, small.  I'm liking it. 

Previous post mentioned the rain.  Here we have wet dog who came in to get out of the wild winds.

Rain, rain, rain

Not a lot else to say, it's been raining steadily since yesterday morning with brief breaks of (only) big winds.  Happily the cottage is as insulated as S&SL (my 'landlords) say---I hear the rain and wind outside but don't feel it creeping through the windows or walls.  As all my water supply is from the rainwater tank I have newfound appreciation for the downpour.

Ask me again in the middle of July---Winter here---when it's been pouring for days on end.

Auckland

In Auckland for a few days last week, as there were cheap airfares on and I had several days off. Got together with L, the gal from England I met at my first trapeze class---she was visiting her brother G who lives there.  And has great tattoos, may hook me up with the artist for my next one.  We took a stand-up paddle board class (at which I was completely uncoordinated but absolutely loved, even after falling off the board not once, but twice, AND being told by the instructor that I paddle like a praying mantis (not a compliment, btw)) Thursday, Friday went by ferry to Waiheke Island for an afternoon of wine-tasting.  Bus took the group to three wineries where we sampled local vinos and got mildly buzzed.
Here's a shot of Auckland as seen from the return ferry.  It's prettier this way, believe me.

  

Next trip to Auckland I want to go up in the Sky tower (tallest place, looks like a minaret from here) and do the "Look and Leap".  No more details as my parents will read this, but if you're curious just google it.  Terrifying. When in Rome....

Work is work, adjusting slowly though I still manage to forget what and where to write it down, or tell someone something, or clean up.  50% of women coming in are high risk pregnancy one way or another, you really don't know what you're going to find waiting on the unit.  31-32 weeks, partial abruption, BP way up, crash section yesterday morning.  Good for the adrenaline rush.

Then home, where Scout was waiting to play evening catch.  No photos as it was too dark (yes we played catch by the light of a torch), so here's one from today.  What more can a girl ask for?

drive home

Instead of turning left off Wainui Road to go the final 2 blocks home, I turned right, into the parking area of the Lysnar Domain beach.

7:30 am, Wainui after a brief rain.

Moved in!

Friday was a busy day.  Packed in the morning, got a call
from a friend of a friend and 2 hours later I'm the owner of a '96 Nissan Primera! It's silver and shows it's age but feels good.  I'll take it in for a full tune up soon, but it's up to date on inspection and registration.  Moved in to the Shepherd's cottage.

28A Lysnar Street, Okitu, Gisborne, 4010
New Zealand

Inside photos to come once I've tidied up a bit.  Instead I'll show you a bit of my surroundings.


morning tea on the porch

babbling brook out back

Friendly neighbors

'Scout'

Fantail showing off

Black-headed jumping spider snacking on pesky flying insect

Lots of wind and rain over the weekend, which made for great wave action!

Wainui, now my home beach

Kite surfer at Wainui

Heading to work in a few hours, on for 2 nights in a row, then flying to Auckland for 3 days of big city excitement---Bikram, tango, trapeze---here I come!