An Anzac Day to Remember

When Howard (Jeremy's Dad) arrived the Thursday before last, he didn't know he'd be doing volunteer rescue work here in Dunedin.

Sunday was Anzac day, which commemorates the military efforts of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). After a church service centered around the special day, Jeremy took his Dad to a nearby war memorial, which stands on a steep hill just a few miles from our house. From the base of the memorial, you can look down on the road below and beyond--down the steep slope into the Harbour.

View from the Memorial

Howard takes in the sight

As Howard enjoyed the view, he was startled to see a camper van drive off the road and begin tumbling down the hill toward the Harbour. After nearly pushing another tourist out of the way, he raced down the hill to the site, where the van had stopped 40 meters downslope and lay on its side smoking. By the time Jeremy and Howard reached the road, the occupants of the van--two young men from England--had climbed up to the road themselves. They were alive, conscious, and uncut, but badly shaken and surprised to be alive. The van was pulverized and all the windows blown out. At least one of the guys had been thrown from the van.

Fateful slope

After interviews with the Dunedin police, Jeremy and Howard made their way back home.

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/103250/lucky-escape-van-rolls-40m-down-hill

Later that day, we visited Sandfly Bay, where Jeremy volunteers on Tuesday nights, instructing tourists in penguin wisdom. He remained incognito for a while, until he noticed some tourists climbing on the rocks near the penguin nests. Seized with indignation, he pinned on his badge, and summoned them away from the rocks, directing them to the hide. He spent the rest of the evening talking to visitors about the penguins and helping point them out as they emerged from the surf. We saw a total of eight penguins, which is more than Jeremy has ever seen in an evening.

A penguin slips out of the surf

and begins pattering up the beach

Sea lions reshuffle their positions (vide0)

Howard was ecstatic over his day, which he says he'll remember forever. We finished with pizza at Filadelphio's.

Thanks for listening and, remember, please drive safely when on cliffs.

Easter in Dunedin

I do find it strange to have Easter in autumn. There is something sort of wrong with that.

But that's an unavoidable environmental factor, and I do believe they make up for the lack of daffodils and ducklings with mass quantities of chocolate and hot cross buns. The grocery stores were spilling over with Cadbury bunnies and sweet yeasty smells from the bakery. (Having a Cadbury factory in town could also have something to do with this.)

On Good Friday, we drafted a huge shopping list and headed to the grocery store, only to find it, and everything else, closed! Thankfully, signs indicated they would be open Saturday (but closed Sunday and Monday)--a lucky break for us uninitiated Americans. It also happened to be a beautiful day, so we had a walk at a favorite spot--Allens Beach.

Saturday morning, I helped the church ladies build flower arrangements for the sanctuary. The absence of daffodils and lilies didn't deter them in the least. They hauled in loads of late summer flowers from their own gardens--all white and gold.

Saturday night, we got to set the clocks back, for an extra hour of sleep. (It was always the other way around at home, and the combination of daylight savings and sunrise services the next morning was never good.)

So, after that bonus sleep, we got up Easter morning for our hot cross buns (fresh from Pak 'n Save), before heading off to church.

St. Michael and All the Angels, Anglican Parish Church

As we walked in, young parishioner Hazel grinned at me excitedly from her seat and pointed to a prominent gap in her upper tooth line. "It happened the other day," she said. "This is Charlotte," she added, pointing to a visiting friend with a similar smile.

Shortly after the service began, the children were hustled away for egg decorating, an egg hunt, and an Easter race--the din of which punctuated the sermon. At the end of the service, the oldest child was allowed to hand out marshmallow eggs from the priest to everyone over age ten!

After the service, I tried to help the ladies prepare tea and coffee for the social time, but instead caused a geyser to erupt from the 1920s-era hot water heater in the kitchen. One of the ladies said it wasn't the end of the world, but the other one didn't look so sure. No one was hurt, and I cleaned it up with a large towel in under a minute.

Once back home, we enjoyed a delicious brunch and then had an Easter candy hunt of our own, with Cadbury caramel eggs and mini Bounty bars.

Jeremy Turns 35!

Jeremy celebrated his March 30th birthday in autumn this year, and we managed to drag out his festivities for a good week, starting with having the neighbors over the Sunday before for a good ol' American feast of pulled chicken BBQ, baked beans, potato salad, cornbread, and German chocolate cake (all home-made I'm proud to say).

It turns out that Kiwis have the same birthday traditions as we do: cake, candles, and the birthday song. No Maori dances or anything.

Jeremy waits to blow out his candles

(Please note the Boba Fett hoodie.)

On the 30th, we explored a new hike at a place called Trotters Gorge. We found these signs on the dirt road leading to the park. I have no further explanation than that stated.

Caves at Trotters Gorge

On the way home, we stopped at one of our favorite beaches for a walk in the afternoon sun and breeze.

Karitane Beach

Later that evening, Jeremy worked at Sandfly Beach, helping fellow volunteer Graham talk to tourists about the local wildlife.

Graham lectures Little Miss Sea Lion about her behavior

(He is actually approaching to check her ID tag.)

A penguin sneaks past while Graham is taking notes

Penguins at their nests, safely up in the dunes

A white-faced heron finds a snack of flies on a sea lion's face

(The sea lion is not dead.)

Finally, on Thursday evening, Jeremy enjoyed his birthday dinner at Filadelphio's, the pizza shop at the end of our street.

Curious George pizza,

with smoked chicken, brie, and bananas

At last, his birthday came to an end on Easter Sunday, which always serves as his second birthday, because he was born on Easter Night, 1975.